Posted By Red Headed Frog on March 17, 2010

Last week I had to travel two towns over for an appointment. When I was finished with my meeting, I walked along the high street, searching for a bakery I had past by while on my way to my first meeting. I found the bakery, but next door I found a very lovely and quite grand bead shop. Curious, I went in and began exploring their supply. I came across a large bead I had never seen before while roaming the merchandise. It was a sitting in a basket with other, similar beads underneath the presentation box. The bead was a large red, hard plastic flower with tiny necklace holes at each end. It was very beautiful, but I couldn’t imagine how I could ever use suck an extravagant bead. I placed it back down onto it’s presentation box, and logged it in my “collection of pretty things” memory.

When I came across artist Rachelle D.’s website this weekend, my previous assumption about the red flower bead’s extravagance was changed. I was certainly proven wrong. Rachelle uses these large flower beads, and creates gorgeous, vintage-inspired jewelry in her studio in Palm Valley, Texas. I was very pleasantly surprised at how lovely and feminine her creations are. When I first encountered the pieces, I couldn’t put them together in a way that would be visually appealing to me. However, Rachelle has done it marvelously. I will certainly be purchasing a few of her designs for my own collection.

If you fancy any of the designs below or are interested in learning more about the artist, then I recommend visiting the For The Romantic In You website.

Images via Rachelle D.

Category: Style Find | No Comments »
Tags: etsy, for the romantic in you, rachelle d, style find, the romantic garden

Posted By Red Headed Frog on March 15, 2010

I’ve been waiting for sowing day since December. Today is when I start planting my vegetable seeds. I don’t know why I get so excited, but I suppose it’s because I will start spending more time in the garden from now until Autumn. I dusted off the loo rolls I’ve been saving, labeled them, and organized them on my seeding tray. Then, I filled them with compost and carefully pushed in the seeds into the corresponding labeled roll. I realize using a loo roll as a tiny pot is a bit unusual, but they make quite the perfect seeding pot. Additionally, they dissolve once you plant them in the ground or in your larger pots. Now, I have to carefully nurse my seeds for a couple of weeks until they sprout. If all goes well, we should have an abundant crop this year.

Category: Tales From The Garden | No Comments »
Tags: gardening, planting, seeds, sowing, Tales From The Garden

Posted By Red Headed Frog on March 10, 2010

I am on an Alice in Wonderland accessory bender at the moment. During my search yesterday, I found the lovely Divine Sweetness shop on Etsy. The artist designs miniature food inspired jewelry from her studio in Manila, Philippines. She uses polymer clay to create the different pieces used in each design, and then combines them by hand to create these beautiful designs. If you fancy learning more about the artist and her work, then I recommend visiting the Divine Sweetness website.

Images via Divine Sweetness

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Tags: divine sweetness, etsy, food inspired jewelry, style find, yummy jewelry

Posted By Red Headed Frog on March 10, 2010

Typography, produced by film student Ronnie Bruce, is a brilliant video showcasing an unusual perspective on the spoken word. The poem showcased was written and performed by poet Taylor Mali. The video is absolutely beautiful, and Mr. Mali’s words certainly add power and passion to the final product.

Video via Ronnie Bruce

Poem via Taylor Mali

Category: Art & Design, Typography | No Comments »
Tags: art, Art & Design, graphic design, Typography

Posted By Red Headed Frog on March 8, 2010

These hat designs are absolutely gorgeous! I am always on the look-out for fabulous hat designs. I was actually searching for something to wear to Ascot. My friend invited me to the races so both of us are having a good search to see what we can find. I know she will adores these designs as much as I do. They might be a little different from what is usually exhibited in Ascot, but I am willing to rock one of these lovely beauties.

Jema Hewitt, the lead designer of Steampunk Jewellery, has over 20 years industry experience in film and theatre costume design. She studied Theatre Design at Nottingham Trent University, specializing in costume. She is the author of “Complete Beading” and most recently “Tiaras and Bridal jewellery” among other titles. If you fancy learning more about the artist and her work, then I do recommend visiting the Steampunk Jewellery website.

Category: Style Find | No Comments »
Tags: etsy, jema hewitt, steampunk, steampunk jewellery, style finds

Posted By Red Headed Frog on March 3, 2010

I recently discovered this fantastic little vegetable called the Chantenay Carrot. I first saw them at the farmer’s market in Brighton, and became quite curious about this interesting little carrot. I purchased a few bunches out of curiousity, and I put them in this soup. The flavor is divine both cooked and uncooked. I certainly recommend giving them a try.

