Palate.. mind and soul

A new cook book from one of my favorite food stylist, photographer and writer.. coming out SOON!

Beatrice Peltre @ La Tartine Gourmand

Oh gosh I LOVE her work! I'm not gonna miss this one :)

rain drops..

perfect weather to make some candles

Wow how long is it been since I've made some of this??? Way too long. Silver and I did enjoy using some new technics in the making of some very beautiful candles. I had never even heard of ice candles before.
I should post an how to one of this days. For now I think this is a very cute one and very, very simple way to spend an afternoon in cozy sweat and socks :)

Teacup Candle

How to Make Candles
You'll need wax, wicks, putty, a pencil, and a candy thermometer, all of which can be found at a craft store such as Michaels. Wax is sold in blocks, sheets, and shavings, to be melted on a stove or in a microwave.


Pouring the Wax
Wrap one end of the wick around a pencil. Set pencil on egg cup, suspending the wick. With putty, secure wick's metal clip to bottom of cup. In a double boiler, melt wax according to package directions; use a candy thermometer to gauge temperature. Pour wax in cup; allow to fully cool. Trim wick to 1/4 inch. Now.. enjoy!


{by Country Living}

scents of Spring

Finally Spring is here

I love love love this time of year, in fact it has been my favorite since.. always I think.

The colors, flowers, the new amazing scents of nature in the air and.. the sun :)

I love Portland, it is so much a place where you can really enjoy the best of this season. Walking around here is so dang normal.. It brings me back to my origins, back home in Switzerland. I love it here.

{Portland - Rose Garden - Spring '10}

I really need a sewing machine! {Sewing challenge}

I don't think I've said it out loud enough yet, but YES I do need a sewing machine.

I was supposed to make so many things by now, but .. what can I say. You get married, change country, live with 2 suitcases for few months thinking that is gonna change and then you realize after a year 1/2 that's still all you have hahaha! Crazyyy, but ooooh I would do it again in a heart bit!

Now my question is, how do you win a sewing machine if you don't even have one to start with??

Well, for those of you that have the chance don't wait a second, Bernina sewing machines are top quality! Yep talking about being SWISS! hahaha!
All you have to do is reinvent the Two Ton Apron (pdf) by Kathryn Goodman. Important take a look at the Rules of challenge, and get to work!

Two Ton Apron the how to.. can't be easier then this. The fun part is the creativity and imagination you can put in it. So get creative ladies!

{via burdastyle}

commercial that speaks creativity ~ kindle

how can you not just LOVE this.. I just can't stop watching it over and over and over again.. what can I say? Makes me giggle, smile and move all at the same time :)

Troppo bello, magnifico! Some things you just have to say it in your own language, that's it.

First in the series of stop-motion TV commercials for Amazon Kindle created by photographers Angela Kohler and Ithyle Griffiths, and starring actress Annie Little. Original song "Fly Me Away" written and performed by Annie Little.

Second in the series of stop-motion TV commercials for Amazon Kindle created by photographers Angela Kohler and Ithyle Griffiths, starring actress Annie Little and model Ryan Curry. Original song "Stole Your Heart" written and performed by Marcus Ashley and Annie Little.


Not to mention how I love Annie Little & Angela Kohler's work. Read how all this was possible.. I love this story.
I just can't wait to see more! Cause, there's gonna be more, right? .. Please? :)


{via Shadeclothing}

simple little warm photo shots

cause today outside is raining.. 

this brought me warmth :)

Ok.. maybe I am missing my husband terRribly now looking at the pictures I chose hahaha! Can't wait for the week-end to be here already!!

{picts. by amazing Stephanie Williams Photography~beautiful, beautiful way of capturing such special events. Love it!}

inspired to be inspiring

today after a long time I got back on the thought to start working on my collection again.. it's been a while. Actually I feel like it's been forever and looking back well, almost 2 years IS forever.
I really can't wait to get back to my work. I'm "craving" it!

beautiful gown by Rosa Clara

moving.. brings ideas and memories

I've been looking at apartments for the past week 1/2, and I'm so done with it. I think the only thing I like about moving is the "dreaming" side of it. You know, when you are making a list of things you wish to have in your new apartment or home.. in the near future.

This is one of them ~ by anthropology ooooh and I love, love, love it!

My mom used to have a vintage mirror very similar to this one.

For some reason when I was little I loOoved to go in her room and look in her beautiful mirror.

It made me dream.. and now we all know that I love anything that makes me dream :)

I guess it is still stuck with me cause it made me like this pieces so much

{pict. by Anthropology, the Orchard, Ballard Design, and here}

millefeuille~millefoglie

I don't know what's wrong with me.. Although I'm sick, I still have the energy to think about.. pastries and baking and new recipes to make???? what?

