squeeze

There's nothing like a tart lemon treat in the dead of winter.  Deana, the winner of my cookie giveaway, selected the Chewy Lemon Snowdrop cookies from the Sophistimom blog.  I was glad to have good reason to get back in the kitchen (albeit with a baby at my feet) and the cookies turned out great!

Here's a link to the recipe.  I tasted the cookies straight out of the oven and thought they needed an extra lemon punch, so I whipped up a simple lemon glaze using fresh lemon juice and powdered sugar.  I brushed the mixture over the cookies and let it dry before sprinkling them with a little more powdered sugar (rather than rolling them in it).

Once I'm done here I'm going to head over to Pinterest and start collecting some more recipes!

Also coming up are some colorful refurbished coasters using a cork-backed set from the Dollar Store - inspired by some lovely quilt designs on my "Inspired" board!

Hexagon Park on Moda Bake Shop

Crossed Quilt Block on The Long Thread

A Little Help From My Friends Quilt on Sew Take a Hike

Ruby Star Mod Mosaic Quilt on Oh, Fransson!

color theory

I'm beginning to conceptualize the re-design of my blog. I'm really wishing now that I had gone to school for graphic design. I'm starting by determining a new color palette - with the help of the Adobe website Kuler, which I read about on a design blog.

Here's a rough first draft of a color scheme. What are your thoughts? What sort of vibe do these colors evoke? Yay or nay? Suggested changes?

query

My blog needs a design overhaul. Especially after reading blogs of real-life artists and designers, I'm recognizing that this place needs some sprucing up. I guess I didn't learn the daunting Adobe InDesign program for nothing...I need to put it to use!

It's sort of like how it's good to have a clean, comfortable bedroom...the place you return to at the end of every day, the place you go to recharge. I think if my blog is pretty and well-composed, I'll be more apt to visit here, to write and create.

I am extremely open to suggestions. What sort of blog "look" appeals to you most? What color schemes? I just bought some notecards and envelopes in the the "Night" and "Papaya" colors from Paper Source:

I think these might just be a color phase I'm going through. Green's my favorite and navy's creeping up in personal popularity.

What about a logo? Into deer right now. Always owls and birds, but are they cliche? Something book or craft related?

Let's hear your recommendations!