HeartLand

New Blog!

2010-11-01T21:59:00.000-05:00

Hello friends! I invite you to visit me at my new blog, The Rotary. Heartland was all about the great things in the Midwest and now you can follow along as I explore New England and find things to love here. I miss you all, so please stop by!

Bumblesea Jewelry Giveaway

2010-10-04T19:22:00.005-05:00

Getting my heart back to the Midwest with a post about a great Illinois designer. You may remember Jennifer of Bumblesea from my earlier post. Well, she has just released a new line of glass vial necklaces and you need to check them out! Maybe you'd like to win one for free? Is that a resounding Yes??!

Well then, enter the jewelry giveaway sponsored by Bumblesea indie jewelry / indie fashion blog.

This necklace is my favorite, I love the black and white...

Newburyport, MA

2010-09-18T10:06:00.004-05:00

Weeks of hectic days were starting to take their toll, so our first real weekend here we wanted a nice relaxing day strolling around. So we headed to Newburyport, on the coast. Apparently we're not the only ones to think this place is pretty great, the NYtimes definitely got to it first. But they are really onto something! The town really is picture perfect and the beaches on nearby Plum Island are beautiful!

Looking back

2010-09-10T09:18:00.007-05:00

We're here!! The move and settling in to Boston has taken SO much time and energy. I only recently got my computer up and running and I wanted to stop in for a few minutes to at least share a few photos from our last few days in Madison. More photos (of the ocean!) are coming soon.

There's an appreciation that you really just can't get for a place until you are leaving. The sunsets get a little richer, the food at your favorite restaurants tastes better and your friends and neighbors are even nicer. Madison definitely had that sparkle for the last couple of months, making it that much harder to go. Thank you to all of our family, friends and colleagues who gave us a lovely sendoff and had so many nice things to say about us. Who knew you liked us so much? ;) We already miss all of you.

The Memorial Union Terrace

One final brunch at Marigold. I'm really gonna miss those potatoes.

The Memorial Union Terrace, Lake Mendota in the background

Sunset over the Yahara River

Lake Monona

Final day of sale!

2010-08-16T10:28:00.002-05:00

Just a little reminder, today is the last day of the sales in the Habit and Pravina shops. Shops close tomorrow!

Meteor Shower

2010-08-13T18:10:00.006-05:00

The Perseid meteor shower was at its peak last night and luckily we had a beautifully clear summer night to enjoy it. I took my camera down to the lake to try capturing a few photos of meteors and I did get a couple of faint ones, but not too many. There were definitely about 100 mosquitoes for every 1 meteor, so I didn't last too long outside. One thing that I was reminded of though is how much I LOVE night photography. Clearly though, I need some practice at capturing good night photos. So I've vowed to take more photos of our neighborhood at night in the next week before we have to leave!

Just a reminder...check back next week for the unveiling of what's next for Heartland...

MOVING SALE!!!

2010-08-10T21:18:00.006-05:00

Thank you everyone for the well wishes!

The big move is coming up quickly... and we have to get to packing! Help us out by clearing out some inventory! I've reduced everything in the Pravina and Habit shops, some items are up to 50% off.

The sale lasts until Tuesday August 17th. After that date, both shops will be closed until September 1st for the move.

The Big News!!

2010-08-09T21:51:00.004-05:00

We are moving to Boston!! After being a Midwestern girl my entire life, I am now going to try out living on the east coast. We'll be arriving just in time for Fall, and I am so looking forward to many beautiful drives through New England. It is a very exciting change and I can't wait to get started. I've dreamt of living in New England ever since I grew up watching Who's the Boss. Yes, it's true! I mean, didn't everybody wish they were Samantha Micelli?

The downside of moving is that we have to leave behind beloved family and friends. It will be very hard being so far away, but we will definitely be back to visit very very often. I doubt anywhere else could ever truly feel like home.

Heartland will also have to go through some changes, since it really is all about life in the Midwest and I don't want to change that focus. But, don't you worry, I have something new in store for all of you! Just putting the final touches on it though, so check back in a few days!

Big news! But what could it be?

2010-08-08T07:04:00.000-05:00

I have some very big news to share with all of you! I can't let the secret out just yet but check back tomorrow...

Hint: it involves the ocean. And a sale. Any guesses?

Northern Lights

2010-08-05T22:11:00.003-05:00

Photo by Shawn Malone. Marquette, Michigan.

I am obsessed with the northern lights, or Aurora Borealis. I'm not sure if my fascination started when I wrote a paper for my Astronomy class in college. More likely it's just because they are truly amazing and surreal. This week there have been solar storms strong enough to make the northern lights visible as far south as the Midwest. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten to see them. But others did...

Photo by Derek Weston. St. Germain, Wisconsin.

Photo by Mike Hollingshead. Little Sioux, IA.

Photo by Tom Pinkerton. Babbitt, Minnesota.

All photos courtesy of www.spaceweather.com

Summer

2010-07-27T22:23:00.005-05:00

Calm days and long nights, barbecuing with friends, bike rides at sunset, watermelon coolers, frozen custard, thunderstorms, bunny watching, blooming gardens...these are a few of my favorite summer things.

Travels, Part 2

2010-06-27T20:45:00.006-05:00

Moving further up the river to Dubuque Iowa! I was just driving through Dubuque but did stop for a couple of photos and a coffee at Jitterz, which it turns out has the best customer service of any coffeeshop I've ever been to. The barista was so great and I swear she knew everyone by name. Except for the out of towners like me.

My final destination was Galena, IL. For those of you unfamiliar with Galena, it is in one of the prettiest areas of Illinois, in the northwest corner near the Mississippi River. If you visit, bring your bike so you can really appreciate the scenery. Just make sure it isn't a fixed gear, because wow are there some crazy hills. Galena also certainly has no shortage of antique stores and icecream shops, because really isn't that what vacation is all about? Yum.

And to top it off, a hot air balloon show!

Travels, Part 1

2010-06-22T21:15:00.010-05:00

I've been traveling a bit lately and one of my recent trips was to Davenport Iowa. It's a very cute town on the banks of the Mississippi River, which, by the way, is filled with Pelicans?! So cool!

