heART ♡ Bianca Green

I've decided to create a new series called heART ♡ featuring works by some of my favorite new artists. These days, thanks to sites like society6, 20x200 and Etsy everyone can buy great original art on the cheap! Many times you can even choose different print sizes framed or unframed.  A home gallery full of interesting work couldn't be easier!

Lately I've seen a lot of Bianca Green's art on the web and I am a big fan of the hodge podge geometric works full of patterns and prints with just the right mix of hand illustration.  You can find Bianca's work at society6 but here are a few of my favorites that I think would look great in our new home!

Recipe: Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Hazelnut Cookies

My love came home from a long trip this weekend and I wanted to make something special for his return.  While I must say he has it pretty good eating all the leftover cookies I make, these are full of chocolate chunks and make an excellent afternoon snack!  Here's how it's done.

  

DIY: Knotted Wrap Bracelet

DIY bracelets seem to be all over the place right now and boy am I glad to get back into my beads.  Long ago I used to make hemp bracelets and necklaces by the ton and pass them out to all my friends but after years of growing up and cookie making, I got out of the habit (plus my style has thankfully evolved a bit from birkenstocks and peasant blouses.)  These days I have noticed that my fun handmade jewelery collection has gravely depleated so all the more reason to pick it up again.  

Here is a really simple knotted wrap bracelet made with just a bunch of seed beads, some embroidery floss and a needle.  Tight close knots are key so take your time! 

After the threads are complete (I made two long ones enough to wrap each around twice) I knotted them together and added a large bead to one end and made a looped knot at the other.

DIY: Rhinestone Friendship Bracelet

I recently rediscovered the friendship bracelets I used to make in grade school thanks to some excellent tutorials at Honestly WTF.  I can remember sitting on the driveway with my friends, each with a box full of colored floss and knotting a way all afternoon.  At the time it was a MAJOR occupation and social gathering for us (kind of like a knitting club for preteens) while we discussed which member of Hanson we liked the best and who could do the best cartwheel (not I, I confess).  It's no wonder then that the moment I put the threads in my hands I was weaving away like it was only yesterday.

Recipe: Walnut Fudge Brownies

I can't remember how long it's been since the last time I had a brownie, but this week I had a major sweet tooth so I decided to try these and boy are they AMAZING!  Soft and chewy but with a little crunch, they make a great pal for a late afternoon coffee.

Recipe: Pork Carnitas

Ah, Mexican food! Como te quiero!* I miss good quick neighborhood Mexican food here in France, just like I miss flagels** and Grandma's pizza*** and spicy salmon rolls! All the more reason to try and make it at home.  These carnitas are really easy and very yummy in tacos.  Here's how I did it.

Recipe Blueprint: Olive Palmiers

The perfect little snack to go with an aperitif.  I like to make these ahead and put the whole roll in the freezer so I can let it slightly defrost before I cut them up and put them in the oven.  Here's how it's done.