This Carrot and Potato chunky soup is one of my favorite recipes. I usually pack this soup for my husband to reheat during work. He actually doesn’t like carrots very much, but he will eat up my Chantenay stock. The soup is very filling and very easy to make. I am certainly adding these little guys to my garden this next sowing season. Here is the recipe below. Let me know if you enjoyed it.

Ingredients

• 1.5 Tbsp of butter

• 3 medium potatoes, cut into small cubes with skins on

• 500 grams of Chantenay Carrots, washed well with the skins on

• 4 cups warmed chicken stock, ( I just used 4 cups of water and 2 knorr chicken stock cubes)

• A pinch of salt

• 4 turns of the pepper mill

Directions

1. Place the butter in a large, deep saucepan and turn the heat to medium.

2. Once the butter has melted, add the potatoes and Chantenay carrots to the pan. Season with salt and pepper, and cook for 3 minutes stirring occasionally.

3. Add the warmed chicken stock to the pan, cover and cook until the vegetables are very tender, stirring occasionally. Cook for about 20 minutes. You might want to decrease the heat if your soup begins bubbling a bit too much.

4. Remove from the heat and serve. I like giving the soup one last turn of the pepper mill while in the bowl.

Image via Chantenay Every Day

Category: Everyday Sam, Tales From The Garden | No Comments »
Tags: carrots, chantenay, gardening, potato, soup, Tales From The Garden

Posted By Red Headed Frog on March 2, 2010

Intricate and gorgeous is how I would describe the jewelry designs from Corinnas Atelier. The artist hails from Germany, where she designs and hand makes every piece of jewelry in her online store. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind creation and trademarked so you can be certain you are wearing a unique Corinna creation. She only uses the finest gemstones and pearls available to her in each design.

Each piece is certainly a work of art. If you fancy learning more about the artist, then I do recommend visiting the Corinnas Atelier website. There you will find more of her designs for sale in her online shop.

Images via Corinnas Atelier

Category: Style Find | 1 Comment »
Tags: Corinnas Atelier, etsy, jewelry design, pearl jewelry, style find

Posted By Red Headed Frog on February 28, 2010

I am very drawn to the work of Minjae Lee. His artwork is very beautifully macabre with a bit of a retro twist to it. The colors he uses in his pieces remind me of the American 80s style in which vivid, primary colors encapsulated the focal points. I do admire MJ’s use of color with his subjects. Most pieces I see with similar subject matter usually involve only the use of grays, whites and blacks; however, Minjae Lee breaks those rules and splashes on a cacophony of color that truly brings out the intensity of his subjects.

If you fancy learning more about Minjae Lee or if you want to see more of his work I do recommend visiting his portfolio website. His work is outstanding!

Images via Minjae Lee

Category: Art & Design, Fine Art, Illustrations | No Comments »
Tags: art and design, Fine Art, fine art illustration, llustration, minjae lee

Posted By Red Headed Frog on February 19, 2010

These are lovely. Anyone of my close friends can tell you that I have a large collection of headbands, hats and hair ornaments galore. I am especially fond of flower hair pieces so it is no surprise I was immediately drawn to the work produced by Bird Millinery. The artist hails from Melbourne, Australia, but she ships her pieces internationally. Each piece is handmade by the artist, and each design can be tailored to customer specification. If you fancy any of the work by Bird Millinery, then I do recommend you visit the store website. Each piece is lovely.

Images via Bird Millinery

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Tags: Bird Millinery, etsy, flower pieces, head bands, head pieces, millinery, style find

Posted By Red Headed Frog on February 19, 2010

When I was younger, I used to travel to my grandmother’s house every Sunday with my mother. Next to her house was a sweet shop that sold postcards with illustrations of children playing with forest animals in the woods. Every time I remember them, I recall my grandmother’s home and all of these memories start flooding back into my mind. Eloise’s Hiden Seek artwork is very reminiscent of those illustrated postcards. When I came across her work a couple of days ago, I was reminded of my grandmother. It was very nostalgic, and I suppose there was a very strong connection that was made when I first came across her website. I do love her illustrations because of the memories they bring back, but I love them even more for the memories they bring back to her.

If you fancy learning more about the artist, or if you simply want to view more of her work then I do recommend visiting the Hiden Seek store website.

Images by Eloise via Hiden Seek

Category: Art & Design, Illustrations | No Comments »
Tags: artwork, eloise, etsy, hiden seek, Illustrations