If you do find yourself in Davenport, be sure to stop by the Figge Art Museum, housed in a beautiful building designed by David Chipperfield. The exhibits were lovely, these pieces by Nicole Pietrantoni were some of my favorites.

What I cannot recommend is driving through this on your way out of Davenport.

We Are Family-Chicago Design Event

2010-05-21T11:55:00.002-05:00

Come by and say hello tonight at the We Are Family: Emerging Talent in Chicago event at the Family Room Gallery. Heartland's favorite graphic designer David Weik will be exhibiting his work along with eight other super talented artists. It is also a nice kickoff to Chicago Design Week. Hope to see you there!

BrookeArin Giveaway

2010-05-20T11:25:00.004-05:00

BrookeArin, aka GemmaFactrix, is the maker of my favorite pair of everyday earrings and I love her work. I was excited to see the blog Oh I Love That is hosting a giveaway of one of her Tiny Gem Necklaces. Head on over for your chance to win!

Ironworks Cafe

2010-05-18T18:20:00.005-05:00

I was just trying to think of where I wanted to go for dinner tonight when I realized I hadn't yet posted about The Ironworks Cafe in Madison. I had actually taken these photos pretty soon after Ironworks opened over a year (maybe even two years?) ago, but I never posted them. Better late than never, eh?

The food at Ironworks is inventive, almost always local, and most importantly, delicious. What's even more likable is the premise behind the cafe. It exists as part of the Goodman Community Center, which recently moved into a beautifully renovated historic building on the near east side. Fitting with the community service ideals of the center, the cafe is run entirely by teenagers under the guidance of restaurant professionals. The Ironworks Cafe is part of a teen employment program helping teens learn basic job skills, food and customer service skills, while seeing the ins and outs of managing a business.

Design Crush

2010-05-14T10:59:00.004-05:00

Fellow Mid-Westerner Kelly publishes the great blog, Design Crush. I am super excited that she featured Pravina Studio this morning! A great way to end the week.

Garmental Fashion Blog

2010-05-13T10:31:00.004-05:00

Garmental is a brand new blog based in Chicago's fashion scene. A new outfit is posted daily with all of the ensembles being from boutiques around Chicago. Find fresh fashion inspiration as well as discover some new shops!

Where have I been?

2010-05-10T21:39:00.008-05:00

Boston! Sorry for my accidental blog hiatus, I was in Boston for a long weekend and though I meant to post before leaving...well, that didn't pan out. I hope some photos and highlights from my trip will earn me forgiveness?

I spent a lot of time walking around exploring the different neighborhoods of Boston. These apartment buildings were in Mission Hill. During one of my walks, I was lucky enough to happen upon a student art sale here and purchased a couple of things.

One of the highlights of my trip was visiting the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. It was an incredible experience, unlike any other museum I've visited.

The view from inside the Institute for Contemporary Art was beautiful, even in the pouring rain.

Lobster roll at The Barking Crab!

Paul Revere walked here. I love how much history there is everywhere you look in Boston. Following the Freedom Trail through the North End is a nice introduction to some of Boston's past. And you can actually walk around Paul Revere's house? Amazing.

Ofcourse, there had to be a stop at Harvard in Cambridge. What a great town that is!

Mini cupcakes from Sweet, the cutest cupcake shop ever.

The interior of the historic Boston Library building is breathtaking. How great are all of those green bankers style lights?

And the view from the hotel room window was also pretty neat.

Potters Artisan Crackers

2010-05-04T21:10:00.006-05:00

Nancy Potter and her son Peter truly are cracker artisans. I recently got a bag of Potters Crackers (toasted sesame seed, in case you're wondering) and finished them off almost immediately. These divine little crackers are baked just up the road from me and they are made from locally milled whole-wheat flour, sweet Wisconsin butter and farmstead milk. How much more fresh and local can they get?

I usually find Potters Crackers at the Madison farmers markets. They are also available at a good amount of stores in the Midwest and for those of you outside of the area, order some online, you'll love them!

Elsie Marley

2010-05-03T11:56:00.006-05:00

Congrats to Meg who had her adorable Madison WI home featured on Etsy's Storque! It's a great showcase of a family living efficiently (and beautifully) in a small space. PS, also check out her great little shop, Elsie Marley.

Spring PARA pouches

2010-04-29T21:24:00.003-05:00

The spring line of PARA pouches have arrived in the Pravina shop!! And now featuring a lovely dark cocoa brown!

Pearl & Marmalade Stationary

2010-04-27T16:46:00.003-05:00

Beautiful letterpress from Pearl & Marmalade.

Of Salads and Sundays

2010-04-25T14:36:00.004-05:00

It's a chilly, rain-soaked day here in Madison. The perfect Sunday to stay inside in my studio, working with the new machine. It has been a little frustrating at times but I'm hoping to make some more progress this afternoon. Maybe after a cup of tea.

During a little lunch break, I made a salad with the hopes of making up for a decadent dinner at Eldorado last night. I tried this dressing for the first time today and liked it, so I thought I'd share it with all of you.

Grapefruit vinaigrette
1/4 cup pink grapefruit juice
1 TB rice vingear (I bet a fruity one would be tasty too)
1 tsp minced shallots (I actually used freeze dried ones from Penzeys)
2 TB olive oil
Salt

Shake it all up, add salt to taste.

Hamilton Wood Type Font Fund

2010-04-21T16:04:00.004-05:00

The Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum in Two Rivers WI is the only museum dedicated to the preservation, study, production and printing of wood type. Existing since 1880 and housing 1.5 million pieces of wood type, Hamilton's collection is one of the premier wood type collections in the world. About 3 hours from Chicago, the museum is well worth a visit. Admission is even free!

The museum is run only by two volunteers of the Two Rivers Historical Society and really needs your support in obtaining important grant funding. Please consider contributing to the Hamilton Font Fund, every dollar makes a difference.

From the Hamilton Font Fund Facebook page:
Help protect a Printing Treasure: Hamilton Urgently Needs Your Help.

Dear friends of wood type,
Hamilton has an unprecedented opportunity to qualify for a dollar-for-dollar matching grant from the "Save America's Treasures" program which has a deadline of May 20th, 2010.

