Sneak Peek: Hand-Crafted Baby Shower

The spring baby shower I mentioned here, is one week from tomorrow and I have been very busy hand-crafting so many fun things to make it a special day for the mommy-to-be and the guests.

I wanted to make a full apron to wear while cooking but decided to just embellish this black half-apron.  It was an old one I happened to have around, so I added lace trims and vintage doilies to dress it up. My collection of old lace was large and it feels good to use it for this shower.  You will see more items once the shower is over and I've photographed everything!

The color scheme is mainly black and white but we've added small touches of bright green and turquoise. We have also used lots of textures, including burlap and lace - so there is naturally cream and tan in the color scheme too - and it all works beautifully together. It will be very girly with a vintage feel.

Cute baby face "flags"

Rubber stamped paper liners for dessert

More tags for adding interest somewhere. . . 

Thrift Shop Tables

These tables are at the Goodwill Store in Oceanside. The side tables (they had two) were $15. each and the coffee table was $20. Not bad. I didn't need them, or know anyone at the moment who did, but I would have bought them in a snap if I did.

I think either would be great for creating a "shadowbox" table since the edge on the top was large enough to hold a piece of glass.

Old Ways Create Something New

I have been going to Old Town in San Diego since my husband and I began dating in the mid-70s.  We often went there for a dinner date, or to have a churro and hot chocolate at La Panederia when it was chilly.

We've walked up and down the streets for years but never stopped by the blacksmith barn . . .  until our last visit. My husband's cousin, Craig, was in town so we all met up and went for lunch and a tour of the recently renovated Cosmopolitan Hotel. Craig's niece is an anthropologist who worked on the restoration - more on this story in another blog!

Blacksmith in Old Town San Diego making a cheese slicer

At the barn we watched a blacksmith work on a cheese slicer. He mentioned that after all the years of working in the barn they were finally able to sell some of the items in a new store called RUST. The money from these sales would help keep the barn operating. These Old Town blacksmith's make all of the iron pieces needed in "town."

Almost done with the cheese slicer

After watching what went into making the cheese slicers we walked over to RUST and put our name on the list to buy one of the slicers when they were delivered. They're hot sellers at $20.00 each, useful as well as decorative. And you can never top owning something that you watched being made.

My new cheese slicers from RUST in Old Town

They even sign their work!

Avocado Love

Fallbrook is the self-proclaimed "Avocado Capital" of the world and our town hosts a popular Avocado Festival each spring. This year the 30th annual Avocado Festival is Sunday, April 17th from 9 am - 5 pm. It runs along Main Avenue in the downtown section of town.

Found this poster on the Chamber page but it didn't mention who the artist is!

Denise from CRAFT and Vintage Sister Studio  has participated in years past along the artisan walk on alvarado part of the festival. Her Avocado Earrings (above) were a popular item to show the avo love. She's not doing the festival this year, but she does have a few pairs of earrings available. Contact her if interested and to see several styles she has. They are $18.00 a pair.

Karen, also from CRAFT, is an artist and card designer. Her work can be seen at  Ransom Notes by Karen Walkup.  One of her pieces (below) is a perfect quote for life in Fallbrook, "life here is good"

My property has four avocado trees and when they are in season we eat them almost every day. Besides making lots of guacamole, a favorite way we like them is for breakfast. Simply spread on toasted sourdough bread, with sliced tomatoes and a sprinkle of sea salt. 

I wrote a family history and cookbook a few years ago called Rossipes. And, although it is not difficult to find a good guacamole recipe in this neck-of-the-woods, the one created by my daughter Tracy for the book is especially good!

Her shortcut for great guacamole is to use a good (restaurant quality) prepared salsa from the grocery store, and lots of cilantro and freshly-squeezed lemon juice.

Fallbrook Guacamole
For a party-sized bowl of guacamole mix together:
5 large avocados, mashed
juice from two fresh lemons
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup of your favorite fresh salsa
salt and pepper to taste

Keep in refrigerator with a piece of plastic wrap pressed down on top of the guacamole to prevent discoloration. Enjoy!

Ad for 1970s appliances in avocado green

When I lived in San Clemente (in the 70s) I remember my mother loved her avocado green fridge and stove - and we even had avocado green shag carpet to go with it. Those were the days! During my time as an interior designer, I may have used avocado green once or twice - although I am sure they changed the name. Currently I have a little bottle of craft paint and noticed everyone loves to use it - yesterday I checked the name to purchase more. What was it called you ask? Why "avocado green" of course! Everything old is new again.