Friday night project

A couple weeks ago, my mom and I went to the fabric store together and there happened to be some pretty good deals, so I got her and I some lovely supplies. Here are my late Friday night project results. A cropped jacket with oversize collar made from quilt lining and fully lined and a fun, bright skirt made from a cotton linen blend and also lined. I made the patterns from scratch, but I think I'm going to tweak the jacket a little bit more and make a second one. I somehow didn't get the lining quite right, so the armholes feel a tad tight. A work in progress, but it was still fun and I wore it out with Matt on our date night. :)

I forgot to mention, but my hat is from here. Love it!

Giveaway winner! :: Thank you to everyone!

Thank you to everyone who posted comments for the giveaway! I had a wonderful time reading through all the sweet and thoughtful comments and it was really great to hear which pieces people like the most. I really wish I could make a piece for everyone! I used a random integer generator to "draw" 1 winner (random.org), and made the rule before I generated the number that for any multiple posts from anyone, the first one was the only one that counted. So the winner is.....

"auroralauramarie"!!

auroralauramarie posted this comment on January 22, 2009 8:41 AM:
"Hello Myra,

Your work is lovely. I stumbled upon it looking for inspiration for my "vintage picnic" wedding. I am hoping (fingers crossed) that you will be available to make a hair piece for me for my August wedding. This piece is my favorite!

http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=8831086

It has a very elegant and vintage feel while still remaining fun!!!! I think that it would be perfect for an outdoor vintage picnic wedding.

Have a beautiful 2009!"

Here's her pick:

If this was your post, please email me at info@twigsandhoney.com with your mailing address so I can send you your one of a kind piece and put "giveaway" in the subject line.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!! My first year was such a wonderful experience and I am looking forward to a whole new year! I'll do another giveaway later in the year, so check back for updates. :)

White Chocolate Cheesecake

Oh My Goodness! You would think I completely forgot how to blog. . .in fact, I think I did. I have been taking pictures of food for the last 2 months, trying desperately to find time to post. I wanted to start with Pressure Cooker recipes because I am making myself learn how to use my Fagor Pressure Cooker with Canning Assessories. I also have a smaller pressure cooker with two pans; one lid. Everytime I have conquered a fear in the kitchen, the true amazement has been about how easy the new skill actually was. Hhhhmm, the motto to so many things in life.

Okay, so my first blog for the new year 2009 will be the all-time haunting white chocolate cheesecake. The stories that have circulated over the combination of white chocolate and cheesecake have all been good. Recipes have been studied and altered. For 1 full year, I have sought after baking my 1st white chocolate cheesecake but the recipe HAD to match all the hype of creaminess with tons of white chocolate flavor. I messed with recipes. . .not having taste tested a one of them. . .until I came up with what felt like the perfect combination of ingredients. Sour Cream is not a highlight for me in cheesecake, yet the chosen combination included 8 ounces (1 cup) of sour cream. Worried? Yeppers but undaunted. I moved forward, ready to conquer.
Mistakes:

• I forgot to take enough pictures. . .Including a final cutting of the cheesecake. . .
• I took 1 year to force myself to make "the" white chocolate cheesecake
• I didn't believe the end result could be as good as what was pictured in my mind

Things Gone Right:

• The Flavor was extrodinary
• Creamy and Delicious
• Only 1 Small Crack on Top
• I shared!

Enough Talking! Here is the recipe =)
Crust Ingredients:
3/4 c. Blanched almonds; Ground (I found Red Mills carries ground almonds)
3/4 c. Quick Oats; uncooked
3/4 c. Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/4 c. Sugar
1/4 c. PLUS 2 T. Butter; melted
Cheesecake Ingredients:
2 packages Premier white chocolate baking bars "or" (3) bars of Ghirardelli White Chocolate
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream
2 t. vanilla extract
Garnish: White Chocolate Curls

Directions:
Combine first 5 Ingredients in medium bowl; blend well. Press into bottom and 2" up sides of 9" spring form pan. Bake at 350 for 5 minutes. Cool.

Melt white chocolate bars in aheavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Set aside, letting it cool slightly.

Beat cream cheese at high speed of an electric mixer until creamy. Add sugar; beat well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in melted white chocolate, sour cream, and vanilla. Pour mixture into prepared crust.

Bake at 325 degrees F. for 1 hour. Turn oven off; leave cheesecake in oven for 30 minutes with oven door partially opened. Remove cheesecake and cool on a wire rack. Cover and chill at least 8 hours. Remove from pan; garnish with White Chocolate Curls, if desireds.

To Make White Chocolate Curls:
You will need 2 packages - 6 ounces each - of Premier White Chocolate Bars.
To keep chocolate from being hard and breaking when curled, put each bar, on at a time, on waxed paper in a microwave on high for 20-30 seconds - -just until chocolate is slightly tacky. The chocolate will not curl if it is too soft. Then carefully pull a vegetable peeler across the length of the baking bar to create a curl. If the bar breaks, just use pieces to form curls. Refrigerate curls until ready to garnish the top of the cheesecake =o].

**I am going to have to get back on the wagon for blogging. . .forgetting pictures. . .Really? I suck!

Twigs & Honey Giveaway piece and more

Thank you to everyone for your extremely sweet comments to the last post! I'm excited to see who will be randomly chosen! I wish I had time to make several hundred pieces for everyone. It has been great to read the comments and get a feel for what pieces everyone is most interested in, which gives me great feedback for what pieces might make reappearances this next season. Here's the piece I'll be giving to the winner of the giveaway, to be announced Monday. Remember, get your comments in by midnight on Sunday (January 25th, Pacific time) and post them on the previous post for January 19th.

The lace ribbon band is a fuchsia color, but it is coming off more red in photos.
Another reminder to all brides and those interested in seeing some lovely fashion. The English Dept. is putting on a fashion show, A Novel Romance, on February 1st at the Ace Hotel in Portland, Oregon. I'll be making the accessories and I've been busy putting together a nice collection. Here's my favorite piece so far:

Most of the pieces I'll be making for the show will be available for purchase sometime after the show (I think I'm going to use them for a photos shoot). If you attend the show and see a piece that you like, contact me to let me know that you are interested at info@twigsandhoney.com. First come, first serve basis and price upon request.

One last note! Like the necklace I'm wearing with the giveaway piece? It is made by one of my favorite designers on etsy, Joie de Vie. Blair, the lovely Mrs. behind the line, was so kind to send me this piece and I love it. Isn't it so cute and perfect for Valentine's Day, which is coming up! Thank you Blair!!! You can find this same necklace in her shop by clicking here.

1 year Twigs & Honey anniversary :: Giveaway!

These pieces were a couple special projects from this past year.

I meant to do this post a little sooner, but it's been so busy!
Anyhow, I wanted to thank everyone who worked with and supported me this past year with twigs & honey! I cannot believe how fast the year went by, but on January 25th, twigs & honey is celebrating 1 year since its first Etsy sale to this lovely lady. As a modest thank you (if I had more time, I would do something bigger), I am doing a giveaway on this blog. Starting today, January 19th, through midnight, January 25th, post a comment on this blog, copy and paste the link to your favorite twigs & honey piece, and describe why it is your favorite. You can navigate through all my past Etsy sales by clicking here. I'll choose someone randomly (yes! So everyone has a fair chance.) and the winner will receive a specially designed, one of a kind Valentine's Day twigs & honey hair piece. I'll try to post the picture later this week. I'll post a follow up blog post after January 25th, to announce the winner. Thank you to everyone following this blog and hooray for anniversaries!

A few of my favorites from last year:

Seaside birthday : Razor clams, a bust

Matt, Indy and I spent Saturday night and Sunday at Seaside this weekend and despite not finding one razor clam in a record breaking season, we had a wonderful time. Indy was a terrific travel companion and didn't whine or complain. On Saturday, the wind and rain blew at us sideways while we were clamming by lantern light in the evening/night. At that point, the tide was already a bit too high. It was crazy. I felt like my face was getting a microdermabrasion treatment. Indy's face and body turned completely gray from all the sand.
At night, we ate at Girtle's Restaurant. Matt had steak and I got the fish and chips. Yum! On Sunday, we forced ourselves out of bed after staying up late and went clamming again, but still couldn't find any. We hit the snooze a few too many times, so I suspect we still got out too late. We're thinking of trying again next weekend, when low tides will be in the early afternoon. For breakfast, we ate at Pig'n Pancakes and afterwards, we walked around Seaside's downtown to shop and go to the Arcade. For lunch, a healthy serving of elephant ears and candy. When we were out with Indy, without fail, every person that saw her came over to pet the cutie pooch. Her ego, I am sure, is enormous by now!
Here are some photo highlights:

On the beach at Seaside, the lone fisherman searches for clams. Okay, it's just Matt.

Indy was a Pointer in a previous life. "The clams are that way!"

