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October 20, 2016
Cozy Wraps & Throws are back in stock!
October 17, 2016
Halloween Collection!
I've been so excited about the Harvest Collection, that I haven't given Halloween it's full due. I have restocked some favorites from last year featured in this collection including these darling Glassine Bags.
Jenny
Shop the entire Halloween Collection, here >
This year I really wanted to create a cheerful halloween tag. Maybe it is because all too often I see really scary and yucky halloween images. For me, Halloween is kids walking through the neighborhood in costumes crunching on leaves, big bowls of chili, a classroom full of costume clad kids, bags of candy and a front porch of Jack O'Lanterns. I'm going to hold on to my Halloween vision for a while (and let someone else do the blood and guts...).
These cheerful Jack O'Lanterns will add a festive Halloween feel to any simple treat - like this bag of candy corn or a popcorn ball.
Printed on creamy cardstock and pre-punched with a hole, these tags are ready to be tied on any treat with ribbon or twine. See my favorite jute twine or gingham ribbons, here : )
Set of 20 tags.
These bats have been my favorite Halloween cookies for years, so of course I had to restock this year. They are very simple to make - the sprinkles do most of the work!
They come wrapped in a cellophane bag with my sugar cookie recipe, tied with a ribbon ready for giving.
Cookie Cutters aren't just for Cookies. I used my cutters for these haunted Chocolate Chip Pancakes last Halloween - I'm sure they'll be making several appearances between now and the 31st!
See Recipe Link and Instructions, here.
Happy Halloween season everyone! I hope I've shared something that will help you to make some new traditions and memories with your family.
Jenny
Shop the entire Halloween Collection, here >
October 11, 2016
Harvest Heirloom Pumpkin Table Setting
Fall is my favorite time of the year to entertain — the chapter has closed on summer grilling parties and the pressures of large holiday family gatherings are not yet upon us. It is the perfect time of year to invite a small group of friends over for an intimate dinner that celebrates nothing but the season of bounty.
The only rule? You must pull inspiration from the harvest season. Put all of those majestic squash and pumpkins at the farmers’ market to work, using them as the centerpiece of your table and your menu.
Harvest Party Table Setting
Set the Stage with Natural Elements
Setting the table is your chance to set the scene and mood for your party. I wanted my dinner to be special, but relaxed and casual, as well. It features beautiful seasonal produce in its natural form with little alteration — allowing the true beauty of these pumpkins and gourds to shine. Along with the pumpkins straight from the farm, the setting includes super-tall, elegant taper candles — elegant and rustic elements — my favorite combination. A centerpiece made of pumpkins, squash and gourds versus a formal floral design says all of the right things about my party.
As the harvest season is all about the celebration of bounty, I wanted the table to feel full and plentiful. With so many colors and shapes to choose from, it is easy to get overwhelmed and end up with a hodgepodge result. I recommend that you pick 2 or 3 complementary colors to avoid making the table setting too busy. I selected gourds that were all muted in color – pale butternut, green-blues and creamy white, then added pops of red-orange for contrast.
What You’ll Need:- Linen runner: I love how wide this runner is. In my online store, I carry several extra wide and extra long runners. If you don’t have one, you can use a piece of burlap or brown kraft paper, or create a runner out of a drapery panel folded in half, like I did.
- 2 or 3 medium blue pumpkins: If you are seating 6, place 2 medium pumpkins down the middle of the table, placing them in the gaps between the place settings. If you are serving 8, use 3 pumpkins, placing them in the space between the place settings.
- 8 to 10 small gourds and squash: Use a variety of sizes, shapes and colors (sticking to your coordinated palette), and lay them evenly down the center of the table in groups of 3 or 4.
- 2 branches (I used pear berry branches): Weave branches in through the pumpkins and gourds, creating a natural flow down the table. The branches help to visually pull all the elements together, creating a cohesive look.
- 6 mini pumpkins: Create candle holders by coring out the center of mini pumpkins. This is an inexpensive way to make candle holders if you don’t own any. For step-by-step instructions, visit the“How to Create a Mini Pumpkin Candle Holder” post.
- 6 taper candles: I used ivory, but an Edgartown Sand would be perfect would look great with this, too.
- 6 white pantry plates: I like to use solid white plates when I am using a large variety of colors on the table. The white helps to ground the table and provides some much-needed simplicity to the bountiful centerpiece.
- 6 linen napkins: Let the centerpiece be the center of attention. These hemstitched linen napkins are luxurious, but in a subtle classic way.
Harvest Party Menu
Not only should your table reflect the bounty of the season, but your menu should, too. When you’re at the farmers’ market selecting your centerpiece pumpkins, ask around for great recipes that utilize the season’s best. The menu I’ve compiled below is a balance of indulgent, fresh and flavorful seasonal recipes.
Autumn Harvest Chopped Salad
Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage Browned Butter
Caramel Apple Dumplings
Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage Browned Butter
Caramel Apple Dumplings
Tips for Hosting a Great Dinner Party
Entertaining your friends for dinner can seem more challenging than it needs to be. With these helpful tips, you’ll be able to host a fall harvest dinner party with ease … and have a great time, too!
Make the House Buzz
Have you ever been the first to arrive at a party? If the house is quiet and the lights are bright, it doesn’t quite feel like a party. I like to have the lights low, candles lit, fun music going and a “help yourself” cocktail station ready to go 30 minutes before the party begins. Getting everything set out early allows me to wind down before anyone arrives and gives me a chance to feel like a guest at my own party. There is nothing worse than arriving when the hostess is frantically dusting the mantle and juggling pots and pans in the kitchen.
