1. Check it: alphabet soup made with Rice Krispies! This crunchy bowl of fun was created by NY-based food artist Jessica Siskin, a.k.a., Misterkrisp, who spends her days crafting all things wonderful out of Rice Krispies, my favorite childhood cereal. 🙂

Several years ago, she was asked to bring a dish to a potluck birthday party. The only thing she knew how to “cook” was giant heart-shaped Rice Krispie treats. Discovering she could add food coloring to the treats recipe, she was inspired to make a giant cheeseburger. Of course everyone loved it, so Jessica continued to experiment — creating portraits of cartoon characters, famous people (including Kim Kardashian’s rear end), animals, designer bags, and different foods all made with Rice Krispies.

In 2013 she started Misterkrisp, and this summer her first book, Treat Yourself, is being published by Workman.

She shares her creations at her Instagram account and takes custom orders through her website. Talk about snap, crackle, pop!

*

2. Feeling a little tense? Still suffering from Downton Abbey withdrawal? Here’s just the thing: the new Downton Abbey Coloring Book!

Have fun bringing Mrs. Patmore, the Crawley sisters, Mrs. Hughes, and the Earl of Grantham back to life with a few frisky strokes of your colored pencils or markers. Revisit notable scenes from all six seasons and enjoy memorable quotes from your favorite characters.

Rumors about a Downton Abbey movie have been swirling around ever since the series ended in 2015. Latest word is that filming will begin in September. Meanwhile, you can color away your anxiety. It sure beats smoking, drinking, nail biting, obsessive hand wringing and corset fidgeting. Keep calm, and color on!

*

3. Though I don’t send half as much personal snail mail as I’d like, I still love seeing new stationery and notecards, and will always cherish the mere idea of penning personal missives to loved ones.

Just ran across these cheerful cards via Lucy Halcomb’s    Instagram. She recently started selling them via her Lucy Mail site. Like the simple yet appealing designs. Who can resist a toaster pastry envelope?

Okay, okay. I admit I was primarily drawn in by all the food. But there is also one design with a social conscience — 20% of the proceeds from this Birth Control Methods card will go to Planned Parenthood. Pretty clever, no? 🙂

*

4. Chances are very good that you’ve seen the literary scarves created by StoriArts. They’ve been around for a few years and if you’re at all book-minded, you’ve run into them online or even own one or two by now.

Somehow I missed the fact that they also sell cool fingerless gloves, that, like their scarves, feature excerpts from classic works of literature.

Those of us who spend a lot of time reading and/or writing are essentially sitting still, and our delicate *ahem* appendages do chill up after awhile, not only during the colder months, but also during the summer with the AC on.

These gloves make me feel like I’m back in the 19th century (one of my former lives). Only problem is which ones to choose — Pride and Prejudice? Romeo and Juliet? Little Women? Alice in Wonderland? Can’t quite put my finger on it. 😀

*

5. Nibble, nibble, sole food. First, there was KitKat sushi. Now we have Shoe-shi. Chef artist Yujia Hu (The Onigiri Art) has this thing for playing with rice, raw fish and seaweed. He’s created interesting onigiri (rice ball) portraits, but lately seems taken with fashioning sushi sneakers.

He’s been making sushi for about 10 years, and owns the Sakana Restaurant in Milan. He was inspired to make Shoe-shi by his love of basketball and Milan street style.

Sticky rice is obviously a pliable medium, and I would imagine pretty forgiving. But did you ever think you’d actually be tempted to eat your sneaks?

Whether you’re into Air Jordans, Vans, Nike, or Adidas, Chef Hu has the shoe-shi for you. Best to stock up on soy sauce and wasabi. For those worried about toe jams, have no fear — he does socks, too. 🙂 Check out his stuff on Instagram. You can also purchase prints or a poster of some designs here.

*

6. Fancy a trip to the library? We’re not just talking about any library, but the one and only Locket Library!

Based in Sheffield, England, the Locket Library’s bookworms will make your favorite quote or book cover into a lovely piece of jewelry (earrings, lockets, and rings).

I love their collection of vintage book cover lockets and the option of requesting custom pieces. Nice idea for promoting you new book, or surprising an author with the cover of their book on a pair of earrings or in a locket. 🙂

Each order arrives with its very own library card, too, which can be personalized. Very cool! Visit The Locket Library’s Etsy Shop for more.

*

7. New Book Alert! Julia Sherman, artist, writer, photographer, cook, and creator of the popular Salad for President blog, has just published her first book!

Salad—with its infinite possibilities—is a game of endless combinations, not stifling rules. And with that in mind, Salad for President offers a window into how artists approach preparing their favorite dishes. She visits sculptors, painters, photographers, and musicians in their homes and gardens, interviewing and photographing them as they cook. Utterly unique in its look into the worlds of food, art, and everyday practices, Salad for President is at once a practical resource for healthy, satisfying recipes and an inspiring look at creativity.

Her interviewees include William Wegman, Tauba Auerbach, Laurie Anderson, and Alice Waters. I like the illustrated chapter intros as well as the color photos of the dishes and artists’ kitchens and workspaces.

*

8. And now, just what you’ve been waiting for. Getting a little tired of talking on your APPLE phone? Worried about electromagnetic radiation exposure? Why not talk to your heart’s content on a BANANA? Yes, a phone with real APEEL! 😀

*

Click here to check out and/or support the fruity Banana Phone Indiegogo Campaign. A portion of the proceeds will help support Gearing Up for Gorillas:

G4G focuses 100% on the conservation of the rare mountain gorilla in Virunga National Park, located in eastern DR Congo, by providing funding and equipment to the rangers who protect them.

In a world of apples, why not be the top banana?

*

9. Last, but certainly not least, tomorrow, May 24, is Bob Dylan’s 76th birthday! I’ve been listening to some of his early music — back when he wrote all those great anti-establishment protest songs, and feeling nostalgic.

Though the turbulent sixties was certainly no walk in the park, at least we didn’t have to worry about whether or not our President was sane.

What’s the secret to Dylan’s longevity as a poet/musician? Simply, he’s always told the truth, even when we didn’t want to hear it, even when it was hard to hear.

In “With God On Our Side,” Dylan’s anti-war sentiment rings truer than ever. His words about fighting the Russians seem eerily prophetic. Here we go again. But his last line offers a measure of HOPE. This was recorded about six months after the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and about six months before President Kennedy was assassinated.

In Dylan’s voice, I hear the wail of humanity. I’m glad he’s still with us.

*

RESIST.

PERSIST.

BE WELL AND BE STRONG.

PRAY FOR PEACE.

---

Copyright © 2017 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save