End of the Month Recap: January

It's been a great first month here on Magic Bean and we're very much looking forward to the next. February will be jam packed with goodies including an 'In Season' feature for late summer, loads of 'Must Do' events and more 'To Market.

We'll have some new features including a tutorial and our 'To the Grocer' and 'Eat Out' columns focusing on some hotspots around Melbourne. 

We'll be sharing a whole bunch of wonderful work from artists, designers and crafters from all over, with particular emphasis on home grown talent. We want to focus on unearthing creative talent from Australia and will be posting a call out for submissions early in the month. 

The month that has been:

• 'In Season' feature for mid summer including a closer look at the humble zucchini along with a recipe for a scrumptious zucchini cake
• A few must-do events around Melbourne (Rooftop Cinema, Joseph Beuys & Rudolf Steiner at the NGV, Rythm of Africa) and the rest of the globe.
• Our 'To Market' feature on the old Queen Vic
• Our 'To the Grocer' feature on the hidden treasure of China Town, Wing Cheong
• A trip to the local coffee-and-a-good-book haunt, The Journal
• A look at creative how-to books in our 'Book Worm' column
• Work from amazing folk including Diem Chau (carved crayons), Night Owl (eco-friendly cards), Lorena Barrezueta (outstanding ceramics), Reya (hand-felted crafts) and veteran ceramist Gwyn Hanssen Pigott
• A handmade gift guide in celebration of Chinese New Year and the Year of the Rat featuring work from many an Etsy seller

Ceramics: Gwyn Hanssen Piggott

With a career spanning over 45 years, world renowned ceramist Gwyn Hanssen Pigott's work looks as fresh today as it did when she first created it. Born in Ballarat in 1935, she studied for her Bachelor of Arts at The University of Melbourne during the 50s.

Hanssen Pigott concentrates on the subject of the functional vessel, investigating its subtleties and nuances. Exploring the format of the group, she presents variations on related forms of vases, beakers, bowls and teapots as still lifes. Wheel-thrown in porcelain and using variations of wood-fired celadon glazes, Pigott’s approach to composition and presentation in these deceptively simple forms of grouped, functional objects reflect the influence of Italian painter Giorgio Morandi.

Handmade: Gift Guide for Chinese New Year

February 7th brings the dawn of the Year of the Rat. To celebrate, we've put together a gift guide of handmade items from various Etsy sellers around the globe.

Fine silver fortune cookie pendant, $20.55 US, from Etsy seller Melissa

Moleskin journal with gocco printed ancient Feng Shui Compass, $19.00 US, from Etsy seller Bamboo Village Press

Sterling silver, brass and freshwater pearl, Three Lanterns Earrings, $55.00 US, from Etsy seller Howlin' Doggie

Hand-stitched good fortune Nezumigiri Charms, $8.00 US each, from Etsy seller Sususten

Chinese Zodiac, vintage placemat journal, $25.00 US, from Etsy seller Color Theory

Hand-cut wooden rat puzzle, $10.00 US, from Etsy seller Puzzimals

Above: Rats vintage flash-card, $1.50 US, from Etsy seller Tres Locas

Below: Rat Love pin & sticker set, $3.50 US, from Etsy seller Black Lily Pie

Letterpressed 'Happy New Year' Chinese lantern notecards, $18.00 US for a set of 8, from Etsy seller NBD Stationery

Rufus Rat, $25.00 US, from Etsy seller The Birds and Bees

I had to post the full description for this one because it's quite cute: I'm a 100% wool crocheted and felted rat. I'm around 8 inches (20cm) in height. I'm sandy brown in color. I know I have a big bucked tooth, but I promise I won't gnaw through anything. Actually, I'm kind of sensitive about my tooth. I have a long rat tail and I'm very lovable.

Design: Pantone Mugs

For the designer in your life; these Pantone mugs are a must for any creative. Made from bone china, they come in a variety of swatches. Leo and I were the lucky recipients of two in 186C (red) just recently. They are popping up at gallery shops everywhere or you can order them online here.

Design: Kris' Color Stripes

Italian artist and fashion designer Kris keeps this great idea of a blog/sketchbook to inspire and evoke all who visit it. Kris' Color Stripes draws single swatches out of everyday life. Lovely.

