simply smitten

Moving

2010-05-26T01:11:00.000-04:00

Hey Everyone!
I am moving my blog to a new address. Simply Smitten is taken by too many different things. Including an online dog collar shop. JOY!
My new blog is at www.amy-scott.blogspot.com. I do not know if I'm going to leave it titled and looking like it is. But thought I'd go ahead and put something up.
Thanks!
Amy

Illustration Friday-Equipment

2010-05-19T03:29:00.025-04:00

I blame my baking tragedies on the fact that I do not have one of these beauties. I'm willing to admit its not all my hand mixers fault. It may be the baker's lack of technique. But, a Kitchenaid would make it all a whole lot easier....

Mothers Day

2010-05-08T07:30:00.007-04:00

My mother.

Happy Mothers Day!

Nashville Film Festival 2010

2010-04-22T15:18:00.017-04:00

As in the past I did not get to see as many films as I would of liked. Along with my friend Cali, I spent one day enjoying a few great documentary shorts.
Born Sweet and Rebel Woman are two that I am still thinking about days later. So, I thought I would post some links so others could enjoy as well.
Born Sweet

Rebel Woman

Short Synopsis
40% of the rebel army—almost half of the rebels that were fighting for ten years in the small mountainous country of Nepal—were made up of women.
These women believed they were fighting for their right to an education, to own property, to seek justice in domestic abuse cases, and to become equals in village governments. They believed they were fighting for a better Nepal for themselves and their children.
Now with the dawn of peace and the first national elections since the takeover of the King, many of these same rebels are running for public offices as high as Parliament—and winning. Amidst the stunning backdrop of Nepal, WOMEN REBELS creates a robust, vulnerably engaging portrait of these women at a turning point in Nepal’s history. - www.womenrebels.org

We also saw a documentary, Cleanflix. Very amusing.

Short Synopsis
Dozens of Utah DVD retailers attracted unwanted attention from Hollywood heavyweights when, in the name of conservative family values, they began sanitizing films of sex, nudity, profanity, and violence. Outraged over the unauthorized editing of their work, prominent filmmakers began to speak out, thrusting the two groups into an intense legal, theoretical, and moral battle that would last six years before coming to a shocking conclusion. - www.cleanflixthemovie.com

My Next Tattoo?

2010-04-21T17:50:00.001-04:00

I found this old envelope floating around in a bin at the Goodwill Outlet. By the end of the day, I was pretty sure it or something close to it will be my next tattoo. I used handy Photoshop and layered it onto a picture of my arm. What do you think? I think its very Amy-ish.

Garden, why won't you grow?

2010-04-15T17:07:00.012-04:00

Choosing a spot for the garden was easy (we only had one small area to do it). Pulling up all the dead bushes and whatever else we dug up was hard and fun. Tilling was difficult but fun too. Picking out the veggies and flowers to plant was the best! The hard part about gardening is waiting to see if you did everything right...

I had it all planned out...

We worked hard...

And now for the patience to watch it grow...

Illustration Friday-Linked

2010-04-13T16:09:00.002-04:00

(I didnt have time to finsih this weeks Illustration Friday, Linked.)

Fall Creek Falls

2010-04-11T16:34:00.009-04:00

We went for a short weekend trip to Fall Creek Falls. The park has nice bike trails, hiking, canoes, and paddle boats. The lake is amazingly clean (no gas operated boats on the lake) and the waterfalls are worth the hikes. We had a great time. It was one of the most relaxing weekends we had both had in awhile. My favorite parts of camping are the campfires, early mornings, afternoon naps, and cooking on the fire. We are hoping to go back soon before it gets too hot!

