FRIDAY FEATURE: Lunar Belle

Fascinated yet again by another jewelry shop on Etsy. This shop is filled with lovely and elegant jewelry that just calls to me. Lunar Belle has really found a great style with this airy and colorful work.

The vintage feel of the metal findings is so lovely. I am mesmerized by the way the metal is so loose which allows the color of the crystals to just shine through. This work seems so versatile - I could easily imagine these pieces being dressed down with jeans and a button up or dressed up when paired with a lovely ball gown.

Lunar Belle

WEDNESDAY WANTS: Number Ring

I don't actually wear a lot of jewelry but I love it! I found this great shop on Etsy that creates metal jewelry featuring type - how fun is that! Rock Out Jewelry has some beautiful pieces including this super cool ring featuring a classic serif typeface. They also offer several amazing necklaces including dog tags. Check out their great shop for more!

GET YOURS HERE

MONDAY MUNCHIES: Baked Beef Ravioli

Sorry I missed last weeks Monday Munchies - things have been a bit crazy around here lately - in a good way. Anyway, this week I was seriously craving Italian so when I found this easy Ravioli recipe - my mouth just started watering! The recipe is very simple but super yummy. Hope you enjoy it!

Baked Beef Ravioli

2 9-ounce packages refrigerated cheese-filled ravioli
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 10.75-ounce can condensed tomato soup
1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (6 ounces)
1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese (2 ounces)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cook ravioli according to package directions; drain. Return to pan; cover and keep warm.

2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook ground meat, onion, and garlic over medium heat until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat. Stir in tomatoes, soup, basil, and oregano. Gently stir in cooked ravioli.

3. Transfer mixture to an ungreased 3-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, about 20 minutes or until heated through. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

More recipes at Better Homes & Gardens

SATURDAY FEATURE: jill2day

I seem to have missed Friday so how about a Feature Saturday! This week’s feature is a shop I find just so original and fascinating. Creating a new piece of clothing from recycled old clothing - awesome!

Jill’s shop is a mix of fantastic color with bold patterns that are just eye candy! I love how the seams show for added texture and the great mix of colors and fabrics. The best part is creating something new and fashionable from something that old and no longer thought of.

What a great way to recycle! Jill offers beautiful sweaters, scarves, wristlets and more. Her work is tailored to both men and women and custom order are welcome! Be sure to check out her shop for her full line of work!

jill2day

TEMPTATION TUESDAY: Love Valentines

Sorry I missed Monday Munchies yesterday but I promise to be back next week with an all new recipe! In the meantime here is a little something to get you charged up for Valentines Day. This card features four lovely antique typefaces - together for love!

GET YOURS HERE!

FRIDAY FEATURE: Mental Embellisher

Well you all know I love jewelry and this artist is a real treat. I love the mix of metal with collage material and vintage finds. So much texture juxtaposed with the flat shiny metal. The Mental Embellisher is by far one of the most fascinating works I have found on Etsy.

I find it completely amazing how she can produce work that feels so delicate and feminine yet at the same time work that is so masculine. I did not include any of the masculine pieces here as I was much more attracted to the feminine works but you can find a fantastic variety in her shop.

GET YOURS HERE!

TEMPTATION THURSDAY: Monogram Custom Stationery

It is finally time to introduce my new line of custom work! We will be offering a beautiful line of custom stationery, calling cards for small businesses, custom announcements & invitations and finally our own wedding invitation line.

To start us off this is a set of lovely Monogram Stationery that is fully customizable. Choose your favorite monogram, typeface, colors & more. Check our shop for more details!

GET YOURS HERE!

WEDNESDAY WANT: Queen of Hearts

With the upcoming release of Tim Burton's take on Alice In Wonderland - this awesome statue seemed entirely appropriate! I am really looking forward to the movie as I find Tim Burton to be quite fascinating. This fantastic seller on Etsy Odd & Whimsy has really captured the queen of hearts in this sculpture - doesn't she look just sinister! The dogs in his shop are also amazing - you must take a look or you are really missing out!

GET YOURS HERE!

MONDAY MUNCHIES: Caramel Marshmallow Brownies

When it comes right down to it I just crave sweets. This week I was thinking about warmth and for some reason S'mores came to mind - trouble is I wasn't looking for quite that much mess. So, I was off on a search for something ooey gooey like S'mores when I came across this brownie recipe that stopped me in my chocolate loving tracks. Hope you enjoy them!

Caramel Marshmallow Brownies

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1/3 cup white-chocolate chips
1/2 cup mini-marshmallows
10 caramel candy cubes, unwrapped
1 1/2 tablespoons heavy cream

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line an 8-inch square metal baking pan with a 12-inch sheet of foil, then grease foil.

2. Melt butter and chocolate in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, whisking lightly until smooth and glossy. Remove from heat.

3. Whisk in sugar and salt, then beat in eggs one at a time until well blended. Stir in vanilla extract, then flour. Scrape into prepared pan and sprinkle walnuts evenly on top.

4. Bake brownies until set and slightly springy to touch, about 20 minutes. Remove pan from oven and turn off heat. Sprinkle chocolate chips and marshmallows on top, return pan to oven for 2 minutes, then transfer pan to a rack to cool.

