Etsy blog feature and new work

I’m so excited to share the Going for Gold, Silver, and Bronze post that I was featured in on Etsy’s blog.  My jaw dropped when I saw my very own gold and black porcelain ring in the company of such amazing designers' work.  Please check it out here to have access to all of these gorgeous pieces and more!

Additionally I am so proud to announce that I have just replenished the shop, so there are tons of new pieces available—including the ever-popular hanging pots!  Yes, they’re back!

 
Phew!  For someone who generally likes to avoid the camera that was a lot of me in there.  And I'm no ham, but...

Porcelain bangle hoop earrings, anyone?  No? Nobody? 

inspiring me lately

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designer Emma Wallace

Matthew Picton’s Map Sculptures of Cities

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Today I’m sharing some images that just may be informing new work I plan to do on paper as paint has once again been calling my name.  Yes, I’ve been on Pinterest.  No, I’m not ashamed.  It’s not like I spend hours on there or anything.  That’d be ridiculous...  

new is good

Just wanted to give a little preview of a special new piece coming soon to my Etsy shop.  Okay, really I just wanted to go, “Look at my hair!” Or lack thereof.  It’s gone!  Chopped.  All on its way to Locks of Love. 

I mean, yes, I’m excited about the new dreamcatcher necklace, but what could possibly be more exciting than taking two minutes to do one’s hair after a shower?  I sound lazy.  But I promise the additional time I’ve gained is only going toward creating new work.  Lots of it.  And it’s all coming soon.  Very soon.  Consider yourself thoroughly (and melodramatically) warned.    

Hooray for Change!

If you’ve been around the ol’ Etsy shop, you might have noticed a few changes.  I’d like to discuss these at great length with you.  Or not.  I’ll keep it short.  But I’m going out of my way for you—over the river and through the woods out of my way—as concision isn’t really my thing.  You’re welcome. 

First, I’ve done away with postage fees.  They stink.  In reality I’ve just been going through some growing pains with my packaging and have settled on something that allows me to post orders at a lower cost and hence I’m passing on the savings.  You’re free to dance around about it.  I did.  

Second, I hired a model.  Myself.  I pay her in sandwiches.  She seems pleased.  Selling online can be so impersonal, and it has been my decision to let go of all the shadowy mystery (intriguing as I'm sure it is) and present myself along with my work.  So, yep, that's me! 

on sale now!

And lastly, I’ve added a sale section to my shop.  I’ve dropped the prices of a few pieces as I’m making room for new work to come this summer.  The changes there are going to be novel-worthy!  It will be epic!!  Okay, I’ll try to stick to pictures only and perhaps a few choice words.  For the sake of the world. 

business as usual

We made it back (read: arrived kicking and screaming) to Edinburgh this past Monday and were slapped in the face with both the cold weather and reality that we weren’t in Costa Rica anymore.  Sigh.  

Here are just a couple of shots from the trip--will be posting more to my new Flickr page!

Although I couldn’t take the warm, sunny days along with me, I have managed to take back plenty of inspiration.  Oh and a horrible sun burn.  worth. it.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Just in case you’re like me and completely forgot it’s Valentine’s Day until much too late to make something complicated and frilly for your sweetheart—I’ve got the perfect solution: strawberry banana Chia pudding with (if you happen to have coconut milk in your refrigerator) coconut milk whipped cream.  Not to worry, the whipped cream isn’t necessary to enjoy this tasty and healthy treat.  Find the guidelines here!

Hope everyone has a lovely Valentine’s Day!

I’ll never bake again.

Okay, maybe that’s a lie.  I probably will bake again.  I mean I was just thinking about baking some homemade rolls…

In any case, I’ve been experimenting with lots of mostly raw meals.  And I say ‘mostly’ because there’s so much heated—to less than 115° F, mind you—debate over what is and isn’t actually classified unequivocally as raw such as “raw” agave nectar or even cashews.  This led me to discover the beauty that is raw dessert. 

I’ve always loved to bake (because I love to eat what I bake), but there has always been a tiny twinge of guilt after indulging in that fifth cookie.  Maybe the guilt was because this meant Grandma would get fewer cookies this Christmas, but you see the point.  Guilt.  These cookies are bad news. 

Raw desserts are in a class all their own.  They are not without calories of course, but the fats and calories involved are healthy and necessary in any well-balanced diet.  They take significantly less time to make as everything is, of course, no-bake.  All you’ll need is some sort of trusty blender such as a food processor or immersion blender.  Oh, and lastly they’re delicious.  As in 'I feel like I just consumed ten thousand calories and lived to tell the tale' delicious. 

Last night I attempted my first raw passion fruit “cheesecake".  It was actually my first passion fruit anything.  I’d never tried one before.  Marcus (my partner) and I were in Tesco a couple days ago and only had to smell them before choosing to give them a try.  We cracked one open when we got back to the flat and were a bit disappointed to be honest.  Not in the flavour as it was tropical and amazing, but there just isn’t much of it in there.  I had to find a way to make it stretch.

So, I thought, “Why not a passion fruit cheesecake?”  I poked around online checking out various raw cheesecake recipes, but ultimately I just do what I want in the kitchen.  Guidelines for how I created my raw passion fruit cheesecake are available here. 

Before I’d even added the passion fruit to the cashew cheesecake filling I was saying to myself out loud alone in the kitchen like a goober, “Wow.”  It was shocking how some soaked nuts, lemon juice, vanilla extract, salt, and agave nectar could taste like cheesecake.  I could eat all of this and feel no remorse.  It’s all just a bit of nuts and dates.  It’s practically a granola bar.  This is health food. 

And let’s face it…you can’t very well bring Grandma ‘health food’ for Christmas after all.  Guilt be gone.