little red fox

a coupon binder?

Perhaps I have lost it. Perhaps living way out in the middle of Nowheres, Catskills has shifted my personality into a different dimension--but I have to show you what I made today. 

It's a coupon binder. 

A binder. For my coupons. 

I don't know who I am anymore! I've never even thought about saving money and clipping coupons--but suddenly I do?? And I'm letting my freak flag fly. Have you seen the couponing show? Strangely I started clipping coupons right before that show aired but it got me really fired up. Especially after my first trip to the grocery store and literally saving 1/3 of the bill. Not even kidding. I don't care to have a stockpile like the people on the show (I mean, they're totally hoarders, right?), and we only bought what we would have bought otherwise (just a little more), still healthy and some organic, too. And until I'm a millionaire and as long as I have the time to do it, I see no reason not to spend a few hours a week doing it. Phew.

But. I had to make it cute.

On the train the other day I had a ball sketching it up...

...without any reality of sizes or measurements, I knew what I needed it to hold and look like and that it needed to be compact...

...and organized. Oh how I love to see things in their proper places!!...it does my heart good. Before I had all my coupons paper-clipped in a paper envelope but it was so hard to see them and keep them organized in the grocery cart (and not at all cute). So. I bought a regular binder and then made the cloth cover-envelope-thingy today... 

And all the little pockets for my rewards cards, pens, scissors, and anything else...

...two little handles and velcro tab closure...

 

...a front pouch for receipts and such...

...a back pocket for a pad of paper for my lists and other notes (pads are $1 at Staples right now!)...

...and all the organized goodness!

Also--the fact that I had the tabbed dividers, the fabric and velcro already was nice. The fabric was an upholstery weight cotton I've had for years. I loved it but couldn't figure out what to do with the amount I had (a little less than a yard). And this project used up every last bit of it. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how satisfying that was. The binder and plastic pages were from Staples. I used these (and another size for trading cards which they don't seem to have on the site but do have in the stores). 

In other news: 

• tomorrow I am working the whole day at Bliss Co-op in Sugar Loaf. If you're in the area, please stop by and say hi and see our sweet little shop! The town is tiny so you couldn't really miss us but we're in Romer's Alley should you wander that way...
• I am alllllmost finished with my Spring/Summer wardrobe! All made from vintage patterns and some thrifted, some purchased fabrics. I wasn't sure how to unroll it all but I think so as not to overwhelm myself I shall do it item by item. Starting tomorrow! So stay tuned. 
• My dear and sweet girlfriends The Watson Twins have released their record "Night Covers" TONIGHT! They did it all on their own and its wonderful. As opposed to slick-corporate-sounding-more-than-an-arms-length music you get something with their fingerprints on it and its brilliant. You can also purchase their original artwork AND their self-designed gorgeous t-shirts in different packages with the music. I just bought mine and you can buy yours here! Such talent...I have some heart-stoppingly gifted friends and these ladies, while amazing musicians as you will hear, also have 1000 other gifts not the least of which is being wonderful artists and creative beings with incredible taste. You just can't go wrong. 

a chickpea delight

Well hello, recipe post! It's been a long time. I've been sewing, drawing, and painting more and cooking less. And as much as it may seem like all we eat is soups I promise we eat lots of other things. I definitely have a soft spot for a meal-in-a-bowl as you know if you read this blog regularly, but I think its partially how tough this winter was and how much comfort we were wanting plus the inability to drive to the store last-minute for a jalapeno or coconut milk or any other random ingredient. We spent a lot of time/evening meals "making do" and actually this was just such a meal! Not really planned, mostly stuff we had on hand, and yet super tasty and rich and delicious. 

And we needed it. Considering we were walking into our little local yoga place and it was sleeting!! We looked at each other, jaws dropped, like what?!?! Right now our goal is to live through it. And eat soups.

I should mention that I used homemade chicken stock which I really believe made all the difference. I used Ina's recipe (well, 1/3 of it). And I think it's pretty great. But if you don't have homemade chicken stock, the boxed kind would be fine. 

So obviously I didn't make this up--I've seen some version of this somewhere/somewhat but I can't remember where. So this would be my version of whatever this is...

