• Our Free Newsletter • Recipes • Kitchen Art • Rooster Art and Accessories • Laundry Room Crafts ![]() 2010 Kitchen Towel Calendar Leave messages with this elegant slate black board Imagine this sweetheart in a china hutch or cabinet ![]() This 10 bottle wine cart can be rolled out of the way when not needed. ![]() Grow a country garden in your kitchen with the addition of these towels and accessories. ![]() Or add a primitive look with this line
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Potpourri Pies
Ingredients • 4 cups unsifted flour Combine flour, salt and water in a mixing bowl. Turn out on a lightly floured board and knead until smooth, adding a little more water if it is too stiff to work. Because the dough tends to dry on your hands, it is helpful to have a dampened washcloth near your work area. Roll the flour out from center to edges to 1/8 inch thick on a foil covered area. Place in the bottom of the pie plate and trim the edges 3/4 inch beyond edge. Fill the pie with the potpourri allowing it to mound slightly. Roll remaining dough 1/8 inch thick cut strips of dough 1/2 to 3/4 inch wide with a knife or pastry wheel. Lay strips on filled pie at 3/4 inch intervals. Fold back alternate strips as you weave the cross strips. Trim lattice even with outer rim of pie plate; fold lower crust over strips. Seal; flute edge by pressing dough with forefinger against wedge made by finger and thumb of other hand. On my pie I further decorated it with a miniature cookie cutter gingerbread man. Bake at 300 until hard. I allowed my pie to cool slightly and removed it from the plate and then turned it over to bake the bottom a little longer to dry out the dough. Replace any potpourri that may have fallen out. Under baked projects don't keep as well so make sure to watch the timing. The finished piece is strong and will last indefinitely if sprayed with a protective coating such as a spray varnish. Wooden SpoonsI keep a crock of assorted wooden spoons on my stove so they are always available. At Christmas time I add painted Santa spoons and at Easter time I add painted Easter Bunny spoons. At Halloween Pumpkin spoons or ghostly spoons would be a cute addition. The Santa spoons make adorable package tie-ons as well.
Signs![]() ![]() I love signs. They are quick and easy and add such personality . I paint on wood and add a wire, curl the ends around a knitting needle and embellish with a torn fabric scrap. Signs should reflect the owner. Are you a gardener? Then how about, "Moms Garden...Dads Weeds" or "Time Began in a Garden". A big seller for me has been, "Grandma's Kitchen...Kids Eat Free" with a gingerbread man attached. Or how about, "Grandma's busy...Take a Cookie" with more decorative gingerbread men attached onto cup hooks. Do you collect cows? Then how about, "Kitchen closed...Not in the Mood" or "Udderly Welcome". These are cute on a crackled background with a checkerboard border but are equally cute on a plain cream colored background with the edges sanded to give it a rustic look. Add some raffia to the wire and the result is instant whimsy. How would these look in your kitchen? * A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen and this kitchen is delirious * No husband has ever been shot while doing the dishes Gooder n Grits Plaque Rolling PinsI have painted Rolling pins with strawberries for a country springtime look, and with sunflowers for a fall look. I have also added dried florals and herbs for a year round addition to the kitchen. One of my big sellers at Christmas time is a miniature rolling pin stained with 2 gingerbread men attached. I hang it as an ornament with the saying, "You can't catch me!" printed on the rolling pin. I have also printed "Seasoned with Love" on a miniature rolling pin and hung it from a shaker hook. I would like to thank Sheryl for the great kitchen graphic. Decorating Ideas• Hang a vintage apron or dishtowel as a curtain • Use an Calendar dishtowel such as this Country Birdhouses 2010 Kitchen Towel Not all lighting needs to come from above add a table lamp to a dark corner with this French Country Rooster Lamp • Thomas Kinkade Treasures Of Home Kitchen Canister Set • If you have an open soffit store a collection of large pitchers or big baskets. • If you have a closed soffit add a wallpaper border, stencil a saying, hang plates, or paint a garland. • Add Decorative Wire Grills to your cabinets for a country feel. • Country Wall Telephone • Save counter space with this Spice Tower Carousel • Set of 4 Personalized Shamrock Pub Glasses • Try some of these tea towel ideas: cover a kitchen chair seat make a pillow use clip on curtain rings to make a quick pair of cafe curtains or glue a photo on top for a colorful mat • Paint up a basket of these adorable Rock Strawberries • Hang pots and pans from a pot rack and use the freed-up space to store small appliances to clear the counters. • Stencil or paint a faux window over the sink. • Use an old wooden barrel as a trash basket. • Use an assortment of copper pots and pans or wooden spoons and utensils hanging down as a valance. • Take the doors off a few upper cabinets, paint the interior and it becomes a display shelf. • Paint a favorite saying as a border. For a romantic flair paint it in French or Italian. • Paint your own Hardwood Candle Cups to match your table decor • Art for the Kitchen • Replace a few cabinet panels with Pie Safe Tins to add country charm. • Or replace the panels with glass fronts to show off your pretty dishes. • Take a look at some of these Award winning kitchens. • I have started a book of Party Menus and it is great fun to look back and see what plans I made and who was at our various functions. I only wish I had started it years ago. For a simple Menu to display and save simply type and print. Organize Your KitchenWho couldn't use a little more help in the kitchen? More counter space, more shelf space, or more help finding things? Here are some products and tips to help:• Use a tray on the counter to gather similar products. (I have one for oil and vinegar but perhaps a tray for wine or spices would help in your kitchen) • Use a 'lazy susan' to store canned goods to make finding the ones in the back easier. • Hang baskets on the wall to gather tools together and off the counter ![]() • This Kitchen Island is loaded with style, function and a black granite counter top. Kids in the Kitchen• Kitchen crafts• Encourage children with this Gingerbread Kids Apron & Mitt Set • Floating Tub Cook Set A Cottage KitchenThe charming elements of a cottage look in the kitchen include a casual carefree attitude, vintage features, function, and lots of white. Consider adding any of these to help add charm and romance:• Open Shelves - either white washed or painted a light color • Plate racks • A Farmhouse sink • Bead board as a backsplash • Beams or crown molding • A pot filler over the range Links• Large Selection of Coffee Mugs from DaySpring• Country French Kitchens • Free Shipping on Table Linens at HomeDecorators.com • Solutions for your Kitchen at Organize-Everything.com • Shop Pfaltzgraff
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