Pages

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Cooking: Tapioca Pudding


{ via La Tartine Gourmande }

I have a confession. I totally love tapioca pudding. It's the cake topper to my fond nickname - the "grandma" (or nana, as I prefer) of my friend group. They'll tease and laugh and say I knit, sew, crochet, craft, and cook - but it's what I love doing!

I got overly excited about some Kozy Shack pudding I found at the grocery store this week and now I'm inspired to make some at home. I'm on the hunt for some recipes. Here's some I want to try:

Maple Walnut Tapioca Pudding | Tapioca Pudding Recipe | Mocha Tapioca Pudding | Tapioca Pudding | Almond Vanilla Rice Pudding

Working on: Screen Printing & Vector Art



Right now I'm working on this self portrait vector. It's been so long since I've done a vector, and I'm glad to be doing one again :) I'm not doing the whole picture, just going to finish the hair and do some of the shirt and shoulders. It'll be like a bust or something. Of sorts.

I'm also very excited because two books I ordered came! Printing by Hand (which is AWESOME, so much inspiration in that book!) and Printmaking and Mixed Media. I've been dying to try some screen printing. One of the projects at the top of my list is some pillows for my bed! Do you screen print? What do you like to make?

Here's some projects from the books:




{ images via Google }

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Ginger Tea: Stats! I have them.



I interrupt your day to be a dorkpie about my own blogstats. That's right folks, I have them! I didn't think I was reaching many people - but according to Blogger I have reached 97 people in the states, 6 in the UK, 3 in Canada, 2 in Russia, and 1 in Singapore. To those blog veterans out there this may not seem like much, but it's enough to brighten my day!

I just wanted to come in and do a little happy dance and say Thank You for reading! Say hello next time you stop by!

I now return you to your regularly scheduled day :)

Fall Inspirations

via Twig and Thistle
{ via Twig and Thistle }

With Fall finally upon us I am finding myself more and more inspired by all of the gorgeous decorations popping up all over the blogs and in magazines. Today I saw this place setting project on Twig and Thistle and wanted to share it with you. It's quite a simple, fast project and quite affordable! At my local farmer's markets mini pumpkins are somewhere around $1 a piece or something. I've always been more of a late spring/early summer wedding dreamer (in my some-day future with my winner of a boyfriend), but now I'm not so sure - maybe I'm more of a late summer/early fall kind of girl instead!

Here are some more wonderful inspiration ideas for you:

via Family Circle
{ via Family Circle }

There's some lovely floral arrangement ideas in the October issue of Family Circle, including a twist on spring and summer table arrangements - use fall leaves in jars and bottles instead of flowers!

via Bridal Bubbly
{ via Bridal Bubbly }

Bridal Bubbly has some great Fall ideas for Wedding and party decor. But don't think you have to go the traditional route with a Fall color palette! More and more brides are breaking seasonal color traditions and sticking with the palettes they fall in love with. The colors of spring and summer can still pop against a Fall background with some deep oranges, golds, and browns mixed in.

via Thrifty Decor Chick
{ via Thrifty Decor Chick (and Pottery Barn's Fall Catalog) }

Thrifty Decor Chick collected a bunch of DIY projects for the Fall that would look great in home or at a celebration! In her post she shows pictures from Pottery Barn's catalog, which is one of my favorite to thumb through for inspiration ideas. I can totally see this table setting at a Barn Wedding.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Fashion Trends: Tights

Mary Veterano Photography
{Click image to enlarge}

One of my absolute favorite things about cooler weather is tights. They're my best friend when it comes to piecing my outfits together. In my mind there's nothing better than a PLD (perfect little dress), a pair of cute shoes, and tights.

Here's a list of my favorites:
1. ModCloth
2. UrbanOutfitters
3. Anthropologie
4. Target
5. Francesca's
6. Charlotte Russe
7. Forever21
8. Spotted Moth
9. Ruche
10. J. Crew

Monday, September 20, 2010

Design: Business Cards

Mary Veterano Photography

My business cards arrived a couple of weeks ago and I was finally able to find a moment to snap some pictures of them for you! They're full color front, grayscale back, printed on card stock. I absolutely adore how they came out, it speaks very much of my personal style and aesthetic.

Mary Veterano Photography

Mary Veterano Photography

I'm also working on re-opening my etsy shop, which has been in hibernation for nearly a year while I focus on my school work. It's tough trying to make a name for yourself freelancing while also being a full-time college student attempting to have a social life!

Before my shop carried mainly knitting and jewelry, as well as some recipe cards I've designed. This time around I'm going to focus more on paper craft and possibly some other surprises. Be on the lookout for the grand re-opening!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Spotted: Jewelry

ModCloth Octopus Necklace

The necklace I bought from Etsy seller SimplyChacha is now available on ModCloth! This necklace is fantastic, it has tons of charm and when I wear it out I get so many compliments on it! It's different and quirky, I love mine!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Market Finds

Mary Veterano Photography

Last weekend Roy and I visited some local antique shops and I found quite a few gems!

I found a new picnic basket for a steal, it needs to be dusted off and shined up a bit - but it's very spacious! I also found a sale on jars and bottles - my choice of 8 for $5! Hidden behind some old coats on a rack was a very nice leather satchel bag. I liked it a lot and it was in good condition, so I wanted it. When I was showing it to Roy he opened it up and discovered a polaroid land camera with two sets of flashes inside! Yay! I also discovered a dusty, but otherwise well cared for copy of Through the Looking Glass printed in 1959. I also found a nice sized vintage travel case. The inside has a tear in it, but I really wanted it for the lovely travel stickers on it - including one from New Jersey!

