Quote Bags

And now, I bring to you yet another completely superflous post.

How great are these bags, from a small, Bankok-based couple making individually-crafted totes. Perfect for summer! I am itching to get my hands on one.

Check out their past designs, inspirations, processes, all on their blogger website, here.

And while we're on the subject of handmade etsy finds, if you're in a rather spunky mood check out these Etsy FAILS, on regretsy.com!

The Baker's Dozen

I'm back, and for my not-quite-inaugural post, I'm offering a link to the James Beard Foundation's top thirteen baking cookbooks. I've recently come into acquisition of a few new books, and though have none of these, would like all of these.

1. “Baking: From My Home to Yours,” by Dorie Greenspan (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2006).
2. “Beard on Bread,” by James Beard (originally published 1973; reprinted by Knopf, 1995).
3. “The Book of Great Desserts,” by Maida Heatter (Andrews McMeel, 1999).
4. “The Bread Baker’s Apprentice,” by Peter Reinhart (Ten Speed, 2001).
5. “The Cake Bible,” by Rose Levy Beranbaum (William Morrow, 1988).
6. “Classic Home Desserts,” by Richard Sax (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2000).
7. “Cocolat,” by Alice Medrich (Warner Books, 1990).
8. “The Fannie Farmer Baking Book,” by Marion Cunningham (Gramercy, 1996).
9. “Great Pies and Tarts,” by Carole Walter (Clarkson Potter, 1998).
10. “The Italian Baker,” by Carol Field (William Morrow, 1985).
11. “Martha Stewart’s Cookies,” by Martha Stewart (Clarkson Potter, 2008).
12. “My Bread,” by Jim Lahey (W.W. Norton, 2009).

13. “The Simple Art of Perfect Baking,” by Flo Braker (Chronicle, 2003).

via NY Mag.

Snowmageddon...

Snowpocalypse, snownami....

The list of cheeky names is endless for the blizzard that hit DC and the east coast about a week back. It covered the city in a blanket of snow that is now, sadly, only puddles and ugly mounds of brown ice.

Since moving to the East Coast, I have realized that scarves and hats aren't just for flair, they are actually an important part of winter wear. As are a pair of waterproof boots. I stumbled upon these THESE recently, and have (yet again) fallen in love:

Can't you see yourself winning a snowball fight wearing a pair of these?

Weck

I read about these Chicago-based canning jars in a subscription of Martha Stewart Living. Yes, I get Martha Stewart Living. So what.

They're not only gorgeous, but definitely live up to the hype that has become the home canning revolution. Can't wait to get my hands on a case of these.

Lapenne Grey Diamond

Isn't she beautiful? And not out of my price range, either. (that's sarcasm, friends)

Mohawk Online

Excuse me, while I wipe the drool off this keyboard.

Mohawk Online

Also, I feel like I've been so removed lately. I got a job! More on that on a later date.....And don't fret. My job doesn't mean that funemployment is coming to an end....

Moleskine Recipe Books

I hate referring to a computer when I'm cooking. So, even though my recipes usually sourced from various blogs or, almost ultimately, referenced from Epicurious, I like to write them down so when I spill half a box of baking soda, it will be my piece of paper that's going into the trash, not my keyboard that's going into the Apple store.

I just read that Moleskine is coming out with a new line of nifty notebooks in March- a lifestyle line, if you will, focusing on areas such as wine, fashion, film, books....and the one I'm keeping my eye on, recipes. Unfortunately, this new line that Moleskine has come up with bears the cheesy name Passions. Oh Moleskine, how can you disappoint me with such!

I'll have to see it in person to really be sold, for I'm a little hesitant in how they've pre-organized sections as well as spacing. But for the Amazon low price of $13.57, this might be a springtime splurge....especially if all is promising on the job front.

Ann Taylor

I haven't been as busy as some of my friends while at home, but I have managed to get out to Valley Fair to do a little window shopping (window drooling and yearning, is more like it).


Is it just me, or has Ann Taylor stepped it up a notch? Or, maybe I'm turning into my mom. Eeek! Whatever it is, Ann Taylor, and Ann Taylor Loft's holiday/SS10 collection has a ton of pieces that I'd love to have in my closet.

(The yellow blouse on the top left is my FAVORITE.)

Sperry in the winter

Sperry topsiders, known to me for their infamous boat shoes, has made some sort of deal with JCrew and is selling these AMAZING duck boots online and in their catalogs. I don't know how I'm going to get my hands (feet) on some, but seeing there's only size 11 left online, I need to be crafty and find my way into a pair. I want to dance in the snow in these.

20x200

I've been a fan of 20x200 for awhile. Using the website as both a platform to expose young and emerging artists as well as providing a wide array of artworks for any consumer level, this website was borne as an offshoot to founder Jen Bekman's Gallery. One photo and one work on paper is released each week, at 2pm every Tuesday and Wednesday, and are on sale until Sold Out. Sometimes they are genius, sometimes they fall short, but so is art. Each work always has at least three size options, the cheapest being $20 and the largest $200 (hence the website name), making anyone a viable collector of art. The quality, even for the little pieces, are great- all works are printed with high quality inks and on the finest paper specified by each artist.

I'm fond of the most recent release (pictured in this post), but am afraid to get it as I know it will just look cluttered in my already sparse wall space :(

Also make sure to check out the Jen Bekman Gallery, in the LES.

Apartment Therapy's Marketplace

Apartment Therapy is where I go to dream about my future indoor spaces. So many pretty paints, fabrics, textiles, beddings, furniture, antiques, storage ideas...and more!

They've just opened up their "marketplace", where readers will be able to source all the lovely sorts of things they feature on their blogs (and more). Just from looking at it, I am thinking it's kind of like an Etsy but specifically for home design. Brilliant!

Now if only I had the apartment to furnish...

Wexford Jewelers

wow wow wowweeee.

Papercraft

Another amazing craft book find. I want this, but I know things like rent and bills are much more important than making miniature replicas of food out of construction paper.

From Amazon:

"Papercraft is an extensive and timely survey of innovative art and design work crafted from paper. It explores the astounding possibilities of paper craft in all shapes and sizes some are playful, whimsical and quick to produce while others are far more intricate and created in painstaking detail."

Found via Oh Happy Day! blog

J. Mendel

Spring 2010. Yes, Please. All of these:

Found on Style via Green Wedding Shoes. Yes, I read wedding blogs.

BHG

Better Homes and Gardens vintage crafting book. On Amazon for a penny. Gonna get it.

Just Cut It (and slice, and spread, and chop)

I love multi-functional kitchen tools. I mean, at my parent's house, it's cool to have a cheese slicer, a nutcracker, dumpling ladles, crab forks, a tea serving set, a pastry brush, a basting brush, a meat thermometer, etc etc etc. But it's just not realistic to keep fifty different gadgets in my teeny-tiny Brooklyn kitchen. We have three cabinets, one (ONE!) drawer, and a wall of shelves which doubles as our "pantry".

So when I saw this knife that really is a do-it-all kind of tool, available at my local kitchen supply store, I was instantly enamored. Am I the only person here who swoons over the thought of owning a kitchen knife? Below I've include Brooklyn Kitchen's product description...

You only need one knife to make a sandwich, this knife. You could conceivably have this knife be the only knife in your kitchen. I've seen it!

The blade is scalloped to make fast work of slicing breads and juicy fruits like tomatoes, but don't let that fool you. The Pure Komachi Sandwich Knife's edge isn't your basic dull but serrated so it still cuts bread knife. You can slice onions (slice, not saw!), cheese, avocado, cucumber, etc. And the blade is wide and long to easily spread condiments. It is really an all-purpose knife.

The flourinated resin coating on this stainless steel knife resists bacteria and is non-stick for easy release of sliced foods.

Length: 6-in.

Best of all, this PURE KOMACHI SANDWICH KNIFE retails for the amazingly affordable $25!!! perfect for my little unemployed rump!

Get yours (or mine, if you feel generous) today at The Brooklyn Kitchen!!!

Wants and Needs, mostly Wants.

Big Sigh. My 'I Must Get This List' is growing. Here is my newest addition, which is going to the top of the list, a home carbonating appliance. The Sodastream Penguin. A few pumps and voila!, you have soda water without the waste of plastic bottles.

I will settle for their less-fancy model, the Sodastream Pure Jet, which for the economical price of $89.99 gives me all the bubbly pleasure I can ask for!!! Goal is two have this in my home within the next couple of months...

oh Diana.

I really want this nifty little 120mm film camera- which also comes with a 35mm film backing. Of course, I would buy the fisheye lens outfit too. See the great pictures it takes here.

Head's Up, Seven's Up!

Holy mountain of goodness I think I found my perfect wedding dress(es), a la designer Sarah Seven:

Now all I have to do is find a pretty headpiece to go with it. Oh yeah, I guess I should find a boyfriend, too...

See more of Sarah Seven's collection on etsy, or see what's new on her Blog.