we had worn our bare feet bare

why records? because...

2012-02-09T20:29:00.000-08:00

Minimalistisches Grammophon

2012-01-30T19:40:00.000-08:00

i can’t explain what i mean.

and even if i could,

i’m not sure i’d feel like it.

-j.d. salinger

sheep

2012-01-23T22:05:00.001-08:00

english sheep

avebury, england

tree skirt finally completed...

2012-01-22T16:07:00.000-08:00

it only took....

...what...

...three years...

(link to burdastyle and pattern)

love to sew

this should be interesting...

2012-01-21T07:56:00.000-08:00

happiness

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

happiness does not come from wealth,

but from setting limits to one’s desires,

and living within those limits

with satisfaction.

-dalai lama

clayspace coop

2012-01-15T18:03:00.000-08:00

clayspace coop in asheville, nc

eric knoche's studio

matt jacob's studio

you will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire

2012-01-03T21:19:00.000-08:00

if you’re going to try, go all the way. otherwise, don’t even start. this could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. it could mean not eating for three or four days. it could mean freezing on a park bench. it could mean jail. it could mean derision. it could mean mockery—isolation. isolation is the gift. all the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. and, you’ll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. and it will be better than anything else you can imagine. if you’re going to try, go all the way. there is no other feeling like that. you will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. you will ride life straight to perfect laughter. it’s the only good fight there is.

-charles bukowski

what is david byrne up to these days...

2011-09-14T20:52:00.000-07:00

he has squished the earth beneath the high line

an elevated park on a former rail line in chelsea

in new york city

read the article on artinfo

i always like his bike racks

and how controversial they became

he also has some fake iphone apps

on exhibit at the pace gallery

called social media

with miranda july

among others

they're pretty entertaining

i would link it here

but i cant get the page to load

so why send you there

just to remember...

his playing the building installation

in sweden, new york and london

jewelry making and the influence of the choo...

2011-09-11T23:15:00.000-07:00

kiff slemmons studio

satomi kawai

both studied at the university of iowa

with professor chunghi choo

heart it races...

2011-09-08T21:19:00.000-07:00

architecture in helsinki

heart it races

the dr dog version is pretty sweet too

wise words jack

2011-09-07T22:16:00.000-07:00

be in love with your life

every detail of it

-jack kerouac

design for a living world at the chicago field museum

2011-09-04T12:53:00.000-07:00

on our way to chicago

before we headed to the airport for our flight to england

we stopped at the chicago field museum

to see the exhibit

design for a living world

different artists and designers

exhibited pieces composed of natural

and renewable resources

that were mostly local to the artist

the entire exhibit was great

but the real reason we went

was because

christien mienderstma's

giant cable knit wool rug

was there!

(see previous post here)

each section is made from the organic wool of one individual sheep

that lives at lava lake ranch in idaho

christein is from the netherlands

but she travels to the farm in idaho to meet with the famers

and the sheep

i was so psyched about seeing this in person

it is truly inspiring

i was so excited that i forgot to take pictures of anything else

she also had a display of different papers made from the fibers

of native plants that grow in the chicago area

it was also beautiful

as were the pieces from the other artists

who also deserve mention

but apparently not pictures...

need to sew

2011-07-21T20:57:00.000-07:00

right now

with classes winding down

only one week left

i am rushing to spend every

last minute

in the studio

hopefully i will have pictures

to show of some pieces

i've made

at the same time

my mind is so focused

on sewing right now

i cant help myself

i have been pondering this

duffel bag for months

i cant remember where i found it

but i love it!

i feel like it would be

relatively easy to make

i love the straps running all

the way around

the bag

and this plaid dress

from madewell

pleating can be lovely

and the buttons

i am an old lady when it comes to buttons

the more the merrier

i like the collar and the v-neck situation

but most importantly

the pockets

a neckline inspiration

with cute sleeves

again an unknown source

i have all these images saved on my computer

different ideas and

inspirations

and i have no idea where they came from

terrible

it's called the salt blouse

i like the hem on the sleeves

i would love to use this

for a dress

inspiration

2011-07-21T00:05:00.001-07:00

i have noticed a change in my pottery

already

something happened

i am not sure what

but today

these forms were emerging

as i would center the clay

i would decide what type of vessel

it would become

i now am learning

the basic skills

start with a cylinder

and allow it to change

i see pottery everyday

but not the way i saw it in this

this is clary

she is so friendly

an example of her beautiful work

there are so few images available online

she says she is not connected

in a way that artists

today have to be

to make a living

yet she still manages to do it

when i last went to her studio

in ely, ia

she mentioned that students

today wouldn't want a

teacher like her

i beg to differ

pottery is a slow art form

you cant rush it

clary is a calming energy

she describes pottery

with a unique beauty

it's no wonder she creates

such beautiful pieces

a pbs documentary

clary illian: a year in the life

i havent even seen the whole thing yet

and i cant wait

literally on the edge of my seat

right now

new dress and first tie dye experience

2011-07-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

i experienced tie dying for the first time

so easy and fun!

