Hostess Gifts: Southern Hospitality

So here we are, getting ready to approach the hostess gift officially. I have decided to start this series in the south where I believe manners and traditions still run strong. Though I live in southern california, you may be surprised to know that I am not well versed in these southern traditions. Crazy, I know! But in all seriousness, the folks at Southern Living Magazine have compiled some fantastic gifts which will be perfect for this holiday season's many parties, gatherings and weekend visits. And all of these goodies are made with southern hands in the bible belt. Just remember that you are a guest and should desire to show your gratitude for the open home. Give them one of these and your hosts will surely be thanking you!

These Yellow Grit Sandies hail from the Town House restaurant in Chilhowie, Virginia where they hand make many cookies, crackers, honey, granola and maple syrup. These delicate cookies made with yellow corn grits from South Carolina and powdered dry corn kernels will entice even the pickiest of cookie eaters. And at $9 a bag you can surely keep them coming!

Beeswax Candles from Seda France are perfect for those of us who love the soft glow of candle light but have sensitive noses. I am one of those who can not handle the strong aroma that many of today's candles radiate. But with these rustic candles hand-poured in homey German glass jars, I would be more than pleased to strike a match.

A Guest Book is always an unexpected, yet entirely appropriate hostess gift. By giving your host or hostess a gorgeous leather keepsake guest book you will be helping them contain and cherish memories of friends and family visits for years and years to come. This is especially ideal for people who love to share their home with others by opening it up for weekend getaways and vacations. This San Antonio, Texas handcrafted book will be well worth the $82 at jonhartdesign.com.

Chicken Soup may not seem like a customary gift, but that may just be it's attractiveness. Obviously, you could make this on your own, but purchasing a yummy old-fashioned jar of Bradenton, Florida's Spoonful of Comfort will make things simpler on you and warm the heart and belly of that special host you love. Plus, this woman's story and mission is just amazing.

Don't forget the ever popular dessert. Sure you could bring a pound cake or box of chocolates, but if you were to bring an incredible Vanilla Crepe Cake from the Charleston Crepe Company, you may just end up the life of the party! Don't fret if you live in Seattle.... this signature vanilla crepe cake ships nationwide to serve all 12 people at your friends gathering.

Lastly, I love the idea of giving your host something for their home like these Vintage Hand Towels from Oklahoma or Monogramed Napkins from New Orleans. But I'm also mad about decorative Soaps which are not only pretty in the bathroom but will be nice for you when you visit!

Now that you have your gifting ideas, don't be afraid to share them with your hostess! She will after all be the recipient. Happy visiting!

Handmade Wednesday's: The Mouse Pad

Last week I told you about the book Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule and gave you instructions for the Rag Bag. So, keeping with this woman's fabulous sewing projects, I give you another that I think we can all use: The Mouse Pad! Most everyone these days has a computer, whether a desk top or lap top, and the mouse can be used for both! In fact, I know many people who have lap tops, yet prefer to use a mouse for easier maneuvering around this essential piece of technology.

Unfortunately, if you are trying to make your home pretty, soft and homey, a computer sort of ruins it. They are clunky, have sharp lines and just their being in a room can make you feel as though you have a ton of things to do. Perhaps the computer is a huge part of your job - like mine - and you spend hours upon hours staring into it. Don't you want something with a little softness to ease your cluttered mind? Make yourself a pretty mouse pad and just may feel instantly better!

The Mouse Pad

Soule believes that you should use what you've already got in your home and I could not agree more! So, grab any type of fabric for this project: quilting, cotton, linen, duck, and even cotton upholstery-weight fabrics are perfect. You will want to use a contrasting fabric along the bottom edge of the pad, so choose a favorite piece that you will really enjoy!

Materials

Approximately 1/4 yard total, as follows:

Fabric 1: (1) 9" x 9" piece of fabric for the back

Fabric 2: (1) 9" x 6 1/2" piece of fabric for the front

Fabric 3: (1) 9" x 3 1/2" piece of contrasting fabric for the front strip

Heavyweight fusible interfacing: (2) 9" x 9"

How to make it:

1. Gather all materials and cut all fabrics to the measurements above.
2. Lay the two front fabric pieces right sides together, matching up their 9" edges. Stitch. Press the seam open.
3. Following the manufacturer's instructions, adhere the interfacing to the wrong side of the front piece that you just created. Then adhere a second piece to the wrong side of the back fabric piece.
4. Square up these two pieces, wrong sides together and trim away excess. Use a tight zigzag stitch around all four sides close to the edge. Trim as needed, being careful to avoid cutting the stitches.

Finished size will be 9" x 9". Enjoy surfing the web in peace!

Handmade Wednesday's: The Rag Bag

Growing up in a rather crafty family with a mother who had the capability to make everything we ever needed, has given me a very imaginative mind. I absolutely love creating new things, especially when they are repurposed out of old. There is nothing better than realizing you just made something yourself that serves a purpose in your home and you saved another object from being thrown away, never to be seen again. I recently discovered the Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule and fell in love with some of her crafts. And these are not just random pull-the-kids-together crafts, these are fun things that you can create to make your life more natural, green and all around more inviting.

Today is all about the Bag Rag. It's handy to hold stained clothing, old towels and stray socks that have become your new cleaning rags. Most of us have begun solely using paper towels, but let's remember that by using cloth instead of paper we can help our environment and get the house much cleaner (cloth cleaning rags are much more absorbent, versatile and effective). And this bag will be a great place to house your rags as they wait to be put to use! So, if you're handy with a sewing machine, take this project on! Soule recommends using material that you have already, such as cotton tablecloths or any cotton, canvas or linen fabrics.

Here's what you'll need:

Fabric 1: (1) 12" x 28" for the bag

Fabric 2: (6) 4" x 10" scraps for the balls

Embroidery floss: (6) 30" long

Embroidery floss: (6) 6" long

Embroidery needle

Double-fold extra-wide bias tape for straps: (2) 18" long

Double-fold extra-wide bias tape for the drawstring: (1) 30" long

Buttonhole foot for sewing machine

Pinking shears

Here's how to do it:

1. Gather all materials and cut all fabrics to the measurements given.
2. Begin by making the fabric balls. Taking one piece at a time, wrap the raw edge under itself and begin to roll the fabric. Tuck the ends as you go along, forming the fabric into a rounded and tight ball shape.
3. Then using the 30" length embroidery floss in a color of your choosing, wrap the fabric ball tightly to keep it's round shape. Wind until you have a 4" length of the embroidery floss left, and then tie a knot to the other end of the strand. Cut away the excess floss. Repeat this step for all six balls, and set them aside.
4. Fold the bag fabric piece in half lengthwise, with right sides together, so that it measures 12" x 14". With the fold at the bottom, sew a seam down both 14" sides. Trim both seams close to the stitching without cutting into the stitches.
5. Turn the bag right side out. Along the bottom fold, measure and mark six evenly spaced points with a pencil. The marks will be approximately 1 1/2" apart.
6. Attach the fabric balls. Thread a needle with 6" of embroidery floss. Coming from the inside of the bag, pull the needle out just slightly to one side of one pencil mark along the bottom seam, leaving at least a 2" tail inside the bag. With the needle, pick up a few strands of the embroidery floss and a bit of fabric on one of the fabric balls. Place the needle just to the other side of the marked pencil spot of the bag, and pull the needle to the inside of the bag. Remove the needle from the floss. From the inside, pull both ends of the strand tightly to bring the ball to the edge of the fabric fold. Tie the ends securely with a double overhand knot. Cut the excess floss. Repeat this step for all six fabric balls.
7. Hem the Bag top. At the top of the bag (still right-side out) fold the raw edge toward the inside 1/4". Press. Edgestitch.
8. Make the buttonholes. Choose one side of the bag to be the front. Place the buttonholes by measuring approximately 5 1/2" in from each side and 3" down from the top; mark this spot lightly with a dot in pencil. Using this dot as the top point for the two vertical buttonholes, measure 1/2" lower than the dots and mark a straight line, 1/2" long, moving from the top measurement toward the bottom of the bag. This line is your buttonhole guide.
9. Create two buttonholes using your machine's buttonhole foot and instructions. Cut each buttonhole open with sharp scissors or a razor.
10. Make the drawstring casing by folding 2" of the top edge toward the inside of the bag. Press. Edgestitch. This will cover the back of your buttonholes, creating a casing. Complete the casing for the drawstring by stitching around the entire top of the bag, 1" down from the top folded edge. This line of stitching should be at the top of the buttonholes.
11. Make the straps by stitching an 18" length of bias tape close to the edge to close the binding. (TIP: to prevent the bias binding from slipping into the plate of the sewing machine as you begin to sew, hold the thread from your bobbin and spoon taut as you begin stitching. Use these threads to guide and gently pull the binding until the seem gets started.) Trim each edge with pinking shears. Repeat this process for the second strap.
12. Along the casing stitching on the inside of the bag, measure out 2 1/2' from both sides of each vertical seam. Pin both ends of one strap to the front of the bag; pin both ends of the other strap to the back of the bag. The ends of the strap should just touch the casing stitching. Stitch the straps in place with a zigzag stitch.
13. Now let's finish her up! Make the drawstring by stitching the 30" length of bias tape close the edge to close the binding. Trim each end with pinking shears. Secure one end of the drawstring to a large safety pin and place it inside one of the buttonholes. Using the safety pin to guide the drawstring through the casing, work the drawstring around the bag and out through the second buttonhole. Work slowly and carefully when you get each side seam to get the the drawstring past the seam fabric. Adjust and center the drawstring, tying it in a decorative bow. Remove the safety pin.

