Cap'n Crunch Seared Tuna

I have been called Martha Stewart, more then once. I used to cringe, but then I realized that it was a huge compliment. So, today, I decided to share a "Martha Moment" with you by posting this Cap'n Crunch seared tuna recipe. I recently saw this on the Today Show, and instantly got in my car and went to the grocery store, I hope you do the same.

INGREDIENTS
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup Thai Chili Sauce
• 2 cups regular Cap'n Crunch
• Olive oil
• 1 pound fresh tuna
• salt and pepper
• green onion (scallion)

DIRECTIONS
• Mix mayo and chili sauce — set aside.
• Put the cereal in a large plastic zip bag and crush it really well using a roling pin, you want it like dust
• Lightly oil the tuna, season it with salt and pepper, then press down into the cereal, making sure it’s covered on all sides.
• Heat a nonstick pan really well first and then add about a tablespoon of oil.
• When it just starts to smoke, add the tuna and sear quickly on all sides until lightly browned — if it’s hot enough, probably no more than about 15 seconds a side.
•Slice and op with Thai Mayonnaise and chopped green onion (I forgot to slice and to add green onions in my photo, oops!)
•Enjoy served with baked handamde crab wontons and salad.

Tigerlillyshop on TV!

Check it out here!

Friday Finds: American Craft Council

I can't wait to visit the ACC show this afternoon! Aside from the hundreds of fine crafters who'll be showcasing their beautiful work, I can't wait to check out the AltCraft section. Here's some work from the fine folks who'll be at AltCraft:

Toddler tee from recycled t-shirts from our own sweetpepita.

"Wolves in Love" print by astulabee.

Sweet little anenome cup by littleflowerdesigns.

Beautiful nouveau peacock earrings by local favorite imogeneANDannie.

I love this colorful patchwork pillow by raeburnink.

If you have a chance, do yourself a favor and get down to the Baltimore Convention Center this weekend!

LOCATION
Baltimore Convention Center
One West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

DATES AND SHOW HOURS
Friday, February 27 (10 am - 9 pm)
Saturday, February 28 (10 am - 6 pm)
Sunday, March 1(10 am - 5 pm)

ADMISSION
Buy Tickets Online
$14 per person
$20 for a two-day pass
$25 introductory new membership at the Show only
Children 12 and under free
American Craft Council members admitted free.
JOIN NOW

Happy Birthday, Anita!

aka AnitaCraftyCreations.

Twenty Things - Jersey Girl Design

1. I love football…from September through January I'll be on the couch part of Saturday and most of Sunday watching games.
2. I have over 100 pairs of shoes, but I usually wear flip flops all summer and sneakers in the winter.
3. When I go home to visit my family in New Jersey, the first meal I want is Alfonso's Pizza…haven't found a substitute since moving in 2004…
4. I've had about 8 jobs in the past 4 years, and I'm nowhere near figuring out what I want to do with my career…I'd love nothing more then to be a jewelry designer/illustrator/writer/chef/world traveler/photographer/art teacher/etc
5. Along with my neighbor, I've rescued 5 cats from our street and found them good homes…along with the other 4 we currently feed, and the 3 that live in my house, I'm practically Cat Lady.
6. My favorite t.v. show of all time is Friends- I can recite lines from any episode and pretty much find a relation to situations in my everyday life from the show
7. I LOVE Christmas…my favorite movies are all Christmas movies, and I watch them year round.
8. I have a horrible addiction to magazines, and I love to rip out articles, recipes or just anything that might inspire me later…someday they'll all be organized in a binder…right now they sit in a box under my desk.
9. When I was growing up, I wanted to be the next Dr Seuss...one of my biggest goals in life is to write and illustrate a children's book
10. I love coffee, but hate spending money on it…that is until fall comes and Starbucks has the pumpkin spice latte…yummmmm
11. I love thunderstorms.
12. My most favorite food is pickles…I can eat them jars at a time…but they don't sell them here, so I buy them by the case on the internet.
13. Every year growing up I asked for a puppy for Christmas…now I have three cats.
14. I had the best four years of my life when I was in school at Virginia Tech…pretty sure nothing will ever top them :)
15. The ringtone for my cell phone is the Charlie Brown Peanuts Theme.
16. My parents met at a ski lodge in New York, but I am probably the world's most awful skier.
17. I would listen to classic rock over newer music any day…that's definitely because of my dad :) 80's music is a very close second though!
18. I started making jewelry when a store sold out of a necklace I really wanted…that was almost 3 years ago, and now I have 20 containers full of beads!
19. I love to travel, but I hate to fly.
20. My younger brother, is 8 inches taller then me (and I'm 5'8"!)…no one believes I'm older

Would you like to be featured? Email your twenty things (keep it clean, please!) to baltimoreetsy (at) gmail (dot) com. Be sure to include your photo, name and URL.

