Crafting: Anthro Style Rope Necklace

The first thing I thought when I saw the Curls & Coils Necklace at Anthropologie was, ooo cute! Then the next thing I thought was, I can totally make that. But more importantly, I can totally make that for 1/8 of the $42 price tag.



The original design (shown left) was also a little large for my liking, so I was excited to modify the concept to my daintier and more structured tastes. And while I love the nautical fashion style, I have yet to really jump in, so this piece felt like the perfect place to start.

At first glance, the necklace looks to be made of rope, but upon inspection I realized it's actually made of soft cotton piping cord used for upholstery, which is much more pleasant on your skin than rope would be anyways!

A few basic materials and less than an hour of time are all you need to create your own Curls & Coils Necklace.



What you'll need:
Cotton Upholstery Cording (1.5 - 3 yards depending on how long & loopy you want it)
Transparent Nylon Thread
Buttons or beads for embellishment
End caps/cones
Craft glue
Wire or head pins and a clasp

While I used the same raw cotton style cording as the original necklace, you can find many sizes, colors and materials that would work equally as well. I especially love the satin cording and picked up some in a lovely mustard yellow that I think will be just awesome! I purchased all my materials at JoAnn Fabrics.



Begin by approximating your loop pattern and determining how much cording you will need. For reference, I used a 1.5 yard piece and had about 4" left on either end when I was done. Better too long than too short!

Be sure to leave a long enough tail before you start sewing your coils. Starting and ending on the back of the necklace, begin tacking your loops in place with a few stitches. It doesn't take much to hold it together and if you place the stitches in the 'grooves', you can't see them at all.



Next, decide on an arrangement for your embellishments and stitch them in place. I wanted mine a little less 'blingy' than the original so I used a plastic rose shaped button along with a simple gold metal one and one with a small rhinestone.

Once you finish sewing the loops and embellishments, determine the length you'd like the necklace and trim the ends about an inch shorter to account for the length the clasp will add.



To finish the ends, I used brass cones that I also found at JoAnn Fabrics. Using a ball end head pin or a piece of wire, fashion a loop on both cones for attaching the clasp.

Apply a few dabs of craft glue to the end of the cording and begin twisting into a point. Warning - this will make your fingers messy! Allow the glue to begin drying a bit and then continue shaping. You can also twist the cone onto the end to help shape it. Once you have a good point, apply a little more glue then twist the cap on, getting all loose ends tucked up underneath.

Add your clasp and voila!

Liven up a simple cardigan or sun dress or accent a nautical striped tank top. Soft and lightweight, this necklace is the perfect year-round statement piece!

You can also apply this idea to other accessories such as a bracelet or belt - get creative! I'd love to hear if you try your hand at this project and how it turns out. Happy crafting!

In the Kitchen: Guacamole

Guacamole! I'll admit I've never liked the stuff, but it sure is fun to say, don't ya think? Say it again… guacamole! Ok, now that we've gotten that out the way, why am I making it if I don't like it? Well, I'm all for second chances, when it comes to food at least, and guess what? I liked it! Turns out most things are much more delicious when you make them from scratch with yummy, fresh ingredients. Who knew? ;)

This recipe has minimal, basic ingredients and is really easy to make — doesn't get much better than that, right? Read on for the how-to and find a printable recipe card at the end of the post.

Ingredients:

2 ripe avocados (they should be firm, but yield to gentle pressure)
juice of half a lime

3 tablespoons red onion, finely diced

3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, stemmed and chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt

dash freshly ground pepper

Peel, pit and coarsely chop the avocados.

Add the lime juice, diced red onions, cilantro, salt and pepper.

Mix gently with a fork and (about to get technical here) smush to your chunkiness liking. You can also puree in a food processor if you like it smooth. Optionally, add two tablespoons fresh chopped tomatoes.

Serve immediately or place in an airtight container and chill in the fridge. Delicious with chips or on your favorite entrees, like these Hawaiian Tacos. Enjoy!

> Click here for a printable recipe card

And find more easy and delicious recipes here.

