past, present....future

I found these three lovely little gems in a box in my studio, surprise. I thought about where and when they come from and what they could be in the future. Ahhhh, such heavy thoughts lately. Looking forward to the dust settling and seeing what's through the next walls I keep blowing down. Shell, ceramic bead, brass leaf, hammered, copper wire = pendant.

Italian for an Italian, I kid you not

It wasn't all that bad, we had Nat and B over for dinner and half way through making dinner I look up at Spence and announce, "... and I am making Italian for an Italian. I did not think this through."

So, upon arrival of said guests and completion of dinner, we had a small, approving laugh over it. It's these moments I feel most comfortable, in realizing I might not be the best at what I do in the kitchen, but  the love and learning that goes into it, that's where it's at.

Parmesan cheese crisps & Kalamata Olives for nibbles before dinner with yummy Italian vino, provided by our awesome guests.

Garden Fresh Arugula Salad with White Beans & Onion:
4 c fresh arugula, rinsed and torn into small pieces
1 can cannellini beans, rinsed
1/3 red onion, small dice
1/2 c olive oil
1 lemon fresh squeezed
salt
pepper
pinch of chili pepper flakes

toss liberally and serve room temp, the greens will wilt a bit, it's all good.

Crimini Diablo:
1 lb pasta boiled to al dente and drained, tossed liberally with olive oil
3/4 jar red sauce ( I use in a time pinch, would love to make my own, but you know how things get)
2 plum tomatos, small dice
1/2 small white onion, small dice
4 garlic cloves crushed
2 tbs olive oil
1 tbs red pepper flakes
1 lb crimini mushrooms, cleaned, halved and stemmed

Fry the shrooms on med high heat in 1 tbs olive oil with 1 garlic clove until just barely turning brown

cook the onion, tomato and remaining garlic on med heat until onion turns clear, add the sauce and the chili flakes, simmer for 5-7 min

Toss pasta, sauce and shrooms together in a big ass bowl, you will need this, it gets messy.

Serve with an amazing baguette and some parm on the side.

I love to use minimal desert with a heavy meal. So seasonal berries, Mexican wedding cookies and almonds were the perfect night cap.

Perhaps I will brush up on my mexican and have some family over next time.

Seashells by the Seashore

My names not Sally but these two great finds with friends. Beautiful adventure.

Four

going to the ocean shore! Set of bangles for Meena's mom as a thank you.

Three

Two

One

Riiiinnnnngggg

I once made these all the time. I love this shape, simple and pure. I think I am going to start creating more of these as an exercise in perfection and repetition. It's like meditation. Has a nice ring to it. hu?

Dinner with the Lee's

Tonights dinner is brought to you by an evening with friends.

Quinoa, corn, black bean salad:
2 c quinoa, steamed - Rice cooker people, works miracles
1 can black beans
1 small bag frozen corn
1/2 red pepper, cubed
1/2 red onion, small dice
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
black pepper
2 limes juiced, if you wanna get fancy, zest too
( for those of you who can tolerate cilantro, go for it, I am sure it would be great)
2 tbs olive oil

toss in a large bowl. Serve room temp.

Kale asian salad:

1 bunch kale, remove the thick veins, if you have a juicer, this is where they should go. Rough chop, boil for 1 minute and blanch in cold water to stop cooking. You just want to tenderize the kale, not destroy it.
1/2 red pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- sauté red pepper and onion in olive oil until slightly brown.
Sauce:
2 tbs miso paste
1 tbs sesame oil
1/4 oj
2 tsp rice vinegar
2 tbs sesame seeds
mix together well.

Toss the kale, onions, pepper in a large bowl with the sauce.

Fried sweet potato rounds:
cut 1 in thick slabs of sweet potato
par boil
pat dry
fry with 2 tbs olive oil.

serve warm.

It was a lovely evening, good friends, food and conversation. Repeat liberally.

So much fun

I really enjoyed working with the felt ball the other night, so much so that I re-visited it in the form of earrings. I am not quite sure that these are expressed to their fullest potential, but it's heading in the direction that I would like. Simple and straightforward, but slightly supple and elegant in a way. Silver, red felt, plum faceted glass beads.

Fuzzy Buddy

I love when random bits and pieces come together harmoniously. I purchased many of these little odds and ends at a crafts store for one thing or another and who knew it would all end up as a beautiful piece of jewelry. Felt ball, flower grommets, pink pearls, red rubber, pins. 

Felt is becoming a more commonly used material in jewelry. It expresses a wide variety of emotions, and thought with fluid and colorful gestures. I love this material and am looking to play with it more as the year continues. This happy accident is just the beginning.

Found Bits and Pieces

This rough pendant is comprised of found, worm eaten seashell from Florida, thanks to Bailey, and a opal and gold pendant I came across in a random jewelry lot. Mom is constantly finding large lots of costume jewelry, and sometimes I will get lucky and become the new oner of these bits and pieces.

Earrings on a Whim

It's kind of nice to be able to create a piece of jewelry when I don't have anything to go with what I am wearing. Kind of a handy trade to know. Very light malachite and sliver wire.

Longing for the Ocean

For now I will have to live vicariously through the found gifts Bailey has brought me back from her beachy vacay in FLA. Silver, pearl, found shells.

A Lamp and A Plant

That equation is how we solve relatively awkward spaces that need a lil something. Well, for this, it was mostly just a plant. As I was tending to the garden of fakes we have in the office, one of them defected and left behind an arm. I decided to round it and put it on my arm. Hence, the plant bangle. It's been a long day at the office, I don't get out much.

South of the Border

I wish I could say that I was, really tempted by vacation fever, I know that I just got back but I really want to take off again. This evening's dish has some Mexican flavors but not really true to that particular cusine.  It's more of a Mexi Mix.

Charred Chorizo -
Local made Sausage Craft Chorizo ( amazing company with a great product, and did I mention, it's LOCAL!)
crumbled out of the casing and dam close to blackened

Sauted Veggies -
1 onion half moons
2 poblano peppers, cut in quarters then again in strips
2 small zucchinis , half mooned
2 cloves garlic minced
fry on high heat to get a nice bit of color then turn down to finish to desired tenderness. I cook mine so they are still crisp veggies, 6-8 min

Steamed Wild Rice

Pupusas from Humberto's mom. I wish I could take credit for these, but maybe next time.

1/2 small lime, 2 ribs cabbage for crunch &
cheddar cheese to cover in a light dusting.

Tiger Lilly

Inspired by the hint of orange coming from my blooming lilies and the promise of a beautiful summer. These whimsical bobs are created from copper wire and tigers eye. Beautiful and perfect for the coming season.