About Virginia Kraljevic
I met Virginia during my first day of doing BIM. She had these amazing prints that exuded old lithography. I love her distinctive style of illustrating from quirky colorful oddities to intricate black and white doodles. Her work makes me wish I lived in these obscure swirly worlds... Check out her website for a little dose of her world. You can also purchase her work at her Etsy shop. Oh... and she included me in her "FIve Things".
The Best Packaging Design of the Month
It's the small details that keep everyday life interesting. Like this tissue box for instance. Am I the only one who finds the design of tissue boxes reminiscent of nursing home wallpaper? Also who (these days) wants to buy a tissue box cover? I was a little (too overly) thrilled when I discovered this tissue box at Trader Joe's the other day. The best features are that it's made from 100% recycled paper and only 99 cents!
Completed 1st 2 days of BIM!
Yesterday was my second Saturday of participating in the Brooklyn Indie Market. It was definitely gratifying to have people actually purchase something I worked so hard to make! It's that direct maker to user contact that I feel is very important to keep me going and inspired to make more things. My tie dye dresses were a hit! Hopefully they will be a hit on Etsy as well... it's hard to explain the ease, light, and soft feeling of wearing one thru the internet. I suppose when you touch and try it on it's easier to fall in love with one. Kathy, the founder of the Brooklyn Indie Market was nice enough to interview me.
Tie Dye!
Yes, I know it has a hippie dippy connotation, but I think it's still cool. Especially in the summer time if it's contrasted with something modern. I've decided, with respect to my recent bohiemian lifestyle, to make tie dye summer dresses, tanks, and skirts to sell at the Brooklyn Indie Market. Don't worry, they'll be in modern silhouetts and I'll have the nesting stuff there as well. Come out and grab lunch in Carroll Gardens and peep by to visit! I'll be there July 18th and 25th and would love to see you there!
Home Sweet Home
I am definitely a creature of comfort, a nester, domestic, whatever you may call it... Zach found this cool lamp on the street and refurbished it to look like new. I wish I had a before photo. The difference is drastic. Today we finally recieved the lamp shade he orded in the mail. This (I thought) called for a proper photo shoot of our apartment.
Chocolate + Strawberries = 0
My immediate reaction to making chocolate covered strawberries was to document it. It could have been the crisp white bowl containing the liquified chocolate. Or may be the GIGANTIC strawberries. Whatever it was, it unleashed my desire to do the inevitable... blog. There I said it... blog. There is something about that word that reminds me a bit of reprocessed slush. I guess it's supposed to exemplify mind blurg... what your brain would sound like if it could talk. Anyhow, let's get on to what inspired me to do this in the first place!
So it's summer time! Which means the starwberries will be readily available, extra sweet, and cheap. Nothing beats chocolate covered strawberries (especially for breakfast with coffee ;). Follow these easy steps to make your own.
First, melt some chocolate. I usually just take a small sauce pot, fill it half way with water, and set it on high heat. When the water starts to boil, turn the heat down to low and place a bowl that fits in the sauce pan without falling in. Melt the chocolate in the bowl over the heated water (see photo above) stirring occasionally. However, if you are pro enough to have a double boiler in your home, by all means use it. If you have one of those, you probably don't need my instructions anyhow.
Second, while the chocolate is melting, rinse your strawberries and pat them dry with a paper towel. If you have any sort of water left on the strawberries, the chocolate will not coat them very well.
Third, once the chocolate is completely melted, it's time for dipping. Have a sheet of parchment paper or a chilled plate ready to place the dipped strawberries. I usually stick them in the freezer so they chill really fast for immediate consumption. It takes may be about 5 mins. to chill in the freezer. Enjoy!