5. Combine caramels and cream in a small bowl and microwave on medium (50 percent) power for 1 1/2 minutes; stir with a fork until completely smooth. Drizzle caramel-cream over brownies, then let them cool completely.

6. When cool, remove brownies from tray by lifting out foil, then transfer them to a board. Cut brownies into four pieces, then cut each quarter into four individual pieces.

More recipes at www.myrecipes.com

SHL featured on ETSY FRONT PAGE!

Big news on the Etsy front - Sweet Harvey Letterpress LLC made our debut on the frontpage at 4am this morning! Any of you early birds see us? I was fast asleep! See us in the lower right corner - our Just Because: Love Birds Greeting Card was featured!

Congratulations to BluHour (a lovely jewelry artist on Etsy) on her featured treasury and thank you so much for including us!

MONDAY MUNCHIES: Mini Quiche

The bulk of the holidays have finally passed but appetizers are still fun to make and super fun to eat! This one is great for breakfast or dinner and wonderful with coffee or tea.

Mini Quiche

6 hard-cooked eggs
6 prebaked puff-pastry shells
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves
1/3 cup grated Fontina cheese
Crumbled bacon

1. Slice eggs crosswise and place 1 in each prebaked puff-pastry shells (found in the frozen-food section).

2. Top with fresh sage and grated Fontina cheese.

3. Bake at 400° F until the cheese melts (about 5 minutes). Garnish each tiny quiche with crumbled bacon, if desired.


More recipes at myrecipes.com

FRIDAY FEATURE: Creative with Clay

Pottery is one artform that I have never had the opportunity to try. I am fascinated by the creation process of this beautiful medium - not knowing makes the work a bit magical to me. For now I will leave the throwing to the potters and just oogle over their lovely work!

Creative with Clay is one potter on Etsy who quickly caught my eye. The pattern work on this work is so different. And look at the shape of that the pot & cups in the upper right - have you ever seen such a thing? I just love the creativity here. The details are so amazing - like the upper cups look a bit like buttons and how fun in that.

You must take some time to check out this lovely shop. You will not be disappointed!

CHECK OUT CREATIVE WITH CLAY HERE!

TEMPTATION THURSDAY: Heart on the Line

Finally I get to post this piece! This is one of my favorite illustrations and I have been dying to show it off for a while now. Anytime we chance falling in love we essentially put our heart on the line. Our heart just hangs there in the balance waiting to be taken down either to be loved or to be blown off and shattered. Well, as usual I have taken a complex subject and made something cute out of it. That is what I do I guess - I make cute stuff! Available in three different color palettes - this one is valentine inspired red, pink & grey.

HEART ON THE LINE
Letterpress Art Print
SIZE 5 x 7 image size/6 x 8 paper size

GET YOURS HERE!

WEDNESDAY WANT: Crab Fire Agate & Sponge Coral Bracelet

This beautiful bracelet by SerendipityByErin on Etsy immediately caught my eye. I am not sure if it was the pink with Valentine's Day coming up or just the simple softness of the piece but I love it. This might sound crazy but the gem names - crab fire and sponge coral - just sound mystical and elegant. You must check this piece out and at a great price none the less!

GET YOURS HERE!

TEMPTATION TUESDAY: How Sweet It Is

First of four Sweet Harvey Letterpress Valentines for 2010! This is my favorite of the four as I really enjoyed working with the typography on this one. There really isn't much more to say for this one - I love it and I am just sure anyone would be happy to receive it - the end!

GET YOURS HERE!

MONDAY MUNCHIES: Fun Taco Cups

Who has time to spend hours in the kitchen making dinner? Not me, that is for sure! I am always on the lookout for recipe's that are quick & easy but also satisfy my hubby. These little Taco Cups are both fun to make and fun to eat! This is one recipe that gets used quite a lot in my house!

Fun Taco Cups

1 lb. ground beef

1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) Taco Seasoning Mix

1 can (10 oz.) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

1/2 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1. HEAT oven to 400°F. Cook meat with seasoning mix as directed on package.

2. PRESS biscuits onto bottoms and up sides of 10 muffin cups; fill with meat mixture.

3. BAKE 15 min. Sprinkle with cheese; bake 2 to 3 min. or until melted.

TIP: Mix it up by adding crushed taco chips, salsa or sour cream to the tops. Serve with a side salad, rice or refried beans!

More recipes at Krafts Foods

Happy New Year 2010

Happy New Year my fellow blog followers! I wanted to quickly thank you all for a great year and for the support and kindness you have all shown me in starting Sweet Harvey Letterpress LLC. Starting up a letterpress business was a huge task this year but I feel like things have really come together.

Starting next Monday be on the lookout for the start of my custom design line which will include personalized stationery, calling cards and more. I will also be working on the Sweet Harvey Wedding as far as printing and presenting those designs. Last but not least the main focus of my new work for 2010 will be wall art. I would really like to be part of that market.

I look forward to another big year in 2010 - thank you all for being a part of it!

Happy New Year!