Pietopia Entry: My Favorite Blackberry Pie

I entered and did not place in a contest called Pietopia.  Some of you have asked to see the entry, so here it is. It was supposed to be very, very short, but the contest guidelines were unclear as to whether the word limit included the recipe.

I played it safe and kept the whole thing under 300 words, which made it very, very streamlined.

It is my favorite pie recipe which I share with you in this posting. Enjoy!

Claire Germain Nail

Gypsy Blackberry Pie  

Himalayan Blackberries are a nuisance in Oregon. Some summers I feel like that oft-maligned vine: a gypsy imported from a hotter, wealthier land. Yet, I’ve sent down my roots for good. Come rain or shine!

Times have been tough here for me and countless others. The nearby Blockbuster store is gone, but the berry vines behind it prevail.  Damn the economy, the cloudy gloom! I thrive on pie, replete with luscious blackberries: free for the picking, notwithstanding vicious scratches and purpled fingers! Blackberries are tough; so are Oregonians. So am I.

Simple blackberry pie, ingredients available cheaply: tart it up or down, like your little black dress. Necessary tapioca thickener disappears into the berries. Add lemon. If you’re too rich and too thin, use butter instead of oil.  The sweat-earned luxury of wild blackberries: money won’t buy gems more wickedly dark and glistening.   

Gypsy Berry Filling

9 inch pie 

Preheat oven 425 degrees

Mix:

8 -10 cups juicy blackberries

1/2 cup sugar (or more if you prefer a sweet pie)

1/4 cup instant tapioca 

Ginger to taste

2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup lemon juice and peel*

Let sit in warm place and make crust.

Easy Crust

2 cups flour

1/2 mild-flavored oil

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

up to 1/2 cup milk (water if you are really up against it)

1. Measure flour into bowl, stir in salt.
2. Stir in oil with fork, forming pea-size clumps.
3. Stir in liquid slowly, till dough forms ball (less liquid on wet days).
4. Divide into two balls.
5. Roll out crust to about 1/4 inch, between wax paper. Flip dough over into pan and peel off paper. Arrange crust and trim overhanging edges.
6. Add berries, 6 flecks of butter, cover with top crust, and crimp edges. Slit top crust.
7. Bake 45-60 minutes, till golden and bubbly.  Cool before eating.

Waiting for the Cosmic Egg to Hatch

I'm working on a new project for an artist friend in exchange for a beautiful painting.  This is a painting which I have permission to use as the cover for my up-coming novel which will publish before Christmas. 

(Watch for information here regarding this novel: Saint Sullivan's Daughter.)

The new project is a secret right now, as it will be a surprise for my friend.  Let us just say these few hints.  It involves the moon, the color blue, stardust, and a bee.

That and the beautiful inspirational image (you'll find below) - an illumination from Hildegarde, who lived from 1098-1179: visionary, writer, artist and composer.  And like so many gifted European women of her time, a Catholic monastic.


Have a great week!  I'll be publishing a photo of the altar sculpture as soon as it's done.

The Cosmic Egg by Hildegarde of Bingen

HeartSpace offers free shipping this July 2010. Click here.

Some new things for your perusal. Plus a Spanish Recipe.

Here's an idea for a quick, easy and delicious dinner: a great way to use leftovers.

Spanish Tortilla

In Spain a tortilla is an omelet, similar to a frittata.  It's a great way to use up leftover roasted potatoes, or cottage fried potatoes, or even, a pinch, some hash browns.

The main ingredients:
eggs
olive oil
potatoes
onion
sea salt
and ground pimiento (get the good Spanish stuff).

You can add all kinds of delicious things such as olives, green pepper, veggie or meat sausage, cheese, and herbs.  Go crazy!

First cook the potatoes in olive oil, if you have no leftovers.  (Start with olive oil in the pan) Then add onions, etc.  Add egg.  When it starts to coagulate, I usually put my whole cast-iron fry pan in the oven for about 10 minutes or so (depending on how many eggs.)  This is so delicious - even cold.