Handmade: Etsy Seller - Reya

I love the soft, textural shapes in the work of Esty seller and Holland based artist, Reya.

The hand-felted poppies are available in her store now and the beautiful hand-felted pebbles can be custom made by contacting her.

Vintage Finds: Buttons & Books

We had the good fortune of stumbling across a range of vintage buttons at an antique store in the hills recently. The turquoise ones have this sort of 'coiled rope' texture which I love. 

I also found these two amazing books on the bookshelf at Savers while I was waiting for Leo to finish scavenging tailored shorts from the vast racks. The fact that the outside of the pages are tinted to match the cover design cemented them as a fixture on our own bookshelf.

Recipe: Soba Salad

Ideal for a mid summer lunch, this refreshing soba salad draws on the principles of Japanese flavour with sweet, salty and sour accents. Alongside the moreish texture of buckwheat noodles, beware of becoming addicted!

Ingredients

250g soba noodles

5tb japanese soy sauce

1tb sesame oil

2tb rice wine vinegar

2tb honey

1 spring onion, finely sliced

4tb black sesame seeds

juice of 1 orange

100g tofu puffs, optional for when you want to make the salad a bit more substantial.

Boil the soba as per packet instructions. They normally take about 4 minutes in rapidly boiling water and should be soft but still a little firm to the tooth. Drain off the noodles and rinse under cold water, turning the noodles over as you go so as to ensure all the noodles are cooled.

Combine all the ingredients except the spring onion, sesame seeds and tofu in a large bowl and stir well.

Add the noodles and toss to coat. Sprinkle in the spring onion and sesame seeds and toss them through as well. If you are using tofu puffs, chop them in to manageable bite sized chunks and toss them through the salad too.

Let the salad sit in the fridge for about 20 minutes to let the flavours infuse, if you can wait that long, we never ever can!

A few notes and variations:

We use organic soba noodles and they seem to be a bit more robust or something. 

Also give green tea noodles a try instead of plain soba for a bit of variation.

Leo likes to put a few orange segments and a scattering of baby spinach leaves through his salad, which makes for a new level of texture. 

All the ingredients will be available at your local asian grocer. 

Book Worm: Creative 'How-to' Books

I have a serious weakness for creative 'how-to' books. They call out to my, 'I don't need to buy that designer dress when I'm sure I could make it myself for a tenth of the price' side. Better (or worse) still, they appeal to my, 'I don't need to enrol in that creative course when I can learn everything from a book' side. Truth be told, none of us can ever possibly make everything we want to and some things are best left to the experts but these wonderful 'how-to' treatises also often have invaluable practical skills amongst their leaves, not to mention great ideas and gorgeous images or illustrations. 

I have a few favourites and many I'd love to get my hands on. 

Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe

I attribute the bulk of my sewing skills to Wendy Mullin. Well, actually my paternal grandmother was a seamstress and though all I have is a faint recollection of a dimly lit room near the front door, brimming with floral fabrics and musty notions, I'm certain that sewing somehow runs through my veins. Anyway, if you have leanings towards the needle and thread but don't know where to start, look no further than Wendy's 'Sew U'. Everything you need to know is covered here, from setting up your sewing space, to understanding patterns, from sewing in darts, to finishing edges. The book comes with a series of patterns that Wendy has released through Simplicity and includes perfect pants, a simple shirt and easy skirt.

When I initially skimmed through the pages of 'Sew U', our apartment was filled with drawn out Ohhhhhhhhs and Now I get its. The major epiphany for me though, was Wendy's mantra of 'think twice and cut once', which for me, has saved many a snip into the middle of a skirt.

 Top: Sew U: The Built by Wendy guide to making your own wardrobe by by Wendy Mullin, Eviana Hartman, and Beci Orpin

Bottom left: Sew U: Home Stretch, The Built by Wendy Guide to Sewing Knit Fabrics by Wendy Mullin and Eviana Hartman

Bottom right: Sew What! Skirts, 16 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics by by Francesca DenHartog

From top left: 

Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew by Amy Karol
How to Make Books: Fold, Cut & Stitch Your Way to a One-of-a-Kind Book by Esther K. Smith
Craft, Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business by Meg Mateo Ilasco
Cookie Craft by Valerie Peterson and Janice Fryer
Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts!: Lacy Crochet (Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts) by Shufu-To-Seikatsu Sha
Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts!: Amigurumi (Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts) by Tomoko Takamori
Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook by Debbie Stoller
Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller

I'd love for everyone to share their own favourite 'how-to' books, as far as I'm concerned, you can never have too many!

