For this week’s favorite vintage advice, we turn to the kitchen! Whether you’re a Betty Crocker or a clueless cook, I’ve got some resources to share with you that will surely help solve any dinner dilemma.
First of all, any good kitchen queen has to stay organized. The Vintage Workshop offers images that you can use for recipe cards, to-do lists, and storage labels in the kitchen. Here are a few of my favorites, from the “Happy Homemaker” and “Just Desserts“ collections:
Did you know that it’s National Pie Day? (Where do they come up with this stuff??) Maybe we don’t get the day off from work, but I’m all for celebrating this lesser holiday! Here’s an excerpt from my book, Vintage Notions, on how to make the perfect pie crust. The recipe comes from educational material distributed by The Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts & Sciences, which taught over 300,000 women across the country between 1916 and 1937. Where did you think grandma’s secret recipes came from?
You can click on the image to open it larger in a new window:
Find out more about Vintage Notions and how to use it by watching this video. Happy National Pie Day!
These were words spoken in a panel discussion at the Creative Connection Event this past September. They attest to the fact that more and more people are understanding the great value of handcrafted goods and personal connections to our work. This sentiment is — I believe — at the heart of the DIY “Revolution”. In the handmade market, the buyer and the seller often experience a connection over the purchased item. The buyer knows the seller created his or her work because of an authentic interest, which also adds to the experience. With the trendiness of upcycling and refashioning, the materials themselves might even have a back story all their own — adding to an even deeper experience. (more…)
Sweets and treats come in a seemingly endless supply during the season of Halloween…
Candy corn, cookies, Snickers, Twix, bubble gum, candy, chocolate, gummies….so many options with one common denominator: SUGAR!
Yummy at first, sickening after awhile, right? But treats haven’t always been as sweet as they are today. Many vintage recipes call for much less added sugar than their modern-day equivalents. Throughout Vintage Notions, there are a number of recipes featured in the “Department of Cookery” sections which offer tasty alternatives to store-bought sugary snacks. (more…)
Who can resist when struck with a sweet tooth? I know I can’t. And the upswing of creative baking and DIY cake decorating is making temptation all the more irresistable. Even though my own creative endeavors don’t leave me much time for diving into cake-making, I am so impressed by some of the women around me who are exploring this outlet by mixing business with pleasure in a whole new way… (more…)
On a recent visit to Des Moines for the AQS Quilt Show, I met up with Kelly Kegans, senior home editor at Better Homes and Gardens. She and I first met at the Creative Connection in Minneapolis a few months ago. We discussed my book Vintage Notions and the fact that Mary Brooks Picken was a contributor to BHG in the 40’sand 50’s. I also mentioned that I was going to be in Des Moines (my hometown) and that I would love to have a chance to visit her at the Meredith Corp. offices. I thought I might also stop in and say hello to Jennifer Keltner, Executive Editor, Crafts Group for a tour of the craft lab (I’ll post on that tour soon!).