And easy. . .

This locket reminds me of many I saw in antique shops in Spain, except this one was made by me in Portland, Oregon.

See this and more at HeartSpace on Etsy

Jewels like Water Video

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

The winner is . . .

To all who entered the contest: Thank you for commenting, following, and trying something new. 


The lucky winner is Kim, who wins her choice of  HeartSpace jewelry, 20 dollars or under.  If you didn't win, please read on - there's something in it for you.


I want to offer a second, consolation prize to whomever commented on this post (original posters in the give-away - I have your names, dearies!).


Anyone who originally posted a comment here is eligible to buy anything in my HeartSpace Etsy store for 25% off the listed price.  


Let me know what you want, BEFORE you order on Etsy, and I will lower the listing price and reserve the item for you.  


To take a look at what's available, click here http://www.heartspace.etsy.com 


This offer only applies to those who commented on the June 2 blog post.  


Wishing you every happiness,
Love from Heart Space

Contest Time!

It's raining and gloomy in Portland, Oregon.  Al and Tipper Gore are divorcing after 40 years and I lost a follower.  I was so excited to have reached a 100, but alas, one of the doves has flown!

Never mind, I understand.  Some blogs lose my interest after awhile, too.  Let's see what I can do to spice this one up a little.

How about a contest?

Comment and become a follower and you will be added to a drawing for a free gift of your choice from my Etsy store, valued up to twenty dollars.

Let's begin! Contest ends June, 10, 2010.

Ode to Earrings

Oh, tiny pendants, perfect pearls,
glittering gold,
shimmering silver,
beads bobbing bright,
how you dance around my head!


Earrings, you enhance 
with so little effort,
just swing from my ears,
like stars fallen from last night's dream.
I love thee so!


But oft I have lost thee,
only to find another pair,
just as lovely to entrance.
Ears are fickle, as I am.
And earrings are 
everywhere.

Very silly, but sincere. I love earrings.  Come see the new ones in the earrings that sparkle section at my Etsy store. http://www.heartspace.etsy.com

I just need one more follower to reach 100.

And that would be a milestone, wouldn't it?

Have a great day and take good care of your heart.

You only get one, and even if you receive a transplant - you only get one at a time.

Blessings,

from Clarita

Bruce Lee Said "Be Like Water; See with Your Skin"

"Be like water," Bruce Lee said, "see with your skin."
Be like water, I imagine, flow around obstructions.
Be like water; refresh, then go your way.
Be like water: shimmering, gentle, powerful, awe-inspiring.

Every time I look at this necklace I think of water,
of the sea, of water's ability to move without effort,
of water's ability to change color to mirror the sky.

This abalone pendant catches the dance of water,
it's music, both gentle and strong.

Water has moods, without moodiness.
Water replenishes perfectly.
Water is a treasure we take for granted.

This necklace could be a talisman to remind one of several things:
to protect one's resources, and to protect the Earth,
to flow without effort, without stress around difficulty,
to shine and move as you are intended,
and to be like water.
[Click here to see necklace on Etsy.]

Do You Consider Quality Over Quantity?

When you have to stretch your dollars, it's tempting to choose quantity over quality.  

 Leave a comment below and let me know your answers to one or more of the following questions. 

1. Are you looking for quality materials and craftwork?

2. Are you looking for something totally unique, or do you prefer something that resembles what you've already seen?

3. Do you care where the materials come from and how they were derived? 

4. Is price your primary concern, over everything else?

I Made my first Treasury on Treasury East!

Hi, friends,
It took me forever to figure out how to do this, but I curated my first treasury on Treasury East and I'd love it if you took a look at it and maybe even commented.  Here is the link.  It's a celebration of Cinco de Mayo and all the saturated colors and delight I associate with Latino culture.

Enjoy.

Click here to go to the treasury.

