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2015: Magnitude for the Mind

lauraleeimhoff

10292546_10152192206312465_347630971126731298_nThe first post of 2015.  Ah, yes.

In most cases, I would be drowning in guilt since my last post was weeks ago, but this year shall turn over a new leaf.  No guilt, less stress.

I had a lovely holiday visiting with friends and family.  I rang in the New Year with the one and only person that I would want to: my Mama and now I’m back in Austin with a fresh perspective.

The first of the year always lends itself to a fresh start.  We all set goals and make resolutions that we typically find ourselves not quite reaching or perhaps breaking sooner rather than later.  Resolutions such as save more money, go out less, loose weight.  If there is one thing that I have learned from my mother the last few years is to set goals that are quantitative.

Sounds crazy, right? Well, not really.  Think about it? “I want to loose weight” Well, that’s nice and all, but it gives you nothing to work with.  “I want to loose 5 pounds.” Ok, certainly attainable. “No, no, no, I want to loose 20 pounds?” Instantly? If we could do that, I would have lost 15 last August before my trip to Vegas. So…. I want to loose 1 pound a week by March 30th by doing x, y, z…” Ok, admittedly I’m just making numbers up, but you get the idea.

2015: Magnitude for the Mind

While I have things I would like to be better about this year, none of the previously mentioned resolutions are any of them.  Mine are for the mind.

1. I will read 1 book a month. (I mean, a book book, not just Martha Stewart, Edible Austin, InStyle, I mean a novel, my old art history text books,  you name it.  I can’t remember the last time I actually read a book cover to cover. I want anything to make me feel like I am learning again. If it’s a 300 page book thats roughly 10 pages a day. Totally Doable.)

2. I will create 1 to 2 handmade items a week and I will write 1-2 blog posts a week. (My 12 Days of Crafting Blogathon, my first craft fair, and the amazing feedback and support I got from my Instagram and Facebook following have me super motivated to try and sell my handmade items. Doesn’t sound so mentally stimulating? Creativity seems to breed more creativity. I’d say that has a great deal to do with the mind.)

3. I will enroll or audit one Summer Class (most likely at ACC) for 1 of the 3: Marketing, Small Business/Entrepreneur, or Graphic Design. (3 Classes I completely regret not taking in college. I feel I’ve missed out or am missing something. I need a little bit of knowledge to push me to the next level.)

Of course there are other things I would like to do this year: record an EP by September, participate in 3 or more craft fairs by July 1st, and spend 4-5 days in Costa Rica with my best friend in the beginning of April to name a few.  It’s always best to start small.  To feel overwhelmed from the beginning is never a good way to start anything.  You will set yourself up for failure and that is certainly no way to start a new year.

 

12 Day of Crafting, Glass, Mixed Media, Music, Uncategorized

12 Days of Crafting: The #10 Special

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Day 10: The Barbara Dowling

This post is dedicated to Barbara Dowling.  I will say right now that this one may not be eloquent or well written but please know that it is particularly dear to my heart and particularly difficult to write.  I know I have mentioned Barbara Dowling in the past.  She was my stained glass professor at the School of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.  She was far more than just a professor though.  She was one charged glass of water who became my mentor in art, men, life, etc.  She introduced me to the glass world, taught me to take creative risks, and the ground work to the business of the art world.  But to a young woman coming into her own, she taught me that it was okay to be myself.  Coming from a high school experience that sent me home crying every day coupled with teenage years that lacked a creative mother figure, she guided me while I figured out who I was.  She helped me find the balance between my incredibly wild side and just as incredibly sensitive side.  The one thing I cannot thank Barbara enough for was helping me reconnect and build a strong relationship with my mother.

I got word last week that Barbara passed away.  I am still a part of the email thread that spread the word and while everyone is sending their condolences, I find myself completely unable to say anything on the thread, but yet, I can write here.  I didn’t shed a tear when I first got the news, but I find as I type this note with every key stroke I fall more and more apart.

