oh! you pretty things…

Pretty scarf, brought to you by red prairie press.

She's crafty! She gets around.

Happy Holidays, everyone. Here we are, faced with BLACK FRIDAY sales placed strategically right after we gorged ourselves silly on food and drink (hopefully, let's give thanks) and now what? Stand in endless lines at Target, Kohls and Walmart.

NO! Let's get creative. Even if you don't have the time to hand craft your own special gifts for your special friends and family, have no fear...

The Charm City Craft Mafia is hosting an epic holiday shopping event at St. John's Church, 2640 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 on Saturday, December 5.

Doors open at 10 am and close at 5 pm.

"Shop handmade and have fun with over 40 amazing, local, crafty vendors showing off their astounding apparel, jewelry, accessories, ceramics, paper goods and so much more! Drinks and snacks will be available from Red Emma’s."

So, if you are artistically minded, enjoy crafts or just like poking around at markets and fairs at what's going on out there, here ya go...it's like etsy...but in your face!

You even get to meet the crafty people who make the wares they're selling. I hope to see you there! (No, I am not in the event but I'll be shopping there!)

I am not leaving the house

The Pen Story

Such a charming film.

Chic

Oh why can't every day bring a reason for such a fabulous outfit?

I gave her my heart

She gave me a pen.

"Say Anything" turns 20 this year. Here's a great quote that I always butcher: " I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."

Well kiss my grits....

This recipe seems to involve everything that is right in the world. Thanks to Sandra Lee, queen of the cocktail and tablescape.

Savory Sausage Cheese Grits
Sandra Lee, Semi-HomemadePrep 15 minutes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray four 4-inch ramekins with cooking spray; set aside.
In a medium skillet, over medium heat, cook breakfast sausage, breaking it up into small pieces. Remove from heat and drain fat; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the milk and soup. Add the grits and whisk until smooth. Stir in the onions, bacon, cheese, and sausage. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon mixture into the prepared ramekins and top each with 1 tablespoon of butter pieces. Place ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 17 minutes or until heated through.

INGREDIENTS
• No-stick cooking spray, Pam
• 4 breakfast sausage links, Johnsonville
• 2 cups milk
• 3⁄4 cup condensed cheddar cheese soup, Campbell’s
• 4 packets (1 ounce each) instant grits, Quaker
• 1⁄2 cup frozen chopped onions
• 1⁄2 cup crumbled bacon
• 1⁄2 cup shredded cheddar-Jack cheese, Sargento
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons butter, cut into tiny pieces

Y is for... Yeti??

Keyboard sticker set, with an interesting claim about advancing children's knowledge of the alphabet. I don't really care, as long as B is for Bowie.

Jimmy Choo and H&M

Clearly I've been living under a rock, cause I totally missed the Jimmy Choo collection for H&M which rolled out in select stores nationwide on Nov. 14th.


Alas, they aren't selling any of these clothes in Maryland and surprisingly not in DC. I guess I will have to take a trip to NYC.

U-NI-TY

U-NI-TY's collection has the three things I've been attracted to this season: gray, tailoring, and hats. The clothes have a certain casual elegance and attentiveness to detail. Be forewarned, I may bust out a top hat this winter.

I hope they open a boutique store in the states.

Tuesday's etsy find

Letters + green + keeping things organized = Holy trifecta of awesomeness.

Check out this etsy find letter organizer and all the other sweet things they have to offer....for me to steal. Just half kidding.

I'm waiting here, waiting for you to come home

Her new album is out today. I'm currently listening to "Waiting" - beautiful track. Makes me think of someone special. Ah, who could that be?

MoMAwesome

Tim Burton's talent (and eccentricity) are beyond measure. The Museum of Modern Art agrees: an exhibition titled "Tim Burton" is on display from November 22 - April 26. The title also allows for some funny instructions on MoMA's webpage: "Members and accompanying guests need not wait to enter Tim Burton." Hehehe.

Check it, he directed his own promo.

Dirty, Dirty

Very cool, very filthy idea:


This poster is a gift that, when the recipient opens, dirties his hands with varnish. When the dirtied hands are rubbed on the poster, it reveals a message. Brrrrilliant!

The Complex of All These

Check out this video. A cool stop photo film about book making.

Random iTunes mix

Oh, how I love to rediscover music in my iTunes library. Thought this was perfect for today's weather. Nothing sappy- just nice and melodic. Love the rolling drums. Obviously I don't know how to write about music. Enjoy.

I cannot embed the video, so click here.

10 inch heels

Ladies, I'm just curious if you'll be able to trot down the streets in Baltimore in 10 inch heels next spring and summer. Alexander McQueen is hoping you can.

Aside from the insane heels, the dresses are beautifully crafted with organic prints that resemble moths. Trendelacreme writes about the uncanny inspiration on their blog.


I recommend spending the next 17'23" of your time to view the show.

Preparing for the end of the world.

Perhaps I can convince my condo association to build a fall out shelter and prepare for the onsaught of destruction said to happen in 2012.

Type Pains

"That’s the problem with loving typography. It’s always a pleasure to discover a formally gorgeous, subtly expressive typeface while walking along a street or leafing through a magazine... But that joy is swiftly obliterated by the sight of a typographic howler. It’s like having a heightened sense of smell. You spend much more of your time wincing at noxious stinks, than reveling in delightful aromas."

