A house ownership means a lot of engagement and extra care but it’s also a great comfort and peace of mind, let alone the joy of furnishing an decorating of an own place. I guess what I really wanted to say is that I LOVE my new floor!!
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© 2010 forestblue factory
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Look who made it to Mahinamermaid’s Bedtime Endulgences collection! Our proud little Thaddeus :) Check out the amazing Banana Pecan Chocolate Chip Loaf of Muffins – what a heavenly thing!
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© 2010 forestblue factory
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What can be more dutch than raw haring with raw chopped onion and augurken? After all these years I finally gathered courage and had my first raw piece of fish, here popularly known as Hollandse Nieuwe. I must admit, it all happened fast and in some uncontrolled fervor of Saturday-morning-market-shopping enthusiasm…
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I can now proudly say I’ve done it. Well, in 50% I did, as half of the fish was more enthusiastically consumed by my cat.
Only later I was explained by some of my more raw-harring-experienced Dutch friends that in orther to enjoy it better, I should first generously salt it.
© 2010 forestblue factory
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It’s the end of summer in Forestblue Factory. We’re arming ourselves for the new season in warming honey, ginger and cranberries. The bears are gathering chestnuts for autumn games and we all can’t wait to play together in piles of colourful leaves :)
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A bunch of new colourful autumny (is that a word?) bears arrived at the Factory and they will be soon available for adoption in the Forestblue Etsy shop so make sure to check for updates this and the coming weeks :)
© 2010 forestblue factory
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Aren’t they lovely? We found them in this great antique shop by the Prinsengracht.
Prinsheerlijk Antiek is conveniently situated nearby the famous Amsterdam Negen Straatjes -the nine little streets. It is a fairly big shop trading in European antiques and a family run business for over twenty years.
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The shop invites you to admire an assortment of dated paintings, mirrors, clocks, chandeliers, furniture, utensils and decoration, and some cool vintage teddies, all placed in number of chambers one of which accomodates a restoration workshop.
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There are a lot of real antique shops in Amsterdam and if you go bargain hunting you’ll definitelly find something unique and also affordable. I am searching for a big closet at the moment and so far have found out that the choice is going to be difficult :)
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Prinsheerlijk Antiek, Prinsengracht 579
© 2010 forestblue factory
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And here’s our bunny all complete with his new arms and everything else in place. Pheff, I really had to work fast this time, but I love it, I love busy :)
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© 2010 forestblue factory
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Look who’s nestling here in my knitting basket. It’s a newborn bunny boy and he’s very anxious to get a pair of arms which he’s been waiting for since yesterday evening :)
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© 2010 forestblue factory
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Soon I’ll be finishing my latest knit work – a little bunny, meant as a birthday present for a very dear friend. Starting today I’ve only two short evenings available to complete the project. This time I want to modify my standard bunny pattern.
I’m thinking of a sharp cut tummy instead of the oval one I made until now. I will also try different fixing of the head and the feet should this time be visibly bigger.
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© 2010 forestblue factory
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Yesterday I received a very nice message from a customer in New York who after weeks of waiting finally got her Forestblue Factory woollen bear – it really made my evening. I’ve been very busy lately with custom orders for MISIO bears which more and more often come from within different parts of Western and Eastern Europe. Thanks to the customers who order custom made toys I don’t need to list them on Etsy anymore which is quite convenient I must say. Last week two happy FBF MISIO bears left to Norway, with some difficulty I stopped myself from giving them names. I like their sweet faces :)
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© 2010 forestblue factory
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So the prayers were heard and we’re experiencing a real warm and beautiful summer in The Netherlands. Oh joy!!
Two heat-wave summer survival propositions – delicious watery salads, refreshing and rich in vitamins (better than the addictive ice-cream, I still haven’t managed to drop the habit!).
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Summer survial salad #1 Watermelon Strawberries And Olives
I learnt this simple recipe from a friend, we were hosting a garden party and the salad was a very complimentary addition to freshly grilled fish. I made it then with green olives but I think black might fit in even better. Here’s what makes the perfect salad:
watermelon – thickly diced
strawberries – halved
olives – halved
thinly sliced red onion
crumbled feta cheese
a squash of fresh lime juice
fresh mint leaves – torn
fresh basil leaves – torn
some quality olive oil
freshly ground black pepper to taste
Summer survival salad #2 Parsley And Galia Melon
This one’s really easy to make. Here you only mix together bite sized pieces of melon with fresh torn parsley leaves (fair size pieces) and thinly slieced white onion. Black pepper tops it best. Such salad is a great side dish for meat based meals, but I like to have it with noodle dinners, especially the hot spicy ones.
Did you know that watermelon is actually a vegetable and not a fruit? It is related to pumpkin and cucumber. It consists of 92% water and 8% sugar. Melons don’t contain any fat or cholesterol and are high in fiber content and vitamins A and C and are also a good source of potassium.
© 2010 forestblue factory
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