This gives Hamilton 30 days to raise enough money to apply for a $25,000 matching grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. We're excited to have already raised over $5000 for this vital program that will help us archive, preserve and digitally document our collection of over 2000 vintage advertising plates and our 1.5 million-piece type collection.

But we can’t do it without you.

What can you do? We have 3 ways for you to give:

1. Become a member of the Hamilton Wood Type Museum online today (http://www.woodtype.org/museum_information_membership.shtml). There are 4 levels to choose from with sweet incentives that let you take a little slice of Two Rivers back to your home or office wall. Your membership dollars go a long way toward helping the museum fulfill its mission of preserving this amazing piece of printing history. All new membership dollars generated between now and the grant deadline will go directly to our matching funds effort.

2. If you're already a member you can simply donate at a level that suits your budget! Our recommended donation base is $50 and every dollar you give goes to protecting this typographic gem. (http://www.woodtype.org/museum_information_membership.shtml)

3. Shop at our Etsy Store! All proceeds for the next 30 days go directly to Hamilton’s “Save America’s Treasures” efforts and we'll be adding more merchandise soon. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/HamiltonWoodType)

Finally, we ask that you pass this message along to at least 2 people you think might become friends of Hamilton. Time is of the essence. We'll be keeping you updated with our progress in the coming month. Thanks for supporting wood type.

Sincerely Jim and Bill Moran

Batch Bakehouse

2010-04-18T19:38:00.009-05:00

Looking for the ham and cheese croissant that will revolutionize your morning? Well, my friends, here it is.

There are a lot of food options in Madison. And a lot of them are good. Some of them are even very good. Then there's everything coming out of the kitchen of Batch Bakehouse. I can't say enough great things about this place. I've definitely tried enough flaky, buttery, delicious baked goods to proclaim this my favorite bakery in Madison. The staff is always so sweet, the food is fantastic, the coffee is from Intelligentsia and it's in my neighborhood. How could it get better? I can't wait until summer morning walks up to the bakery to get treats for eating outside in the sunshine on my front steps.

Wisconsin Film Festival

2010-04-15T22:23:00.005-05:00

The Wisconsin Film Festival has descended on Madison! From April 14th-18th, the film festival screens hundreds of independent films at eight downtown Madison theaters. It's a huge event that brings out crowds from near and far.

What would I like to go see, you ask?
Sweetgrass (thanks to Yancy!)
Last Train Home
Typeface
The Bug Trainer
Feed the Fish
Just to name a few. And I'm so sad to see I missed Cooking History!

Alicia Bock

2010-04-13T11:54:00.009-05:00

Dreamy photos for today from Alicia Bock. I'm not sure what took me so long to post about her, I've admired Alicia's work for years!

Pizza night

2010-04-11T19:59:00.004-05:00

Sunday has unofficially evolved into pizza night. Do you have any little meal traditions like that?

Pizza night used to be delivery but lately I've started making pizzas at home. I'm definitely still tweaking things, but the pizzas are getting better the more I practice. So I have to keep making them every weekend, right? In the name of perfection? Let's go with that.

At the moment, my favorite recipes are this dough and this sauce. I usually make a couple of small, thin and crispy pizzas with different toppings because I like options. And once I've got the dough going, I figure I might as well make the full batch.

Tonight's pizzas
1. red sauce topped with shredded mozzarella and fresh tomatoes
2. white pizza with olive oil, fresh garlic, parmesan, prosciutto and arugula

Recently I went to a pizza party where the cook was a chef from one of my favorite restaurants. He was nice enough to share some tips: set your oven to the highest heat possible (in my case 550 degrees) and always use a pizza stone (which are a lot more affordable than I thought). Combine the high heat with a thin crust and these pizzas cook within 5-7 minutes. You may have to experiment to find which rack in your oven gets you the perfectly crisp but not burnt pizza. Maybe you should try making a couple of pizzas every weekend. You know, for practice ;)

National Mustard Museum

2010-04-09T12:12:00.004-05:00

Wisconsin is home to all sorts of unique things, and one of them is...the National Mustard Museum! The museum recently relocated from Mount Horeb to Middleton, maybe to be closer to the action of mustard loving Madison? Yeah, that's a lot of M's.

The museum is having a grand opening this weekend with all sorts of mustard-y events. Including a 25 mile relay race with a jar of Grey Poupon and a presentation of "Wisconsin Cheeses and the Mustards That Love Them." If by chance you can't make it to the museum, you can still get in on all the mustard by joining their mustard of the month club!

Quinoa Cucumber Salad

2010-04-07T20:46:00.005-05:00

Okay, if I eat another leftover easter ham sandwich or one more Reese's peanut butter egg...there's going to be trouble. And by trouble I mean elastic waist pants. It doesn't help any that I have visited both here and here in the past two nights. So let's try something light and healthy for a change, no?

This salad is really fresh tasting and keeps fairly well overnight. It would likely make a good side dish to some fish but I usually just end up calling it a meal all on it's own.

Quinoa Cucumber Salad
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
1.5 TB red wine vinegar
1 TB olive oil
1 cucumber, de-seeded and thinly sliced
3 scallions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup parsley leaves, finely chopped

Bring quinoa and 1 cup salted water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, covered, until all of the water is absorbed and quinoa is tender, usually around 12 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool to room temperature.

Add vinegar, oil, scallions, parsley and cucumber to the quinoa. I usually use a regular cucumber that I remove the seeds from with a little spoon, but an english cucumber could be an easier way to go. Season with salt and pepper and enjoy! It's delicious room temp or chilled, making it a great potluck dish.

Weekend

2010-04-02T10:56:00.016-05:00

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Cameron Wittig

2010-03-31T20:13:00.006-05:00

I first learned of Cameron Wittig from his stunning portraits of musicians. It turns out the rest of his work is just as impressive! How could you not love the photos of every corner of his house? And this photo of silhouettes against the murky Mississippi river below them is just perfect.

I win

2010-03-30T19:28:00.003-05:00

I was so excited to receive my handknit cowl from Olive Brown last week. She hosted a little giveaway on her blog and I won! Hooray! It will surely keep me warm on chilly spring nights.