Happy Birthday, Jen!

aka JenMenkhaus

Watch Tigerlillyshop's Demo on TV tomorrow!

Allison will featured on Good Morning Maryland Thursday morning during their 9 O'clock hour!

Tigerlillyshop will be featured in a demonstration slot for the local morning talk show on the ABC network. She'll be to promoting the American Craft Council show as a local AltCraft seller and show her electroforming process. Check her out tomorrow morning!

Indie-Pendant Business - Adornment Craft Center and Gallery

Are you ready for a new vice...?



Wanna get hammered...?

No.... of course, I don't want you to develop a drinking problem!
I just thought you might enjoy picking up a new craft!
I stopped by Adornment to pick up some supplies and was thrilled to hear about all of the fun new classes and activities they have lined up this spring.

Adornment Craft Center and Gallery is a unique facility located in Baltimore in Meadow Mills, where you can buy the supplies needed for your projects, use the facilities to create your art, and then sell your masterpieces in their exclusive salon. The supply center offers everything you need for jewelry making, including beads, sheet metal, plexiglass, wire, PMC, glass, gemstones, findings, magazines, books, flexshaft supplies, sandpaper, files, saw blades, and they even have snacks!

They have a full metal studio, rooms and benches for rent. They also offer classes, workshops, and parties.

Party on!

Post written by Yummy and Company

Hello Craft Episode 8: American Craft Council Baltimore

If you've ever wandered through a craft show and found yourself looking at all the crafters and artists and makers and wondered, "How did you all get here?" you must visit Hello Craft. Hello Craft's weekly podcast features these folks talking about formative experiences, inspirations and the paths that lead them to where they are now.

I am so honored to have been able to participate in this week's podcast alongside Caitlin Phillips of Rebound Designs and Rania Hassan of Goshdarnknit. Listen to Hello Craft Episode 8: American Craft Council Baltimore here.

And please don't forget to visit all of us at the ACC show this weekend in Baltimore. We can't wait to see you!

Happy Birthday, Megan!

aka vwstudios.

Favorite Shops: tiny-toadstool

Ready to fall in love again?


I fell in love with these super cute berets by Dadaya...aka Shan Shan aka...the Tiny-Toadstool hat maker from Tokyo!


beret30


beret21

If you love these..be sure to check out her Flickr page for more fun pics!

Post written by Yummy and Company

Random Baltimore Photo

For more information, please click on the image.

Digging in That Dirt!

It's almost time, and for many of us, this will be the best garden year ever. Out of necessity. My husband and I take our urban gardening very seriously, but I admit, since Pepita was born, we haven't had nearly as much energy to keep it up as we've had in years past.

The year will be different, though. This year, we are ready.

I am so excited to print out this free spring garden guide from Little House in the Suburbs to help us organize our thoughts and planting schedule.

Once you establish the frost-free date for your area, this planner will tell you each week what seeds can be started, what can be planted out, and what can be direct sowed from now through the end of the spring planting season. (Italics are used to indicate it's your last chance to get that particular vegetable going.) Then, in the blanks below, you can record what you decided to plant, varieties, notes, what-have-you.

I love, love, love the planning part of winter. I can almost smell that dirt!

Friday Finds - Buttons and Lace

Maybe it's this late-winter weather, but I'm really into the soft, romantic colors and textures of some of these great items on Etsy.

Keep your clothes smelling sweet with these sachets from CapeCodCupboard.

I love the interplay of pattern and lace on this linen pouch from accessoriesbysarah.

Fun, funky, vintage paisley velvet skirt from bottleofbread.

This headpiece would be great for a wedding or a first date... by treeandkimball.

Sweet, simple lace cuff by MissBird.

Let's Go Out!