HomeWork: Repurposing The Chalkboard

There is something in the air each year when August rolls around. There is an imminent feeling of autumn and students and parents alike are aflutter with a new school year just around the corner. I believe Tom Hanks said it best in You've Got Mail--"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address." I share that sentiment. For some reason when my thoughts turn to fall, I just want to be in a classroom. Luckily, I have an excited little boy heading into first grade so I will see my fair share of a school campus. Nevertheless, I think that I will bring a little of it into our home as well. My muse? The chalkboard, an elementary component to any classroom, and a surpisingly versatile design element as well with the help of chalkboard paint. Chalkboard paint is liquid chalkbaord on demand. It is great because you can paint it almost any shape, size and design your little heart desires. And what's more, Martha Stewart has a recipe for homemade chalkboard paint. I am partial to the classic green shade, which is surprisingly hard to find, so I love Martha's route. It seems pretty simple and you can customize the paint to any color you want. Here are a few projects that I am toying with right now.

I love the idea of chalkboard in the kitchen. There is so much to jot down in the kitchen: grocery lists, recipes, schedules, menus, etc. I particularly like the idea of uesing a chalkboard surface for labeling. Never again will you have to tell someone which cabinet the bowls are in. Although, I think that I would choose a more neutral shade to blend into the other colors in my kitchen, (Thank you, Martha!).

I have been in search of a calendar that can fit our family's needs for quite some time. So I am excited to create one that is custom made for us. I am thinking of applying magnetic paint underneath and making some fun magnets for the kids to put on when we have a special day as well.

Childrens' bedrooms are a natural choice for a chalkboard. But I especially like the idea in the picture above because it provides a fun place for the kids to play, yet with just a swipe of an eraser and you have an attractive, polished look.

A "Dish" of the Simple Life

Life is just plain hard, isn't it? We all try to make it better, easier and happier but it still ends up being hard. You can simplify life by incorporating technology and gadgets, but what if you can't afford those marvels or they won't fit in your home? You don't just give up, do you? No! You just make it work. Heck, what did people do 75 to 100 years ago when that piece of technology didn't exsist? They made due. For me, the item I am lacking is the Dishwasher. My husband and I have been living for the past 4 years in an apartment built in the 1930's. When it was built, people didn't have dishwashers in their homes and theowners have never remodeled the kitchen to fit into the 21st century. So, we've had to adjust to the lack of a dishwasher - among many other things - and I'm here to tell you that it is completely possible to live without one! Here are some warnings and rules for your dish washing hands to live by:

• Be sure that if you live with someone, are married or have children you set up a schedule or a regular routine so that no one is surprised when it is their turn to do the dishes. This will reduce fighting over who has to wash at that particular moment. Maybe, the kids always do dinner dishes and switch off between cleaning and drying. If you've got a roommate, make sure each person does their own dishes or whoever did the cooking does not have to do the dishes after that meal. Whatever works for you!
• I also recommend NEVER EVER letting your dishes pile up in the sink. I know it's hard because sometimes you just don't want to do them. But if you wash them after every meal or at least in the afternoon, prior to dinner, and then again after dinner you will save yourself a headache, a stinky kitchen and ruined dishes. Plus, as the dishes pile up the task becomes more and more daunting which in turn makes you not want to do them more. It can be a very vicious cycle.
• If you will be leaving dishes in the sink for a little while, be sure to rinse them off first. The last thing you want is old, crusty food stuck to yournice dishes. It will be harder to clean if you don't do this and to top it off, by rinsing first you will decrease the likelihood that you kitchen will smell.

I have also tried out quite a few Dish Racks in the past 4 years, so here are some that I think work really well for different reasons:

The Bamboo Rack works well for people who do not go throug

h a lot of dishes and want a nice way to dry a few dishes, but also store the rack away with ease.

The In-Sink Dish Rack has been a fantastic option for my husband and I. We really don't go through too many dishes, but enough to where the Bamboo Rack doesn't work for us. We also have a small kitchen with hardly any counter space, so having a a rack that sits on the counter was not practical. Plus with a smaller rack, we have no choice but to work through our dishes faster.

The Counter Top Dish Rack is the best option for those of you with a family and a decent amount of counter space. But if you are going to go this route, I recommend purchasing a larger rack to make sure you have enough room for all the dishes. Try looking at KitchenAid or any 2-tiered racks. This one is awesome!

A Place to Rest

Reading is a great way to relax and escape the world around you. But don't you find it hard to really enjoy it if you aren't extremely comfortable? I know I do. I usually have to go hide in my bed and cozy up with all the pillows around me just to be able to sit back and engulf myself in a good book. That can be a little extreme at times, but I believe that there is a solution to this quandary. That is the Reading Nook.

Now the Reading Nook can be more than just a place to read. So, don't get crazy on me if you're yelling at your screen, "Lady, I don't like reading!" I've never been one to spend a lot of time reading (enough to create a special area in my home especially for it) so I know where you are coming from. Instead, consider it your little "Getaway Nook". This area of your home can be a place - even outside - where you can read, write, pray, sleep or just watch nature unfold in your garden. And the best way to make it everything you need it to be is to follow these few, simple steps!

1. Place the nook in a corner that has a good amount of windows so that you get as much natural light flowing in as possible. This will allow you to have light for reading, writing etc. without having to always turn on a lamp. We do want to be eco-friendly as well!
2. Use comfortable furniture. This means soft, yet supportive. You want to be able to sit there for a long time without it wrenching you back or neck. Comfortable chairs also need to be made out of the right materials. Leather may work for you, or perhaps a soft and light weight cotton is better - it's really your preference that matters.
3. Have an ottoman. Ottomans are great for putting your feet up or for acting as a coffee table of sorts. You can throw your magazines and a light blanket on top, or get a sturdy tray for securing your beverage. And when choosing an ottoman, I would recommend an octagonal shape so that it addresses every angle of the room and every piece of furniture in your nook.
4. Make sure you have storage available to house your books and other "Nook" accessories. Most people would put up some shelves, which is a great option, but consider a small dresser (preferably antique!) because the drawers hide everything and it's completely unexpected in a living room.
5. Then give it a personal touch. Add fun throw pillows, a lamp shade you decorated, or a quilt you made. But the best way to accomplish this is by utilizing your shelves, dresser-top or side-table for pretty items that speak to your heart. I love flowers, so I always try to have a unique vase or container to hold the gorgeous roses from out front. But you might want to show off a small piece of art, some shells your kids collected at the beach or a few pictures of the people who mean the most in your life. Ultimately, this is your resting place so have things there that help you relax.