 

SPICY CHICKPEA KALE AND CHICKEN SAUSAGE SOUP

1 Quart chicken stock (plus 2 cups water & 2 chicken bouillon cubes)
1 large yellow onion
3 TBS olive oil
3-6 garlic loves, chopped
1 package dried chickpeas, soaked for 5 or more hours (like overnight)
2 chicken sausages (casings removed, if applicable and sliced thin)
1/2 large bunch of kale, stems removed and chopped
1 large dried red chile
2 bay leaves
1 TBS plus 2 tsp Cumin
s&p to taste

• Saute onion and garlic in olive oil in large pot or dutch oven over medium heat until the onions are transluscent; 8-10 minutes.
• Add cumin, bay leaves, red chile and dried chick peas and stir everything, coating in the olive oil until fragrant, a minute or two, then add chicken stock and water.
• Bring to a boil. Cover and cook until the beans are almost cooked: about 2 hours. 
• Add the sliced chicken sausage and cook until the beans are tender. Salt and pepper to taste.
• 5 minutes before cooking is done, add chopped kale and stir until wilted and warmed through. Check salt again. 

--If you don't like it too spicy, omit the chile pepper. It was really spicy but we love that.

--If you like your soup less thick (because I like them thick, then just add some more water and more salt, if necessary).  

--Delightful with garlic toast! And also reheats well. We were really in love with this one and will most definitely make it again. 

 

 

bliss co-op opening! (and a new marceline thingy!)

Woo-hoo! The opening of Bliss Co-op was Saturday and it was just lovely. Really, really lovely. And so many people! Above, you can see my "area." I know I already said this but it really is so gratifying to see all your hard work gathered into one place. 

...all the little nerd stuff in one place...

...the t-shirts, totes and gift tags...

...and all the Marceline goodies! Sigh. Happy :)

Of course I forgot to take any pictures--but there were tables of food and wine and champagne and a bonfire--just adorable. And it was so busy in the shop itself I could barely get these pics of my shelves! I had no idea there would be that many people but it did my heart good. And once you see pictures of Sugar Loaf--which I am going to provide shortly!--you'll understand why. Should you live nearby, its a lovely place to come and kick around for a weekend afternoon. I feel so fortunate to be a part of this!

Unfortunately I didn't get to meet a lot of the other artists which was so disappointing! I did meet two, only one of whom I actually thought to take a picture with--the lovely Gina Shelton and her sweet husband, Jackson (with the most amazing vintage glasses, both of them!) here with us...

This is the ONLY picture we took of the surroundings (I'm so mad at myself!) but there is a bonfire to the left, and the shop is behind the photographer. It was great. (If you click on the bliss link, there are a couple of pics there.) I also will show pictures of the work of these other talented ladies, because there are some really beautiful/adorable/amazing things in this shop.

But I did remember to take a picture of another Marceline goodie (outside real quick before the party started!)...its along the lines of the fairy-tale-on-the-go...

A wooden "book-box" with special treats inside...

 Five little plushies of our fearless little mushroom hunter! For inventing your own marvelous mushroom-hunting stories or just as an artful keepsake. One Marceline, and three mushrooms, all of my original drawings printed onto cotton...

...and backed with red polka dot fabric. 

The plushies are between 6" and 3" tall and 3" at the widest. The book is 5"x7" and 3" deep. And it's here!

Be back tomorrow with a fantastic chick pea soup recipe! 

new totes in the shop!

Part of my busy-bee-ness getting ready for the Grand Opening of the Co-op was hand-painting these new tote bags and I'm super-duper thrilled with how they turned out! Crazytownsuperduper thrilled. I was not supposed to, but I kept one of each :)

And I really loved doing them. Lovedlovedloved. And I loved finally getting to use my fun little homemade tags :)

Satisfaction :)

The cream-colored ones are a heavier-weight canvas-type of cotton, while the black ones are a lighter-weight cotton. I couldn't decide which so I did both ;)

Aaaaand you can find them here!

Also! I made another Little Forest Story for the shop, remember it?

With its little carrying case?

Well it's in the shop here! It's sold--thank you so much!

More to come! Thanks for all your sweetie-pie comments about Marceline! I just knew she'd be up all our alleys :)