i discovered this

at my local big name hardware store

s e i tumble dye

i bought the primary color set

and the camo color set

i sewed together some

old white tees

that were not so white anymore

but perfect for dying

banded them together

and sprayed them with the

red and charcoal

they are pre-mixed

and non-toxic

so it was super easy to set up

and to clean up

you can either wet your fabric

or leave it dry

then you just hang it to air dry

and toss it in the dryer to set the color

fantastic

close up of the result

(i had a lot of fabric)

I am pretty happy with it

the red is a little more pink

but i like the combination

i also want to share

my newly loved

birthday dress from my

always loved

husband

good job

i am so happy to finally be feeling better

summer colds

are the worst!

some lovely things...

2011-07-07T17:26:00.000-07:00

human sculpture

i love the moment

when you are listening to

an album

that was introduced to you

because

someone played

one song

probably a million times

and it finally stuck

now you play the entire album

familiarizing yourself

with every track

slowly forgetting all about it

until

that one song

that you've come to love

plays among them

and you're like

"hell yeah!"

the civil wars

who inspires me...

2011-07-06T21:03:00.000-07:00

tonight i sat and watched videos

of warren mackenzie

throwing on a wheel

i tend to question

every decisions

i've ever made

my mind is always running

when i am throwing

on the wheel

i am challenged to let go

of my thoughts

and to just let the clay

move between my fingers

i am choosing to live in a way

that doesn't come easily

for me

because it's a direction

in which

i've always wanted

to go

to share with you a piece

of what i strive to do,

here is a video of

warren mackenzie

master potter

and someone who

inspires me

sunday sick day...

2011-07-03T17:22:00.000-07:00

this will be my second

summer cold

ugh...

i am lucky

my husband

is taking such

good care

of me

so...

on my sick day

while i cant sleep

i am distracting myself with

beautiful images

and would like to share

the following:

the bottom of the ironing basket

millika

...and some images...

unidentified

amazing

dream

wedges

the power of

mother nature

how i wish i felt inside

(i couldn't find the sources

for these images

but they were too

beautiful not to share)

inspirations...

2011-06-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

a reminder to keep going

we all have to start somewhere

if we want to end up anywhere

be that kind of friend

2011-06-26T15:29:00.000-07:00

"keep away from people

who try

to belittle your

ambition.

small people always do that,

but the really great

make you feel that you too,

can become

great.

when you are seeking

to bring big plans

to fruition,

it is important

with whom you regularly

associate.

hang out with friends

who are like-minded

and who are

designing

purpose-filled

lives.

similarly be

that kind of friend

for your friends."

-mark twain

dress form and a new apron...

2011-06-25T15:33:00.001-07:00

i stumbled upon this

lovely vintage

dress form

at sisters garden

in kalona

old school

sears robuck

i made this new apron

out of some

polka dot cotton/linen blend,

which gives a beautiful weight to the ties,

and a joel dewberry

stag pattern

with tiny birds

(...put a bird on it!)

from home ec workshop

no pockets so when i wipe my

clay-ridden hands on it

it wont collect in the pockets

hooray!

jewelry making introduction...

2011-06-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

my second project

for intro to jewelry making

with chunghi choo

was an attempted mobius

out of silver

which was way out of my price range

so i decided to try

12 gauge aluminum instead

after hammering away for many hours

i decided to switch things up

and due to the limited time span

i did a simple twist

hammered texture on the outside

wire mesh texture on the inside

not perfect

but a good beginning

my first project

was a pair of 22 gauge copper earrings

special chunghi choo patina

gives them the beautiful

blue and black

they are my "virgin piece"

these are a few extra bits and pieces

that i made in the mean time

i loved to play with

heat coloring copper

there will definitely be more pieces

to come...