Valorie's in my Kitchen: Hawaiian Tacos

I had the great pleasure of hanging out with my 'cousin-in-law', Valorie, last week when she came in for a visit from Colorado. You may have seen her In the Kitchen posts here over the last few months so what did we do during her trip? Cook, of course! First we made a delicious homemade carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, which I will be posting soon, and on Sunday night Valorie shared a favorite of hers, Hawaiian Tacos! I'll let her take it from here…

Someone I knew once made me tacos with teriyaki-marinated chicken. Other than the teriyaki flavor, these were pretty standard tacos, but I remember the uniqueness of the Asian-style chicken in the Mexican dish and like it quite well. Maybe that’s what people mean by Asian Fusion? I’ve taken the idea of teriyaki-marinated chicken and blended it with pineapple, salsa, and cilantro. Yes, it sounds odd, but I’ve never met anyone who tried it and didn’t like it. You'll find a link to a printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Prep time: 30 min | Serves about 4

Ingredients:

6-8 eight-inch corn tortillas
2-4 tablespoons canola oil
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into pieces
8oz can of crushed pineapple or pineapple tidbits
1/4 cup thick teriyaki sauce or marinade
shredded cheddar cheese
roasted, diced green Chile peppers
fresh cilantro, finely chopped

fresh lime wedges
sour cream, salsa, guacamole

If you have time, marinate the chicken in the teriyaki sauce and pineapple juice for 2-6 hours. Alternatively, add uncooked chicken, teriyaki sauce and the can of pineapple (with juice) to a nonstick skillet. Simmer over medium heat until chicken is cooked, liquid is evaporated, and sauce is thick and slightly sticky, about 20 minutes.

To prepare the tortillas, heat canola oil in a skillet over medium flame. Well-seasoned cast iron or non-stick finish works best, as stainless steel tends to stick and require more oil. Heat tortillas in canola oil for about 30 seconds on each side, or just until the tortilla forms air bubbles inside. Set aside on a paper towel to catch any oil.

Assemble tacos with chicken and pineapple mixture, cheese, fresh cilantro, green chiles, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and a squeeze of fresh lime juice (this really adds to it!). We couldn't find fresh, ripe avocados so had to pass on the guac this time, but I'll share my homemade recipe here soon.

Delicious with a side of black beans jazzed up with fresh cilantro, diced tomatoes, chopped green chilies and your favorite seasonings.

Pile high, fold and enjoy!

> Click here for a printable recipe card

And find more easy and delicious recipes here.

In the Kitchen: Chicken Paprikash & Spaetzel

Everyone has their preferred method of making Paprikash and this one is my favorite. It's all about the paprika and uses no tomato products. It's rich and hearty, but pretty easy to make with very minimal ingredients. You can also adjust the recipe to cook up as much or as little as you want making it perfect for a holiday or get together or just for a weeknight meal. You'll find a link to printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts (with skin and bones)

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

5 chicken bullion cubes

paprika (about 7 Tbsp)

flour (about 8 - 10 Tbsp)

8 oz sour cream

salt and pepper

Spaetzel (per batch):

1 cup flour

1 egg

1/3 cup water

Saute the diced onion and garlic in a deep skillet or electric fry pan with one tablespoon margarine and one tablespoon paprika.

Remove the skin from the chicken breasts and brown on each side.

Fill the pan with enough water to almost cover the chicken and add the bullion cubes. Simmer, covered, for about an hour. Flip the chicken as needed.

Remove the chicken (keep the liquid in the pan) and let cool. Debone and shred or chop.

To make the sauce, add flour slowly, continuously whisking over medium heat, until it begins to thicken. I end up using about 8 - 10 tablespoons. The flour may clump a bit at first but will break up and smooth out as you continue to whisk and the sauce heats up.

Once thickened, add the sour cream and stir until blended. Next add more paprika, salt and pepper to taste. I use about 5-6 tablespoons paprika. Add the shredded chicken back to the pan.

This is one of those recipes where nothing is too exact because quantities will depend on the size of your pan and your taste preferences, so sample often and trust your palette!

To make the spaetzel, you need one cup flour, one egg, and about 1/3 cup water per batch. I usually make 2 -3 batches at once per meal.