The edge of spring

2010-03-28T20:55:00.004-05:00

I really enjoy this time between winter and spring, when the seasons collide. There's still ice thawing but there's also plants and vegetation. From bare branches, the birds seem to be chirping louder than ever. I'm starting to daydream of planting a little bit of greenery in the backyard. Soon!

Clydes Rebirth

2010-03-25T11:45:00.005-05:00

I was browsing at one of my favorites little shops in Madison, Atticus, when I was first spotted jewelry by Clydes Rebirth. Inspired by a love of everything gold, glittery, and over the top, Clydes Rebirth is about revamping old into new and it does so beautifully.

I was also excited to learn that the designer is right here in Madison. Merl just published her first lookbook and you should go check it out. While you're at it, stop by her shop and her blog too!

Anonymous Photography

2010-03-23T10:23:00.003-05:00

A new blog I just had to add to my Google Reader: Anonymous Photography. An (almost) daily photo blog of Chicago centric architecture compositions and decompositions from Damon Luke Wilson. How great are these colors?

Weekend

2010-03-20T11:05:00.004-05:00

All of our beautiful weather has come to an abrupt end and suddenly there is snow on the ground again. It shouldn't last long and in the meantime so I'm trying to focus on all the recent sunshine we've had. You know, looking on the sunny side.

I'm looking forward to spending the weekend working on some bag designs, which usually means a new bag for me! I've got some really heavyweight canvas that I've been wanting to use for ages. Any big weekend plans for you all?

Ozetta Knits

2010-03-18T07:00:00.003-05:00

It might be 60 degrees outside right now, but I've lived in the Midwest long enough to know not to put away my scarves just yet. Spring cannot have sprung this early! In the meantime, snuggle up to some of these awesomely chunky knits from Ozetta. And if it really does get too warm for a cowl, then you switch to the tube necklace!

Kansas Couture

2010-03-16T11:06:00.003-05:00

A new blog to follow! Kansas Couture, features the daily stylings of Katy, a fashionista living in Lawrence Kansas. Kansas Couture was recently featured in the April issue of Lucky Magazine. Congrats Katy!

Lazy Saturday

2010-03-14T14:08:00.004-05:00

Do you ever go around your town as a tourist? Yesterday I spent a few hours walking around Madison checking out the sights and taking some photos.

Foggy days

2010-03-11T17:39:00.007-06:00

The weather is finally warming up a bit which means lots of snow and ice melting. All of the melting is leading to day after day of fairly dense fog, which is always so fun to photograph.

Aesthetic Apparatus posters

2010-03-09T10:52:00.009-06:00

Founded by two employees of the renowned Madison design firm, Planet Propaganda, the boys of Aesthetic Apparatus must have decided Madison winters were just not quite frigid enough and so moved further north to icy Minneapolis. From their little graphic design firm in the Twin Cities, they put out these phenomenal posters.

And well, ofcourse, the Andrew Bird one is my favorite. I was actually at this show, so it does seem only fitting that I purchase a poster...

The New Pfaff on the Block

2010-03-08T17:28:00.003-06:00

Pravina Studio finally has an industrial sewing machine! I've been scouring Craigslist for months now trying to find just the right machine. My dream machine is this Juki, but unfortunately it is pretty far out of my price range.

I kept finding used machines on Craigslist and would inquire within hours of the posting being added, but barely anybody would get back to me. I think the machines were selling THAT fast. Or the ones worth buying were anyway. I finally managed to snag one a couple of weeks ago; I was even able to keep it in my Pfaff family sewing of machines, so I'm extra excited. Soon, new Pravina bags will abound.

I've barely even threaded it, but I love this machine already. It's SO industrial.

The whole purchasing experience was just so pleasant too. The machine was in a town about 45 minutes northwest of Madison, so I took a lovely drive through the country at dusk to see it. The seller is a small business owner herself who'd upgraded her machine a year ago, and she sat with me teaching me how to use it. When my plans for picking it up (it doesn't fit in a car) fell through, she actually drove it out to me. I love good people.

The Best Room in the House

2010-03-05T09:59:00.005-06:00

Photo by Leslie Schwartz
Courtesy of chicagoreader.com

I love getting a peek inside people's homes. Seeing how it's decorated, how the space is laid out, wondering what it would be like to live there. Is that weird?

I just came across this article with photos from the homes of six Chicagoans, including the Busy Beaver Button lady and her beautiful kitchen. Go take a look around, cause I can't be the only one who enjoys this stuff, right? Right?

Jenni's Artisan Ice Cream

2010-03-02T21:57:00.007-06:00

"Artisan ice creams made with the most flavorful, responsibly-raised ingredients from the Ohio countryside. Pasture to table. Cow to cone."

Okay, I have fallen in love with Jeni's Ice Cream and I've never even tried it. Now that my friends, is good branding. Everything is so well done, the look, the feel, the story, it's all spot on. Their tagline "Pasture to Table. Cow to Cone" is pure genius.

Jeni Britton Bauer became inspired to make artisan ice creams while working at a French patisserie. Back home in the heart of Ohio, Jeni created her own techniques to make American ice creams that are less sweet and more flavorful. Joined by family and a small staff, she creates magical things like Honey Vanilla Bean ice cream filled with freshly baked cherry crisp. In the mood for something a little spicier? How about some Thai Chili ice cream?

Possibly the best part...they deliver. Though if rumors are true, her ice cream might be available at a specialty shop here in Madison soon. Fingers crossed!

Trail mix

2010-02-25T22:01:00.005-06:00

Last week a friend of mine was in town for a few days and much fun was had. A lot of the itinerary involved eating delicious food and drinking wine, perhaps sometimes to excess. So after many days of indulgence, this week I really had to try to reign things back in.

I don't just pack a lunch for my days at work, I really fill a sack full of food. I need my mid morning snack, my lunch, my sweet thing for after lunch, my afternoon snack, etc. So, yeah, lots of snacks. I do at least try to make them healthy ones whenever possible. I made this trail mix to bring along this week and it's really done the trick.

1 cup multi grain Cheerios
1 cup All Bran cereal
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup roasted, salted edamame beans
1/2 cup roasted, salted peanuts

Mix it all together! Pretty easy, eh?

