A story as delicious as a good dinner… In my original plans for my company, I designed Café Amor Milagre. The idea is a plant-based, vegan, organic, European peasant-style, garden-fresh café to accompany my shop. As my store is online, my upcoming cookbooks will teach how to bring our kitchen to yours with simply delicious recipes. We adore this custom home café that we have nearly finished building at our Rose Cottage. I’ll keep my original company plans, perhaps to open up later on down the road. The world can really use more of this type of dining. We never eat out, so we made our own restaurant at home, growing plants in the garden for our daily food.
I love to lounge by our grand new windows that look onto the morning’s dewy flowers and herbs, write a new story, share a funny teatime with my family, and dream in the evening sconce lamplight. Simple peaceful pleasures build up a beautiful life…and story. I’ve written so many books this summer, and every day there are three more. Now, I just have to catch up on printing them all so you can enjoy them, too! I’m out of ink and journals, and my poor hand needs a break. But then, oh!
I will publish more treasury compilation-style books going forward as printing costs are high. My shop uses sustainable materials, which do cost more for me, but the preservation of nature is vital. In general, the cost of everything now is quite high. I design my products to be as affordable as possible. I don’t believe that high prices elevate works of art. I believe in equality. In making affordable collections, everyone is invited. With treasury books, my readers can enjoy many stories within one book. Quick, connected readers will really appreciate this type of book. Reread these new classics over again. This will be the new format for some of the children’s book collections and the Self-Health Novelettes. I do have some books that I’ll release on their own as they have specific illustration designs that need a certain book shape or size. Some novels, like The Love Letter Diaries, already contain four seasonal books within one volume. I will keep that style for the second year/volume of that series.
As our renovations wind down, I will release many new artwork and stationery pieces and collections. If only the computers could keep up with my brain, I’d be all caught up. That is my process though…true thought and handmade creative works, inspired by nature. Cherish the real, the natural, yourself.
Children’s meals are easy to assemble and beautiful with whole foods, such as these nuts. I love how the walnuts look like owls. The senses relish in the shapes, scents, textures, flavours, and colours of natural plant foods. Let children design their own lunch and flavour combinations. Little chefs always come up with something we haven’t tried yet!
Design Tip for A Calming Space: If you group ‘like’ items, or items that you use together, on a tray then the visual clutter goes away and you have a sensually pleasing atmosphere. Store unneeded items out of sight. Have a focal point, and let it be useful. Try it in any room. Do you feel more relaxed?
What is a soup? Easy. Add fresh vegetables to a pot, add some spices, add water. Cook. Enjoy! (My cookbooks include a few more details, but try it!) Last evening, I wrote a story near a simmering tomato fennel soup. Our custom kitchen design was intended for just this moment. For this one, I will puree it. For our regular weekly recipe, we don’t. These simply nourishing soups are versatile and help sustain your week. Delicious recipes, such as these, are featured in my upcoming vegan, organic, sugar-free cookbook. Enjoy soup every day of the year to boost health and relax, knowing that you always have a good dinner waiting for you!
I love gentle rain showers and slow cooks. If a recipe is going to take a while, it can do it on its own. We’re quite busy, so minimal steps and a house filled with a gorgeous subtle scent is my design. The buzzing machines that I do not love do not live in our kitchen. They live on the other side of the door, in the pantry. We also made sure to research the quietest ones. The pantry, mudroom, and a full bath/laundry room are our next renovation projects to finish this fall/winter. Yes, every inch of the house and gardens… Sensitive design considers your whole health and how the senses work. I design to keep and boost energy, not zap it away. Even our clocks don’t tick, and why should they? Check back to see how we have done this to our entire Rose Cottage.
I’m happy that we are finishing up our last rooms. We deserve a break to watch the flowers grow and have little dates in our cosy café. Last night, we had a half-date half-measuring party. Just us two…and I do love it when my husband says…”I have a design question for you.” Get out the pencil and paper…let’s figure it out. Can you tell that we like a bit of a puzzle?
If your children need something to do this weekend, consider a little scavenger hunt with clues on notepaper leading to a surprise..or even just to breakfast! Our family loves to do things like this. The mind loves to learn and be useful. Recipes are a versatile way to keep your senses moving. Growing and preparing organic food is a wonderful puzzle to practice.
Love, ~ Amor Milagre
