Eeeek. Excited to see the Big Tropical Leaves pattern we designed for Revel & Co. in HGTV magazine. I love this idea of framing a sheet of wrapping paper. So smart, HGTV!
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Celebrate the YAY! Congrats to Andrea of Rendered Nest on her new brand. Rendered Nest is a darling line of baby accessories and nursery décor with an artistic flair. Whether using exclusive fabrics designed by artists or giving back through philanthropic support of art education in our communities, Rendered Nest believes that art should be celebrated by all. Keep an eye out for her next collection -- it's going to be lovely.
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Ajax, my fluffy sweet cat, usually keeps me company while I'm working in my home studio. Sometimes it's hard to get work done when he's just staring at me like this!
And the amazing leaf curtains? I wish I could take credit for designing the pattern, but they're IKEA. I did design the green abstract rug, though! You can pick one up in lots of different sizes in my Society6 shop.
SOURCES | Green Leaf SYSSAN curtains by IKEA; Abstract Green Mossy North Side Rug by Erika Firm for Society6.
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Happy April! I painted a little something for you.
To download free desktop calendar wallpaper, click on the black "download" button above and the image will open in a new window. Drag the image to your desktop. Open Desktop Screensaver (in system preferences) and add the image. Enjoy!
If you prefer the desktop wallpaper without the calendar, download this one:
Original artwork and desktop wallpaper pattern designed by Erika Firm. Just a reminder: commercial distribution or sale is not permitted.
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Things have been a little quiet around here lately. We've moved into our new home (4 generations under one roof again), and our little one was recently diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. It has been a challenge adjusting this new normal, and I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who has reached out to us. We all feel your love and support! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Part of the treatment plan for Alexander's disease is adopting the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. Our household has been gluten free and dairy free for years, but adjusting to SCD is a whole other beast. You can read about it more here, but basically: no complex sugars or carbohydrates ... no sugar, no grain, no gluten. That leaves veggies, fruit, nuts, fish and meat. Honey is the only sweetener we use now.
Last weekend we were craving something yummy, so I tried my hand at Monster Cookies. This recipe is adapted from Elaine Gottschall's recipe in "Breaking the Vicious Cycle."
ALEXANDER'S MONSTER COOKIES
INGREDIENTS:
5 cups Almond Flour
1 cup Golden Raisins
1/4 cup Raisins
1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1 tsp baking soda
Pinch salt
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup melted butter
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup honey*
Preheat oven to 350°. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Mix dry ingredients in large bowl.
Mix in wet ingredients.
Roll balls and place on cookie sheet. With palm of hand, flatten cookies.
Bake 20 - 25 minutes, until brown on edges. Let cool on rack. Makes 12-18 cookies, depending on how large you make them.
* use more or less honey, to taste.
We like to use Trader Joe's Almond Flour. If you cannot tolerate almond flour, substitute with another nut flour. Add 1 cup walnut pieces or favorite nuts if you like extra crunch in your cookies.
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New brand launch. Woot! Congrats to Cara of LE PETIT GARAGE on her new look. Le Petit Garage is a retail women's clothing and accessories boutique on the Jersey Shore. It's a fun neighborhood spot, and is a must visit store for locals and tourists alike. To create the Le Petit Garage logo and brand we took inspiration from Cara's love of labs, her decidedly preppy vibe, and her penchant for bright (bust out the sunglasses) color. Cara is always updating her sweet online shop, so even if you can't make it to Seaside Heights you can still shop her fun collection online: www.LEPETITGARAGE.com.
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Pantone is on a roll this year. I love the 2017 Fall Colors that Pantone picked for its Fall fashion trends report. Naturally, Golden Lime (hello, green!!!) is my fave ... but I just love them all. Even Autumn Maple, which could be a seventies cognac, is growing on me. I had fun pairing my favorite 2017 Spring and 2017 Fall colors together, along with the Pantone Color of the Year, Greenery, to create some trendy color palettes for 2017.
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OMG. GREEN!!!! Y'all know it's my forever favorite color. I think Pantone nailed it with the color of the year for 2017: Greenery.
I especially love Greenery paired with Pantone's other 2017 color picks: Kale (naturally), hazelnut, and pale dogwood. Happy dance over here at my studio!
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