Look What Punky Found: Creative Thursday

While searching for a little creative spark this chilly Thursday morning, I came across "Creative Thursday" by Marisa. Couldn't be more literal, right?

What an inspiration!

Marisa Anne was working a 9 to 5 job in a creative field (interior design), but she didn't have time for creativity. She decided to do something about it. She set aside one day each week for fun and creativity.  You guessed it...Thursday.

You can read all about her journey on her website www.CreativeThursday.com and follow her blog. Her book is available on Amazon and signed copies are available in her Etsy Shop, as well as her beautiful artwork.

Her adorable illustrations are even available as fabric! Read about her "Locally Grown" line of fabrics.

To quote Marisa, "Learn to make creativity a daily habit!"

I'm going to do something creative today...how about you??

For the Love of Pyrex

The Gold Butterfly Pattern that started it all.

You may have noticed that I pin a lot of Pyrex. I love it. I collect it. I hunt it down.

My addiction...er...uh...passion for Pyrex began many years ago when my husband's Grandmother gave me a large Butterfly Gold Cinderella mixing bowl. I loved it...right up until the day it slipped out of my grip while making pie crust and shattered on the floor. I was in tears. I had not only broken what I considered a family treasure, I realized suddenly that I had broken something I may never find again.

Luckily, I was wrong. I searched Etsy and was able to find a complete set of the same pattern. Whew.

It didn't take long for me to want more. If one set was good, two would be better, right? My hunt began.

The Friendship pattern is one of my favorites.

As an avid thrift shopper, I do still occasionally find pieces in our local shops for a great price. I'm finding more and more that even the thrift shops seem to know what they've got and price it accordingly. But, that's where the thrill of the hunt comes in. I've managed to build quite a nice collection by simply always being on the lookout.

White on Black Snowflake Pattern and Black on White Compass Pattern.

I use a wonderful website called Pyrex Love to research patterns and get more information. While they say they aren't a comprehensive guide, they are constantly updating their site with more resources. It's as "comprehensive" as I've ever needed! I use their Pattern Reference often.

I'll share more pictures of my collection in future posts. Be sure to check out the Punky Jane Pyrex Pinterest Board. It might just get you hooked!

YOLO (You Only Live Once)

"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."
~Mae West

Well said, Mae!

Our hand stamped and personalized Scrabble-inspired necklaces are the perfect way to express your belief in 'YOLO" or simply profess your love of Yolo County. Yes, there is one, and I live there.

This design can be personalized with any word you'd like up to 5 letters long and the official Scrabble point value will be stamped with each letter. Single tile necklaces are also available.

See all of our options as well as other geeky designs in our Geekery Section.

Feeling like Fall – and Pumpkin

Pumpkin Waffles with Maple Pecan Cream...YUM!

Today is the first day of Fall (in the Northern Hemisphere, my husband clarified). With the storm that rolled through our area yesterday, I'm feeling it.

For me, Fall means a lot of things....apples, candy corn, cranberries, cool weather, no allergies, sweaters, cuddling more than usual, using the slow cooker more, and pumpkins, to name a few.

When this recipe for Pumpkin Waffles popped up on my Facebook newsfeed from Better Homes and Gardens, I knew immediately I'd be making it soon. I think the first day of Fall is perfect.

The wonderful color...

These are very easy to make. I like the consistency of the batter...nice and thick so you don't have that oozy mess dripping out the edges of the waffle iron. The wonderful smell of pumpkin and spices in the kitchen while they are cooking is enough to wake up even the deepest sleeper.

We used pecans instead of walnuts.

I substituted pecans for walnuts, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly.

The only other addition was a family discussion about how today is the first day of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere, and then deep thought by our 11-year-old, trying to figure out a way to move place to place so it's Summer all the time therefore she was never in school. I should have pointed out the Halloween and Christmas would never come. Hindsight.

These are sure to be a new family favorite!

Bacon!

Now that I have your attention...

I've always loved the stuff. Even though I don't eat a lot of meat, bacon is a must. But, I've never liked the mess of frying it up in a pan, or the results when I microwaved it.

I finally settled on the pre-cooked bacon from Costco...not the nice thick stuff I love, but at least the flavor was good. Or I convinced myself it was.

One day, seeing 'bacon' on the Costco shopping list, Mr. Punky Jane came home with that huge double pack of thick cut Applewood smoked bacon. He swears it was an honest mistake, but I think he had an ulterior motive...you know, to have real bacon.

So I Googled the best way to cook it without a mess. The top result? Martha Stewart. 

Now I admit, I have mixed feelings about anything Martha does. While I know the recipe or process will most likely work and be amazing, somehow I'm always overcome with living up to Martha's standards. 

After a few minutes of internal dialog (sad, I know), I clicked the link and read. "Less-Mess Bacon." Wait...one paragraph of instructions? I think even I could follow along!

I lined my baking sheet with parchment paper, laid out the strips, and placed the sheet into a 400º oven. Then watched. In less than 20 minutes, we had it: perfectly cooked bacon and a mess completely contained within the parchment. Success!

