Favorite Finds

via ILaBoom

Oh, The Glories of Etsy

I could get lost on etsy like I can in a good bookstore. There's just so much to discover. Here's some things that have made their way into my etsy favorites and I think you'll see why.

How cute is this shadowbox from ILaBoom?

via ILaBoom

What? You think it could be a little cuter? OK, maybe you're right. Turn on the light! 

We're talking way-over-the-top cute now.

via ILaBoom

Moving right along from cute to totally awesome. Who knew I'd ever think a towel ring would ever be totally awesome, but the 80s valley girl in sure thinks it is. OMG. I want it. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

via TheLandLockedSailor

I was voted most talkative in highschool so I can relate to this little card.  So did my friend Ralph. Yup, we're quite a pair.  That said, sometimes I'm not in a 'phone' mood, but sometimes I talk for so long on the phone my ear actually hurts so this card from Pounouheartsyou  makes me chuckle.

via Pounouheartsyou

Pretty, pretty top from ASeasonInIndia. I'm a sucker for cabbage roses.

via ASeasonInIndia

I have a lot of tea cups. OK, more than a lot. I have a collection of tea cups but I don't think any are buttercream yellow like this one from SwirlingOrange11.

via SwirlingOrange11

What can I say? I am on the 'hanger' bandwagon. Gar can attest, this happens to me. Oh man, does it ever. Thanks to mybeardedpigeon  for letting me know exactly what it is.



via mybeardedpigeon

What about you? Have you finding lots of great stuff on etsy and elsewhere? Share a link in your comment below....I love finding new shops and blogs.

Have a great Wednesday.

Over and out,

Almost Spring & The Time For New Things

via from panka with love

The Bright Side

Admit it. You didn't know that baby food jars had a bright side, did you? Well, I'll be honest, I didn't either until I saw this project on 'from panka with love'.

So sweet. Paint dipped baby food jars to hold pretty blossoms. It makes me smile.

via from panka with love

I always love all of her projects, but this one is just so darn easy and cute. Plus, the bouquets were screaming Spring so I had to share. I could use a little Spring right now, the time for new things, growth, regeneration.

My etsy friend Pamela Angus, just posted this fairy lights to her shop. Ditto on the sweet factor. I really can't wait to see the apple blossoms bloom, though it's going to be awhile here. These pretty flowers at least make me feel like there is hope.

via pamela angus

What? Where are the lights? Right here.

via pamela angus

Talking about Spring and growth, I'll be rolling out some new things on Mercantile Muse over the next couple of weeks. This is only possible thanks to the support of people like you. More on that later. Thanks for being here and keeping me company. That really brightens my day.

I hope you enjoyed this brief 'dreaming of Spring' interlude.

ciao for now,

Inspired: Design

via skonahem

Geometrics

Hi guys. Have I told you before that I've had geometric inspiration on my board for ages? I think I was ahead of the trend curve. Maybe it's because I have a soft spot for geometry. You see, I wasn't so good at Algebra. I mean, I am talking downright awful. I stayed after school for extra help, had my Dad who was a missile engineer help me with my homework which would bring me to tears, but it was all for naught. I just didn't get it. 'But WHY does x + y = z' and 'why the hell is pi a mathematical constant'? However, in his ultimate wisdom, my Algebra teacher Mr. Bennett allowed me to take Geometry even though my Algebra grades weren't good enough to send me on to Geometry. Well, he made and exception and go figure, I rocked geometry. Seriously. Hello As.  It was all so logical. I think geometry was the only math class I ever liked. 

Ode to my favorite math class.......let's get back to inspired: design. Geometry is all over the place and in our face everyday, so to see it as a major design trend (again) makes me smile.  

rectangular crate bed tray via monchihic;

square vintage vera scarf via fox and fawns; chevron shirt via zzouzi;

triangle and sqaure bracelets via laurenmanoogian; argyle purse via toriska;
triangle bowl via skonahem; circle necklace via  justlena;
multicolored-leather rug via scad; triangular bowls with squares and rectangles

I've am inspired by geometry and you'll see that I often incorporate it into my illustrations.  I'm currently working on another, but it's not quite done. Here's a sneak peak of a small portion of 'In Flux'.  

via batesmercantileco

Are you on the geometric bandwagon or do you like things a little more soft around the edges? Personally, I have wicked varied tastes ranging from shabby chic to ultra clean and modern. Hey, variety is the spice of life, right?

Shoutout

I am taking part in a giveaway over on simplesurber. Lacy is celebrating her year of blogging and put a notice out that she was looking for giveaway participants via etsy forums. I happened upon it and the rest is history. So, if you want a chance to win the Grow Love print from Bates Mercantile Co., pop on over simplesurber and find out what you've got to do!

Say hi to Lacy while you're there and let her know I sent you.

Are You a Facebook Friend?

I'm beginning to realize I'm connected to a lot of people on the internet, but sometimes in different ways. Some I'm connected to via etsy, some via Mercantile Muse, and some via Facebook.  I'd love to connect with you all via Facebook, as I post even more bits and pieces there that I think you'd like. So if you don't already 'like' Bates Mercantile Co. on facebook swing on by and hook up.

If you're on pinterest and not a follower of my boards yet, you'll find me here. I'd love to see what you're pinning too!

Have a fabulous Monday. Mine is chock-full, but I'm checking things off the list as I go, so that's a plus.

Thanks, as always, for being here.

