Posted in Cottage Comforts
I love my soap jar dispensers. My husband made these for me. The green one holds my dishwashing liquid and the peach one my hand soap. They really give a little country charm to my kitchen and of course make me think of him.
Ginger
Posted in Cottage Comforts
This is a fun little design that my daughter came up with so I decided to make one for myself...and a few friends. This one was for my sister in law.
Posted in Cottage Comforts
There are so many lovely things that we can do to make our tea times cozy and relaxing. One of my favorite is the addition of calming music. The following list is a few of our favorite teatimes selections.
Carolan's Cup
Music of Turlough O'Carolan on the hammered dulicmer by Joemy Wilson Produced by Dargason Music
Winter in New England
Unison Music Produced by Daniel Fulton
Sense and Sensibility (Original Music Soundtrack)
Music by Patrick Doyle
Little Women (Original Music Soundtrack)
Music by Thomas Newman
Posted in Cottage Comforts
I love sweet little books and this is one that I think both mothers and daughters will enjoy. Let's Have Tea Together text by Paul Kortepeter is a collection of recipes and celebrations for every season of the year. I am sure you have all seen many tea books but this one is really special because of the illustrations that are done by Susan Wheeler. The watercolors of little rabbits having tea at Holly Pond Hill are a treasure. However, the information is truly wonderful too! And who can resist reading the little Holy Hill Gazette pages where intriguing questions about tea and manners have been answered by Primrose Lapin. I honestly feel this book is a must have for all young and older daughters. It will be a real help to them when they began homemaking in their own homes.
Posted in Cottage Comforts
I was in a quaint little shop in our area last year and noticed snowball ornament that was really interesting. The snowball was an off white color and looked as if it was a little dirty. It had glitter all over it and a piece of fabric strip tied to the top to hang it with. I decided to try and make them myself at home. I was pleased with the result and will share how I made them.
You will need:
Styrofoam balls
Wire
Papier mache
Fabric strips
Paint white and brown
Glue
Glitter
Begin by mixing the papier mache according to manufactuer directions. Gently cover the snowball with it. I used a bowl with water that I dipped my fingers in to help smooth the papier mache. I cut a small piece of wire, bent it in half and pushed it into the top of the snowball leaving a enough space to put my fabric strip through later. They were placed on wax paper and allowed to completely dry. Each one was painted with a couple of layers of white paint allowing for dry time after each application. I then mixed up a small amount of brown paint in a jar with water to make a wash. I painted this on and then used a soft cloth to remove most of the color off (I did not want mine to look really dirty). After this dried I put the fabric strips, for hanging it with, through the bent wire and tied a knot at the top. Each one was then coated with a layer of glue, sprinkled with glitter and hung to dry. I hope that you will try making a few of your own.
Snowballs to you,
Posted in Cottage Comforts
I have always wanted to create one of those beautiful gingerbread houses that you see in magazines around this time of the year. I love the thought of making one that reminds me of a victorian home or a scene from Dickens. The truth is that I have tried my hand a few times at creating simple ones. The ones that are bought as kits have worked best for me. We have also made ones as a family. I remember sitting with my oldest two when they were younger tryiing every way possible to keep all the graham crackers "glued" onto the sides of our small milk boxes. I finally decided that we were not going to eat the cracker part anyway so hot glue replaced icing for holding the sides on. I admire those that can create such wonders with a little bit of gingerbread, some icing and a few candies. Even though my own tries at creating a beautiful gingerbread house have not been very successful I think I have found a way to enjoy the beauty of them without trying to do it myself. My sister has visited the Grove Park Inn in North Carolina in December before and has told me about a beautiful gingerbread display that they have there every year. Maybe this will be the year that I can enjoy all my little gingerbread making dreams through the work of others. Hope I will see you there.
Gingerbread Dreams,
Posted in Cottage Comforts
Recently I noticed little garters for baskets and decided to make some for my own. This is a fairly simple project and would make a great Christmas gift. It also dresses up your baskets for the holiday in a very lovely way. Begin by measuring the outside circumference of your basket and double that number. For example if your basket is 30 inches around you will need a piece of fabric 60 inches long. Just to let you know you may have to use 2 pieces and sew them together to get the length needed. You will need to make the width of the fabric 8 inches wide. Once you have your fabric cut fold it in half lengthwise with wrong sides together and press. Pin the edges together and then sew together the length using an 3/8 inch seam. This will make a long tube. You will need to turn this tube inside out so that the right sides show. Press carefully. Begin sewing 5/8 inch from the edge of the length. Sew another seam 5/8 inches from the seam just made. If you want a ruffle around the top do another 5/8 inch seam from the last seam. Cut 2 peices of elastic that same circumference as your basket plus one inch. Thread these through the top two channels if you do not desire a ruffle and did not make the extra seam or through the second and third channels if you made the extra seam. Secure the elastic on each end as you tread it through. When finished take the two ends of your long tube of fabric and sew them together.
