Mai Autumn

pumpkin spice

with the cooler temperatures making their way through my open window last night, i woke up seriously craving a pumpkin spice latte! i considered getting myself together to drive over to a starbucks, but i decided to make do with my own handy work and whip up something that at least resembles the pumpkin-ey goodness this coffee concoction brings to me every fall. mine didn't turn out quite as sweet and creamy as the coffee shop counterpart, but i do have a wee little taste of fall in my mug this morning. i found the best recipe for homemade pumpkin spice latte over on apartment therapy's kitchn -

DIY Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Latte (Just Like Starbucks!)

From the kitchn:

Pumpkin Spice Latte
makes 1-2 servings

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin OR 1 teaspoon of Torani Pumpkin Spice Syrup (your choice)
2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute - you can halve this amount
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1-2 shots espresso (about 1/4 cup of espresso or 1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee if you don't have an espresso machine.)

Directions:
In a saucepan combine milk, pumpkin and sugar and cook on medium heat, stirring, until steaming. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spice, transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds until foamy. If you don't have a blender, don't worry about it - just whisk the mixture really well with a wire whisk.

Pour into a large mug or two mugs. Add the espresso on top.

Optional: Top with whipped cream and sprinkle pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, or cinnamon on top.

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sounds delicious, right?!

ok, so, i wish my cup had all these fab ingredients in it, but, with it being only august, i didn't happen to have pumpkin puree hangin' around, nor did i have pumpkin pie spice, specifically, so here's a substitue for pumpkin pie spice, just in case you're like me:  1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger - makes a little over 1 teaspoon.

the version i've got kind of reminds me of a pumkin flavored coffee, which is just right for a coolish, indian summer type day like today :)

 

happy friday! sneak peek at new gifts

i've been super busy all week! between packing orders and getting some new goodies ready for gift giving time (yes, i am aware that it's only august!) i can't even believe it's already friday! above and below, there are little sneak peeks of some new paper goods i will soon have available - recipe cards featuring a sweet little watercolor flower, and the new 2012 calendar with hand painted flower illustrations on each page. the calendar (which i have been bursting with excitement about for the past few months!) was inspired by antique floral motifs found on fabrics, decorative art and wallpaper from all over the world.

before i decided to start my little biz, i was planning on going to graduate school to study the history of decorative arts. as i was creating this calendar, i realized that those interests still stick with me to this day, and i feel like it's still a thread that runs through most of my work, without me even realizing it! i just love the history of design, so to be able to study it and incorporate it into items that people are using today, is just the most exciting part about my job. :)

these new sweeties aren't available just yet, but if you would like to reserve either of them, you can pre-order them by emailing [email protected] with your request. the recipe cards are $15 for a set of 12, and the calendar is $32, and comes hand bound with a lovely vintage velvet mint ribbon. (more pictures will be posted once they are up for sale on the shop site.)

i hope you all have a smashing weekend! see you next week :)

august

planning some plans, as usual, over here. this month is just flying by! i had to pause on the painting from last week so i could get some office things done (ugh, i know, that's the stinky part about working for yourself). i hope to get back to painting sometime this weekend and maybe making moves on the new ideas that have been brewing in my brain for the past few weeks. we shall see.

here's hoping august brings more fruitful discoveries :)

image via the habit of being

progress

i acually kept my promise to myself to start painting, so here are some progress shots!

as you can see, i've sketched out a little before i went in with the watercolor. i've found that my composition can either be fantastic or horrible if i just leave it up to the chance of the watercolor (and with my recent artist blocks, things have been leaning more on the horrible side these days) so i decided to go with a little insurance and draw in my forms first. can you tell what it's going to be yet? i love how the rainy day light makes its appearance in these photos too :)

alright, back to more painting for me! see you later!

meaning to isn't the same as actually

i'm just now going through my blog and noticing the lack of posts about things i actually make lately. hmph. so, i'm keeping this post to a minimum in order to get myself away from my desk and over to my work table. gotta get down to some actual work today! gosh! here's something pretty for you while i (attempt) to get something done today...

d3sign

wish me luck!

fall is creeping in

my mind keeps drifting to cooler breezes and the smell of crisp fall leaves. you know that time of year when you can sense the changes coming? here are some things that are grabbing my attention for a fresh fall season.

made by nanna

 

lorenzo durán via design milk

 

style me pretty

 

anthropologie

 

arrows design

 

bonnbonn

 

and did i mention that i want everything on this list? (of course, i have no patio to place that lovely orange chair on! but! a girl can dream :) ) sigh sigh

as the summer weeks drift by, i'm finding that it's getting difficult for me to focus on making new art. last week was another dud of a creative week. i'm hoping that i can find some time (and some inspiration) as august continues. we shall see.

hope the start of your week is going swimmingly! :)

 

happy friday!

ohmygoodnessgracious! this week slipped right through my fingers! i came down with a little virus earlier in the week and numerous things just crept up on me. one thing after another - you know those weeks? well, today i think i might actually have some time to make some new art, so here is what's inspiring me this friday..

society6

beautyspot

kareena zerefos via indie art & design

allnsundry

eyeful

tinfena studio

emma williamson

millerseye

 

well, here's hoping that i actually get down to some art making and nothing else distracts me! ; ) hope you all have a great weekend! :) :)

little bits of my weekend

what a perfect weekend to do just about nothing! i spent most of saturday and sunday at the beach - lounging, reading and swimming in the sea.

the tide coming in... a little seagull friend... my kitty in the one patch of sun in my apartment during the morning hours... my sand covered tootsies... and me! (i had a little fun with my photoshop actions on that last one - doesn't it look so vintage? it's so fun!)

i can't believe it's already august! i am finally starting to feel like it's summer these days with all the beach going. and i'm realizing it's just so great to be able to walk up there for three of four hours every once in a while. even that little time makes such a difference!

i hope you all had a fabulous weekend! here's to a stellar week ahead :)