Steampunk Challenge

Thanks to  WORD for Teens for passing on this reading challenge! If you're not familiar with the Steampunk genre, here's your chance to get some excellent recommendations; if you're already a fan, sign up for the challenge and feed your obsession. ;-)

From the original Steampunk Challenge announcement on The Bookkeeper:

What is Steampunk? According to the New Oxford American Dictionary the sub-genre Steampunk is

a genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology.

I have been wanting to try out steampunk for a while now and recently read one story which I quite liked. So now I’m on to explore a bit more and it seems there are more people out there who want to get to know this genre better.

You want to read steampunk, share your opinion and reviews with like minded people? You want to get recommendations from others because you have no idea where to begin? Join the steampunk challenge and share the experience!

The challenge runs from October to October and there are no obligations other than to have fun discovering a genre and let other participants know about what you find.

You can sign up here with Mr. Linky. Once the challenge has started I will create another page forreview links or other blog posts related to Steampunk. Also, your reading recommendations are more than welcome. 

I’m looking forward to this challenge and to a fun and “steamy” twelve months!

ARTSY LIBRARIAN CONTEST to Benefit Public Libraries

Dear Fans, please pass this announcement on to your public library and all of your library-loving friends! The contest is open to ALL artists affiliated with any public library. ~N.K.

The Barbarian Librarians Craft Collective in Woodstock, VT is pleased to announce the  Artsy Librarian Contest!

Barbarian Librarians is a small but growing group of artists and crafters who believe that public libraries are one of the cornerstones of vital, sustainable communities.  Artists and book lovers in small towns share a common cause in their desire to promote a culture of literacy, creativity and inventiveness in their community. Barbarian Librarians strives to facilitate connections between artists and "book people" for mutual benefit.

I would personally like to invite your artistically-inclined library staff to submit digital images of their artwork to our Artsy Librarian Contest. The 5 winners will receive:

• A $50 donation for their library
• One year's worth of dividends on Artsy Librarian product sales for their library
• A gift certificate for a Barbarian Librarians T-shirt or stationery pack for themselves

The 5 winning art images will be used in the creation of Artsy Librarian Stationery and miniature insets for Artsy Librarian Jewelry (bracelet, earrings, and tie tack).

Artsy Librarian Contest Submission Deadline: November 1, 2010

Who is Eligible to Enter:

• Public library staff, trustees, volunteers, and Friends group officers
• Must be 18 years or older

Submission Guidelines:

• Artwork must be previously unpublished and you must be the only one with rights to the work; you must be able to certify that the work is entirely your own and that the work does not infringe on any existing copyright or trademark (for example, copies of another artist's work are not acceptable)
• If your work is in a 2-dimensional medium (painting, drawing, collage, photography, cut paper, digital art, etc.) scanning is preferred, but if your canvas is too large for scanning you may use a high-quality digital photo; if you are a sculptor or do other 3-dimensional work, please take a high-quality digital photo under good light
• Scan or digital photo should be at least 5"x7" and 300dpi resolution (600dpi is preferred); larger sizes and resolutions are fine
• Color work is preferred
• Artwork should "show" well in small sizes (the images will be used on greeting cards and part or all of the artwork will be reproduced on 1" square jewelry panels)

How to Send Artwork:

• Email digital images of up to 3 pieces of artwork tobarbarianlibrarians@gmail.com (B.L. respects your privacy and will not put you on any mailing list, send you spam, or give your contact information to anyone else)
• Large digital files can be compressed with WinZip to reduce file to a size suitable for emailing
• If it will not be possible for you to get a high quality image of your work, please call or email to arrange to send either a conventional photograph or the work itself

What Else to Send With Your Submissions:

• Personal Info: include your name, preferred email address, phone number, and your library position title
• The name of your library and your library's mailing address (so a donation check can be mailed if you are one of the winners)
• For each submission please include a title, the media with which it was created, and any other information about it which you would like to include
• Please let us know whether you would like us to publicize your name along with your artwork if you are one of our winners, or whether you would like to remain anonymous

