Farmers Market Find

This Saturday the local C'ville farmers market was crowded with locals, as well as those who were back visiting for Virginia's homecoming weekend! 

The market was in full fall swing! From pumpkins to hot apple cider and homemade marshmallows people were out in about in sweaters, scarves, and boots. 

I found a little painting inspired by Charlottesville life that I bought for $20.00. The artist places for tiny images on a page. I bought the downtown mall collection... Rock Paper, Chaps, Cafe Cubano, and Splendoras! Check back later for more information on this artist and her work! 

Officially Fall in C'ville

Spotted: Pumpkins at the Farmers Market

Have a Marvelous Monday...and check back soon!

Local Decor

Hydrangeas are all over Charlottesville this summer. Pinks, blues, greens, you name it...we got it! 

This afternoon I stepped out into Easton's backyard and picked a few for the office!

What better than having the room decorated with local goods! We looked fresh and smelled sweet for our meeting this afternoon. 

Have a Wonderful Wednesday...and check back soon!

marshmallow guns!

This weekend Lansing and I found homemade marshmallow guns at the Farmers Market...how fun! One of the vendors was selling the shooters in a big bucket with a simple little sign that indicated their purpose along with a bag of mini marshmallows... just in case you wanted to try them out. 

What a exciting and unique gift idea... and they are only $7. The marshmallows flew far and would make for a fun game or competition! 

Have a Terrific Tuesday...and check back soon!  

First Fridays: The Garage

Our last stop last Friday night was The Garage. I love this little venue tucked off of the Downtown Mall. The exhibit was put on by Daniel Perry, a local C'ville jam maker! Daniel displayed his hand-made prints that work to display the interrelated dynamic between nature and the human form. 

The Garage is the perfect place to show off artwork... I just love the exposed brick walls and hardwood flooring. Daniel had a variety of screen-prints as well as samples of his amazing JAM! His jam was paired with cheese from Feast!, break from Albemarle Baking Company, and wine from Pollak Vineyards.

Daniels screen-prints were available for purchase both matted and framed and unframed! What a fun addition for a studio room!  I loved how they were displayed on the walls as well as the Garage doors. 

As well as art, Daniel also sells his wonderful jam at the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings and online. His most current flavors are yellow peach + raspberry, peach blackberry + lemon, and peach strawberry + lavender to name a few!

If you head over to a concert at The Garage this month make sure to take a look around inside the building to catch a glimpse of Daniels artwork...and visit his booth at the farmers market too! 

Have a Terrific Thursday...and check back soon!

Laurel Denise Design

Laurel "Lolly" Smith is the owner and designer of Laurel Denise jewelry and prints. It all started from a dream... "simply put, laurel accessorizes an accessory. She uses her original illustrations and her unique handwriting to create stunning glass and sterling pieces".

 Laurel graduated from JMU in 2003 with a studio art degree...what fun! A time spend working on printmaking and an obsession with being in the studio. She simply loves to create, and not just jewelry. Her many talents range from card design to painting. 

I first encountered Laurel Denise Design at the Spring Farmers Market Downtown. Last Spring, Laurel was there in person selling her handcrafted jewelry. We got her information and learned all about her process of design and creation by staying and talking to her for a bit downtown. From standardized pieces to custom design, Laurel does it all. 

I love the natural element of her design as well as the wide variety of products. Laurel Denise Design has 4 main collections: elements collection, glass collection, simply stated collection, and texture collection.

elements collection

 

 

simply stated collection

glass collection

textured collection

Each collection offers a variety of necklaces and bracelets that are sure to please every ones style. Laurel Denise pieces integrate wonderful sayings and words into design: Simple Joy, Imagine, Dream, Create.

The textured collection offers longer statements such as " she lives her own little fairytale" to "  "give yourself the perfect day. do what makes you happiest, look upon what gives you joy. for all the happiness you give others all year long, give yourself the perfect day. unknown". How wonderful it must be to look down at your necklace or bracelet and be reminded by these sentences.

Check out Laurel Denise Design online or locally at O'Suzannah, located on the Downtown Mall.  I have also grown to LOVE Laurel's blog... especially the name: From Charlottesville With Love. How great is that! I really enjoy how she integrates pieces of her work into other daily fashion ideas within the pages of her blog...

Have a Fantastic rest of your Friday ( all 20 minutes).... and check back soon!

Wintergreen Grocery

Since I seem to be on a grocery streak.... why not talk about Wintergreen Grocery and its fun, local, and fresh feel.  If you are staying at the Wintergreen Ski Resort or just are in the mood for a small road trip to a local grocery hop on the road and head to the Wintergreen Grocery. I loved the simplicity of this place, offering all you need without too many extras...why does Harris Teeter offer 500 different kinds of pasta?? It's all the same right....

Wintergreen Grocery offers mainstream items such as Honey Nut Cheerios and Campbells chicken noodle soup as well as locally made foods from around the C'ville area. I loved browsing the homemade treats and locally made granolas and jams.

There are many options for natural foods as well, such as food from Neshaminy Valley Natrual Foods, a group that distributes organic grains, seeds, and nuts... healthy stuff! Loving these homemade labels as well...