ReStyled Leg Warmers

2011-06-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

the first knitting project

i ever completed for myself

was a double moss stitch

super long scarf

with noro silk garden

i found at the knitting shoppe

over the years as my scarf patterns have evolved

this lovely scarf was lost in the back

of the closet

and rarely worn

to give this yarn new life

i purchased the

new-to-me

12" addi turbo circular needles

at home ec workshop

and whipped up these simple

and gorgeous

leg warmers!

i can't wait to wear them tucked under my boots

or folded over to shorten them up

Purse ReStyle

2011-06-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

the original bag

by carriegirl

i bought at a craft fancy

from home ec workshop (etsy)

a couple years ago

carrie is super sweet

and a great seamstress

organic cotton

with touches of vintage fabrics

like a small inside pocket

unfortunately

i was shortly addicted to gel ink pens

which promptly

and permanently stained

the bag

(...insert booooooo here...)

so i have restyled it

originally to cover up the stain

with this lovely little hand sewn pocket...

using cloud 9 organic cotton i bought at

home ec workshop

here in iowa city

but as usual,

as i do with any crafting project,

things got a little carried away

i added a flap with an inside zip pocket

and a big zip to close the bag

to connect the flap

i cut a matching cloud buckle

from some 12 gauge aluminum i had lying around

so the final product looks like this

i am pretty happy with it

i missed toting this bag around with me

time for warmer weather...

2011-04-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

citizens of humanity

thompson skinny jeans

cropped for the summer

red for fun!

love for madewell

perfect light weight

summer striped slouch cardigan

...and the silk capulet tank

i think i am ready for warmer weather

the portobello recollection

discovered via

tom waits

a collection of the musical influences

of the residents along

portobello road

in london

great community project

off my head with salvador dali...

2011-04-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

"if i had painted well

all my life,

i could never have been

happy.

at last

i am going to be

born!"

"this divine dissatisfaction

is the sign

that something is growing inside my soul

that will give me

great

satisfaction"

"i process

within myself

the constant awareness that

everything which touches my person

and my life

is unique

and will always be characterized by

an exceptional,

complete

and truculent nature"

for a break from my

dali essay...

bec & bridges

aussie 2011 collection

love this red tie dye

silk maxi dress

reminiscent of this old number...

i clearly have a type...

i still have no idea who designed this

but i am so in love

inspirations...

2011-04-10T13:04:00.001-07:00

marion bolognesi

new york artist

watercolors

so much expression

such accuracy

gabriel moreno

illustrator, engraver and painter

madrid

art in a commercial venue

...beautiful...

tie dye and espadrilles

2011-04-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

i love this dip-dyed tee from le minor

via madewell

i read about this jar-dyeing process

on burdastyle

you use the powdered dye

layer it with fabric

in a jar

add water

and let it soak

i can't wait to try this

tom's wedges

one for one

i love the red!

and a fun video for today

inspirations...

2011-04-06T16:59:00.000-07:00

xia xiaowan

from Beijing

3-dimensional art

on multiple layers of glass

they are just wild

i cant imagine creating this

it's amazing

you can see the classical influence of da Vinci

the musculature

close detail to anatomy

visceral

you can almost hear them screaming

"human being humanity"

-Xia Xiaowan

read the article here on dont panic online magazine

a fenced in area in the adirondacks...

2011-03-10T09:23:00.001-08:00

welcome...

...to a fenced in area in the adirondacks...

...i came home from class yesterday,

and my wonderful husband

had made this diorama.

he made the play dough,

used an old wooden wine box,

and found the moss,

evergreens and the fencing!

anyone who loves 30 rock will remember,

it's a safe place

for that special time...

i love it.

it is one of the most thoughtful things

and it just makes me smile.

inspirations...

2011-03-05T12:27:00.001-08:00

frank helmut auerbach

[sources unknown]

[james jean liber novus]

[ytba au scarves]

[oat shoes biodegradable footwear via cool hunting]

[makr]

the world will admire me.

perhaps i will be despised and misunderstood,

but i'll be a great genius,

i am certain of that.

-salvador dali

sunday funday

2010-11-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

Johnny Flynn - The Wrote and the Writ // A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

"never apologize for showing feeling

when you do so,

you apologize for the truth."

-benjamin disraeli

inspirations...

2010-10-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

i picked up an issue of

american craft

magazine today and found some new

inspirations to share

kay sekimachi

fiber & paper art

3 dimensional woven forms

kiff slemmons

studied near and dear to me

french & art

in iowa city

see more here

more info here

sunday funday

2010-10-10T18:19:00.000-07:00

my husband made the rustic banana bread muffins with roasted local pears from the farmers market. they're very yummy! the skins are thicker than store bought pears and they look a little bit rough, but they taste great.

i want to make them with figs next.

i finished dillon's tweed baby blanket for billie and eric.

they're due any day now...

i finally made a circular knitting needle holder out of some amy butler fabric. while i was knitting the blanket above my needles were all twisted from being stored in the pocket of a fabric needle case. i even used the pot of boiling water trick but they wanted to stay in a tight coil. hopefully this will fix that.

i finally used my awesome clay buttons that josh gave me over a year ago. they have different leaves and herbs pressed into them.