I realize that this is Day 10 of the 12 Days of Crafting and not the 10 run on sentences of sadness, but it’s Christmas time and we should be celebrating the ones we love, whether they are here or not.

When I got the news of Barbara’s passing, I pulled out pictures, notes from her lectures, and a few remaining stained glass projects I had packed away.  One project I found was a box of glass bells.  As many of you know, I play music.  When I was in college, I was just really starting to perform and have shows.  Barbara challenged me to make music with my visual art.  I ended up making a collection of 50 glass bells.  I hung them in a few trees in the park where there was lots of foot traffic and spent hours recording the sounds of the glass bells clinking together in the breeze, cracking against each other, crashing on the concrete, and the comments of passers by.

I have since lost the audio and photos of this project, but I have a few remaining bells. I have turned these bells into candle holders.  I want to share these with the world and hope that they bring light to someone else’s life like Barbara brought light to mine.

 

12 Day of Crafting, Embroidery, Uncategorized

12 Days of Crafting: Day 4

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Day 4: Embroidered Wall Art

I started experimenting with embroidered wall art a few months ago by making simple ones with mason jars on them as a little extra to go with my canned good gift baskets.  After posting a picture on Instagram, I started getting requests for custom pieces like the one in one of my previous posts, Mission: Commission.

 

I have some hanging in my craft area at my apartment.  Of course, I have one of my mason jar ones.  I also am happy to feature a few others as well in this post, although I will certainly have more at the Bluebonnet Bazaar this coming December 13th.  This is just a little teaser to get you through until the big day!

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12 Day of Crafting, Canning, Uncategorized

12 Days of Crafting: Day 3

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Day 3: Drop a Beet, Yo

It is no secret that I love beets.  I love them pickled, roasted, fried, and tattooed on my leg, boiled, you name it. Beyond the delightful taste, the brilliant colors have always been something that has gotten me too.  I don’t even mind my hands being pink for days.  So now that beets are in season, it should be no surprise that I am picking them up at the farmers market like they are going out of style. This past Sunday, I stopped by the Johnson’s Backyard Garden booth and loaded up on about 5 pounds of beets in order to whip up a batch of my Lemon and Clove Pickled Beets!

I find that beets are always on the sweeter side when they are pickled, because of the amount of sugar that is in them naturally.  I like to play off of the sweetness with a little bit of tartness from the lemon and the slightest spice from cloves.  Cloves and lemon can both be tricky because a little bit can go a long way, not to mention, paired with the wrong beet, it can turn into a bitter situation.  I find that this early in the winter season, the beets are perfect: small and sweet.

These pints will be available at the Bluebonnet Bazaar on December 13th!  They are great in salads and sandwiches (think peppery arugula and goat cheese) or just right out of the jar!

For more information on the Bluebonnet Bazaar: Click here!

Cocktails, Recipes, Uncategorized

Last of the Season: Melons & Margaritas

lauraleeimhoff

IMG_0258Summer is slowly coming to an end, which in Texas, means cooler weather is rapidly approaching. In fact, we actually got some this weekend, but I’m not holding my breath as this weeks forecast is back up in the nineties.  While we are all itching to bust out our sweaters and scarves, This particular seasonal crossover allows for glorious finds at the farmers market. The last cucumbers, melons, and peppers are still making an appearance, but the fall favorites are starting to show themselves too. Although, I am eagerto be able to walk outside without my make up sliding off my face, I am not quite ready to let summer slip through my fingers. Reflecting on these last few months, I definitely got in my vacation time, hiking, swimming at the springs, but the one thing I did not get my fill of are summer fruit and margaritas. Now, in most cases, they don’t have to be combined. In this instance, I went for the most bang for my buck. Inspired by Rio Rita’s Honeydew Thyme infused tequila, I grabbed a cantaloupe and jalapeños from the farmers market. I’ve dipped my fingers into infusing many a time (yes, the rumors of bacon infused vodka are true), but for the sake of quenching my thirst, the juicer came out!