Rights and Reimbursement:

• If your artwork is chosen, it is understood that you agree to allow Barbarian Librarians to alter the work so as to make it suitable for use in a variety of products: this may include but may not be limited to cropping, color correction, resizing, etc.
• You, the artist, will retain rights to your original work of art (for example, if you submit a scan of a painting, you can still sell the original painting)
• You agree to grant Barbarian Librarians the right to continue to use images of your artwork for products and publicity purposes, in perpetuity
• You understand that you, personally, will not receive any cash reimbursement for the use of your artwork - the image of your artwork must be freely offered for charity purposes to benefit public libraries
• At least 40% of Artsy Librarian product sales will be donated to public libraries; for one year, a dividend will be donated to the winners' libraries; after that time, dividends will go to Barbarian Librarians Featured Libraries (see the Barbarian Shares program on our website)
• Any unused artwork will be deleted or returned to the artist and Barbarian Librarians will not retain any rights

Should you have more questions about the Artsy Librarian Contest, please do not hesitate to call or email. I look forward to seeing your work!!

Sincerely, 

Narissa Kent Willever Founder & Craft Collective Coordinator Barbarian Librarians barbarianlibrarians@gmail.com 802.779.8082

To learn more about the Barbarian Librarians Craft Collective:http://www.barbarianlibrarians.com/ http://www.barbarianlibrarians.etsy.com/http://www.barbariancooks.blogspot.com/ Also, follow Barbarian Librarians onFacebook and Twitter!

Rainy Day Simmering: Goat Cheese and Concord Grape Jelly (not necessarily to eat together...)

I just happened to need to make chevre today and also had some grapes quickly shriveling their way toward raising status so I'm doing both at the same time. I'm cooking up a storm today in preparation for the Artistree Gallery Opening this evening - my contribution will be a selection of gluten free small breads and cheeses. 


I've been making my own yogurt and ricotta for some time now - and a lot of it, ever since an itty bitty kidney stone showed up by chance in some x-rays and my doctor said I couldn't go vegan after all and in fact had to increase my dairy intake. But a couple of weeks ago another wrench was thrown into my diet plans when results came back from some allergy tests showing that I have moderate problems with almonds, eggs, and - !@#$% - cow milk and whey. Since my sluggish metabolism is consistent with food allergies, the naturopath who did the tests suggested I switch to goat and sheep milk. I haven't found a source of sheep milk (and it's probably prohibitively expensive, anyway) and goat milk and yogurt tastes like it's been strained through dirty socks (to me, anyway) but I actually do like goat cheese. So I'm going to try making my own goat cheese to see if I can make it a cost effective dairy option. (I think not, unless I buy my own goat. I'm really wondering if they can be house trained. I know our friend Sarah would provide us with a suitably indoor-sized critter...)


Anyway, here's what's cookin' at the moment:

How to Make French Chevre Cheese

By Angie Marie, eHow Contributor

updated: December 2, 2009

Consider making your own chevre cheese with goat's milk. Chevre means "goat" in the French language. The goat's milk makes a soft pliable cheese that you can mold easily. Goat's milk is also found in a variety of other cheeses such as feta, gouda and camembert. French chevre cheese is the freshest goat cheese available because it ages in just a few hours. Some people allow their curds to set for 24 hours before they make the cheese, but this is not a necessary part of the goat cheese-making process.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1/2 gallon goat's milk
• Stainless steel pot
• Dairy thermometer
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• Stainless steel colander
• Cheesecloth
• Stainless steel bowls
• Strainer
• 1 tbsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. pepper
• Molds