Andrew Bird

2010-09-28T16:21:00.000-07:00

We just bought tickets to see Andrew Bird in December. He is playing a series of Gezelligheid shows (mostly instrumental concerts), one of which is in Chicago at the Fourth Presbyterian Church. Gezelligheid is dutch for cozy. He uses the natural lighting and sounds of the venue. I am pretty freaking excited to tell you the truth.

Enjoy.

#45.3 - Andrew Bird - Spare-Oh
Uploaded by lablogotheque. - Independent web videos.

#45.2 - Andrew Bird - Weather Systems
Uploaded by lablogotheque. - Arts and animation videos.

etsy love...little houses

2010-06-29T18:41:00.001-07:00

little houses etsy shop & website & blog

she is shanah flodstrom from vancouver

everything is small production and handmade

i love the small details, the edges, rounded corners and cowls

one day i will have one of my own...

today is about....

2010-05-28T17:36:00.000-07:00

...fresh strawberries from our garden...

...& love.

food rant...

2010-05-28T17:31:00.001-07:00

when you can't eat gluten, dairy, eggs or beans cooking becomes a challenge. at first my shelf of once loved cookbooks became an kind of gray area that i consciously didn't notice. overtime i started to notice the thick spine of 'the clatter of forks and spoons' and 'crust and crumb.' how appetizing their covers look! but oh the butter, butter and more butter. gluten and dairy are everywhere that you find something yummy! slowly i open the crisp pages to explore the foods i miss making...or never had a chance to cook...until now. my little sister dreams of creating a food world where us-folk with food restrictions can once again live on the gourmet side. my older sister (who has celiac disease) has been working on recipes for a much longer time. so between the three of us, my determined brother-in-law, my superb not-formally-trained-chef husband and the plethora of food blogs out there, we have come up with some fantastic gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free varieties of once-loved and brand new recipes. my goal is to share them with as many people as possible. so if anyone wants any recipe i will be most happy to share it with the world.

it's official....

2010-05-18T11:02:00.001-07:00

we are married. pictures to come...

vegan gluten-free asian inspired noodles

2010-05-18T09:51:00.001-07:00

i am not in the family of thought that keeps food secrets secret. after i was diagnosed with food allergies my feelings about food changed. it became something that frustrated me and a nuisance. i couldn't eat from the cafeteria at my work. going out to dinner with my friends and family was painful. when you can't order anything on the menu and you have to describe to the waiter your life story...it really can take the fun out of it. the transition to cooking all of your meals at home can be stressful if you don't know what to make or how to make it. i hope to help make that transition much easier for other people who find themselves in similar situations.

today i share with you a pasta recipe that is a twist on heidi swanson's recipe for otsu. it's a GF-vegan recipe. it's easy to make and super yummy!

vegan & gluten-free asian inspired noodles

the dressing:

1 lemon (zest and juice)

1/2 thumbs worth of fresh ginger or 2 cloves garlic (both will create very distinct flavors depending on your preference)

1-2 Tbsp. honey

1 tsp. cayenne powder

pinch of salt

1/2 tsp. white pepper powder

1/4 c. brown rice vinegar

1/3 c. GF soy sauce

2 Tbsp. oil (olive oil, nut oils, avocado oil, etc. i would not recommend canola or vegetable)

2 Tbsp. sesame oil

the mixins:

GF rice noodles

12 oz. firm tofu

bunch cilantro (coarsely chopped)

4-5 green onions (sliced)

cucumber (peeled, halved, seeded and thinly sliced)

if you chose ginger, peel the ginger, slice it and chop it into small pieces. this will prevent large chunks residing in your dressing. if you chose garlic, smash and peel prior to adding it to the food processor.

in food processor or blender combine the lemon zest, lemon juice, ginger or garlic, honey, cayenne, white pepper and salt. process until smooth. add the vinegar and soy sauce until combined. while the machine is running slowly add the oils. i leave this sit in the processor while i make the pasta and tofu. i will pulse it again before pouring it over the finished product.

cook the noodles according to the directions on the package. all of them are different. when i can find them i like to use fresh rice noodles from the refrigerated section at my local asian grocery. it is very easy to overcook rice noodles. when using dried noodles i place the noodle in a large pan of hot tap water. place the pan over medium-high heat. watch the noodles as the water heats up and don't let it boil. test the noodles every 30-60 seconds as they come close to being ready. when they are cooked to your liking strain off the liquid. you can rinse them with cold water if you want to stop the cooking process. eden makes 100% buckwheat noodles that are gluten free. i haven't tried them yet but will post on them when i do.