I’m looking forward to drinking this Jalapeño Cantaloupe Margarita next year, all summer long.

Jalapeño Cantaloupe Margarita

  • 1/2 cantaloupe, cubed
  • 1 jalapeño (seeds removed)
  • 1 lime- tequila of choice-triple sec (or Cointreau)
  • ice
  • agave (optional)

Put cantaloupe, jalapeño, and half of the lime through the juicer. In a glass, pour 2 parts tequila and 1 part triple sec over ice, top off with melon pepper mix. Garnish with lime wedge.

Note: I find margaritas are very personal, just like coffee in the morning. Some like them stronger, sweeter, or more sour. I dissolved a little agave and shook it in with the mix and tequila. However, you like your margarita, this one is delicious! Enjoy!

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Ready, Reset, Go!

lauraleeimhoff

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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.IMG_1063
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.

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Mission: Commission

lauraleeimhoff

IMG_0005I 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.

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embroidered apron

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

 

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Late Night Tacos

lauraleeimhoff

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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!

 

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Turning Up the Volume

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Ok, I missed posting last week… My apologies, I must say the guilt factor is high.  All it takes is missing one or two posts, the next thing you know it’ll be a year.  That being said, I’ve had a lot going on! I am super excited to announce that I have taken on a little bit of a new role in the music world.  Inspired by my friend Lisa Kettyle and her past experience with music venues, I have started doing some booking and sound at the Firehouse Lounge on Monday nights for the Avi & Friends Songwriter Showcase.

As someone who works seven days a week, I never, let me say this differently, never, get to get out and go see live music.  Booking Monday nights has been a great way, and yes, somewhat selfish of me, to see music I wouldn’t normally get to see. It has been getting me super motivated and inspired to write some new songs myself.  This coming week I am beyond elated to be playing with Ann Sauder, Grace Park of The Deer, and Amy Sue Berlin, who just released a brand new album.

Booking and doing sound doesn’t seem like much I realize, but it is so nice to get paid for something I love doing.  It seems like a step in the right direction.  I feel more connected to the music community in Austin than ever before.

Speaking of the music community, earlier in this post I mentioned my friend, Lisa, well, I can’t think of a better time to mention someone that is working her tail off to create a stronger music community.  Lisa is in the midst of raising funds to open her own music venue.  She needs our support! Check out her indieegogo campaign here: The Chestnut Theater

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Feeling Like Popeye, Soon Enough

lauraleeimhoff

20140401-074411.jpgWe all remember Popeye, right? And his trusty can of spinach? Well, after a weekend of celebrating one of my best friends getting married by way of bachelorette party, I think it is fair to say I have been feeling the furthest away from having any super hero qualities. Butter, fried food, sugar, alcohol, caffeine, and admittedly, more alcohol, my body has been in dire need of me to press the reset button. So… Out comes the juicer!

When working at Johnson’s Backyard Garden, customers always wanted any knowledge you could give on what to to juice. There was always one juice recipe that I just had to share with everyone. I told them it was like my very own Popeye Drink. I would have people come back time and time again exclaiming, “My goodness! You weren’t kidding!” Yes, it has spinach, but the other power ingredient: dandelion greens. I’m sure some scoff at the idea of drinking a weed, although not recommended to pluck the ones from your backyard, but this little guy is so great for your liver! (Perfect after this past weekend of debauchery.) I’m not the type of person that can brave eating dandelion greens in a salad or sautéed, but juiced with the right ingredients to cut out the bitterness, I find it quite delightful. Check it out:

Laura Lee’s Popeye Drink

1 bunch dandelion greens
1 bunch spinach
1/2 a pineapple
1 to 2 oranges
Ginger (to taste)

Juice. Drink.  Enjoy.

Note: I love ginger. Some peoples digestive tracks don’t handle it to well. I typically put 1-2 inch cube in mine, but you’re welcome to adjust accordingly.