Filigree and Fiddle-dee-dee to Fashion

There are lots of blogs telling you what to wear.  I won't do that.  I am going to tell you to have fun with your jewelry.

Why not?  I have fun making it.  I'm always on the look-out for interesting materials and juicy gems.  I love the hunt.

For instance, I recently found these antique brass filigrees that remind me of flowers, and combined them with gorgeous golden freshwater pearls and sundrops of citrine.  And Voila!

They'd be lots of fun, especially on someone with light-colored blonde to red hair, or short hair of any color.  Very feminine and Victorian feeling ~ like one of my favorite flowers, the fuchsia.

I have more citrine, if anyone wants a nice little necklace to go with these earrings.

GEM LORE: Pearls are very fashionable this year, but do you know they have healing properties as well?  Pearls are cooling and soothing, can help balance emotions, and symbolize purity.  They are very absorbent of whatever the wearer feels, but when pared with citrine, which deflects negativity, the energy is very balanced.

El espíritu de la fiesta. The Spirit of Fiesta

En español or in English, the word fiesta stands on its own these days.  The word fiesta connotes more food, more music, more color than the word party does.  Many parties are joyful, colorful and fun, but not all.  I expect a fiesta to be wonderful.

There are pity-parties and home-shopping parties at which you are enticed to buy Tupperware, and those uncomfortable to escape parties: familial days of guilty obligation. Who among us, not having the proper stylish attire, hasn't tried to fade into the wallpaper at some chi-chi soiré ? Would you long to hide at a real, live fiesta?  Probably not.

You'd show your true self, because that's who was invited.

The espíritu, or spirit of a fiesta, is the festival, or celebration of a feast day.  Originally these were spiritual or religious in nature, and that may be why they're different.  At a true fiesta the host is more concerned with the welfare of the guests, the celebration, than in selling Tupperware, or an idea of oneself as stylish decorator or gourmet cook.  At a true fiesta the hostess splurges on food, music and the children's piñata before her dress and the silverware.

(That's why I designed my Fiesta Collection of celebratory jewelry with affordability and joyful color in mind.)

WHAT MAKES A FIESTA, OR REAL LIVE PARTY JOYOUS FOR YOU? I'd love to read your comments.

¡Bondad!
 Click here to be my guest on Etsy!

I Love Water

I have just returned from a wonderful weekend trip to one of my favorite places in the world: Silver Falls State Park in Silverton, Oregon.  Inspired by my love of water, I made this necklace before I left.

Here are some photos of the water falls as well.

There are Ten Waterfalls in all at Silver Falls.

One of the  most beautiful places to be in Oregon.

Things to Consider When Shopping

Most manufactured items in the USA are made in China under difficult, even unhealthy conditions.  This includes jewelry available at stores, even high-end department stores.  It is worthwhile to consider, before buying: is this item something that supports unhealthy, unsustainable conditions?

No matter how cheaply one may purchase an item, if it is something that will hurt you, the person making it, or even you (because of unhealthy ingredients like lead paint), it is not really cheap.  In fact, it is very expensive.  It is good to be aware and ask questions of retailers.

It is not always easy to know what is involved in the making of your treasures.  Suffice it to say that here in the Heart Space workshop, I do my best to ascertain the origin of all the stones and materials I use.  I take special care because I care about my own health, your health and the health of the planet.  I may not get rich making my art and jewelry, but I am having a wonderful time.

Here is a beautiful lilac-grey agate pendant on a twisted glass bead necklace.  The agate slice is from inside a geode.

New in Shop for Spring!

Hi Friends,
I hope you are anticipating spring with happy hearts.  At Heartspace at Etsy, I have posted several new jewelry pieces.  I feel very creative right now, just thinking of the garden about to burst into bloom.  Come visit HeartSpace. Here's one photo to whet your appetite.

http://www.heartspace.etsy.com
P.S. - This year I'm donating 10% of what I make on Etsy to World Vision in Haiti. I have a little girl I support there, but I haven't heard how she's doing since the quake.  Please keep Suaveline in your hearts.

