Teresa Sheeley

Happy Halloween!

 

Happy Trick or Treat Day Everyone!!! 

always waiting until the last minute

 

Thanks everyone for the compliments on the French ruffle towels.  I like them way better than just the plain ones.  And also thanks for the response that I got on making pillow kits.  I am moving forward on that project and will have pillow kits available for sale on Monday.  They will include all the materials you need to make either a chandie pillow or a crown pillow and will come with illustrated directions.  I am excited about these kits. 

 

I really love my new French General Home Sewn book.  It has many great ideas in it and would love to be able to make them someday.  Truthfully when I bought this book, I wasn't paying attention to what kind of book it was.  I am sometimes terrible at paying attention to detail.  And also, I have a really bad  problem of always waiting until the last minute to get things done I need to get done.  Why I do this?  I have no answer.  I always, always wait until I pushed in a corner from a deadline.  Like right now, I am working on an article that is supposed to be submitted by Sat., and wouldn't you know it, I am not even close to being finished.  It's a horrible thing, I do to myself, I really need to take steps to work on being better about doing things quicker and way before they are due.  

   

Here is the other adorable book that I am reading.  It is so detailed and descriptive and so far a good read.  I love the illustration for this book, isn't it sweet.  So wish me luck on becoming more efficient and not waiting until the last minute.  I may sit and daydream with this book instead of doing my tasks at hand.  ***sigh***

French Ruffles

 

ooh-la-la introducing my new French ruffle tea towels.

 

These finished ones are off to someplace special! 

 

But will all be available for sale in my Etsy shop on Monday, November 3. 

Apple Pie!

   

Aren't the apple orchards beautiful this time of the year.  All filled with reds, purples, oranges, and gold.  To me it's looking at a jewel filled piece of land.  The orchards are all stripped now of their bounty and now it's time to start baking!

 

I want to share with you my apple pie recipe.  First thing you do is wash, peel, core and dice the apples into pieces like you see above.  Then you will mix in the sugar, cinnamon, and flour.  I always mix this together first so it can sit and stew in it's own juices for a bit.  Then I will go on to make the crust.

 

For the crust you first mix the shortening with the dry ingredients and cut with a pastry cutter until the dough base starts to look like small peas.

 

Then with this recipe you add in the vinegar, egg, and water.  Mix together for a bit, and then I like to knead my pie crust dough until it is smooth.

 

Next you roll your dough out on a floured board, in a circle shape and then place into your pie plate.

   

Next step is to fill your pie plate with the apples that have been set aside.

 

Put three dollops or tablespoons of butter on top of the apples, and roll out your top piece of pie crust to set on top of the apples.

   

When the top crust is on, I pinch around the edges of the pie with my knuckle and pinch it together with my thumb and forefinger.  All the way around.  As for the top, I never do anything fancy, but cut slits on the top.

   

Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour.

 

And eat!  I am so sorry about some missing photos, but I wasn't paying attention to the steps very well.  My sister did help and take some of the photos while my hands were all floured, but seriously it is ridiculously hard to take pictures while you are baking.  I baked 4 pies yesterday and delivered them to my family safe and sound, and completely forgot to take pictures of the finished product, so here you have our half gone eaten pie.  I think I might try some apple crisp tomorrow.  Still have bushels of apples left. 

Here is my recipe.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Crust:

1 3/4 Cup Shortening

4 cups of flour

1 TBLS. sugar

1 teas. salt

********mix and cut this part together until it resembles small peas

Add: 

1 TBLS. vinegar

1 lg. egg, beat until fluffy

1/2 cup water

****add all these ingredients into the dry mixture, mix together with a fork, and then dig in with your hands (with a little flour added) and knead dough until smooth.

This recipe makes 2 double crust 8-inch pies.  For pie divide dough into four pieces.  You will have one piece for top and the bottom for your pie.  If you are using a 9 inch pan you will have enough dough left over for 1 8 inch pie also.

