April Featured Item - Kyles Collection

Sherman Street Design is a true family business.  Each of us contribute to its success, design, process and production.  When our son was a small toddler, he peeled the paper backs off of plastic pieces that were used to sandwich miniature art for promotional giveaway's.

Today, he searches - literally everywhere - for treasures, mostly in miniature, but also natural elements like rocks and shells.  He takes great care in cleaning, fixing if necessary, his treasures before they are sent to our photographer (who also happens to be family) and eventually added to either our Etsy Shop or to our website.

Also look for his Pacific Sand Dollars! COMING SOON!!  These are beautiful sitting next to your nautical decor, inside a shadow box with other ocean collectibles or for artist to paint on.  What ever you use them for, he has cleaned them (NON CHEMICAL - just water!) and emptied *most* of the sand from inside them.

Thanks!



nautical decor, sand dollars, art supply, die cast metal, pencil sharpener, vintage, kyles collection, shermanstreetdesign.com, Etsy

Country Style Spareribs With Honey Barbecue Sauce - YUM

Country Spareribs With Honey BBQ Sauce

This is a very simple, quick and delicious meal!!  My daughters grew up eating this at least a couple times a month.  It can easily be done on the grill if you prefer, and its delish smoked.  FYI:  Even though I give "measurements" for the BBQ sauce, I just estimate the amounts, you cant ruin it!!

3 pounds spareribs, cut into serving pieces.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Place ribs in a single layer in a shallow roasting pan.  Roast in a 350° oven for 30 minutes.  Brush ribs generously with Honey Barbecue Sauce (below) and continue baking and basting until ribs are tender and beautifully glazed, about 1 hour more.

Honey BBQ Sauce

3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
1 tblsp vinegar
2 tsp Dijon-style mustard
2 tblsp brown sugar
1 tblsp soy sauce
1 clove garlic, put through a press

Combine all the ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes.  Makes about 1 1/2 cups sauce.  Leftover sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for later use - but we always use ALL of it, either for basting or for dipping.  Enjoy.


THANKS!!

Coffee, PJ's and Sharp Pencils - Things We Love

Things We Love Thursday

  Introducing a new weekly blog posting on Thursdays titled

 "Coffee, PJ's and Sharp Pencils"

It's day one of  "Coffee, PJ's and Sharp Pencils" blog posts and we are happy to share a list of 3 things our family loves.  My husbands favorite this week is Coffee, he has a three cup-a-day habit!  Some mornings he adds a packet of hot chocolate and almond milk to the first cup.  Smells delish here!!  Mine would have to be PJ's, oh so comfy!!  Our son decided his number one thing he loves and appreciates is Sharp Pencils.  I never thought about it before, but he has a point (LOL)

We also want to share a local event with you, playing at the Grand Cinema is "Science on Screen: Making Water on Mars."  Sounds interesting, admission is $10 on April 4th.  For more information  visit www.grandcinema.com 

Join us every Thursday for Coffee, PJ's and Sharp Pencils.

Thanks!!

Recycled Wine Cork Art - Inspiration

This is a photo feast for your eyes, to feed your imagination and inspire you to happy shopping or great DIY projects!

Recycled Wine Cork Art - Inspiration

Lets start with wine cork art by Albanian artist Saimir Strati. It took almost 230,000 corks to create “Romeo with a crown of grapes playing the guitar while dancing with the sea and the sun,” a homage to life living in the Mediterranean. Over the years, Saimir’s art has earned him the title “The Master of Mosaics” and also four Guinness Records. 

Saimir Strati

 Cork baskets?  Love the work of Steven Leslie!  This piece of art took 670 corks and stands 37 inches tall.  Be sure to visit his website One of a Cork

Steven Leslie

Moving on to wine cork jewelry found on Etsy.  Zona Sherman (great name *wink wink*, but we are not related) fashions jewelry from slices of wine cork into beautiful mosaic style wearable art.  Please visit her Etsy page for more.

Zona Sherman Designs

Cat Ivins has been a favorite of mine ever since I found her on Etsy!  The hardest part of including her, was picking my favorite piece to highlight!!  I love the leather straps & simple design style.

Cat Ivins - Uncorked

Artist Charlotte Sherman (yip, that's me) is inspired by Country Living, Shabby Victorian and Romantic purples and reds.  Sherman Street Design 

Charlotte Sherman

I hope you enjoyed our tour of Wine Art, happy shopping!! 

