Jennuine

Rainy days make me feel reflective and nostalgic.  So I started puttering around, adding little quotes and sayings to some of my old family photographs.  What started out as a single idea (the photo below) -- a celebration of quirky girls everywhere -- became a tidy little collection of images with empowering messages. Please feel free to share and use as you wish. (non commercial purposes only, of course)           "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."  ~Judy Garland "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."  ~Dr. Seuss  

Many moons ago I fashioned a necklace from vintage buttons passed down from family. Having no experience whatsoever in jewelry-making, I strung the buttons and beads on a length of elastic cord and it lasted for a good while. It was imperfect, but lovely, and not a day went by where I wore it and didn't get a compliment from passersby.  Recently, the elastic cord gave its last and the buttons and beads went cascading across the dining room floor. They've been sitting on a silver tray patiently waiting for me to summon the courage to restring them in a more permanent and artful fashion.  Recently, my friends at Lark Jewelry and Beading sent me a review copy of Candie Cooper's new book, Necklaceolgy .   It was love at first glace -- just look at this cover... On page 39 I found the "Kiss the Bride" necklace tutorial.  Candie's technique of using three strands of wire was just the trick I had been looking for to string those tri

  Spreading a little crafty sunshine your way... ...Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah, Zip-a-Dee-Ay! Click on the individual graphics to visit the high-res, downloadable image. A Victorian calling card: A messenger sparrow:     Another charming calling card... And a wise old owl:

Welcome friends.  Have a seat and enjoy a cup of warm spiced pear cider.  I'll tell you how to make it in just a bit, but first, I'd like to tell you all about the wonderful cookbook where I discovered the recipe!  At the end of this post, you'll have an opportunity to win a copy of your very own. Muy Bueno:  Three Generations of Authentic Mexican Flavor is a beautifully assembled collection of recipes and stories from the three ladies behind the popular blog of the same name ( muybuenocookbook.com ).  Yvette, Veronica and Evangelina were born and raised in El Paso, Texas, where they learned to cook from the family matriarch, Jesusita.  Jesusita's hospitality and cooking were legendary among family and friends, and now her daughter and granddaughters are sharing Jesusita's gift with the rest of the world. Photo source:  Muy Bueno Cookbook, Jeanine Thurston, photographer Inside the pages of the Muy Bueno Cookbook you're not going to

I love Halloween!  It's one of my absolute favorite times of the year to decorate.  All year long I'm on the lookout for ideas and inspirations.  Recently, I had the opportunity to review a copy of Artful Halloween:  31 Frightfully Elegant Projects by Susan Wasinger.   With so many decorating ideas and tutorials available online for free, you may be wondering what makes this book worth the $17.95 cover price. It's worth it.  Let me tell you why... Artful Halloween delivers on the promise of its title.  The projects are both artful and elegant.  The book contains more than thirty original projects for Halloween home decor, costumes and entertaining that are worthy of being being showcased in a home that has been designed with an artful aesthetic.   When you dog-ear the pages of the first five projects, it's a good sign that your book's a gem. These aren't just revamped versions of the same projects you've seen spattered a

Apple butter is wonderful on biscuits, warm toast and buttery scones. But have you tried it on vanilla ice cream? When served in a pie crust bowl, you have an elegantly deconstructed apple pie! A little sprinkle of flaky sea salt puts this simple, yet sophisticated dessert over the top.  Apple Pie Sundaes in Pie Crust Bowls Premium Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Overnight Apple Butter with Bourbon & Vanilla Bean (recipe HERE ) or your own Store bought or homemade pie crust Regular size muffin tin Cinnamon sugar Flaky sea salt (like Fleur de Sel) To make the pie crust bowls: 1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.   Roll pie dough out to 1/8" thick.  Use the rim of a drinking glass or biscuit cutter to cut into 3/5" - 4" rounds. 2.  Flip muffin tin over.  Form dough circles around each muffin cup.  Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.  Bake for 7-8 minutes, until golden brown. 3. Remove crusts from pan and allow to cool on a wire

The game of dominoes is a classic family amusement that is enjoyed all over the world. Not a mere game of chance, this centuries-old pastime involves strategy and skill as well as a bit of luck. Domino sets come in many sizes, but a set of “double nines’ containing 55 pieces is a nice portable size, allowing you to take your game to the park, picnic, or back porch. Traditional dominoes were made from ivory, bone and ebony. Today, most are made from plastic or resin.  Here, dominoes get an elegant modern update with a vintage twist. Bold typography replaces the classic dots (or “pips”), and the tiles themselves are made from glass.     Faux Mercury Glass Dominoes (Double Nines) MATERIALS 1 12x12 sheet rectangular glass tiles (approx. $10 in the tile section of the home improvement store) You will need 55 tiles in all to complete the set  Domino Typography Sheet , downloaded and printed Mod Podge Gloss waterbase sealer Small paint brus