-AUTUMN SPICE CAKE-

1/2 cup butter (1 stick) softened

1 cup shortening

1 cup dark brown sugar

4 large eggs

1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1 tablespoon Dutch-processed cocoa

2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 9-inch cake pans with

parchment paper and lightly butter. Beat butter, shortening

and sugars together until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a

time until smooth and light. Stir the buttermilk and vanilla

together. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda,

and spices together in a large bowl. Alternately stir the flour

mixture and buttermilk, in thirds, into the beaten butter.

Blend well with each addition. Pour batter into the pans and

bake until center tests clean-about 35 minutes. Cool cakes

in the pans on a rack for 20 minutes, unmold, and cool com

pletely before frosting.

And for a super yummy frosting, check out this link.

Stuff that is just too good to keep to myself

A dear friend was asking me the other day about where find my fabrics? Aside from the local JoAnn Fabrics, I love to shop online. And I aways, always look for good deals on my favorite fabrics from Ebay. Listed below are some of my favorite online sources for fabric:

Free Spirit Fabrics

(Eye-Candy Galore)

Moda Fabrics

(especially love the polka dots )

Cia's Palette

Pearl Soho

Sew Mama Sew

( A favorite )

Warm Biscuit

(baby and children)

Sweet Peas And Angles

(baby)

Repo Depot

Ruby Jane

a little bit of this, a little bit of that..

Sometimes we go through peaks and valleys, times where we love to cook, and then we are really into scrapbooking, and then we take a break to sew or knit or photography, or insert your hobby of choice here, and then we take a break and get the house mega-organized. Peaks and valleys in different interests.

Apparantly after all creativity being dormant for 9 months the Lord has awoken my creative juices for all things. Now if only I had all day to create and create some more.. Some of you ladies after putting kids back in school this week, may have more time.

Let me show you some things that have inspired me...

ON THE CALENDAR:

I checked it out from the library, super cute! Love there BBQ ideas, and especially there shower ideas, and the milestone birthday party...

Fun little simple things to make some great parties.

Currently I am planning a "don't dessert us" party for some dear friends, all desserts with red and white, chinese lanterns big orange wrapped lollipops in red buckets for the dessert buffet centerpieces, and tons of sweets..... will probably be adding a splash a yellow to the party too... just a casual come and go for all the dear friends to wish them well.

and the next ones on my wish list..

IN THE KITCHEN:

I have been more inspired by ingredients than by recipes lately, I love anything with roma tomatoes, olive oil, feta, spinach, orzo, sun dried tomatoes, so I have been creating some great bruschetta's, pasta's, and all sorts of yummy dishes. This is the first time in my life I have ditched the cookbook and been doing my own thing. Also discovered a fantastic line of marinades World Harbor.. there lemon garlic is yummy and sweet to boot. Another favorite ingredient currently is a MUST try, the lemon pepperdale pasta from Trader Joe's. Try that with some shrimp marinated in that lemon garlic... yummy! Its trully yummy.

Despite the inspirations with recipes, this book did do the trick as well, another great find.

this book is next on my list for sewing projects, for sure!

and some visual stimulation to make some great layouts..

I have been working on my baby girls album its been so fun and am loving using girly stuff!

This book is packed full of great ideas..

Hope some of the books that have been getting my creative juices going help get yours too.. so take advantage of those interlibrary loans ladies and give these a peak!

{ Adding to the Stack }

Here are three more books, totally worth recommending.

-Vintage Fabric Style-

Stylish ideas and projects using quilts and flea-market finds in your home,

by Lucinda Ganderton

-The Apron Book-

Making, Wearing, and Sharing a Bit of Coth and Comfort,
by EllyAnne Geisel

And since I am sort of on an apron kick right now, here are a few more Apron-related links:

The Apronista
Olive Juice Co.

Jane's Apron

And lastly, my favorite book from the entire great big huge stack.

-Childhood Treasures-

Handmade gifts for babies and children, by Caroline Zoob

Childhood Treasures is full of all manner of and inspiration with it's whimsical pictures,

and enchanting narration enchanted, I promise you will go away delighted. The projects are timeless, do-able and exquisite.

Out of 5 stars, this book is a 6. At least a 6.

{ As Requested }

Girls, here are the titles of the books in that stack,

as well as a few little " sneek peeks" into their pages.

Cath Kidtston's In Print - Brilliant Ideas for Using Vintage Fabrics in Your Home

Baby Gifts - Simple Heirlooms to Make and Give by Ethel Brennan

Vintage Style - Creating a complete look for your home, by Cath Kidston


Flea Market Baby -
The abc's of decorating and collecting & gift giving, by Barrie Leiner and Marie Moss.



Creating Vintage Style - Stylish Ideas and Step by Step instruction by Lucinda Ganderton




Babies Rooms - From zero to three, by Judith Wilson

Splash of Blue

Beaches Bloom under a Breezy Billowing Sky of Blue.