for the tofu you can buy firm tofu and slice it about 1/8-1/4" thick. lay it out on a dish towel (or paper towel) on a cookie sheet and place another dish towel over the top. lightly press the tofu to remove excess moisture. in a dry non-stick pan over med-high heat lightly fry both sides of the tofu strips until browned. i like to use the pre-fried tofu cubes from the refrigerated section of the local asian grocery. i cut them in half and bake them at 350 for 10-15 minutes (as seen above.) if they become hard when you cook them they will soften when you add the dressing. for a non-vegan option you can panfry some chicken, beef, fish or shrimp. shred or chop the chicken, beef or fish. i still prefer the tofu but meat options are a good way to mix it up.

return your noodles to the pan you used to cook your pasta and add the tofu, onions, cilantro, cucumber and the dressing. toss gently until well coated. you can save some of the onions and cilantro for garnish for plating.

this dish makes great leftovers. the dressing is even better the next day. if you are the kind of person who plans ahead you can make the dressing the day before and store in the refrigerator over night.

inspirations...

2010-04-05T17:29:00.000-07:00

ever since i laid eyes on this beautiful red dress i wanted to get married in it, or at least celebrate my marriage in it. we are going to elope and get married outside somewhere. woods. water. dirt. not conducive to this garment. this is meant to be seen by the masses. now i just have to figure out how to make it. i have a pretty good idea of how to construct it. i have no idea what kind of fabric to use or where i am going to get it. so the search begins...

my dream boots.....

2010-04-03T14:26:00.000-07:00

i have been perseverating over these boots for months now. they're gorgeous. i bet they are way more comfortable than they look. i have some frye boots that i wear a lot and i love them. i never want to take them off. i can't wait to feel these bad boys on my feet.

we're getting married!

2010-04-01T07:00:00.001-07:00

it's official. we set the date. june 19th. it will be outdoors and beautiful. very excited! details to come!

r u n n i n g . . . .

2010-03-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

i think i am actually starting to like it. i was talking to tina the other day and agreed when confronted with the state of 'i hate running'. i should not have concurred. it's refreshing to feel movement after a long day of being idle. the stimulation of my current work environment can drain my brain. running provides a balance. a moment of time where my brain only has to focus on one thing. i feel new sensations and energy flows through me. and sometimes, i can think clearly for a moment or two. its a beautiful feeling. so i guess i should apologize to the act of running for saying i didn't like it. i never really had to run much other than sprinting. i never was much of an athlete so building up to being able to run took awhile. but here i am now, happily a runner.

because it's sunday...

2010-03-07T21:48:00.000-08:00

...and my friend crystal could use some lovely music to help numb her face...

...and they're a candy too!

2010-03-07T21:23:00.001-08:00

starlight mints are yes, a candy, and yes, a pop band from oklahoma. both are yummy and leave you with a refreshing taste in your mouth. their album built on squares has been on constant repeat for over a month now.

seeing them live would be a rocking good time. see and give a listen HERE.

(art courtesy of johnnie cluney)

they're a little clockwork orange meets talking heads in a very good way.

it would be lovely to have one of these...

2010-02-17T20:12:00.000-08:00

how great would it be to have a room filled with these? sofas, poufs, pillows, everywhere!

and just because it is thursday, some groovy dancing for you...

love for my sisters...

2010-02-14T20:47:00.000-08:00

sometimes we have something wonderful right under out noses and we cant help but take it for granted in the busy world that we live in. my sister are two of my greatest friends. my little sister left town to return to milwaukee about 4 years ago. i miss her everyday. we were roommates for a short time and i think the fighting managed to bring us closer. my older sister and i have lived in the same town for 5 years. for one year we were roommates which again brought us closer, but now she is waiting. waiting for a destination, where she will live in five months. no matter where it is it will be far away from here. i wish her the best with all my heart. i will miss her so much that i can't imagine what it will be like not having her here. and not knowing how far away she will be makes me excited and a little sad. i never knew how important it would be to have her so close to me but i always knew how much she did for me. how much time she donated to better my life. i don't know how much i ever gave back. i don't know if i will ever have the chance to balance it out. she is the best older sister i could ask for. i want to thank her a millions time over. for the cupcakes, the bubbly and the sake. for coming to dinner. i will miss these dinners. how simple they are and how easily they come. i am a better person because of her.

old things....

2010-02-10T12:59:00.000-08:00

i found this fantastic vinyl bag at artifacts, the local cabinet of wonderment. i can't go in there without finding something wonderful. todd, the owner, is a mad collector of pottery and can spot diamonds among the piles of old things people bring into his store. he has taught me so much about pottery and i have a wonderful collection of my own. i especially love to find local art which is common in his shop. just stopping in to say hello i was met with this brilliant orange bag. i have been looking for the perfect bag for everyday/work/research use and this one is perfect (and waaaayyyyy cheaper than the others that I have been coveting online.) it is in such good shape too, inside and out. i even found a tiny treasure to give my dearest friend tina for her birthday/moving present. i am lucky to have a second hand shop that is so close to me and that todd is such a friendly person.

Rustic banana bread muffins!

2010-02-10T11:44:00.000-08:00

With my new diet I have been searching for ways to replace old favorites. I have a recipe that was my grandmothers for Banana bread that my mother gave to me. I have been baking it for years and even shared it with my dear friend Weng-Yew when we were roommates in Tasmania. There were some funny moments while baking that bread one that included me forgetting the flour and WY eating the mush anyway saying it was good. What a good friend. So now, 4 months after starting my new diet, Josh the bread baker, has perfected the GF, egg-free, dairy-free banana bread/scone/muffin recipe. He found a recipe on Gluten Free Goddess for pumpkin scones made from scratch. He took this recipe and made scones with butternut squash, acorn squash, apple butter and bananas. At the New Pioneer Coop we found Bob's Red Mill Biscuit and Baking Mix. He replaced her homemade flour blend with this mix (which is bean flour free). A few adjustments here, the touch of a bakers hand, some extra special ingredients there and here we have a recipe for Rustic Banana Bread Muffins! Enjoy!

Pre-heat oven to 400*F.

2 c Bob's Red Mill Biscuit and Baking Mix
5 Tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp double action baking powder
pinch salt
1/2 tsp ginger powder*
1/2 tsp cinnamon*
1/2 tsp all-spice*
1/2 tsp clove powder*

*these spices are optional and can be adjusted to your liking.

Whisk above ingredients together.

Add 7-10 Tbsp of cold butter, margarine, soy butter or lard (lard is the best for these muffins but does not need to be used, you will need to add 1/2 tsp of salt in total if you aren't using lard.) Mix the cold butter/lard into the dry mixture with your hands. It will be crumbly. You are done mixing when you can pinch it between your fingers and it sticks together. You want the dry mixture to be incorporated into the butter/lard. You can use a mixer for this but I find it easier to use your hands. Plus less dishes.

2 eggs or equivalent in reconstituted egg substitute (I use egg replacer by Ener-G)
3 over-ripe bananas
2 heaping Tbsp apple butter, apple sauce, etc.**
3 -4 Tbsp Honey, depending on how sweet you like them to be.
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp hazelnut milk, soy milk, or coconut milk, any milk or milk substitute will do.

**(we've used a homemade habanero apple butter, pear ginger butter and a peach ginger jam in the past. I know these are not your common household item but the spice was really nice. Apple sauce from a jar works great and you can always add a pinch of cayenne or some fresh ginger. You can add anything you want to make them your own.)

Use a spatula to fold in the above ingredients until everything is incorporated. It will be a sticky dough when done. Spoon into muffin cups or cut into scones.

You can brush the tops with the hazelnut milk and add some brown sugar and cinnamon.

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Muffins took upward of 25 and scones only 20.

Serve alone or with some jam. They are so yummy!

christien meindertsma

2010-02-09T15:09:00.000-08:00

today i found myself trying to explain the brilliance that represents one amazing woman. it's as hard as pronouncing her name correctly. so here is my attempt to share something beautiful with you and a few of my favorites...

this is amazing

christien meindertsma is a dutch multi-media artist and designer. she has exhibitions all over the world and has won many awards in graphic design including best living product and sustainable product from sonoma woon. her work includes a book mapping the journey of a pig after its death. it's very interesting to see how many strange and unexpected applications the by-products of a slaughtered pig can be traced to. i love that she is interested in sustainability and the environment. this video explains the book and what it entails. it's a bit long, over ten minutes but well worth it if you are interested in where our products come from and what they are made of.

TEDxAmsterdam: Christien Meindertsma from TEDxAmsterdam on Vimeo.

i also admire her for her knitting. she takes the wool from an individual sheep and turns it into a one sheep sweater.

she knits these rugs that aren't like your usual rugs...

giant yarn + giant needles = gigantic cable knit rugs.

i want one of these floor poofs for my home...maybe some day...

this is a sustainable sheep ranch in idaho where the yarn for the one sheep sweaters and the giant rugs comes from. lava lake ranch is concerned with land conservation and habitat restoration. sounds fantastic.

designs for a living world is a project by the nature conservancy. christien meindertsma's created a patch-work rug where each section is made of an individual sheep's wool. thus creating a "flock" rug.

tea party movement...

2010-02-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

choose your tea party wisely...

supporting some local talent...

