Next Round of Designs

Next round of designs, both shirts and coozies.  Was able to fit 4 different projects onto one screen.  Here's to planning and efficiently using space and saving materials.  

The three step process to create the perfect screen.  

Step one.. Draw your image in drawing fluid (blue stuff).. let dry 

Step two.. Fill screen with screen filler (red stuff).. let dry

Step three.. Rinse out the drawing fluid.. voila

Stay tuned for the prints from this screen!

Be Bold

peace & love

Rebecca

A Mindful Monday

Be Bold and dance on tables

peace & love

Rebecca

Taste of the Bayou

For this past Saturday's dinner, I wanted a taste of the bayou.  There's something about summer, seafood and cajun spices.  On my search for the perfect recipes I went to my trusted Pinterest board.  I usually find two variations of the same recipe and then I end up doing a blend of the two, only taking the best ingredients from each.  

We had recently taken a trip down to the Low Country (Charleston and Savannah) and I really fell in love with all the southern flavors.  I had gotten a few cookbooks while down there, and let me tell you, I have not made one recipe that I did not like.  The Lee Brothers use great fresh flavors, while not being to greasy or fatty.

So for this Taste of the Bayou dinner, the menu included Louisiana Cajun Shrimp with Chipotle Mayonnaise, Grilled Scallops, Green Goddess Potato Salad, Steamed Broccoli with lemon and butter, and Golden Cornbread.  We also topped it off/started it off with an Orange Margarita.  Get ready for a lot of recipes!

Any good meal starts off with a good spice mix.  I always prefer to mix my own versus a premixed one from the store, they can sometimes be too salty.

Cajun Spice Mix

Makes 1 cup 

5 tbsp kosher salt

2 tbsp cayenne pepper

2 tbsp garlic powder

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp cumin

2 tbsp sweet paprika

1 tbsp dried oregano

1 tbsp dried thyme

1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 tbsp onion powder

For the Cajun spice mix, stir all ingredients together well in a small bowl to blend. Store in an airtight container or ziplock bag for maximum freshness.

Spicy Louisiana Cajun Shrimp with Chipotle
Serves 6-8 as an appetizer

1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, with tail shell intact
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp Cajun seasoning - homemade or store bought
1/2 tbsp chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped

1/2 tsp brown sugar
1 lemon or lime, sliced in wedges for garnish
Salt and pepper, for seasoning

In a large bowl, toss together the shrimp with the olive oil, Cajun seasoning, brown sugar and chopped chipotles in adobo sauce, and mix well to fully coat the shrimp. Cover and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.

Baking: Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread out the marinated shrimp onto a foil-lined baking sheet, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until the shrimp curl up and turn pink, about 10-15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature with a garnish of lemon or lime wedges.

Grilling: Preheat an outdoor grill to medium and barbecue shrimp until they curl up and turn pink.

Sautéeing: Preheat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add about 1/2 tablespoon of oil, and once hot add the shrimp, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook about 2 minutes per side.

Chipotle Mayonnaise
Makes about 1 cup

1 cup mayonnaise
3 canned chipotles in adobo sauce
1 tbsp adobo sauce
1/2 lime, juice

Add all of the ingredients in a food processor and blend. Cover and keep refrigerated until ready to use.

The first three recipes were originally found here

Green Goddess Potato Salad
from the Lee Bros, Simple Fresh Southern
serves 4 .. time: 25 min prep, 15 min resting

2 tbsp  plus 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
2 1/2 lb small red potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
1/2 cup high quality store bought mayonnaise (Hellmann's or Duke's)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup finely cut scallions (white and green parts)
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh tarragon
2 anchovy fillets, minced, or 1/2 tsp anchovy paste (optional) 
1 tbsp white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper, plus more to taste

1.  Fill a 4-quart stockpot half full with water, add 2 tbsp of the salt and the potatoes, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat.  Cook until just for tender but cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes.
2.  While the potatoes cook, mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, scallions, parsley, tarragon, anchovies (if desired), vinegar, lime juice, remaining 1 tsp salt and the black pepper in a large bowl.
3.  Drain the potatoes well and add them to the bowl; toss with the dressing.  Season to taste with salt and black pepper.  Let stand for 15 minutes at room temperature (as the salad loses its heat, it will absorb the dressing).  Serve at room temperature, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days before serving.

This is a great cornmeal.  I've used it to make some delicious grits and it also makes for a nice gritty cornbread.  I used the recipe for cornbread on the back of the bag.