I am...

A favorite little something that I made and wanted to share with you.

Happy Summer Everyone!

Someday, I'd like to dulpicate this kitchen and make it my own.

I love the crisp white cuboards, dotted with bright primary color accents. It's decorated perfectly for summer with all that cheerful citrusy color. And wouldn't it be easy ( apart from the lime green counter tops) and so fun in this kitchen to sort of

change things up as the seasons turned?

What does your dream kitchen look like?

A little Sugar and Spice for this Inspiration Friday .

{cute + sundress = Hanna Andersson}

Little girls rooms...if you ask me, they can get away with a lot. It's not every room in your house that you can say " the frillier the better." The little attic bedroom I grew up in has walls covered with flowing blue ribbons and trailing pink roses. Every inch of it is pretty. Oh the hours of pretending and daydreaming that went on in that room. My Mom went out of her way to make it a room fit for a princess. And I am so tickled that she did, not only for the endless pleasure that it brought me and all my girlfriends but also because someday it will be Annabelle's room when we come to visit. And I can just see her now, with paper dolls spread out all over the rosie bed, any little girls paradise.

Here you are then, Girly Rooms Galore:

{ love the green below, from Pottery Barn }

and lastly, my personal favorite:

And while we are dreaming, why not one more outfit from H.A. : :)

And may I now introduce...

A pretty new blog for your pleasure.

Notes From A Cottage Garden

comes to you from the camera and keyboard of

my very own Mother-Dear who has just recently joined the ranks of Blog-land to share the delights of her oh so lovely garden...Everytime I go for a visit I get a color rush...and I promise you will be enchanted and inspired by her beauty and expertise.

You can tell her I sent you and that I said, she is way too wonderful to keep all to myself.

Friday Inspriation

It's such a treat at the end of a long day to open up my mail-box and find the lastest issue (thanks to you dear Farilight) of MSL...Is it just me and my love for zinnias and the color red, or is the cover of MSL June, stunning and vibrant? I am trying to figure out how I can frame it. But for now I am going to use it as my jumping off point for Inspiration Friday:

As you've probably noticed, I am at the present, on a total color kick...it seems to be a sort of unspoken theme during these bright summerlike days. And I was so inspired by the beauty and brilliance of the Zinnia's on the cover of that magazine, that right then and there I sat down and did up these little paper posies which I have high hopes for turning into cards for the shop.

And finally today, in honor of Mothers Day on Sunday I leave you with my all time favorite Motherly quote and illustration:

" The most important thing she had learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one. "

-Jill Churchhill

waffles from scratch

Lately I have gotten into the habit of using my bisquick mix when whipping up a batch of waffles, usually to save on time, either because have slept waaaaay in and I have to hurry and get breakfast on the table before it's lunchtime, or we are about to be late for church. Last Sat. morning convinced me that the extra 5 minutes it takes to make waffles from scratch is more than worth it. Instead of the usual gulping down of the dry/ bland bisquickies with a glass of milk and half a bottle of syrup...the waffles were moist and tasted good even without butter and syrup. David and I just couldn't stop " mmmm-ing " over them. Infact I was impressed enough that I haven't forgotten (and it's Tuesday) how much I want share this recipe with you:

Waffles From Scratch-
(from The Taste of Home Cookbook)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted

1) In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Combine egg yolks, milk and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

2) In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form; gently fold into batter

3) Bake in a preheated waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions until golden brown. Top with confectioners' sugarand fruit or serve with syrup. Or in our case, fresh strawberries and real whipped cream.

Yeild: 4 waffles(about 6 inches)

Inspiration Friday.

{ Flea Market Fancy }

Flea Market Style is perfect for those of you who have a knack for always finding a deal. What could be more fun than to search high and low for the perfect vintage/second hand things to fill your home at garage sales, flea markets, thrift or antique stores? Think of it as a more relaxed way to do chic . I appreciate the elements of character that highlight Flea Market Style. It's a fresh approach to recyling and an often more afforable way to dress up a home. Undoubtedly a pleasing to the eye, often showy way to prove one man's junk is truly another man's treasure.

For More Inspriation Friday check out these lovely spots: Life in the Low Country , Across The Pond, The Cottage Nest

Inspiration Friday

But it doesn't neccissarily have to be on a Friday...in fact there is this lovely little bloggeress I know that that does her inspirational posts in the middle of the week. So then with out further ado, here are, in no certain order are this weeks links to Inspiration Friday Posts:

The Cottage Nest

My Cozy Home

Across the Pond

The Value of Cheerfulness

Please if you have done a Inspiration Friday post I'd love to add you to this list. Just leave me a comment here or over at my "home" blog.

I plan to make this a weekly column.