Basil Gelato

All I can think about in this heat is eating something cold. And that something is Basil Gelato. It's cool and refreshing, sweet but not overpowering, and earthy. Like something from a street-side cafe in Italy...

You will need:

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
6 egg yolks
3 cups milk
3/4 cup sugar Sugar
Fresh basil (about 1/2 cup lightly packed and torn)

Step 1: Mix milk and cream in medium saucepan. Warm until a foam forms on the edges of the mixture. Remove from heat.

Step 2: Beat together egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl until frothy. Pour the egg mixture into the milk mixture while whisking constantly.
Return saucepan to medium heat. Stir with wooden spoon until mixture gels slightly and sticks to back of spoon. Remove from heat immediately.

Step 4: Pour mixture through a sieve to remove any egg lumps that may have formed. Cover and chill for several hours overnight.

Step 5: Put mixture and the torn basil into ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturers instructions.



Oh, heavens my!! This is so good! You will not be disappointed, I promise.

Devonly, yours

A few of my favorite things...

My birthday is fast approaching and here are a few items on my "wish list" (if I had the money to have a wish list like this!)

How cute and comfortable is this?

This is perfect for bouncing around town in the summer time.

Everyone needs a pair of jeans that feel as comfortable as these look.

I've been pining after a watch lately, and this is the perfect balance between sophistication and casual attire, don't you think?

Every cow-girl at heart needs a belt like this!

I don't even need to explain why...

I could lounge in this beauty all the time...however, I think I would prefer it in a lime green with yellow accents.

The bigger the better.

Yum, yes please!

What do you get when you combine cotton knit tank and flowy skirt? This adorable little dress.

Don't you love the lines and the print on this little number?

This is actually the one item on this list that I actually need.

(but what' the fun of a wish list if you actually need the items?)

Devonly, yours

Garden Vegetable Pasta

I was ravenous yesterday when I got home from work, so after rummaging through my pantry and fridge, I tossed together this wonderful little pasta salad in no time. And it was so delicious, I thought it would be a sin not to share it with you. I'm always coming up with quick, 1-pot pastas during the week nights and this one is definitely one of my favorites so far. Try it when you're in a pinch, you won't be disappointed!

You will need:

1 1/2 cups fusili (or your favorite type of pasta)
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 cup trimmed green beans
1 cups torn fresh spinach, washed
About 1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled
Olive oil
A fresh squeeze of lemon, if desired
Salt and pepper to taste

Step 1: Boil enough water for the pasta in a sauce pan. Add pasta and cook until almost done (about 2-3 minutes before pasta would be ready).

Step 2: While pasta is boiling, prepare other ingredients. Add green beans the last few minutes until tender-crisp. Drain pasta and beans and return to the pot.

Step 3: Add spinach, tomatoes, and goat cheese to pot. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss together and squeeze a splash of fresh lemon over, if desired.



Step 4: Devour immediately! Enjoy! Serves 2.

Devonly, yours

Dining Al Fresco

There's nothing I love more than moving my dining room outside during the tepid summer months. And along with that: eating the bounty that summer brings. We enjoyed a marvelous meal with some friends outside (enjoying our new deck, of course!) and the produce couldn't have been more delectable. Don't you wish we had summer produce all year round as fresh as this? Oh, I do!

Heirloom tomato caprese salad with basil picked seconds before

The freshest of fresh summer fruit salad


And a toast to the wonderful evening (not to mention with a glass of some of the BEST wine I've had in a LONG time: a 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stagg's Leap District in Napa. YUM!)

Devonly, yours

Etsy!

Well friends, I finally have my own Etsy shop! It's still in the works, so please have patience, but please don't hesitate to check it out! I have a few items up for sale currently, and will be adding more very shortly.

Here's the address: Devonly.etsy.com

This will be the first time I've "sold" my work to the public like this, and I have to say: it's a lot more emotional than I thought. I know people like my work - they compliment it all the time even when they don't know I've made it. But putting myself out there for the world (or etsy) to see, criticize, deny or buy...why, I just hope it goes well. So, please pass the site along to anyone and everyone, I would most appreciate it!

And to go along with my new shop and (hopefully) my goods that will be flying out of here: I have new business cards!

Aren't they adorable? Would you like one? I will send you as many as you want! So, on that note I am off to flit about and get all that I need to get done today on my day off. Look for more items soon, as in hopefully by the end of the day. Until next time...

Devonly, yours

P.S. Did you notice how many "hopefully"s I had in today's post as much as I did? That is exactly how I feel right now: hope is keeping me going. Please hope with me, won't you?

Jewelery Pin Board

I have finally gotten to the point where my little hanging tree is full to the limbs with my jewelery and my earrings are falling off the branches. So, I decided to make a quick, easy, affordable, and adorable way to store and display my jewelery: a pin board!

