Clay Class 101

Clay class was always my favorite, but as an adult, clay doesn't come into play much in the day-to-day. The last time I used clay was during our Weekminds creative experiment in 2009 when I replaced Little Jerry's head with a polymor monkey head.
But a Spring issue of Better Homes and Gardens had me digging out the polymor once again. All you really need is a bit of clay and perhaps a simple rubber stamp to create simple, yet fetching trinket bowls.

My attempt was a bit more freehand, adding a pinched edge and higher lip.

But really, it was a remarkable quick and simple project, and if you have kids to entertain, it's a trick that may really impress them and leave them with excellent gifts for Auntie and Gram.  

See the full instructions and article, pinned here.

Smells like Thanksgiving. Tastes like it too?

Pinterest has turned us all into DIYers. And Starbucks has turned the world into Pumpkin Spice obsessives. So it was a sudden whim of obvious genius when I decided to make Homemade Pumpkin Spice Soap.

I'd never made soap before, and I've got to say, having done so now, it's a weird idea to me. Melting down soap base, adding color and scent (in this case pumpkin spice), and reforming it into soap seems a bit silly and redundant. But it's easy and fun, and it leaves you with something personal and handmade.  

There's loads of links and DIY resources and ideas on Pinterest. The one soap making tip I have... use a plastic silicone mold, don't pour into glass containers to harden. Other than that, it's easier than (pumpkin spice) pie.

Art, with a touch of Horror

Local designer, artist and illustrator Matt Peppler has launched a new website to promote his retro inspired posters. His illustrations are started by hand with Sharpie Markers than completed using Photoshop and Illustrator. The colorizations and textures added give them  a vintage flare. 

To see Matt's awesome illustration style, stop by his website or go shopping on Etsy.

And that's a what?

As a vegetarian and a self-aware produce snob (thanks mom + dad), I feel pretty comfortable in the produce aisle. So last week, when I saw this:

I was kind of like, "WTF?". But knew I had to have one.

It's called a Buddha's Hand. And I took it home and turned to Google. The most common recommendations involved infusing vodka or concocting cocktails. But I wanted to eat this citrus fruit, not drink it.

Slicing into, it has the texture of uncooked eggplant. Mine may have not been entirely ripe, because it didn't taste nearly as fragrant and sweet as it smelled. The smell had been glorious all week, it seemed to infuse the kitchen air, simply by being there. But it's a citrus fruit with an insane amount of rind, which doesn't make eating it easy, or all that desirable*.

So in lieu of simply eating this spongy fruit raw, I baked it into citron shortbread cookies.  I didn't follow Erika's recipe exactly— instead I zested the fruit with a microplane and chopped fuller pieces of it with a food processor. I also cut my cookies with a circle cookie cutter and topped them with vanilla bean sugar (I had no raw sugar).

The results were mighty mighty tasty. The flavor the fruit provided the cookies is subtle yet full, and i can see why this would be an excellent candidate for infusing liquor and drinks. But in terms of adding it to the fruit platter, I think I'll stick with bananas and grapes.

*and it's rind fingers totally pissed off my garbage disposal.... this may end up being one very expensive batch of cookies!!

Burger of the Week #188

Fat & Furious Burger started as a self-initiated, lunchtime creative project for two hungry guys, Thomas and Quentin. Since then... it's sort of blown up!

Eating Grand Rapids

I've been running around GR talking about this random, yet very important, list I saw online last year: "These 15 Grand Rapids Restaurants Will Blow Your Taste Buds Out Of Your Mouth".

When I first saw the list, there was only two on there I hadn't been to—Westsider and Taqueria San José—and knowing how good the rest of the selections were, I knew it was important I get to these. And both were winners.

My overall thoughts? Knowing each restaurant fits in a certain category, there is only one I disagree with completely*, and very few that I might offer better alternatives (parenthesis).
1. Electric Cheetah – Breakfast/Lunch American Trend
2. Marie Catrib's –Breakfast/Lunch-Organic/Health
3. San Chez – Tapas
4. Stella's –  Whiskey and Burger Bar, Vegetarian Friendly
5. Westsider – Diner
6. Winchester – American/Gastro
7. Bistro Bella Vita – Italian – (Amore)
8. Harmony Brewing Company – Brewery – (Founder's)
9. Taqueria San José – Authentic Mexican – (La Huasteca)
10. Real Food Café – Breakfast
11. Hopcat – Brewery/American – (Grand Rapids Brewery)
12. Nantucket Baking Co. – Bakery
13. Wolfgang's – Breakfast
14. Green Well Gastro Pub – American/Gastro
15. Bartertown Diner – Vegan

A lot of these are obvious choices, but that doesn't mean they aren't legitimately good. I do think there's a lot of breakfast places on here, which is a meal we eat out the least, so that might be one change I'd make.  