Mary Veterano Photography
Mary Veterano Photography
Mary Veterano Photography
Mary Veterano Photography

I also got this as a gift from my best friend, my cute little owl change purse!

Mary Veterano Photography

Friday, September 10, 2010

Cooking: Jam

Mary Veterano Photography

Over the weekend I bought up the last of the peaches I could find at my farmer's market and I made some spiced peach jam for the fall. I ended up making a batch of white, yellow, and mixed jams. I spiced them with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. They all turned out delicious! My family keeps requesting more and more types of preserves. I did see a recipe for a peach and pepper jam that sounded delicious! I also love the little quilted jars I found at the store, how cute!

Have you made something for the fall?

Mary Veterano Photography
Mary Veterano Photography
Mary Veterano Photography

For DIY jam instructions, see my DIY Jam post.

Sunday Drives

There's something so peaceful, simple, and relaxing about a Sunday drive that I really love. Last weekend my boyfriend and I were driving around, the windows were down and the last of Summer's warm air was whisking the hair off my face. I brought my camera along and here is what I saw:

Mary Veterano Photography
Mary Veterano Photography
Mary Veterano Photography
Mary Veterano Photography

We stopped for dinner at the drive-in Weber's. It was so cute!
Mary Veterano Photography
Mary Veterano Photography
Mary Veterano Photography
Mary Veterano Photography

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Giver's Log Shoot-A-Long

Giver's Log Shoot-a-long

I've joined in on the Giver's Log shoot along, join in if you like taking pictures!

Here's some of my latest shots from my flickr page:

Mary Veterano Photography
This is from a Sunday drive I took with my boyfriend, Roy. I'm usually the one driving so it was nice to be able to relax and see what my lens could capture while I watched the world fly by.

Mary Veterano Photography
This one is from a trip to Apple Pie Hill in Shamong, NJ. We found a jar with some soil and plants in it and it looked ever so lovely in the afternoon light.

Mary Veterano Photography
This is my new friend, Herbert the Owl Vase, which I bought on Etsy. I adore many things, but owls have always been my very favorite.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Design: There are many ways to say No.

I love working with typography. I plan on doing a small series of these typographic illustrations. There are many ways to say things, how do you say them?

These could be printed to be hung on a wall, or screen printed onto a pillow or bag.





Quilting: I'm doin' it

I couldn't ignore the itch any longer, I had to just do it! I've got three quilts in the making! Two plaid quilts, one for my boyfriend and one for my best friend Scott. Then one for myself! Mine is on the cover of this book I bought:

Jitterbug Quilt

I am using 30s reprint fabrics (which I am soooo obsessed with, they're all just simply gorgeous) for the quilt, specifically a jelly roll of the Breakfast at Tiffany's collection, which happens to be my favorite movie! I also will be using some of the 30s reprint fabric already in my fabric stash for the back and borders.

For the plaid quilts, I took Roy to the fabric shop over the weekend to pick out his plaid fabrics while everything was on sale. And for Scott's quilt he gave me some old cotton plaid shirts that he doesn't wear anymore to be repurposed into pieces for his quilt.

Hopefully my newfound love of the quilting craft won't make me neglect my knitting too much. Over the weekend I finished my mittens for the fall, they're based on the mittens in a Mad Men episode and I adore them!

Monday, September 6, 2010

DIY: Book Covered Bookshelf

Textured Wallpaper Book Covers
Image from Lowe's Creative Ideas

I was reading the Lowe's Creative Ideas weekend projects magazine this morning and found this fun little idea in there. It's a great way to spruce up a room, especially if you have some beat-up books.

If you don't have an existing extensive library at your fingertips, hit up garage/yard sales and antique shops for books in different shapes and sizes. Then pick up some funky wallpaper, I love the textured white paper that they use in the project.

It would also be a great way to display some cookbooks with vintage wallpapers.

Try this project out for yourself!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Photography: Row Boat Engagement Shoot

How sweet is this darling engagement shoot featured on Ruffled? I'm smitten with it! It's shot by Sheena Jibson.


{ vis Ruffled }

Go check it out for yourself!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

DIY: Wildflower Wine Bottle Centerpieces

Flower arrangements can be expensive for something that doesn't live very long. The trend in do-it-yourself-weddings has been to create your own memorably beautiful flower arrangements. They're a fraction of the price and they look just as stunning. And they're not just for weddings, they're great for any party - or just for a nice table arrangement. It's easy, it's fun, and it gets your creativity flowing!

Materials

  • Wine bottles, or any container you wish to use.

  • Flower bouquet

  • Cork or other decorative element


Step 1: Lay out your bouquet and examine the textures and colors used.


Step 2: Pick out the flowers you would like to use, lay them side by side to decide which ones you would like to group together.


Step 3: Fill bottles at least halfway with water. Trim stems at different heights so that they each stand differently in the bottle. Be careful not to crowd the flowers in there, for my arrangements I used up to three different flowers in my wine bottles depending on the size of the flower and the stem thickness.


Step 4: Arrange the cork, or your other decorative element, around the bottom of the bottles.


Finished Look:


LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails