Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Gifts for the Girlfriends!

Have some girlfriends you need to grab a little gift for?
Here are a few ideas in a range of prices!


Glass Oil Bottle
$58
You can also grab a bottle of
olive oil from Taste the Olive next door!



Possibility Box
$45
Each box has a sweet saying on it.
You can put another gift inside
if you want to add a surprise!



Becky Hemby Candles
$29-$112
The outside layer of wax doesn't melt away.
Have the candle refilled or use it as a votive!



Silk Jewelry Bags
$14
Perfect for the avid traveler.
Tuck a pair of Starsong earrings
inside for an extra surprise!



Woven Glass Ring Holders
$19
Decorative and functional,
they come in all different colors!




We also have a large assortment of Starsong
earrings with real gemstones from $20-$50!




-Taylor

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Naughty or Nice

Has your wife been naughty this year?

Give her a "lump of coal" for Christmas

Starsong Lava stone and
Sterling Silver bracelet

(We make our Starsong jewelry right here in the gallery.
Looking for a specific color or type of jewelry,
we can make whatever you need!)



Is your husband always complaining
about the money you spend?


Give him "two nickels to rub together"

Buffalo Nickel Cuff Links

(We just got in a new assortment of
gentleman's cuff links in time for Christmas)



If they have been nice we have
plenty of gifts to cover that too!



-Taylor


Friday, November 18, 2011

Holiday hostess gifts...that guarantee you'll get invited back!

Do you have any Holiday parties to attend this season?
Do you want to WOW your hostess?
Don't want to break the bank on hostess gifts?


Here are a few ideas...



Me 2 U
Cheese Plate and Knife

(To really wow your hostess bring with cheese and crackers)


Dottie Boscamp
Oil Bottles
(To make it extra special pair it with a bottle of olive oil)


Luke Adams Starfish
(Glass flowers, twists, medium & large starfish)


Hilborn
Serving Dishes
(Microwave, oven and dishwasher safe.
Bring a Hilborn dish with something tasty baked in it)

For recipe ideas see my blog post
"Recipe For A Good Time"

Becky Hemby
Candles
(The inside melts away leaving the beautiful outside perfect for a candle votive)

These gifts are unique and something everyone can use!

-Taylor


Thursday, November 17, 2011

My Wish List

Just in case any of you were thinking about
getting me something sparkly for Christmas
here's what's on my Wish List...

I'm kidding, but this is a peek at some of
my favorite jewelry in the gallery right now!



Briolette Black Diamonds and 18ky Gold
Earrings and Necklace
by Barbara Heinrich
What I LOVE: Very sexy, and they go with EVERYTHING!
Especially that little black dress


Free-form cut Aquamarines set in silver and gold
Ring, Pendant and Earrings
by Symmetry
What I LOVE: These exotic gemstones seem to glow,
they make me think of crisp blue water...
I'm drooling over these as I type this and
thinking about booking a trip to somewhere with very clear blue water


Platinaire Ring with Diamonds
(Also in yellow gold and/or in a wider band)
by Conni Mainne
What I LOVE: The organic quality of the leaf motif
mixed with the round diamonds is beautiful
(Platinaire is a Sterling and Platinum mix,
the result is a metal that is harder than sterling silver
without the price tag of platinum)


White Gold Earrings with Blue Diamonds
surrounded by White Diamonds
By Spectrum
What I LOVE: They are so sparkly!
Perfect for dressing up or everyday wear


Silver and Gold Ribbon Ring with Aqua and Tourmaline
by Susan Barlow
What I LOVE: A truly unique ring that is
bold but feminine and really makes a statement


Dendritic Quartz Ring with
Gold Bezel and Silver Shank
By Spectrum
What I LOVE: The Dendritic Quartz is such an amazing and unique stone, it's definitely a conversation starter, also I love the texture of the hammered silver shank
(Dendritic refers the branching crystaline structure inside of the Quartz)






-Taylor

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Toss together the perfect Thanksgiving salad


Two salad's that will go perfect with your Thanksgiving menus...


Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon and Apple Cider Dressing by Ellie Krieger (Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger – Food Network)

Total Time: 20 minutes

Cook: 10 min

Prep: 10min

Yields: 2 servings as main course, 4 as appetizer

Level: Easy


Ingredients

  • 10 ounces pre-washed baby spinach

  • 2 slices bacon, finely chopped

  • 3 ounces Canadian Bacon, finely chopped

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil

  • 1/2 red onion, sliced (about 1 cup)

  • 1 pound button mushrooms, coarsely chopped

  • 1 cup apple cider

  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

  • Salt and pepper

Directions

Place spinach into a large bowl. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat for about 4 minutes, or until it is just crispy. Add Canadian bacon to the skillet and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring frequently. Remove meat from pan and place on a plate lined with paper towels. Drain any remaining fat from the skillet.

