Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Apricot Pastries

 My mom used to make these every year at Christmas time.
They are a favorite of both my husband and mine.
Here's the recipe:

Apricot Pastries
1 jar apricot jam
3 cups flour
1 T. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup shortening
1/2 cup milk
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1 egg (slightly beaten)
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Sift together: flour, sugar, and salt
Cut in shortening till mixture resembles course crumbs
Scald milk, cool to lukewarm and add yeast
Add egg and vanilla to yeast mixture
Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix well
Divide dough into 4 equal parts
On a surface dusted with powdered sugar, roll one part at a time to a 10 inch square
Cut 16 (2 1/2 inch) squares
Place heaping teaspoon of apricot jam in center of each square
Pinch two opposite corners together
Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet
Let stand 10 minutes
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes
Remove from pan, roll in powdered sugar

ENJOY!!


Monday, December 21, 2015

I've Been Busy!


Life has been busy and full of good things of late!

Christmas baking...
(My niece and I spent an afternoon making Christmas cookies and candy.)
(I made over 10 dozen cookies to give out to our church family)

Christmas caroling with the young couples...
(Gifts all loaded up and ready to take to people)

Christmas Decorating....
( The top of my piano all decked out for Christmas!)
(My vintage tree in the guest room - ready for Christmas guests!)

Christmas shopping and wrapping along with....
(Great family-gift idea: Movie and Popcorn OR Popcorn and Hot Chocolate) 

(Homemade food gifts are great for co-workers, mechanics, mailmen etc.)


Christmas Programs...
(The entry table I decorated at church)
 
(This little shepherd sang a solo of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" beautifully!)

Making Christmas Cards and Gifts Tags....
 
(Most people got photo cards, but I always need a few "regular" cards too)
 (Handmade gift tags)

Christmas sewing!
(I can't share a picture of the actual project till after Christmas!)

I'm hoping to get back to fairly regular posting after the new year, but for now Merry Christmas to all of you!


Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Re-Purposed Picnic Basket -- FREEBIE

We had Christmas at Thanksgiving with my husband's side of the family.
One of my sister-in-laws gave us a "Family Fun Night" picnic basket filled with lots of fun goodies!
Here's how I re-purposed the basket in my guest room.
It's now a stand for my CD player and.....
...a place to keep snacks/drinks for guests!

The framed print on top reads:

Welcome!
Whether you come in to visit
or just to rest,
when you enter our home
may you be blessed!

You can find the free printable on this page.


This post linked to:
Roses of Inspiration

Monday, November 9, 2015

More Makeovers

Here's another freebie from my niece's attic that I chalk painted for the new room.
Of all the stuff I re-did - this is one of my very favorite pieces!
While I had the chalk paint out I painted up this little wooden toolbox and put it on top of my dresser.
I love taking old things and making them fresh and new with a little tlc and a bucket of paint!

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Bench Make over

Today I'm sharing a bench that I painted for my new guest room.
It started out as a country bench with a painted farm scene on the top.
After a few coats of paint, some sanding and finishing wax I had a white bench that matches the other furniture. 
It now sits at the end of my guest room bed.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Chalk Painted Dresser

Here's another FREEBIE from my nieces attic that I made over to match my new guest room.
I forgot to take a picture before I started painting -- but here's one w/out the drawers and one of the ugly knobs that were on the drawers.
I bought new drawer pulls (for 90 some cents) at a local hardware and painted them black so they'd match the desk pulls.

As with the desk and chair; I used my homemade chalk paint, sanded edges to create a vintage farmhouse look, and sealed the finished piece with finishing wax.
 Decorated and ready for guest!

Monday, November 2, 2015

Old Wooden Chair Makeover

The desk in my new guest room (last post) needed a chair to go with it!
My niece had several in her attic (left there by the previous owner), but only one was narrow enough to fit the desk.
Here's the before picture:
From being stored in an attic the varnish had bubbled and hardened to a black, crusty appearance.
After sanding it down, I applied my homemade chalk paint and WHAT a transformation!
The style compliments the desk nicely - and you can hardly beat FREE!

Friday, October 30, 2015

Homemade Chalk Paint

Day Two of Makeovers for my new guest room!
Today I'm sharing a desk that I painted with
Homemade Chalk Paint
and distressed to fit the vintage/farmhouse style I'm aiming for.
(Before picture of the desk)
Here's the recipe I used for the chalk paint:

DIY Chalk Paint
2 cups latex paint (your color choice)
1/3 cup plaster of paris
2 - 3 T. warm water.
Dissolve plaster of paris in warm water, add to paint, mix well.

I gave the desk two coats and then sanded the edges
 (when the paint dried)
 for a more distressed/vintage look.
To protect my finished desk,  I used Minwax Paste Finishing Wax
I also removed the drawer pulls and painted them black. 
All finished and ready for use!

This post linked to:
Roses of Inspiration

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Lamp Makeover

Today I'm sharing the first of several "makeover posts."
First up is this vintage milk glass lamp that I found in my nieces attic.
 We recently had a room added on to
our house for use as a guest room.
It's nearing completion so it's time to find furniture and decor to fit
the vintage/farmhouse theme I have in mind.
"Shopping" my nieces attic provided several treasures including this old lamp.
I started out by painting the metal parts of the lamp white and then moved on to decorate a thrift store lamp shade with a handmade doily (FREE pattern here) and some rolled roses (made of muslin).
I love how it turned out!
It's going to fit in my new room perfectly!