Craft Idea

I scanned these little sketches from a cookbook. Not sure what I am going to do with them. Something creative! Cards? Notes? Embroidery? Now that is a grand idea! Framed? They are too cute to go to waste! I would love to hear your ideas. Or feel free to borrow them for a project.

I am really liking the idea of embroidering. Didn't think of it until I was typing.  Maybe on an apron? :)

Jelly Tart Cookies

When my sister Mandy and I saw that the heat was going to let up last weekend, we immediately both had the same idea! Bake something!! So when our sister Becky started talking about Jelly Tart Cookies, we decided it was the perfect time to use up some old jam. We made our own raspberry peach jam by mixing a few frozen raspberries into peach. The peach jam wasn't the greatest, because the peaches weren't the greatest (this was a year or two ago, the peaches this year are wonderful!). 

As you can see, they don't last long!

Jelly Tart Cookies

1 cup soft butter      1/3 cup sugar    1 3/4 cups flour

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Mix in flour. Roll into small 1" balls. Place on cookie sheet and press thumb into dough to make well. Fill with a teaspoon of jam. Bake at 350 until dry looking and slightly brown on edges. Let cool on pan for a few minutes before removing as cookies are very soft when hot.

Chrismas in July!

This week we acquired a few more glass Christmas ornaments for our collection. We love these old jewels!  Most of them are made by the Shiney Bright Company. Typically you will find ones made in the 50s and 60s. But glass ornaments for Christmas trees have been made a long time.

 When we were kids Mom had a couple of glass ornaments from her mother, we would be allowed to take out and look at each year, but not hang on the tree. Then as we got older she let us put them just on the top of the tree. Since we have started collecting them in the last couple of years, we have covered the tree in them. At this point we have way more then we need for one tree, more like three Christmas trees! But we have decided to share! So sister Becky gets some, cousins get some, now that my brother is getting married we will get him started with a collection too!

 These are my favorites. This is what made me start collecting. To me they look older then the 50s, but I am not certain.  They have hand painted decorations, sometimes floral, and a bit of glitter. The tops are small and have Poland stamped in them.

 These are some of Mom's favorites, as this is what she remembers on the tree growing up. You can find all sorts of scenes, santas, stars, bells, gingerbread houses.

French Knot

To finish off your pretty flowers you need a center a French Knot. This also is very handy for tying knots at the end of your thread.

Step 1: Come up and wrap thread around needle twice. You want to keep your needle fairly tight to the fabric and your thread tight on the needle.

Sep 2: Holding thread snug, go down and pull thread through.

Finished!

 It may take a little practice to get them looking right. Remember to hold your thread snuggly.

Lazy Daisy Stitch

Today, a how-to on the Lazy Daisy Stitch.

This stitch makes the most beautiful flowers and leaves!

 Step 1: Come up at Point A. (Point A being the narrow end of your petal.)

Step 2: Go down at Point A and come up at Point B. (Point B being the rounded end)

 Still Step 2: wrap the thread about the needle.

Step 3: Pull the needle through and go down at Point B to hold the petal in place.

 Done!

Now here is an embroidery design for you to practice on! Tomorrow I will post a how-to on French Knots so you can fill in the middle of the flowers.

Summer Flowers

Echinacea or Purple Cone Flower

Chamomile

I just realized that I have titled the last few posts with summer. We have to enjoy it while it is here. The cicadas have started to sing this week. My great aunt always said that meant six more weeks of summer. And it feels like it just got here!

Summer Canning

Summer is starting to warm up here in SE Wisconsin and so is our garden! We are just starting to get cucumbers. But we couldn't wait to make our first batch of pickles! We went and bought a few pounds at our local farmer's market. Also since the fruit has been so good (and good priced) we have been making jam! And of course an apron is absolutely essential for canning!!

 Isn't she sweet? From a Ball Canning Book c1939. Love her apron!

This is from a Hotpoint Electric Stove Manual. Isn't her kitchen cute?

A closer look at her lovely pink kitchen.

Marsha Hunt

Marsh Hunt was an actress in the 30s and 40s. But because she was black lasted in the early 50s she isn't very well know. The only reason I really know about her, one day in the library I found a book she wrote. The Way We Wore, Styles of the 1930s and 40s and our world since then. It is one of my favorite books. The Way We Wore is really a coffee table book with lots of pictures. It is a treasure trove of vintage fashion.

 Movie stills, featuring aprons!

 Someday I want to make this one.

 And a few glamorous hairstyles!

I haven't seen very many of her movies as they are hard to find. I have seen her in Pride and Prejudice (1940) and Seven Sweethearts.

Marvelous 1920s Apron Pattern

Look what I found browsing around the internet! Isn't it marvelous!? I love the uneven hem and the echoing top of the bib line. And those stripes of trim, so art deco! If you really really need this pattern (and have the cash) it is for sale on Esty http://www.etsy.com/listing/77063795/mccall-1905-rare-vintage-1920s-apron. Wish I could afford it! Too cool! It will be in my file for inspiration though, someday hopefully I will get around to making it. :)

My Ladies, part 2

Didn't know there was a part 2, did you? Neither did I! After I had posted about my ladies, my cousin called and told how she had been looking through old copies of McCall's Needlework magazines and found an article on how to make them!! So exciting! That issue had actually re-printed it from previous issue. So I started hunting around for the original article and I found it!!

McCall's Needlework and Crafts Spring/Summer 1963

Summer Fruit

I love this time of year, when most fruits are in season and I can eat blueberries, strawberries, peaches and raspberries to my hearts content. Since fruit is eatable it shows up in kitchen accessories, that means Aprons, among other things. Here are a few fun aprons to celebrate fruit.

Most of these aprons are on my to-do list! :-)

Patriotic 40s!

I should of posted this last week! But I didn't find it until last weekend when I was visiting my sister. So I decided to post it anyway. It is too cute to wait until the next patriotic holiday!

 "So when that boy sits down at your table...greet him with what he has been longing for- real, old time cakes and cookies." This little booklet was published in 1945 by the Swansdown Cake Flour Co.

The recipe in case your mouth is watering, Like mine is!

And to go with our 40s theme, two new patterns I picked up. What you need to wear when you serve your boy that real old time baking! Couldn't resist them, the details are too too cute! Of course, being shirtdresses was another reason I couldn't resist.

And to round it all off, Kate Smith singing "God Bless America"

Wish I would of had this inspiration last week. Oh well, we can use a little patriotism any day!

More patterns!!

While I was in Texas, we found a pattern bonanza! Here are a few highlights.

What am I going to do with them all? Rearrange my drawers I guess. Out go the shoes, in go the patterns!

I have no idea how many I got. The first time we went I bought 24....

 Embroidery patterns for pillow cases and dish towels. For every embroidery pattern I bought there were at least three different patterns in it! Not sure why, but very fun!

Children's patterns.

 Baby patterns, Who can resist those sweet faces?

A few dresses. I am always a sucker for shirtdresses.

This one just made me laugh! I really don't see a connection between Penguins and fruit?! They are cute though!