new perspective

I've been doing a lot of hiking... not so much blogging.

They say life can pass you by if you're not careful. Luckily, I've been living a very full life these days, but my blogging and etsy online life has suffered. I haven't been very active in any of my etsy groups, and I'm finding that I'm getting stressed out about my flagging online participation. Isn't that odd? One would think, "Yay! I'm living a full life and I don't have time to read and comment on dozens of websites!" But the reality is that I feel terrible. Like I'm letting down the online community, even though I'm just this one tiny little shop, with one tiny little blog.

Maybe I feel burnt out because I just recently carved so many lino designs for my portfolio. I'm not quite sure. All I know is when I feel that something is expected of me, it takes all the joy and impromptu-ness out of it. My muse doesn't like to be forced. She likes to slip in quietly and surprise me. That's when I create.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm not in a place where I want to quit ennaneve, not at all, but I'm in a place where I'm feeling overwhelmed by expectations... most of them my own.

pumpkin cookies

These cake-like cookies are a sweet Autumn treat!

My mom used to make these for us every Fall, and I absolutely loved them! She would shape them into little pumpkins and let us decorate them with frosting, M&Ms and chocolate chips to create our own personal Jack-O-Lanterns. I left off the frosting this year to cut back on excess sugar, but the cookies are just as delicious! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 cup oats

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup butter (or margarine)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup chocolate chips

2 cups canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease two cookie sheets.
• Mix together the flour, oats, baking soda and cinnamon and set aside.
• Next, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar with a mixer.
• Add the egg and vanilla extract and continue to mix well.
• Alternately add one cup of the flour mixture and one cup of the canned pumpkin until all ingredients are well incorporated.
• Stir in chocolate chips.
• Use 1/4 cup per cookie and shape into little pumpkins (optional).
• Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until they no longer look wet.

candlelight

Another one of my favorite things...

Life is full of simple pleasures. The trick is to find pleasure in the simple things. One of my favorite simple pleasures is candlelight. Every night I light candles, even if it's just a few by my bed while I read. But normally, I'll light candles all over my little studio apartment and see it come to life in the warm, flickering glow of candles.

My oldest sister, Emily, once said, "Candles are a warm presence when there's no one else around." That's how I feel; they add a bit of life to a still night, a bit of warmth to a chilly room and a bit of happiness into my quiet life.

caramel apples

A yummy way to welcome Fall!

The other day, I was in a lovely little market where they were selling caramel apples... for $13.50 a piece! Now, I love apples, and I love caramel, but I'm not about to pay that much for something I can make at home for one tenth of the price. So I didn't. I went home and made my own.

I made four scrumptious flavors: caramel, peanut butter caramel, chocolate peanut butter caramel and caramel gingersnap. Although it was a messy endeavor, it cost less to make ten of my own than to buy one from that market! I've given them as gifts, shared with coworkers and eaten quite a few myself. (Now my pants feel a little snug... so maybe it's time for a crisp walk in the Autumn leaves!)

Next up on my Fall festivities... pumpkin carving!

creamy butternut squash soup

Creamy & Delish!

Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped onion

6 Tbsp butter

6 cups (1 large) butternut squash

3 cups chicken or vegetable broth

1 (8 oz) pkg light cream cheese

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1/4 tsp coriander

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and cover a cookie sheet with lightly greased aluminum foil.
• Slice squash in half lengthwise and remove seeds. Place squash sliced-side down and bake for 30 minutes in preheated oven.
• Allow squash to cool completely, then peel off skin and chop into cubes.
• Saute butter and onion in large sauce pan until onion is tender and transparent.
• Add squash, broth, cumin, pepper and coriander. Bring to a brief boil, stirring occasionally.
• In a food processor or blender, puree squash mixture and cream cheese in batches until smooth.

- - -

I'm not a huge fan of sweet butternut squash soup, so I love this creamy take on one of my Fall favorites. If you're looking for a good starter to a nice meal, or a comforting lunch on a chilly day, this soup is sure to please!

herbs

Another attempt at a green thumb...

