Friday Finds are Handmade for Him no. 52

by Kyla Roma on November 18, 2011

in Friday Finds, Recurring Posts

This is probably my favourite part of the year- the holidays are around the corner and if I find something perfect on Etsy I can still get it ordered in on time for Christmas! I’ve got a few pieces picked out for my family & friends, but my serious shopping has yet to begin. I’ve been trying to scheme but I’m still not sure what I’m going to get for Jesse…


 Mens Hat Knit by Hand – Shea…
$72.00

Brown Leather Multi-Wrap Bra…
$29.00

Vintage US Military Wool Cam…
$65.00

Vintage Folding Stool
$38.00

Men’s Canvas and Leather…
$320.00

Saturn T Shirt – Black Ameri…
$21.00

Recycled Light Bulb Oil Lamp…
$45.00

vintage paper shooting targe…
$10.00

Black Market Men’s Shavi…
$57.50

recycled skateboard stool – …
$199.99

Vintage Necktie by Dot’s…
$12.00

Pure Genuine 11 inches/Inch …
$59.00

Vintage CiroFlex Alphax Came…
$68.00

Animal Totem – Le Nerdy Leop…
$28.00

Mens Scarf Chunky Cowl Lumbe…
$29.00

Every holiday I try to buy my gifts local or from handmade & vintage sellers- it’s one time of year when everyone has a bit of a budget, so I love supporting people who will really appreciate the sales. And etsy sellers are the best! You can usually request that your gift is wrapped & have a little note included, so it’s sent straight to your friends who are far and wide.

Would you consider making this year a local or handmade holiday?

16 comments



November Mini-Interviews: Sponsor Faves & My Picks!

by Kyla Roma on November 17, 2011

in The Sponsors

Every month I do a mini-interview with my large ad sponsors, and feature my favourite parts of what they’ve been up to this month- just in case you haven’t had a chance to explore their worlds yet. This month my sponsors reveal the details of where they work & blog, and what their favourite online & offline indulgences are… enjoy the peek behind the scenes!

OH SO LOVELY VINTAGE

Hello! We are Stefanie Hiebert & Erin Thiessen of Oh So Lovely Vintage! We are the proud owners of a mobile vintage shop, a vintage store, and we also write for the blog Oh So Lovely. We do most of our blog posts in our current shop, but we are in the process of moving into our new shop, which will be located at 223 McDermot Avenue in Winnipeg.  We are starting totally fresh with a new name, new layout, new design, and new stock, so needless to say our work environment is a little bit on the chaotic side at the moment. We’re building a loft office in our the new store and we are really excited to create an organized and inspiring blogging space!

Our favorite online indulgence this November is shopping for items for our new store! There are so many cute things on Etsy that we are currently drooling over… including this darling little office organizer! Hands down our favorite offline indulgence this November has to be our trip to Thailand! Nothing beats drinking a lemon shake while eating a banana nutella pancake! Mmm…

Visit Stef & Erin’s blog, shop, twitter & facebook

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THE CITYBIRDS NEST

I work pretty organically. I always have a notepad with me so when I have an idea I can write it down or do a little doodle. If I have my bike pannier then I always carry my sketch book. You can find me in my sketch book or notebook really anywhere, in bed, on the train or at my desk. I love the yellow desk that Tom found for me. I get so much work down and it sits right in front of two large windows so I get a lot of natural light. It helps me stay super productive.

Well, Etsy of course and getting inspired by all the vintage out there. I love browsing Tumblr for inspiration, but I really love being outside and people watching and biking or hiking in nature. Traveling also is a favorite thing for me as it truly truly inspires me and opens my eyes to so many things.

Visit Cristie’s blog, shop & twitter

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GLASS AND SABLE


I’m sure I’m beyond boring, but most of the time when I’m blogging, I’m just hanging out and listening to tunes. Nothing too exciting. That pretty much goes for anything else I do no matter where I am.


As far as indulgences, that’s more exciting! This month I’ll be indulging in a huge marquee sign for my apartment that I found on Etsy. I moved recently into downtown Atlanta, so I’ve been spending my extra pennies on prints and decorations. If you know of any awesome prints, let me know! Offline, I indulge in cupcakes and manicures.


Visit Ciara’s blog, twitter & bloglovin’

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FIREBIRD RETRO


I work 4 days a week in a handmade cosmetics store, but you can find me blogging and studying for my Geosciences degree curled up at home, tucked up under a vintage blanket with one of our cats on my lap and a pot of Earl Grey tea nearby.


My favourite online indulgence is putting together present ideas on Etsy – so many inspiring gift ideas and I love to support small creative business during the holiday season. Offline I will be enjoying lots of gorgeous Autumn walks, kicking fallen leaves and getting immersed in the beautiful colours of the season.


Visit Rachel’s blog, twitter & pinterest

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LESLEY MYRICK


When I’m blogging, I’m at the cute little desk in my bedroom, surrounded by tidy black and white office accessories, my white MacBook, inspiring framed quotes, original art, and a big mug of coffee. When I’m making collages, I’m sprawled all over the kitchen table and living room floor, with papers, pens, scissors, stickers, and paint strewn everywhere. It looks like an art-bomb went off in my apartment!


