Now in technicolor!

New color version of my Sub(tract) Housing print available in the shop! This one's called Downsizing to distinguish the two. (Click image above to see a larger version.)

1970s flashback: Artichoke Dip

I know it's well past the season of holiday parties and overindulgence, but this recipe is just too good to keep to myself. So don't just sit around moping with the winter blues. Have a potluck! Invite some friends! Eat some apps! Do not make this on your own! That's right. You've been warned. You should have several friends on hand for this one. If not, you are guaranteed to eat too much of it. You won't be able to help yourself. You'll feel sick later. Very sick. Believe me.

John's Awesome Artichoke Dip
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup mayo
1 small diced onion
1 package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained well
1 can artichoke hearts (8-10), chopped
pinch of salt
bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Combine thoroughly all the ingredients, except the bread crumbs, in an oven safe bowl or serving dish. Wipe the sides of the bowl with a damp cloth to avoid little bits from burning. Top generously with bread crumbs and bake for 30 minutes or until golden on top. Serve with cracked wheat or other suitable cracker.

Color me yellow

I'd forgotten how great it feels to paint a room — even one wall. Benjamin Moore's Lemon Meringue. I love it! Next up: Iguanas in the kitchen.

Uses time wisely…

What do you do the night before you go on vacation? Pack? Print out directions and reservation confirmations? Stay up late ironing? Or merely anticipating? I do all of these things. But I also have this nasty habit of adding at least one item that I've been putting off forever. Those pants that have never been worn because I've been meaning to hem them for over a year? Yup, those would be just perfect for the trip so they finally get hemmed and packed. Been wanting to rearrange the furniture in every room of the house? No better time than 2 a.m. the night before a trip.

My Christmas trip this year was no different. We left on a Sunday and that Saturday I was in the midst of wrapping, packing and organizing. I was feeling very festive and ambitious. So, of course, why not tackle just one more project? The mission: to recover the throw pillows for our couch.

I've had three quilted squares (squares that are ready for quilting at least) waiting for this moment for years. I took an improvisational quilting class with Denyse Schmidt quite a long time ago at the Make workshop in New York. Quite a long time ago. So long ago that I've made two major moves since. I was reminded of the unfinished squares when I saw the sneak peak inside Denyse's beautiful Connecticut home in the Dec/Jan issue of Readymade. It includes an easy how-to for these pillows. So on that Saturday, I was determined to get this thing done. And somehow… I did. There's something to be said for the energy and excitement before vacation. A true indicator that we should go on more trips.

How about you? Do you ever find yourself tackling those things you put off for so long just before a trip?