Wishing you all a wonderful new year … wouldn’t some new shoes to start the year off be nice? Here’s a favourite book of mine: The Red Shoes (2008 AMMO Books). A magical world of beautiful shoes, ornament and fashion illustrated by Sun Young Yoo with story by Gloria Fowler.
I found this book in a box that was labeled “free” on someone’s lawn earlier this year. I thought it was such a find– it’s a collection of holiday stories, music, poetry, art etc. that was published in the 1960′s. It’s got some crafty illustrations and short amusing stories. Have a look.
After spending wey too many hours in a single day on the computer- I finally had to take a break from my after-work hours on my computer these past few months. Having experienced symptoms of carpal tunnel and porting rock hard shoulders throughout the years … I really need to commit to making changes to the way I work at the computer.
My friend suggested using a tablet as an alternative to using the mouse until my arm/hand felt better. I have to say this has help tremdously. I have a Bamboo tablet for drawing/photoshop and now regulary use it as my “mouse.” I’ve been transporting my tablet to and from work in a makeshift notepad case and plastic padding. Tutorial or finished case to come but here are some inspirations for creating my customized version for my tablet from the many ipad and laptop cases available.
Source: Moleskin just introduced a new collection of things that you might need to use with your moleskine notebook such as eyeglasses pencils, cases and bags
Source: Capulet London Joanna iPad clutch case, $173, available at Not Just A Label. Visit Refinery 29 for more ipad cases that could be used a clutches.
Source: Musettes in waxed cotton.
Source: Mona Yip – wander handmade leather goods
Source: Tutorial for a Wedding clutch– which could be used as a laptop sleeve. Also Simplest Wool Laptop Sleeve DIY from Say Yes to Hoboken or Laptop sleeve tutorial
Source: byrd & belle
Source: red buffalo plaid laptop sleeve
Source: Orla Kiely
A collegue of mine introduced me to these little notebooks that I’ve been love using. They are not so precious to use and a great size to have anywhere. I bought a package of 4 for $1 at Dollarama and covered them with some decorative Japanese Paper.
Simple to do Cut a piece of paper a little larger in length so that you can wrap the edges around the cover. The notebook will have a nicer feel when you are opening it. I just used a glue stick but a stronger glue is highly recommended. It doesn’t take long to make, I covered the little books while talking on the phone!
These are other note books I’ve covered over the years. Some leather cover ones also, (some how-to instructions from a previous post)
A friend of mine was in Italy recently and gave me this cute notebook from Fabriano. It is a little taller in height, has a pocket in the back and the paper is stitched together. I haven’t decided what writings or sketches to put in it. Does anyone else have hesitation when starting a new notebook or sketckbook?
I know it is still officially summer but the fun and lazy parts seem over with the arrival of Labour day. It was a lovely summer with great temperatures in the city. Lucky us, we got to go camping and also rented a cottage (our first time) in Blind River. Have you ever been up there? It’s a special place with pristine water and friendly folks. Fishing is superb, I’ve been told and I can only imagine how brillant it must be up there in the autumn.
(Pictures were taken by my husband and afew by me)
Finding someone to fix our flat tire in Forfar,ON. An afternoon nap in a hot tent.
Tansies were everywhere on the side of the road, Blind River.
The cottage was on Lake Duborne and we spent one afternoon hiking up a trail that led to the top of an old fire lookout station, (it’s part of the voyageur trail). The superb trail passed through a small creek, waterfall, beaver dam and the forest floor was dotted with the smallest bright-hued mushrooms.
The view from “Fire Tower Hill.”
On the shores of Lake Huron, Boom Camp Trail.
Why does food at the cottage taste so good?
On our way home from the Blind River we made a stop at French River. What a wonderful treat to find some wild blackberries along the trail. Adieu summer– until next year.
I loved anything with red bean when I was growing up and I still do. My favourite was steamed red bean buns and sweet red bean soup (red beans boiled with sugar, lotus seeds, and orange peel). You can also find azuki /red bean squashed into a paste and used as stuffing in many Chinese foods, such as sticky rice balls, mooncakes, buns and red bean drinks/smoothies. It’s a very popular legume in the asian cuisine that is an excellent source of fiber + protein and rich in B vitamins.
Source: Steamed red bean bun recipe from Rasa Malaysia
Source: Red Bean soup recipe from Bread et Butter, mochi with red bean paste
Here’s my recipe for some creamy azuki (red bean) frozen popsicles:
- 1 cup azuki/red beans
- 1 cup coconut cream or coconut milk.
- 1/4 cup milk or evaporated milk
- 3/4 cup cane sugar or to taste. (Dissolve sugar in little water on the stove until it becomes syrupy.)
1. Cook the beans Soak the beans for an hour and then cook until soft (1 hour on low or in a pressure cooker for 15 mins). (More instructions on preparing azuki beans here)
2. Blend together Set aside 1/3 of the whole cooked beans. Blend the rest of the beans with coconut cream or milk and sugar syrup. Add the whole beans, some tapioca pearls (optional) and the whole beans.
3. Freeze and eat Pour into popsicle molds and freeze. Leftover red bean can be kept in the fridge as cold dessert or alternative breakfast porridge.
There is a large variety of popsicle molds out now. Here are the ones I have: Kinderville Ice Pop molds and Tovolo rocket pops. Yummy for the tummy.
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