I loved the way certain foods were organizes and presented to the customers. By using baskets and old crates the stored feels more warm and welcoming and quickly becomes a relaxing atmosphere for grocery shopping, something that can sometimes be seen as stressful and overwhelming. 

personal framed pictures on the wall!

From local foods to crafts this place is a gem within the world of gorcerys! You can even pick up a gift or two when you visit for friends back home, such as these locally crafted natural bee's wax candles.

Extra bonus.... Blude Ridge Pig is located RIGHT next door. Sadly it was closed when I went to visit but I will definitely be making the road trip for some BBQ this spring ( sure to be a later blog post!). I hear it's simply awesome. 

Have a Super Saturday... and check back soon!

Queen of Puddings

After living in London for two years, Lisa Procter decided it was time to head home to the United States with her British husband. They decided to settle in Charlottesville...how LUCKY for us! Lisa Procter wanted to bring the British way of life back to the states. She loved the slow way of life, and the ability of the English to savor small things and appreciate their beautiful surroundings. 

The name was selected ( pudding = dessert in England)  and Lisa Procter was ready to attend local farmers markets and sell her goods in small groceries and stores around Charlottesville. Her motto "Inspired by the traditions of the old country, with a little twist from the new!" motivates her everyday as she continues cooking for our community! 


Queen of Pudding specializes in SCONES! The scones can be bought pre made or in mix form. A variety of flavors are offered such as cranberry chocolate chip, blueberry, and ginger spice. 


The mixes are sold in little cardboard boxes ( 4 inches  x 4 inches x 4 inches) with the logo printed on front... quite a cute gift! 


Scone Mixes

1. Blueberry: made with unbleached flour and whole dried blueberries 
2. Chocolate Chip: made with unbleached flour and Ghirardelli premium chocolate chips
3. Cranberry: made with unbleached flour and tangy, sweet dried cranberries 
4. Cranberry Chocolate Chip: 2+3
5. Ginger Spice: made with unbleached flour, big plump raisins, ginger, and cinnamon
6. Golden Raisin: made with unbleached flour and raisins... the traditional English scone! 
7. Original: made with unbleached flour. Feel free to add your own ingredients and make them personal!

The pre-packaged scone mixes are super easy to make! ALL you have to do is add butter and milk... couldn't get much better than that. 


Scones

1. Blueberry
2. Cranberry
3. Ginger Spice
4. Golden Raisin 
5. Lemon
6. Vanilla


On their website there are a variety of tips and twists to make the scones even more fabulous. Such as recipes for Madagascar bourbon vanilla extract & icing, Lemon icing, and cream cheese icing. 

This past Spring Queen of Pudding Scones were sold at the Market at Pen Park. Until this market opens up again try.... 
1. Feast
2. Greenwood Grocery
3. O' Suzannah
4. Tri-Country Feeds 

Have a Sweet Sunday... and check back soon!

Holiday Market on the Downtown Mall

This winter season the holiday market is happening right off the downtown mall in Charlottesville! The parking lot right across from the South Street Brewery is filled with home crafted goods and food items that are perfect for holidays gift giving. I had the best time this morning wandering from vendor to vendor and seeing what all was offered for sale. 

The local craftsman are eager to chat and tell you all about their homemade goodies. I stopped and talked with a woman who makes Christmas wreaths and she was telling me all about how she goes out behind her home and cuts down leaves and branches... she said she was up the night before and even had to go outside and pick red berries at 2am! 

I just loved all the little felt ornaments that were being sold by many different vendors! Each one is home crafted from sheep's wool and dyed to make the ornaments colorful and unique. I bought a little angel with a gold star. The woman who was selling them grew up in London and moved to Charlottesville after meeting her husband who was overseas in the Air Force! It is so wonderful chatting and getting to know such amazing and creative C'ville locals who gather at the holiday winter market every Saturday! 

I want one of these blankets! 

These fun pieces are made by an 11 year old girl! 

Cute for the tree... or any time of the year

Take time to head to the downtown mall this winter season and check out all the amazing home created gifts! Just walking around, smelling the evergreen, and homemade scented candles really put me in that holiday mood. There were so many options I had a hard time choosing what to get my friends and family. 

Local food and wine are also available! From in season apples to pickled preserves to honey and jam, you can find lots of fun and delicious foods for the holidays... 

Have a Super Saturday... and check back soon! 

Local home crafted goodies

Every week the farmers market offers fun treats for all ages… and it’s not always just about the fruits and veggies! Local vendors come every Saturday morning bearing gifts including pottery pieces, crochet hats and socks, paintings, and jewelry.  These homemade goods make great keepsakes and presents. Just think… the holidays are RIGHT around the corner.

This year the city decided to extend the dates of the farmers market, allowing it to continue through December, thus increasing our Saturday morning pleasure for two additional months… I cannot think of anything more special.

silly little turtle shaped cookie!

Lucy in a farmers market purchase: sheep skin throw!

Head down to the Saturday morning farmers market before it gets too late! There are many gift possibilities for friends and family... everyone enjoys a home crafted treat.

Have a Marvelous Monday... and check back soon!