the haystack needle

stencil a cake

Check out the chocolate confection that I made last week for an inauguration party. It was a delicious ending to a sweet afternoon with friends. And the big day was an excuse for me to play with a book I've been excited to use — Stencil 101. Stencil king Ed Roth of Stencil 1 shares his designs in the book – with simple instructions and project ideas for how to stencil anything from your walls to your windows. Sadly, my landlord is anti-stencil so I'll have to hold off on many of the decorating ideas for now. The book is a great deal since it comes with 25 stencils for you to tear out and use. And let me just share that there are very few U.S. sources for modern stencils — why has Martha's craft line not delved into stencils yet? 

I chose the turntable stencil and opted against frosting, since I thought chocolate cake in the afternoon was rich enough. I simply sifted some confectioner's sugar over the cake using my stencil shape. The book highlights a frosted cake with a cocoa powder stencil, which stands out just as well. My cake was a hit! And full-disclosure: I was super pinched for time so I opted for a mix I had in my pantry. I used Barefoot Contessa's Ultimate Chocolate Cake Mix and it turned out moist and yum. Dan typically doesn't dig cake, but he loved it. So I'm thinking of making a cake for the Superbowl, with a different stencil, of course. Maybe I'll go with the Sumo wrestler stencil just for fun. (Plus, Sumo would probably turn out a bit better than the Turntable stencil — I'd go with a stencil with less detail next time for a cake, which the book recommends.)

etsy favorite: bold & noble

I'm definitely on a print kick. Etsy always amazes with its offerings of affordable prints. Here's a spotlight on one favorite shop, Bold & Noble. These prints are made in England using recycled paper. (All of these screenprinted works come unframed for $47.)

for the kids: Noah's Ark

for the grown-ups: Gingko leaves

for anyone: Make Do & Mend

what's in store: global table

I'm excited to share the third shop in our what's in store series. (If you missed the first shops, you can catch up on Parcel and Jamali Garden.)  I checked in on Global Table, a lovely SoHo shop with tabletop from all over the world. This shop is a go-to spot of mine to find gifts for showers, engagement parties, and weddings. The prices are fantastic, and I personally think of Global Table as the mecca for beautiful bowls. Just look at the sea of bowls above! I love to use bowls for containing everything from rings to Post-its, so I was in bowl heaven.

These Hermit Rustic bowls have a gorgeous matte glaze — and their unfinished rims add a special edge. (See below the fold for a detail shot.) These bowls come in soft shades of blue, pistachio green, and white. (In store, they're sold individually.)

These shesham wood bowls (a sustainable wood) are made in India — one of my favorite finds at Global Table. With a footed bottom, these bowls stand out in their modern shape. I'll take four please.

I don't think I'll ever tire of the woodsy motif in home accents. Point in case: this silver trunk lamp base. I'm also fond of Global Table's collection of glassware — love the Danish decanter with the wood stopper.

 

These fantastic teacups have a painted glaze — I was so tempted to walk away with two and use them to stash toothbrushes in the bathroom ($15 each, find more teacups here.)

By the way, brides in the area can set up a wedding registry for Global Table that your guests can shop online. Contact Global Table if you're interested in having an item in store shipped to you.

eBay find: vintage soda crate

 

If there's one organizing mantra I follow, it's contain like things together. Hence, my appreciation for containers of all kinds. My latest love: vintage wooden soda crates. The overflow of pantry items cluttering the top of our refrigerator was driving me crazy. I'd go to grab a granola bar and knock off the box of pancake mix. Annoying! Plus, the snack boxes added visual clutter. Here's my eBay score. Total cost with shipping: $31.50.

love cards

super sweet cards for Valentine's Day — or any day you want to show some love

{clockwise from top left, all letterpress} pig love card by Linda & Harriet; El Gato card by Two Piglets; My Valentine by Egg Press; make love card by Pancakes & Franks

This lovely handmade card with deckle edges is screen printed with a Gocco (Japanese screen printing kit.) Totally smitten! {forever mine card by Linea Carta on Etsy}

I'm ridiculous on skates but think this card is so cute! I love the subtle sweetness of this Egg Press card above. {sidepony slow skate silkscreened card via Luxe Paperie; floral wreath love letterpress card by Egg Press}

Second that emotion: I'd be lost without my Dan. The cross-hatch pattern above is fantastic — love. {Lost Without You letterpress card by Hello Lucky; Snow & Graham hatch be mine letterpress card via Luxe Paperie}

Need some cute stamps? Check below the fold for a few picks.

favorite egg dishes

When it comes to brunch, I am the most predictable person — if there's eggs benedict on the menu, Jen will order it. Since I'll probably never attempt hollandaise at home, I've had my eye on new delicious ways to work in an egg:

1. eggs in tomato sauce
This recipe is a new go=to brunch at home. It's so good! Full disclosure: my ultimate version of eggs benedict involves a Moroccan tomato sauce. I used to order it every weekend here when I lived in the East Village.

2. deviled eggs (an oldie but goodie)
I personally love spicy food. New deviled take on eggs: using chipotle chiles.

3. soft-boiled egg + baguette
If you like poached eggs as much as me, you'll love them soft-boiled too. The first time I tried a soft-boiled egg was this year when I was testing out egg cookers for a story. Love! I haven't attempted to soft boil at home yet. If you're by one of the chains of Le Pain Quotidien, they have a soft-boiled egg with baguette combo. I spread some of their red raspberry jam on the baguette and enjoy a savory + sweet fix.

4. the dish that's making me salivate
This recipe is one that I have not tried — but I've tagged it to make soon. Eggs + avocado crema + black beans. Sounds amazing!

5. the perfect boiled egg
I'm using this method for boiling eggs from now on — to turn into egg salad, toss into a salad, or just eat as a snack.

6. any dish with an egg on top
Seriously, eggs are predicted to be the trendy accessory to many dishes this year. At my favorite local spot, No. 7, they've put a poached egg on top of everything from a tofu lemongrass broth to a pork chop. And it's always yum.

Any egg dishes you're loving?

{photo above by sandra juto}

domino folds (you'll be missed)

In case you haven't heard already, Conde Nast is folding Domino. I was at the Gift Show today when I heard the news that the magazine — my favorite mail to receive each month — is closing shop with its March issue. I was always impressed by the way Domino just nailed how fun decorating can be, and should be. And in countless ways the magazine has inspired me — and provided a deep dish of eye candy for a home nut like myself. All in all, it's a big boo that yet another beloved magazine had to shutter its doors (I still haven't gotten over Blueprint.) I love magazines. I majored in magazine publishing in college because of my passion for the medium. There's something special about curling up with a magazine you love. It's quite upsetting to see the crappy economy taking down yet another great, and I hope that this is the last one to close. No more! Thank you to the Domino staff for creating pages that I will reference again and again.

{lovely stationery above: Eva digital personalized stationery via Hello Lucky}