Tea on Tuesday::Texture Tuesday::Tuesday with the "Kims"

The Cafe's theme this week for texture Tuesday is "Orange"...Seems to me orange is making a come back. When I think of the orange counters my brother put in his house in the 1970s I cringe.  Egad.  I hope not.  

Not a lot of orange around here so I looked to the garden and the sky.

Knock, knock...

Who's there?

Banana

Knock, knock..

Who's there?

Banana

Knock, knock..

Who's there?

Banana

Knock, knock..

Who's there?

Orange

Orange who?

Photo layered with Kim Klassen's"ephemera" texture on soft light.

If I had a nickel for every knock knock joke I've listened to...

I shot this sunset coming home from Omaha last week and as I was editing it, my six year old was sitting on my lap and said, "That looks once upon a time-ish". 

And, then she said, "It looks like Jesus is coming to town instead of Santa."

My heart was glowing "orange". :)

Photo edited with Kim's canvas magic and william textures

 I'm also saying Hello today to all of those having tea with Kim at Art in Red Wagons.  All of their tea talk has me buying samples here and there to see if I jump on the tea wagon.  

But, for today, I'm still drinking coffee.  I have enjoyed some new flavors of tea though with a couple of my daughters.  

This cool orange splattered step ladder is in my garden.  I have about 5 splattered orange pieces (all from the same sale) that I have just come to love out there and in the barn.  Who'd a thought? Orange? 

Both of the photos were edited with Nelly Nero's shabby suitcase action and a layer of Kim's boutique texture.

Say Hello to the tea drinkers here and to the texture lovers here!

Paula's Garden Year 3

I went to visit my friend Paula yesterday again for grilled hamburgers and a garden walk. :)  Oh how I enjoy a walk through someone's garden. 

You can see my first visit to her garden here, and year two here.

A friend of hers gave her this bench because the seat was broken.  (She was actually going to throw it out, whew, good save, huh?!)

Paula's husband wasn't getting it fit with a new seat so she put this plank across and asked him to just saw off the ends for her.  Well, he was trying to skirt that little task and jokingly said, "why, just put a bucket on each end.

Life is Art, wouldn't you say?  This piece is perfect all because of making do and joking around.  

Galvanized pails...perfect pots.

This part of her garden was actually in shade until the pine wilt took all four of the trees here. :(

A bread box turned planter.

Boots and chairs, always at home in the garden.

A "flower" welded by her husband.  Fun.

More fun.

My little one enjoyed looking for the fish in her pond, but they were hiding out of the sun.  It was actually cool yesterday morning in the shade so that's why the jacket.  Such a nice day!

It's so nice to have gardening friends to share plants, seeds, and ideas with.

Thanks again Paula!!

I'm linking up with Debra's Vintage Inspiration Friday and Fishtail Cottage's Cottage Flora Thursday.

The Herb Wreath, Dried

The herb wreath I posted about here dried really well.  It's nothing compared to what it looked like fresh, but hey, this will last longer than 20 minutes!

I could primp it a bit for a more round shape, but nah.  I like it as is.  Which is done. :)  It only took about 5 days to dry.  I left it hanging horizontally upside down for the first three days and futzed a bit with tying sprigs tighter when I took it down.  I let it finish drying lying flat. 

My herbs are still going in the garden so may have enough left to make another smaller wreath yet, so hopefully will get that done too.

Happy Thursday!

Texture Tuesday, Something Different

The challenge this week for Texture Tuesday  was "Back to School" and we needed to use two textures.  This was a tough one for me.  I didn't have time to take any themed pictures, but I did have pictures of my kids going off.

First I used the sketch filter and then a layer of Kim's reverse ttv on difference blending mode with the texture brushed off of the kids.  Then a layer of kimklassenlove on luminosity blending mode at 65%.   I pulled the borders inside of the black frame created with the ttv texture.  Again, I used a brush to take off some of the texture.  

My little one on the left is still home with me...sweet days.

I think there is a lot of potential for the sketch filter, I loved it.

There are some really neat back to school shots over at the cafe.  If you like new school supplies...hop on over!

Soup's On

It's that time of year, harvest of the tomatoes :)

Unfortunately it's pretty slim pickins here this year- due to garden neglect- due to life.  So it goes.

So this week, I donned one of my favorite vintage aprons and made our favorite tomato soup.

After some chopping, there was sauteing....

and simmering...

and blending...

and canning.  

For the benefit of all of us, I did not include a picture of all of the dishes :)

Here's the recipe should you find yourself with some fresh tomatoes and a little bit of time.

From my sister in law, Danita:

1 C. chopped celery

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 green pepper, chopped

1/4 C butter

41/2 C chicken broth, divided

1/2 tsp. curry powder

4 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp. salt 

1/4 tsp pepper

1 quart fresh tomatoes, chopped

1/4 C flour

Saute the celery, onion, and green pepper in butter. Then add 4 C chicken broth, tomatoes, curry, salt, pepper, and sugar.  Heat to boiling, reduce heat and simmer 30-45 min.

