Dress Yourself in Handmade - Minimalist

Gray, minimal, modern - easy summer outfit.

Clockwise from the top:

Good Luck Fork Shirt by Xenotees, $22

Sticks 02 Oxidized Sterling Silver Twig Bracelet by andrea0503, $89

The Paperback in Gray Waxed Canvas by moop, $169

Primitive Hammered 14k White Gold Ring by tinahdee, $249

Dress Yourself in Handmade - Crushed Berries

Patiently awaiting the first summer berries at the Farmer's Market this week!

 

Clockwise from the top:

Crushed Berry Peekaboo Blouse by janeyclothing, $45

Auvenier Burlap Bag by iragrant, $98

Eggplant Wrinkle Scarf by WhiteMoth, $15

Efrat Chain by rafya, $32

From the Kitchen - Food Memory

When I was in 5th grade I spent a summer in France through an exchange program at my mother's school.  I lived with a family, went to school with Aurelie, shopped with her mother at open air markets and ate the most delicious foods I've ever tasted.  For years I have had a food memory of a quiche like dish, but it was sweeter and had some kind of stone fruit in it.  I teased apart this memory, my 12 year old palate couldn't remember the specifics, then one day the internet came to the rescue - it was cherry clafoutis.  And it was amazing.

I've been researching recipes,  scrounging markets to find the perfect cherries - the original recipes keep the pits in the cherries to add this nutty flavor to the dish and I know my French mom included them as well - I remember the surprise of chomping into one. 

Cherries just aren't in season and I cannot abide cooking with bland, tasteless fruit, so I made do with raspberries.  Whipping the eggs, flour, sugar and lemon zest together released an aroma that took me back to Aurelie's tiny kitchen, the deck we ate almost all our meals on, scent memories are the strongest I think, we remember with our nose.

It turned out delicious, but I can't wait for cherry season.  This recipe was adapted from Food & Wine - I used far less raspberries than they called for simply because I only bought half a pint - I think it's the perfect amount.

Raspberry Clafoutis

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

Salt

3 large eggs

Zest of one lemon

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/2 pint of raspberries

Confectioner's sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 350 and butter a 9 inch gratin dish.

2. Whisk together the flour, sugar and a pinch of salt.  Add the eggs, lemon zest, milk and butter and whisk until smooth.

3. Pour batter into gratin, add raspberries on top and bake for 30 minutes until it's puffed up and golden.  Let it cool and dust with confectioner's sugar. Enjoy!


Click here for a Printable Recipe Card

Dress Yourself in Handmade - Dog Walk

Lake front dog walks demand some style, for both of us.

Clockwise from the top:

Upcycled Sail Messenger Bag by reiter8, $120

Cotton Voile Summer Scarf by prettypennydesigns, $49

Chartreuse Green Glass Earrings by WildWomanJewelry, $29

Sprout Dog Collar by SillyBuddy, $27

Summer Wedding Guest

Day weddings can be challenging as a guest, short dress, long dress, semi-casual, formal? It's a little easier in the summer when a short dress or even a maxi dress are appropriate, especially in fresh summer colors.

If you're in need of a unique gift, check out these custom silhouettes by Jenny Lee Fowler - for a memorable present, use a couple's engagement photo to have the silhouette done.

Clockwise from the top:

Ditto Necklace by ThePeachTree, $33

Eve Dress by threelittleducksaust, $160

Iced Blush Lambskin Wristlette by opellecreative, $54

Custom Portrait Sihouette by jennyleefowler, $50

Dress Yourself in Handmade - Summer Style

Clockwise from the top:

Open Back Striped Top by jenfashion, $35

Wood Handle Navy Chambray Purse by allisajacobs, $52

Urban Honey Pioneers Earrings by urbanlegend, $29

Vintage Gray Sunglasses from littlebrownmagpie, $18

From the Kitchen

I've been trying to freshen up the kitchen for Spring, adding some new colors, some neutrals, always on the lookout for new vintage and handmade finds on Etsy.

Clockwise from the top:

Crochet Tree Signed Giclee Print from sugarloop, $20

Vintage Pyrex Homestead Country Mixing Bowl from impulseArt, $12.50

Kirie 01 Bamboo Clock from decoylab, $84

Speckled Coffee Mugs for Two from PrairieSeed, $14

I'm really looking forward to the June Kane County Flea Market to find more treasures!

Shop Update

I forced myself to stay on task today and get the pile of "almost finished" jewelry done, photographed and listed today.  There's another pile lurking behind that one, but tomorrow is another day.

Stone Fruit - Plum Freshwater Pearl and Sterling Silver Necklace

Wildflower Citrine and Czech Glass Sterling Silver Earrings

Fringe Sterling Silver and Brass Leaf Earrings

Vapor - Mystic Green Quartz and Sterling Silver Earrings

Storm - Lampwork and Sterling Silver Earrings

Raspberry Jam Lampwork and Sterling Silver Earrings

All four of Mama Robin's eggs have hatched, but believe me, you don't want to see pictures of those squirming little monsters yet.