I just saw this over on Making it Lovely and I am totally sold!
This black blanket from Ikea is totally gorgeous.
And would look amazing in our bed room.
Oh yes it would.
Feb 27, 2010
Black blanket!
I just saw this over on Making it Lovely and I am totally sold!
This black blanket from Ikea is totally gorgeous.
And would look amazing in our bed room.
Oh yes it would.
Feb 25, 2010
The Cosmic Beard.
For Christmas this year, my sister and her boyfriend regifted Geoff and I a painting called "The Christ Head."
We are not particularly religious. If you asked us about faith, we would both agree that we have it, but it's not in an old dude wearing robes and telling us humans what to do. I am paraphrasing. Obviously.
While I totally respect Religion in almost all of it's forms (I have a hard time wrapping my head around killing innocents for any reason, sorry.) personally I lean more to the pagan way of things. Ack! She's a HEATHEN!
Ahem,
It had clearly been well loved in previous homes, the poster was all bent and the frame is pretty dirty, but we didn't want to throw away their gift, because it's pretty big, and hilarious in a from the 50's kind of way.
So it has become The Cosmic Beard.
You can't really see in this picture, but there are stars painted in there, I even tried my hand at making up a few constellations. But the glare from the glass prevents you from seeing most of that. However you do get a pretty nice view of my kitchen in the reflection.
While I was in Art School, a classmate of mine made an amazing linocut of Frida Kaolo's hair and that was the inspiration for keeping the hair and beard here.
Thanks Jen!
We are not particularly religious. If you asked us about faith, we would both agree that we have it, but it's not in an old dude wearing robes and telling us humans what to do. I am paraphrasing. Obviously.
While I totally respect Religion in almost all of it's forms (I have a hard time wrapping my head around killing innocents for any reason, sorry.) personally I lean more to the pagan way of things. Ack! She's a HEATHEN!
Ahem,
It had clearly been well loved in previous homes, the poster was all bent and the frame is pretty dirty, but we didn't want to throw away their gift, because it's pretty big, and hilarious in a from the 50's kind of way.
So it has become The Cosmic Beard.
You can't really see in this picture, but there are stars painted in there, I even tried my hand at making up a few constellations. But the glare from the glass prevents you from seeing most of that. However you do get a pretty nice view of my kitchen in the reflection.
While I was in Art School, a classmate of mine made an amazing linocut of Frida Kaolo's hair and that was the inspiration for keeping the hair and beard here.
Thanks Jen!
Feb 24, 2010
New header!
I've been continuing with the changes I have listed in my trusty little book and the header was the next on the list!
What do you think?
It's a close match to my business cards, which are totally awesome, and again, thanks to Kathryn for those too!
I messed around with the header, but I used the files that she gave me.
I've got a couple more little things I want to do, tidy up the sidebar on the right and add another link to the left, and maybe change the font of the whole thing? Not sure, but I'm working on it!
Oh and my domain name? Getting that sorted out has been a bit of a nightmare.
I've got my name renewal through DomainPeople and so far it's been a headache. I am starting to think that canceling everything all together and risking someone snagging up janamade.com might have been worth it. I just didn't want to lose my .com address that I thought that the way that I did it was the easiest way.
Apparently not.
I am still waiting to hear back from them about the last email I sent them.
It had better be soon.
Grr.
on a completely different note, look at the size of this avacado!
What do you think?
It's a close match to my business cards, which are totally awesome, and again, thanks to Kathryn for those too!
I messed around with the header, but I used the files that she gave me.
I've got a couple more little things I want to do, tidy up the sidebar on the right and add another link to the left, and maybe change the font of the whole thing? Not sure, but I'm working on it!
Oh and my domain name? Getting that sorted out has been a bit of a nightmare.
I've got my name renewal through DomainPeople and so far it's been a headache. I am starting to think that canceling everything all together and risking someone snagging up janamade.com might have been worth it. I just didn't want to lose my .com address that I thought that the way that I did it was the easiest way.
Apparently not.
I am still waiting to hear back from them about the last email I sent them.
It had better be soon.
Grr.
on a completely different note, look at the size of this avacado!
