Friday 26 April 2013

Sylvester

When I was a little girl I lived with my Grandpa Dave and my home was cozy and warm and filled with aunts and uncles who spoiled me at all times. One of them (I'm going out on a limb and guessing my recently departed Auntie Ali, who took it upon herself to spoil me the most...) gave me a set of children's cutlery with Sylvester the Cat on them. Up until recently I still had them (the spoon is now my preferred chocolate-soy-pudding-eating-device) but last month my fork went mysteriously missing.  Searched high and low, can't find it. Now I know this is not exactly a crisis, but it's one of those things, tied up with childhood memories. I really hope that it will eventually turn up, but just in case it doesn't...I bought a vintage set from VarietyVintagebyALD on Etsy. The seller really went above and beyond to ship it to me here in Canada, and I thank her for the kindness!




Saturday 20 April 2013

Kantha Quilt

Finally! The quilt I ordered at the trade show last January has arrived, and she's quite the beauty!

A Brief History:

Kanthas are embroidered quilts from Bangladesh and West Bengal, India. Kantha making is a form of folk art and has been created in rural Bengal for centuries. It's likely that patchwork kanthas were the first form of this style of running-stitch quilting, and it's the kind I purchased for myself. They've evolved to include many different designs, but for my purposes it was patchwork all the way. I was really struck by the colours I saw when I was sourcing mine. As with almost every folk art and fabric art done in India, there are *more than a few* colours to choose from. Or you know, you could just throw every colour together and see how that spins out, which is pretty much my approach to decor in general.

As soon as I received this one I thought I might need another in a different colourway to cover a couch I don't even own yet. Always thinking' ahead, I am. ;)

Traditionally, old saris and recycled fabrics were used in kantha making, though today new silks and cottons are used more extensively. Many Bangladeshi and Bengali women were adept at making kanthas, and would do so in their leisure time, especially during the rainy season, so it was not uncommon for someone to spend months or years making one kantha.

The striped pillows are a little much with the spread, but I just had to show you my new kantha.

             Here are a handful of kantha images from around the Interwebz. Loving the loveseat!





Hot damn! Buy it for $3500 at VivaTerra






Thursday 11 April 2013

Frida's Fiesta Ensalada

A quick recipe! Tonight I made what I'm calling Frida's Fiesta Ensalada. It is muy bueno. This recipe made enough to feed 6 people, or 2 people, if one of those people is my husband. You could add leftovers to a rotini or fusilli type pasta for a southwestern pasta salad, or toss in a tortilla with refried beans and cheese. Or you know, whatever you want. What the hell do I care? ;)

Ingredients:

Greens
1 diced mango
1 diced avocado
1 cup of corn
1/2 zucchini
1 pepper (I used an orange pepper, but red would be good, too)
2 cloves minced garlic
About a cup of tomatoes (I used baby tomatoes cut in half, but like, whatever)
1/4 cup crunched up tortilla chips (I used black bean garlic ones, which are goddamn delicious)
Your choice of salad dressing (I used avocado chili dressing with cumin and lime added)
S & P, to taste

Mic everything together, except for the greens and crushed tortilla chips.
Toss with dressing.
Add greens and tortilla chips.

Eat yer damn dinner!