Singing Shadows

The old Singer sewing machine

was giving us some wonderful shadows

out on the porch yesterday!

Join us for a chorus of shadows this weekend

for Shadow Shot Sunday

on Hey Harriet!

A Sweet Story.....

The unique French charm
of these pretty oval tins depict each chapter
of a beautiful love story!

"It all started one spring morning in the secret garden of a young maiden.  Surrounded by the scent of roses, she dreamed of being loved.  Outside the village, a light shining in a window kindled something deep in the heart of the solitary shepherd as he sat and chewed his liquorice stick.  And then they met amonsgst the mint leaves by the cool water of the spring...Together at last, they sat under the orange blossoms and looked peacefully towards the future.  Finally on day by the fountain the shepherd offered a tiny delicious Anis de Flavigny to his beloved.  Will she accept? ....And what comes next belongs only to them discreetly hidden behind a screen of violets."

Let us introduce you to our Anis de Flavigny mints!  Everyone loves them...but many do not know the story behind these delilcious confections!

This photo shows the stages of the confits (taken from the Anis de Flavigny website)

Since 1591, the ancient Abbey of Flavigny has been dedicated to the creation of Anis de Flavigny mints.  At the heart of each mint is a tiny aniseed, coated over 15 days with fine layers of sugar and smooth, all-natural flavors.  Always faithful to the original recipe, since the departure of the monks, a team of 25 people has lovingly continued the production of these refereshing drops form the hillsides of Burgundy. 

In the 17th century, the recipe consisted of coating an aniseed with sugar, then flavoring it with orange blossom water. Back then, it took six months to make one candy because of the hand coating and drying. Today only 15 days are required to produce the same candy.

These candies are a wonderful delicacy to have on hand throughout the day. 

These comfits are also a great addition to a hot cup of tea.

Just swirl a pastille into the hot brew for a distinctive treat!

Does the town Flavigny seem familiar to you?

 The movie Chocolat
was shot on location there....

These little seeds, may not contain chocolat...but these

Anis de Flavigny mints

are famous!

We've found the recipe for the candies them, so you can give it a try at home....

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutesIngredients:

•1/3 cup anise seeds
•1/4 cup water

•1 tablespoon orange flower essence

•1 cup granulated sugar

Preparation:

Place the anise seeds in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Bring the water, orange flower water, and sugar to a simmer in a medium saucepan until the mixture reaches the soft-ball stage at 235-240F. Transfer the saucepan to a hot plate or warmer to keep the syrup warm.

Drizzle one tablespoon of the sugar syrup over the anise seeds and stir for 3 to 4 minutes, until the syrup evenly coats and sets on each seed and the seeds separate again. Continue this process, stirring constantly, 1 tablespoon of syrup at a time, until all the syrup is used and the anise seeds have separated into individual pastilles. This process can take up to 30 minutes to complete. Alternately, use an automatic candy-coating drum to speed up the process.

Spread the anis pastilles in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Allow them to cure, uncovered, for 5 days. Store the finished candy in an airtight container and enjoy!

This anis de Flavigny recipe makes approximately 1 1/4 cups finished pastilles.

Of course....
you can just come to the store and purchase a tin :)

More recipes using Anis de Flavigny mints can be found here.

Hey! Who You Calling Turkey?

Our charming Retro Turkey Candles,

will be a welcome guest at your favorite feast of the year!

pssssst...they make a great Hostess Gift as well!!

Pachyderm Shadows

This week the kiddos had a day off...

so we spent a perfect fall day at the Toledo Zoo

On our way to see the baby elephant

we spotted this elephant sculpture

 that sported some fantastic shadows!

Here's Lucas who was really quite darling romping around!

Follow us as we travel the globe searching for the shadows

with Tracy @ Hey Harriet

for Shadow Shot Sunday

Creating a Mantelpiece

The Mantel

When we were reading Debra's post last week about
Tweeting & Tucking,
we knew that was us -
Tweeters & Tuckers...
except when it comes to the Fireplace

The mantel area gets changed every season....
Starring.....
The Pumpkins

{that I got several years ago at the Country Living Show}

 are the only things that seem to show up year after year by the fireplace for fall.

The Boo Sign

travels around every year...

why is it that I can't put the same thing out in the same place every year?
 It would sure make decorating more simple!! 

The Crows

Last year these crows were out on the porch. 

They were on big branches that were in an urn.

{Again, it looked adorable...but....they are pretty fun in here as well....ahhh...I must like a challenge!!}

Their friend is up on the mantel - can't have enough crow I guess!

So.... I found this old book at a book sale this summer 

called The Spanish Cape Mystery

I took some of it's pages out and printed this crow

from The Graphics Fairy & added "Nevermore!" onto it.

The Glitz
Then it is time for the Sparkle!

This year we got in these Glitter Pumpkins at the store...

How can you not fall in love with them?

Well, you'll love them so much,

you'll want to put them up on a pedestal...

or vintage silver candlestick holders - paired with a couple of mercury glass candle holders. 

We love using candlesticks to adjust the height of things!

The Spooky

Next we took two mercury glass Halloween hurricanes from the store

and we tucked them into the display on top of an old doily

{old laces & crochet work are some of our favorite things to add to fall decor!}

To vary the height, we used a vintage glass candlewick cakeplate

The Color

The only thing we added next was these great branches of coxcomb....

a little color...POP

on the mantle!

Pumpkins {check}

Boo Sign {check}

Crows {check}

Glitz {check}

Varying Heights {check}

Spooky {check}

Color {check}

Halloween Mantle

- done!

What's inYour Hutch?

Grandma's  Blue Onion China 

with a continuing collection of white ironstone & silver

What's in your hutch?

Welcoming Fall!

The leaves are starting to turn those beautiful, brilliant hues

this week in Northwest Ohio!

It makes us want to use those colors everywhere in our homes....
so step inside the store to see some
color inspiration!

Happy Fall!!

And then, there was three...

This little teapot is one of my favorite junkin' finds.

Not only did I immediately fall for it's cute floral print, but I loved the narrow shape of it.

Then after checking out the bottom

(like any good junker would do;0)

I realized that this teapot once supported a war.

A short while latter I was out junkin' again I spotted this plate.

Such a pretty plate... and it reminded me of a certain teapot.... (not to mention I am a plate addict), so it came home with me.

Although different... these two make a great pair!

Then shortly there after while junkin' once again, this pretty bowl begs to be adopted as well.

I can be a bowl addict as well, 

not to mention that those flowers

that reminded me of a plate...

which reminded me of a teapot...

A great trio, Id' say!

Jack-O Shadow

Jack knows his Shadows!

We couldn't help snapping this shot

 of these little change purses

in the store last night!

Get to know shadows from all around the world

with all of our friends at Hey Harriet!

Making White Dark.....

Creepy Cool

can be neutral....

This year we took
Uncle August and hung him from the door
 in one of our displays up front.
Using the colors of his picture and frame,
we created
a neutral
Halloween Pallet

Using glass, shells and Mercury glass we started the theme....

Coral does a nice job mimicking bones

plus we love the texture of it!

creepy cool textures!

Glass apothecary jars to fill with

fake spiders, or candy....

One of our customer's sons collects cicada shells

and they used those to fill the jars

for a specimen look....

ewwwww!!

Cool!

These frames hold pictures on both sides...

and with a little help from the Graphics Fairy,

we had instant creepy prints!

Vintage urns (our favorite!) are filled with

distressed white pumpkins...and shredded newspaper.

Silver skulls, glittered pumpkins and black and white Halloween prints

add to the ambiance of the display!

The Darkside of White...

got to love it!