Swedish Cows in Heavy Fog

2010-02-21T18:23:00.005-06:00

This morning I was at the Swedish American Museum in Chicago's quaint Andersonville area. Really, how perfect is that neighborhood? So many good restaurants and cute shops!

Back to the museum...one of the artists represented in their current temporary exhibit is Swede Patrick Gunnar Helin. The large-scale photos of cows in a heavy fog are breathtaking. Definitely worth a stop.

What Would A Nerd Wear?

2010-02-16T10:07:00.004-06:00

It seems I'm a little late to the game on this one, but I just recently started reading the blog, What Would A Nerd Wear. Its author is a grad student in the Midwest and the blog is an archive of what she's dubbed grad student style. Having been a Midwestern graduate student myself, I really identify with it. I love the outfits, they're simple but stylish and interesting. Most importantly, the outfits are pretty realistic, like I could see myself actually wearing these.

I also love that her wardrobe is weather appropriate! My biggest obstacle to looking cute is Midwestern winters, it's nice to see ideas on how to do while staying warm.

The Way to my Heart

2010-02-14T20:10:00.003-06:00

Is paved with cheese.

Heart shaped pizza brought to you by the delicious neighborhood pizzeria Roman Candle.

Smartfish Handmade Shoes

2010-02-11T11:21:00.004-06:00

I know we are still in the midst of big wintry snow boots season here in the Midwest, but these adorable flats from Smartfish are irresistible! Spring will be here soon enough and we'll need some cute shoes to greet it with, no?

Chalkboard Drawers

2010-02-09T05:22:00.001-06:00

Are you all organized but can never quite remember what is in which drawer? Keep changing the contents of drawers and can't keep up with the labelmaking? My friends, chalkboard drawers are the answer. I finished this project a few months ago and am excited to finally be sharing it with you! Better late than never, right?

I can't take all the credit for this, I did get the idea from the master.

Start out with plain, smooth wood drawers, mine are from Ikea.

Bring in a can of chalkboard paint. I prefer the spraycan chalkboard paint, partly because it's easier and also because it is a lot cheaper! Since it is spray paint though, you'll want to do this project outside if possible.

Mask off the rest of the drawer to keep it clean and give you a nice clean edge all the way around. Be sure to mask the edges of the open notch with tape and also to seal it off so you don't end up getting spray paint inside the drawer. Stuffing a bit of tissue or something in there works pretty well.

Alternately, you could just go all out, painting every surface of the drawer, inside and out. It won't look any different when the drawers are closed but could be a neat effect with the drawers open.

Add as many coats as you'd like, letting them dry in between. I found I needed at least five coats to give it the nice deep black that I wanted.

Let dry completely, pick up some chalk and label away! It is a little easier to write on the drawers when they're vertical so you might want to label first, fill later.

Sweet Sweet Taffy

2010-02-07T14:56:00.007-06:00

I was browsing through some of my old photos and came across the taffy shots I took this past summer. And now I'm going to do an entire post about taffy because it is just that delicious. This first batch of taffy was McCraw's giant taffy and it came from the adorably old timey candy shop, Powell's Sweet Shoppe, in Boulder. I can't even imagine how awesome it would be to be a kid with a $5 bill in there. It was exciting enough for me when I would get $1 to spend at the corner pharmacy on watermelon or green apple Jolly Rancher sticks back in the day.

The taffy tour continued in Estes Park at The Taffy Shop, which was just too quaint. It's been around since 1935 and the counter is staffed by a sweet little old lady.

Birthday Sale!

2010-02-01T21:37:00.005-06:00

As it turns out, Feb 2nd is not only Groundhog's day, but it's also my birthday! So to celebrate my and Punxsutawney Phil's big days, there's a sale at Pravina Studio. Simply enter "BDAY" into the message to seller, and I will send you a revised invoice reflecting 20% off your total.

Better than cake.

As American as Apple Pie

2010-01-29T20:47:00.003-06:00

Apple Pie: Symbols of Americana recently opened at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibition, featuring pieces from MMoCA's permanent collection, runs from January 23-April 11, 2010.

Photo Credit:
John Shimon and Julie Lindemann, Thecla Bertsche Keeps Busy and a Very Tidy House, cir. 1986–1987. Gelatin silver print, 13-3/4 x 13-1/2 inches. Purchase, through the Rudolph and Louise Langer Fund
Image Courtesy of www.mmoca.org

Donovan Beeson

2010-01-26T20:48:00.004-06:00

I love everything in Donovan Beeson's little stationary shop! She re-uses vintage paper items like atlas maps and airmail envelopes to create so many beautiful and functional items. My favorite might be the register stationary, it makes me wish I was on an old ship crossing the ocean, using an inkwell pen to write to friends back home about my adventure...

Brian McCormick

2010-01-24T20:33:00.005-06:00

I was at the UW Arboretum last week and was lucky to come across this show of Brian McCormick's beautiful watercolors.

Wild Rice and Wheatberry Salad

2010-01-21T10:21:00.007-06:00

I promised my friend Tara the recipe for this salad and thought it would be nice to share it with all of you also. It is great for fall and winter.

Wild Rice and Wheatberry Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts
Adapted from here

Salad
3/4 cup wheat berries, rinsed
1 cup wild rice, rinsed
1.5 tsp salt
2/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup celery, thinly sliced
1 crisp apple, peeled and diced
1/2 cup parsley, minced
1/4 cup toasted walnuts, chopped.

Citrus vinaigrette
Grated zest of one lemon
Grated zest of one orange
1 TB fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
2 TB rice vinegar (champagne, raspberry or balsamic could work also)
1 TB finely minced shallot
2 tsp honey
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 to 1 tsp salt

In a large pot bring water and wheatberries to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 35 minutes. Add the wild rice and salt to the pot. Bring to a boil again, then lower the heat. Simmer, partially covered, for an additional 50-55 minutes or until both grains are cooked. Alternately, you can cook these two in separate pots, saving yourself a bit of wait time. After the grains are cooked, drain well, stir in the dried cranberries and leave to cool.

While the grains are cooking combine all of the salad ingredients and whisk together, blending well.

