Thursday, July 30, 2009

Sweet Dreaming

It was 1904 and Mr. Halter was building his home. He furnished it and brought his new bride home and she loved it. Upstairs in the bedroom was a grand and beautiful bed. fit for a queen, and Mrs. Halter thought she was the luckiest lady around!
The bed lived in the house until Mr. Halter died. Several years later, Mrs. Halter rented the house out and put the bed into storage in the great attic upstairs. There the bed stayed until.....the attic needed to be cleaned out because the newest owners decided to create a room up in that big, old attic. Now....what to do with that headboard that had been in the house for 105 years?

Well....the bed is Karla's, and it has been moved several times from one side of a room, to another to endure work in the attic, and now we are happy to say, that there may be a happy ending to our story! We have thought that this headboard would make a great headboard for a king sized bed...how do we utilize the foot board?
Well, Monday we're taking it over to the wood repair shop and are going to finally see if the dreams we have for this headboard will really be able to happen! We need to make it bigger, paint it...and maybe we can add fabric...we've scoured the Internet on information about making a full headboard a king sized, but haven't found much....but we did dream quite a bit with some fun ideas for headboards - so come along and do some dreaming with us......



We just love, love, loved this idea {of course we tend to collect old doors here at The Summer Kitchen!}
How cute would this be - an old door, on it side with trim work above, painted and distressed - perfect and easy to do...not adding those little lamp holder on the side - quite creative, don't you think?

photo courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

Goodness....we've died and gone to heaven - isn't this mirror gorgeous? What a great headboard this makes....we can't imagine what it would cost us...but it is sweet to dream girls, isn't it?

photo courtesy of Country Living





When we saw this picture in Better Homes & Gardens we squealed with delight! We love old hankies - and just how darling is it to frame them and put them above your bed...or anywhere for that matter!

Also love those snare drums - what a fun end table for a room {and be sure to take notice at all of the fun vintage things at the end of the beds in all of the pictures posted.....great uses for fun pieces!!}





We love old shutters - and think this idea is a fabulous one - that doesn't need anything but a good wash down and some nails to secure above the bed! What a fun idea to bring the outdoors in!

photo courtesy of Curbly.com





How about windows? You can find plenty of them laying around the neighborhood. See anyone replacing their windows? Ask if you can take some of their old windows and create a unique headboard. Here they took out the panes of glass and inserted boards covered in fabric that compliments your room.

{wouldn't this make a great screen for your living room too???}

photo courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens




Now...hanging art above your bed is great - but hanging ART above your bed...large art with a light above it....how great is this?

{Not to mention the great mirrors on either side of the bed...and the lamps....!}

photo courtesy of HGTV




We love how they took an old headboard and insert fabric into it. If this could somehow work on the headboard after it is done - it would be fun....but we will just have to wait and see how it comes together first!

photo courtesy of Country Living

Isn't it exciting to figure out something fresh & fun - while utilizing something that you have at the same time?!

Look for the final results of Karla's headboard....sometime down the road {we're not fast workers when it comes to our own homes ya know!!}

Sweet Dreams!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Wednesday Words

"The more I go through parenting,
the more I say I owe my mother an apology."

Here is where Karla began her multi-tasking mothering skills taking care of cousin Alan & Kelli {yes, the wonderfully talented Kelli that does our shadow boxes & button bracelets!}
Wednesday Words are brought to you by our wall enhancers and alphabet images...check them out on the right hand side!!

Happy Wednesday All!!



Monday, July 27, 2009

Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?













We do, of course!!

Check out our new Vintage Button Bracelets.....they are flying out of the door...
be sure to get yours before they are all gone!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Shadow Shots


"A single rose can be my garden...a single friend, my world."

-Leo F. Buscaglia



We picked some roses out of the garden for a birthday tea we held in the store the other day. It was for a delightful group of ladies who seemed to be some of the best friends ever.


While cleaning up we spotted this sweet smelling shadow. If only we could do a "scratch and sniff!"


Now it's time to hop on over to Hey Harriet to make some more friends!

Friday, July 24, 2009

It's Hot, Hot, Hot!

July may be unseasonable cool in Ohio this year....
but how about some hot Cuban music to get the party started?!!



Our Cuba Libre CD is perfect for the summertime! Stop in or drop us a line today and you'll feel the heat, too!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Kitchen Talk


*sigh*



Neither of us has a kitchen that is new or glamorous. Now....we aren't complaining {well, not too often}.....but a girl can dream!



This week we've been cleaning & purging - going through magazines and getting decorating ideas, and pictures out of them and filing them for future blog (& home) ideas.



Every time we come across kitchens.....well, we scour over the photo and discuss what we do and do not like for our ideal dream kitchen.


We thought we'd share a few of our favorite ideas.... hop on over to this House Beautiful link and check out 2008's kitchen of the year, and catch a glimpse of 2009's kitchen.
http://www.housebeautiful.com/kitchens/dream/kitchen-oty-connecticut-0507

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Wednesday Words


The best way to keep children home
is to make the home atmosphere pleasant -- and let the air out of the tires.

-Dorothy Parker





Wednesday Words are brought to you buy our Wall Enhancer line. Check out the new alphabet images... so many fun possibilities!


Monday, July 20, 2009

Lovely Arrangements are Blooming

We've been very busy
around here lately... but
then again we always
seem to be on
the verge of loosing
our minds.


Why do I get the feeling
that all of you are shaking
your heads yes?


It's as if your saying... "Yes, we know you girls are one step away from the looney bin!"



We'll, okay... maybe we're not that bad off... but lately it's a close call!

One of the many projects last week was creating some lovely arrangements for a convention being held this week.


These are some of them, each with their own theme to go with a different part of the convention.


The theme they all had in common was that they were all huge!