Since my last post was on spices, it seems only fitting to throw in a little shout-out to herbs as well. Like most people in this economy, I've looked for ways to trim that fat, while still enjoying life. Spending $3 and up on herbs in the grocery store that I'd only use once or twice was a luxury that was no longer in the budget.

At first I tried to grow herbs from seeds (shown) and they sprouted up nicely, but alas my brown thumb killed them before they were really able to yield anything substantial. So a few weeks ago I checked out the greenery shed at my local Farmers Market and found - hallelujah chorus - full grown plants for fifty cents each! Yes, you read right. Fifty cents.

For weeks now I've been able to enjoy sweet basil, lemon verbena, mint and rosemary for a grand total of $2. It's the little things...

spicy

Spices add a little zing to everything!

Living in a tiny space requires a lot more creativity than I first imagined. I have to literally use every nook and cranny to store, hide or display necessary household items without it being cluttered, inconvenient or messy. It's quite a job, but I really enjoy doing it.

To save some of my very limited cabinet space, I picked up some magnetic spice jars to stick on the side of my fridge. Using some white labels and my typewriter, I added a little vintage-inspired charm to these otherwise bland jars.

Not only are they useful and easily at hand when I need them, they look really cool on the side of my fridge!

parlor chair

I wish I actually had a chair like this!

This is the final image from my portfolio. I'm getting ready to put a line of wall art on my etsy shop, so when I put those up you can see some of the rest of my portfolio, but for now... it's a secret!

I've realized that vintage stuff really inspires me, and not just because it's cool and funky and becoming trendy with the whole green movement. I like it because vintage pieces, for the most part, are painstakingly made my hand and crafted for quality. Prior to the days of mass manufacturing, craftsmen and artists made everything. Sure, there are some cool things in I*KEA, but I'd take one finely-crafted vintage chair over an entire room of "some assembly required" composite furniture.

peach muffins

It's like peach cobbler in a muffin!

I have been on a real baking kick lately. Often baking every day, and sometimes two or more new recipes! While my pants feel a little more snug, I get such pleasure from the simple act of baking that I don't want to stop. From muffins to cookies to pies and pizzas, I love exploring new recipes on AllRecipes.com. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy soup recipe or the best way to marinate pork chops, the site has it all! I highly recommend it if you're a fine-tuned foodie or a basic cook. There's something in it for everyone.

Like delicious peach muffins. Yum.

The last of the fresh Farmers Market peaches. Au revoir, mes amis!

portfolio

Vintage faucets

Today is the day! I finally finished my portfolio! I'm too exhausted to think of anything cool to write here, but I just wanted to share that I'm done.

Whew.

self portrait

Shady Lady

Well folks, here it is. My first-ever self portrait. (Carved, of course.) It was an interesting sensation to dig my own face out of a lino block, but I'm pretty pleased with the results. I wasn't sure how well I'd do on my eyes, so I'm saving them for a future endeavor. Hence, my classic aviators, which I absolutely adore!

This is just the first print - I'm still experimenting with the colors, paper, etc. but I think she's going to make a splendid addition to the portfolio I've been working on!

notable quotes

Emerson's always got great things to say!

I love tea, and Eleanor Roosevelt! Great quote.

And yet another quote from the master of motivating words. Ah, Thoreau.

- - - - -

:: Happy First Day of Fall! ::

courage

it takes courage to grow up and become

who you really are.

e. e. cummings

eye candy

Oh, l'amore!

If you're anything like me, you occasionally run out of ideas and are left staring at a blank wall, completely at a loss. Luckily, there are plenty of books, magazines and websites for do-it-yourselfers, crafters, designers and artists.

A few of my favorite books, which are chock-full of fun ideas are Domino: The Book of Decorating, Flea Market Style and Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts. (Note: I've never been a huge Martha fan, but this book is actually pretty sweet!)

If nothing else, these colorful specimens are a dash of eye candy on your side table - although cracking them open is a lot more fun!

diy: birthday calendar

I made this little portable birthday calendar for practically nothing!

You can, too!

Step 1: Gather your supplies. You will need scissors, string, card stock, alphabet stamps and a single hole punch.

Step 2: If using a large sheet of card stock, cut it into at least 12 small pieces (I used blank business cards, which are available at any paper supply store.) On each of the twelve cards, print the first three letters of the month (the full name of the month tends to take up too much room.)

Step 3: Punch two holes in one end of each card, being sure the holes are even on all twelve cards.

Step 4: Make filler cards with your friends' names, birthdays - and if you're particularly motivated - a brief summary of their interests. This list comes in handy for gift giving, especially when you're having a mental block on what to buy.

Step 5: Put all the month cards and properly organized filler cards in order from January to December. Tie with the string, circling around the two holes twice.

Et voila! You have a handy, portable birthday calendar! The neat thing about this design is that you can untie it and add more birthdays as you meet new friends! Enjoy!

words of wisdom

These are some of the inspirational words above my bed... love 'em!

This one helps me keep my head in the clouds, but my feet on the ground.

And this one is just plain inspiring to me. Leave it to Thoreau!

take heart

Just a little reminder to believe in your dreams.

vintage find

Love the intricate details in this vintage piece!

Today I was out running errands and couldn't resist stopping in my favorite vintage shop in Charlotte. The Treasure House is run by a timelessly chic and eccentric woman who has always piqued my interest. She's gorgeous, probably in her early sixties, and looks like she belongs in a poster advertising Pall Mall's in Miami circa 1950.

Aside from the lovely owner, this shop is unique in Charlotte in that it actually has really cool vintage stuff and it's not terribly overpriced. The historic two-story brick home is full floor to ceiling with all manner of dishes, tablecloths, furniture, jewelry, books and so much more.

I found this gorgeous white beaded necklace and absolutely love it! I didn't have enough time to peek around all the nooks and crannies like I usually do, but if you're in Charlotte and have a little free time, this place is truly a gem.

Treasure House

Buy - Sell - Consignment - Estates

5300 Monroe Road

Charlotte, NC 28205

704-532-1613

Open Tues-Fri 10-5 and Sat 10-4

banana bread

Yummy!

This isn't just any banana bread... it's chocolate chip banana bread. My mom used to make it all the time when I was growing up (it was pretty much the only way she could get me to eat bananas!)

While there's not much more to it than simply adding some mini chocolate chips into your favorite banana bread recipe, the warm chocolate goodness it produces is mouth-watering. Just another example of how it's the little things that make the biggest difference!

baking

Warm yeast rolls straight from the oven!

While I'm sad to see Summer go, I've always loved the changing of the seasons. There's something about the change in the weather that puts some excitement in the air.

As the nights have gotten a little crisper these past few days, I decided to turn on my oven (something I've been avoiding in my little studio apartment... it gets pretty toasty!) I made some chocolate chip banana bread (yummy!) and some yeast rolls from scratch.

It was nice to have the windows open and feel the cool air while making something warm and comforting to eat. I highly recommend a little Fall baking - makes you feel good about what you're doing with your time and about what you're putting into your body.

my favorite poem

Stream of Life - found in Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore

- - - - -

The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day

runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth

in numberless blades of grass

and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth

and of death, in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life.

And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.

All things rush on, they stop not, they look not behind,

no power can hold them back, they rush on,

keeping steps with that restless, rapid music,

seasons come dancing and pass away,

colours, tunes and perfumes pour in endless cascades

in the abounding joy that scatters and gives up and dies every moment.

Image was created by Yours Truly, using recycled images from little tree press.

tea time

My little acorn tea steeper... love it!

When I was growing up, my mom and I had tea time nearly every day at 4 pm sharp. I secretly believe this was her way of combating the tomboyish qualities I was developing, but it was still a nice reprieve from the backyard mud fights with the neighborhood boys.

My grandmother always used to tell her too much tea would stunt my growth... but at 5'10" I highly doubt that. Unless I was destined to be 6'7", in which case I'm quite thankful for the tea. :)

Although I don't have tea time every day at 4 pm, and not even every day, I do still love a good cup now and then. I got this little acorn tea steeper for free at a yard sale... though I was more than willing to pay the 10 cent asking price.

It's funny how the small things, like a cup of tea and a little steeper, can bring back such fond memories and put a smile on my face. Ah, simplicity.

meet chuck

My favorite pair of All Stars in Kelly Green

It's time to introduce you all to my love affair with a shoe - the Chuck Taylor All Star. While many women speak of shoe fetishes consisting of the seasons latest and greatest stiletto, pump or wedge, my passion for fashion takes a slightly less flamboyant approach. A sneaker.

I can't quite put my finger on what is so appealing about these shoes. They just appeal to me. It doesn't hurt that they're in my favorite shade of my favorite color, or that their classic style can be paired with practically anything in my closet. Perhaps it's because when I wear these shoes, I feel completely and utterly comfortable in my own skin.

new print: lotus bloom

Meet the newest addition to ennaneve!

My friend Jillian recently got certified to teach yoga and inspired me to create these lotus bloom cards. I'm quite pleased with the way they turned out, especially since I hadn't done any previous flowers.

I was a little hesitant to create a flower because they can be so intricate, and ennaneve's designs are created to be simple. As you can see from my work, I prefer not to over-manipulate my block prints, instead letting the natural variations in the ink shine through. I think this adds to the unique nature of each piece, as well as making my designs feel a little more light and free. One of the main reasons I like this new design so much is that it retains the essence of simplicity even amid its numerous petals.

Thank you, Jillian, for being my yogi muse!

59 free things to do

Be a Smart Cookie

In this economy, the Almighty Dollar seems more elusive to obtain and even harder to hold on to. Here's a random list of things to do that won't cost you a dime.

1. Go for a walk (bring a friend!)
   


2. Walk a pooch at your local Humane Society.
   


3. Sew something out of some of that fabric you bought so long ago with all the best intentions...
   


4. Drink a cup of tea.


5. Read a book (remember when you were a kid and you went to the library? Yeah, it still exists. Or you can swap books with a friend!)


6. Write a letter to someone you love (if you don't have any stamps, a heart-felt email is always nice, too.)


7. Read Real Simple online... it's a great site full of fun tips!
   


8. Window shop on Etsy.


9. Pull out those old cans of paint and give some furniture, frames or walls a new coat.


10. Have a lunch swap with a friend: instead of going out to eat, do the Elementary school thing and swap your bag lunches.


11. Organize your photos (both on your computer and in that old shoebox in the closet...)
    


12. Rummage through your closet and find some clothes you hardly wear: if they still fit, try to encorporate them into your attire. If they don't fit, donate them to Goodwill or a friend.


13. Have a diy mani/pedi with a friend


14. Watch a free movie on Hulu.com


15. Go to allrecipes.com and find new dishes to make with ingredients you already have on hand.
    


16. Have a garage sale.


17. Volunteer.


18. Join Cut Out & Keep and find cheap and easy things to make, plus you can add your own tutorials.


19. Look up new uses for old items on realsimple.com.


20. Blog.


21. Start a journal: if you already have one, keep it up! It can be an amazing stress relief and fun read to look back on your life in later years!


22. Embrace your inner artist and draw, paint or sketch instead of sitting in front of the TV or spending countless hours online.
    


23. Play FreeRice and increase your vocab while helping to end hunger via the UN World Food Program! Win-win situation!


24. Go through your overflowing file cabinet and sort what needs to stay, go and be re-filed.


25. Clip coupons online from coupons.com (or from your Sunday paper) and check your local grocery store's coupon policy- most offer double or even triple coupons during special promotions


26. Shop for free stuff online at craigslist.com in the free stuff section. You never know what you may find!


27. Offer to walk an elderly neighbor's dog, and think of other ways to help them out, too: such as cooking, cleaning, or just giving them your time


28. Think of ten things you love about someone and tell them. It'll make their week!


29. Have a craft party with friends: have everyone bring any projects they're working on, as well as supplies to swap and share.


30. Change your bed sheets to a different set for a fresh new feel: if you don't have another set, hang your sheets outside for a few hours on a sunny afternoon so they can soak up some sunkissed freshness.


31. Play Iron Chef with some friends and whatever random ingredients you have in your kitchen.


32. Forget the spa: pour a bath, light some candles and put on a face mask.


33. Make a list of things you're grateful for.


34. Instead of meeting a friend at Starbucks, go "out" for coffee at your local park: one of you can bring a thermos of coffee and the other can bring something tasty to snack on.


35. Make a household binder. Some useful things to include: emergency info & contacts, utility companies & contact info, landlord/mortgage company numbers, takeout menus & coupons to local restaurants, cleaning hints and tips from your favorite magazines and websites, monthly calendar with notes for bill due dates, cleaning schedules, grocery shopping, etc.


36. Make a list of things you love about yourself.


37. Start a cooking club.


38. Free babysitting: arrange to swap babysitting nights with a friend.


39. Forgo the pet salon and give Bingo a good ol' fashioned brush and bath at home.


40. Look up free outdoor movies in your area. Most cities have summer events featuring free movies, concerts or other forms of entertainment in local parks.


41. Attend a free poetry reading, open mic night or talent show.


42. Go through your sock drawer and try to match up those errant socks. Convert any loners into dust rags and free up some drawer space.


43. Play a team sport with friends.


44. Help out at a soup kitchen.


45. Make homemade candles out of leftover wax and stubs of old candles.


46. Rearrange your furniture to give your living space a free makeover.


47. Learn French with Coffee Break French (also available in other languages!)


48. Try to find homes for the mismatched debris in your junk drawer (you know you have one!)


49. Make a note of all your friends' birthdays (facebook is a great tool for doing this!)


50. Join the Cold Stone Creamery or Baskin Robbins birthday club and get free ice cream on your birthday! While you're at it, sign up at birthdayfreebies.com for even more free birthday goodies!


51. Change the pictures you have displayed in frames around your home to give it a fresh new feel. Or even just change the location of certain pictures - it's amazing what a small change can do!


52. Pick some flowers (not from your neighbor's yard!)


53. Download some awesome desktop wallpaper from design*sponge!


54. Write a poem.


55. Dance around in your undies when no one is around... it's surprisingly liberating!


56. Give something away.


57. Print out some free printable goodies from love.obsess.inspire!


58. Do some at-home yoga.


59. Start a book club.

pen & ink

I recently started using watercolors for the first time in my life. I've never taken an art class and so it's pretty cool to be exposed to all of these new things in the art world... well, new to me, of course. Anyway, I've been using watercolors to color some of my doodles and I absolutely love it! It's my new favorite pastime!

These little birds are part of a couple pictures that I did for my nieces in Chicago. I'm thinking about incorporating them into my etsy shop... let me know what you think!

naturally beautiful

My hands-down favorite flower is the peony. It is soft and elegant, yet bold and strong. I love how countless layers of paper-thin petals combine to create a large, handsome bloom. Plus, they smell divine!

A few of my other favorites are:

• dahlias
• hydrangea
• sweet peas
• poppies
• ranunculus

it's the little things

Me & Morgan

I recently returned from a trip to Chicago to visit my sister Emily and her family. My oldest niece, Morgan, is tall and beautiful. She's very artistic (this chalkboard sketch was waiting for me in my room!) and takes great care of her younger sister. She has a funny, dry sense of humor like her parents:

Emily (laughing): Morgan, isn't Aunt Becky funny?

Morgan (unimpressed): Not as funny as I thought.

Me & Morgan playing tic-tac-toe at the water fountain

She has a bubbly, talkative personality that I can definitely relate to:

Me: Morgan, are you looking forward to going to kindergarten?

Morgan: No. I hear you have to be so quiet there. Like, really, really quiet. All the time. Wanna see me be really, really quiet for like... *thinking* eleven seconds? I can be so quiet. Wanna see?

Me: Yes.

Emily & Morgan

My youngest niece, Eve, is a little doll. She's inquisitive and takes time to get to know the world around her. She's talkative, too, like her older sister (and Aunt!) and I can see Em and Dan have a not-so-silent future ahead of them. Eve gets the cutest little dimples when she smiles and her bright blue eyes light up and can literally melt your heart. I can also already see a sense of humor developing in her bubbly little laugh and happy baby talk.

Eve... or Evey Wonder as she's affectionately called

procrastination at its finest

'Nuff Said

everybody loves parfait

Fresh & Delish

- - -

I'm pretty sure the Donkey on Shrek said it best: "You know what else everybody likes? Parfaits. Have you ever met a person, you say, 'Let's get some parfait,' they say, 'Hell no, I don't like no parfait'? Parfaits are delicious."

Summertime is the perfect time for a parfait: a wide variety of fresh fruit is in season, plus it's refreshing and light. Next time you're at your local farmers market, pick up some fruit and make a parfait!

One of my quick and easy favorites is as follows:

Summer Parfait

1 cup low fat vanilla yogurt

1/4 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup fresh blueberries, washed

1/2 cup fresh peaches, washed and cut into cubes

pinch of cinnamon, to taste

Layer the yogurt, fruit and oats in two glass dishes. Sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired. Serve immediately.

Makes two servings.

diy: shelves

Wine box shelves

- - -

If you're looking for a cheap and easy decor idea, try this on for size. These old wooden wine boxes were completely free, and I simply screwed them into my kitchen wall (insuring they were level first, of course!)

If you don't have any laying around, you can drop by your local wine merchant, wine bar or grocery store and ask if they have any wooden wine boxes they're not using. Even if they don't, most places will take your number and call you when they have some. Worth a try!

favorite authors & poets

In no particular order, here are a few of my favorite people from the literary world:

• Rabindranath Tagore
• O. Henry
• William Somerset Maugham
• Oscar Wilde
• Mark Twain
• Jane Austen
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Robert Louis Stevenson
• Charlotte Bronte
• F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Percy Bysshe Shelley
• Henry David Thoreau
• Alfred Lord Tennyson
• Dylan Thomas
• Louisa Mae Alcott
• Walt Whitman
• Ralph Waldo Emerson

(Can you tell I was homeschooled?)

fearless quote

Fear can be such a paralyzing thing. This quote helps me find my legs and leap.

the creative process

There's no formula for creativity. At least, none that I know of. My new ideas, designs, colors, prints and patterns just sort of ebb and flow naturally.

I will say that deadlines don't help the creative process at all... the pleasure I take in what I do is somewhat diminished by a ticking clock and high expectations.

If I feel like carving a new print, I do. If I don't, I don't.

I love how creativity has to come to you. It's a gift. You can't force it, coerce it or bribe it. When you least expect it, it sneaks up and slips into your pocket, and when you reach for your pencil... there it is.

No matter your income, social status, race, gender, age or religion... creativity is completely unbiased. Those who have it, can't help but show it. Even if they don't want to, it springs into everything they do.

There is always enough for everyone.

Do something creative today. Even if it's simply letting your mind play.

diy: illumination

Sweet & Simple Summer Lanterns

- - -

Looking for a cheap and easy way to spruce up your next outdoor dinner party? Try making these Sweet & Simple Summer Lanterns. They're really a breeze to make, and they look adorable dotting the branches of an old oak tree.