In a large serving bowl combine the cooled grains and cranberries with the celery, apple and parsley. Add the dressing to the salad and mix well. Top with walnuts. Serve at room temperature.

Freezing Fog

2010-01-18T15:33:00.007-06:00

Sorry for two similar posts in a row, but the freezing fog that's spread around Madison the past couple of mornings has been beautiful!

Winter's textures

2010-01-14T21:39:00.005-06:00

I never found ice to be terribly interesting until I lived next to a lake. Watching the lake go back and forth between ice and water is really really neat! I get accustomed to the lake being this flowing, moving body of liquid and then one day it's frozen in place. Literally and figuratively. Twigs just stick straight out of it. Dogs are running across it. People are setting up little ice fishing huts a quarter mile from the shore. It's all a little bit surreal.

Walking along the shore, I was also struck by the texture between the ice and water.

Gail Ambrosius Handmade Chocolates

2010-01-11T20:14:00.004-06:00

Gail Ambrosius is a Madison based chocolatier. And she is awesome. As a person and as a chocolate maker. I had the pleasure of hearing her speak to our small business class and the story behind her little chocolate shop made me like her that much more.

And the chocolate? My goodness. I assure you my sister is shaking her head in disbelief as she reads this, but here it is...I really am not a huge fan of chocolate. I know, I know, that is sacrilegious to so many of you. I do like sweet things and often those tend to be chocolate and I very much enjoy eating them. But I don't often crave chocolate itself. I will always choose the apple crisp over the flourless chocolate cake. Always. So all of this is to illustrate a point of how good Gail's chocolates are because I crave them. Particularly the salted caramels.

New Year's Pear Cake

2010-01-04T20:10:00.004-06:00

Last year on New Year's Day I came across a recipe titled "New Year's Pear Cake" in this book and I could see a tradition about to be born. This New Year's Day? That's right, pear cake! I bet it's delicious anytime of year, so I thought I'd share:

New Year's Pear Cake
1 LB pears (about 2 cups diced)
3 TB freshly squeezed lemon juice
1.5 cups all purpose flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
6 TB unsalted butter, melted
1-2 TB of milk, as needed
2 TB honey

Preheat the oven to 350. Brush 9" round cake pan (or any other shape of similar size) with melted butter. Line with parchment paper and brush paper with melted butter as well.

Dice the pears into a medium bowl and immediately pour in lemon juice, tossing to coat. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients, mixing well. Add the eggs and 6 TB melted butter and beat into a fairly stiff batter. Fold in the diced pears with their lemon juice. If the batter is too thick, add a bit of milk, mixing well.

Turn the batter into the prepared pan, baking for about 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean. You know the drill.

Remove the pan from the oven and turn the cake out onto a plate. While the cake is still hot, glaze the top with honey. Use a bit of hot water to thin the honey, if necessary.

Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T17:18:00.004-06:00

These are some shots I took while wandering around the neighborhood in the freezing cold today.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2010!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T20:54:00.000-06:00

Hope you are all enjoying a wonderful holiday season!

Salted Toffee

2009-12-20T20:09:00.003-06:00

This weekend was all about butter, I've gone through three pounds of it so far! Yes, the holiday baking has kicked off. First on the list was salted toffee. Tasty tasty toffee. And who knew it was so easy to make? Original recipe here.

Salted Toffee

Cooking spray
1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter
2 2/3 cups sugar
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup light corn syrup
Coarse sea salt, for sprinkling. The original recipe recommended Fleur de Sel, if you can get it, go for it!

Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Bring butter, sugar, water, and corn syrup to a boil in a large saucepan, whisking frequently until sugar dissolves and butter melts. Cook, undisturbed, until mixture registers 300 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 12 minutes.

Whisk toffee mixture, then immediately pour onto prepared sheet, tilting pan to spread over entire surface. Let stand for about 30 seconds, then sprinkle with the salt. Let cool. Be sure not move the pan! Once it has hardend, break toffee into pieces and enjoy.

Toffee will keep, covered, for up to 1 week. If by some chance it actually doesn't get eaten before then.

Holiday Gifts continue

2009-12-15T22:05:00.006-06:00

There's still time for holiday shopping! A few more gift ideas for you all...

Brass Necklace $26
Dores

Reversible Tube Scarf $25
Hier Apparel

Gift Tags $6
Ebba Handmade

Lace bowl $65
Raquel Masri

New PARA wristlets

2009-12-13T19:35:00.005-06:00

I am so excited about this new batch of PARA wristlets! I've had this beautifully patterned fabric for months now and I finally was able to use it. The chocolate brown combined with white and pink is really lovely. And the best part? They are now lined! Get yours here.

On a related note, the earlier (unlined) PARA wristlets, are now on sale!

More holiday gift ideas

2009-12-09T14:36:00.006-06:00

Screenprinted scarf $22
AD LOVE

Silver leather headband $18
Hende

AC's mugshot greeting card $3
Kate Funk

Bigbot $20
Bubblesinburry

Mixed media panel $40
Jodie Hurt

Holiday Gift Ideas

2009-12-06T19:27:00.012-06:00

An evening spent putting up the tree and baking cookies has really put me into a holiday mood. So I think for the next few days I will feature some ideas for lovely handmade gifts to share with your friends and family this season.

Letterpressed Card Set $11
Heather Smith Jones

Forever and Ever Necklace $175
Bumblesea Jewelry

Poppy Red Victorienne Clock $42
Uncommon

Mottled Scarf $50
U N : Uniform Natural

Pair of Turquoise and Black Bowls $26
Jenny Blasen Pottery

An Apple a Day 2010

2009-12-01T17:55:00.003-06:00

Vik Design's 2010 version of the Apple a Day letterpress poster is a luxurious chocolate brown with silver inks. I bet this would make a great holiday gift!

Already have a poster? Show off your healthy eating habits on the Apple a Day progress report flickr page!

Holiday offer

2009-11-29T20:32:00.004-06:00

Well, the holiday shopping season has officially kicked off! In the holiday spirit, Pravina Studio is taking part in Etsy's free shipping promotion. Through Monday, November 30th, all Pravina Limited bags and all PARA pouches and wristlets ship for free anywhere within the U.S! It's a great time to stock up on holiday gifts.