Illustration Friday-Rescue

2010-04-01T16:06:00.004-04:00

Illustration Friday-Expired

2010-03-24T16:54:00.002-04:00

Vitamin D

2010-03-23T21:49:00.006-04:00

I brought everything I could possibly think of outside today. I needed to do some crafty/arty things and couldn't bare doing them inside! I followed the sun around the yard, moving the blanket a foot or so every half hour, so I could stay under the sun's rays and out of the shade. I believe my neighbors think I'm a bit crazy.
I feel much better after my dose of vitamin D.

12th South- A beautiful day in the neighborhood

2010-03-20T19:17:00.006-04:00

Illustration Friday-Subterranean

2010-03-16T20:53:00.005-04:00

Subterranean Commute
mixed media

Illustration Friday-Brave

2010-03-09T13:01:00.001-05:00

silkscreen 8.5x11

Carrie's Baby Shower

2010-03-07T23:47:00.003-05:00

Onesie-Twosie-Threesie

2010-02-24T16:50:00.008-05:00

I did a test run on a few onesies a couple of days ago. I picked up a few new ink colors while I was in Atlanta this past weekend, I cant wait to test those out! Hopefully all will be done before my friends baby shower in March.

ORANGE and CRANBERRY GRANOLA BARS

2010-02-22T15:06:00.002-05:00

INGREDIENTS

steel cut oats, approximately 2 cups

raw sunflower seeds, approximately 1/2 cup

sliced almonds, approximately 1 cup

flaxseed, approximately 1/2 cup

honey, approximately 1/2 cup

brown sugar, approximately 1/4 cup packed

unsalted butter, 2 tbs plus extra for pan

vanilla extract, 2 tsp

kosher salt, 1/2 tsp

dried fruit, 1 cup (I used oranges and cranberries)

DIRECTIONS

Butter a 9 by 9-inch glass baking dish and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, and flaxseed onto a half-sheet pan. Place in the oven and toast for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In the meantime, combine the honey, brown sugar, butter, extract and salt in a medium

saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook until the brown sugar has completely dissolved.

Once the oat mixture is done, remove it from the oven and reduce the heat to 300 degrees F. Immediately add the oat mixture to the liquid mixture, add the dried fruit, and stir to combine. Turn mixture out into the prepared baking dish and pack/press down, evenly distributing the mixture in the dish and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes.

Cut into bars before cooling completely.

(recipe adapted from GRANOLA)

Atlanta

2010-02-20T16:40:00.006-05:00

Baby Shower is a GO!

2010-02-02T04:07:00.002-05:00

I am throwing a friend a baby shower in early March. I started on the invitations today. I am very excited about putting this all together!

They are screen printed on 801b crushed leaf paper by Fox River. Paper Color is Lime Sparkler (it has flakes of glitter in it!)

I got it from a great little place here in town called DENNIS PAPER CASH N CARRY.

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-02-02T03:25:00.003-05:00

I felt like baking today but I didn't want to venture out in the snow for the missing ingredients. I decided to go with something easy when I discovered that I had just the right ingredients for chewy chocolate chip cookies. Very easy and very scrumptious!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

* 2 sticks unsalted butter

* 2 1/4 cups bread flour

* 1 teaspoon kosher salt

* 1 teaspoon baking soda

* 1/4 cup sugar

* 1 1/4 cups brown sugar packed

* 1 egg

* 1 egg yolk

* 2 tablespoons milk

* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

* 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

You will need:

* Ice cream scooper

* Parchment paper

* Baking sheets

* Mixer

Directions

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat.

Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.

Pour the melted butter in the mixer's work bowl. Add the sugar and brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugars on medium speed. Add the egg, yolk, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Chill the dough. (I chilled mine for about an hour.)
Scoop onto parchment lined baking sheet.

Bake for 10 -14 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool completely and store in an airtight container

Bookbinding: First attempt

2010-01-06T16:09:00.003-05:00

My first attempt at bookbinding. It's not perfect but complete and sturdy!

I couldn't find a good tutorial for the coptic stitch. So, I made it up as I went. I used an old children's book for the front and back cover, scrap paper for the signatures, and dental floss for thread.