Blend flour with 1/2 C chicken broth, stir into tomato mixture and cook until slightly thickened, stirring frequently.

Puree or blend if you desire.  

Notes:  1. adjust seasonings for your taste.  I usually add a bit more salt and curry.

2.  Two double batches makes about 9 quarts and 1 pint. Give or take.

Happy end of the summer to you!

The Table Runners Live On!

I helped my recently married daughter sew some pillows for their home this past weekend.  This is our couch not theirs so that's why they don't really "go" here. 

The burlap used for the burlap pillow and trim are from the table runners from the wedding!  The buttons are vintage, and the other fabric came from the remnant table at $4 per yard. :)

There are some scraps left.  Remnants of remnants I guess!  I'm hoping to find a good use for them.

So as my daughter was finishing up some ironing I got out some frames I bought for family pictures and thought "hmmm....burlap would look neat under the white".  I've also seen online where people are using glass with dry erase markers.  I started messing around.

I at first thought I'd like to embroider a message on the framed burlap and then thought of the dry erase marker.  A bit faster.

Embroidery will be a permanent solution, but while your deciding a design... or for a gentle message to yourself or family...the marker is great!

I'm inspired by Dottie Angel and Yoda.

So, then we got all excited and found a larger vintage frame that I had, and my daughter painted it white. I put some of the blue linen left from her pillows in it.  Now, she has a memo board for their home!

Plans are in the makes for more of these for myself and my next two daughters!  I have the frames, the paint, and the fabric...just need to get some glass for them.

Linking up with the "I really like to write on glass with a dry erase marker, you should try it." blog party. Ha! 

Sometimes we have to amuse ourselves... :)

Would You Buy It Wednesday

This Wednesday I'm linking up with Junker Newbie for Would You Buy It Wednesday.  Bloggers are posting about items they either bought or saw and then posing the question, "Would you buy it?".

Well, would you?  I did.  Oh yes, I did for sure!  It was on a 75% off table at the shop where I have a booth and I picked it up for $3.  You've probably already figured out I bought it for the frame.  Not that I have anything against bright colored velvet paintings.  If any of you are going to tell me that these paintings are selling on Etsy for $50 I don't want to hear it because I've already dismantled it!
Actually, I took the painting off and was going to send it to Robelyn because I know that she would use it in an "oh so redneck chic" bag!  Unfortunately, it's too brittle and dirty.  Well, it was.  Now it's really brittle, torn, but clean because I threw it in the wash to see if it would fade in a neat way.  It didn't.

I already have a frame just like this that I used to frame some fabric that I just loved. I didn't know what to do with the fabric and someone suggested framing it...it's a Christmas print, but I leave it hung up year round. I'll try to get a picture of it and show you when I do something with this one.

Anyway, chime in, would you buy it?  Then you can go over to Junker Newbie and read the other fun posts.

Mollie Makes -- I'm Lovin' It

I was first introduced to Mollie Makes from the delightful Dottie Angel.

I had bought this Mollie Makes magazine a couple of days before my husband's foot got infected this summer.  As I was running out the door to go visit him in the hospital, I grabbed the magazine and then ran to my sewing room to grab a crochet hook and some yarn.

I had no idea what size hook or gauge of yarn was called for...I just grabbed because I was in a hurry.

And, of course I pulled an apple out of the refrigerator :)

So when my little gals were home with their big sister and my husband slept in the hospital, I crocheted.  And, it was a great stress reliever and diversion.

This is actually very old string and not yarn, always love string.

It took me a few weeks to get the buttons sewed on and then longer to get the pictures taken!

Now, "Why would apples need jackets?" you may ask.


"Why not?"


They are just too cute!

If you are new to Mollie Makes, you can find their site here.  The magazine is available at Barnes and Noble and Joann Fabrics in the United States or by subscription.  I did a search for used copies on Ebay and the prices were kind of surprising!
(I may sell mine after all my apples are cozy!) 

I love creative videos.

The jackets also fit oranges!  But, that's just silly, why would an orange need a jacket?!

I'm linking up this week with Tidy Mom's I'm Lovin' It Friday blog party, because I'm lovin' these Apple Jackets and Mollie Makes!

The Painted Porch

We went on a short vacation to Wisconsin a couple of weeks ago and quite accidentally found this neat shop while we were walking around La Crosse.  My family was waiting for me, so I took these quickly, but thought you might like to browse the Painted Porch too.

I left the images large so you can click to enlarge to look around a bit better.

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Peggy Rodriguez was the kind and creative proprietor. In the brief conversation we had, I found out she  has been a vendor at Junk Bonanza. Her shop though, is keeping her from going again this year.  Her card had no website or blog so I can't link you anywhere.  But, if you're ever in La Crosse, WI......