Homewares: Lorena Barrezueta

These delightful pieces by Brooklyn based ceramist Lorena Barrezueta have well and truly made the rounds on the web receiving widespread recognition but I couldn't help mention them here as well. 

Lorena's playful collection, modeled on the humble disposable foil tin, aims at questioning society's view on quality, value and high-end design. A culturally rich upbringing, combined with a prestigious education and extensive world travel has allowed Lorena to create pieces drawing on contradictions, humour and harness an acute eye for detail. 

You can purchase Lorena's pieces through her Etsy store or at various stockists around the globe. 

Visual Inspiration: Vintage Sewing Patterns

I love so many things about vintage sewing patterns, the wonderful illustrations, indicative of another place and time, and the way you can tell which decade they are from by the way the female figure is drawn (square shouldered and masculine in the 40s, curvy and sensual in the 50s). I love the the rich colours, the confident blocks of typography, the amazing diversity in the cuts of the garments. They really just don't make 'em like that anymore.

To Market: The Queen Vic

The market of the longest reigning British monarch has had Melbournians ritualistically making the pilgrimage to peruse and gather goods for over 125 years, and for good reason. This market offers diversity, a darn good atmosphere and price tags to suit even students especially for fresh produce with the many stalls competing.

I lie, staring at the cracks of blue light peeping through the timber venetians, wide awake. It's about 5.30am. I ponder whether to just stay in bed and rest, get up and clean, write, do something useful. I remember it's market day. The market opens at 6am so I quietly slink out of bed, avoiding the burdensome set of creaking floor boards below. I pull on tights, boots, a woolen skirt, turtleneck, overcoat and hat and sit down at the coffee table to write a note lest my other should wake up and find me gone. Pulling my shopping cart behind me, I walk through the dark and dormant streets of Melbourne, chopping and changing my route through streets and lanes as I please.

As I approach the market I can here the busy chatter and clatter of vendors setting up shop. Rugged up, hauling crates and containers off the back off trucks, the hardworking men and women prepare to begin their day of business. In the wee hours of this chilly morning, I witness what most of us shoppers take for granted. A thousand smells waft past my nose; a warm yeasty aroma as I wander past bakeries, an ocean breeze near the seafood hall and the musty, creamy scent wafting from the delicatessens specialising in cheese.


In the general area, treat your mantle to an adorable set of Babushka dolls for around $12, pamper yourself with a variety of essentials oils for about $5 each, stock up on socks, knickers and thermals for the whole tribe or prepare for Christmas stocking stuffing with hand-painted wooden toys.

The general stalls offer a lot but this market is famous for it's foodstuffs.

Fresh ricotta from 'Curds & Whey' in the deli hall, heaped onto caraway seed rye, topped with capers, roasted capsicum and black pepper.

See the lovely folk at The Epicurean in the deli section to get tips on what's ripe for your cheese and wine gathering and if you are a meat eater - the Gypsy ham is a must. You might also like to try their blonde Calamatta olives. Just across from the Epicurean is Curds and Whey and be sure to get a hunk of fresh ricotta - absolutely divine. Up the aisle a little is Andrew's Bakery and if you haven't tried A&G Bakehouse's Vital Rye, you are seriously missing out, for a slice of this bread (always toasted) is a superb meal unto itself. We like to spread its toasted flesh with tahini, top with a crumbling of a nice sharp vintage cheddar and a pile of alfalfa or watercress, a big grind of black pepper, squeeze of lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil...I digress.

Here are the details:

Queen Victoria Market
Corner Elizabeth and Victoria Streets
Melbourne
Victoria

Tel: (03) 9320 5822
Fax: (03) 9328 2710

Market Trading Hours
Tuesday: 6am - 2pm
Thursday: 6am - 2pm
Friday: 6am - 6pm (General merchandise closes at 4pm)
Saturday: 6am - 3pm
Sunday: 9am - 4pm

Closed every Monday and Wednesday, Good Friday, Anzac Day, Melbourne Cup Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day

For more information, have a look here.