We get a big arrangement here and there, but it was fun to design all of these together.

However, several monster size arrangements in the store =
no room to move.


So... even though they are lovely to look at...

and customers enjoyed them while coming into the store....



I'd have to say we are glad they are gone.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Shadow Box Shadows

It's beginning to look a lot like... Christmas?

Last weekend we were over to Pemberville for Beeker's General Store's Christmas in July. Last year was our first time setting up at this fun summer event, and we were looking forward to another year. This year we started with quite the thunder and lightning storm rolling over us just as we finished setting up... and ... well...
we're just glad we're here to tell you about it!





This year we took along some of Kelli's new Christmas shadow boxes. We captured some shadows off of this one here featuring old Christmas bulbs. Who would have thought to keep all those old bulbs?






Whoever it was, we are glad they did because they make for some really fun art work! Now it's time to go over to Hey Harriets to see more shadows!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Wednesday Words


"How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?"
~Satchel Paige



Wednesday Words are brought to you by our Wall Enhancers. Do you have a quote or saying that you'd like to put in a special place in your home? Check out our website for wall words, or for our new alphabet pictures - sure to cause a smile!

We love this picture of our Grandpa - he always loved to get down & play with us kids....here he is with our brother - who seems to be oblivious that his grandfather is having a really good time on the bike behind him!! Though he doesn't get down on little bitty toys anymore, he's always there with an ear to listen! Thanks grandpa!

So.....how old would you be?

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!


Saturday, July 11, 2009

Deceiving Shadows

Last night we went out with friends to Ciao! - a fun place to eat out...the ambiance is grand and there's great Italian food all around.

On the way in we saw these curtains hanging and thought the shadow would be fab for Shadow Shots this weekend.....

Do you see that the "curtain" is not made of beads....but pasta?!!

Whether they are deceiving, or straight with you - shadows are great fun! Won't you join us for Shadow Shot Sunday this weekend? Get your shadow & visit Hey Harriet for the best shadow fix around!!

Buona giornata!


Friday, July 10, 2009

Hooked on Herbed Sorbets

We are so hooked on our herb classes....and last night's was no different -
who wouldn't want to come to a Sorbet Soiree??

The Menu


A Captivated Crowd


Mood Music



The Herb Expert


Making an infusion with Scented Rose Geraniums

Chopping up the Strawberries

After it freezes.....scoop it up....

....and serve -mmmmmm.... you don't know what you were missing....
but perhaps you'd like to find out for yourselves with the recipe below!!

Please join Julia at Hooked on Houses for her Hooked on Fridays - visit other blogs and find out what everyone else is Hooked On!!

Strawberry Rose Geranium Sorbet
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
8 medium sized rose geranium leaves
4 cups ripe strawberries, hulled & washed
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1.Bring sugar and water to a boil in a small saucepan
2.Drop in the geranium leaves, cover pan and remove it from heat. After 15 minutes, strain syrup, pushing down on the leaves to extract flavor.
3.Puree strawberries with syrup and lemon juice in blender or food processor.
4.Freeze in an ice cream maker until slushy-firm.
5.Scoop into storage container and freeze until firm enough to scoop.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

What's Happening this Week

Oh...today's going to be a busy one! Make it this entire week!! We are in the process of getting ready for our Christmas in July show this Saturday. It will be held in Pemberville, Oh and we'll be set up right out in front of Beeker's General Store. Last year we attended this event and it was so much fun! Not only did we have fun shopping for lots of new Christmas stuff, but the German food was fantastic too!!

Christmas stuff is always fun to pull out in July...ok - not really - it is soooo very hot in the store's attic during the summer! So, think of us today, as we finish pulling out all of the things we've been stuffing up there lately!!



We are also getting ready for our Sorbet Soiree this Thursday - perfect for a hot week (and great for after that attic business!) Catherine will be giving us great recipes (as well as samples!) of some fantastic herbed sorbets! Looking for a fun class this week? This is the one - $5 cover charge, just RSVP so we know to expect you!!

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Independence Shadows

Welcome to Shadow Shot Sunday, where here in the states we are celebrating our Independence....

and our Freedom to see shadows all around the world on Hey Harriet!

Wishing everyone a fantastic weekend!


"You have to love a nation that celebrates its Independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism."

~Erma Bombeck

Thursday, July 02, 2009

It's A Grand Old Flag


We have to admit - we are a bit red, white & blue challenged in our homes. Sure, we have lots of shades of reds...blues and a bit of a creamy white - but, they are all mixed with golds, greens, blacks and plums.....so when it comes to the 4th of July, we feel a bit unpatriotic.....

This is where those little flags that the children have collected over the years from parades & schools come in handy!

We get out our vases - and believe me we have quite a bit - and we stick those flags in them and sit them everywhere........see, that's better - we feel more patriotic already!


Ahhh......we feel a song coming on.....


"You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of The land I love.

The home of the free and the brave.
Ev'ry heart beats true'neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag."


Well, if that doesn't get you in the spirit of things...we don't know what will!!
So, tell us, what is your favorite way to wave your flags?

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Wednesday Words


"I love my freedom. I love my America. "
~Jessi Lane Adams

We think that being a kid during the 4th of July has to be the best time in the world! Picnics, parties, swimming, food & lots of fireworks! That would be the best part - fireworks before the 4th, during & after....people love their fireworks!

As always, Wednesday words are brought to you by our Wall Enhancer Line ~ vinyl lettering to stick up on your walls, your windows & doors. We are also featuring our newest addition to the line with our Custom Alphabet Images. Pick a word already matted & framed - or just make your own here....click, type & you can even change the letters if you'd like - what freedom you have!!
Have a wonderful 4th of July - enjoy your time with friends & family!!

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