I made the veggies!

Picked up some green beans at the Tuesday night Farmers Market in town the other day! And I did with them what I know best... I cooked them with bacon and onions. It was delicious!

We had broiled cod and rice with them! So yummy! The next night we had brussel sprouts and cooked them the same way! Have you had anything super yummy for dinner lately?!
xoxo Ashley

Summer Recap!

Well, it's been a long time since I've posted. I've had a pretty busy summer and now that it's fall I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. To round it all up, here are some of my favorite pictures from my 2010 summer!

Saturday Farmer's Market in La Grande

My friend Heather getting a hole in one at a disc golf tournament!!

The Taco-loaf, my entry for this summer's Meatloaf Off!

Visiting the Union County Fair

Gathering of the Vibes, Seaside Park, Bridgeport CT

My booth at Crossing the Blues, La Grande

My roommate was my booth buddy for the day, 

there might be beer in those cups...

Last hurrah of the summer! 

5 day private trip down the Lower Salmon river

Hope everyone else had a great summer as well! Feel free to post links to your blog or flickr account of your summer pictures too! xoxo Ashley

You say it's my birthday?!

Yay! I'm 27 today! I'm not going to get super sappy or anything but it's crazy to think about how now, almost 10 years out of high school, how long I've known some of my good friends and how much they mean to me! Here are just a few picks from one of my favorite birthdays, three years ago now!!

good good times! xoxo ash

Gathering of the Vibes

Yes! My favorite festie and I'm like 90% positive I'll be attending this year!! Woot woot for the Gathering of the Vibes 2010!! If you are a free spirit and have never been to a big, ol' hippie music festival you must attend one! It's like three days of fantastic music and then for those three days you can douse yourself in glitter and wear wings and crowns and crazy outfits! Group matching outfits are always awesome too, like Space Mafia ala my trip to Phish Fetival8 or have everyone dress in neon green, things of that nature! Plus, and even if you don't like to dress up, it is possibly the best people watching around! I usually sell earrings or something crafty to try and make a little more spending money while I'm there but mostly concentrate of having a good time! yeeeeeeaaah!

ok, so this doesn't start getting real good until about 2:14ish. I don't know the people who filmed this but me and my friends still talk about this chick! She, I shit you not, kept this up for at least 24 hours. She loooved her Jim Beam!

Well, I guess I'll end it with Wavy. Yes, that is the real Wavy Gravy, he has been the MC for the Vibes since I've been going at least, some serious novelty for the old hippies in the crowd to enjoy! Oh Wavy! You so crazy!

Maybe I'll see you there! drop me a line! xoxo ash

Tender Loving Empire Store!

The biggest news of my week is the news that Plucking Pendants will be in a kick ass store in Portland OR! Tender Loving Empire is a home grown record label and store that features local North West artists and musicians! I'm still building the order but it should be there soon! I live about 4 hours from Portland so it might be a while till I can go see my stuff there in person, but I already can't wait! Here is an awesome video of their store in Portland!



They also have a YouTube page where you can see videos of the bands that they have signed and fun stuff that goes on there! :) Here is a video of one of my favorite bands Finn Riggins!! So so rad. Lisa the guitarist and singer is like the most bad ass chick ever! She wails! They have some tour dates with Built to Spill this summer so you should check them out if they are in your area! =)



Woo-Hoo! Do you have your handmade items in cool stores?! Share your links and comments!
xoxo ash

YouTube it up!

Well, it's late night after work and I'm not ready for bed so I started going through my YouTube favs and having a blast! Here's some of my top tops!! Hope you have a laugh or two! Aaaaaand I hope these aren't just funny to me because it's late at night! :)
















Sweet! :P Feel free to post links to your fav Youtube videos! =) xoxo ash

Crafty Craft Show Display Tutorial

Hey-O!! This is my no fail, super easy, super cheap craft show earring display! I've got 6 or 7 different sizes in my aresnal and love them! They are manageable to pack when going to a show and can be easily updated as your jewelry and displays change!

First get your hands on a old frame (that still has a back stand so you don't have to make one!) from a thrift store, the dollar store, your attic, a dumpster behind your apartment building... wherever! :) I found this frame at a thrift store and it came with a kick ass picture of a REO Speed Wagon! Score! :-P

Other supplies you'll need:

•  Spray Paint (I like simple black but you do whatever your little hear desires! )
• A backing for your frame, fabric, paper, etc (again, whatever you are going for)
• Glue, I recommend using rubber cement or Elmers craft bond spray because you can pull off the backing if you decide to change later a lot easier
• Craft wire
• Tacks, simple or fancy, just try to make them flat and not big ole plastic clear ones that sick far out!
• I recommend having a hammer and a few small nails around in case your frame is a really hard wood and you need to make starter holes for the tacks

 

So first take your frame apart and set aside the guts!

Take the frame out side and coat the sucker with some spray paint!

just don't drop your can on the ground where it can hit a rock and puncture and start spraying all over the place and have you jumping around like an idiot to get out of the way! 

(I never did that last summer by the way...)

Now while your frame is drying, 

glue the back frame stand to your paper or fabric you want inside the frame

now cut it out... :)

Ok, Now, I had some trouble taking pictures and doing this at the same time, but you need to push your thumbtacks in, on oppisite side, as level as you can. 

Then all you do is wind the craft wire between the two tacks!

Now place your guts back inside and voila! Earring display!

This is my big guy where I keep my $5.00 earrings all with kidney wires so they stay on and I can bring this and sell earrings at every music concert/festival I go to! (A serious money maker!)

Well, hope this inspired yours dreams of an amazing craft booth! 

Feel free to post to your own craft show display tutorials!! xoxo Ashley