Want to try some wine cork projects?  Visit this page for 25 DIY wine cork projects.  Happy creating!

25 DIY Wine Cork Projects

THANKS!!

Tea Cup Inspired Wedding Theme

If you’re looking for a wedding theme (or a bridal shower theme) that blends sweet southern charm, whimsical décor, romance, rustic warmth, inviting atmosphere, a tea themed wedding may be perfect for you!

When I think of a wedding I envision TONS of flowers. Flowers in your hair, on your dress, in the aisle, on your tables, and definitely on your wedding cake. If you’ve dreamt of a garden wedding party all of your life, do it! Let your girly side run free if you’re planning a tea themed wedding and go for bold and feminine colors (as long as your fiance is into it of course. :)) and let nature play a part as much as you can. Birds, butterflies, eggs…these are all fun elements of nature that can definitely inspire your wedding theme.

At Sherman Street Design we have an extensive collection of tea cups, from delicate roses hand painted on bone china, vintage with high handles and pedestals, to bolder blues in dutch designs.  We will be adding them shortly to our Etsy page to be used as wedding cake toppers.  We are also artist and can work with you to design all your wedding signage/cards needs.

Thanks!!

Seed Bead Photo Art - DIY In structions

I taught art for several years at three elementary schools and one middle school - preschool through 8th grade. LOVED every minute of it!!  This is one of the projects I taught to kindergartners and first graders.  You can make this project as simple or as complicated as you or your student wants.   If your youngest student chooses a two color animal, remember to point out the shading, show them the difference between the true white and the grey (or blue) shades that make the shadows!

Supply list:

• card stock
• photo (copy, not original)
• seed beads in multiple colors
• Elmer glue (the kind that dries CLEAR)
• hardboard (cut to size) or the cardboard that comes with a frame
• frame

Step 1:  Chose a photo.  Make sure it has only one subject.  Best is a close up of an animal or an insect.  I had my students pick their favorite animal or pet from home.  The image should be cropped to cut out all or most of the background.

Step 2:  Have this image copied in color onto card stock paper.  Depending on the quality of the photo, you will want to have it enlarged to a standard frame size.  No smaller than 5x7.  The younger your student the larger the image should be.  I taught this class in Kindergarten and First Grade, we used 8x10.  The images were close up (zoomed in) of an animals face.

Step 3:  Start matching color on the image to a seed bead color and glue it down!  We started with the nose, then the eyes next.  After, for the younger children, it was easier to fill in one color at a time.  For the older ones you can teach them to lay down the seeds in patterns to show depth.

Step 4:  LET IT DRY!  THEN,  LET IT DRY SOME MORE!!

Step 5:  Glue down the entire image onto hardboard or you can use the cardboard that came with the frame you purchased.  Put their name and age on the back!!

Thanks!!




seed bead art, seed bead photo art, DIY, mosaics

National Plant a Flower Day

 

NATIONAL PLANT A FLOWER DAY

There are hundreds of flower varieties grown in Washington state. The spring season brings the verdant revival of everything from heirloom daffodils, tulips, lily of the valley to lavender and wisteria. Don't forget our state flower, rhododendrons are a beautiful addition to your landscape. We are lucky to live in this area where can grow more plants than most other areas.  

With spring just around the corner, March 12th is the day to participate in National Plant a Flower Day. Each year this day is dedicated to the planting of  flowers and looking forward to the spring season.  Flower gardening has become a hobby to many, young and old, and National Plant a Flower Day is a start to the new season each year.  If your looking to add native plants, check out Washington Native Plant Society.

HOW TO OBSERVE
Tips for Starting a Flower Garden

• Start with a potted garden.  If you aren’t ready to tear up a patch of lawn this is a good way to go.  They do require more watering, but less care over all.
• Select plants that grow well in your spot.  Some plants grow well in shade and others prefer sun.  Others love both!
• Did you know gardeners who prefer perennial gardens have to thin their flower beds every couple years?  They also love to share the extra bulbs and seeds with those who are new to gardening, so if you know someone with a green thumb, get to know them better.  You might get some free plants, advice and a budding friendship!
• Local greenhouses stock plants that grow well in your area.  Don’t be afraid to ask them questions and shop there frequently.

Not a Washington resident?  Click here to find your zone.

source:  http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-plant-a-flower-day-march-12/