Feb 23, 2010
Art Wall update (Introducing Mr. Sinister Bunny)
As you may remember (if you read this ridiculous blog) I have started an art wall in our suite. It's been pretty fun so far and I am really excited to continue collecting art.
Hello Etsy, we're going to get very familiar!
When I have expendable income, whenever that may be.
Anyway.
Last week I picked up some picture hangers so that I could hang up this guy, the newest member of the Art Wall Family.
Mr. Sinister Bunny, a Janamade original (yeah you like that?, I know!) is likely going to mosey over to the shop to sniff around, and see if anyone wants to take him home.
He's totally house trained, and will menace your bad dreams away.
That's right. He's like a Body Guard Bunny. For your DREAMS.
I am thinking I might have to do a series of Sinister Woodland critters, would you like one?
You should tell me, and maybe it will happen!
Feb 21, 2010
"I just did a bad thing"
That's what I said to Geoff the other day when I made MY OWN NUTELLA.
From scratch.
No one should have this information.
Really.
WHO is to stop me from making it ALL THE TIME??
No one, that's who. Only myself, and I am totally unreliable on the willpower/what's good for me front.
But it's so easy. And so intensely delicious.
And if you think about it, not really bad for you at all, so why am I getting so worked up?
It's literally just hazelnuts, cocoa and agave nectar. There is nothing bad for you there. in fact here is exactly what went into it...
and all you really need is a coffee grinder (or blender, we just don't have one here in town so coffee grinder it is) and a bowl and a spoon.
I used 2 grinderfuls of hazelnuts, buzzing them up until it was a fine meal (in a blender you could make it a butter and it would be creamier I bet) then put that into a bowl.
Added 2 heaping tablespoons of cocoa powder, and probably 3 tablespoons agave.
stir it up and you've got this...
it was thicker than nutella, not really very creamy, more like fudge.
NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
so I rolled it up in between my hands to make nutella snakes out of it, then wrapped those bad boys up in le fresh crepes.
Voila!
I had to take a bite out of one so you could see the filling ratio.
It's all for you, I hardly enjoyed it at all don't you know.
These were INTENSE, super chocolatey and we could only eat 2 each.
So next time I'll use less filling to balance it out.
Oh yes, I am planning a next time.
From scratch.
No one should have this information.
Really.
WHO is to stop me from making it ALL THE TIME??
No one, that's who. Only myself, and I am totally unreliable on the willpower/what's good for me front.
But it's so easy. And so intensely delicious.
And if you think about it, not really bad for you at all, so why am I getting so worked up?
It's literally just hazelnuts, cocoa and agave nectar. There is nothing bad for you there. in fact here is exactly what went into it...
and all you really need is a coffee grinder (or blender, we just don't have one here in town so coffee grinder it is) and a bowl and a spoon.
I used 2 grinderfuls of hazelnuts, buzzing them up until it was a fine meal (in a blender you could make it a butter and it would be creamier I bet) then put that into a bowl.
Added 2 heaping tablespoons of cocoa powder, and probably 3 tablespoons agave.
stir it up and you've got this...
it was thicker than nutella, not really very creamy, more like fudge.
NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
so I rolled it up in between my hands to make nutella snakes out of it, then wrapped those bad boys up in le fresh crepes.
Voila!
I had to take a bite out of one so you could see the filling ratio.
It's all for you, I hardly enjoyed it at all don't you know.
These were INTENSE, super chocolatey and we could only eat 2 each.
So next time I'll use less filling to balance it out.
Oh yes, I am planning a next time.
Feb 20, 2010
Vertebrae pendant in the shop!
I came across a couple vertebrae that were lurking in my studio and I've listed one in my etsy shop!
I have been really loving the crochet chains anyway, so I've included a champagne crochet chain with each one. (I'll post the other one tomorrow, I am going to try to list something new more regularly and see how that goes. So today, a vertebrae!)
Although I am happy to switch it for a black one for you if you'd prefer.
Or mauve!
Or green!
Feb 19, 2010
Feb 17, 2010
Home made Pho (sort of)
Last week when Geoff and I were both sick with the Head Cold, (Capitals people) we ate a lot of soup.
And a lot of oranges, but soup was high up there on the list.
