mini lemon blueberry trifle

When it comes to dessert, I am a fuity kind of gal- though I enjoy chocolate I crave sweet and sour fruit flavors. I have been wanting to put my own twist on a simple trifle that incorporates some of my favorite flavors.

No time over here to make cake from scratch so I used a boxed lemon cake mix and turned it into a pound cake-

1 box of cake mix

1 package 3.4 oz of lemon instant pudding

4 eggs

1 cup of water

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes

I cut it up into cubes.

The best part of this dessert is making homemade whip cream.

Start with a cup of whipping cream.

1/3 cup of sugar (optional)

Whip with a mixer for about 5 minutes or until it is thick and fluffy.

YUMMM!!!!

Next I filled the cups- I have a set of cute little trifle cups that are perfect for this dessert.

I started with whip cream,

added a layer of cake,

added a handful of blueberries,

and continue building layers until the cup is full.

add a big dollop of whip cream to the top.

Then I added just a pinch of toasted coconut to the top.

I wanted a little extra lemon so I added a little squeeze of lemon to the top.

OH GOODNESS....YUMMMMMMMMM!!!

simple tunic tutorial

I love tunic style tops so when I found a plain tunic inspired t-shirt at Target, I knew that it would be perfect to alter.

I purchased a larger size than normal- for a little extra room- tunics can't be tight!

I just read that lace is everywhere in fall 2010 fashion so I decided to use a little lace and beads to add to the shirt.

I picked out a two different shades of green lace.

I sewed two pieces of dark green lace together.

Then I used a piece of lighter green lace and turned it into a ruffle

and sewed it- down the middle- to the top of the dark green lace.

Next I used a a piece of silk ribbon that I folded up

and sewed it to the top of the lace.

I knew that I wanted to add gold beads for a little sparkle but I just didn't have the patience or time to hand sew them all on..insert Aileen's Super Fabric textile adhesive here. I love this stuff- heavy duty, dries clear and is great to use with embellishments.

I added little gold beads down the surface of the ribbon.

Last, I used Fabric Fusion (fabric glue) to adhere the lace and beads down the very middle of the shirt and let dry.

And there you have it- a lightweight and SIMPLE tunic that can be worn by itself....

or under a jacket!

keeping a color journal

I am TOTALLY immersed in color over here- partially because of the online class that I am teaching right now but also because I am working on projects for my book, new work and challenging myself to understand and grow with color (a daily ritual in my life!). For me it is a MUST to practice, understand and work with color theory and I thought I would share a peek at my color journal and color notes. I keep a "color only" journal with me at all times and I also keep a digital color journal full of photos, inspiration and digital color palettes. I have found that when you work on a better relationship and better understanding of color in your creative life, the easiest place to start is by keeping journal. Keeping a journal that is dedicated only to color observation and reflection is a really wonderful way to build up a resources of information and a way to be more intentional when working with color. Here are a few tips for starting a color journal!

Carry a journal everywhere you go- it doesn't have to be fancy just a place to record inspiration.

Incorporate swatches of color and color combos.

Collect scraps of paper, photos, fabric, paint chips in colors that you like.

Pay close attention to the colors that you enjoy, photos that pop, fashion that you love and record your findings-

How does a color combo make you feel?

What makes you notice certain colors?

How could you incorporate those colors into you work?

Practice with your favorite colors.

Pay attention to the colors that you use in your

work and make note of your discoveries.

Use photos for inspiration- build a color palette from your favorite photos.

Look to the latest fashion trends for color inspiration.

Practice, practice and practice some more!

Challenge yourself to practice using and creating with color in different mediums and tools.

most important...HAVE FUN with color!!

the evolution of an idea

My brain is always going (and going and going and going) and often my struggles are not about the lack of inspiration but about too much inspiration, too many ideas and not enough time! I am convinced that I have some kind of overactive brain problem or maybe just hyperactivity. Anyway, when I least expect it I always seen to find something that sparks one of those ideas that I just can't get out of my head until I make it real. This is exactly what happened with a purse that I recently created.

I have been walking and running by this manhole thing in our neighborhood for over a year and every time I pass it I am inspired.

There is something about the design, the color and the shapes that I love- it is perfectly simple. I knew every day that I passed this spot in the street it would eventually be incorporated into a purse. I finally I snapped couple of photos and got to work! Here is a peek at how it evolved-

curry chicken salad sandwich

Lunch seems to be the easiest meal for me to skip or even go rogue with (do you know how easy it is to eat a whole bag of animal cookies when you are home by yourself all day?) Currently I am working 12 hour days so it is a MUST to eat good meals to keep me productive and energized to create all day long. One of my favorite meals for lunch is a curry chicken salad sandwich- it is easy to make and full of flavor.

Start with chicken that is shredded or diced.

Add curry powder- the amount will depend on how big of a batch you are making and how much flavor you want. I used about 2-3 teaspoons of curry powder for a small/med batch- which is quite a bit- I like lots of spice! If you are not familiar with the flavor of curry, start small- you can always add more flavor at the end.

Add a smidge of cumin- when I say smidge I mean just a TINY pinch or dash- it will go a LONG way!

Add a squirt of honey,

cranberries,

and chunks of apple.

Last, add mayonaise- I have a hard time with mayo (it grosses me out) so I try not to use a lot and I use a lighter version.

Mix everything together.

The key to a good sandwich is good bread- don't be afraid of bread! I used some fresh bread from my favorite bakery and added the chicken salad.

Enjoy!