2010-02-03T21:12:00.000-08:00

so funny.....i cant stop laughing

leslie hall is from ames, ia. she is known for sporting gem sweaters and gold jumpsuits. her band is leslie and the lys.

t h e y a r e a w e s o m e . . .

my doctor actually emailed me this....too funny...

please check out the gem sweater museum here

she will be performing at the mill in iowa city on march 19th at 9pm. see you there.

Gluten free pizza crusts...

2010-01-28T12:49:00.000-08:00

Last October I was tested for food allergies. This was a significant step in a ten year repetitive process of doctors saying "huh?" to my medical enigma. I gave up gluten, dairy, eggs and beans. This has been a tough few months but the more time that passes the better it gets. I sympathize with people who have food allergies. I now seek recipes that are GF and vegan. I am a meat eater but meat can be easily added later. Other things are more difficult to remove or replace. Dairy and gluten are in EVERYTHING! The growing number of people, including my sister, who have celiac disease can hardly eat anything without the risk of being exposed to gluten. So we must help each other and share our creativity so we can enjoy and expand on each others successes and failures.

The hardest, and I mean HARDEST, part of this new diet was giving up pizza. I LOVE pizza. I dream about pizza when I am awake and asleep. When I was little I wanted to have my own pizza place so I could eat and share the joy of eating only pizza. GF pizza crusts are a risky business. Some of them are terrible, cardboardy and impossible to cut even with a steak knife. Some are yummy but have a long prep time. They are all dense...or so I thought. I recently have been trying new types of crust.

First I tried Bob's Red Mill GF pizza dough mix. The result was a hard, dense disc. It was tough and impossible to cut. The flavor was lacking and got an "all-around-unappealing" rating.

Next was Stashu GF frozen pizza crust which are made by Mama Bossa. Stashu is a pizza joint in IL. ((Mama Bossa's makes frozen pizzas that are not GF and have dairy. "They are *expletive* awesome!"...or so I hear...)) Back to the Stashu's GF frozen pizza crusts, they come in a four pack and are fairly small (about 8-9".) They are the best that I have tried of the pre-made kind. They are still dense but thin, the outside gets cracker hard and they are easy to cut.

Due to my "AVOID" warning to all cow dairy I allow myself to have sheep and goat's milk cheese. I love cheese and had a short run in the cheese business a couple years ago. So this was A-OK with me. I do miss some things such as Delice de Bourgogne (seriously try this if you haven't, sooooo good.) A pepperoni pizza covered in Ossau-Irraty (a sheeps milk cheese from the Basque country) was amazing. The Stashu crusts served their purpose and did it well.

My sister recently reviewed two other pre-made pizza crusts.

Schar

Udi's

Both of these sound and look delicous and I will be trying them over the next couple months (if I can wait that long.) Her and her husband make their own GF pizza dough from scratch. I have eaten it with them a couple times and it is GOOD! I haven't attempted to make it myself yet but I intend to.

Drews GF pizza dough recipe

While on the GF subject, I recently read this post about the wonderful GF brownie mix made by Betty Crocker. I love them! They are just fantastic warm with some ice cream over the top. I haven't had a great dairy free ice cream yet but when I do I will let you know. My sister likes the cake mix and has some variations that are based on the yellow cake. I will be trying those too. Links below:

Red Velvet

Lemon Poppyseed

And just for good measure....banana bread muffins!

past birthday wishes....

2010-01-27T18:19:00.000-08:00

i tried to write you roses, red & simple
a soft bouquet of years of petals in bloom
and everything came apart in my hands
a mess of a dress tailored in dirt and thorns
all roots, and stem, solid footing in the wind
but alas i have no flowers for your hands
just ink & onion skin, and the color of the stove top on fire
simmering to east your hunger, rose hips in my eyes
with no book to break ground, a less lonely road with you
i have no roses, your birthday, a garden in itself
in bloom, irish skies, a midsummer night's green bud promises
when we wilt together, there will be roses and all the scars
of gardening down the softest parts of my arms
because i love you, like the bee loves his queen

isn't it beautiful...it makes me smile because i am alive and have love in my life....

chris gregory

2010-01-27T16:34:00.000-08:00

kinda strange....but awesome no?

Chris Gregory is a graphic designer and illustrator who does a number of things, one of which is illustrate for daytrotter (music blog out of Rock Island, IL.) On a quest for more information and illustrations by this silly man, I found some really neat stuff. His art ranges from websites, music posters, clay, wedding invites and album art. My favorite would be his art directed at children. (I have a soft spot for kids.)

His blog is worth giving a read. I have found a random assortment of brilliance. My hyperlink is not working so please go to this site cgregori.com/blog if you are interested.

Here is a taste of what appealed to my inner rat....

Three amazing women...

2010-01-25T22:21:00.000-08:00

Three women who bring inspiration to my life in so many ways.

