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Tag: mother’s day


happy mother’s day

6
May

happy mothers day pleasure in simple things blog

It’s Mother’s Day weekend.  I was in a gift shop yesterday and I was amazed at those that buy something for their mom just to buy something.  That is so not in the spirit of Mother’s Day!  Mother’s Day is about recognizing a very special person. There is nothing wrong with buying a gift to give to that special person.  But, not knowing what your mom might like as a gift leads me to believe a better gift would be time spent with mom!

For Friday field trip today, I thought I would share three previous projects that might help you come up with a more personal gift for mom this Mother’s Day.

handkerchief diy pleasure in simple things blog

First, a cool sentimental gift.  Make a sachet using a family heirloom!  See the full post by clicking here.

Second, a fun recipe that can be served in a teacup.  A great way to spend time with Mom is to avoid the crowded restaurants, and serve up something homemade.  Click here for the recipe for this crème brulee.

teacup creme brulee mothers day pleasure in simple things blog

And, third…the old stand-by…flowers!  IF your mom is into flowers – after all, you should know!  But, skip the overpriced cliché roses and give a potted plant personalized to your mom’s taste.  It’s so much more fun to receive something that can be planted in the ground and enjoyed all season!

mothers day flowers pleasure in simple things blog

Have a wonderful Mother’s Day surrounded by those you love.  Thanks for stopping by.  Love you mom! :)

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

2 comments » | diy, garden, gift ideas, holiday

vintage handkerchief lavender sachets

9
May

vintage handkerchief sachet diy

Back in my grandmother’s time, handkerchiefs were an art form.  There were so many beautiful handkerchief designs – many embroidered – and every lady carried one.

I remember my grandmother always having one tucked up her sleeve.  Everything was made to last in my grandmother’s time, and this included handkerchiefs.  They were always fashioned of cloth, not the disposable variety of today.

vintage materials for sachets

Because of this, there are still many lovely old handkerchiefs around today.  I saved many from both my grandmothers because of the sentimental value, but over time I have found some great ways to transform these heirlooms into items that are practical as well as beautiful.

For Friday field trip today, I am sharing my favorite way as we travel back to a time of beautiful cloth handkerchiefs and fashion them into lavender sachets.  With Mother’s Day approaching, a sweet sachet made from a family heirloom can make a special gift for mom.

vintage handkerchief sachet

Inevitably, a gift like this may be too pretty to scent a drawer…and, instead…may end up displayed on top of a dresser or nightstand.

If you are not lucky enough to have a family heirloom to use in creating this sachet, vintage handkerchiefs are easily found for only a couple dollars each at yard sales or antique shops.

vintage lace for sachets

Very little lavender is needed to create a sachet, and because it is such a light material, a cup and a half of lavender weighs less than an ounce…be mindful of this when you are deciding how much to purchase.

vintage handkerchief sachets

To create the sachet, cut a square of cheesecloth (about a 7” square) to hold the lavender.  I use the cheesecloth so the lavender won’t directly touch the hanky, but the scent will still come through.  You will only need one quarter to one half cup of lavender.  You can adjust the size of the cheesecloth and the amount of the lavender depending on the size of the handkerchief you use.

vintage hankies

Tie the cheesecloth with a piece of twine and position the ball of lavender in the center of the handkerchief – enclosing the lavender ball in the handkerchief with a piece of ribbon or lace.  I chose some vintage lace.  That’s it!  Beautiful…and, what a heavenly smell!

vintage handkerchief sachet

Handkerchief sachets also make wonderful bridal shower or wedding favors.  They can even be personalized with an embroidered initial, name, or date.

quote with vintage lace

Have a wonderful weekend and a blessed Mother’s Day!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at Crafts a la Mode, Craftberry Bush, and Timewashed.

6 comments » | diy, gift ideas, nostalgia

vintage teacup earl grey crème brûlée

6
May

earl grey creme brulee

Serving crème brûlée from vintage teacups is sure to make a family bridal shower, tea party, or Mother’s Day a special one!  What could be better than serving dessert from your grandmother’s teacups?  I think individual desserts add a special quality to a meal all on their own, but to add the sentiment of serving it in a special piece of history makes it all the sweeter!

basket of roses

Everyone thinks of  crème brûlée as a special occasion dessert, but it is not a hard one to create.  Traditionally, it is cooked in the oven, but I have found that good results are possible with a no-bake method.  You can use any no-bake recipe or the one I found online and, by using my simple variation, can create Earl Grey crème brûlée!

creme brulee in teacups

Most teacups are not oven safe and I would not advise putting family heirlooms in a hot oven…a vintage piece with sentimental value is not something to experiment with!  This is the reason I went with a no-bake method for my Earl Grey crème brûlée…I think it is the perfect flavor profile to combine with vintage teacups!  If Earl Grey is not your thing, just don’t add it to the recipe.

earl grey creme brulee

If you prefer a more contemporary choice of vessel, I recommend the mini latte bowls from Anthropologie…the perfect size to hold 3 ounces for a small, individual portion.

earl grey creme brulee in Anthropologie bowls

I found the no-bake recipe I used from Completely Delicious during an internet search – it is easy and makes the perfect amount of custard for a special dessert for a mom (and maybe a couple of grandmas)…it will fill 3 or 4 teacups or 4 mini latte bowls.  Following this recipe (click here), make these changes to create Earl Grey crème brûlée:

After completing step 1, place 4 Earl Grey teabags into the hot mixture and let it sit for 10 minutes.  After 10 minutes, dunk the teabags a couple of times and then gently squeeze the liquid out of the teabags and into the pan (being mindful that the mixture will be hot.)

Continue with the recipe, substituting 1 teaspoon of vanilla for the 1 Tablespoon listed.

Be sure to strain the mixture.  I found while testing no-bake recipes that this is extremely important for a smooth texture – don’t skip this step!  (As a special note – I was very cautious with my kitchen torch – I didn’t venture near the edges of my special cups!)

earl grey creme brulee in teacups

To play up the tea theme, add lemon and mint as garnish. :)

tea quote with roses

If you are an Earl Grey lover as I am, you may enjoy trying these Earl Grey cream puffs.  I also love adding the flavor to shortbreads…I still have Earl Grey ice cream on my list of experiments…maybe this summer. ;)

teacup creme brulee

I hope I have inspired you to think of ways to use your own heirlooms to create some special memories.  We will continue the family heirloom theme on Friday when I show you how to create a special diy gift using an old family treasure.

Thank you for stopping by and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at Coastal Charm, Sand & Sisal, and Silver Pennies.

1 comment » | food & festivities, inspiration, nostalgia

     

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