Crafty Holidays

2009-11-25T10:31:00.004-06:00

It's holiday craft show season again! What better way to spend the weekend after Thanksgiving than with some local shopping?

If you are in Madison, be sure to stop by the 5th annual Craftacular fair. Maybe Milwaukee is more your scene? Visit the Art vs Craft fair instead!

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. And safe travels!

Gemini Studio

2009-11-22T18:01:00.003-06:00

Such great mixed media pieces from graphic designer, Stephen Fowler. Gemini Studio explores his fascination with big graphic artwork, vintage/urban design, and advertising posters. I'm having trouble choosing just one favorite, but the eye chart is definitely in the running.

Cali Hobgood-Lemme

2009-11-18T18:09:00.007-06:00

I first saw the work of Cali Hobgood-Lemme at MMOCA's Art Fair on the Square and absolutely loved it. The handcolored black and white portraits are so simple and done so exquisitely well. My favorite might be this blue dress. The scale of that photo is really dramatic to see in person, it is over 3 feet tall! I dream of the day it will hang in my studio.

Penelope's

2009-11-17T18:10:00.005-06:00

One of my favorite shops in Chicago is Penelope's in the Ukranian Village. I always leave with a wishlist way larger than my discretionary income. At the moment I am totally in love with this coat from Built by Wendy.

And this military style dress from APC.

Oh Sunday

2009-11-15T18:33:00.005-06:00

It's Sunday again? How does that keep happening? Luckily, this weekend was a nice relaxing one (which I totally needed) that involved lots of food (which maybe I didn't need as much). It started with a great dinner here, which you may remember is one of my favorite places. The rest of the weekend's meals included this beef roast with roasted sweet potatoes, which was awesome. Though I might recommend using a cut of meat a touch leaner than the beef chuck roast. Wow, that was a lot of fat.

There was also a bunch of apples on the counter about to go bad. I had every intention of slicing them up and roasting them with some cinnamon and brown sugar. Then somehow, all good intentions went out the window and I ended up throwing on a ton of crumble topping. It was kind of like a really easy apple pie. I love apple pie so much that making it "easy" is really not in my best interest!

And right now? I am listening to Imogen Heap waiting for this roasted veggie pizza to finish baking. In my defense, I did manage to squeeze a couple of runs in. Phew. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend also!

Dores Jewelry

2009-11-10T19:47:00.002-06:00

Beautiful jewelry from Milwaukee-an Stephanie Renee of Dores. My favorite pieces combine metals and wood. So nicely done! See more in her shop and check out her lovely blog also.

Pomegranate Season

2009-11-08T20:11:00.004-06:00

So apparently it's pomegranate season? Suddenly all of the grocery stores are overflowing with them. The pomegranate is a little pricey for a piece of fruit, but it's kind of fun and different which is totally worth my $2.

I found this great tutorial on how to easily get the seeds out of a pomegranate. I like them sprinkled over some yogurt and drizzled with honey. Another fall time treat to add to to the seasonal menu!

Swissmiss

2009-11-05T09:51:00.002-06:00

Who doesn't love Tina Roth Eisenberg's beautiful blog Swissmiss? If you are in the Milwaukee area on Friday you must go see Tina in person! She will be speaking as part of an AIGA Wisconsin event held at Hanson Dodge Creative. More details here.

Dave Eggers and Valentino Achak Deng

2009-11-03T16:26:00.004-06:00

In his book What is the What, Dave Eggers tells a story based on the life of Sudanese refugee Valentino Achak Deng. Deng fled the Sudan as a young boy in the 1980s, growing up in refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Wednesday evening Eggers and Deng will be speaking on the UW-Madison campus as part of the Humanities Without Borders lecture series. Find event details here.

Chicago

2009-11-01T20:00:00.005-06:00

While visiting my family this weekend, I managed to squeeze in a few hours in Chicago proper. It had been way too long since I was able to get into the city. Ofcourse, there was lunch at Milk and Honey. I also poked my head into a few favorite shops in the Ukranian Village and Wicker Park, like Penelope's and Habit. I was pretty excited to have found a new winter hat at Untitled. It was sad to see lots of boutiques had closed though, including Hejfina. I guess the recession hit pretty hard in that area?

Then it was off to Union Station to board a Metra train out to the suburbs. The mostly empty Saturday train is always a relaxing ride. I love those few moments where the interior of the train goes dark as it pulls away from the station.

Brock Davis

2009-10-28T13:06:00.006-05:00

I've had Brock Davis' website bookmarked for a while now; I knew I wanted to write a post about it. As I looked through his work more closely today, this shredded A caught my eye. I thought, now why does that look so familiar?? Then I recognized it as being the illustration on one of my favorite tshirts! I hadn't even realized it was Brock who designed that tshirt for Threadless. And many more!

You can also see more of his work in the Make Something Cool Everyday project on Flickr.

AppleBerry Farm

2009-10-25T17:18:00.007-05:00

Are you all ready for Halloween?? Costumes chosen, jack-o-lanterns carved? And the candy! I got some of my favorites this year: Twix, Starburst and Tootsie Rolls. I like to way overestimate how many bags of candy are actually needed for the handful of kids that come by to trick or treat.

This weekend was also a perfect pumpkin picking time. Off we went to the AppleBerry Farm in Cross Plains, WI to get some apples, pumpkins, bratwurst, cider and doughnuts. I wish I could say I've been able to show any restraint whatsoever around those cinnamon donuts, but that would be a complete lie. I am also thinking of following up all of the doughnuts with this soon.

Aside from all of the tasty treats, the AppleBerry Farm is a fun stop because they have a chicken coop! Last year, I found out that chickens love dandelion greens so I love to stick little pieces through the wire and watch them gobble it up. This little guy just discovered that actually he can reach the dandelions on his own and he doesn't need me at all.

And then there was the chicken on a balance beam act, also well worth watching.

On Sale!

2009-10-20T13:31:00.004-05:00

Have you been wishing the KITA bag cost 40% less? Well it is your lucky day because there are a few pieces on sale in the Pravina Studio shop. Check it out!