Cocktails, Then Wine
I like to start a party off with a fun festive drink for cocktail hour, then serve wine at dinner. I hardly ever offer a full bar to my guests – it is too much to put together for a small gathering. If you offer someone a tasty seasonal drink when they walk in the door, it gives you another opportunity to set the mood for the evening. For the harvest party, I recommend serving Spiked Mulled Cider and a local Pumpkin Beer to kick off the night.
Leave the Dishes!
After dinner, so many times my guests offer to help with the dishes … no way! No one really wants to do dishes, not even me. I encourage my guests to leave their plates right where they are — “don’t worry about the dishes, let’s have dessert!” — and we all move into the most comfortable room in the house (perhaps around a fire). I like to pre-set this chosen, comfortable area with coffee or an after-dinner cocktail and dessert.
If I want the evening to last forever, I’ll put out a big tray that is full of chocolate-covered fruit, cookies, candies and caramels that can be continuously nibbled on as the evening goes late into the night. This open-ended dessert invites guests to get comfortable and help themselves. Easy conversation and stories are certain to follow.
Pumpkin Madeleines Recipe | New Fall Favorite
You all know how Apple Cider Donuts are my favorite fall thing, right? Last week I added a French Madeleine Pan, $18, to my Fall Harvest Collection to the store. Emma in and I indulged in some Pumpkin Madeleines and I have to say, these (warm out of the oven with slightly crispy edges, moist pumpkin-y insides and covered in powdered sugar) might be my new favorite Fall thing. I doesn't hurt that they are the easiest things to make and take no time at all.
I saved half of our batter in a Large Disposable Piping Bag in the refrigerator and got it out over the weekend for our cousins that stayed the night. They would be perfect for a Fall Brunch or small after dinner treat with coffee. We also packaged some up in these new Kraft Tin Tie Bags for giving.
Pumpkin Madeleinesmakes 24 3/4 cup of brown sugar
3/4 cup of pumpkin (half of a can)
1 stick of butter, melted
1 cup of flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon of ground cloves
2 teaspoons of orange zest
powdered sugar
Spray the Madeleine Pan ($18) with non-stick spray. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together eggs, brown sugar and pumpkin together in a mixer. Pour the melted butter in slowly and mix. Add flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Stir just until combined.
Transfer mixture into a Large Disposable Piping bag (100 for $16). Pipe into Madeleine Pan.
Bake for 12-14 minutes until puffed and edges are slightly browned. Make sure the edges get browned, the extra texture is amazing. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.
The orange zest is so nice with the pumpkin flavors.
As I mentioned before, we put half the batter in a separate bag to keep in the refrigerator for the weekend. I do this with muffin batter, too. Anytime I make muffins, half of the batter goes in a bag in the freezer. The night before I want to use it, I put it in the refrigerator to defrost over night, then pipe the batter into muffin papers in the morning.
Disposable Piping Bags, 100 for $14-16
I recommend a lot of powdered sugar : )
I packaged these in the new Kraft Tin Tie Bags (20 for $8) + a Sticker Label. You can put anything in these bags and it will look darling, right?
October 07, 2016
Autumn Harvest Collection | Acorns, Oak Leaves, Wheat Wreaths, Throws, Scarves & Prints
Good Morning : )
Welcome to the coziest of all collections, the Autumn Harvest Collection. This is the nearest and dearest to my heart so far, as this is the first time I've gone beyond my box and designed and entire textile collection.
I created four designs that were handmade by woodblock printing on 100% cotton. It was so incredible to be able to completely dictate the exact pattern, color and design. No longer am I subject to what I can find and what else is out there, now I can create and it feels right.
The down part of custom handmade work, is that it takes a bit of time. Months and months. The entire inventory of this Autumn Harvest Block Print collection is on its way and will trickle in over the next two weeks. Some of the stock is already in, the next shipment is going to arrive next week and the last will arrive the following. I have ordered plenty (I hope!) and wanted for you all to be able to secure your items. So, the entire inventory is available to order in pre-order status. Your complete order will ship together when it has all arrived in stock (7-12 days). If you need other items earlier, just let us know and we're happy to send them along first.
All of the prints are available in Cushion Covers (22" square & 15" x 26" rectangle), Table Runners (20"x108"), Tablecloths, Napkins and Tea Towels. Contact us about yardage inquiries for special projects. Of course, I've accessorized with cozy velvet accents, alpaca throws,
Shop the entire Autumn Harvest Collection, here.
Acorn Block Print - Tablecloths, Table Runners & Tea Towels
The Small Velvet Rectangle Covers (Amber shown) are finished with these lovely buttons along the side.
(seen as both wrap and throw)
Pumpkin Madeleines packaged in a Kraft Tin Tie Bag ($8 for 20)
Oak Leaf Block Print - Tablecloths, Table Runners & Tea Towels
For two years I've offered this candle,and I've been getting requests for it ever since. It is the perfect Fall harvest scent - toasted chestnut, orange oil, clove, oak, cedar & fig.
Slate Wreath Block Print - Tablecloths, Table Runners & Tea Towels
Coffee Herringbone Throw, Slate Wreath Pillow, Army Velvet Pillow, Gold Houndstooth Throw & Acorn Block Rectangle Pillow
Wheat Wreath Block Print - Tablecloths, Table Runners & Tea Towels
Just like the Botanical Prints collection from earlier this season, these Game Fowl Prints are professionally printed on photo paper in 5 x 7" or 8 x 10" and go perfectly in my Gold Leaf Frames ($10-14).
The Softest Throws Collection :
Shop the entire Autumn Harvest Collection, here.
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