barkcloth project

this is my mudroom, not very muddy. i found the idea in a magazine. i asked my architect to incorporate it in this area of the house. the stairway you see, leads to the media room….. which has no media, it is just an empty room … but i have dreams. but the main reason for this post is to show you the cart insert that i made from some vintage barkcloth drapes i bought years ago when i had my space in an antique mall in Agoura, California!

once i learned of these draperies that i believe were popular in the 40’s & 50’s (correct me if i am wrong) … i couldn’t stop searching for them on eBay~! i did a lot of eBay shopping back in those days. a lot.

(below: see the drapes hanging on the hanger on the right side of the doorway!)

that was my little space “Cheryl’s Cottage” (est..2003-2005)

and here was my other space

i stayed busy….painting, and sanding, and sewing.   buying, selling, and thinking, and pondering ….. and then all of a sudden i decided i wanted to leave California and move to Texas and build a house. 

that’s how i roll………. always looking for what i want to do next ……

crazy – but i have been that way forever – wanting to learn and do something different. life is short.

so, back to the project

how this came to be is that i was shopping at Canton Flea Market, in Canton Texas and needed a cart. so i bought one to carry my findings. well, it was UNATTRACTIVE to say the least (below, plastic checked), 

and a girl like me needed something CUTE!

i didn’t want to pay for something cute so i thought about those adorable barkcloth drapes that i now had sitting in my pile of fabrics in the linen closet. 

now, i am no super sewer or anything, but i can sew straight lines and can try to figure things out, thanks to my mother’s genes and home economics in the 7th grade! 

so i measured the sides of this plastic insert and cut my fabric pieces, put the “right sides” of the fabric together and sewed my straight lines.

there you have it.

sewing room

my girlfriend Susan made the bulletin board, which i took off her hands!

close-up of the bulletin fabric - below

more of the mudroom …..

chalkboard – from Ventura flea market – i think the creator of this was Doug for any of you who still go to Ventura

close-up of the chalkboard detail below….

and this next special piece …. my brother Andy made this for me from a building that they tore down in Newbury Park, California - i don’t really think he knows what this piece means to me – i don’t really think he knows how much i truly love him

  

 this horseshoe has been above a door of every home that hubby and i have owned. that is 4 (four) homes to be exact. 

and along with the horseshoe, there is always a quarter in the corner of a cabinet in the kitchen too......   for a rainy day.  not sure what a quarter will buy.

Have a beautiful week ~ Cheryl

sunday ski soup & corn bread

All the Christmas decorations are put away but I keep the sparkle of the holidays around during the cold to keep the warmth of the season going until we start to make the turn toward spring!  Winter garland and twinkle lights still adorn my windowsills and the scent of cookies still fill my home. Since it is sooooooo cold outside and my boy and his girl are coming for lunch, I wanted to share a family favorite with you!

 

This is our “ski” soup that took us through many ski trips to Mammoth Mountain.  Every year I would cook it at home and pack it in the cooler for the 6 hour drive and 4 day ski trip.  It warmed our tummies and our souls after a day on the mountain.  If any of you ski, you know how you feel after 6-8 hours of exerting yourself in the cold!

 

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs lean ground beef (I use 90% lean – you can also use ground turkey), 3 cans beef broth, 4 cups water, 1 large can (28oz) whole or stewed tomatoes, 1 large can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, 1 medium onion chopped, 5 carrots sliced, 2 cups celery chopped, 1/3 cup pearl barley, 2 cups frozen corn, 1/4 cup catsup, salt and pepper to taste, olive oil to sauté, cayenne to your desired “heat”  (1/2 teaspoon to start and go from there)! 

In a large soup pot, sauté the onion in olive oil until transparent. Add the ground beef and cook until browned.

Add the beef broth, water, sliced carrots, chopped celery, UNDRAINED cans of tomatoes, pearl barley, catsup, and spices. Reserve the frozen corn until later.  Bring to boil (stirring) then reduce heat and simmer for about 45 minutes (until veggies are tender).  Add the frozen corn and simmer for another 15 minutes.  Serve with your favorite bread!   Simple, fast and hearty!