"Maybe if I close my eyes, the clams will appear."

"oooh, lots of water!"

"Okay, I've had enough water!"

Indy with "dad".

Indy with "mom". Update: Just wanted to say that the rubber boots I'm wearing are from Joe's. The brand is Western Chief and here is a link to a very similar pair - the only difference is the contrasting color of green on the sole and trim. I don't know if you can tell, but I'm wearing two pairs of pants in this photo. It was chilly at the beach. Both pairs soaked through, but these wellies kept my feet warm, comfy and completely dry! Amazing! Everyone... go out and get a pair!

Missing you...

"Look at how pathetic I look! Take me with you!"

Matt made me wear it! We're at the shop, Seaside Mostly Hats. Like the scarf? I got it at a neighboring shop and it is made using recycled silk.

Typical couple's tourist shot. :)

Here is a photo of Indy's brother, Badger! Isn't he cute? I recently exchanged some emails with his owner. It is great to see his progress and to hear updates. He is so big! Thank you, Kelly!!

Dun dun dun! :: Turning 1 year younger

Matt and I are heading to the coast this weekend to celebrate my b-day. Funny... I used to get so excited for these things when I was younger, but now I'd like to push them out a bit. ;) This morning, I took Indy out for a jog and she completely outpaces me. I feel so old! I can get really competitive with running and under my breath I was thinking, b*tch (no pun intended). Just kidding. She had to keep slowing down for me. What a good girl. I'm not old (turning 27!), but running on empty for a year takes a toll on the body!

Anyhow, overall I am excited to finally take a day or two off to spend with the hubby and Indy. This will be her first experience on the beach! Oregon had a huge influx in razor clams around Seaside, so Matt and I are going to go clamming and crabbing. I hope we get lucky! Did I ever mention that Indy started her first day of puppy classes last week? Every Saturday, Indy, Matt and I are going to puppy class together. I thought it would be a good chance for her to get more socialization. I thought there would be a ton of puppies there for her to play with, but there is one pitbull puppy that is a bit of a bad influence on Indy (barking in class is infectious so it appears) and one itty bitty toy dog, that would rather sit quivering in the corner on her pee pee pad. Not a great opportunity for Indy to interact with other dogs, but better than nothing! SO we'll go to puppy class tomorrow and then make the drive to Seaside, OR. Over the holidays, we watched the Deadliest Catch marathons and I have a craving for some crab!

Speaking of turning 1 year younger, here's an old picture of me from 3rd grade. My mom recently found this x-mas ornament and thought I would appreciate it. Ah, to be young again! My mom used to cut my hair. Look! I'm sporting those super short bangs that are usually 99% unflattering... but 1% of women can pull it off beautifully! I'm so jealous. I used to have such chubby cheeks that all my mom's friends wanted to pinch them to the point where I would run away, but I lost a ton of that baby fat from my cheeks. My mom always tells everyone, "Oh, Myra used to be SO cute when she was young (*show old embarrassing photos). I don't know what happened." Thanks mom. And look... I used to have more pouty lips. Do lips lose weight with age? Damn it!

New piece in the Etsy shop :: Feathery necklace

I just listed a lovely necklace in my Etsy shop today. Fun to wear and eye catching, this necklace will surely turn heads! The more adventurous types can also wear it as a headband/wrap. Ultra pretty... I want to go run in a meadow while wearing it!

Just saw "Yes Man" :: Heart Zooey!

Matt and I watched the movie Yes Man over the weekend and it is ridiculously sweet and fun. It was better than I anticipated and I think the impossibly cute Zooey Deschanel really made the movie for me. She also sings in the movie and she can sing! I think she's the type of gal that many ladies want to be like and the type of girlfriend or friend that guys want to have. Girl crush! I think she would make a perfect twigs & honey gal! 50% cutie, 50% pretty and I know the math doesn't work, but 100% unique! I like her bangs! ;)

New boutique pieces! :: Plus a new boutique added to the stocklist

I just wanted to give a quick update to say that I recently delivered a new batch of lovely hair adornments to The English Dept. in Portland, OR. There are a couple headbands included in the mix and here are a few photos:

I'm also excited to add a new boutique to the twigs & honey stocklist, Something Blue.

The shop is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, and carries lovely dresses and accessories for brides and bridesmaids. Their contact information is:
Something Blue
1007 22nd Street West
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7M 0S2
Canada
306-382-5452

Here are the lovely pieces that should be arriving to them later this week: