Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Mid-Summer Sale

ENJOY 10% OFF YOUR NEXT ORDER
DISCOUNT AVAILABLE ON
FULL-PRICED AND SALE ITEMS

JUST ENTER COUPON CODE "72810" AT CHECKOUT.
OFFER ENDS MIDNIGHT July 31, 2010.
(valid while supplies last. not valid on previous purchases.)

click here to shop

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Summertime and Ferris Bueller

I feel like this summer is going by way too fast. I need to take a break and just swing on an old tire, drink more lemonade, read on the porch, catch fire flies, float in the water and look at the sky. To quote Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." I'm going to take a good long look, but I'll be back.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Vintage Style Red Stripe Table Runner

I'm very pleased to report that the Vintage Style Red Striped Table Runner (one of my favorite items) is back in the shop. Whether you have a sturdy, rustic farm table or a picnic table, this French-inspired, Vintage Style Red Striped Table Runner always looks relaxed and elegant. Perfect for laissez-faire dining in any season. Vintage style farmhouse decor never looked so appealing.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Mad Cow

Looks like someone is tired of all this heat and humidity. May you all have a cool weekend!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

This is Just to Say

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

By William Carlos Williams

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Blue Bird Cigar Box

Vintage cigar boxes had such beautiful label designs. As cigar smoking became more popular, cigar companies would fight for attention by creating more and more elaborate cigar boxes. I just love how many of the images were very feminine for something so traditionally masculine.

I have fond memories of my dad's cigar smoke wafting through our summer cabin on rainy days. Getting one of his used cigar boxes was such a treat for me. I'd stash away memorabilia from family vacations or notes from bff's. It was hard to tell what was more important--the keepsakes or the beautiful box that held them.

This vintage style Blue Bird Cigar Box is a reproduction of the early 1900's cigar box by the popular Blue Bird brand. I think it's time to create some new memories for this little box. Available at Farmhouse Wares.

Monday, July 12, 2010

summer tastes so good

One of the many delights about our little farm is that it is scattered with bramble bushes. For a short period of time, these wild and thorny bushes are covered with juicy raspberries. If you want to gather enough to make a pie, the trick is to get to them before the birds do. My daughter is vigilant, and every day she'd tour the bushes to see their progress. Finally, it was time. She harvested a heaping bowl full. Still not enough for whole pie, I mixed in some local blueberries and made the most delicious crumb pie. Add a little vanilla ice cream on the side, and I do believe you have a slice of heaven. And don't worry, there were still plenty of berries to be had by those birds.

My bramble berry and blueberry crumb pie recipe:

Mix 1 pint bramble berries and 1 pint blueberries with 1/2 cup of sugar, 2 tbsp flour and 1 tsp lemon peel. Fill a pastry-lined 9-inch pie plate with the mixture.

In a mixing bowl combine 1/2 cup sugar. 3/4 cup flour, 1/2tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/8 tsp mace. Cut in 5 tbsp of butter until crumbly; sprinkle mixture over the berries. Cover the edge with foil and bake on 375 for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 30 minutes more.

Enjoy!

Friday, July 9, 2010

New! Ribbon Rack

Anyone who has ever received a gift from me knows that I love to wrap, decorate and tie pretty bows around my packages. I'm a little embarrassed to admit, but sometimes I spend more time thinking about the wrapping than I do the actual gift. Problem is...I'm not very organized. I've got tons of ribbon stashed under my bed and in bins here and there. So when I found this Wooden Ribbon Rack I had to have one. Perfect for storing and dispensing ribbon, rick-rack, twine and more, it even has a drawer to keep scissors and tape in one convenient place. (My daughter has a way of never putting these two items back where she found them.) I'm excited about having something that matches my decor and functions so well. That's a wrap.

Wooden Ribbon Rack Available at Farmhouse Wares.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Ticking Stripes Forever

Ticking stripe fabric never goes out of style, and it has a way of instantly creating a farmhouse vibe. This past weekend I had ticking stripe fever. I went a little crazy with a few yards of blue ticking fabric. I made slip covered pillows to update my couch , made a long seat cushion for my bench, and I even made a 4th of July skirt for my daughter with ticking stripe pockets. I still have some fabric left. Hmmm....what should I make next?

Friday, July 2, 2010

Ahh...Independence

I hope you all feel the joy of freedom on this Independence Day!
Be safe. Be happy. Just be.

P.S. the image is from my trip to Newport, RI last weekend. Still the most gorgeous beach I've ever seen.