Gray Bath Salt Scrub

I researched the health benefits of several different oils and salts and came up with a salt scrub that is great for skin and smells AMAZING!

Here is a breakdown of the ingredients/health benefits:
Avocado Oil - Vitamin A, D & E
Coconut Oil- Vitamin E, helps smooth skin, relieve stress and is an antioxidant
Gray Salt - magnesium, calcium and potassium. This salt is completely natural - it is unrefined and unwashed and contains no additives.
Acai Oil- very mild sweet fruit smell, has vitamin B1, B2, B3, C, E,omega 6 &7, is a natural emollient, helps acne, reduces swelling, eases muscles

Play Dough!

I didn't have any time to shop for my baby cousins birthday, so I made a few batches of play dough for her instead (and a few more to take to work.) The texture is great and the colors were fun to play around with. The one that looks brown in the picture is actually purple, I'm a lousy photographer.

Here is a link to the recipe I used http://anartnest.squarespace.com/home-made-play-dough/2009/4/19/home-made-play-dough-project.html

Everyone should try this, even if you don't have kids!

Vanilla Extract

It's really easy to make and it tastes so much better than store bought vanilla. All you need is vodka, a couple vanilla beans and a jar. I found good vanilla beans from Madagascar at Rainbow Grocery, and just used cheap vodka from the corner store.

Make sure to cut the beans so that the bean is fully submerged in the vodka. You can either scrape out the inside of the beans and add them to the mix or you can drop in the whole bean without doing anything to it. I prefer to just drop the vanilla beans in, it takes longer (about a month) but it doesn't leave any vanilla floaters in the extract.

Origami String of Lights

Croissants and Pain au Chocolat

Canada!

The plan.

Tissue Holder

I made it out of felt.

Spoon Rest

spooning people

Origami String Of Cranes

After helping make cranes for a friends wedding (with 1,000) cranes, I decided to make a string of them for myself...right now there are 28, I will add one more each year.

Bag to keep the scrabble tiles in, found it at Giant Robot http://www.giantrobot.com/

Courtesy of Chris G.

Scrabble Table

I bought an unfinished table for $50 at Ikea, drew a scrabble board on top and then burned the design in with a wood burner...next step is to stain it.

Old Muscle Sketches

From when I lived in Modesto and actually spent time drawing.

Bell Pepper, Broccoli, Basil Pizza

Origami Lotus Flowers

Chris Birthday Crossword

I made Chris a crossword puzzle in lieu of a birthday card. It looks very simple but it took me forever to figure out how to format it on word, and how to make all the words I wanted to use fit together. I don't know how Will Shortz does it leaving hardly any blank spaces.

Sake Set

Blueberry Ginger Pie

An Adapted Martha Stewart Recipe:

• 5 cups blueberries
  
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons grated peeled fresh ginger

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with rack in lowest position.
2. Line a 9-inch pie plate with dough (do not stretch). Using kitchen shears, trim dough to a 1-inch overhang all around; refrigerate bottom crust.
3. In a large bowl, toss blueberries with sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and ginger; pour filling into bottom crust. Place top crust over filling. Trim top crust to match bottom crust. Press edges of both crusts together, and fold overhang under itself; press to seal. Using thumb and forefinger, crimp edges. Cut a few slits in top of pie to let steam escape.
4. Place pie on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 30 minutes; reduce heat to 375 degrees, and bake until crust is golden and juices are bubbling rapidly all over, 70 to 80 minutes more (if edges are browning too quickly, tent with aluminum foil).

Craft Sticks

I've been writing down all of my art/craft ideas, to prevent them from being lost in space as most of my ideas are 2 minutes after I think them. I'm writing them down on Popsicle sticks and then picking at least 2 a week. During my time off it's been more like 2 a day, but once school and work start in the fall 2 in a week will be a challenge.