Colores de la Primavera

Colores de la Primavera: the colors of spring - how we love the joyfulness of these!  If you are recycling old clothes this spring, think of adding brightly colored accessories to cheer your look.  Two colors that are on the vanguard for spring are turquoise blue and of course, bright green.  I love the numinous quality of light through waxy new leaves.  Today I am featuring new earrings with this color quality in stone and glass.

Spring is coming, yes, she is!  And you have my permission (as if you needed it) to prepare for her with great gusto. What will you do to color your life?

Don't be afraid to splash color around yourself: accessories, flowers, even your walls.  It can be as simple as tucking a sprig of hyacinth into your buttonhole, or as dramatic as painting a whole wall your favorite color (paint is relatively cheap). Color has the ability to renew the spirit.  And what better time to renew than spring?

Something Small with Great Love

This locket hides a mini-shrine and a quote from Mother Teresa:

"We can do no great things,
only small things with great love."


My intention was to create something handsome, that could be worn anywhere, but would hold the secret close to one's heart, ready to be opened in times when extra encouragement or prayer is needed.

The locket closes securely with a magnet and will not pop open.  The beaded rosary chain is sturdy and attractive.  The little sequins are vintage 1940's and the tiny Guadalupe portrait is cut from a photo.

If these mini shrines are popular I will gather lockets to make more.  Let me know if there is a particular quote or image that inspires you.

Ride the Changing Tide on Etsy

It feels like I am riding a changing tide. At the end of my first year on Etsy, I'm pondering how to survive the economic crisis and still grow my Etsy site.  There's so much I would do with my site, if I had more capital to invest.  I would make a lot more jewelry, advertise more and certainly expand my options.  I have made a vow not to create debt while starting this small business, and that has kept my business small.  I have made ten sales this year, though I have made more sales off line at trunk shows and craft fairs.  Ten sales feels too small.

I enjoy making jewelry, but I've other work to do, too.  I would enjoy hearing from those of you with Etsy businesses how you find time to grow your business and do whatever other jobs you have.  I will share some of the things that have been storming my brain and look forward to your ideas, too.

Claire's Ideas for Growing Business

1. Make simpler, quicker jewelry, which can be sold for less.  
2. Repeat designs instead of making "one-of-a-kind."
3. Find a less expensive source and recycle materials.
4. Diversify what I make to include non-jewelry items (there's a glut of jewelry on Etsy).
5. Find a good, active Street Team on Etsy.  I love the team I have, but I maybe need another.
6. Advertise myself more off-line.
7. Focus on preparing for a few big craft shows and fairs and participate big time.
8. Guard my spare time with a passion so I don't get burned-out.
9. Passionately uphold my schedule, with an eye for boundary busters. (They don't know who they are, poor things, but they suck up a lot of my energy for my work.  Only I can create my boundaries - and only I can enforce them.)
10. And I will be aware of the fact I am learning and not compare myself to other artists. 

I will honor that I am doing the best I can, even in those times when I need to do better.

So tell me all of you out there in Etsy Land - any advice for growing my business, without going into debt or spending too much? How do you guard your time for other things?  What has served you well?  What hasn't?

To Wonder at Beauty, Stand Guard over Truth

LABYRINTH AT CHARTRES

As the year spins to an end, I hope all is well at your house.  I  offer these words attributed to Rudolf Steiner, philosopher and mystic of the early 20th century (revised for inclusivity):

To wonder at beauty,


stand guard over truth,


look up to the noble,


decide for the good,


leads all on their journeys


to goals for our lives.


These words work well to say to oneself at the beginning of a walk, especially a labyrinth walk, if you do such things. Even if you don't, life can be a labyrinth, the twists and turns confusing. I love the expression that all those who wander are not lost. I would like to add wonder to my wandering, especially when I feel lost, and find the beauty in the place I am.  

May you find wonder, beauty, truth, nobility and good to lead your goals for 2010.