I often get asked what my favorite restaurant is, and I think without a category that's a very difficult question. But I've given it a considerable amount of thought and I've come up with three personal favorites (dinner):**
1. Graydon's Crossing
2. Green Well Gastro Pub
3. SpeakEZ

I could talk about food forever. So if you find yourself hungry and lost in this city, I'd be so happy to help! It's time to look beyond Applebee's people!


*In case you're wondering – Bistro Bella Vita. I find this restaurant to be highly overrated.
**Though, in the past week I had two really great meals, Derby Station and Palace of India (best Indian in town!) so these lists are in constant evolution!

When Samplers Get Rowdy

Been stitching like crazy and there's new embroidery pieces available on fivefeettall.etsy.com! 

Mimicking some of my favorite images from pop culture, and a few key phrases, there's a little something for everyone. It's a combination of stitched edges and painted interiors. Not your traditional sampler, but I think Grandma would still be proud. 

I love making these— they're silly and fun, and I love watching the images gain energy as the color and lines are added.

I have a few more in the works so check back on Etsy in the next few weeks! OR, feel free to request your own custom piece!

Collecting Friends: On Display

What were your hobbies 25? Did they include collecting valuable pieces of contemporary art?

For Ryan Kortman they did. And now, the 35-year-old's art collection is on exhibit at the UICA. Buying Friends: The Kortman Collection includes the wry, satirical, humorous and sometimes morbid pieces from over 36 artists. 

For a personal art collection, it's an impressive compilation; for someone in my same age bracket, it's damn extraordinary! I marvel at how one must get started in something like this, and how it must spiral into an addiction.

The exhibit, which has a little something for everyone, goes until February 15, 2015. Come on out and share in someone else's hobby!

Burger of the Week #187

Posted by kraftwerkgrl on Instagram, a vintage Wendy's ad illustration. Looks like the beef to bun ratio may have changed over time....

Shoe Stackin' Sheenanigans

Another Cushe Conference season has wrapped up. It was a mellow week. I won a little Tetris, assembled a cardboard safari, jammed to a guitar playing doe. Oh, and there was some shoes around too. 

Now that that's over, I'm very pleased (I daresay thrilled even) to be going back to my part time Cushe schedule. I foresee a lot of couch dates and lunch "meetings" in my future. If you want to catch up, just shoot me a note, I'd love to hear from you.

And to keep with with the daily sheenanigans, be sure to follow me on Instagram (fivefeettalldesign). 

Burger of the Week #186

To match our Flying Burger People Eater Sweater, we OBVIOUSLY need some creepy Burger platform heels. Thanks Modcloth, for having our back. 

Fall 'n Nuts: A Totally Easy and Delicious Snack

I am so totally pleased with myself today. In general, but mainly for the unplanned snack I was able to make on this windy Fall day with items I had unhand. It's almost unreal how easy this was. 

I found this recipe for Maple Cinnamon Candied Almonds on Lark & Linen, and on a whim got up to make it.

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Maple Cinnamon Candied Almonds

Ingredients

• 4 cups raw almonds

• 1 egg white

• 1/3 cup maple syrup

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 2 tsp. cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp. salt

Instructions 

1. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees F.

2. Beat your egg white until foamy and frothy.

3. Mix in the maple syrup.

4. In a separate bowl, add sugar, cinnamon and salt until combined.

5. Add your almonds to your egg mixture and toss to coat.

6. Pour your cinnamon mixtures into your almond mixture and toss to coat.

7. Pour almonds in a single layer onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

8. Bake for 1 hour, stirring almonds every 15 minutes.

9. Once you remove them from the oven, let them cool completely, stirring every so often to break them up.

10. Store in an airtight container for up to a month.

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It really was that simple.This is a recipe I will go back to time and time again. It may even show up in a few weeks in the form of holiday gifts....

Burger of the Week #185

Portland, Oregon. The adorablist of burger joints.

The Future is 2015

Halloween is over. Which means we're in the throes of holiday time. And holiday time means gift giving and planning for the next year.

Which is why it's so perfect that I have new calendar designs available on Etsy! It's kind of a universal gift, so consider everyone on your list taken care of ;)

There are two designs available for 2015, an abstract black and white patterned calendar with a black wooden stand, and a colorful floral design with a brown wooden stand.

Each calendar measures about 4.5" x 5.25" and comes with a wooden easel stand (with the stand, it measures about 6.5" tall, and its 4.5" wide). 

You can check them out at fivefeettall.etsy.com.