My favorite online indulgence is Things Organized Neatly. I have a serious weakness for organization and pretty visuals. My favorite offline indulgence is a mocha from Intellegentsia Coffee. It’s crazy expensive ($5 for one drink!), and takes a super long time to make – but it is by far the best coffee I’ve ever had.


Visit Lesley’s blog, shop & twitter

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LOOPZ


All my items are created in my room after my daughter go to sleep every night.


Recently I love Pinterest and Design Inspiration. Both are great site for inspiration.


Visit Loopz’s blog & shop

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AWBVIOUSLY AWMBER


When I blog I usually like sitting at my desk with a nice hot cup of tea and some quiet music. When I make jewelry I love listening to an interesting podcast or watching cheesy 90′s shows like Buffy.


My favourite online indulgence for this month would have to be Etsy. I’m really excited to find some great items for my friends for Christmas :) Offline, I’ve been indulging in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series!


Visit Amber’s blog, twitter, flickr & goodreads

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8 BALLOONS

 


I like to call my office area my “creative space”. Although this space is relatively small, I try to keep it as inspiring as I can. I like my creative space to be surrounded by images and prints that I love and that continue to motivate me. Since I write everyday for several projects including 8balloons, sometimes I can get writer’s block and so I find it important to have many quotes around that I can gain inspiration and influence from. These quotes are in the form of prints surrounding my desk I have collected from numerous artists I have found through Etsy and other creative blogs.


One of my favorite online indulgences or “obsessions” this month includes everyone’s favorite, Pinterest. Whenever I am lacking inspiration or just procrastinating a little, I can go on Pinterest and scour other friend’s beautiful finds and even discover new artists. I also love A Beautiful Ripple Effect by the wonderful Carolyn Rubenstein for uplifting and motivational reads and some other great goodies she has created on her site. I look forward to November {my birthday month!} because it includes some of my favorite offline indulgences. I love the simple things this time of year brings from pumpkin lattes, fall nail polish colors, family and friends getting together for the holidays, and starting to look for the perfect holiday cards for friends and family.


Visit Julie’s blog, twitter & pinterest

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PERKNITIOUS


I will knit anywhere and everywhere, whether I’m studying at the university library, camped out in a coffee shop, or gabbing with friends on my living room couch.  My project bag is always with me so I can add a few rows to my latest sock or hat.  When I’m blogging, I usually hang out in my craft room/office with my inspiring art wall and crowded bookshelves, playing cheerful music.  Work is always better with a bit of singing, don’t you think?


This November I’m indulging in extra long morning workouts (at 7:00 the gym isn’t crowded yet – extra endorphins for me!), delicious soup recipes with homemade bread, and all sorts of visual inspiration. One especially neat online spot I’m enjoying is King Creative – the colors, textures, and portraits are really well-curated, and the site is constantly updated.


Visit Allison’s blog, shop & pinterest

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ELIZABETH POINTS

We are in the midst of finishing our basement, and included in the plans are an art studio for me! In my head I see a HUGE table where I will keep my printers, cutting boards, packaging supplies, etc. But until that’s finished my work space is on our kitchen table, which means setting up and tearing down each time I print my images. SO looking forward to not doing that anymore! But when I’m just creating on my laptop, I love to curl up on the couch next to my hubs with rerun of Friends or Lost.


I love trolling through cooking blogs for fall recipes and treats. Food Gawker takes up way too much of my time!! A couple items on my list to make soon are pumpkin cream cheese muffins and pumpkin spice truffles – both recipes found on Annie’s Eats. I also love that with November brings the hauling out of chunky sweaters, scarves, and tall boots.


Visit Liz’s blog, shop, twitter & flickr

 

Aren’t they so lovely? Have fun exploring their worlds!

2 comments



Happy Birthday Little Sister!

by Kyla Roma on November 16, 2011

in Her Life, Prairie Style, Stories About:

 I remember that when my sister Lana was born I was fascinated by her. But after the first few days my two year old self was over the fascination and wanted things to return to normal, so as I was patting my newborn sister I said to my mom:

“Nice baby, nice baby… enough baby. Send her back.”

I soon got over my only child attitude and started having an incredible amount of fun with this new little person in my life. I could teach her the things I learned, dress her up, and have a constant friend with me all the time. Growing up with Lana was just the best- we were never apart and we were always each other’s favourite people.





In the past few years she’s lived in Canada, Australia & France and visited Thailand & beyond- and I’m so happy we have this year together in the prairies. Tonight we’re going out to celebrate and I can’t wait to see her!

Happy Birthday, Lana!

You’re hilarious, soulful & have a beauiful, adventurous heart
and you’re still one of my favourite people in the universe

18 comments



How to Knit Straight (In The Round)

by Kyla Roma on November 15, 2011

in crafts + diy, Hands On!

