Ghoulish Ghosts & Zombie Love

The last few weeks, I've been stocking Blackbird and Peacock up with some brand new geeky cool Halloween journals and eco-friendly cards and wanted to share.  

Zombie Party Set of 12 eco-friendly cards

Ghoulish Ghosts large moleskine

Halloween Zombie Love large moleskine

Halloween Party or Birthday eco-friendly cards

Artist/Crafter Spotlight: Lucy Todd from Lunique Jewellery

Lucy from Lunique Jewellery is a talented artisan/crafter from the U.K. who creates and sells more than just jewelry on Etsy.  Here is Lucy in her own words:


I create jewellery, trinket boxes, cushions and Stamp Lamps. I also make other things for myself and my family, like models, handbags etc. but I've not tried selling any of those in my shop... yet!  Most often I am inspired by nature- the colours, textures and shapes all around us. I find inspiration in all sorts of places but I think it is usually when I'm outside in the garden or walking in the countryside.


Lately I've been concentrating on my trinket boxes and some new cushion designs. The two newest additions to my shop are my Hogwarts Trunk-

www.etsy.com/listing/82732399/hogwarts-trunk-jewelry-trinket-box


and my Union Jack cushion

www.etsy.com/listing/82734964/union-jack-goes-turquoise-cushion-aqua

I love reading the Harry Potter series and can't help but be inspired to create my own magical items! The cushion is a classic design in some of my favourite fabrics. I have too many fabrics (along with too many beads and buttons) and this sort of patchwork cushion is perfect to show them off!


Many thanks to Lucy to sharing her lovely new creations and inspirations.  BTW- I'm a huge Harry Potter fan too!  Don't forget to check out Lucy's Etsy Shop for her jewelry, lamps and more.  

Fav Vegan MoFo Product: Sunshine Burgers

Even as a kid I wasn't a big fan of burgers.  The texture of ground beef grossed me out, so when I explored  vegetarian burger options, it wasn't necessary for me to find a "burger" that resembled a beef burger.  Actually, the further it is from a beef burger, the better.  

When I discovered Sunshine Burger's Garden Herb in the natural foods store, I found my perfect burger.  The ingredients are very simple and nutritious: Organic Ground Raw Sun-flower Seeds, Organic Brown Rice, Organic Carrots, Organic Herbs and Sea Salt.  

The herbs are understated, but pronounced enough so that the burger isn't bland at all.  You can definitely taste the sunflower seeds, but they are balanced nicely with the rice and carrots, and not overwhelming.  Some people might not like the texture.  It is not firm like a burger, but soft.  I'm guessing that it wouldn't work well on a grill.  However, it is not dry like falafel and doesn't fall apart easily.  The ingredients work together as if egg binds it, even though it is vegan, so it functions like a burger better than some vegan varieties do.  

The burger takes very little time to cook, so it is the perfect meal on the go.  And, it tastes great in wraps and between bread.  I'm still enjoying the tomatoes from my garden, so delicious, ripe tomatoes have accompanied these burgers in a lot of meals the last two weeks.  Here is Saturdays's recipe:

Sunshine Burger w/ Garden Fresh Tomatoes Wrap

• 1 Garden Herb Sunshine Burger
• 1/2 medium tomato, chopped
• handful of mesclun or any young greens
• 1/3 onion, sliced
• 1 1/2 T hummous
• 1 tsp. salsa
• olive oil or olive oil spray
• chopped kalamata olives (optional)
• 1 medium-large size tortilla shell

Spray pan with olive oil spray or add 1 tsp. olive oil to medium sized cast iron skillet or non-stick pan.  On medium-high heat, saute onions for 3 minutes.  Turn heat down to medium and add burger to skillet. Cook burger and onions until burger is gently browned on both sides, adding more olive oil if needed.  When burger is cooked, remove from heat.  Warm shell thoroughly on both sides.  Spread hummous and salsa on shell.  Crumble up burger, add onions, tomato, kalamata olives and green.  Fold and serve.  

Fall Finds

It's that time of year when my tank tops, shorts and summer skirts are removed from the closet and replaced by sweaters, thick socks, and cords that have been resting all summer in our seasonal clothing bin.  As the cool nights become more frequent, I also start scouring consignment shops and Etsy to re-stock all the clothes I've donated over the last year.

Here are some great Fall finds I stumbled upon on Etsy that I fell in love with!

1950's Cocktail dress by Fabgabs

  

Long skirt by Shovava

Shredded Tee by Exaltation

When orange and black rules

What is it about this time of year?  When I go outside on an early Fall morning, the smell of turning leaves, the dream-like hue of overcast sky, and crisp air brushing against my skin has me reciting 19th century poetry.  If you revisit my blog around this time last year, Dickinson, Poe, Prevert, Robert Frost and Li Po were the poets whose inspired words captured this moment for me.

As a young child, Halloween meant little more to me than the time of year when I got to play dress up outside of the house and ask strangers for candy.  Which was quite daring in itself on any ordinary day.  Just exactly what our parents tell us not to do, right?  Watching my young adult grow older, this time of year has developed profound significance for me.  

The patter of rain on a pile of yellowing leaves brings my mind to the past.  I'll reminisce about how my son once jumped with gusto into leaves or wonder when the trees lost their leaves in different cities I've lived in.  All it takes is a quiet morning alone with a steaming mug of tea and suddenly I let myself get whisked away into Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market.  

Fall wistfully transports us to times past, while we still feel the flush of summer upon our cheeks.  Not yet ready to hibernate, the afternoon sun is relished on long walks.  Every morning when our dog, Owen, and I go out, I feel thankful that the garden has survived another night without frost.  Tomatoes taste even more succulent, because I know it will be another 10 months before they taste sweet and juicy again.  

This is the time of year when orange and black rule.  Their meanings run deeper than branding a holiday season.  Black signifies the trepidation we feel in our hearts as the nights lengthen, as well as the longer, darker nights.  Orange's inspiration is the last of the season's harvest, those butternut squash and pumpkins, the ripened leaves blanketing the green grass, the lingering warmth of the sun's rays.  So, this season as I'm wearing the orange and black socks my husband bought me, I'm not merely participating in the commercialization of another holiday.  Instead, we are all honoring this moment in time, paying homage to autumn, before it passes.   

                                              Ghosts Galore card by Blackbird and Peacock