You will need:

1 purchased pin board with frame
Fabric of your choice
Double-sided tape
Krazy Glue
Pins for pinning
All-purpose craft paint in color of your choice

Step 1: Cut fabric a little larger than the size of your pin board. Using the double-sided tape, fold under edges and tape down.

Step 2: Repeat this on all sides of the fabric until it is exactly the size of your pin board.

Pin down the fabric in place on the opposite sides that have been completed to ensure exact measurement.


Step 3: Flip the fabric over to right side up and glue the edges down and press down to secure.

Step 4: Paint the edges (if desired) a coordinating color for the fabric.

Pin jewelery up and display! This is easily hung on a wall or displayed on a table/dresser top, depending on the size of pin board you choose. Hope you enjoy making this and having a new and stylish way of displaying your jewelery.

Devonly, yours

Monogram It

Jason and I each have our own little closets in our bedroom on each side of our dresser. In order to have a somewhat fond feeling towards my itsby-bitsy closet, I dressed them up with some monogrammed letters. I didn't spend a heap on these either: the large "D" and "J" I bought at Michael's for about $8 each and painted them with interior wall paint I already had on hand. The ampersand I got at Anthropologie, which was $14. This is a great and much less expensive way to give some personality to a bedroom, children's room, or really, any room - Even outside would be cute!

*Please excuse the messy dresser: my bookend project is coming up soon!

Devonly, yours

What I did this Weekend: Events

This past weekend was a typical Seattle weekend: Events and happenings all over the city. Plus a mixture of weather. Saturday was hot and steamy, then rolled in the thunder clouds with a cold and rainy Sunday. I'd like to say that I got a lot accomplished, but I must say Jason will take the cake on that one. He single handedly completed our beautful deck. Isn't it lovely?


Saturday, Seattle Tilth had a city chicken tour where urban-dwellers having chickens opened up their yards and coops for the rest to come and learn. Unfortunately, I was at work, so Jason ventured this one alone. He stayed only in West Seattle, but got some great ideas (and some to avoid). Have I mentioned we're planning a coop of our own?


Not exactly sure the idea or humor behind this church-inspired roost.

Then once the weather turned sour and I didn't have to be at work, the Georgetown Garden Tour took place on Saturday. We got some great ideas for our yard and enjoyed the unique neighborhood that is our neighbor.




But it rained...


And rained some more...


After all the tours, we headed over to the West Seattle Summer Festival and found some great local artisans and businesses. But, the rain got the best of us and we had to duck inside. And the best part was, it was all in our neck of the woods. All in all, I say we had a very productive and eventful weekend. How was your weekend?

Devonly, yours

Friday!

Hello, dear friends! Friday is here at last. What a busy week I've had, have you? But it has been a great week: my dear Jason was home all week (hence not many posts this week!). Mostly because we've been working fastidiously at finishing our deck railings. What a task! But it looks so good! I will definitely show you once it's completed. In other fun news: I have completed my first commissioned piece! This lovely little watercolor was made with extra love for my mother-in-law's bedroom.

Devonly, yours

Found Art

I'm always looking for inexpensive and unique ways to decorate my house. Now, don't get me wrong, I love a good expensive piece. But I won't exactly be displaying any Picasso around here. Here are some items that I found either in my yard, my neighbors "junk" pile, and the craft store that are displayed in my bedroom. I love the feeling of my room: it's like a dreamy tree house to me...perfect for lulling me to sleep and awaking me with a smile.

This window had been sitting in my neighbor's garage for a long while and was collecting quite the cobweb collection. After a little TLC, it is the perfect piece of found art next to my bed.

Above, branches from the pruning of my lilac make a great addition to my room. Just make sure the branches can lay flat enough against the wall that they won't be poking any eyes out.

I had these little hanging glass vases that at one time had terrariums in them, but due to my unique knack for killing every house plant that dare cross my threshold, it now has something unliving: buttons! But they add such a nice touch of vibrancy and playfulness to my otherwise dull corner. I strung buttons on fishing wire and hung them from the ceiling and filled the vases with the remaining buttons.

Devonly, yours

Celebrating my Independence

This 4th of July, I felt free to be free:

Into the Sunset

At attention

Afternoon Nap

And I even got to drive!

Hope you had a lovely 4th of July celebrating your independence.

Devonly, yours

Happy Friday

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and great Independence Day! See you on Monday!

Devonly, yours

Succulent Shoes

One of my dear friends found these adorable shoes at a Goodwill and wanted to hang them on her wall. Next thing I knew, I was planting succulents in them. I didn't line them with plastic due to the fact that succulents require very little water. But plants that are grown for indoors if you want to hang them inside, and ones that are grown for outdoors if they will be outside.

Devonly, yours