Add olive oil and onions to the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes, or until onions soften slightly. Add mushrooms to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 more minutes. Put onions and mushrooms on top of the spinach. Add apple cider and vinegar to the skillet and turn the heat up to medium-high. Stir to scrape up any bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pan and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until cider is reduced to about 1/2 cup. Whisk in mustard, salt and pepper, to taste. Pour warm cider dressing over the mushrooms and spinach and toss until the vegetables are well coated. Sprinkle the bacon on top and serve.



Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette by the Barefoot Contessa (Food Network)

Total Time: 43 min

Prep: 15 min

Cook: 28 min

Yield: 4 servings

Level: Easy


Ingredients

  • 1 (1 1/2-pound) butternut squash, peeled and 3/4-inch) diced

  • Good olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 3 tablespoons dried cranberries

  • 3/4 cup apple cider or apple juice

  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons minced shallots

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  • 4 ounces baby arugula, washed and spun dry

  • 1/2 cup walnuts halves, toasted

  • 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the butternut squash on a sheet pan. Add 2 tablespoo

ns olive oil, the maple syrup, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and toss. Roast the squash for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until tender. Add the cranberries to the pan for the last 5 minutes.

While the squash is roasting, combine the apple cider, vinegar, and shallots in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the cider is reduced to about 1/4 cup. Off the heat, whisk in the mustard, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.

Place the arugula in a large salad bowl and add the roasted squash mixture, the walnuts, and the grated Parmesan. Spoon just enough vinaigrette over the salad to moisten and toss well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

To turn these salads from just a yummy appetizer into a delectable table adornment serve in a Me2U glass salad dish from Spectrum Art & Jewelry!


-Taylor


Thursday, November 10, 2011

"Recipe" for a Good Time continued...

Gallery artist Kristin Gibson sent me this delicious recipe for Holiday Cranberry Salsa!

Ingredients:

1 bag fresh cranberries
1/3 cup red onion
fresh chopped cilantro
hunk of fresh ginger
1/2 cup raw sugar
fresh lime juice

Process each ingredient separately to a cours
e chop in a food processor, add ginger, sugar and lime to taste.

Serve cold with tortilla chips or as a garnish, it's a colorful addition to the table!

Warning; freeze extra cranberries, you will crave this out of season!


Thanks Kristin, I look forward to trying this!

-Taylor

Kristin Gibson is a full time artist who lives and works in Carolina Beach, near Wilmington, NC. A prolific painter and mother of two, Kristin creates spirited “alla prima” paintings stirred from elements of daily life. Color and pattern inspire the lyrical sensibilities of her paintbrush. Further influenced by the ebb and flow of a lifetime by the sea, she calls her backyard work space "Saltwater Studio".

A degree in textile design is reflected in her beautiful silk scarves; each one unique in color, form and expression. Whether on silk or canvas, this artist's vivacious personality bursts forth.



See more work by Kristin Gibson

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Beaded Bliss compliments of Starsong

Nancy has made some STUNNING new Starsong jewelry
so I decided to take a break from work and play dress up this week!
I picked a few favorites to show you.



Every Starsong creation is hand-crafted, by Star Sosa and Nancy Noel May, right here at Spectrum Art & Jewelry. They travel the world to hand-select the exotic gems, pearls, art glass, silver , gold and vermeil that are blended together in their one-of-a-kind designs! They are also the perfect Christmas gift! Looking for a certain color or style that you can't find? That's not a problem. We will make whatever your heart desires!

Here's a closer look at the necklaces:


Peridot and Pyrite knotted necklace
(In a variety of colors and gemstones)


White freshwater pearls
Gray Pearls
Peacock pearls
(3 necklaces can be worn separate
or together as pictured above)


White freshwater pearls
with quartz and SS Bail


Gold Fill Chain with pearls
and multicolor gemstones


Turquoise and SS Beads


Multicolored pearls


Aquamarine and
multicolor pearls
(Can be worn multiple ways,
two ways pictured above)

-Taylor



Tis' the season

I can't believe it's November already! As the holiday's approach I get more and more excited about all of the wonderful things to come...time with family, the smell of Christmas trees, twinkling lights, great food, gift giving, warm fires and more!

Despite all of the excitement of the next two months the thought of all of the preparations, cooking, shopping and gift buying can seem like an ominous task. Although nothing can truly quench my excitement all of the preparations threaten to distract my focus from what really matters during this season.

So in honor of a simple, peaceful and joy filled season I will be dedicating the majority of the blog posts for the next month or so to holiday ideas. The hope is to make your life more simple this season with things like recipes and gift ideas!

I would love and appreciate any ideas, recipes and holiday tips that you have; please post them on the "The Daily Sketch"!

-Taylor