New! Custom Love Nests Now Available as a Fine Art Print

It's true!

I've had so many folks ask me to offer prints in my shop as a lower-priced option. I've taken heed. I plan to expand this new area but wanted to start with my favorite — The Custom Love Nest Print!

Here's a great big, beautiful way to show your love. This gorgeous 13 x 19 inch keepsake is printed with vivid archival inks and velvety smooth, heavyweight cotton paper. Both are guaranteed not to fade for 100 years.

I'll add you and your-own-true-love's names, wedding date and even the amount of eggs you'd like in your nest.

This sweet gift is sized perfectly to fit into a ready-made 11 x 14 inch frame. Or for a real focal point; buy a ready-made 16 x 20 inch frame and ask the framers to cut you a mat to fit big bang for the buck!

Speaking of "bangs for the bucks"— hurry to my shop and order your Love Nest soon, because for a very limited time, I'm offering these custom prints for $30 — that's a $20 savings from the regular price of $50!

How many eggs are in your nest?

Give-Away Update

A sweet Little Backyard Bird and a Nest to go with it could be yours!

Things are getting heated up for the give-away. I've had a lot of new visitors and I'm excited about the attention it's drawn. Here's a reminder — if you haven't yet — to comment, like and heart your way to 3 chances to win. See all the Birds here in my shop.

Check out the post for more info. And remember, the contest ends when July begins!

bonne chance!

Katie's Kitchen: Cupcakes + Ice Cream = Yum!

Oh Katie, you've stolen my heart again!

In her latest post in Making Michael Pollan Proud, she shares with us her awesome entry into the 2011 Ice Cream Cupcake Contest — The New York State Upside-Down Ice Cream Cupcake. 

The contest is to combine cupcake and ice cream — hard to go wrong with that combo. But if you ask me, Katie has taken the pairing to a whole new level with this heavenly treat. Caramelized rhubarb, fresh strawberries, whipped cream and homemade Roasted  Rhubarb Ice Cream come together with delicate cake to create the sublime.

Katie's The New York State Upside-Down Ice Cream Cupcake

If you're looking for a truly special dessert for your summer dinner party, check out Katie's blog for the recipe. She makes it all look easy!

Speaking of Chickens

Barnyard Queen ©2010

The last post I ran got me thinking about raising chickens.

My daughter's been bugging me to add to our pet population with a few "layers". Apparently there's an ordinance in my town that keeping chickens a no-no. Sad. But, I read in an article dated April 10th, 2010 in our local Patch, that our good Vice Mayor Kathy Leventhal has asked the Board of Health to consider allowing chickens to be raised for eggs.

In an article that ran last year in NJ.com, Grace Grund
talks about keeping chickens in her Montclair backyard.
I love this photo by the Star Ledger's Matt Rainey!

Seems the peckish poultry is welcome in neighboring towns such as Millburn, Livingston and Montclair. I find myself envying folks that have cozy coops in their backyards. Not that I need any more projects, but the idea is so appealing — a pet that earns its keep.

My New Favorite Website: Instructables.com

Goodness gracious I love the internet! So jam-packed with information, there's simply no excuse for us all to be the best informed generation yet. 

For a Friday treat, I want to share with you my new discovery — Instructables.com. I'm warning you though, if you're a die-hard DYI-er like me, plan to stay a while. You'll find instructions on how to do just about anything you need to do. Here are a few of my favorites:

Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend!

Learn how to make this darling Quilted Mad Hatter Tea Party Set by technoplastique

I think this wonderful Magnetic Spice Rack from kitchentablescraps is the answer to my cluttered cabinet!

Don't tell my neighbors, but I've been eying this project for an Easy Chicken Coop for City Dwellers from jrossetti

This may be my favorite so far — A Hen Saddle from Mimikry, to protect the Queen of the Roost from her feather-plucking mate!