Excellent article about how misuse and abuse of typography can be downright painful to quirky, picky, PITA graphic designers ;)

Down the drain

A nice little confession on this weeks Postsecret site.

I can be your gyro baby

It took me a long time to earn an invite to this heavenly delightful restaurant that turns out to be right around the corner from me. I went last week with a great group of friends who showed me the sinfully delicious ways. A group of five for $17 each, BYOW, and a full belly was worth the long wait here. Rumor has it that I might be rolling out of here later this evening. Woot!

feline heads, libraries and logos

Despite what Michael Beruit said last night, I think big cat heads can become beautiful logos.

I can't be satisfied

Bmore on Tour

How fun to be a tourist in your own city. Check out this city guide from Design*sponge here.
One thing I've been meaning to check out:
* SECOND CHANCE- Like a glorified garage sale of stuff you actually want to buy. Take your time to peruse the multiple warehouse spaces with potential treasures at every turn. Items range from Victorian-era chairs to actual props from “The Wire.”

Great Love

Need to remind myself of this more often. It'd be a lot easier if it was tattooed on your face.

print is Monet, Parliament

Michael Bierut

Erica shared this last week and tonight we're seeing him live! Woot!

Get jealous:



PS Blind embossing a sign? Awesome.

Posted using ShareThis

nom nom nom

On this rainy afternoon, I'd like to curl up in bed with a big bowl of this yummy goodness. Hunger pangs courtesy of Merritt from here.

Mac Attack: Pesto and Goat Cheese

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus extra for baking dish


1 clove garlic, minced


2 tablespoons finely chopped basil leaves


3/4 cup panko bread crumbs


1 3/4 cups Parmesan


1 pound Orecchiette


2 cups heavy cream


16 ounces goat cheese


1/2 cup pesto sauce, store-bought or home-made, more to taste if desired (DUH!)


1-1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, add to taste


1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Butter a 2 quart baking dish or ramekins. Preheat the broiler and arrange a rack on top.

2. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in medium bowl in the microwave. Add the garlic, basil, panko, and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan to the melted butter. Mix well and reserve.

3. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions.

4. Meanwhile, put the cream in a small pot and bring to a simmer over low heat. Simmer until reduced and slightly thickened, about 5 to 7 minutes.

5. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water and drain the pasta. Put the large pot over low heat and add the warmed cream. When it simmers, add the goat cheese and whisk until smooth. Add in the remaining Parmesan and whisk until melted.

6. Add the pasta and stir to coat. Stir in the pesto, reserved cooking water*, if needed, salt, and pepper. Season with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper, if needed.

7. Pour the pasta mixture into the buttered baking dish and top with the panko mixture. Put under the broiler until the mixture bubbles and the top is browned, about 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from the broiler and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

*My sauce was plenty thick and did not require any reserved cooking water.
Serves 8-10.

Trifecta of Oooh Pretty

White marble + blue glass + stainless steel = yum!

Damn you rental! Damndamndamn!

for the love of fonts

Top 10 Lessons for Surviving a Zombie Attack

1. Organize before they rise!
2. They feel no fear, why should you?
3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don't need reloading.
5. Ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair.
6. Get up the staircase, then destroy it.
7. Get out of the car, get onto the bike.
8. Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert!
9. No place is safe, only safer.
10. The zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on.

Play it smart this zombie season.

The G Quest

For a number of years, I've been searching, nay - hunting, for the letter "G" from some exterior signage for use indoors. Capital, lowercase, italic (well no, let's not get crazy), it doesn't matter.

I've patrolled the Internet for companies going bankrupt. I'm certain that everyone at Gardiners Furniture HQ hates me on some level, for CREATING a waiting list for their signage when they go out of business:

Oh yeah baby. Look at that serific G just waiting for me to pop the green cover off and hang it on my wall... call me!

I've trekked through the ghettoest parts of the city, looking for boarded-up strip malls or Churches of God, with no luck. Some friends who know of my mission point out marquees, vinyl banners, and the Claddagh's sign (pretty sure I'd need a blow torch and a crow bar for that one).

So I'm here to say: people, people. My letter needs to be all of the following:
a) legally acquired. A gift of an awesome "G" with a vague back story of its origination counts, btw.
b) serif. I'm 99% sold on this fact, however if anyone knows of a Long and Foster office that's about to kick it, I will happily accept a Helvetica Neue G:

This is their Capitol Hill location, if y'all are interested in keeping an eye out for their demise for me.
c) between 20" and 60" wide (or high). Yep, size matters. If I wanted a little guy, I'd just go to Joann's or whittle my own:

So those are the prerequisites to being a G in my home. Any help is wanted, appreciated, desired. But no, Linens n Things, you will not be considered:

Yeccch. Hideous.

Bmore Love

Ladybug Ladybird

Ladybird from Christopher Harrell on Vimeo.

Welcome

Yo! Welcome to all things fun, creative and baltimore.

Stay tuned for some highly interesting posts. Feel free to comment and post things yourselves. Email bmorecollaborative@gmail.com for login information, etc. It's like a exclusive club and we're super critical, so you'll have to go through a highly vigorous screening process.