APPLE PIE FILLING:

8 apples (I only use Goldens, when there are more yellow in color) or Johnny Golds

***wash, peel, core and dice your apples

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 TBLS cinnamon

1/3 cup flour

3 TBLS. butter

Prepare your apples in bowl, then add sugar, cinnamon, and flour.  Mix together thoroughly and let sit while you are making your pie crust. 

When pie crust is ready; pour apple mixture into your prepared pie crust.  Top with butter.  Add top pie crust, pinch together, cut slits on top, and bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour.

CAUTION:  Always when baking an apple pie or any fruit pie; be sure to put a cookie sheet or oven liner in  your oven to catch the drippings of the pie juice.  There is nothing worse than a oven with spilt apple juice for a pie on the bottom of your oven. :)

Eat warm with vanilla ice cream!!

   

craft & caramel & apple day

 

My sister Janet and I started out our day together with a great lunch and then came back to my house for crafting and caramel making.  The caramel making was not a long thought out plan, but one of kinda spur of the moment.  We were talking on the phone and both were watching Ina making Fleur de sel Caramels.   And then bam, heck yeah, we need to make those caramels today, but please don't make them with thatsalt my sister said.  No worries there because you couldn't find Fleur de sel if we wanted to in this town, we could travel 40 miles north and grab some in Canada and then speed back home to make the exact recipe, but that wasn't going to happen.  Can you imagine though the look on the custom border crossing guys face on both side;  they always ask:  And what will you be doing in Canada today, where are you going?  Uhhh, the grocery store, just right across the border to find some Fleur de sel, umm fancy salt?  How long will you be in Canada?  ummm 5 minutes.  wow, does that sound like a quick drug deal or what.  Then coming back into the US they are even more tougher at the border.  You get grilled like crazy, they make you sweat under pressure with all their questions they fire at you, all the while sticking their faces in your car looking in the back seat I guess just hoping to find you smuggling something illegal and sticky.  I once had a hamburger from A & W and they took it from me and threw it in the garbage.  Crap, who knew you couldn't bring hamburger meat, even cooked back in to the US.  What would they do with two women trying to cross the border with a bag of Fleur de sel???  Whew, I am glad we didn't even consider going to Canada to get some; you may have never heard from me again.

 

But WA-LAH here are our cute little caramels all bundled up in their little parchment paper wrappers, just like Barefoot showed us to do.  Ahh, I just love Barefoot Contessa.  In the meantime while the caramels were cooling, we started our craft project!

 

We got the idea for making these Halloween banners here.  But of course they ended up being our own imaginative banners.

   

In the middle of working we hopped up and went to see this movie!  I really liked it.  I loved the ocean backdrop, the house they were staying in, and the love story.  It was a really sweet movie.  After the movie, popcorn stuffing with tons of butter on it, (the kid at the counter put layers of butter on our popcorn, wow, it was over the top butter) we came home and stuffed ourselves more with the homemade caramels, and finished our banners.

 

This is my sister's BOO banner.  I am sorry I couldn't get a better photo of it, but it was so long I didn't have a good wall to put it on for a photo.  I can hopefully get a better pic after she hangs it where she wants it to be.  It's really cute close up though!

 

Here is my BOO banner.  Oh I love craft days!!  I can't wait until our annual all girl family craft day we have during Thanksgiving.  It's going to be great this year!  Now on to the apples....

 

This is the humongous overly large box of apples that my son brought home from a guy he does some work for.  holy moly, this is a ton of apples!!!  What to do with all of them.  Well I gave away loads, but still have loads left, so next step is to make apple pies, dry some, and maybe make some applesauce.  I could make apple bread, apple butter, apple???  I don't know, just exactly how many things can one make with apples?  So tomorrow, we are making apple pies.  I promise you the recipe I am going to give you will be the easiest pie crust and apple pie you ever made.  Maybe I should start a business like this....until my apples run out. 