Golden Cornbread

serves 9

1 cup Bob's Red Mill 100% Stone Ground Cornmeal

1 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Four (I didn't have any so I used regular white flour)

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tbsp sugar (optional)

1 egg

1 cup milk

1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

Sift together dry ingredients into bowl.  Add egg, milk, and butter.  Beat until smooth, about one minute.  DO NOT OVERBEAT.

Bake in a greased 8-inch square pan for 20-25 minutes at 425 degrees F.  Serve warm with butter.

Orange Margarita

one serving

1 shot tequila (I like Jose Silver)

2 shots orange juice

a squirt of agave nectar

put in jar with three ice cubes.  Give it a good shake.  Pour over ice and enjoy!

I hope you enjoy these recipes and I hope it inspires you to try more tastes of the bayou.  I can't wait to try more recipes and experiment with all the wonderful flavors and ingredients.

Be Bold in you ingredient selection and try something new.

peace & love

Rebecca

Artist Love

Being an artist is so exciting.  Every day brings new challenges and new adventures.  I am constantly learning and experimenting.  I love that I get to work with my hands to create things that are uniquely my own.  I am always searching for my voice and identity as an artist.  As I change my voice changes.  I'm always excited to see what inspirations pop in my head, they are random and wonderful.  In encourage everyone to go out and make something, create something, draw something.  It's very refreshing to use those motor shills that can be lost in this digital age.  Try it, you never know what you can create!

peace & love 

Rebecca

the Productive Print Shop

To run a successful and productive print shop you must be organized and efficient.  It it much like the efficient painter.  The same principles apply, always be doing something.  The purpose of printing is to make multiples.  Its so much fun to, once you get in the groove, to start whipping out prints.  I feel like I am a mini factory line.

I recently got commissioned for a large shirt order.  As you can see below the tall stack of shirts in all different color and sizes.  I knew this would be a challenging order but I was up for the challenge.  If you don't push yourself out of your comfort zone, you will never know what you are capable of.  

This order was for a logo for a crab shack.  In this logo is 6 different colors which translates to 6 different layers (in printmakers talk).  I had to sit down and really plan it out.  First breaking the image down into each color then determining the order in which to print.  Colors in the back are printed first and I ended with the black outline to tie it all together.

There is a method to the madness when printing.  I have a very small area in which I print and a big concern of mine was where to put all the shirts to dry.  After printing the layer I would fold the shirt so only the wet image was exposed, then lined them up as close to each other as possible, conserving as much space as possible.  Then I would pickup the next shirt and repeat.

The summer before my senior year at the University of Delaware, I did an internship with Lou Stovall.  He is a Master Printer located in Washington D.C.  He had a silkscreen studio in his garage where he created the most amazing prints I had ever seen.  So many colors and layers, it was mesmerizing.  He was also a great mentor and taught me the skills and techniques to be a great printer.  He would say that printing is a dance, move through your space in the least amount of steps necessary.  Everything is organized and in reach, act quickly and adapt to fix your mistakes. 

Its so rewarding when the final layer is printed and the whole image transforms in front of you.  Printing is a lot of work and takes time and patience to make sure everything is registered properly.  To see this great final product makes it all worth it!

Have a design of your own you would like printed?  I would love to work with you to create the perfect shirt.  Contact me at rebeccazerby@gmail.com

Also check out some of  my other custom shirts at www.rebeccazerby.com.  The ZerbyShop on Etsy has fun elephant and giraffe tanks ready to order!

Be Bold

peace & love

Rebecca

Words of Wisdom

Painting Efficiency

I have been painting rooms since high school, and over the years I have picked up a few tricks.  Yesterday I completed this 9' x 12' bedroom, ceiling, walls, and trim, in one day.  It is possible.  As for a new painter, this may not be completely possible, but with some of my tips, you can cut down on the time!  

Tips From A Painter.

 First, make sure everything is covered and that you have enough tarps to cover all surfaces.

When painting ceiling, walls and trim, I like to start with the ceiling and trim.  Edge out the ceiling with a brush (1 1/2" brush is my favorite).  This edging doesn't need to be perfect.  If anything it should come onto the wall.  Make sure you get the paint into the crease.  This will allow for more control of a straight line when you paint the walls.

Between layers I cover everything in plastic.  The rollers, pan and paint brush.  It doesn't make sense to clean everything if your about to use it in the next 30 min.  This cuts down on extra time wasted on cleaning everything more than once, and you will conserve water!