And I had picked up this really amazing roast beef at the Red Barn Market at Mattick's Farm that I wanted to really enjoy before it went off (as sometimes happens when we get deli meat becuase we both forget all about it.) But all of the meat from Red Barn Market is SOOO GOOD. Like, So Good. So we are much better at remembering we have it and it get's eaten up pretty fast. Particularly the bacon. Oh god the BACON! It's so good there that I will actually not eat any other kind of bacon now.
It's that good. And it's hormone and nitrate free (except for the nitrates that occur naturally from the smoking. But that doesn't count)
Anyway, I digress.
So we were feeling sickly and wanted soup and I found a recipe on The Kitchn, which of course I can't pull up now, but you should think about browsing that site anyway because it's great. Really.
So we made a version of it and it was really good.
So good that I took a picture.
And a lot of oranges, but soup was high up there on the list.
And I had picked up this really amazing roast beef at the Red Barn Market at Mattick's Farm that I wanted to really enjoy before it went off (as sometimes happens when we get deli meat becuase we both forget all about it.) But all of the meat from Red Barn Market is SOOO GOOD. Like, So Good. So we are much better at remembering we have it and it get's eaten up pretty fast. Particularly the bacon. Oh god the BACON! It's so good there that I will actually not eat any other kind of bacon now.
It's that good. And it's hormone and nitrate free (except for the nitrates that occur naturally from the smoking. But that doesn't count)
Anyway, I digress.
So we were feeling sickly and wanted soup and I found a recipe on The Kitchn, which of course I can't pull up now, but you should think about browsing that site anyway because it's great. Really.
So we made a version of it and it was really good.
So good that I took a picture.
Feb 14, 2010
Happy Valentine's Day (and 400th post!)
Well I hope that you have a lovely day all of you out there, whether you are soppy lovers or not. We're not. Soppy I mean.
But we are In L O V E !!!
(said with a sing song voice and picture a cherub rolling around with a litter of kittens)
Ahem.
But we are In L O V E !!!
(said with a sing song voice and picture a cherub rolling around with a litter of kittens)
Ahem.
Feb 12, 2010
Oh Holy Crap
I just saw this over on Unruly Things and my jaw dropped, and I think that I actually might have drooled a little.
Just $8000.
TOTALLY WORTH IT.
I love love love rose cut stones. I haven't been able to find any to use in my own designs yet, but I will. Oh yes. I. Will.
This beauty is available at Erie Basin.
I have been coveting a black stone ring for a while now and this doesn't help me get over that. Quite the opposite.
Nothing like late night crepes
Gluten Free of course.
They soothe the soul.
And they are SO FLIPPING EASY!
All you need is:
2 eggs, sweetener, flour, oil, milk and a little salt.
-with a whisk, in a medium mixing bowl, beat your eggs.
-add in some sweetener (I usually use honey or agave, but sugar is good too) anywhere from 2 T to a 1/4 cup, depends on how sweet you want your crepes.
- whisk in 1/4 cup oil (melted butter is also REALLY GOOD)
- add flour in large spoonfuls until your batter is just too thick to whisk anymore.
- now add your milk, in stages until you've got a nice soupy batter.
- add a pinch of salt and whisk in.
If you want to add more flour to make EVEN MORE CREPES, now is the time, just remember to add more milk to thin it out again.
Have a non stick skillet (or a crepe pan if you're fancy) heating up on medium heat while you are mixing everything up so that it's nice and hot now that you are ready to go.
-ladle or pour your batter into the skillet, swirling the good stuff around to get an even crepe. (pour out any extra batter back into the mixing bowl if your scooped/poured too much)
-let it cook up until the edges start to dry and brown up, flip over to cook up the other side (maybe a minute, if that)
-remove your crepe from the hot skillet and lay flat on a plate.
-stack those babies until all your batter is gone.
-fill with WHATEVER YOU WANT! The beauty of crepes is that they are pretty much delicious with EVERYTHING.
Easy peasy.
I've been making just enough for a couple crepes each, spreading almond butter on them and then rolling up a banana cut in half lengthwise.
Yep, Banana Burritos.
Zero guilt factor when I don't use white sugar.