Handmade: Night Owl Paper Goods

Alabama based creative team, Night Owl Paper Goods have a gorgeous range of eco-friendly greeting cards available through their website. Their range features cute forest characters, folk-art inspired patterns with an overall modern aesthetic. We love the pieces that are letter-pressed straight onto wafer thin, sustainably harvested yellow birch card.

Must do Global: January

Each month in addition to our 'Must do in Melbourne' post, we'll feature a few 'must do' events from around the globe.

Lower Hutt, NEW ZEALAND

Zeitgeist Becomes Form
German Fashion Photography 1945-1995

THE NEW DOWSE
October 6, 2007 to February 3, 2008

Images: Gaby van Cleef, Evening Dress by Gehringer & Glupp, Berlin 1951 & Winter Fashion for Bessie Becker, Zugspitze 1952 by Hubs (Hubertus) Flöter

Images: Op-Art Design on a Bathing Suit, Athens 1966 & Bathing Caps with a White Rim for 'Brigitte' 8/1966, Cairo 1966 by F.C. Gundlach

This exhibition features over 100 images celebrating 50 years of iconic world fashion, from Christian Dior in the 1940s to Issey Miyake in the 1990s. Zeitgeist Becomes Form includes unforgettable images by some of Germany’s most renowned photographers including Helmut Newton, Sybille Bergmann, Rico Puhlmann and Thomas Rusch.

These images truly capture the spirit of the times, and provide a fascinating insight into both the evolution of fashion, and simultaneous changes in society, codes of morality, the role of women and the hopes and ideals of people at the time.

For more information, take a look here.

Paris, FRANCE

Maisen et Objet

Design Professional's Trade Show

PARIS LE BORGET EXHIBITION CENTER

January 24-28, 2008

For more information, take a look here.

Los Angleles, USA

Black Panther

The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas

MOCA Pacific Design Center

October 21, 2007 to February 24, 2008

Images: Poster from The Black Panther, 27th May 1972, offset lithograph & poster from The Black Panther, 21st August 1971, offset lithograph by Emory Douglas

This exhibition traces the graphic art made by Emory Douglas while he worked as minister of culture for the Black Panther Party from 1967 until its discontinuation in the early 1980s. Douglas's powerful visuals helped define the trademark visual style of the group's newspapers, posters, and pamphlets. Douglas's substantial body of work exists as a powerful graphic record of the Black Panthers' legacy, reflecting their development and evolving mission to improve the lives of African Americans by calling for resistance and change, as well providing social services to their communities. With a firm understanding of the need to disseminate information and communicate the party's agenda visually, Douglas's bold illustrations and striking images spoke forcefully to a community ravaged by poverty, police brutality, and poor living conditions. With unmistakable humanism, Douglas portrayed a populace that was emerging from segregation and proudly fighting to assert their rights to equality. 

For more information, take a look here.

Must do in Melbourne: January

Melbourne seems to perpetually have festivals and events running and sometimes, especially for overseas or interstate visitors, it's hard to keep up. That's why on about the 5th of each month we're going to let you in on some of the must do's around Melbourne town.

We're going to kick off with a 'must do' that is by no means a well kept secret but a great night out that everyone should experience this summer. 

The Rooftop Cinema

Located at the tip-top of what has become somewhat of a Melbourne institution, Curtin House, the Rooftop Cinema boasts a stunning view of the evening city sky. Be prepared to climb the seemingly endless flights of stairs if the elevator is taken and while you're climbing have a peek into Cookie and The Toff in Town, two of the night spots also housed in the building. When you make it to the top, you'll be greeted by comfortable deck chairs, a bar to quench your thirst and of course a cult classic to keep you entertained. 

For more information or to peruse the program, go here.

Must do in Melbourne: January

January is quiet for Melbourne's smaller exhibition spaces, most of them close over the holidays and re-open in February but that doesn't mean you'll be short of exhibits to see. Head the NGV International and view the great permanent collection (thanks to the Felton bequest, as my gorgeous sister-in-law pointed out the last time she was in Melbourne). There are always amazing temporary exhibitions showing at the NGV as well...

