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Vacation, it’s like milk, it does the body good. It also did my tired little brain some serious good. It has been a while since my last post and while I realize I have a little guilt about that, a break definitely helped me realign myself. Since my last post, I left a negative work environment to join the warm and welcoming family at Opa Coffee and Wine Bar. Thanks to having days off, I now have much more time on my hands to be cool and crafty!
Thanks to this great new job, I could also take time to have a vacation! I made my yearly trek to the West Coast to see my friends, Emily and Zane. My trip was filled with beach outings, museums, dancing, Vegas adventures, lots of great food, and more beach outings. Being an East Coast girl, sometimes all that is missing from central Texas is the ocean.
My brief sabbatical also allowed for some alone time which I utilized for self reflection and planning for my future. The one thing that kept creeping into my mind every chance that it could was a memory of a lunch date I had with one of my favorite farmers. He spent our lunch recounting stories from 40 years ago about a wealthy man he used to work for, being flown around the world, real estate scams, unknown love, etc. His stories were something you would read in a book or the beginnings to a movie. I was fascinated and envious at the same time. During my time away I kept thinking to myself, “I want to be able to have my own stories like this.”
To jump start my story making, I bunkered down and worked on a very detailed two year plan. I’m very eager to begin checking items of my list and looking forward to sharing with you, until then… Stay tuned.

I had a professor in college named Barbara Dowling.  She was tall, slender, with wild red hair, and the personality to match.  She once told me that when it comes to making stained glass windows (that was my focus by the way) it’s important to make sure that before you even begin to make a window, you’ve got a place to put it.  I think the same holds true for other types of art, and in this case craft, as well.

I love to embroider, as I’ve said many times before.  But like windows, I should follow the same advice that Ms. Dowling gave me, but I don’t. I have stacks of embroidered tea towels, dinner napkin sets, and more.  That’s why you can imagine that I was so thrilled to have been contacted by a couple of folks to do some commissioned embroidery work.

Above, a birthday present for one of the founders of the Commerce Street Supper Club.  (If you are in the Austin area and love food of any kind, you need to check them out.) I also did two pieces for someone else, although one is only shown currently, an embroidered apron.  It was so nice to be able to create something and give it a home.

I still have the itch to stitch, so if you are interested in taking some already embroidered towels off my hands or you want your own custom goodies, please contact me via email, Facebook, blog, etc.

For more pictures of already embroidered goods, check out: made by laura lee Etsy Shop

I love to eat, I think that is no secret at this point, but I must say I really don’t like eating late at night.  I’m certainly no nutritionist, but I’m pretty sure I am on to something.  Sometimes though I will get so hungry at 11 o’clock at night and I know I won’t be able to sleep with my stomach rumbling.  The other night, I gave in and made tacos!  Not your ordinary tacos.  I Instagram-ed a picture and posted it over social media and I have received some interest for the recipe.  So… here it is:

Late Night Tacos

2-3 cloves of garlic (chopped or diced)

Olive Oil (or whatever your preference for sautéing)

2-3 diced breakfast radishes

2-3 diced parsnips

2 purple cabbage leaves

Sweet Thai Chili Sauce (I use Mae Ploy)

Agave nectar

Taco Topping of your choice: avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, etc.

In a saute pan, caramelize the garlic with a little agave nectar on low heat.  Remove garlic from pan, add oil, sautee parsnips and radishes until softened, add desired amount of mae ploy. Add garlic back to pan.

Spoon parsnip, radish, garlic mixture into cabbage leaf taco shell.  Add garnishes and enjoy!

When in the kitchen, to be prepared for cooking your meal or baking your dessert, the key to success is having your set up taken care of, your mise en place, meaning “everything in its place.” For me, being creative is no different.  I need my space ready to go. Not just having my tools handy or at least within arms reach, but having a space that is inspiring and visually stimulating.  I need to have bright colors, patterns, textures, unfinished art, art by others, etc. Anything and everything to get the juices flowing.

The towers have boxes have dwindled drastically in the last month, two to go in fact.  Frames and posters are crawling up the walls like ants.  My craft nook saw the first of that today.  My last apartment didn’t have it’s own designated space for creativity which caused small projects to become a relatively clumsy task.  The new Pad de Laura Lee has its own wall.  My bulletin board, made by yours truly, tacked with items from my Mother, a handmade card by a fantastic artist, Nicole Donnelly, a postcard from my best friend sent during her worldly travels, and work from Megan King of MLK & toast. The work of others always helps me to feel motivated.  Thank you, ladies!

Having unfinished projects out in sight is definitely a great motivator to get into gear and get making too! Now there are a couple of projects that always get pushed to the back burner by something new and exciting. Sometimes unfinished art can be just as pleasing to look at, like the handmade ornaments that I have piled in a basket. Also having rolls of fabric exploding out of wooden crates is another way I keep inspired.  I am so eager to set up my sewing machine, stitch together new masterpieces, and more… Thank you for staying tuned to this episode of made by laura lee.