Let's Go Out!
My pick is Charm City Yoga's Yoga Birth workshop which was last night. If you couldn't make this fabulous workshop, and you are yoga lovin' baby maker, then head to their prenatal yoga class on Sundays at 4:30.


I will use this Belly Butter by Marigold Soaps to prevent those unsightly stretch marks and relieve my itchy skin.


I will wear this awesome t-shirt by Mutha Crafter, to let everyone know I'm working on the ultimate craft project!


I will carry my yoga mat in this cute bag by Kate Anne, it comes with a side pocket to hold your water bottle- important since we expectant ladies get quite thirsty.

Etsy App for Facebook

For all of you addicted to Facebook, Etsy has updated the "Etsy Shop" application for Facebook. The "Etsy Shop" application is like the Etsy mini but specifically for Facebook - this tool lets sellers show up to 6 of their items from their Etsy shops.

Like many social networking sites, Facebook allows users to create groups, and there are lots you should check out…And you gotta register to be able to see those, so join! Click here!

While you're there, make sure to join our Facebook group! We'd love to see you there!

Chances to win tickets to ACC!

In case you have not heard, ACC is coming in 10 days (Gulp!) This show is amazing, exhausting, and inspiring all wrapped up in one. ACC features more than 700 of the country's leading craft artists, including 17 "Alt Craft Artists" including our very own Sweet Pepita and Tigerlillyshop! In addition to all of these awesome craft booths, there will be a ton of demos throughout the weekend, including a soldered jewelry demo by, yours truly, The Broken Plate Pendant Co. on Sunday!

For a chance to win tickets to ACC, check out the giveaways over at Imogene and Hello Craft, both of whom will be at the show too! See you there!

Let's Go Out!

In winter, I tend to stay home more on the weekends hibernating, so sometimes I need a little inspiration to get me out of the house on a Friday night. There are a lot of great places to go out in Baltimore, so I thought I'd put together a fun night out here.

A friend and I like to meet up at The Brewer's Art for a drink, and then walk down to Mughal Garden to stuff ourselves with our favorite: Indian food.

Now for the outfit. I would choose to wear this cute top with jeans and boots.



Daria bamboo top by Salts

A simple top like this needs a striking necklace or brooch. I love this gorgeous Dark Flower necklace by Elisa Shere:



I really like the edginess of this necklace. It's just the right amount of feminine.

Or maybe I should wear this Safari Brooch by Forqueenvictoria



I could see this pinned to the top, off center, for a splash of color.

For my bag, I would pare down to the essentials and choose this cute clutch.



The Plonkas II clutch by Dalinda

I like how this print is vaguely African and again has a bit of color.

Now I just need to get off the couch and get out there!

Inspired by Teapots

I've been attempting to give up my hot-chocolate habit. Yes, I know, there's nothing wrong with drinking a cup of hot cocoa on a cool winter's night, but really, hot cocoa everyday and twice on Sundays is a bit much even for a sweet tooth like me. So a couple of years ago I started to drink hot tea. Now, I'm hooked. There is nothing like the comfort a hot cup of tea held in chilled hands on a cool winter's evening. And, it's a great excuse to use a handmade mug (of which I've accumulated many over the years).

But what to do when a friend drops by? Tea for two requires a teapot and I haven't got one. So I headed over to Baltimore Clayworks last week in search of ideas. Their current exhibition, Teapots IV, is an eclectic collection of teapots ranging from the fully functional to the purely sculptural, from serious form studies to whimsical objects. I was inspired––both to drink more tea and to build teapots. They look like so much fun!

"The teapot is the quintessential ceramic enterprise. It is an aspiration to the novice, and a source of inspiration and consternation to the experienced clayworker," ––David McDonald, juror

Included Artists: David Austin (MI), Hadi Abbas (FL), Lorna Awalt (MD), Marc Barr (TN), Abigail Deneau (MI), Jim Dugan (MD), Jessica Dubin (NY), Delores Fortuna (IL), Yoshi Fujii(MD), Susan Greenleaf (DC), Jim Geletka (MD), Robert Garron (FL), Hsin-Yi Huang (OR), Matt Hyleck (MD) , Steve Hilton (TX), Judi Tavill (NJ), Elizabeth Keller (SC), Judith King (FL), Susan Kent (PA), Jon McMillian (IL), Joyce Nagata (PA), Crystal Pillsbury (FL), Roberta Polfus (IL), Collette Smith (MD), Gary Slavinsky (MD), Lauren Sandler (PA), Rebekah Strickland(GA) , Joy Tanner (NC) , Katherine Taylor (TX), Delanie Wise (MA), Sherry Wells (MT), Gwendolyn Yoppolo(NJ)

Teapots IV is on display through February 28 at Baltimore Clayworks in Mount Washington. For further information visit baltimoreclayworks.org.

