Booze Market Cooperativa-XMAS Bazaar

The Crafts Factory continues the organization of "The Booze Market" in Booze Cooperativa, an open market for crafts and design. There, you can find objects of design, jewelry, accessories, ornaments, clothes, second hand items, small sculptures, blackboards and many more. You will also have the opportunity to meet the designers of these objects, which will rotate day by day and will be continually updated.  

Booze Market supports and welcomes market-creating people with enthusiasm and inspiration. It can be described as a meeting point for people such as professionals who have shown work in galleries, young artists who are looking to find a way to demonstrate their products and travelers hoping to finance the trips they have done by bringing items from one country to another. It is a place where there is free exchange of ideas and opinions, which may lead to new partnerships, new trends and new friendships. A party that wishes to encourage people with ideas and enthusiasm!

The xmas version will take place daily from 16-24/12. Don't miss it....!!!

Etsy-Eco Shag

 

Eco Shag is a shop at etsy.com, which produces handmade eco-chic wear. Of course, it is one of my favorites. 

Tania from Los Angeles, is the one woman show behind this brand. She is an eco-conscious designer, fabric sculptor and lover of all things upcycled, recycled, repurposed or organic. Moreover she is Inspired by eras gone by and mostly influenced by the mod styles of the 1980’s and the funky colors/textures of the 1970’s.

All the materials used in her designing proposals are eco-friendly and they are addressed both to female and male persons. What is important to know when visiting this shop, is that when someone conducts a purchase of one of her items, he/she also contributes to two non-profit organizations, "The National Tumor Society" and the "Make A Wish Foundation". You get the chance to enhance your total outfit with a "touch" of her colorful designs.

I have attached below some of her scarves, scarf necklaces and fabric bracelets, for you to have a taste....

All photos taken by: Eco Shag Shop as seen at Etsy.com

Chocolate Chip Cookies

 The past two months, I have tried hard to find a recipe to make chewy chocolate chip cookies. Sometimes they just got burned, some others they were very stretched, there were also times that they tasted badly or like air....;-(((( finally I found the perfect recipe. 

It is a recipe adapted by Martha Stewart's collection of chocolate chip cookies which she believes has a big "secret". Well in my opinion it does!!! Every time I try to do this recipe and believe me , every time, these cookies end up always better than the previous time I made them. It's not only that they maintain the flavor and the taste of a perfect chocolate chip cookie, but it is also that they are chewy and ease to eat. You can have them for breakfast, after lunch, snack or even before going to bed, along with a glass of cold milk.

The recipe is as follows:

• 1 pound (450 gr) unsalted butter
• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 2 1/4 cups packed light-brown sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 3 cups plus 2 tablespoons pastry flour-I used all-purpose flour because I didn't have pastry flour
• 3 cups bread flour
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 pounds (900 gr) chocolate or other best-quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats; set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Reduce speed to low and add both flours, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, and chocolate; mix until well combined.
3. Using a 4-ounce scoop for larger cookies or a 1-ounce scoop for smaller cookies, scoop cookie dough onto prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake until lightly browned, but still soft, about 20 minutes for larger cookies and about 15 minutes for smaller cookies. Cool slightly on baking sheets before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

 

The recipe can be also found at: Jacques Torre's Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies

Lovely Package

Lovely Package is a site that curates very best packaging design. While searching the web for unique and innovative designs for my homemade cookies and desserts I fell for this wonderful site with all its amazing database. I have captured below some of its photos to give you a clue of what it stands for but don't forget to visit it.If you do so, you get to see how simple products or even raw materials may be turned into luxurious and elegant designed items.Huge amount of fantasy and inspiration needs to be motivated in order for someone to accomplish these wonderful packaging ideas.

 

"Lemonies" represent an agrotourism unit which produces organic products and with the use of them creates various kinds of desserts, marmalade,and other homemade items. The designer is Chris Trivizas and his office is in Greece.

 

Set of organic products designed for luxurious Scandinavian hotel by Casper Holden in Denmark.

 

"Zest" is an all-natural range of pasta sauces and pestos with nothing to hide. The designer is Designers Anonymous  and their office lies in London.

"Ayelet Naturals" is a new brand that produces organic aromatherapy, skincare, bath and body products from NY to anywhere. The designer is Oh Boutique and their office lies in Argentina.

"Sheffield & Sons" spices as designed by Birdsong Grecory from United States.

All photos are taken by Lovelypackage.com...Thank you

Shoe Storage Bags

Yesterday I decided to organize my wardrobe. While doing some web searching i found these cute shoe bags that will help me pack my shoes and finally see them in pairs ;-), and also give a style in my wardrobe. You may choose to buy ready-made patterns or apply personalized prints to boost your set up. I have uploaded some designs I found at:http://www.notonthehighstreet.com. 

This wonderful e-commerce site offers you unique and charming designs, carefully-made things that you sometimes stumble across in cool urban markets, village fairs and tucked-away boutiques. It represents a place that is quick and easy to get to, where shopping is simple and fun, and where you can always find the most inspirational and wonderful things.

Photos taken from: http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/

Gingerbread Cookies

This recipe is adapted by Martha Stewart's Christmas recipes. I chose to make this delicious cookie recipe because I love the flavor and the smell of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves all combined in a batter. I have copied below the recipe for you to see all the ingredients and directions needed to complete these cookies.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/3 cup packed dark-brown sugar
• 1/3 cup unsulfured molasses
• 1 large egg

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, spices, baking soda, and salt; set aside. With an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in molasses and egg. With mixer on low, add dry ingredients; mix just until a dough forms. Place dough on floured plastic wrap; pat into an 8-inch square. Wrap well; chill until firm, 1 to 2 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Divide dough in half. Working with one half at a time (rewrap and refrigerate other half), place dough on floured parchment or waxed paper; roll out 1/8 inch thick, turning, lifting, and flouring dough (and rolling pin) as needed. Freeze dough (on paper) until firm, about 20 minutes.
3. Loosen dough from paper. Cut out shapes, and transfer to baking sheets. Decorate with sugar or sprinkles, as desired.
4. Bake until firm and edges just begin to darken, 10 to 18 minutes, depending on size. Cool completely on baking sheets.

I have used sprinkles and decorating sugar to give a more festive picture. I also used lemon icing (1 1/2 cup of confectioner's sugar mixed with 3-4 tablespoons of lemon). Try this wonderful recipe and the whole house will be "gingering".....

Recipe adapted by: Gingerbread Cookies

Etsy-Sarah

Today i will dedicate my post at Sarah. She is a British woman, who has spent most of her adult life living in Greece with her husband and her 3 children. What she attempts to do  through her etsy shop is combine her love of craftwork and handmade with the production of ecologically pieces. 

Therefore she uses recycled, craft papers and card stock and turns them into new useful products that can perfectly picture and decorate various items. Her craft work is mainly concentrated in designing polymer stamps and providing ink pads to accompany her items and ideas.

I have uploaded below some of her craft work for you to see. You may reach her shop at : ahueofduckeggblue