Ikat

I love Ikat patterns! I'm going to try to draw up some for my graphic needs. Here are some awesome pillows from Uzbek Craft. They also sell fabric too if you're into sewing.

DIY Lamps

I've got a little affinity lately for electrical work and making lamps. I've been (trying) to fix outlets and switch light fixtures. I took a pottery class on making lamps with pottery creations awhile back and made a log lamp for my bathroom. Now I want to make some sconces by combining pottery with some of these fun lamp parts from Mohn Electric Co. I'm undecided on the design, but think I'll sketch it out. I can't wait. Soon everything in my house will be made from pottery. Hot damn.

Peacocks

Meet my peacock friends I made at Schells Brewery in New Ulm, MN. They're so pretty yet modest. I wish I had a tail like that. Chad and I celebrated valentines day this year with a brewery tour. It was so much fun — and the fried sauerkraut cream cheese nuggets at the german restaurant in town were amazing. Sometimes I want to hide in the corner like this lil' peacock lady above. Like today. It's raining. Blah.

Brewing with Chad and Dad

My dad came to visit in February for a Father/Daughter/Chad weekend and we taught him to brew beer. We brewed a wheat beer with coriander and orange peel, then added lemon zest later on. The best one so far! It was a lot of fun and so nice to have dad to hang with all weekend!

Hello World

Hello world! That's what Chad's mom likes to say when she wakes up. We've become fond of it and have started saying it too. It starts the day off with a goofy laugh! Anyway, my little plants are coming back up to see the world. It's so darn exciting to see that they actually survived the whole winter outside in Minnesota. I don't know how they do it, but I'm always ecstatic to see they've come back up to see me in the spring! The plants can be so pretty when they're coming up from the ground and budding.

Purple Peruvian Potato 

(planted around easter)

Horseradish

Lovage

Colewort

Colewort

Hops Vine 

(we're harvesting the hops this year to make beer)

Hops Vine 

(grows insanely well. these little guys will be engulfing the garage in about a month)

Hops Vine 

(the main part of the plant)

Stonecrop

Green Peonies

Rhubarb

Onions 

(planted around easter)

Radishes 

(planted around easter)

Spinach 

(planted around easter)

Sambucus/Elderberry

Arctic Glow Thistle

Made It: Porch Couch

I recovered this couch that my neighbor was giving away last fall. It was brown cane with horrid ripped brown floraly (so not like my new brown floraly cuteness) cushions. I forgot to take a before photo. Oops. But, I would like to high five myself for actually making a decision on the fabric in less than a year. We plan on painting our house this summer - school house red with white trim - so I think it will look even better then. But now, I'm going to go sketch out there with my dog!

Microcosm Publishing

This is the cutest hand drawn and hand written home remedy zine from Microcosm Publishing. Make Your Place, written and illustrated by Raleigh Briggs includes remedies for first aid, house cleaning and gardening. It's so entertaining to read and the illustrations are delightful. If you're looking to concoct some earth friendly potions for the home, you'll love this.

Flora Grubb Gardens

Some succulent and air plant inspiration. I love the hen and chick art and the huge air plants from Flora Grubb Gardens in San Francisco.

Seedling Pot Maker

Check out this cute little pot maker. A little wood stamp turns your old newspapers into lil' seedling pots! I've already planted my seeds this year but might try this next year.

Want to Make: Poncho Tee

I love this poncho shirt and of course would rather try to make it myself for $3 rather than $39 (that's even the clearance price). I don't think a t-shirt should cost more than $20, so I'll be cutting up my xl mens target tees tonight and trying my hand at the poncho. I was describing it to chad yesterday and used the word "cape." He asked what I needed a cape for. Sometimes I perplex him with my craftiness.

Want to Grow: Shiitake Mushrooms

If you didn't know already, I have a fondness for growing things. I'm totally into the kitchen garden this year, with plans to do more canning than just my jellies. I can't can mushrooms - or maybe I can - but I'm pretty sure I could eat all of these mushrooms before they ever need to be canned. Check out this mushroom growing kit from Gaiam! It's rad! You just set it in a dish and add water - and viola - mushroom crops sprout up every week to two weeks for up to 16 weeks. Damn! They come in Oyster or Shiitake for the low low price of $39.00. I'm not sure what they go for per pound at the groc, but it seems like a good deal.

New Flourish Pottery

I've got a new crop of pottery to post on etsy today! Not all of these will be for sale but if you see something you like here that is not for sale, I can make you another one. Enjoy and don't forget to buy mom a gift for Mother's Day!