Happy Birthday, Tamara!

aka blockpartypress

Random Baltimore Photo

For more information, please click on the image.

I Love You More Than...

Even if you're not a fan of Valentine's Day (like me), you'll probably find something that makes you laugh in this project from Paperwhite Studios, called I Love You More Than Blank. When you get a card that says "I love you more than I love my iPhone," you just know it's for real. Read more or submit your own profession of love here.

Don't Have Plans Today?

An evening of puppet acts, songs, romance and more! Hosted by the biggest sock in show business, Maestro Sensational! Maestro and his chorus of feisty sockophants will perform tender bits of comedy sure to warm your heart on the cold winter night of Valentine's day. House band Walker & Jay provide tunes and soundtrack for the cabaret style evening of puppet performances by various Baltimore artists including Matt Gemmel and Liz Ensz, Sean Blue, Dawn Swartz, Dana Schloss and more! Seating is limited, so get there early. No date required! More info at blackcherry.org

Do you have a sweet tooth for Valentine's Day' Visit us for our Second Annual Architectural Confectionaries competition. See historical buildings made of local sweets. Join the competition or come as a spectator! Call for details. Sat. Feb. 14, Judging at 1 p.m. Second Annual Competition to build a famous Baltimore building out of local sweets. $8 supply fee to build on-site; $5 entrance fee if built at home. Free for school groups. Register by calling 410-727-4804 x 132. More info at thebmi.org


The bawdy beauties of Baltimore’s Gilded Lily Burlesque tantalize with acts just this side of scandalous while you and your Valentine snuggle over bubbly champagne. Richmond’s Sweet Tease opens. A Mason/Rhynes & CA Production. More info at creativealliance.org

Win a Ticket to ACC from Hello Craft!

Wanna go to The American Craft Council show in Baltimore? Hello Craft has 4 tickets to give away. Just email us them hellocraftinfo@gmail.com with the word BALTIMORE in the subject line and you'll be entered to win 1 ticket ($14 value). The ticket is a one day pass. Winners will be randomly picked on 2/20, so email before then!

The American Craft Council is gearing up for its annual 3-day craft show – the largest, indoor, juried craft fair in nation. Hosted at the Baltimore Convention Center, this ACC show will bring together more than 700 traditional, green and alternative crafters showcasing their latest works.

The ACC will also provide live craft demos from local experts, as well as student works from two innovative art schools, the Savannah College of Art and Design and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Hello Craft will be there hosting their super cool Show and Tell booth — stop by to have your photo taken with your purchases, and share your shopper story. They'll also be conducting crafter interviews throughout the weekend and will share them on the blog.

American Craft Council Show
Baltimore Convention Center

Friday, 2/27 (10 am - 9 pm)
Saturday, 2/28 (10 am - 6 pm)
Sunday, 3/1 (10 am - 5 pm)

Tickets: $14 per person, $20 for a two-day pass
Children 12 and under free

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit craftcouncil.org/baltimore.

Friday Finds: Love Inspirations

"How do you spell love?... when you reach the point where the happiness, security, and development of another person is as much of a driving force to you as your own happiness, security, and development, then you have a mature love. True love is spelled G-I-V-E. It is not based on what you can get, but rooted in what you can give to the other person."
--Josh McDowell

Elixir deAmour All-Natural Aromatherapy Candle by Crystalwood Naturals

"There is a time for risky love. There is a time for extravagant gestures. There is a time to pour out your affections on one you love. And when the time comes --seize it, don't miss it."
--Max Lucado

Strawberries and Lace by dandelionblu

"Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand. --Mother Theresa"

Be My Vegantine Heart Cupcake Box filled with 6 Chocolate Ganache Dipped Mini Cupcakes by The Cupcake Mint

"All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."
--Lucy Van Pelt, "Peanuts"

Truelove 8x8 Photograph by angie muldowney

"Love is not a matter of what happens in life. It's a matter of what's happening in your heart. --Ken Keyes"