Tip: if you don’t own one of the little slicers, get yourself one.  It takes no time to slice carrots, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, whatever your heart desires!

Today I served the soup with cornbread – here is the recipe I used!  Moist and sweet!

Ingredients: 2 boxes of the famous little Jiffy cornbread mix, 1 (14oz) can creamed corn, milk, eggs, Pam! Follow the directions on the box of Jiffy!  I substituted the milk with half and half, and you need to bake until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean! 

As an appetizer I served wheat crackers and a log of sharp cheddar cheese and a bottle of red wine! 

Ok, three more things that I want to say ~  (1) Girls, always, always wash your wine glasses before you pour the wine!  We want them free of anything (dust) and we want them sparkling clean!

(2) I was wondering if any of you recognize the bake ware in this post, from the 80’s?  (Cheryl’s been Loafin’ and Cheryl’s Classic Creation). Who remembers the home parties for this particular bake ware that you would order with whatever “saying” you wanted on it!  Remember the lovely blues and mauves?  YUCK!  I can’t remember the name of the cookware, but they swore up and down that nothing would EVER stick to it  (it was expensive – for a twenty-something in their first home and baby on the way)….but the demonstration sold me, and the colors were so “in” at the time!!! 

IT HAS BEEN OVER 20 YEARS AND NOTHING HAS EVER STUCK TO THIS BAKEWARE!!!!! THAT IS WHY I STILL OWN IT AND USE IT ALL THE TIME.  BLUE AND MAUVE OR NOT, IT IS THE BEST BAKE WARE EVER!!!! 

 

LET ME KNOW IF YOU ALSO OWN THESE LOVLIES AND IF YOU REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT AND THE HOME PARTIES!!!  What do yours say????  

 

Drum roll please ……………………………………………………………….

 

and (3) introducing my new GrandPuppy, Bella!!!!!!!!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE  a spotted little belly …… 

AND A LITTLE ATTITUDE TO BOOT!

 

Have a beautiful week!  ~ Cheryl

glitter in the air

Glitter In The Air Lyrics by Pink

(turn up your sound)

Have you ever fed a lover with just your hands?
Closed your eyes and trusted.

j u s t t r u s t e d

Have you ever thrown a fist full of GLITTER IN THE AIR?
Have you ever looked fear in the face
And said…….. I just don’t care?

It’s only half past the point of no return
The tip of the iceberg
The sun before the burn
The thunder before lightning
The breath before the phrase

Have you ever felt this way?

Have you ever hated yourself for staring at the phone?
You’re whole life waiting on the ring to prove you’re not alone
Have you ever been touched so gently you had to cry?
Have you ever invited a stranger to come inside?

It’s only half past the point of oblivion
The hourglass on the table
The walk before the run
The breath before the kiss
And the fear before the flames

Have you ever felt this way?

There you are, sitting in the garden
Clutching my coffee,
Calling me sugar

You called me sugar

Have you ever wished for an endless night?
Lassoed the moon and the stars…… and pulled that rope tight
Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself will it ever get better than tonight?

Tonight

Have a beautiful weekend ~ throw some glitter in the air ~ Cheryl

the year 2010 !

I wanted to wish you all a Very Happy & Healthy New Year!!! Thank you for your kind words, support and encouragement in 2009. Your kindness and friendship have warmed my heart beyond expression. I have enjoyed visiting so many beautiful, creative and inspiring blogs this year and I am looking forward to another year of delight!

2010 ~ can you believe it?

I am not making resolutions, but what I am doing is looking forward to the changes that are coming….

1. the days getting longer (more time to spend outside)

2. warmer weather (really need to start planning for that ~ you ladies know what I mean! )

3. healthier eating/drinking more fluids (no breads, cheese or sugars)

4. gardening (oh, how my rose bushes are going to need me and how I need them)

5. organizing and purging stuff (something I am really good at and love to do)

6. touching upon my creative side (which has suffered due to my job)

7. going to Canton, Texas regularly again (buying cute things for me, not the house)

8. taking care of ME (all those doctor appointments that are overdue)

9. seeing my family (i miss them so much – 2 weeks vacation come April ~yippee)

What are some of the things that you are looking forward to this new year?

Have a beautiful day ~ Cheryl