They soothe the soul.
And they are SO FLIPPING EASY!
All you need is:
2 eggs, sweetener, flour, oil, milk and a little salt.
-with a whisk, in a medium mixing bowl, beat your eggs.
-add in some sweetener (I usually use honey or agave, but sugar is good too) anywhere from 2 T to a 1/4 cup, depends on how sweet you want your crepes.
- whisk in 1/4 cup oil (melted butter is also REALLY GOOD)
- add flour in large spoonfuls until your batter is just too thick to whisk anymore.
- now add your milk, in stages until you've got a nice soupy batter.
- add a pinch of salt and whisk in.
If you want to add more flour to make EVEN MORE CREPES, now is the time, just remember to add more milk to thin it out again.
Have a non stick skillet (or a crepe pan if you're fancy) heating up on medium heat while you are mixing everything up so that it's nice and hot now that you are ready to go.
-ladle or pour your batter into the skillet, swirling the good stuff around to get an even crepe. (pour out any extra batter back into the mixing bowl if your scooped/poured too much)
-let it cook up until the edges start to dry and brown up, flip over to cook up the other side (maybe a minute, if that)
-remove your crepe from the hot skillet and lay flat on a plate.
-stack those babies until all your batter is gone.
-fill with WHATEVER YOU WANT! The beauty of crepes is that they are pretty much delicious with EVERYTHING.
Easy peasy.
I've been making just enough for a couple crepes each, spreading almond butter on them and then rolling up a banana cut in half lengthwise.
Yep, Banana Burritos.
Zero guilt factor when I don't use white sugar.
Feb 10, 2010
We've been making CHANGES!
Yes!! I was able to hang out with the Lovely Kathryn last night and we (read SHE) edited some HTML and made some of the changes that I was hoping for.
Please notice that this page now fills more of your screen and no longer looks so cramped. YES!
Please notice that there is no more "navbar" at the top of your screen. YES!
And I am thinking that maybe, JUST MAYBE, we've figured out the domain name issue.
(It takes 48 hours to update, so it might work tomorrow!)
I am trying to not get too excited right now!
Please notice that this page now fills more of your screen and no longer looks so cramped. YES!
Please notice that there is no more "navbar" at the top of your screen. YES!
And I am thinking that maybe, JUST MAYBE, we've figured out the domain name issue.
(It takes 48 hours to update, so it might work tomorrow!)
I am trying to not get too excited right now!
Feb 8, 2010
They might hate me for this
But I just found these pictures (that I had transferred over from the other non internet connected computer for the sole purpose of sharing them on this blog) that I had honestly forgotten about and I have no choice but to share them now.
That's my Dad.
(I would like to say that he's dressed up for Halloween, but remove the wig and the skully bandana, and that's what he looks like on the weekend.)
And this is my sister on Christmas morning.
(I am pretty sure that there is a version of this same photo from every year that she has been alive in one form or another. Ribbons on head, caressing new thing, making goofball face. AWESOME!)
I love my family!
That's my Dad.
(I would like to say that he's dressed up for Halloween, but remove the wig and the skully bandana, and that's what he looks like on the weekend.)
And this is my sister on Christmas morning.
(I am pretty sure that there is a version of this same photo from every year that she has been alive in one form or another. Ribbons on head, caressing new thing, making goofball face. AWESOME!)
I love my family!
Feb 7, 2010
New Etsy banner
I've been brainstorming how to update my etsy shop lately, and I definitely wanted to work on a new banner.
This is what I came up with...
I am still basically winging it when it comes to photoshop, I can do a few things pretty well now, but sometimes I really understand that I know NOTHING.
I need to take an afternoon and sit through some tutorials.
I will. Soon.
But I sold a Woozy ring on etsy last night (!!!) so I am going to work on that today.
I'll take some pictures before I send it off this week!
(what do you think about the banner?)
This is what I came up with...
I am still basically winging it when it comes to photoshop, I can do a few things pretty well now, but sometimes I really understand that I know NOTHING.
I need to take an afternoon and sit through some tutorials.
I will. Soon.
But I sold a Woozy ring on etsy last night (!!!) so I am going to work on that today.