Stir ingredients until you have a semi moist doughy consistency. Using two spoons, drop small balls of the dough into boiling water.

When the spaetzel float to the top, they are done (usually about 5 min). Drain, then return to the pan and season with butter, salt and pepper to taste.

Serve and enjoy! You can also serve the paprikash over egg noodles, which is yummy as well.

The recipe makes quite a bit, it would easily serve 6 - 8 with leftovers to spare, but it stores well in the fridge or freezer. This serves the two of us twice, with leftovers, but I make the spaetzel fresh each time we have it. You can also make a smaller batch of paprikash by using less chicken and a smaller pan, just adjust all the ingredients as necessary.

> Click here for a printable recipe card

And find more easy and delicious recipes here.

Slow Food in a Modern Kitchen

Hi everyone, Shawna here from Pinkkiss Pottery with another tasty idea from my kitchen to yours. I don’t know about your neck of the woods but here in the Northeast…baby, it’s cold outside! To me there is nothing more comforting on a cold snowy day than a steaming hot cup of homemade soup in a handmade mug and I have recently acquired a whole new appreciation for the power of soup.

So what’s so great about soup you ask?
1. It’s easy to make and makes your house smell delicious.
2. It freezes well and can taste even better after a day in the fridge.
3. It can be super healthy and easily vegetarian.
4. It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
5. It’s a great excuse to bake bread to mop up all the broth!
6. It’s also a great way to use up any leftover food in your fridge.

After being buried in 30 inches of snow I found myself needing to make something cozy to curl up with that would last for a couple of days. A few months ago I bought a cookbook called Love Soup by Anna Thomas and was excited to finally crack it open and try some of the recipes. This book is chock full of delicious, healthy recipes that are sure to warm you all the way to your toes. During our super snowstorm I cooked up mushroom soup, potato leek soup, cabbage soup and a new favorite, garlic soup with poached egg.

After your soup is finished simmering serve it up in some beautiful handmade ceramic bowls, perfectly crafted for slurping!

I love this one by Keith Phillips, which can easily go into the oven or under the broiler to melt a layer of gooey cheese on a cup of French onion soup.


Here is a lovely set of nesting bowls by Jason Russell to serve a big bowl, a little bowl or a bowl that is just right!


A bowl by Kristen Kieffer would be perfect to serve an elegant cream soup or a light broth.


I just love the design of this soup mug by Vegan Dish, perfect for cuddling under a blanket and sipping a hearty vegan soup!

I’m sure that you will be able to stay nice and toasty with help from Love Soup and these talented Etsy potters, but just in case you are one of the lucky ones who live in a snow free zone, the book also boasts a section of delicious cold soups for the warmer weather.

See you next month! ~ Shawna of Pinkkiss Pottery

Goats on the Roof

Yep, I said Goats of the Roof, and I meant it. If you ever happen to find yourself in Rabun County, Georgia, I highly recommend you stop by.

I have this little goat obsession, you see. So when we headed south to visit Tyler's family after the wedding, I was happier than a Georgia peach to hear about this gem.

Situated right on Highway 441 running through Northern Georgia you'll find this happy little place where goats spend their days meandering from roof top to roof top and basking in the warm southern sun.

There's a rattly old bicycle hooked up to a conveyer belt which allows goat fanatics (like me) to fill a cup with food and deliver it up to the eagerly waiting billies. They often came running at the sound of the squeaky wheels, but for those who missed it, the food cup rings a bell at the end of the line which brings the hungry herd.

Inside the goat-topped buildings you'll find fun things like homemade ice cream and fudge, stuffed raccoons with cracker jack boxes and the best sign in the entire world.

And outside, well, you'll just find goats on the roof.

In the Kitchen with Jessica Doyle

Today I have an awesome recipe for you from the amazingly talented Jessica Doyle. After a night of baking with her grandmother, they created these Low Fat Cranberry Bran Banana Muffins that are just too delicious to not share.

Click here for the recipe and step-by-step directions.

I also recommend you spend a little time browsing Jessica's art shop. Her unique creativity never ceases to amaze me.