Wednesday, June 13, 2012

~ Gardening GIVEAWAY!! ~

Do you have a garden? if not, I'm sure you know somebody who loves gardening.. that's why I want to invite everyone to participate in this great GIVEAWAY!! My friend Lisa, from Beadsoul, is giving away 2 hand-stamped spoons Garden Markers.. they could be for you or you could give them as a special present!!
Just leave a message HERE and let her know what phrase or words you would stamp on the two spoons.. it's easy! For extra entries you can also share the link on your FB page and Tweet it!
Look how cool they are! They give give an original touch to your garden...




I'm participating..'cause I have planted 3 types of tomatoes! I also have basil, rosemary and Italian parsley!! Love them!!! There's nothing better than fresh herbs and yummi tomatoes straight from the vine. :)

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Coffee Date.

All those who know me can tell you how much I love coffee, my day doesn't start well if I don't drink a huge cup of Caffe'-latte {an easy version of cappuccino, basically espresso & milk with no froth}. And I love "coffee-dates", there's nothing better than a chit-chat with a good friend while sipping a delicious coffee.
If today you were over at my house to have a cup of coffee, I would show you how I make my Cappuccino
You need real espresso, when I say real I mean Italian.. :) Italian brands are sold in almost every american grocery store {I'm sooo happy about that!! I used to have my Mom sending me coffee from Italy!}, the most common are Lavazza and Illy Caffe'. 
Once you have made a strong espresso, warm up the milk {I know it's more fat, but whole milk is the best!} and froth it.. I use my "frother-pot" that I bought in Italy, but you can find something like this in different stores, I used to have it and it works really well.
Pour the coffee in your cup, add some sugar, if you like it sweet like I do, then add the milk with the froth on top. I like to sprinkle it with powder cocoa! Et voila'!  Deeelicioussss!!! ♥
Here's a little picture-collage I made for you:

..You can link your "coffee-date story" at this fabulous blog post by Alissa from Rags to Stitches!..

Friday, June 1, 2012

Jane Eyre




One of my favorite books is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. If you are looking for a book to read this summer and you like romance, adventure and suspense.. it's the book for you!! I'll share with you a few quotes:

“No sight so sad as that of a naughty child," he began, "especially a naughty little girl. Do you know where the wicked go after death?"

"They go to hell," was my ready and orthodox answer.

"And what is hell? Can you tell me that?"

"A pit full of fire."

"And should you like to fall into that pit, and to be burning there for ever?"

"No, sir."

"What must you do to avoid it?"

I deliberated a moment: my answer, when it did come was objectionable: "I must keep in good health and not die.” 
― Charlotte BrontëJane Eyre

“You — you strange — you almost unearthly thing! — I love as my own flesh. You — poor and obscure, and small and plain as you are — I entreat to accept me as a husband.” 
― Charlotte BrontëJane Eyre

“Her coming was my hope each day,
Her parting was my pain;
The chance that did her steps delay
Was ice in every vein.” 
― Charlotte BrontëJane Eyre

“Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! - I have as much soul as you, - and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you!” 
― Charlotte BrontëJane Eyre

Friday, May 25, 2012

aaahhh... Food!!

Food... I could never hide my love for food... I love to cook and love to eat! :) But before showing you the delicious dinner I prepared for my family tonight, I want to introduce to you {for those who don't know her} a great polimer clay artist: Valentina from Minibonbons on Etsy. She specializes in miniature food {mostly Italian.. he he}. I admire her creativity and the precision she uses in making her little tiny creations.. so perfect and beautiful!! See for yourselves!! I'll share with you some of my favorite :


French Baguette earrings

Blueberry & Lemon Cake and Cookies

 Sicilian Cassata

Aren't they adorable?? I'm a big fan of Valentina!! I hope you all go visit her shop.. there's much more to see! ♥

And now I'll show you what I ate tonight.. La Quiche Lorraine!!  {I think Valentina should make a mini quiche!!}.. here's what is left of mine.. even the children loved it!


It was very easy to make, I want to share the recipe with you: Enjoy!!!

Quiche Lorraine

Crust:
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into small pieces
3 tablespoons vegetable shortening, cold, cut into small pieces
3 to 4 tablespoons ice water
Filling:
4 ounces thick-sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled (I used Italian pancetta)
3 eggs
1½ cups heavy cream
4 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded (about 1 cup shredded)
Salt and pepper

1. Make the Crust: Whisk together the flour and salt in a medium bowl. Cut the butter and the shortening into the flour mixture with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Using a rubber spatula, stir in just enough water to bind. Gather into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 20 minutes.

2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a 12-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Carefully transfer the dough to a 9-inch tart pan. Gently fit the dough into the tart pan and trim any excess off the edge by rolling the rolling pin over top of the pan. Prick the bottom all over with a fork. Line with parchment paper and fill the tart pan with pie weights. Bake for 12 minutes. Remove the parchment paper and pie weights and continue baking until the crust is golden brown, 5 to 10 more minutes.

4. Make the Filling: While the crust bakes prepare the filling. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, eggs, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. When the crust comes out of the oven, immediately sprinkle the bacon over the bottom crust, and then slowly pour the egg mixture over the bacon to fill the crust. Bake until the quiche is puffed and brown, about 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Cover leftovers and store in the refrigerator.


{recipe taken from The Brown Eyed Baker newsletter: www.browneyedbaker.com}

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Beatrix or Francesca?


Beatrix Potter is one of my favorite illustrators. I love the cuteness of the little animals she draws and the character she gives them through her stories. I also loved the movie about her life, Miss Potter.. what a sad life!! Not a very happy ending.. and despite all her sufferings she was able to create such great Works of Art. I'll always be her biggest fan!!
♥And I'm not the only one... my little sister Francesca, who lives in Italy with her American husband and 3 gorgeous children is an incredible artist and big fan of Miss Beatrix. She is an iconographer, but she also loves watercolor. She has her little Etsy shop, where she sells Thank-You Cards, Tags, Bookmarks and Birthday Cards.. almost all inspired by Beatrix Potter's little creatures. Please go check them out!!! You'll find also some of her husband's drawings and watercolors, but I'll speak more about him in another post. :)

♥You can see here her last creation, "the busy Miss Mouse Birthday Card"... just adorable!!





Cute Animals Mini Thank-You Cards

♥You can also find Francesca here:

mogliediunamericanoaroma.blogspot.com





Saturday, May 5, 2012

Gorgeous Photographs...

Everytime I stumble upon her shop.. I get stuck in a dream watching all the beautiful pictures she takes..
I'm talking about Georgianna, incredibly talented photographer who lives in the wooded wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. She sells on Etsy, but you can reach her in different ways. These are all her info:


Blog: http://georgiannalane.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.georgiannalane.com
Her stock photo library: www.gardenphotoworld.com
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgiannalane/



I'm sure you will enjoy her Art, like I do. I especially love her flowers' compositions, and her French pictures are just dreamy.. they take me back to Paris, where I've been only one time, simply beautiful. She really knows how to capture you through beauty. ♥


Please enjoy some of her gorgeous Art Work:








Thursday, May 3, 2012

The Crochet Family

These past few weeks me and my husband have been working a lot for our shop. We made some new purses..which I like a lot! I've also had fun posing and taking pictures!! We enjoy working together, it's so much fun. Now even the kids want to learn how to crochet... we will probably become a crochet factory!!! =)
Here's the pictures of our last creations: