Sunday Shopping

I am up drinking my coffee and window shopping this morning.  Waiting for Rachel to rise and shine!

Today is a big day.  It is her first catering job where we are not only making all the goodies and beverages but we are setting up and serving as well.  So…we will be off and running soon.  This gig is for a piano recital/reception and I think it will be lovely!  I am sure Rachel will be posting ALL about it very soon.

So back to the window shopping ~ I found this cool sight called Polyvore. First thing I run across is this OH SO CUTE plaid/prairie/apron dress:

Pretty darn cute and only 2,750.00 Euros.  WOW what a bargain…NOT!! I can make this dress, can’t you? Anyway, when I stumbled on this I then searched “prairie” on this site and oh…cute ideas!  VERY cute.  Here are a couple of things I want to try and make or find a pattern for:

But instead of me taking up space showing you everything I LOVED on this site…go here…and see for yourself!

Before I run off to help Rachel, I wanted to show you one more place I found last night.  My oldest daughter is an enabler just in case you didn’t know this.  She knows good and well not to send me etsy shoppes to look at.  She knows I need to stay away from there but NOOOO, she IM’s me this shoppe.

I am a bit hung up on the gingham this morning.  Oddly enough, the dress I am wearing today to the recital and reception is black gingham!

Okay…I will leave you with one more site to peruse.  Sucre just go look around.  SO much inspiration.  I love LOVE LOVE zakka.  I do.  What’s not to love about this look?

I know right?  ADORABLE!

I hope to get  pictures of the lovely gifts my friends, Karen and Tami brought me Friday evening when they stopped by for coffee.  They had been antiquing.  I was supposed to go, but with the family stuff going on, and catering jobs, I just couldn’t.  How sweet that they brought me goodies…one of which is a vintage apron that you have GOT TO SEE!! And the most adorable chicken pot holders!

They also got to sample Rachel’s homemade/from scratch/even the sauce/even the crust pizza that was waiting for me when I got home from the funeral home Friday afternoon. She will be posting her recipe and pictures on her own blog.

Have a sweet day everyone.

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Big Fun in Big D

As you all know we left Friday for BIG D. Yep, Dallas, Texas. And yeah, everything is bigger in Texas! I cannot tell you how many times one of us uttered that phrase over the weekend! I think I was most amazed with the size of some of the homes we saw as we drove out to Frisco to the IKEA store on Friday evening. More about that later. The whole point of me going was to attend EllynAnne Geisel‘s booksigning at the Dallas Women’s Museum.

As you all know her new book The Kitchen Linen’s Book: Using, Sharing, and Cherishing the Fabrics of our Daily Lives, is amazing!

All I can tell you is to get yourself a copy! The book signing at the DWM was lovely! Such a great turnout. I didn’t get a headcount but if it were my booksigning I would have been thrilled! EllynAnne had a vintage case FULL of beautiful linens and things to share with us. And the stories behind each one were just as beautiful. It just made me realize even more how much we need to cherish these kinds of things. Not because they are things, but because of the work of the heart that went into them. The time spent hand stitching…if those linens could tell us the tales! Most of the ladies brought linens for “show and tell” and to say a good time was had by all is an understatement!

Here’s a pic of EllyAnne and me at the book signing. If you have a chance, please go out and meet EllyAnne and see all she has to offer at her book signings…they are not just book signings…they are history lessons! She had some of the finest linens I have ever seen and touched. And the hearing stories that go with each are worth my time alone. But EllynAnne’s presentation, her Southern hospitality and North Carolina accent, her accessability – that all made the trip even more special! You will be hearing more about it later I am sure!

After the book signing, the family and I went on a walking tour of downtown Dallas. We were staying at the Hotel Indigo on Main Street and it was a perfect location for tooling around the Historic District on foot. We saw The Grassy Knoll,

heard some very interesting presentations about the Kennedy Assassination, toured the Dallas World Aquarium

and took LOTS of pictures!

Then on Sunday we headed out early and made it to IKEA when it opened at 10. WOW…lots of good stuff at good prices! Believe it or not I bought fabric! I will share all that with you in another post…hopefully a link to a post (hint hint Gesikah!) We were told my someone (no names) that we had until 12 noon (went a little over) so hopefully we will go back again soon and see what other goodies we can find.

Have a great Tuesday!

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I would like to introduce you to some really nice folks.

Paul Wilson and his wife Tina. Tina is a lovely friend I met online and WOW do they have a lot going on!

I just got this LOVELY canvas print:

Isnt she BEAUTIFUL??? I promptly framed her and she hangs in my studio! Yeah, I used the word “studio” to describe my creative space…I like that word. Anywho back to Paul & Tina.

After 15 years in a corporate job with security, benefits and vacation time Paul quit his job in 2007 to pursue freelance design and to sell products independently. His wall graphics took off and in 2008 he was featured in MaryJanesFarm and Romantic Country. His designs run from simple cartoony subjects appropriate for nurseries and kid’s rooms to photo realistic butterflies and beetles. While the wall graphics are the main product he currently sells in his Etsy shop he also does custom work and helps other crafters by producing full color vinyl show banners for them.

His personal business site: www.wilsongraphics.net

AND…let me just say you also need to mosey over to Small Town Living

Who are The Wilsons and how did they end up producing Small Town Living?

Paul and Tina with three children live in the panhandle of Florida. Early in 2006 they were talking to some family members who were planning to move to Thomasville, GA. Their plans were driven in part by a desire to get away from the congestion and sprawl in their own town. On a whim Paul & Tina drove up to Thomasville for a weekend and fell in love with what they found. People were friendly, open and made them feel welcome where ever they went. At one point, lost, they stopped and asked a woman sweeping her porch for directions. She told them how to get to the street they were looking for and when she heard they were considering moving to her community she told them they would love it. Her friendliness and warmth were one of the many pleasant memories they still have of that visit.

Once back home they began to talk more about also moving to the area to be closer to family and to get away from the rampant development they were seeing in their community. There were a lot of things they had to consider, where to work, where to live, would they buy a new home? a historic home? land outside of town? They spent hours researching all these topics. Tina had been raised in a rural community and let it be known that if they got a place with a bit of land she would like to own a few animals and grow a few things – Her farm girl was starting to wake up again after living in the city for 15 years.

Small Town Living was born from the interests the Wilsons have in living in a smaller rural community and from Paul’s love of publication design. They share the information they find with you and resources we all can enjoy using. For the time being they going to continue releasing the magazine in a digital format, but they are looking forward to the day that the first print issue rolls off the press. This topic resonates with many people who want things to move a little slower and simpler, who want to call some small town somewhere….Home.

I asked them to tell me in their own words what Small Town Living is all about and here is what they said:

We started Small Town Living in 2006, inspired by a visit we made to a small rural community to see family. The warmth and friendliness of the people we met were something we had found missing in our own larger community. When we returned home we talked at length and decided that it was time to relocate. We also decided to create a publication centered around the values and ideals that seemed to personify “small town living”.

Small towns have been in decline for years. Many Main Streets sit empty and desolate, replaced by Big Box Marts and shopping malls. The individual character of family shop keepers have given way to homogenized cookie cutter business plans and smiley faces. When you walk in the front door of these huge chains you always know what you’ll see, no surprises. While we have convenience and predictability we’ve lost a rich history and character that independent shops brought to our communities.

It seems like small towns speak more of self reliance as well. Gardens grew rich and lush, chickens wandered free in backyards, and fresh food was just outside the kitchen door. Instead we get veggies three weeks old, shipped from hundreds of miles away. We never meet our growers and have no idea the care given to our food along the way.

So Small Town Living is going to be about revitalizing the simple important things that were lost in our rush for bigger and better. We’ll tell you how to garden, keep chickens in your back yard, mend clothes, fix your own broken fences ,and rebuild community.

We hope you’ll stay with us for the long haul as we grow and develop. Each story is brought to you by someone who wants to add their ingredient to the “soup”, and together we’ll make this publication into something we hope will enrich you, your family and your community.

I have been getting this beautiful publication since the first one and I can tell you I am certain you will love Small Town Living!

www.stliving.net
www.smalltownliving.ning.com

Oh and Tina has her own etsy shoppe you will want to visit!

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Etsy News

It seems when there are lots of sickness lingering just around the corner waiting to hitch a ride back to my house.  We have battled a stomach bug as well as sinus trouble for the past couple of days.  The sinus thing may drag itself out simply because this is a typical Louisiana January.  Seventy-five degrees one day and 25 the next.  Dry and clear and cold then rainy and warm again. This kind of weather reaks havoc on our noses.

Now a little more pleasant news:  I have one lone apron listed in my etsy shoppe.  Now don’t you all run over each other getting there!  But do go and take a look.  Well, and buy it if you like! I will be posting more very soon.  Along with some other goodies.

Have a great day and hey, try to stay well!

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Sneak Peek at the Toile Apron for Kelly (shhhhh, don’t tell her)

I have the apron ready to mail.  And planned to mail it Monday BUT I just got an email from the author of French General Home Sewn and she is sending me a autographed book plate for the book soooo..I think that is worth the wait, which should only be a day or two longer or maybe I will just mail it separate.  Who knows it may come in Monday’s mail and then there will be NO wait. 

Also thought you might like to see one of my many latest acquisitions from etsy.  Just so you know, etsy is addictive.

Isn’t that the most cleaver watch band ever?  Especially for someone who loves to sew! Check it out here.

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Scenes from Supper

I am not feeling terribly inspired to write this morning.  Trying to find my inspiration and nursing a bit of a headache.  These weather changes really aggravate me!  Cold or hot- make up your mind!  So I will post you a few ‘”foodie” pictures from last night’s very delicious supper of Tandoori Lamb and sides.

And here are the beginnings of dessert.  I made crepes.  I whipped up the batter and it chilled while we ate supper.  Then I offered up strawberry, blueberry, peach, Nutella or citrus sugar for filling.  Served with homemade whipped cream.  Very delicious.  And I had enough crepes left over (see notes below) for today if we like

I have more pictures to post but will save them for later.  Oh…and here is a glimpse of my new prairie skirt.

I LOVE it.  I ordered if from Urban Prairie Girl (etsy- DUH)

Oh yeah, one more thing ~ in honor of Thoughtful Thursday I will leave you with this:

‘The creative person is both more primitive and more cultivated, more destructive, a lot madder and a lot saner, than the average person.’  — Frank Barron

Notes on Crepes:

For immediate use: Stack crepes as they are baked and keep covered. Store at room temperature.

To refrigerate: Wrap stacked crepes well in foil or plastic wrap and store in refrigerator for no more than two or three days. Let the crepes stand at room temperature about an hour before filling or serving.

To freeze: Separate crepe layers with wax paper and put in a tightly sealed container. Crepes will freeze well for up to four months but handle with care as frozen crepes are fragile and will break easily.

Allow crepes to thaw completely before unwrapping and separating to prevent tearing.

Filled crepes may be frozen but use discretion in selecting fillings. Choose foods that normally freeze well and remember that crepes absorb liquid easily and become soggy.

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Speaking of White Lily Flour…

I have only  six 2 pound bags of White Lily Self Rising flour in my possession.  I have been unable to locate more of this size so when this is gone…the biscuit kits maybe gone as well.  So, there are six Biscuit Baking Kits available.  They make great gifts.  So why don’t you pop over and take a look.  Click on the picture for a link to the webshoppe!

and now about the video!

We are still trying to get it uploaded…being a booger!  But hopefully real soon.  If all else fails I will just burn it to DVDs…which was the original plan and evidently the best one!

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Saturday Goings On

I have actually had a fairly productive day.  Some cleaning, some laundry, some organizing.  Covered some boxes to put patterns and sewing supplies in.

I bought this WONDERFUL glue from Small Meadow Press. It is SO easy to work with and cleanup is a breeze! Check it out and while you are there look around her lovely LOVELY website.

The boxes turned out pretty cute I think.

I covered the second and fourth in the stack (top to bottom).

I also finally found myself a pair of boots.  Big legged girls have only a few choices – these were what I have finally decided on.  LOVE ‘EM!

Kinda my style ya know?

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Meet My Friend Suz of Oregon Trail Soapers Supply!

I have been working to get this interview and introduction up for months now! But I think it was worth the wait! AND if you leave me a comment,  I will draw a name and at the end of the week and you will get a great surprise in your mailbox!!!

When I first began ordering soap supplies online for my former business Dahlem’s Soapworks, Suz was one of the first companies I ordered from and man does she set a high standard for all other suppliers!  Fast, friendly, accurate service!! Many have inquired about my former “life as a professional soapmaker”…some out of curiosity, some wanting to get into it themselves.  Let me just say, either way, if you are going to make soap, quality ingredients are a must…and Suz is the the go-to gal for that!!! You can click on the graphic to visit her shoppe! And be sure and drop her a line and tell her I sent you!

Could you introduce yourself to the readers of NotQuiteJuneCleaver?

My name is Susan Kennedy, aka; Suz, I’m married to a farmer and a great guy,
Rick, have two children, a boy, Rock and a girl Sandra, 5 grandchildren and
love them all to pieces. We live in *the boonies* and I wouldn’t trade it
for anything, I love it here. We have a small farm as well, chickens, etc.
The deer and their fawns visit all the time, and we have a lot of natures
creatures here, it’s fun to look out the window and see them.

What does your business do?

