Quilting Inspiration by Denyse Schmidt

A few years ago I rediscovered my love for quilts and all the comforts that they bring. My curiosity and interest came in the form of the book Quilt by Denyse Shmidt. Her modern take on quilt patterns, color pairings, and simplicity really resonated with my love to create something functional, timeless, and authentic. Around the time I picked up this book I also happened to have a collection of tee shirts, in similar neutral colors of cream, white, grey, and tan that I had a feeling would all pair well together. So fueled with inspiration by this book and a season of Project Runway, I set off into my first quilting adventure. I posted about the finished project a few years ago and included some of the lessons I learned in the process. Patience, finding beauty in the flaws just to name a few. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat and I can't wait until inspiration strikes again! Which makes me curious to know, have you ever taken on a long term project that was so worth the wait?


* First Photos & Patterns by: Denyse Shmidt
* What's In Your Toolbox Interview by Design Sponge

Instagram Week

Happy Friday to you all as we round up the first full work week of the new year! Did it treat you well? I sure hope so!  I find that the key to my best and productive work weeks have been by making time to move my body at the end of most days.  Even if I can't haul it to the gym, an impromptu dance party in my living room always get the blood and energy flowing just as well!  Plus I notice that exercise, in whatever form that may take, almost always guarentees a beautiful night sleep! Cheers to more productive weeks ahead and deep sleep too! Before I head out to start the weekend here are a few Instagram shots that made up my week.
xoxo,
~Liz

Food Bites: Butternut Squash with Ricotta Ravioli

Since joining the local CSA, Joe and I have been receiving a bounty of butternut squash.  So much so that they have taken over the top of our microwave for quite a while now. And besides roasting this veggie (I can only eat so much of this seasonal item) we figured we'd roll up our sleeves and dive into- what else- making butternut squash with homemade ricotta ravioli.  It was all quite simple, just time consuming. 


 To make your own batch of these tasty bites you'll need to roast about 2 butternut squashes (cut them in half lengthwise and discard seeds first) in the oven (450 degrees for about 50 mins). Scoop out the insides into a bowl and add a minced sprig of fresh rose merry, crushed pine nuts, and salt and pepper to taste. This will accompany the ricotta as the ravioli filling.  Here's the super easy way to make your own ricotta. Pretty easy, right?!  Next roll out your pasta sheets, we used fresh, uncooked sheets. Cut them to the size you want your Ravioloi to be.  We played around with a mix of sizes. I liked the bigger sized guys. Next spoon in your squash and ricotta into the middle of one piece.  Next brush the edges with a quick egg wash (this is going to help keep all the filling inside your pasta).  Top your half with another pasta piece and use a fork to seal all of the pastas edges (as demonstrated by Joe). Cook your pasta according to your desired tenderness. I like mine al dente, you know with a slight bite to it where as Joe prefers his on the verge of dissolving as soon as it enters his mouth..I tell him at least he's dentures will thank him in the future..hehehe!  Oh and then the best part of all comes the feasting, yum! We still have a few more squashes in the house, I'd love to hear any tasty suggestions on your favorite way to prepare squash!? Cheers!

Bring IT!

What's in Front:

* Salsa dance lessons with Joe.

* Doing something that scares me!

* Getting lost in a handful of best sellers.

* Going on a date with myself.

* Disconnecting for a long weekend.

* Transition from paper products ( calendar, post its, address book ) to my iPad.

* Planning a total DIY wedding!

* Training & Completing the Chicago Marathon.

* Abs! (even if they only last for the year).

* Photographing more weddings.

* Hosting more dinner parties.

* Juicing!

What's Behind:

* Feeling sorry.

* Technology before bedtime.

* Nail biting...I'm over it, it's time!!

* Trying to please everyone.

* Self Doubt

* Excuses

* My Twenties ( and I'm happy for it :)

2011 Highlights

Birthday Wishes

This weekend, this handsome boy turns 8!!  I can hardly believe what an awesome little person he is turning out to be.  He's developing athletic skills like it's second nature and is creative to boot( he constructed wallets out of multi-colored duct tape for all the guys in the family for Christmas gifts). That'a boy!! But the thing that melts my heart the most about my special nephew Sam, is the way he cuddles up next to me on the couch. There's almost nothing like it, I'm telling you!  Happy Birthday Sam, may you continue to nurture you talents and spread your fun loving energy.

Chicago Street Photographer Exhibit

My photographer friend at work sent me this link and I just couldn't wait to share it.  Vivian Maier who worked as a nanny in Chicago and the North Shore for most of her career is now being compared to Evan Walkers for all her street photographs she captured in the 50's-early 70's.  It's a crazy story that you must go and see this video to get all the details, but to sum it up over 100,000 negatives and more than 3,000 prints of her work were discovered in an estate auction shortly before her death in 2009. Some of those  prints are currently being exhibited at the Chicago Cultural Center until April of this year and it's free to go and check out! I am personally not a big fan of street photography but her work just blows my mind! I can't to go see these in person.  Have a great weekend, stay warm & toasty!!

Welcoming a New Year

It's so exciting to return to the blogging world after being off line for the holidays.  I especially look forward to reading about fellow bloggers plans for the new year and what they hope to accomplish in the coming months.  I too have had time to think about what I want to really focus my efforts on in 2011 and I'm excited to announce that I am in the works of developing a new online shop.  I'm a little hesitant to talk in detail about this new endeavor, however I am excited to have already started creating some inventory and brainstorming ideas for more.

I can tell you that my new shop will feature decor for the home and other little knacks that make a home feel cozy and lived in.  The shop will feature a combination of paper crafts, sewing projects, and art that is easy on the environment and have a unique handmade aesthetic to each piece.

I can't wait to share more...but for now I can share with you the space and place where most of my creations have begone to take shape.  Small you say?  Yep!  It's my craft closet and one of the first "rooms" that I decorated when we first moved into the coach house.  It's small yet holds all of my craft supplies including my sewing machine and paper rolls.  My favorite part are the magnetic boards I hung on the inside of the doors to serve as inspiration boards. That and the fact that I can make a mess and at the end of the day close the doors to conceal all the work in progress.
Wish me luck on this huge undertaking!  I'm really excited and motivated to start on something that I am utterly passionate about. And I can't wait to share with you it's progress along the way.

Hooray for new creative challenges and great beginnings to the new year!