 

WEDDING BELLS

My baby girl is getting married!! 

 The date is set for : 

October 10, 2009~

Congratulations Kayla & Tohny!!!!

words

 

I love words, phrases, don't you?  I usually get most of my inspirational words from the Bible.  Honestly, truly, I have learned over the years in this life, all my answers come from the Bible.  Whether it be simple words, encouragement or an answer, it's all there.  But anyway, back on the subject of words; I like to use them in art, pay attention to what they mean, and sometimes try to learn a new word at least once a week.  A few weeks ago my favorite word was "gather", now this week it's a phrase "be still'.  That is so relaxing and comforting to me.  (Psalm 46:10) We are going through trying times lately, whether it be financially, spiritually, just being unsettled at wherever you may be, just take note of that verse and you can just simply take a deep breath.  Please tell me your favorite word, or phrase. 

Remember the Greeting Cards?

 

Remember French Poppy Greetings?  Well, parts of it is still alive; I am still busy making my wholesale orders to all my previous customers and some new ones.  So I didn't give it up completely, except it's no longer French Poppy Greetings, but instead everything I make is now under just plain Teresa Sheeley Designs.  (website pending).  I just listed a few of the greeting card/notecards in my Etsy shop today.  Below are the TWO most POPULAR designs I sold at the Farm Chicks  last June. (speaking of the chicks, they have a new blog!) I kid you not, these were the hottest sellers. 

 

so, yeah they are available here, if you would like one too! :)  Also these notecards;

   

and I also have this free banner for those of you who would like to have a little fall ya'll fun blog banner for a few weeks.  I will send it to you FREE, just let me know if you would like one. 

 

It's blank in the center for you to write in your blog name. 

Okay, thanks for hanging with me looking at the cards; I have to go box up a bunch of orders.  Honestly, I dread this part of the small cottage industry business.  Packaging!  Creating, and making I am thrilled with, and the bookkeeping, but this part, not so much.  Also, one more thing, I am seriously considering making pillow kits to sale to you, so that you can make your own, with my simple illustrated directions.  Let me know your thoughts on this okay?  It would be sweet for you to be able to make your own for a gift or a special treat for yourself.  So, give me some idea if this would interest you.  à plus tard (see you later) in french!

gearing up for holiday cheer

 

I have been so busy making these holiday ruffle towels for Abby from The Blissful!  I just really love them.  She picked out the images and colors she wanted for her shop, and I am so happy she chose what she did.  I hope they do well in her beautiful shop.  Hopefully later today I can get a better photo of them because it is very dark outside this morning; I am talking like it looks like it is going to snow dark.  Yikes, not quite ready for that yet, but it is looking pretty dreary out.  I think a good fall rain would be okay. 

It was fun making these holiday tea towels, and got me in the mood for a little holiday cheer!  Similar towels to these or maybe some just like them will be available in my Etsy shop in early November.  I love the holidays, don't you?  All the warmth, food, and love, you can't ask for better feelings than that.  Let me know what you think of these sweet little towels. :)

autumn photo fun

 

Yesterday was a nice breezy autumn day, so I made my sister come over to my house for a photo-shoot in the fall atmosphere.

 

I love manipulating photos for that dirty 40ish look.

 

the leaves are becoming so beautiful right now

 

Thanks to my sister Janet for being my model!  In this picture I had to tell her to watch out for the snakes, because

 

this was hanging out in my yard last Sunday!  It was so very creepy.  This is a gopher snake, it was huge, scary and ugly!  My husband went out to take a closer look at it to make sure it wasn't a rattle snake and it jumped up and hissed at him.  Talk about get back jack!!  Whoa, that was way too scary, that is when I said (or screamed) are you sure it's not a rattlesnake?????  WHew, no rattles!  He (my brave husband) ended up picking it up with the broom handle and with the snake hanging on for it's life Dave tossed him over the hillside. (((((shivers))))) I am not a big snake fan!