1. 1 Begin pasteurizing the goat's milk. Fill your pan with goat's milk. Place a dairy thermometer in the pan to keep track of the temperature.
2. 2 Allow the milk to rise to a temperature of 90 degrees F. Continue to stir the milk, or it will scorch. Once the milk boils, allow it to continue boiling for just a few seconds. Turn the burner off and remove the milk from the heat.
3. 3 Add the vinegar to the milk. Continue to stir the goat milk slowly. You will notice that curds have started to form, and this is perfectly normal.
4. 4 Line the colander with cheesecloth. Place the colander on top of a stainless steel bowl. Stir the goat milk for 30 seconds, and then pour it into your strainer.
5. 5 Ensure that the whey (liquid) separates completely from the curds. Discard the whey that is left in the pot, or save it for a sourdough bread starter.
6. 6 Lift the cheesecloth with the curds out of the colander. Gently squeeze the cheesecloth to remove any excess whey.
7. 7 Pour the curds into a bowl. Add salt and pepper to the cheese. Mix the chevre cheese with your hands and form it into a bowl.
8. 8 Press the cheese into molds or a small bowl. Cover the chevre cheese and place it in the refrigerator. Allow the goat cheese to set in the refrigerator for at least 2 days.
   
   

   Concord Grape Jelly

   I'm doing a micro-mini batch (about a half quart of grapes) so I'm not bothering to adhere to a recipe, sterilize jars, etc. If you want to be all official, there are tons of grape jelly recipes online. Here's my off the cuff method:

   1. toss grapes in a stainless steel pot and cover with water

   2. boil the crap out of them

   3. strain out skins and grape bits and puree with about a cup of sugar (reserve grape juice)

   4. pour puree and juice back in the pan and boil some more

   5. strain out the chunky stuff

   6. add a couple of tablespoons pectin to juice

   7. boil for a minute, stirring constantly

   8. skim off foam

   9. put in jars

   10. refrigerate overnight

   If jelly doesn't set, add a little water and call it grape pancake syrup ;-)

   
   

Barbarian Librarian Photos Appearing in Artistree Show

I've got 3 photos appearing in this gallery show. :-)   ~NK

Local Color Art Show

GALLERY OPENING & ART CENTER OPEN HOUSE

Friday October 15th

gallery opening 5:30-8pm

open house 4:30-8pm

We hope you will join us as ArtisTree Gallery hosts the work of talented local artists for our inaugural show.  The evening will also be a chance to formally introduce the Gallery's new Director, Adrian Tans and to explore the new ArtisTree Community Arts Center during our open house.

The open house event will begin at 4:30 with a demonstration on our new sound sculpture and drumming circles with Artist and Percussionist Barry Miller, followed by the gallery opening at 5:30.

Full press release & details at:

http://library.constantcontact.com/doc208/1102591619755/doc/8ehjtnhxUvendyLB.pdf

Refreshments provided.

1206 Route 12 - Mount Tom Building - Woodstock, VT - 05091

info@artistreevt.org - www.artistreevt.org - gallery@artistreevt.org

802.457.3500

Taste of Autumn: Winter Squash, Apple & Onion Crackers

I'm fascinated by the raw food movement, so when I came across this recipe while looking for recipes for Ezekierl 4:9 cereal, I was stoked! We'll be getting lots of winter squash this month, so I'm sure I'll be trying this recipe in the coming weeks.

Winter Squash, Apple & Onion Crackers

Submitted by rawgoodness on October 4, 2010 - 4:56pm

Average:

0

Servings: 

 3

This cracker was inspired by one of my favorite autumn soups and is a great way to make use of all those apples, squash and onions kicking around come fall. Check out our raw foods blog for more chip & cracker recipes: http://eatingfoodraw.com

Ingredients: 

1cups walnuts and/or pecans, soaked
1cup sunflower seeds, soaked
1½cups winter squash, diced
1cup apple, cored & diced
⅔cups onion, diced
2tsp salt
1T dried sage
1tsp cayenne
water, as needed to blend

Preparation: 

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and add water only as needed to combine into relatively smooth mixture. You want the consistency to be wet and easily spread but not runny. Spread out onto a non-stick dehydrator sheet, smooth to a relatively uniform thickness (about 1/4inch) and dehydrated at 110 for 24 hours, flipping crackers and removing sheet after 14 hours. Store in an airtight container for a month or more.