Tag Archives: contemporary

How to Decorate A Kid’s Room With Dr. Seuss Crafts

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Dr. Seuss crafts and activities are based on the popular children’s character’s various individual books. Perhaps the simplest of Dr. Seuss crafts is to make a Dr. Seuss hat by simply painting a paper bag with white and red stripes. Yarn can be used to make sure that the hat sits tight on the child’s head and doesn’t slip over his or her eyes. This kind of hat relates to one of the most famous of the Dr. Seuss books – The Cat in the Hat.

A more complicated Dr. Seuss hat is constructed out of a paper plate and strips of red and white construction paper. The construction paper is taped together to form the body of the hat and a paper plate is used to cap off the top of the hat. Parents or grandparents might also want to consider creating their own Dr. Seuss crafts that kids can wear such as red and white striped stockings or a Dr. Suess hat. If you type in Dr. Seuss Hat knitting pattern into a popular search engine such as Google, Overture or Yahoo you are sure to find all kinds of Dr. Seuss related clothing that can knitted for children.

The book one One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish inspires Dr. Seuss crafts such as fish art and fish shapes. To make fish art, trying pouring blue tinted corn syrup onto a piece of construction paper that has been cut into the shape of a fish bowl. Fish shapes can be cut out of magazines or traced out of construction paper.

A Dr. Suess craft idea that suits the book Green Eggs and Ham involves dying raw eggs green. Later the eggs can be broken into a skillet and served as scramble eggs.

The general term Dr. Seuss crafts also includes a description of a cross-stitch that is named after the author. The Dr. Seuss stitch is a kind of cross stitch that is done with what is called an Assissi stitch, which is basically a cross stitch that is turned inside out.

When we say “inside out,” we mean that the stitches are the same but the design rules are completely reversed. Unlike traditional cross stitch, the outlining in Assisi work is done first and then the background is filled with cross stitch. In traditional Assisi work, the outlines are always worked before the cross stitching using a particular type of backstitch called Holbein or double running stitch. The reason Holbein stitch is used instead of ordinary backstitch is because it’s reversible (the stitching looks the same on the back as it does on the front). The even weave or aide inside the outline is left unstitched or “voided.” This gives the motifs the look of a modern stencil type pattern. This very contemporary look that is typical of Dr. Seuss crafts styles of stitching.

How to Decorate Cocktails With Fragrant Herbs

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One of the most contemporary ways to decorate cocktails is with very aromatic herbs. You can just use the plain herb or you can also use it when it is in full flower for a beautiful effect. Here is a look at how you can use herbs in cocktails.

Angelica – Depending on the variety, flower range from pale lavender-blue to deep rose. It has a flavor similar to licorice. Angelica buds are perfect for garnishing drinks made with Sambuca, Pernod or Galliano.

Arugula -. An Italian green usually appreciated raw in salads or on sandwiches. The flowers are small, white with dark centers and can be used to add an intense, sharp spicy taste to Bloody Mary’s and Bloody Caesars.

Basil – Depending on the type, the flowers are either bright white, pale pink, or a delicate lavender. The leaves can be rolled up and skewered along with cherry tomatoes to garnish tomato based drinks. Linguine with Tomatoes and Basil

Borage – These blue star-shaped flowers taste like cucumber. They are good in bloody drinks and gin and tonics.
Cilantro/Cilantro – These leafy green herbs give tomato based cocktails a Mediterranean vibe. They are also great in martinis that have an Asian flair or that are citrus or pepper flavored.

Dill – Bright yellow dill flowers look great floating in a Bloody Mary.

Fennel – These yellow, licorice-scented star shaped flowers suit Harvey Wallbangers.

Lemon Verbena – These cream-colored citrus-scented blossoms add a kick to gin and tonic or gin and soda.

Marjoram – The tiny pinkish flowers can be sprinkled sparingly on top of a tomato based cocktail.

Mint – The flavor of the flowers is minty, with different overtones depending on the variety. Mint can be used to garnish any cocktail you like whether it be savory or sweet. They are particularly pleasant in rum based cocktails such as the Mojito.

Oregano – This tastes smoky and beautiful added to a martini with an olive.

Radish Flowers – Depending on the variety, flowers may be pink, white or yellow, and will have a distinctive, spicy bite (has a radish flavor). Best used in tomato based drinks

Rosemary – Sprigs of rosemary can give a very dry martini and interesting snap.

Sage – The flowers are violet-blue, pink or white clusters and suit a Bloody Mary best.

Tarragon – A spike of tarragon adds interest to a martini or tomato based cocktail. It also suits lime based cocktails well.