almost projects - tiny crocheted items

I've been working on more tiny shapes and ideas. I'm not sure if I want the put the little teardrop guys into a cluster or a row on earrings, a cluster ring or perhaps a garland style necklace. The poppy was inspired by this Chanel collection .

I don't know if I would wear this outfit, but I gotta say SJP rocked it hard . Too many ideas not enough attention span!

Mini peps version 2.0

I finally finished the final version of the mini pepper necklace. I wanted the two halves to be a little flatter so it didn't end up looking like a sausage when they came together. I outlined the edge in yellow. The original idea was to color the inside yellow but that ended up looking very messy and disappointing. I think from far away it looks like a macaroon - yum. Someone commented it looked like a bell. It's a charm of many talents.

Wall of ash and dust in Idaho

We've been having lots of fires in southwest Idaho, the result of which has been eerie evenings. My husband and I stepped out around 8 pm a few nights ago and there was a low hanging dusty fog in the air. We could see blue sky straight up but the houses across the street were blurry. The air was totally still and I was really waiting for zombies to shamble out of the mist. Still, what we experienced is way better than an ash wall which blacked out highways and entire regions as it passes:

Lampwork crochet experimental shapes

I've been doing some experimental crochet. I am fascinated with the idea of creating baubles and jewels with crochet. I stumbled upon the website www.verrela.com, which by the way is absolutely gorgeous and if I weren't unemployed I would be draping that goodness on myself. Since this is not the case, I've tried to replicate some of their beautiful lampwork glass shapes with crochet. Here are some in red;

Graphic/pop art

I used to do a lot of graphic art/drawing/doodling but I haven't had the inspiration in a few years. It seems I always did my best work while in science class in high school - isn't it funny how that works? I wish I could hire a boring teacher to drone in the background so I can be excited about drawing! Here are some examples of various ages. 

 <-- Anyone who can guess what this little guy is is my hero!

My new neighborhood and tumbleweeds

Having recently lost my job, I've had some challenges to say the least! My lease with my apartment was up and we had given our 30-days' notice before I lost my job meaning we had to find a new (affordable) place to rent STAT. I am so blessed to have wonderful friends and one of which was moving out of her house and let us move in. It's right beside a big swath of undeveloped endowment land which is full of scrubby native plants (Boise is in a semi-arid zone).

Endowment land

Somehow these delicate wildflowers survive in the scorching heat

I found a beautiful dried branch that had blown in from somewhere!

There's a cafe in town with a piece of tumbleweed as a lampshade it's gorgeous! While this definitely isn't tumbleweed it has just the right rustic chic look I want :).

A delicious salad even my husband can make

I bought some beautiful kale from the market and I've been trying to replicate this great grilled Kale salad they have at one of my favorites restaurants in Boise, Bittercreek. The Kale is charred on the edges and raw in the center, dusted with salt and some sort of dressing.

The recipe I made up is to drizzle sesame oil over kale, toss, and sprinkle with salt and toast on high in the toaster oven! DONE. I tried to stir fry but it ended up cooking the kale all the way through which isn't what I wanted. My husband even agreed that this is something he might attempt. Good job honey :)

 < -- me and my hubs