I've had millefeuille (mille foglie) in my mind the past days, and exactly the one illustrated below. It has been one of my favorite pastries of all times since little girl, and I still l-l-love it!
Christian had his first few months ago, on our Christmas trip back home in Switzerland. Oh and he lOvEd it! In fact he has been trying all kind of desserts but always went back to millefeuille with creme patissiere (crema pasticciera)

Although it is not the time for me to start making stuff in the kitchen since I've almost packed everything for our move in few days, this is on my to do list for the next month, as long as Frittelle di Carnevale. I'm sure the list will get even longer before I'll actually be able to bake again. I guess next time I'll be able to make this delicious desserts I'll be in Portland. I'm sure I'll find some new people to serve my desserts since as you know.. I usually don't really eat them :)

{picts. via BettyBossi, Tongue in Cheek and Foodbeam}

{bride} wear the cake and eat it

For those of you that like me love to create in fabric and in the kitchen, have you ever thought to put the two together??
Amazing art. Cream, flour and sugar are the exception for this incredible piece of art.  Wedding gown & cake by Lukka Sigurdardottir.

No I would never wear it, but don't you just love the rainbow color filling??

{documented on Gather and Nest}

i think I'm gonna bake tonight

Treccia Bernese, Zopf Bread

I need a brake from packing, and all the other 100 things I need to do before flying back to LA. Baking relaxes me for some reason and the choice was easy... I wanted to finish in a very Swiss way :)
My bro and I had fun in my mom's little kitchen {my pictures and more info to come}.

{pictures by kitschenette and Once upon a cakestand}

{bride} true love does exist

and mine is made out of....

 

flowers for my brides! yep

and I love this once at for the bride by ban.dö

{calendar} 2010

I love calendars. I don't know why. I still have to figure it out.

I usually have around more then one, and usually it's cause I love the pictures on it. I love those big photography of food delights for my kitchen, cute drawings for the bedroom, and some of beautiful Swiss scenery (since I'm faraway) for the living room.
But don't take me wrong, beside the pictures I'm that kind of person that has to write down everything to not forget them. So I do have my lists all over the places. I do prefer calendars by far.. ooh every year I need to make sure I don't "over collect" them hahaha :)

Here is a calendar 2010 for you to make your very own, provided by Something's Hiding in There. To download and print go directly on their site here.

How lovely and nice to make this available for everyone :) thank you!

great idea of chalkborad calendar by Something's Hiding in There, via Sincerely Katrina
i just discovered them and loOVE them!

an explosion of summer in winter time

Oh finally I've found something that really makes me hungry. After all this holidays and all the amazing food, sweets and all my body is craving for something fresh, light and healthy.
Don't take me wrong, cause coming back to Switzerland and taste the great food we have here has been fantastic. Finally my husband was able to have more time to taste the great bread, Pandoro, pastries, cheese, salame, pasta.. oooh so many things. But goodness, I need ...mmm, to get lighter :) You know what I mean right?? hahahaha :)


Risotto Fragole e Mirtilli

This recipe from Basilico e Pinoli is perfect. Vitamines and a real explosion of summer!

Ingredients:

240 gr. rice for Risotto

6 dl of broth

about 10 big strawberries

80g blueberries

1/2 onion

1/2 cup of white wine

butter

parmesan cheese

Fry the onion in butter and toast the rice. Then add the wine and let it evaporate.

Pour the broth, the chopped strawberries and blueberries. Close the pot with a lid and bring to high temperature.

When it begins to boil wait 3 minutes then turn the temperature on low and let it continue cooking for 30 minutes.

When ready add the butter and Parmesan cheese and let thicken.

Serve in dishes and decorate with some extra fresh strawberries and blueberries.

Buon Appetito!

P.S. using HotPan could be much easier, but I don't have one (yes and it is a Swiss product!!). So here is some info for you.

For the recipe in Italian go directly on Basilico e Pinoli

HAPPY NEW YEAR in Icy Cakes!

Bakerella made it again: ooh I feel in wonderland right now looking at this!

dreamy cake anyone?

the beautiful little artist, Emelie from Sweden

I just can't believe of such beautiful "baking"outside in the cold.. who can handle that and on top making such little cute pieces with gloves on?? Let me tell you I'm amazed.

It brings me back into the past, when little girl I used to play with snow until I had to go back inside, cause mom said so, not cause I wanted to. And ok, cause it was just good sense to get back inside when it became dark. For me I could have slept outside in the little igloo I had made. But hey, what can adults understand about the beauty of being outdoors playing with the beautiful creamy white snow? Cold? Naaaaa!

I just couldn't resist! Thank's Bakerella for sharing with us. What a great story, a great way to deal with it and creative and even more beautiful work. Read more about Emilie's story.

I wish my husband was still here with me today (flew back yesterday to LA), cause with all the snow we got here in Switzerland tonight, I would have dragged him out to "bake" something delicious with me :) For some reason today I don't like snow without him.. (missing him terribly?? naa..). I can't wait to have some little girls to do some stuff like this.. :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

That your 2010 may be as colorful, as bright, as creative, as sweet, as amazing, as dreamy, as fresh, as delightful! :)