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:
Guess what, my fellow fashionistas and Project Runway-lovers? Last Saturday, I got to meet the fabulous fashion icon, Tim Gunn! Tim hosted a complimentary fashion show in Kansas City, featuring the Spring 2012 collections from Kate Spade
I loved all of Tim’s fashion wisdom and advice during the show. My favorite Tim tip was to make a simple outfit “wink” by adding a funky, flourescent accessory. And at this show, there were plenty of funky accessories!
Astroturf bag by Kate Spade:
Straw hat with convenient built-in sunglasses:
Everywhere I turned there was another photo opp, so of course I snapped quite a few pictures. Here are some of my favorites from the show:
I loved the great show of color in so many of the new designs!
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…)
Thanksgiving is a holiday when we can ho
pefully put away the distractions and stresses of our daily lives and come together for a day of food, family, and fun. And where is that we come together? Around the table, of course!
Matching china and silverware, place settings, tablecloth, napkins, centerpiece….it can add up to a lot of work, but the results are enjoyed by all. I like to push myself to try something new each year, even it’s something very small — like this fun turke
y-pumpkin centerpiece we made last year:
In the November chapter of Vintage Notions, you’ll find all sorts of useful tips, recipes, and advice for decorating, cooking, and staying sane during the holidays! I love this little thought from Mary Brooks Picken, featured on the chapter title page: (more…)
During this time of year, I truly cherish the special relationships in my life. Things may get hectic around the holidays, but making time for lifelong friends can be a wonderful stress buster indeed. Here’s an excu
se to gather your girlfriends for an afternoon of fun! We developed a book club guide based on my book Vintage Notions: An Inspirational Guide to Needlework, Cooking, Sewing, Fashion and Fun. This beautiful keepsake book is organized by months and shares entrepreneurial wisdom, inspirational essays, and historical insights about fashion and home arts, plus craft projects and recipes that remain timeless and tasty! Get started now with the November or December chapters for tips on creative gift wrapping as well as articles that will surely inspire the sharing of seasonal memories. You’ll also find some helpful tips on calming your nerves during the holiday season, and classic recipes for enticing treats to serve during your meeting.
To learn more about Vintage Notions, you can watch this intro video on my website or check out artist Kelly Rae Roberts’ blog for some of her thoughts on experiencing the book.
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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…)
Picture this: It’s morning, you’ve showered and dressed, about to start your day when you realize that only one step remains — make-up. How do feel about this womanly ritual? Is it art? Is it a part of your personal style? Or is it, as so many of us sometimes believe, about covering up what’s looking back at us in the mirror?
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I love Fall…and the events that take place in these cooler months.
I’m speaking, of course, of the Country Living Fair!
If you’ve been following my blog and Facebook lately, you know that last weekend I was in St. Paul, Minnesota for the second annual gathering of The Creative Connection — a wonderful weekend of keynote speakers, workshops, panel discussions, and networking with (mostly) women entrepreneurs in the creative arts industry.
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Show of hands… Who here has felt a little less-than-feminine when temperatures soar to sweltering triple digits? I love summer as much as the next person, but we ladies know it’s tough to feel our freshest during bedraggling doses of heat and humidity.
I adore the advice offered in vintage beauty articles, including a magazine column from 1939 called “Fresh as a Daisy the Summer Through.” It’s no surprise that women have faced this problem for ages, but it’s interesting to learn how yesterday’s women dealt with the hygiene hazards of summertime.
