Schmap

Just received an email from Schmap that they want to include my New Orleans Hot Sauce image from my flickr account in the next version of their New Orleans Schmap.
That is cool. Hopefully, it will make the final cut and be included.
Keep your fingers crossed!

Bacon Tiara

Oh my! I can just see this on top of someone's head back home. She would get ALL the guys! hehehe
For those of you who can see yourself wearing this, please see this tutorial.
Yes, there is a tutorial and it includes the recipe for MEAT GLUE!

Southeastern Basketry database

The database Mike & I have been involved with is now online and available for research and viewing. This is just so cool and I cannot explain my enthusiasm over this finally coming to fruition!
8 years of involvement. The number of technological avenues I have researched to deliver this photographic database online has made my head spin. I cannot say enough about MIT's SIMILE project, Exhibit. COOL! It is a topic of which you don't want to talk to me about because I get all talky and excited about it.
Please check out the baskets. You won't be disappointed.

Cane syrup is NOT a honey substitute

I have made Alton Brown's granola bars before and we ate them up. FiberBars have become a staple in the house, but I want to substitute something healthier and be able to alter the flavors as we get sick of them.
What a boo boo I made! I had some cane syrup from the farmers' market that needed to find a use. Granola bars are definitely not the use. Back to the mixer I go.
I also made the digestive biscuits. They are good out of the oven, but lack on the next day around. It is a small batch, so if I half it, we could enjoy them during a movie or game of Settlers.

granulated salt vs kosher salt

Yeah, made the big mistake tonight. I didn't compensate for the quantity difference between kosher and granulated salt. So, I ended up using twice the amount! Now, I am so thirsty!
Doctor says all is fine with baby and I. Belly hasn't grown too much, so another picture when there is real progress.

On Top of Homemade Pasta!

Whew, what a crafty weekend! Phoebe and I made felt barrettes, ribbon barrettes, a barrette holder for all the new barrettes, worry dolls, and, to top it all off, homemade pasta.
FINALLY! I have found a good, basic noodle recipe! I found it in my pasta machine's instruction booklet [Note: Dang! Those things have just shot up in price!].

Pasta Dough Recipe
6 Servings
Ingredients:
5 eggs
1 lb flour (I used about 4 cups)

Place a pound of flour on a working surface and make a hole in the center. Put 4 eggs into the hole. Gently begin mixing the flour with the eggs.
To soften the mixture, 1/2 oz of olive oil, a little water, or another egg may be added. (I dipped my hands in water and kneaded that into the dough. It really only needed the slightest bit more dampness).
Continue to knead the dough until it reaches a uniform texture and color. It should be soft and smooth. Form a ball with the dough, wrap it in a towel, and let it rest for a few minutes.
Cut the dough into small slices and pass each piece through the flat rollers of the Atlas Pasta Maker, with the regulating knob set at the widest position, number 1.
Fold the pressed sheet in two and pass it again through the rollers.
Repeat folding and rolling several times, lightly flouring the sheet each time it is passed, to keep it smooth.
Then reduce the thickness of the sheet by passing it through the rollers one thickness setting smaller each time, until you reach the desired thickness.

The trick was: I kneaded it all with my hands! Every batch I made in the KitchenAid was bland and weird. This doesn't mean I won't try to make these with it or my food processor, but the tactile sensation associated with the kneading and mixing was necessary to get the right dough. Added plus: the recipe is so basic it is a great base for flavored pasta.

Phoebe & I rolled these through to a setting of "3" and then through the fettuccine cutter. The result was similar to kluski noodles. Phoebe & Mike thought them a bit thick. For sauces, I agree. These will be perfect in Beef Stroganoff!

Phoebe took all the bit dough left overs with which we had cleaned the pasta machine and dyed them all sorts of colors. She has plans for red & green Christmas noodles; orange & black Halloween noodles; and orange, red, & yellow for Christgiving time.

Side note, yet still applicable: I found a whorking huge bag of salt at Costco. So ridiculous it was in hugeness that, of course, I wanted it. 25lbs for $3.25! I didn't get it, but now I will. I need to salt my boiling water since the noodles are so basic.
Now, to get fancy and add flavors to the noodles. What can I add?

Wicked good candy

Now, these aren't listed on the Hershey's website, but here is a site with some more info. I found mine at the local Target for $2. All of their Halloween M&Ms and Kisses are $2 a bag.
What the heck am I talking about?!? Ahhh, the most delectable little delight I have experienced in a while: Hershey's Candy Corn kisses. They are like that flavored fake chocolate people make for weddings and the like. Meltable. Delicious. Satisfying.
Now into my bigness and last trimester, nothing tastes good, yet I crave EVERYTHING! I am working very hard not to become a big pig and just eat candy goodness.
Mike likes candy corn and I got them for him. I am afraid there might not be many for him. I sure am glad he loves me and will forgive me for eating all of them.

Talk like a Pirate Day Today!!!

Shiver me timbers! Don't ye be endin' up in Davy Jones' locker, me hearty! Find yer gold whi'e you spread th'virus of pirate-speak.

Crawfish Earrings

Here are some earrings I designed many a moon ago for one of the NSU/Natchitoches folk festivals. Feel like taking up a new hobby? Tatting might be for you!

Find more photos like this on eTatters

Mangosteens are everywhere!!!

Mangosteen patterned Belle Epoque Tote
Originally uploaded by Little Black Pot

I had to make this cute, little tote for Phoebe's Christmas gift. I have a set of sewn items that should prove to be fun for her and the new baby upon Christmas morning.