I learned how to knit the year I graduated from high school and ever since it’s been one of my favourite crafts. It’s practical, colourful, and is a great excuse to have a Netflix marathon! I started learning on straight needles but soon I learned a trick from a friend that made knitting way more fun- using circular needles to knit straight projects like scarves.

Knitting on regular needles can really tire out your arms, especially when you like knitting with Big Yarn like I do. As your project grows you have to hold and balance a lot of weight, and it’s hard to sit comfortably or travel with large needles. Knitting on circular needles is comfortable and compact, lets me knit for as long as I like.

Which, just to clarify, is a lot :)

This isn’t too hard for beginners & it’s a good way to feel quite fancy when you’re knitting out and about.

Ready to get fancy?

You can either start a project on circular needles or switch from straight needs to circular needles that are the same gauge, so for this tutorial I’m just going to show you how knitting a row of a straight project works when you’re using circular needles- that way you can use the method for either starting or switching.

1. Start your row by knitting normally as though your needles aren’t connected- just knit, purl and do what your project calls for.

2. Knit right to the end of the row, and prepare yourself for using this fancy new technique.

3. Stop knitting at the end of the row. Take the the needle that has no stitches on it and pass it to your other hand so both needles are together.

4. Take a moment, are you sure you’re ready for all the knitting cred you’re about to gain? Are you sure? You may have to teach this technique to people on the bus, at your place of work, and maybe even to members of your own family!

5. Okay then, brave knitter! Here you go: take the work that’s in your hand, and pass it to your other hand.

6. That’s it- you can start knitting your new row! I said it was fancy, not that it was complicated :)

This is one of the reasons I love knitting- it’s not hard to do neat things! I’ve been working on lots of projects lately and I’m going to be sharing my results soon, along with a really cool little accessory invention that I came up last week.

Do you knit, crochet, or make your stitches however the mood strikes you?

I do both- I love making small things with crochet and giant things by knitting. I can’t choose a favourite!

30 comments



Soft Pretzels at Home

by Kyla Roma on November 14, 2011

in crafts + diy, Hands On!

Soft pretzels are one of my favourite “once in a while” treats- as a carb addict having them is a delicious and dangerous road to venture down.  However, I’m a firm believer that if I put in the work and make something indulgent in my kitchen then I can enjoy the results- and these soft pretzels are so worth the effort!

Pretzles Before

Pretzels are a three part process that isn’t hard but takes a bit of time time- first I made the dough & let it rise, then I shaped the pretzels and give them a hot bath before going on to bake them. It was a really fun process to follow! The steps aren’t complicated and the pauses between them let you clean up and change gears- but there’s enough steps to feel like you’re really an accomplished baker.

In my life, striking that delicate balance between challenging yourself and having in tact self esteem (along with tasty baking!) after all that work is an important principle in recipe selection.

The best part of these is that I could enjoy them without worrying about eating too many- they were snapped up by everyone who stopped by my house and were all gone in 24 hours. They were especially a hit with Jesse, who doesn’t have a sweet tooth like me, which makes baking that he can get really excited about a special occasion.

hand

Soft Pretzles

Recipe from Alton Brown, altered for toppings

Get…

  • 1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 22 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 4 1/2 cups
  • 2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
  • Vegetable oil, for pan
  • 10 cups water
  • 2/3 cup baking soda
  • 1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
  • Pretzel salt & a little butter

Okay!

Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap (I used a damp towel) and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside.

Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart saucepan or roasting pan.

In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.

Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture (Don’t add too much of the mixture!). Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.

While pretzels are still warm, rub with butter & sprinkle with desired toppings such as pretzel salt or cinnamon and sugar mixture. Enjoy!

What’s your favourite savory indulgence?

22 comments



Weekly Weak Knees no. 15

by Kyla Roma on November 11, 2011

in Recurring Posts, Weekly Weak Knees

One of the new features on my blog is that I have a “currently loving” section in my sidebar where every day or so I pop in an image and link to something I can’t pass by without sharing. It’s a pretty feature that feels like I’m passing notes to anyone who checks my blog every day, and I hope you enjoy it enough to make it part of your routine!

These are my favourite links from the past couple weeks, click on the pictures to explore…

What was your favourite online discovery this week?

 

16 comments



Are You Code Savvy? (We’re Hiring!)

by Kyla Roma on November 10, 2011

in Freckled Nest, My Passions

Do you dream in HTML and CSS?

The Freckled Nest designers have been busy all fall- busy launching so
many blog designs that we need to call in reinforcements!

We’re looking for HTML and CSS slingers to help us launch
designs on Blogger, Typepad, WordPress & Squarespace.

If you’re a developer who can make beautiful things happen with code on any of these platforms (only one is needed to apply) please e-mail us at hello [at] frecklednest.com with an outline of your experience and why you’d be interested in working with us.

If you know a developer who would be perfect for our team, help us connect! Visit this post on KylaRoma.com and click the E-Mail button below the post to send it directly to them! :)

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11 comments



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