I'll take some pictures before I send it off this week!
(what do you think about the banner?)
Give away on Creature Comforts!
I receive Creature Comforts directly to my inbox, and when I got this post I was stoked! Then promptly got a head cold and forgot all about it.
But you've still got a chance to win this great Fuji instant polaroid style camera OR a great camera bag if you DO IT NOW! The draw is tomorrow!
Pretty sweet no?
Just pop over to her post here for more details!
Which would you choose? I'd go for the camera, hands down!
Feb 4, 2010
Juicing!
Geoff and I are big fans of fresh juice. We got a juicer when we lived in Halifax and we used it so much that we blew the motor.
I am not even kidding.
And we received a new one as a wedding gift (thank you Michaela and Ben!) and holy crap it's heavy duty.
I actually have to hold on to it because the blades spin so fast that it MOVES ACROSS THE COUNTER.
Seriously.
It's super awesome.
And it's been really nice this past week while we've both been sick (hit with the head cold unfortunately) to have fresh enzymes working their magic.
I honestly believe that I would feel WAY worse if I wasn't drinking fresh juice everyday. I am hoping that I will be all better by the weekend in fact.
Anyway, typically we juice something like this:
2-3 carrots
1-2 apples
4-5 stalks celery
ginger
parsley
and then whatever else we've got on hand. (cucumber, kale green lettuce, whatever)
Geoff made some juice with beets yesterday that was super delicious.
These things usually make just over the perfect amount for 2.
(we'll fill a glass each, drink the top half and then top off with the remaining juice)
If we're feeling even the slightest bit off, fresh juice will make us both feel better instantly!
I am not even kidding.
And we received a new one as a wedding gift (thank you Michaela and Ben!) and holy crap it's heavy duty.
I actually have to hold on to it because the blades spin so fast that it MOVES ACROSS THE COUNTER.
Seriously.
It's super awesome.
And it's been really nice this past week while we've both been sick (hit with the head cold unfortunately) to have fresh enzymes working their magic.
I honestly believe that I would feel WAY worse if I wasn't drinking fresh juice everyday. I am hoping that I will be all better by the weekend in fact.
Anyway, typically we juice something like this:
2-3 carrots
1-2 apples
4-5 stalks celery
ginger
parsley
and then whatever else we've got on hand. (cucumber, kale green lettuce, whatever)
Geoff made some juice with beets yesterday that was super delicious.
These things usually make just over the perfect amount for 2.
(we'll fill a glass each, drink the top half and then top off with the remaining juice)
If we're feeling even the slightest bit off, fresh juice will make us both feel better instantly!
Feb 2, 2010
New Thing!
I am leaning towards calling this the Infinity Pendant, because it's close to being an interesting figure 8 style of thing.
It's very delicate, quite small. (no longer than my thumbnail I think) Dainty even. And you can thread the chain through either hoop, or both if you want.
Interesting.
I want to polish this guy up a little bit more, but I had to take the pictures yesterday because the light coming in through the bedroom window seemed so perfect. I'll have to cover that tabletop though, eugh.
Feb 1, 2010
Quilt!
Here it is, the very first ever Janamade quilt project!
I am pretty stoked on it. Although we are going to have to figure out the temperature in the bedroom now because holy crap that cover is WARM now.
Like up in the night with the sweats warm.
I had only just laid it out on the bed flat for a SECOND before Norman was all "I need to be up there right now" all over the place.
(if you look reeeeally closely you can just see the lines of the good tree in the corner there. I've got 2 trees penciled in and the gold one half outlined before the gold pen dried up. I used it all up on the painting from a few posts back! I'll have to make a trip to Michaels for a few more asap.)
I am pretty stoked on it. Although we are going to have to figure out the temperature in the bedroom now because holy crap that cover is WARM now.
Like up in the night with the sweats warm.
I had only just laid it out on the bed flat for a SECOND before Norman was all "I need to be up there right now" all over the place.
(if you look reeeeally closely you can just see the lines of the good tree in the corner there. I've got 2 trees penciled in and the gold one half outlined before the gold pen dried up. I used it all up on the painting from a few posts back! I'll have to make a trip to Michaels for a few more asap.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
