A love for Amy Butler!

I purchased a bag from GoMonkeyDesign at a craft show last year designed using Amy Butler Fabric, and ever since I've been hooked! I hope you enjoy a quick collection of designs featuring her beautiful fabric patterns!

1 :: Cottonpurr ~ Long Bi-Fold Clutch Wallet

2 :: FreshLemonBlossoms ~ Scallop Edge Floral Amy Butler Greeting Card

3 :: Olivetreetextiles ~ baby wall hanging quilt

4 :: ButterflyBabyPlace ~ Modern Sweet Pink Pillowcase Dress

5 :: Fieldofroses ~ 2 Section Frame Purse Pouch - Coral Star Paisley

6 :: Zany ~ 24 Cardstock Tags

7 :: EdieCastle ~ Lotus Tree Peony Lime Jewelry Travel Tote

First featured artist! Allison Trentelman

It is my hope to present an inspirational artist every friday, this one being the first!

I was excited to learn that like myself, Allison was a student at the Maine Photographic Workshops, and I am truly inspired by her work! 

Allison Trentelman is a nature and landscape photographer based in midcoast Maine. Allison’s photography focuses on the beauty, magic, and mystery of the natural landscape and animals of Maine. The seasons in Maine are severe and ever-changing and it's impossible to go against nature's cycles. Working so closely with the flow of the seasons has changed the pace of her life, and her photos reflect the peace and calm that she has found in the quiet and beautiful state of Maine. Allison is a believer that there’s something magical in this northern state where life is “the way it should be” and she has spent the last 8 years trying to capture that something in photographs.

~ Visit Allison's beautiful shop Rocky Top Studio and online gallery.

Spinach Artichoke Dip!

A request was made to add a recipe or two, so I thought I would post one of my favorite and most requested dishes! Hope you enjoy!

READY IN: 30-60 minutes

SERVES/MAKES:  6

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 bags (1 pound size) fresh spinach • 1/8 pound butter • 1 teaspoon minced garlic

• 2 tablespoons minced onions • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour • 1 pint heavy cream

• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice • 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce -- to taste • 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 2/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese • 1/3 cup sour cream • 1/2 cup grated Monterey jack cheese

• artichoke hearts -- coarsely diced

DIRECTIONS:

~ Steam spinach; strain and squeeze through cheesecloth. Must be very dry. Chop finely and set aside.

~ In heavy saucepan, melt butter. Add garlic and onions and sauté about 3-5 minutes. Add flour to make a roux. Stir and cook about 1 minute. Slowly add heavy cream, stirring with a whisk to prevent lumping. Mixture will thicken at the boiling point. When it thickens, add lemon juice, Tabasco, salt and Parmesan cheese.

~ Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Fold in dry, chopped spinach, coarse diced artichoke hearts. Sprinkle pepper jack on top and microwave to order. Serve with tortilla chips for dipping.

Treasury on the front page!

What a great way to start of the first day of my new blog. My etsy curation made it to the front page this morning. Probably just as I was struggling to figure out how to get these uploads to appear correctly! And yes I know, it was featuring a pomegranate not an artichoke! Maybe next time!

An inspiration to my new blog!

1 :: Bellaseradesigns ~ Botanical artichoke card 

2 :: Bluestitchbooks ~ Artichoke 8 flat notecards 

3 :: Pacokeco ~ Rustic Veggies - Set of 8 Prestrung Circle Tags 

4 :: HeatherJohnston ~ Artichoke Canvas 

5 :: Drenculture ~ Green Artichoke Letterpressed Flat Panel Card Set 

6 :: Futurowoman ~ Polaroid Print 5x7 Purple Artichoke

A New Blog!

I wanted to start a blog.... I wanted to collect, curate and present things that inspire me. But "inspire" was too common. I wanted something more fun and creative, and I wasn't feeling inspired! I thought about this for weeks, months even! I wanted something fun and different but creative. And maybe it is because I was hungry for lunch.... but my brainstorm arrived at the artichoke. "What do I like? ~ No what do I love?" And I thought... "I love artichokes!" "Artichokes?" "That's silly" ".... but is it?" "Why do I love artichokes?" "Besides their yummy taste?" "I love their beautiful design, the depth created by their layers... their gorgeous coloring with shades from deep reds and purples to soft yellowy greens." "A work of art I think?!" " It can be the little things that inspire creativity in design style and everyday life." "So, why not?" "Enjoy the purple artichoke....""