The business is located on our property which is why we purchased our home
as it has a built in shop.  The builder was going to repair heavy equipment
so since he decided to sell instead, we inherited a big roomy shop.  We
provide raw materials and packaging and some fun, decorative soap related
items as well to people who wish to soap or make any cosmetic product.  We
also provide help and advice when we can

I think  we would all like to know is how and when you started your
business.

I started as a soap maker back in November 1988 and materials were so hard
to come by that I began researching.  At that time, one had to purchase in
enormous quantities so we stayed in the soapmaking business for years until
my husbands accident in 1994.  Due to numerous surgeries, we could not
continue the business until 1998 so when we opened back up, the amazing
amount of raw materials available were a dream come true so the supply side
began and soaping took somewhat of a back seat except the hundreds of
testers, but I still love to soap, probably always will.  It’s very
satisfying.

What is the most difficult aspect of running this type of business?

Bookwork!!  That’s easy..*lol*, and another thing is when people have
developed incorrect habits or ideas about soapmaking, I feel a duty to do my
best to get them back on the right track and specifically the safety aspect
of it all.

What is your favorite part of your job?

When I hear success stories, I LOVE it.  I have been blessed to be part of
several including Bella Lucce, I adore her and I’m so proud of her.  And
many others who have made a name for themselves, knowing I was even a small
part is so wonderful.

Was there anyone that inspired you to follow your dreams?

My husband suggested soapmaking as he knew a person who did it already and
that began the quest for books, materials, etc., and we spent countless
hours studying and trying to perfect the art so yes, it was my other half
who is my inspiration.

Where would you like to see your business go?  Any thing you can share
with us about future plans for your business?

That one is difficult.  I love the size it is, I also know you have to stay
new and fresh to keep peoples interest so I will continue to try to find new
and interesting products.  For instance, we just found an amazingly bright,
true red that does not migrate.  So things like that, an awesome fragrance,
a new beautiful packaging item.  The small conquests add up to the bigger
ones.

In your opinion,  has the Internet affected opportunities for  crafters
who wish to start their own businesses?

Absolutely.  It has created both good and bad.  My feeling is that a person
should study, study and study more before offering a product to the public.
Some soapers do exactly that and my hat is off to them.  Others make a batch
or two, a friend does a website for them and they are in business.  It makes
me a bit concerned but hopefully they were fast learners.

If you had a chance to do it all over again (in business) is there
anything you would do differently?

Yes, I would have been better at bookkeeping in the beginning and revamped
my Business plan a lot sooner than I did.  A business plan is not forever, not
etched in stone, It’s fluid and needs to be gone over from time to time as goals are met or
not met and one needs To take stock of what needs to be changed.  I didn’t do that often enough.

Do you have any other great passions or hobbies.

Quilting is my love, as well as pretty much any type sewing.  I love machine
embroidery and believe you can’t have too many pillows, quilts and cushy
items around your home.  I want my home to reflect that comfortable
welcoming feeling. I have knit for years and still have probably 40-50
sweaters that I have kept for years.  My other love is Oil Painting, it’s definitely a
toss up between those two.  Any camping, fishing, outdoor activity renews my
spirit.  I guess it’s the farm girl in me.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced while seeing your company  to
where it is today?  How did you overcome or handle this challenge?

It’s likely what I have already said and that is not redoing my business
plan often enough.

Do you have any words of wisdom for women looking to opening their own
business?

I tended to take too many thing personally and in business, you have to have
a thick skin.  Do the very best you can and realize you can only please
people some of the time.  So provide the best possible customer service you
can and quality in your products and you should do well.  Not everyone likes
everything and it’s not personal, it’s just fact. The other thing would be
study, and study a lot, never quit.  See what other successful businesses
are doing and try to analyze their success.  It’s interesting to me to see
the myriad of personalities in these different businesses.

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Rectangle Shortbread Cutter Part Deax

Last year I posted a recipe for and then got several inquiries about the little shortbread cutter.  Yesterday we were out  doing a little shopping in the pouring rain and ducked in the kitchen shop. There they were!  I bought all they had and thought I might offer them up to y’all if you would like to have one.  You can have one of the 5 (yep only FIVE) by being one of the first 5 to email me  – The cost is $5 each ppd in the US.  If you live outside the us we will work something out if you want one.  They sell for  $2.49 on amazon but the postage is about $4 so this is a bit better.

After I let you know you are one of the 5 just paypal me and I will get it right out! They are very sturdy little cutters and I was VERY happy to find them.  Don’t dilly -dally or you’ll miss out!

ALL GONE!!! They will go out in the next day or so!  THANKS and ENJOY! Cookie recipes are here and here.

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