Revel
Projects to create, and revel in your travels.
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St. Petersburg, Fall 2019 ~ Create
Picking the “Olivier” salad to represent Russia is a no-brainer, as it is Russia’s most favorite way to eat our ubiquitous potato, but I was actually enticed to do so after spotting an ode to the Olivier in none other than The New York Times this past winter. And this dish deserves such a treatment, because its flavors and colors reminds nearly every Russian expat of family holidays, reliable restaurant side dishes, and long arguments over fresh cucumbers vs. pickles. Here are the secrets NYT deems critical to the perfect preparation: “It was so refined and fresh in the mouth. The peas popped. The egg was tender, not rubbery. For…
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Istanbul, Fall 2019 ~ Create
In full transparency, I made this project to go with my “Greek” corner at the front of the house, but the inspiration for flag design did come from “evil eye” amulets and jewelry that I saw everywhere in Turkey. And since these are both Mediterranean countries, I guess it is representative of the region. The three interconnected circles within each little flag in the bunting also represent trinity, reminding me of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, which once functioned as a Christian church, and is filled with gorgeous mosaics depicting Christian saints.
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New Mexico, Winter 2019 ~ Create
I created several of these baskets, including one for myself, and one for my trip-mate, Kelly. I followed a really great tapestry crochet pattern for The Phoenix Basket from the MeganMakesDo blog, which I admire for the versatility and wide assortment of projects. This project challenged me, as one works with all the colors of yarn at once, crocheting with the “active” color over all the rest, which makes them tangle. But it was really worth it in the end, as the weave does turn out neatly, with the stitches creating a beautiful, uniform effect, and a sharp pattern. This inspired me to look more into the wayuu mochila bags,…
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Tuscany, Fall 2018 ~ Create
Beet Risotto with Goat Cheese, from cafes in Sienna (recipe by Platings + Pairings). Russian girl meets beets in a whole new way. Swap goat chees for blue cheese for an authentic Sienna flavor. The same meal in Sienna introduced me to what many of you have known all along, Melon Wrapped in Prosciutto is divinely refreshing! (Recipe by Ina Garten).
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Florence, Fall 2018 ~ Revel
My favorite ways to closely experience local culture is to get lucky enough (or to plan…) to partake in one of the local festivals, such as Carro Matto in Florence, or “crazy cart”. On the last Saturday in September, this buzy city is suddenly even more alive with the sound of drums, colors of medieval costumes, a cart full of over 2,000 round bottles of Chianti di Rufina, pulled by a pair of white oxen, and a fascinating flag throwing competition performed by Bandierai degli Uffizi. Watch the video below. It was windy, yet the flag throwers managed to keep their formations quite beautifully, and I don’t recall a single…
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Maui, Spring 2018 ~ Create
I was particularly inspired by intricate Hawaiian quilts. The fabric overlay that is quilted on top is cut out of a single sheet of fabric, folded like a piece of paper for a snowflake. Shapes of breadfruit, hibiscus, pineapple, turtles and dolphins fan out from the center, interspersed with waves, vines and organic lines. Quilting is not an art I have mastered yet, so I did my own interpretation with a denim bleaching technique that I have used for years. The color and texture of the bleached out area remind me of water, so I found this to be a good medium to celebrate Maui. Cutting out the pattern for…
