New Obsession

Do you want to ogle at beautiful things?
Do you like hip design elements and vintage clothing?
Do you have a computer and the ability to click a mouse?

If you have answered YES to any of these questions, then I have a treat for you.

It's RUE. It is an online magazine of genius proportions. It is eye-catching and completely engaging. You can zoom in and read the article like a normal mag and every picture has the link attached (the pages even do a cute little animation flip). Just click and you are instantly where you want to be.
Maybe, this is how all online magazines are (I typically an old-fashioned paper girl) but gee-wiz, I LOVE it!

Rue

 Do it for your own good.

Surrealism in the Real World

Today started by discussing super bad-ass stuff in the world.

Some topics included but were not limited to:

• Navy Seals
• Breakfast burritos
• Swimming with dolphins
• Heavy Weights (if you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out)
• Audio torture of ACDC

But by far the greatest/coolest was discussing the Lechuguilla Caves in the Carlsbad Caverns National Park of New Mexico. These were some of the caves shown in the mind-blowing series, Planet Earth.

Like most conversations in an office, we immediately pulled up pictures online. I was in awe of the photos; not only because of their natural wonder and beauty but because they seemed so similar to the paintings of Rene Magritte. Comparing the photos next to each other finally allows me to understand how surrealist artists are able to see the world.

The Lechuguilla Caves compared to Magritte's "The Wonders of Nature" and "The Entrance"

Doesn't it blow your mind?

Cutout Jewelry

The patterning gives me goosebumps.

1. Delicately enameled butterfly wing necklace from Efrat Deutsch. 

2. Shapes that look like gold plated Japanese renkon (lotus root) from Neawear.  

3. Hand-cut leather and suede in warm colors from Boo and Boo Factory. 

4. Sweetly shaped lace from White Owl. 

Best Dress Award Goes To...

I have officially found the first wedding dress that makes me want to cry at first glance. Breath-taking.



AND she made it herself! Gia Canali Photography



Look at those cake toppers, too. That is true talent.

I may have to put in an order for a full length version with dark blue-gray background...

Something old, something new, something...you get the idea

I was never the little girl who dreamed of her wedding. I didn't knew what my colors would be or what kind of cake would be served, but I sure as hell could climb a tree or craft a Mother's Day coupon book.

That being said, I have slowly become more intrigued with tying the knot. Or at least the idea of it.
I'm not trying to drop hints to Brian, although I love forwarding him reception photos with cotton candy machines or elephants. I just like looking at beautiful pictures of people enjoying such a momentous day.

Window shopping is harmless.
Although, that's what most people say right before they go well above their credit limit.

Here are some of the "windows" I've attempted to walk right past today:



Who wouldn't want to get married under a lace wrapped tree?
Once Wed



It's a smore bar...nothing else needs to be said. Jolynne Photography

 

Tea bar. Once Wed

  

Everything about this one. Everything. Green Wedding Shoes



The whole wedding rode bikes. Green Wedding Shoes



Duh, all you need is love. Once Wed

 

Super beautiful wedding party. Green Wedding Shoes

That's enough gawking for today. "Today" being the key word.

Sew Much Beauty

Look at these beautiful hand embroidered classic book covers by Jillian Tamaki. 

Inspired.

My old room-mate, Evin, always makes the most amazing food. She always wants people to test the new recipes and as you can imagine, I'm eager to help.

In the past I've received homemade Oreos, fresh strawberry/blueberry cupcakes and some kick ass chicken parmesan. This time though, she's really out done herself. Freshly made pickles, folks.

Jealous much?

She's Crafty

Alright Sacramento, we need to get it into gear.

We have very few handmade new-age craft fairs. I only know of Midtown Bazaar (every Saturday at I Street in between 16^th and 17^th) and the Whole Earth Festival in Davis (only once a year). My co-worker just introduced me to The Sacramento Craft and Flea (every 4^th Sunday of the month under the W Street freeway at 21^st). Haven’t been there yet, but I’m a little uneasy with the $3 entrance fee.

But what I’m looking for is epic. A new-age crafting explosion.

I’ve been waiting and waiting for July 9^th and 10^th for the amazing Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco. The fair started in Chicago and is now in London, Brooklyn, San Francisco, Austin and LA.

There’s also the The Finders Keepers in Australia. That would be a trip and a half.

These aren’t your grandma’s craft fair, folks. I’m talking great. It focuses on indie crafts and handmade goods. Imagine that everything you ever wanted to buy on ETSY was placed in a big room and there was good food and music to boot…and did I mention it’s FREE?

Brian’s brother, Brad, and awesome fiancée, Michaela, are getting married on the 9^th. They actually let me make their wedding cake toppers and help with some of the decorations (I felt so honored and excited to help. I’ve always been a nerd when it comes to that). Part the reason I want to go to the fair is to see if the stuff I make can hang with the “big boys” of craft. My poor mind has been going non-stop on what to make and the fact they liked what I made them only showed me that I need to update the crap out of my ETSY account.

I am excited to see how I will feel about making the 2 hour drive to the city the next morning. But in the name of “craft”, I shall try.

Grown up Jello Jigglers

"Why are you taking a picture of a bowl of lemons?", you might ask.

Oh. Those aren't lemons.

Those are lemon jello-shots served in a lemon rind.

This is some Martha stuff we're talking about here.

These things are pretty, pretty exciting and taste dang good, too.

All you need is

• 6-8 lemons (depending on size)
• Lemon Jello
• 1 cup vodka
• 1 cup hot water

Cut the lemons in half down the long side. Then squeeze juice to help loosen the segments and scoop out remaining contents. All that should be left is rind. Then prepare jello to proper jello-shot specifications (1 cup hot water to dissolve jello and 1 cup vodka). I added about 2 TBS of the lemon juice I squeezed earlier for some extra delight.

Next pour jello into the lemon vessel you so diligently created. I placed the lemons in a muffin tin to keep them from wobbling over. Let sit for 4 hours in fridge.

Once stiff, slice once down the middle (using a straight knife, a serrated knife will cause the jello to separate).

The next step is the hardest. Try not to eat them all before showing them off.

These were a super big hit and I'm already thinking of other ways to make them. Definitely making the orange and lime version, but I think an apple and watermelon might be in the works.

Recipe adapted from Baker's Royale