Laura Marling......

A 19 year old folk singer/song writer from England with a killer voice and strong, emotional songs. The more I listen the more I love. Her first album just arrived on my doorstep this very day! Her second album is due for release in March.............

Lisa Hannigan......

An irish singer with one of the most beautiful voices you will hear. She started with Damien Rice and the two of them were magic. Her first solo album after the much gossiped about separation from the aforementioned lead man is Sea Sew. This album has provided some pleasant theme music to my life lately and will continue.....

Dick Mack's is across the street from the church

The church is across the street from Dick Mack's

Shara Worden.....

With a voice that could raise the dead and shake the earth to its core, Shara Worden takes the cake. I first heard her as a back up singer for sufjan stevens (insert smile) and the queen on the Hazards Of Love album by The Decemberists. Her band is My Brightest Diamond with two albums out. Give both of these a genuine chance, they are beautiful and can stir a wide variety of emotions. Beyond the vocals her style is unique and amazing too!

Love for Nygårds Anna...

2010-01-19T17:33:00.001-08:00

This scandinavian designer has some of the most beautiful clothes I have ever seen. I love how delicate and cozy they look. They are down-home-country-girl and yet very feminine at the same time!

I want one of these huge, chunky knit sweater dresses for my very own. Oh, only in my dreams....for now. Maybe I will make my way over her way next year and hunt one down!

My new favorite thing

2010-01-18T16:51:00.000-08:00

Never thought I would be one for wearing skin tight, stretchy black pants but.....

I LOVE THEM! I wear them almost everyday. They are so comfortable for running, yoga, lounging around and they even double as leggings in the cold winter months. Thank you to Josh's wonderful parents for this awesome christmas gift!

These Lululemon Wunder Under pants are reversible too so the inside is dark grey. My new favorite brand for working out, yoga and any other excuse I can think of to wear them! I strongly recommend them to anyone.

Fisher(wo)man's Hat

2010-01-17T21:56:00.000-08:00

It stated with a Vogue magazine, some models wearing oversized coats and my older sister coveting their hat. The simple rib knit hat with a fold over brim evoked visions of Paul's Discount mercantile shop on the South side of town. This however was no Carhartt. It was fashionably simple and a chance for my sister to actually enjoy wearing a knitted item made by me. So I searched thinking how simple could this be? There must be thousands of patterns for a rib knit hat right? No. I spent more time searching for a pattern then it took to complete the hat. So without further ado.....

Fisher(wo)man's Hat

I used 2 skeins Araucania Azapa yarn
3.5 sts/in. on US size 10-16" circular needles
45% Merino Wool, 30% Alpaca, 15% Silk, 10% Donegal
I used two strands at the same time to make it extra chunky on the recommended needle size
You will need US size 10.5 DPNs or a second circular needle for binding off

CO 70 sts (it appears so small until you wear it a couple times and it stretches!)
Join in the round making sure not to twist!
Place a marker at the beginning of the round

For an added texture I ribbed as follows: (ktbl (through back of look), p1)* Rep from* until end of round
You can do a simple (K1 P1) instead of ktbl. I think it gives the outside rib a bit of a twist and makes it look almost braided (as you can see here the top part is different from the inside which shows when folded.)

The hat will be very long before you bind off. You want to be able to fold it over and have it still fit on your head. I knit until it was at least 10 inches in length. When you can fold it and put it on your head while still having 70 sts on your circulars you can begin binding off. BE CAREFUL when trying it on! If it is not long enough your sts can come off the needles. (When ktbl it is harder to pick up sts that have come off the needle because they are twisted.)

To close:
1st row: K2tog on the K sts of the rib pattern connecting the K and P together (if you Ktbl: k2tog through back of sts.)
Next 2 rows: Continue to K2tog. You will need to switch to the DPNs or use 2 circulars.
If you have a single st at the end of these rows, knit one.

When you have roughly 9 sts remaining, keep sts on needles and cut the yarn leaving a long tail (10"). Using a yarn needle sew the tail through the remaining sts on the needles. After you have the tail through all the sts run it through the first st again (just for good measure.) Pull the tail through the center of the hole at the top towards the inside of the hat. Pull it tightly. Remove your needles and pull it again. Turn the hat inside out and tie a knot. Sew in the ends.

The hat can be worn folded over for extra warmth or loose for a bulkier look. Make it short for a beanie. Very comfortable and quick to make.!

late night musings...

2010-01-17T21:30:00.000-08:00

an andalusian poet once said:

i have a feeling that my boat has struck, down there in the depths, against a great thing. and nothing happens! nothing...silence...waves...nothing happens? or has everything happened and we are standing now quietly in the new life?

-juan ramon jimenez