To maximize time efficiency, you need to always be painting and the order in which you paint plays a crucial role.  But be aware that the edges need to be dry in order to paint the adjoining surface.  For example if you just painted the ceiling you can't immediately move to the walls because that ceiling edge is still wet.  The order in which I like to paint goes like this.. 1 coat on the ceiling, 1 coat on the trim and doors, 2nd coat on the ceiling, start edging the walls but edge around the trim first then the ceiling, fill in the walls.  Now is when you have some down time because you need to make sure the walls are completely dry before the next coat.  Take a break, clean up the ceiling stuff, eat some lunch.  Put the second coat on the walls then go around one more time on the trim.

The reason for painting over the lines on the ceiling and trim.. it allows you to correct the previous paint job.  The previous painter may have not had a straight line or put the wall color more on the trim than you would like.  This allows you to have full control of the line you make. You also have the ability now to change where that line is.  

Remember its always easier to cover a darker color over white rather than white over a darker color.  Always go light to dark (an artist tip).

Edge out the room using that 1 1/2" paintbrush and paint in a good 2" from the ceiling.  This is just enough space for the roller to not make marks on the ceiling.  If your hand isn't so steady, stick to the tape for now.  And remember you can always go back with the white paint to correct yourself and clean up the lines.

Nows the fun part, rolling it in!  This will seem so easy after all the work you did up to this point.  No matter what kind of paint you use, if it says one coat or includes primer (which is most paints nowadays) ALWAYS do 2 coats.  You will never cover completely on the first coat.  It's the second coat that adds the richness and dimension to the paint.  Don't worry, the second coat always goes on in half the time of the first.

Lastly, HAVE FUN!!  I have been painting rooms for 6 years now and I'm always excited for a new challenge.  Every room is different and needs a unique game plan.  It's also a great workout, you'll be surprised the new muscles you find the next morning.

Check out some of my other project at rebeccazerby.com.  If you read all my time saving tips and would still like a painter, contact me at rebeccazerby@gmail.com.

Happy Painting

peace & love

Rebecca

The Transformation of a Bedroom

Walls are the canvas that our design builds upon, so choose the right color.  

Let's paint with purpose.

The bedroom before.

test your paints first.

 Paint doors and trim.

Edge out ceiling and doors.

Roll the rest.

Voila!

Walls: Misty Morning Dew (Valspar) in Satin

Trim: Ultra White (Valspar) in Gloss

Now that the canvas is prepped and painted, the fun part, putting the room back together.  Mixing and matching new textiles and artwork to complete the space.

Be bold in your next room color.

peace & love

Rebecca

BlackMagnolia.. Textile Experimentation

The inspiration for today was to experiment with printing then dyeing.  I took my BlackMagnolia pattern and printed it on three different fabrics in a shimmery charcoal ink.

I then soaked each fabric in a black Ritz dye.  

The result was a black fabric with a shimmer of a leaf pattern.  I am still experimenting with the levels of the dyes and the colors of ink.  I may try a black ink with a charcoal grey dye. 

I enjoy the darkness of the fabric and its subtle nature.  

Lets see what happens when it dries.

The dye faded slightly when it dried.  I love the vintage effect the hand dyeing does to the fabric.  The leaves really stand out and they really stand out in different lights.

I love the idea that you cannot always see the pattern.  Its somewhat magical how the patterns go in and out, disappearing and reappearing.

Stay tuned for more experimentation with fabrics, dyes, and patterns.  And check out the ZerbyShopto see what these fabrics turn into!  I would love to hear what you think.  

Email me at rebeccazerby@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Be Bold.

peace & love

Rebecca

Sunday Grilling

On a hot Sunday evening, all you need is a Weber grill.  

Gather your veggies from your local farmers market and get to grilling!

Marinade your salmon in 2 tablespoons of lime juice, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 teaspoon dried cilantro.  Grill on top of slices of citrus so not to stick to the grill (and to keep it nice and moist).  Once on the grill I added some salt, cracked pepper and a sprinkling of cayenne pepper.

For the corn, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle some salt and a light dusting of cayenne pepper.  Rotate around the grill as everything cooks.  

Add your steak.  Keep it plain and simple.

Time it right and everything finishes at the same time.  Hot off the grill.

Broccoli grilled with olive oil, salt and cracked pepper.

 Finish off the meal with a cilantro lime rice.

Links to recipes:

Salmon marinate

Grilled Corn

Cilantro Lime Rice

Enjoy your summer nights and be bold with your grilling.

peace & love

Rebecca