Twilight author on Ellen

Stephenie Meyer on Ellen show!
Must watch.

Fabric Crawfish Boil

I have been working on some sewing projects to offer in my Etsy shop. Please check out my craft related blog for more info on this cute project!

Puissant Ike

We are so glad about the amount of data and coverage available to us concerning hazardous weather.
But at the same time, it is turning into some type of B-rated sports coverage. The Weather Channel has the Law & Order *dun dun* down pat with the Hurricane 2008 coverage screen shot. Hurricane Ike was "Stubborn Ike" yesterday. Today, it was "Mighty Ike." Now, it is "Powerful Ike." After a tour through the thesaurus for powerful, I anticipate that it will be "Puissant Ike" by tomorrow morning.
That being said, your word of the day is: puissant.

The Wii!!!

So, the weekend begins and it started with my sister's call that she made it home. I am trying to entice her back-soon!
Mike & Phoebe need her to get that Wii online with licenses! Mario Kart races must begin immediately!
She also informed me of some info from Stephenie Meyer. While visiting, I got her hooked into the Twilight saga and she completed it last night. She visited the website and found some disturbing info about a draft that got leaked. It just makes my stomach hurt that her work is not being seen in the manner she wanted. I understand her feelings as I keep many of my creative endeavors from ever seeing the light of day because they don't stand up to my scrutiny.
If you haven't read the saga, you just gotta! The movie is coming out in November! Are you going to see it!?!

Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike is heading our way. Thank goodness that we learned some lessons living in Louisiana during Katrina and Rita! I already stocked up on food and water. We have our camping gear ready to be put to use.

Mike has made his server out of the rolling metal cart and it is in place with our new desk. How does this have anything to do with hurricanes? Well, Mike has been figuring out where weather information is databased and how to access it. You should see what he has figured out! It is very cool. Of course, when he shows me, I am like: okay. I mean, what do you do when your husband shows you the path of a hurricane that he generated from numerical data?

They have begun the evac of the coastline. We invited some friends to come up if they need to. Please, be safe!

Belly shot

Now, by popular request, this photo is going out for all you baby lovin' fools! 27 weeks along.
My overalls don't fit. They are so tight! I look like fraudulent farmer trying to sell off some goods that shouldn't be for sale. No, I will not provide a picture!

Baby booties

Baby booties
Originally uploaded by Little Black Pot

When Phoebe & I went back to Natchitoches, Aunt Bonnie had dropped off her super cool embroidery sewing machine to MoMo. Phoebe fell in love with it and did one of the butterflies on the toes of the white shoes.

The instructions I found at Maked, Crafts Exposed also had a pattern. I took that pattern and modified it for different sizes. I had so much fun making these and want to get some more done. I am busy trying to create a pattern for Phoebe & I. We both have some big ol' paddles that need some tender lovin' geometry for these types of fabric shoes to fit comfortably.

Finger in the pot

Well, I am busy working on 15 different projects. Aprons, SIMILE, crawfish, black pots, putting out grease fires and cleaning up after them-you get the idea. Actually, I am exaggerating a little here. The grease fire was last week.

I have been researching Etsy and assembling an inventory. My hand has been in many a pot with crazy ideas and I have learned some interesting things about myself:
1) I don't always think the whole idea through. My initial thoughts pan out, but then momentum wanes. I have business plans but no marketing plans. Sarah pointed this out and has helped get that part ready.
2) I think about the money to earn on each little part rather than how much I want to make overall in a time period.
3) I wear all the hats in the business: accountant, designer, creator, shipper & handler, advertiser, motivator, etc.
4) I jump in before it is all thought out because I feel that I am going to miss out on some opportunity!

What does all this mean? It means that I am going slow and actually sleeping on some ideas before I gather materials and begin the project. Some of my projects are still being sorted out while others are in the middle of the game. When those projects come to fruition, you'll be the first to know! Get the RSS of my blog and it will delivery to news to you, kind of like the stork!

Whoa! Big Momma!

I am having some nesting-type behavior going on. While my sister was here, I accomplished much! In addition, I dealt with her "harassment" over all that I got done. If I even mentioned that something needed done or wasn't done quite up to par, I heard about my insanity of the morning!
That being explained, I have demanded of myself that I sit and do something while watching TV. I have some computer work stuff, but can't just veg while doing that. I can sort photos, though! It seems that it is a never ending task! Crying out loud! How many pictures do I really need of some things!
One of the MANY pictures is of my first pregnancy with Phoebe. It was a close-up showing the large-ness of my belly at 31 weeks: 42 inches (over jeans with snaps and pockets). I was 42 inches on week 19 of this pregnancy and am still growing! No wonder my skin feels stretched like upholstery!
-Keeping my fingers crossed that bigger is better for when it is time to deliver.

Gustav

My sister has left for the coastline of South Padre. I am glad that she will not see any of Gustav's rain.
Mike & I have been glued to information of Louisiana as we remember Katrina and the evacuees, although it was Rita that effected us through the damaged to our home. I have included a video of our USPS delivery man coming to give us our mail during that hurricane! Flabbergasted we were to see that he was out! My camera didn't record audio.
We are concerned for all. I have been very appreciative of blogs, Twitter, SMS, and LinkedIn as they all have brought reassurance and news of friends and family.
Let us know how you are! If you participate in any online informative media, please let us know that, too!