A few tips to add to Martha's version:

1. Use parchment paper that is larger than your rimmed baking sheet so the grease doesn't ever touch the sheet. Easy clean-up! I buy my parchment at Costco, and like everything else there, it's big. 
2. For clean up, let things cool down completely, and carefully place the parchment in the garbage. Be careful...it can get brittle. 
3. I like to flip the bacon about mid-way through cooking as well as rotate the pan. 
4. If you have a convection oven, drop the temp to 375 degrees.
5. Keep an eye on it and adjust your time to get it just the way you like it.

Enjoy!

ps...I think Martha would be pleased.

Look What Punky Found: Vintage Metal Letterpress Blocks

why fit in when you were born to stand out by RuggyRevival

Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

Seriously! It's something we ponder in the Punky Jane studio all the time...but what a perfect Friday reminder.

Be sure to check out Dana's other fun letterpress items in her Etsy shop, Ruggy Revival.

How will you stand out?

Not Every Month Starts on a Monday.

Do you know what makes our Mark Your Calendar® Collection unique? Let's discuss!

Each piece is hand crafted for you when you order.

That's cool. Handmade rocks. 

We don't use a generic "every month starts on a Monday" calendar.

Really? Why does that matter to me?

Glad you asked! If you were married on Saturday the 14th, your wedding date will be shown as a Saturday...not a Wednesday.

If your sweet baby is a Tuesday's Child (full of grace, according to the nursery rhyme), you don't want a Friday highlighted, do you?

No matter what special day you are celebrating or honoring, your Mark Your Calendar piece will look just as the month did that year.

Okay, that's really cool!

Now let's talk about Leap Year...if your February has a 29th day, so will your calendar jewelry.

Leaping lizards!

We stamp the year right along with the month.

That's great, but what if I don't want everyone to know I'm turning 50? 

Since our Mark Your Calendar pieces are hand made for YOU, we can customize it the way you'd like it...year, no year, it's up to you. You look great, by the way.

Whether you want to commemorate a wedding, a birthday, sobriety, survival, graduation, your son's first baseball game (or World Series appearance!), or the day you landed that dream job, our Mark Your Calendar Collection has something for everyone and it will be truly personalized.

Nice chatting with you!

      

Simply Charming: It's All About Options

I don't like wearing the same thing everyday. I like options. Choices. Variety. Especially when it comes to my jewelry.

Now I'm lucky. I make jewelry. That makes it a little easier for me to have a lot of variety.

I have a habit of digging around my little boxes of tests and samples in the studio and putting together new combinations to wear. It's fun and I feel like I have a new necklace each time.

Why shouldn't our customers have that luxury as well?

I'm excited to introduce our Simply Charming Collection. It allows you order one of our Popular Combinations, or Build Your Own from scratch. Either way, you'll be able to slip the charms on and off the chain, wear some or all, and put them in any order you'd like.

Our Greyhound Tribute Necklace is one design option for pet lovers.

You can start with one of our Popular Combinations and even make changes...adding another charm or personalized disc using the Add Ons section.

Our handcut and stamped football charm
is an example of the charms available.

Or, start with an empty chain and build it just the way you'd like it using our Build Your Own Section.

Imagine the possibilities!!

      

Read our Press Release here.

Caught Without Your Superhero Cape for National Comic Book Day?

National Comic Book Day is September 25th and our Tattle Tales Collection with exclusive write-on/wipe-off designs is the perfect way to celebrate.

Show your love of comic books by wearing a speech or thought bubble necklace inscribed with your own handwritten message.

Write your message, and wipe if off when you're ready for a change.

Our Tattle Tales Necklaces allow you to write whatever you'd like to say for the day, whether it’s a personal message of inspiration or a stern warning for everyone around you, and then simply wipe it off and write another message when you're ready.

Each kit comes with everything you need.

Each necklace comes complete with everything the wearer needs to wipe off one message and add another.

See our entire Tattle Tales Collection here. We also offer designs we can hand stamp with a permanent message if you'd prefer.

      

This Might Just Replace Carrot Cake...

Dear Carrot Cake:
We've had a good run. A little nutty and spicy at times, your flavors have always been good to me, but it's time to try other cakes. 

Our garden is still producing zucchini, so I needed to find something else to do with it. Cake seemed like a good idea. When is it not? I had no idea how good until it was done and I bit into this deliciousness.

This cake is the perfect combination of flavors and wonderfully moist. I used pecans and no raisins, based solely on my pantry inventory.

Dear Cream Cheese Frosting:
I still love you. You're staying.

Get the full recipe for Grandma's Zucchini Cake Recipe at Simply Recipes. And a huge thank you to Elise Bauer, a fellow Northern Californian, for continually posting such wonderful recipes!

      

Look What Punky Found: Nerdy Nummies

Okay, I have to be honest. I didn't find Nerdy Nummies...my 11 year old did. Whew. Glad that's off my chest.

If you haven't already heard of Nerdy Nummies, it's a wonderful online cooking show with a seriously geeky side.

The funny (and quirky) Rosanna Pansino creates and hosts all of the shows, which you can see on her YouTube channel.

Whether you'd like to make a Lego Cake (this one is easy!)


...a nice batch of Cheeseburger Cupcakes


...or a TARDIS Gingerbread House



...Nerdy Nummies is the place to find it.

It's a fun show to watch. I hope you check it out and make something fun!