Thursday, July 31, 2008

Show and Tell Friday!


Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.


Aprons
I found some fun strawberry fabric at Hobby Lobby a few months ago and finally got around to making Grace and Emily summer aprons. I used a simple design and let the girls pick the trim and pocket style.

Apron
Grace chose a green trim along the bottom.

Pocket
And a small pocket on the right.

Apron

Ruffle
Emily chose a red ruffled trim.

Pocket
And a double pocket in the middle.

Apron
Her favorite part!

Apron
Now they just need to find a good cookie recipe to test them out on. :0)

Thank you for looking at our show and tell!


Please read the Show and Tell Guidelines for step-by-step instructions on how to participate.

If you would like to join in, please leave your *permalink* below, along with your first name (this makes the list easier to read). If your link has been removed from Mr. Linky, please re-read over the guidelines before re-posting. Have fun!

Homemade Teacup Card

Cards
This homemade card was inspired by the lovely card that Marfa at This Life is Totally Scrumptious recently shared.

Card

Card
You will need a 4 x 5 1/2" notecard.

Paper
Cut an approx. 3 1/4" circle from coordinating scrapbook paper. I traced a spool of ribbon.

Paper
Trim off the top of the circle at 3" and the bottom at 2 1/4"

Card
Glue the bottom and sides to front of notecard.

Paper
Add a decorative stitch mark with a pen, if desired.

Card
Along with steam curls.

Card
Write "Enjoy life sip by sip, not gulp by gulp" at the top of card.

Tea
Tuck a teabag into the cup.

Card
Send to a friend. Let me know if you make one, too!

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Garlic and Cinnamon Bread Twists

Dough
Good morning! I hope your week is going well so far. Phillip was out of town for a few days, but is back at home and taking the rest of the week off. Today I'm going to share a new recipe for bread twists, so get out your apron and rolling pin!

Dough
I used my Homemade Pizza dough recipe and doubled it, so I could make a batch of both garlic and cinnamon twists.

Soft Bread Twists

1 (.25) package active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup warm water (110F degrees)
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 425F. In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

2. Stir in flour, salt and oil. Beat until smooth. Let rest for 10 minutes.

Dough
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface into a 15 x 12" rectangle.

4. Cut dough into 1 inch strips lengthwise and then in half.

Twists
5. Twist each strip several times and place 1 inch apart on greased baking sheet.

Twist
Garlic Twists: Combine 3 tablespoons melted butter and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder in small bowl and brush over dough twists.

Bread
Bake at 425F for 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned. Brush with remaining butter mixture and enjoy!

Twist
Cinnamon Twists: Brush twists with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake at 425F for 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned.

Twists
These make a great snack on a summer afternoon. Let me know if you make some, too!

Monday, July 28, 2008

Through the Summer Kitchen Window

A favorite book of mine is Through the Kitchen Window by Susan Hill. She takes us through the seasons in her beautiful kitchen, sharing recipes and thoughts:

"In summer, the kitchen is not for lingering in, only for preparing food quickly, wrapping it or dishing it up, and taking it outside. The stillroom and the larder and the dairy are dim and stone-slabbed and pleasingly cool. Jugs and bowls and dishes stand, muslin-covered."

Here are some scenes from my summer kitchen...

Flowers
Yellow daisies in a mason jar.

Tablecloth
A summery table cloth.

Candles
Floating flower candles in teacups.

Herbs
"A pot of basil on the table, a pungent sweet geranium on the windowsill, a bunch of mint hung from the ceiling will all help to keep out summer flies."

Letters
Wonderful letters from friends. Farrah sent me the beautiful summer fruit card that she watercolored.

Dishtowels
A basket of dish towels by the kitchen sink.

Sloppy Joe
A kid friendly meal of homemade Sloppy Joes.

"In June and July, the kitchen is full of bowls and baskets of fruit, heaps of strawberries and raspberries, gooseberries and logan berries and cherries, red- and white- and black-currants, glistening and richly-ripe."
Dessert
Strawberry and blueberry shortcake.

Blackberries
Fresh blackberries with whipped cream.

Bars
Fruit Filled Oatmeal Bars.

Lemons
And cheery lemons to brighten up the kitchen or for making homemade lemonade.

I hope you have enjoyed peeking through my summer kitchen window!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Weekend Chit~Chat

Water garden
Hello! Thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments about my embroidered sachet! It is all wrapped up for the bridal shower tomorrow.

Sunflower
In garden news, I just noticed that my sunflowers are beginning to bloom.

Sunflower
I'm pretty sure I planted "Mammoth" seeds, but these flowers are only about 4 inches across.

Magazines
I spent some time organizing my magazines this past week. I have several back summer issues of Victoria to read through again.

Magazine
Along with the newest issue of Martha Stewart.

Magazine
There is a neat idea of using corks to make blueberry stamps that I can't wait to try.

Magazine
And doesn't this look delicious?

Lemonade
It's supposed to get up to 103F today, so we'll be drinking lots of lemonade and trying to stay cool. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Show and Tell Friday!


Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.


Bag
I finally finished my embroidery project: a small sachet bag.

Embroidery
The satin stitch wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, but the bullions gave me some trouble.

Embroidery

Embroidery
White lattice.

Bag
The bag is lined and I hand stitched the top.

Gifts
A good friend of mine is getting married in a few weeks and the bag, along with these Crabtree and Evelyn lotions and soaps will be her bridal shower gift.

Thank you for looking at my show and tell!

Please read the Show and Tell Guidelines for step-by-step instructions on how to participate.

If you would like to join in, please leave your *permalink* below, along with your first name (this makes the list easier to read). If your link has been removed from Mr. Linky, please re-read over the guidelines before re-posting. Have fun!