Make Something Mondays: Meatball Soup

It's January, it's cold, and we live in what must be the coldest house on the planet. It's perfect for making soup! This meatball soup is easy, filling, and yummy, so if you've never made soup before it's a good recipe to start with.

Ingredients
1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/3 cup dried parsley
8 cups chicken broth
1 15-oz. can petite diced tomatoes
1 10-oz. package frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1 8-oz. package ditalini or large orzo

Put chicken broth and diced tomatoes (with liquid) in a large soup pot and bring to a low boil. Mix ground beef, parmesan cheese, and parsley; shape into tiny meatballs (think canned spaghetti size meatballs).
Drop meatballs into simmering broth and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir in broccoli.
When soup has resumed boiling, add pasta. Simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring often, and add salt and pepper to taste.

Happiness reigns.

This post was inspired by Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go!, the ingenious moms behind Make Something Monday. We'd love for you to join us next Monday!

Help Me Decide How To Paint My Workshop

I finally have some good progress to report on my new workshop/studio space! We've got walls now, a big step from this past summer. There's another day or two of finishing work to do, and then I've got to buy paint.

I know I don't want plain white walls. Do I go bold and bright, maybe yellow and green? Do I try to be a little creative and add some stripes or splatters to a solid background? Sponge paint with lavender over purple? Large circles in primary colors? Stencil a few aliens and/or zombies on the walls? Suggestions are welcome. Please!

So many choices, so few walls.

Happy New Year Giveaway Winner

I'm excited to be able to announce the winner of my Happy New Year Giveaway: it's Diana D! I'll be sending you an email soon Diana D, but please feel free to look over my Etsy shop and pick out what you'd like.

I've got more terrific giveaways planned--many to be hosted on other sites--so check out the links to the right to subscribe to this blog and make sure you don't miss a single chance to win pretty sparkly things!

Make Something Mondays: Square Glass Donuts

I've been making donuts. They're not edible, and they're not round. But they are fun! I've been reading about jewelry trends and the continuing popularity of circle jewelry. I love the concept of the circle of life, but life is rarely smooth, balanced, and perfectly shaped. I've made these square donuts to reflect "real" life: a bit bumpy, with some thick spots, and a few corners to turn. And just like life, they're in a variety of colors and sizes.

I cut short pieces of glass, arranged them into the outline of a square, glued them at the edges, and fused them in my kiln. Some of the pieces include the ends of a sheet of glass which are usually wavy and a bit uneven. It's a great way to use up glass that isn't straight, and the finished pieces are lovely and unique.


This post was inspired by Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go!, the ingenious moms behind Make Something Monday. We'd love for you to join us next Monday!