Tennessee Memories - Summer Day Part 2

Maiden hair fern

Queen Anne's Lace

The Thousand Word Project - Berry Pretty Things

 

Tennessee Memories - Early Summer Reds

Summertime Memories

Summertime

Strawberries and lemonade,
Naps on hammocks in the shade;
Jumping in the swimming hole,
Sleeping with a fishing pole;
Lightning bugs and thunder storms,
Starry nights and muggy morns;
Crickets, ants, and garden rows,
The fragrance of a golden rose;
Parking lots to burn your feet,
Baking cars that burn your seat;
Watermelons, burgers too,
Sweaty clothes - PeeeeUuu!

Mary Stephens

Hollyhocks

Wood sorrel (oxalis), Maidenhair fern, something? :-)

Cottontail rabbit baby

Strawberries

Mocking bird, Queen Anne's lace

Trumpet vine

Berry Fun - Berries and Chocolate for Breakfast

Early summer or late spring is the time for fresh berries. How about making something simple like pancakes or a bowl of oatmeal into something special by adding chocolate chips and fresh berries on top? These are so good you could practically serve them for dessert, but no one will complain of an extra special breakfast. :-) Make sure the pancakes or cereal are very hot when you put the chocolate chips on in order to get that yummy melted chocolate effect. Besides tasting delicious, this is also a very pretty breakfast!

The Thousand Word Project - Hopeful

Strawberry blossom. Tennessee.

Berry Fun Friday - Tutorial to Crochet A Cute Strawberry Stitch

This strawberry stitch is just the popcorn stitch done in two different colors. It does look cute, though. Enjoy! :-)

Berry Fun Friday - Free Printable Strawberry Theme Labels

Here are some very cute and fun printables that JES from Strangers and Pilgrims On Earth posted a couple of years ago.  And they are FREE - which makes it even better. :-)  Strawberries are a favorite motif of mine and have been since I was around 10 years old.  I have quite a few things in my kitchen...and around the house...with strawberry decorations.

Strawberry "Mason Jar Labels and More" Gift Kit ~ Free Printable

Tell you what I like the best -
'Long about knee-deep in June,
'Bout the time strawberries melts
On the vine, - some afternoon
Like to jes' git out and rest,
And not work at nothin' else!

- James Whitcomb Riley

Berry Fun Friday– Free Printable Strawberry Boxes

 

Here are two different ways to make small strawberry boxes These  boxes would be perfect for small candies or perhaps a little gift of special buttons or other small craft or sewing items.  They would also make cute party favors.

Photo property of Oh Happy Day.

This free printable by Kate Lilley of Oh Happy Day gives you a fully colored strawberry and top.  If you have a color printer you can just print off the PDF file and then put it together according to the directions.

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Here is a PDF file with a template for another strawberry box. This one is a template which you will trace onto the paper of your choice.  This project comes from the Oriental Trading Company.

I wonder if it would be possible to cut the pieces from sturdy white craft paper and then glue fabric in the appropriate colors to the outside before folding and putting it all together.  Just a thought. :-)

Berry Fun Friday– Free Strawberry Gift Tag Printables

 

Here is a link to download and print some cute strawberry gift tags.  Actually, you could also use these on a greeting card as well.

Strawberry Gift Basket Labels and Idea

Melissa at Polkadot Chair also shared a nice idea for a gift basket.  You don’t need a ceramic dish like she used to do this.  You could use a small woven basket or even a paper or plastic strawberry container (make sure it’s clean).  Along with the candy, you could add other strawberry items – a grocery bag in a pocket (like she used), some magnets, a strawberry tea or dish towel, a strawberry handkerchief, a strawberry pin cushion, etc.  It would make a cheerful summer gift for a birthday, anniversary, and even a small house warming gift.  It would be especially nice for any lady who has a special liking for strawberries. :-)

Berry Fun Friday– Fun Facts About Strawberries

Here’s a fun post about strawberries from Jo at Finding Joy In the Everyday.  I hope you enjoy the fun facts she shares.  Please leaver her a comment to let her know how you got there. :-)

Random Tuesday #6 – Fresh Strawberries

Berry Fun Friday- A Can of Berries Craft Project

 

Photo from The Enchanting Rose

Stephanie at The Enchanting Rose posted this cute strawberry project in March.  Her instructions on how to make the strawberries are quite simple.  You don’t have to have the exact supplies she used to make your own can.  “Shop your own stuff” to come up with something that will look nice for your décor – fabric scraps, trims, etc.  Also, search online for a pretty picture to print for the front of the can.

A Can of Strawberries

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A few links to strawberry graphics:

Vintage strawberry label from the Graphics Fairy.

A simple one at the Graphics Fairy.

Strawberry cluster from the same site.

Vintage Strawberry seed package label.

Berry Fun Friday- Crochet A Strawberry Brooch

Here is a tutorial for a pretty strawberry brooch.  I wonder if I’ll ever get around to making one?  It doesn’t look like it should take too long.

