Monday, July 01, 2013

4th of July Summer Fun, DIY & Entertaining









Inspired by turn-of-the-century celebrations, these seven joyful tributes to red, white, and blue harken to a time when impromptu hats were folded from leftover newspapers, and marching bands, firecrackers, and lawn games marked the day
Step 1: From blue crepe paper, cut a strip 8 inches wide and 20 inches long.

Step 2: From a clean newspaper, cut a narrower strip of paper. Lay it down in the center of the blue strip, gluing in place. Repeat, cutting an even narrower strip of red crepe paper, then gluing in place.

Step 3: Fan-fold across the narrow width of the strip. Fold in half lengthwise.

Step 4: Open out on either side of the center fold you just made to create a circle; glue. Print "Happy Fourth"; cut out around the letters in a circle with pinking shears. Glue onto rosettes.

Step 5: Cut 8-inch pipe cleaners in half. Use one to form a loop; slip through another to form another loop, and so on. When chain is complete, glue a pipe cleaner loop to the back of each rosette, first passing it through a chain loop, then gluing in place.
Idea and photo: www.countryliving.com



Taylor Linens
God Bless America Pillow - As seen in Country Home Magazine
Hand-embroidered on an ecru ground. 100% Cotton. 

Machine Washable. 
Filled with a white goose feather pillow. 20" x 20" 

Taylor Linens
Denim Flag Porch Pillow 20" x 20"
100% Cotton. Machine washable. Hand-embroidered.

Ingredients:

  • Strawberries, sliced
  • Blueberries
  • Pineapple, cut into star shapes
  • 2 bottles dry white wine
  • 1 cup Triple Sec
  • 1/2 Cup berry-flavored vodka
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup simple syrup
Combine the ingredients in a large pitcher and stir. Chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours.
This is obviously a beverage intended for you and your adult guests, but you could whip up a kids version by replacing the wine and hard liquor with white grape juice or Sprite (or both!).
Recipe and photo: decorfortheholidays.com

Red, white, and blue bands of sand dress up votive candles to make flickering lights that are cheerful and fun. Designing a candle is as simple as pouring layers into a glass. Make several, and create a patriotic centerpiece to coordinate with china or linens for outdoor dining.
• Sand
• Votive candle
• Drinking glass
• Clear glass vase or jar
• Funnel

Fill a clear drinking glass with enough sand so that a votive candle placed on top falls just below the rim.
Idea and photo: www.marthastewart.com


From: White Lily Flour and The J.M. Smucker Co.

Makes: 12 servings

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray
3-1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 tsps. baking powder
1-1/2 tsps. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1-1/4 cups buttermilk
1-1/4 cups all-vegetable shortening OR 1ø sticks all-vegetable shortening sticks
5 large egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tbl. red food coloring
1 tbl. blue food coloring

Garnish:

Fresh blueberries and strawberries, optional

Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting:

2 cups butter, softened
2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. almond extract
1 (13-oz.) jar marshmallow cream

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat three 8-inch round pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper, cut to fit. Coat paper with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in large bowl. Add buttermilk and shortening. Beat with electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes. Add egg whites, vanilla and almond extracts. Beat an additional 2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl as needed.

3. Pour ont-third (about 2 cups) of batter into prepared pan. Divide remaining batter into 2 medium bowls. Stir in food coloring to make one red and one blue batter. Pour batter into remaining pans. Tap pans on counter several times to remove air bubbles.

4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes before removing from pan. Remove cake and cool completely on wire rack.

5. For frosting, beat butter in a large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Gradually beat in sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until fluffy. Beat in almond extract. Stir in marshmallow cream until well blended.

6. Place blue cake layer on cake plate and generously frost top. Stack white layer and generously frost top. Add red layer, frosting top and sides of entire cake. Garnish with fresh blueberries and strawberries, if desired.
Recipe and photo: unusual2tasty.blogspot.jp


Celebrity Chef! The Game ($30)

If you and your friends are Food Network junkies, check out Celebrity Chef! The game is designed for culinary professionals or home cooks, whose goal is to collect cookbook offers, television shows, restaurants, and endorsements by answering "Name That Dish!" and other questions. The player with the most points does not win a television show―only bragging rights. For more information, visitcelebritychefthegame.com
Idea and photo: www.coastalliving.com


Ahoy, matey! These anchor-print cotton/linen napkins pep up any table. 53% Cotton/47% Linen. 
Machine wash cold. 22"x22". Set of 4.


Monday, June 24, 2013

Nautical Décor for Indoors or Outdoors: Do YOU go crazy for JUTE?

Pine Cone Hill's fresh new nautical tote bags in easy-clean polypropylene, with adorable appliqued anchors on each side. Lightweight and roomy, with a wide opening and durable handles and bottoms. 

A fresh new nautical design in navy and ivory, featuring Pine Cone Hill's easy-clean all-season polypropylene



These anchor-print cotton/linen napkins pep up any table. 53% Cotton/47% Linen. Machine wash cold



A sturdy anchor...on a blue background with rope border! Classic colors with a bold image sure to make you feel right at home. Hand hooked 100% New Zealand wool.




WHAT IS JUTE?
Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fiber 
that can be spun into coarse, strong threads.
"Jute" is name of the plant or fiber that is used 
to make burlap, Hessian or gunny cloth.




Boucle woven jute with double borders in fresh colors with mitered corners. 100% jute with latex backing.

Couture Dreams Enchantique Jute Window Curtains are what we like to call a French inspired Art Deco with a Modern Twist. Truly beautiful and unique these rustic chic jute window curtains are each hand printed with a large decorative motif. Offered in three different colorways and lengths, these curtains are sure to dress up any room. 

Couture Dreams Chichi Tablecloths are truly one of a kind. A mixture of different textures and materials make up this unique table covering for a sophisticated and custom feel. Truly stunning, these tablecloths are sure to turn any table into a memorable setting. Each petal is individually sewn onto the skirt creating a beautiful array of soft cascading petals. The petals in juxtaposition to the jute make for an astonishing table setting.

Wingback chair with white linen and one-a-kind French jute insets. Inset is one of a kind and is always different. We will send you an image of the inset when you place your order for approval.
Surya Poufs are super-fun, super-fashionable and super-functional! Use them as a footstool, extra seating or table when topped with a tray. Stack them for a dramatic effect or put several together for a fabulous focal point. Surya's pouf collection includes tribal textiles, animal prints, and fantastical textures and patterns, a perfect marriage of form and function!




Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Made in America

Friday, June 14, 2013

Pin it to WIN it!


How to enter
Follow the instructions below to start pinning!
Follow us on Pinterest: pinterest.com/shoplavender
Create a board of your dream bedroom with pins from Lavender Fields.
 
Email us your name and link to the board you created and type Pin to Win in the subject line.


*Must submit entry by June 29, 2013




Thursday, May 02, 2013

Spring Cleaning

It's that time of year, you know where we take on the daunting tasks of cleaning out overstuffed closets, organizing dressers and cabinets, and de-cluttering, well all the clutter.  While visions of color coordinated closets and perfectly labeled storage boxes fill my head, truth is, it is just not realistic.  However, I did find this blog that had some neat tips and tricks to organizing your home in just 31 days.





And while getting organized is great, the hard part is keeping it that way. I have found sticking to a weekly schedule is the best way to stay on top the mess before it gets out of control.  Check out this fun printable!  I printed mine, placed it in a frame and use a dry erase marker to add tasks and check off completed ones.





Happy Organizing!!