Showing posts with label Great Gift Ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Great Gift Ideas. Show all posts

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Back To Basics With Hand-Dyed Textiles [Review]

Well hello, hello! Happy New Year! I am happy to get started after a much-needed break over the holidays. I hope you had an amazing holiday too!

Getting started again is always hard because I do get a little bit rusty with the whole blogging thing, which is why it's risky to take a break. Some bloggers I know have taken a break, fully intending to return, but sadly, never do. But not this gal, because a gal needs to blog!

I can't count how many times I've been in the midst of an activity that I'm doing and think about how I'd love to share it with my readers! 

Today I'd like to share with you an Etsy Shop that makes the cutest hand-tied and dyed products.  Using natural dyes and non-treated fabric, the shop is called Practical And Pretty!

The dyes are used with the following natural substances:
  • Light pink is made with avocado pits and skins
  • Hot pink is made with dried cochineal
  • Yellow is made with turmeric
  • Blue is made with indigo
  • Purple made with logwood extract
I gave some tea towels as gifts to a new mom and they were really much appreciated! The towels are quite large and I  think she could use them as swaddle wraps, burp cloths, or regular towels. 



Below is a cute baby set of a Swaddle and Onesi using indigo!
 
This beautiful  throw was dyed with avocado pits. It's a sort of grayish pink that is hard to duplicate! Who knew you could find a use for the pits of avocados? 




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Saturday, February 20, 2016

A Special Group Of Eco-Positive Clothing

When I first experienced clothing made by artisans who use the most natural and eco-positive methods to produce their wares, I was in heaven. The feel of an alpaca wool sweater made in Peru is like nothing else! The art that local Peruvians use to make their alpaca and other kinds of clothing has been handed down for generations and is preserved in families and communities. That is why, in my opinion, we need to have textiles made in a fair-trade environment, supported by a company that ensures fairness for both producer and buyer. In that way, one can experience the luxury of exotic materials without wondering at what sacrifice this indulgence may have been produced.

I was provided product for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own and are not swayed by sponsor affiliation. Affiliate links may be used to support this site!
 Novica is known for its beautiful and unique gifts for everyone! And now they have a new clothing line called Indigenous, a group of supremely comfortable, attractive tops, scarves, and cardigans for men and women that are made for years of comfortable wear. The colors are natural, using no artificial dyes. The fibers are undyed, 100% organic cotton yarn. You know these pieces must be pretty special for Novica to make a special brand for them!

You can find these special wearable pieces showcased in the last minute gifts section, with over 7170 other unique items to choose from as well or you can search 'Indigenous' on the website search bar. 

I received the 'Eco Cognac Luxe' Tunic in a wonderful shade of warm brown. It is such a great shade and feels so soft and natural! I feel like I could be part of a world "covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon*" when I wear it. Nature, as it turns out, is usually the most beautiful and satisfying of elements, whether it be the clothing on your back or the food that you eat, or the roof that you sleep under. I can see myself wearing this top forever, never tiring of its comfort.

I wore it to school, to a conference, and lounged in it around the house. In all 3 of these situations, the top is perfect. It is not tight-fitting, but it is very flattering and comfortable. To keep the integrity of the shape and consistency, wash by hand and let it air dry flat. 

These tops would be a very unique and thoughtful gift for someone special in your life! Likewise, they would make the perfect reward for yourself after you have accomplished a personal goal or have gone through a hard time.What better way to affirm to someone that they're worth it?
*Sarah Addison Allen 

Friday, June 12, 2015

Summer Grilling Tips And ($150) #Giveaway

There's nothing like a tried and true recipe. You just can't improve on perfection. I'm really impressed with Stubbs BBQ Sauces, Marinades and Rubs. Also, check out the great tips for the perfect barbecue! No more elusive hints at how it's supposed to be!
Now that the warmer weather is upon us, it’s prime time to get out and barbecue. Rocky Stubblefield, Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q brand ambassador and grandson of founder C.B. “Stubb” Stubblefield, offers a few tips and recipes he’s picked up over the years to make you the grilling hero of any barbecue, family gathering or even weeknight dinner. Stubb’s is the maker of authentic, premium, BBQ sauces, rubs and marinades and was founded by C.B. “Stubb” Stubblefield in 1968.
Stubb didn’t just make barbecue, he made friends, serving up his slow-smoked brisket, cole slaw and beans, all with his wide, trademark smile at his restaurant in Lubbock, Texas. It was during this time that Stubb first began bottling his now famous sauces at the request of his friends.
Rocky’s Grilling Tips
rockygrilling Today, Stubb’s heritage lives on in his legendary sauces, marinades and rubs, continuing to make people feel good all over the world.
  • Use indirect cooking for larger meats (indirect is cooking away from the fire), and direct cooking for smaller meats (direct is cooking over the fire).
  • When marinating, beef chicken and pork can be marinated up to two days in a refrigerator. You should only marinate seafood for a few hours.
  • When using charcoal, allow coals to ash over before adding meat to the grill.
  • When cooking burgers, make a thumbprint in the middle of the patty before putting it on the grill. This will help the patty come out nice and flat (not puffy in the middle) and the meat will be cooked evenly throughout.
  stubbstoasted
 
  • Soak vegetables in cold water before grilling – it keeps them from burning or drying out too fast.
  • For a juicier steak, let your meat rest for at least 10 minutes after it is done to allow the juices that were forced into the center of the meat when cooking to distribute throughout the steak.
grilledribeye
  • Don’t cook ribs ‘til they are falling off the bone – ribs should be grilled until they begin to pull away from the bone, but you should be able to bite into and leave a bite mark as you eat it off the bone. Overcooked ribs become dried out and less flavorful – even a little bit mushy.
sweetribeye
Clean grill after every use. You can use a ball of foil or an onion – just cut the onion in half, and while the grill is heating up, rubs the onion across it. The juices from the onion clean the grill and get it ready for use.
Now for the fun part! Head below for your chance to enter the giveaway below to win a personalized grilling set, Stubb’s branded spatula Stubb’s heavy duty, hand-carved cedar wood cutting board, Stubb’s hat, bag, T-shirt and $30 in Stubb’s coupons this fantastic set is worth $150! Perfect for making your Fourth of July celebration Legendary!! Giveaway is open to US Resident only and ends on 6/26 at 11:59pm EST.  
Disclosure:All opinions are 100% mine. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network.. Open US only must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor will be responsible for product fulfillment to winner(s) of the giveaway. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Monday, April 6, 2015

E Is For Eggshell Art #AtoZChallenge

I don't have a lot of time to do art, but when I do, I'm going to do some eggshell art! It looks so fun, cool, and certainly no two art pieces are ever the same. So I've decided to do a collection of references to some really cool sites that feature eggshell art!

Here is a really great way to make a pendant simply from a domino and eggshells and some clear drying glue! You can 
make some really gorgeous pieces with this technique!


If you have a surface that needs decorating or salvaging, why not do an eggshell surface? It resembles old marble!

If you are searching for a fun and interesting children's craft project, here it is! Use clay as the adhesive for the colored egg shells!
Finally, this looks so fun! An eggshell mosaic! This is actually done as a craft for kids, but this would make anyone feel like a crafty person! 
Now that you've seen some basic ways to use eggshells, take a look at a pro's work, it's not just the novice that works with eggshells! This is some eggshell art by RedHongYi, a Chinese artist living in Shanghai, who creates amazing art out of ordinary things! This is from her '31 Days Of Food Creativity' Series.