Strawberry Brooch

Photo property of cynalune on Craftster.org

Berry Fun Friday – Strawberry Barrettes

 

Here’s a tutorial at “Pink Tea” blog for some cute little barrettes that feature strawberries made from ribbon.  They would be fun for a little girl and also for a “bigger” girl’s craft project.  The last step doesn’t quite make sense to me as it wasn’t clear how far the wrapping was to be done on the inside.  However, just keep in mind that you want the ends tucked in and the barrette still able to be closed and hold the hair.

Photo property of “Pink Tea”

Berry Fun Friday – Fun Strawberry Fabrics

 

[In order to keep my posts on Saturday from piling up, I’ve decided to move the sewing and strawberry posts to Friday.  This will also give my readers the opportunity to do some of the projects over the weekend, if they want to.]

Here is a small collection of fun strawberry fabrics that are available now.  I have some of them and other I just think are quite cute.  (This post is not subsidized by Fabric.com, nor requested by them.)

As far as I can recall, this is the most recent strawberry fabric that I’ve purchased.  The strawberries were bigger than I thought because I didn’t pay enough attention to the ruler, but I like it and it will make some fun small project.  (source)

This flannel is very cheerful and would make cute winter things for little girls, or playful detailing for a ladies’ garment. (pink & white)

I have some of this fabric too.  It’s so pretty and bright.  At first I thought I’d make an apron, but I realized all that white would soil very easily.  I have at least one project in mind where I want to incorporate some of this.  (source)

Although these last two fabrics don’t appear to match in color in the pictures, they are from the same set and do go together.  I have some of this also and have at least one project in mind for some of it.  (source)

If when I get some of these projects done I hope I’ll remember to share some with you. :-)  In the mean time, you can enjoy the eye candy or even purchase some for to work with yourself if you like it (provided they aren’t out of stock).  (Once the fabrics are no longer offered by fabric.com the pictures will disappear.)

Berry Fun Saturday – DIY Projects for Kids (and You!)

 

Photo from Kiwi Crate, property of Melissa Allen

Walnut Strawberries

This project makes ordinary walnuts (in the shell) into cute little strawberry décor/play food for kids.

DIY Strawberry Treat Cups

Here is a link to some cute strawberry “baskets” made from red paper cups.  You and/or your kids could make these for a summer birthday party or other event. 

Berry Fun Saturday – Strawberry Protectors

 

Here are some instructions for making strawberry protectors from rocks.  After painting these little pretties, the idea is to place them in your strawberry beds around the plants so that they look like real berries.  The writer didn’t know why they would work, but I’m thinking that with birds, at least, the trick is that when they try to take a bite they realize that it’s fake and then leave the rest of the berries – real and fake – alone.  I’m not sure it would discourage the pests that eat our strawberries, which seem to be primarily bugs.

However, I thought this idea would work equally well for decorating.  If you can find some nice strawberry shaped rocks and you have some craft paint on hand it would be a fun and inexpensive summer project.  Just make sure you don’t take someone’s paid-for rocks without permission!  Perhaps you could make fridge magnets or a rustic basketful of “berries”.  :-)

Berry Fun Saturday – Knitting Projects

 

Here are two links for strawberry knitting projects for this Saturday’s dose of berry fun stuff.  I’m not a knitter, but for my readers who may be, these look like really cute ideas.

First, you can make these little strawberries which can be used for decorating all kind of things. 

Next, maybe you’d like to make a strawberry tea cozy for yourself or a friend!  It’s very cute and will keep your tea pot quite warm. :-)

The thousand word project: He satisfieth thy mouth with good things…

 

National Cheesecake Day – No Bake Cheesecake

 
Today is National Cheesecake Day, so I thought I should post a cheesecake recipe. :-)  (This should be my brother Mike’s favorite “holiday”.)
Earlier this year I found this recipe online and decided to try it.  I made a few changes to the recipe.  It is much softer and lighter than a normal cheesecake in texture and taste since it is not baked, but as you can see from the whipping cream in the recipe it is not lighter caloriewise.  It’s not something you want to make once a week unless you need to gain weight. :-)

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No Bake Cheesecake

1 1/2 C. graham cracker crumbs
1/3 packed brown sugar
1/3 C. butter, melted
2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese
2/3 C. sour cream
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1/3 C. white sugar
In small bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar.  Add butter and mix well.  Press into the bottom of an 8 – 10 inch spring form pan.  Chill until firm.
In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese and lemon juice until sort. Mix in sour cream.  Add whipping cream and beat with electric mixer until batter becomes thick.  Add the sugar and continue to beat until stiff.  Pour into the chilled crust.  Chill several hours or overnight.
Add topping of your choice.  Remove sides of pan just before serving.

I served this with a homemade strawberry topping as you can see in the photos.  I made this topping by cooking a few strawberries, sweetening them and  then thickening them with corn starch.  I refrigerated the “gel” before adding the cut fresh strawberries.  It was delicious!  Much better than that pre-made stuff you can buy in plastic envelopes at the store.