Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

On Soup

by Leave a Comment

If I were willing to buy them my husband would eat Campbell’s condensed soups every day for lunch during the fall and winter months. And probably a few times a week for dinner. The man loves condensed soup. If I plan to buy canned soup for any reason, he actually requests it.

“Don’t get the extra chunky stuff.” he’ll say, “Some of the regular stuff that I can add water to is just fine.”

Unfortunately for Campbell’s soup company I tend not to agree. No matter how badly I want to oblige I will stand befuddled in front of the canned soup section trying to choose even one can for what seems like an eternity. Always, I go home empty handed.

CookingWithCondensedSoup

[Read more…]

Andy Peutherer

by 1 Comment

landscapes

Andy Peutherer: I am a Scottish artist and Photographer. My landscape work featured here is based on the spectacular scenery of The Scottish western Isles, Scottish highlands and the Hebriden Islands such as The Isle of Skye, the Uists, Lewis and Harris. I have a great passion for the landscape and natural history of Scotland which has led me to attempt to capture the almost surreal elements of the Scottish landscape, weather and wildlife. My paintings are created with mixed media such as spray paint, acrylic, emulsion and ink which are used together with self taught techniques to illustrate the wild, unpredictable and spectacular nature of the land and sky. I strive to create images which have a more original style than traditional water colours and oils.

Warm up with Oversized Knits

by Leave a Comment

While everyone else is complaining about the winter weather, I’m sitting in sunny Honolulu and daydreaming about falling temperatures, snow and bundling up with chunky knits. It may sound crazy, but the holiday season just isn’t the same without scarves, coats, mittens and warm socks. Plus, it’s hard to enjoy hot chocolate in 80 degree weather. I’ll be heading home about one week before Christmas this year, which is just enough time to really get into the holiday mood.

This dark gray hooded sweater by An An Wang is perfection with exquisite detailing and bold details. It’s casual enough to wear on the weekends with jeans, but could also function in an office setting or even as a warm layer over a fancy dress, and of course it can easily transition from a fall coat into a winter layering piece. I have to admit that I don’t know much about knitting, but one look at this sweater and you can easily see all of the care and work that went into creating it.

Speaking of bold details, how great are the huge statement-making coconut buttons on this scarf by Tommify Design? The neutral color gives the scarf a natural look and makes it versatile enough to be worn with any color coat. It can be wrapped tightly around your neck as shown or worn loosely–either way it looks great!

Chunky winter knits don’t always have to keep you warm. This crocheted flower by MK4designs would be the perfect addition to a winter coat or sweater. The champagne pearls sewn into the middle of the piece add just the right amount of shimmer. This would be a great stocking stuffer for someone who loves to make a statement!

The holiday season always goes by so quickly. I’ll be home and bundled up in front of the fireplace before I know it. I can’t wait!

**The image featured at the top of this post was created by Vivian Lau.

LarimeLoom

by 3 Comments

It’s been a couple of years since I last posted about LarimeLoom, so I thought I’d give an update: still awesome!

I’m Maria Lucia Squillari, I’m 23, I live in italy, and I’ve always loved sewing and crafting, of any kind… basket making, crochet, knitting, beadworking, sewing, spinning…. My etsy shop has become my full time job, and everything involved is done by me with some help form my family… My mother, Melissa, takes the photos. Me and my sister Lidia alternate in doing the modelling of the pieces, and she also helps a lot with packaging when I am in a pinch. Everything here I make myself, usually without patterns, so one or few of a kind… The design evolves from the fabric it’s self, from my mood, the weather, the particular idea I am developing at that moment.

What’s In Season Now; April Edition

by 2 Comments

Last month, as March ushered in just slightly warmer weather and a little more sunlight, our guide to shopping in-season at local farmer’s markets focused on seriously cold weather crops. This month however, as April in most regions brings in moderate temperatures and days with a significant amount more sunshine our list of local foods available gets longer and more interesting.

Those cold weather crops we discussed last month — lettuces, spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage, garlic and leeks, for instance — are still available in most places, but in certain regions April’s seasonal foods will give us the ability to add more dimension to the table. Citrus, artichokes, beets, chives, horseradish, asparagus, sweet onions, and shallots are just to name a few. In some of the more southern areas Strawberries may even peek out from beneath their vines and make an appearance at the market.

And then there is one of my all time favorites. Though I’ll have to wait a little longer for them here in Michigan, many people around the country can get a jump on my season and indulge now.

Mushrooms

When I was young I had a friend whose father I adored. Every year he would head to the woods and hunt. The elusive object he sought to bring home? Morel Mushrooms. And if memory serves, he was always wildly successful.

I remember watching her mom dump the contents of the bags he would bring back onto a cutting board in the kitchen, separate any remnants of the woodland floor they called home from the bunch, gently clean them up and start slicing. When that was done she’d fill the bottom of a frying pan with butter and heat it over the stove until it popped and sizzled before tossing the mushrooms in and frying them to buttery perfection.

Of course, given that Morels have a nasty poisonous twin inhabiting many of the same wooded areas they call home, I would never suggest you try to replicate the entirety of my childhood memories, but hunting a pound or two down at your local farmer’s market where they’re clearly marked wouldn’t hurt. Finding the best, fresh foods in any market is a bit of a hunt, after all.

Not sure where to find a farmer’s market near you? Check out Local Harvest for help. Not sure how to shop a farmer’s market? Never been before? Check out the farmer’s market guide that was featured right here at Try Handmade last year for tips! Happy April Hunting, all.