Joseph Beuys & Rudolf Steiner
Imagination, Inspiration, Intuition

NGV International

26 October, 2007 to 17 February, 2008

Admission free

This exhibition examines the connections between the art of Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) and the teachings of Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). Rudolf Steiner’s writings on politics, economics and intellectual freedom exerted an impact upon Beuys. In particular, Beuys’ theory of ‘social sculpture’ reflects the influence of Steiner in its insistence that creativity should be applied to all aspects of human endeavour. Building upon Steiner’s concept of ‘denkbilder’ or ‘thought drawings’, Beuys used chalk on board to communicate to his audience the basic principles of social sculpture – freedom, direct democracy and sustainable economic forms. Concerned with the intersection of art and politics, education and the development of the individual, this is an exhibition that will appeal to a wide range of people; from the general public, to those interested in German culture or Anthroposophy.

Must do in Melbourne: January

Rhythm of Africa

Werribee Open Range Zoo

Every Saturday and Sunday at dusk.
5 January to 9 March, 2008

Experience soulful African beats on a balmy Summer’s eve performed by traditional and contemporary African artists.

More information here.

Diem Chau: Storytelling

Carved crayons on wood base, Installation view, 2005 by Diem Chau

These beautiful sculptures carved from crayons are by Vietnamese born artist, Diem Chau. I love the strong narrative inherent in these pieces, the use of colour and scale, and the adoption of the humble Crayola crayon, carefully crafted into these evocative figures. 

Diem Chau describes himself as an artist whose medium is stories. Having experienced a somewhat nomadic childhood with little material possession, he discovered the importance of stories shared with loved ones. 

"Each story is a journey that gives us greater understanding of our past and our culture. Each story is a thread that connects us to each other, the storyteller holding one end and the audience the other." - Diem Chau

Recipe: Zucchini Cake

Like the hearty, moist goodness of our old friend carrot cake, zucchini cake is at once light yet substantial, sweet but not too sweet and overall, scrumptious. 

I have adapted this recipe from one belonging to Nigella. We tend to like less sweetness than the decadent Nigella suggests though we always unanimously vote that her decision to fill the cake with home made lime curd is pure genius, adding a refreshing surprise of tartness to every bite. 

You will need two 21cm sandwich tins, greased and lined

Ingredients

60g raisins

250g zucchini (2-3), weighed prior to grating

2 large good quality eggs

125ml vegetable oil

100g castor sugar

225g self-raising flour

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

For the lime curd filling

25g unsalted butter

1 large good quality egg

25g castor sugar

40ml lime juice (1-2 limes)

zest of one lime

For the icing

200g cream cheese

70g icing sugar

juice of 1 one lime

Preheat your oven to 180C

Put the raisins in a bowl and cover with warm water to plump them up. 

Wipe the zucchini with a kitchen towel and coarsely grate them. Turn them into a sieve to let the liquid drain from them.

Place the eggs, oil and sugar in a bowl and beat them until creamy. Sift in the flour, bicarb and baking powder and continue to beat until well combined. Stir through the grated zucchini and add the drained raisins. Pour the mixture into the tins, and bake for 30 minutes until golden and firm to the touch. Turn out on to a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes.

To make the lime curd filling

Melt the butter in a heavy-based saucepan, add all the other ingredients and whisk to a custard over a very gentle heat. Let the lime curd cool before laying your first cake on a plate, spreading it with lime curd and placing your second cake on top.

To make the icing

Beat the cream cheese in a bowl, gradually adding the icing sugar and then the lime juice. Once you have assembled your cake with the lime curd filling, spread your icing on the top of the cake.

Nigella says that if you feel like the icing is too runny, you can put the cake in the fridge for a little while.

In Season: Zucchini

The yellow or green hued zucchini (or courgette) is actually a fruit, though is usually treated as a vegetable in a gastronomic sense. Botanically speaking, zucchini is the swollen ovary of the female zucchini flower and is picked for eating when the seeds are soft and immature. A key ingredient in the famous French dish Ratatouille, a mainstay in Japanese tempura and a firm favourite when breaded and pan fried in Italian cooking, zucchini is used culinarily in many cultures.