Lichens

2009-10-18T19:53:00.002-05:00

A few photos I took of lichens while out hiking this summer. I was pretty enthralled by all of their different colors, shapes and textures.

If you really want to see amazing lichen photos, check this out. I also love Diana Sudyka's idea of rendering lichens in watercolor.

Niki Johnson

2009-10-14T15:13:00.010-05:00

I serendipitously met artist Niki Johnson when she wandered into my office the other day, looking for information about the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection. She is an MFA student in sculpture at UW. How great is her work? I love how creative she is with the materials and techniques she uses. It's not everyday you see images of the presidential candidates spouses embroidered and framed in bakeware. This Donald Trump piece is actually made up of layers of cotton applique. See more of her work here.

Chad Hagen

2009-10-12T13:35:00.005-05:00

Chad Hagen is an artist and designer based in Minneapolis. I love these pieces from his Surreal Abstract series. I also really enjoyed Analog Controls and I Am Not a Number. You can see more of his work on his website and you can also purchase some of your very own on 20x200.

Strawberry Bread

2009-10-09T11:31:00.007-05:00

Remember all of those strawberries I picked this summer? Well some of them were frozen to be turned into something delicious at a later date, like say, strawberry bread. I had never even heard of strawberry bread until I came across this recipe. It makes sense though, why should the banana be the only fruit that gets a bread? Strawberry bread is fantastic, as you may have guessed. Especially for breakfast with a bowl of mangoes and a turkish coffee! Find the recipe here, and just substitute frozen berries for the fresh ones. Enjoy!

Girl Savage

2009-10-07T16:27:00.002-05:00

How cute and hilarious are these stuffed animals from Girl Savage?? My favorite is the feltidermy pieces to hang on your walls. So clever!

Wisconsin Natural Acres Honey

2009-10-05T16:46:00.004-05:00

Every time I see these beautiful glass jars of honey I wish that my honey didn't get squeezed out of a plastic bear. Don't get me wrong, I live in Wisconsin and therefore it is a bear full of good local honey, but it is nevertheless, a plastic bear. While I do love the honey bear, I long for the sophistication of a glass jar of Wisconsin Natural Acres Honey. I did get some once and it was taaaaasty. I highly recommend trying it. You can order online or find it locally.

Watch the Food Network's episode of Unwrapped featuring Wisconsin Natural Acres Honey tonight! Monday, October 5th at 8PM central time.

Uniform Natural

2009-10-02T11:04:00.005-05:00

Uniform Natural is a new project from the ever talented Martha of Uniform Studio. I love all of the purples and grays she is using here. I can't wait until the shop opens on October 8th!

In honor of the launch there is a great little giveaway going on at Unruly Things, so head over there to win this beautiful purple gossamer scarf.

Hier Apparel

2009-09-30T06:32:00.000-05:00

Fall is really here. The weather this week has definitely felt like a dramatic change in season. So now I'm thinking about all things warm and cozy, like wool jackets. I've been admiring the awesome coats over at the Hier Apparel shop. You can also learn a little more about the Laura in her Etsy featured seller interview!

Monday Monday

2009-09-28T06:15:00.000-05:00

The weekends sure pass quickly, don't they? My time was spent enjoying the new shadows of Fall, dinner with friends, a morning walk and treats from the incredible Batch Bakehouse, a lovely bike ride around the lake, pizza and cake! It's no wonder Mondays are so tough. I hope you all had a great weekend as well!

Food for Thought Festival

2009-09-25T09:25:00.005-05:00

The 2009 Food for Thought Festival
Saturday, September 26 2009
8:00 am-1:30 pm
Madison, Wisconsin on Martin Luthur King Jr. Blvd.

10:00 AM the special guest, Michael Pollan, will be speaking.
Michael Pollan, as you likely know, is the author of the Omnivore's Dilemma and more recently, In Defense of Food.

Uncommon

2009-09-23T08:29:00.002-05:00

I've been wanting a clock for my studio for a long while now. Problem is, it's hard to find a nice looking clock! Well, look no further than Uncommon's Etsy shop. I so want the sunny saffron victorienne clock. As luck would have it, a few days before finding out about this perfect little clock shop, I settled on a less than great clock from Ikea. Hmmm, do I maybe need TWO clocks? I think so.

Vincent and Jessie of Uncommon were Etsy's featured seller a few weeks ago, read the interview here.

Summer grilling days

2009-09-21T16:14:00.002-05:00

We are very much fairweather grilling people. If it's a nice summer day outside, we're grilling. If it's below 70 degrees, it's likely not happening. Sadly, this means that any day now it will be time to say goodbye to barbeque season. Tonight, we are grilling Turkey burgers and topping them with an awesome creamy cucumber relish. And I got some fresh corn over the weekend. Yum. It's almost time to get that chimney started...

Kate Funk

2009-09-17T11:24:00.005-05:00

Milwaukeean (that's a word, right?) Kate Funk creates these great cards from her Polaroid photos. She also has a hilarious line of cards featuring her cat AC in various settings and costumes. Adding to the humor is that AC is actually short for, you guessed it...Annoying Customer, named after the cat in Clerks. So really there is a lot of awesome stuff going on here. You can even follow Annoying Customer's own blog!

PARA

2009-09-15T21:09:00.003-05:00

A few new PARA pouches and clutches listed in the Pravina shop.

Ironman continues

2009-09-13T16:52:00.004-05:00

Some scenes from this morning at the start of the Ironman Triathlon. It is so neat being there to watch the mass of swimmers take off through the lake. Amazing, these Ironpeople.

And a few shots of the peaceful lake while we (and a few thousands others) waited for the start.

Renegade Chicago

2009-09-11T12:56:00.004-05:00

This time last year I was preparing to spend the weekend in Chicago hovering under a tent in the pouring rain for two days at the Renegade Craft Fair. Man was there a lot of rain. More impressive though was how many people put on the wellies, grabbed an umbrella and still came out to the fair. My schedule didn't allow me to participate this year, but I really hope to be back next year.

It looks like Renegade will have perfect weather this weekend, so go out and support some local artists!

September 12-13
11am – 7pm
Division St. between Damen Ave. and Paulina St. in Wicker Park