Over and out,



Changing Up Risotto

Saturday Night Supper

I wanted to cook up the Charred Leek Sausage that we got at the farmer's market a couple of weeks ago.  Doesn't that sound good? We couldn't resist. I took them out of the freezer and browned them up. Instead of using brown rice which is what I usually use for my risotto (though traditionally you should use aborio), I thought I'd try a new wheatberry (also picked up the at the market) version.

Here's what I did last night and it's all based on a basic sausage risotto I make a lot.

These are approximates, so you can tweak as necessary.

1.5 cups of wheatberries

3 cups of water (to start) - you can use broth/stock if you've got it

3 Italian sausage- whatever is your favorite

turnip, 3 small chopped (that's the veg I had on hand)

sage- tsp

1/2 tsp of smoked paprika

garlic powder- tbs

salt & pepper

1/2 cup parmesan and more for top

*Feel free to change up the herbs/spices to your favorites.

Put water in large pot, add wheatberries, bring to boil. Once it comes to a boil, turn down so it simmers. The wheatberries take a longer time than rice, so simmer, stirring often and adding more liquid along the way as the water or broth is soaked up.  I'd say it took the wheatberries an hour to really cook.  Add garlic, sage, paprika, salt and pepper. As they are cooking, brown sausage, set on paper towels to absorb fat. Then cut into slices and add to pot about halfway through cooking process so it has time to flavor the pot.

Cut turnip into large cubes and throw into pot when it has about 25 minutes of cooking left, again making sure there is enough liquid too help in the cooking.

When stirring risotto, always use a wooden spoon and stir around the outside of the pot and turn it in. This helps break up the starch and bring out the creaminess in the rice or, in this case, wheatberries.  At end when turnip is cooked and wheatberries are 'al dente' and liquid is absorbed again, add parmesan and incorporate. Serve hot and top with a little parmesan.

We are liking the wheatberries. They're nearly like a little pearl of pasta when they're done. They didn't make for as creamy a risotto as I like, but it was good never the less. The aborrio rice makes for a very creamy risotto and the brown rice, as a healthier alternative, comes out pretty creamy too. Had I had more parm on hand I would have added a little more to add to the wheatberries' creamy factor.

A hearty dish for a windy, winter night by the fire.

Sunset Meadows

Gar braved the wind yesterday and took the hound over to the field for a walk. When I peaked out the window to see where they'd gone to, this is what was behind them as they made their way home.

I hope you enjoying your Sunday. I'm in the office again, but about to throw a laundry in the washer and put on a big pot of soup with a leftover hambone I froze. Being the 'gearhead' I am, I'm also awaiting the start of the Daytona 500 which is held up due to rain. Dang, I got a need for speed!

What's up in your corner of the world?

ciao for now,

Scenes From The Week

Saturday Morning Review

The dog and I got a couple of walks in this week. It was pretty darn warm. Found more traces of a large Buck, but we haven't seen him yet.

We also found signs of Spring.

Blue skies.

Golden sun.

Wet leaves.

Lichen.

There was also a lot of sleeping going on.

Today, there is still a lot of sleeping going on.

I'm still in my pajamas.

The bed isn't made.

The wind is whipping and there's a flurry here and there.

The fire is cranking.

I love Saturdays.

Sunset Meadows

The warm weather brought some pretty sunsets to end our walks. I love standing at the top of the hill in the field, just taking it all in.

Go On, Have a Look.

via oldnewhouse

Some Things That Caught My Eye 

There was lots of stuff going on all over the place this week.......etsy, blogs, facebook. You name it, things were buzzing.

I was happy to find a shop that I've featured here before on the Muse, had made it to the front page of etsy as the 'featured seller'. Three cheers for oldnewhouse and David and Melissa Lynn.

via oldnewhouse

Fantastic getting to know them better and I always enjoy seeing studio/office spaces. By the way, be sure to read David's answer to 'what inspires him'. Talk about a hopeless romantic.

via oldnewhouse

My blogging/etsy friend Cari-Jane of Hybrid Handmade, had good news to share this week. She attended London Fashion Week with the 'Hybrid Handmade Husband', who happens to design seriously cool shoes. What a trip! The Hybrid Handmade Husband is now on the shortlist for Drapers 'Best Footwear Designer of the Year'. Congrats to the 'triple h'!

via hybridhandmade

Love the shot Cari got of the entrance to Somerset House. Black and white awesomeness. Oh yeah, I just made that word up. Got a problem with that?

Did you miss Marketing 101 this week? That's because I didn't have a Marketing 101 post this week silly. 

However, I did come across a great post by Bonnie of paperkeeper via her facebook page.

via paperkeeper

Some great things to ponder, including turning envy on it's head, lessons she learned from a little blue dinosaur and small things that may affect how people perceive your business. Really worth a read.

Question for you? Are you all following Bates Mercantile Co. on facebook? If you're not, I'd just love it if you did. I'm often posting about things on facebook that I don't talk about here on Mercantile Muse and I wouldn't want you to miss out. It could be disastrous. Plus, I enjoy having company. 

Hope you all had a great week. You all made mine a little bit better and I thank you for that. It's funny how the challenges in life are what bring us all together, because we all face them at some point. Loss is never easy, but it's a little easier when you know others can relate.

Nothing much planned for the weekend. Bruins game on TV tonight (which may throw me all off because it's usually a Saturday game....hey, didn't you know that I'm a creature of habit?), laundry, sorting through stuff and organizing. Hugely exciting, eh? What about you? What's on the books?

Freeform Friday

Here's a little something from Mr. Cliff that always makes me feel better and brightens my day (even when it's gray and ugly like today).  Click here if you're reading via email.

Live large, seize the day and celebrate life and your loved ones. It's what really matters in the end.

peace out,