With its delicate flavour, buttery flesh and thin layer of edible skin, zucchini requires little cooking and lends itself to a variety of cooking methods including sautéing, baking and steaming. Cooked zucchini should be tender yet slightly firm to the tooth and can also be enjoyed raw when finely shaved with a vegetable peeler into salads. Keep an eye out for for zucchini with flower in tact, for these lovelies are said to be the sweetest and most fresh.

With widely documented health benefits, zucchinis are said to be cooling in hot weather, blood purifying, anti-inflammatory and diuretic. They have been used to treat ailments such as indigestion, colitis, constipation, kidney and bladder disorders and hypertension.

Zucchini will keep for up to about four days at room temperature or in the vegetable compartment of your fridge though they can be prone to damage from over-chilling which will appear as sunken pits in the surface of the fruit. 

Check in later on today for an amazing zucchini cake recipe adapted from a piece by the sultry Nigella Lawson.

In Season: Mid Summer

Buying produce in season holds benefits not only for ones taste-buds but also ones purse. Here on Magic Bean, we’re going to kick off the dawn of each month with a guide to seasonal produce.

Take advantage of January, the most fruitful (and vegieful) time of year, with a plethora of tantilising colours, tastes and textures.

This month, sink your teeth into these delectable gifts of nature:

apricot, avocado, banana, basil, beans (butter and green), blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, cantaloupe, capsicum, celery, cherry, chervil, chives, coriander, cucumber, currants, dill, eggplant, gooseberry, honeydew, lettuce, loganberry, lychee, marjoram, mulberry, mango, mint, nectarine, okra, onion, oregano, passionfruit, peach, peas, pineapple, plum, radish, raspberry, sage, spring onion, squash, starfruit, strawberry, sweet corn, thyme, tomato, watermelon, zucchini, zucchini flower

Come back tomorrow when we’ll be posting a feature on one of this months pick of the crop including recipes.

About Magic Bean

Magic Bean is the creative partnership of Kathy Sinclair and Leon Calero, a dynamic duo who met on their first day of University (Bachelor of Design). Based in Melbourne, Australia, they have been taking on a diverse range of projects from various creative facets since 2005.

As a multidisciplinary creative studio, Magic Bean offers a diverse range of products and services for businesses, organisations and individuals; from corporate promotion and web design to community art projects and non-profit initiatives, from tuition and technical consultation to handcrafted treasures.

As a team, Kathy and Leon they are dedicated to ensuring the best outcome for each client or customer and do so by fostering close relationships based on empathy and understanding.

Leon’s forte is technical production, consultation and problem solving. With extensive experience in conducting classes in creative software and Mac basics while working for Apple, along with his popular private tuition sessions, Leon is a fervent teacher. With a passion for music, Leon revels in any opportunity to forge his song writing and sound engineering skills with the design and communication process. He has a unique creative flair that gives Magic Bean’s projects a distinctive edge.

Kathy’s strengths lie in idea generation and lateral thinking; she delights in pushing boundaries to find innovative solutions to any communication problem. A keen crafter, Kathy creates all the pieces offered through Magic Bean Handmade, harnessing her flair for colour and style. With a background in business and a passion for sharing beautiful things, she has aspirations to expand Magic Bean’s offerings to include handpicked treasures. Kathy’s skills and interests branch into various creative disciplines including writing, fashion and food.

Together, Kathy and Leon are inspired by the past, present and future. With a penchant for all things vintage, they delight in collecting curio and learn lessons through art that has been and people who have made an impact. They live for now, giving in to spontaneity when an exciting opportunity presents itself. They relish looking to the future, casting ‘what ifs’ out into the ether and forecasting upcoming trends.

Welcome to Magic Bean

Creativity through food, design, art, craft, life.
Magic Bean is about planting the right seeds and nurturing them.

Magic Bean is a daily blog that embodies the nurturance of one’s mind, body and soul. We are able to nurture these things only after having planted the right seeds, seeds that make for joie de vivre. For us these seeds are creativity through food, design, art and craft. They are communication and empathy in our relationships with others and awareness of what is going on both inside our little heads and on our great planet. We’ll share with you our own handmade and homemade treats, our brain-waves, revelations, inspirations and discoveries. It is our hope that you will share an interest in some of our seeds and let us know about your own harvest.