Baking a Pie.....or Five

When I decide to bake pies it always goes something like this:

Oh, we have a pumpkin left. I think I'll make a pie.

Hmm. Will one pie be enough? Better make two.

Dear me...just to be safe, I should make two recipes of dough.

oops......now instead of simply whipping up a couple of pies, I now have 5 crusts to fill.

Yes, that is exactly how it went one afternoon this week. I always overestimate, so ended up with many piepans, and without an exact idea of what to put in them. I only had enough pumpkin puree for two pies, so I finally decided to do one mock mincemeat (that was easy, as I had some mincemeat all ready that we had canned a couple of years ago...) and then (my favorite) custard pies. Yum!

 There is just something so fun about pie-making. I love to make them as pretty as possible, and experiment with decorating the tops in various ways. (And you must wear a checkered apron. That makes everything better.:)

Piecrust

(makes 2)

Mix-

2 1/2 c. flour

1/2 t. salt

Cut in 3/4 c. shortening

Add - 7-8 Tb. cold water

Mix until it just all comes together. Don't overwork.

Take half the dough and roll out thin with a rolling pin. Use a thin spatula to carefully raise the dough off the table and flip it over on to the pie-pan. Press gently down into the pan. Trim the edges with a butter knife and then crimp with your thumb and first two fingers. (at least that is what I do! :)

For the shortening, I prefer to use some type of oil. I've been using cottonseed oil, but this time we were out and I used a mild olive oil, and it was wonderful! Easiest, smoothest, stretchiest pie dough I've ever worked with. And since it was so mild, there wasn't a strong taste. So, I think I may be switching to olive oil permantenly...

Mock Mincemeat Pie

1 1/2 c. raisins

4 Granny Smith apples, peeled cored and sliced

1 Tb. orange zest

1/3 c. orange juice

1/2 c. apple cider

3/4 c. white sugar

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. cloves

2 soda crackers, finely crushed

Preheat oven to 425. Stir the raisins, apples, orange zest, orange juice, and apple cider together in a pan. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until apples are very soft, about 20 minutes. Stir in the sugar, spices, and crackers until well blended. Refrigerate until ready to use, or pour into pie crust. Bake for 15 minutes in preheated oven, then reduce oven temp to 350 and bake until top is golden brown, about 30 minutes more.

For mincemeat, I think you are really supposed to do a complete top crust, but...

I love using mini cookie cutters for pie tops!

The other day I made a blackberry pie and used a star shaped cookie cutter for the top - it looked quite patriotic and pretty.

This particular leaf shaped cutter came from the cute Fall Leaves set.

Fresh Pumpkin Pie

I learned a valuable lesson while chopping up pumpkins. (after a cut and bleeding finger...)

 DON'T try to peel the pumpkin fresh. Instead, half, clean, and cube the pumpkin with the peel on, boil the cubes until soft, and after they are cooled and drained, THEN peel and puree them.

So. Much. Easier. (and safer) Wish I had been doing that all these years. Sometimes I feel really dumb. *ahem* Anyway. Now I know.

2 cups fresh pumpkin puree

3 eggs, beaten

1 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. cloves

1/2 t. ginger

1/4 t. nutmeg

2 t. vanilla

salt

1/3 c. milk

1/2 c. honey (or 3/4 c. sugar)

Mix all together and pour in uncooked pie shell. Bake at 350 until center is firm.

Coconut Custard Pie

4 eggs, beaten

2/3 c. sugar

1/2 t. salt

2 c. milk

1 t. vanilla

3/4 c. shredded coconut

Mix and pour into uncooked crust. Bake at 350 until firm and and a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean.

This particular coconut variation of custard, I just tried for the first time. It was excellent! The recipe came from a great little recipe book called 'The Lost Art of Pie Making".

 

It was a nice treat for the boys when they came home from work to see all the pretty pies just waiting for supper to be over! (but they didn't last long....)

What is your favorite type of pie? Any pie-making secrets you'd like to share?



Bronze Silk Regency Weskit

I love these things! Little fitted weskits (vests) -such a perfect way to dress up the lovely, simplistic Regency dresses. For day or evening wear.

This particular one is made froma beautiful, shimmery bronze colored silk.

 Ready to ship, and now available in the shop!

Laces up the front with hand-sewn thread eyelets and narrow brown satin ribbon.

The edges are bound with matching silk.

I think these look especially nice against white dresses, and I can imagine so many lovely color combinations, from pastels to jewel tones! More weskits are definately on my to-do list. :) So fun!

Pen and Ink Musings

There is something indescribably magical about about the hand-written word. Have you ever been in an antique store, and opened up an old book or postcard, and thrilled at seeing a hand penned script scrawling across the page, perhaps declaring to whom the book once belonged, or recalling a long-forgotten event? It's like having a little glimpse into someone's life, seeing each unique hand.

I'm not against modern communication. In fact, I'm very thankful for it! I love being able to call, text, and email friends and family at any time, and hear back from them almost instantly. That is a great blessing, if used properly. But - I don't want to loose sight of hand-written communication, records, and drawings, etc. I think all these things are so beautiful and have been neclected for far to long. They are due for a revival.

So, I'll share with you a few of my inspirations and goals in this area, and some of the things you can do to bring back the art of pen and ink.

 Write a letter.

Whether it's a handmade birthday card, a newsy catch-up letter from a friend, or even a long awaited love-letter, there's always a special "something" about recieving a letter in the mail.

Emails and texts are so...casual, so ordinary. Years after you have recieved a certain email, do you go back and pour over it, sigh over the wonderful typefaces? Um....no. Not really. Emails are read, they are useful, then they are forgotten. Chances are you won't even have your electronic messages years from now, as they will have probably been deleted...or lost in a computer crash.

Old-fashioned letters are a different thing. They can be kept, and treasured, taken out of their box and re-read years from now and not loose any of their charm. And, yes, I do keep a box where I store all the letters I wish to keep.

I have an especial fascination with trying to write letters the old-fashioned way. Unlined paper, homemade envelopes, writing in my fanciest script - perhaps even using pen and ink and a wax seal. 

Here are a few fun and helpful articles on the subject of letters from the olden days....

Guidelines for writing 19th C. Letters

How to Post a Letter 19th C. Style

Civil War Love Letters

Journal.

It has long been my goal to keep a journal regularly. Oh, I do have many journals I have filled over the years, but I have not been good about writing in it every day. Something I want to change.

I always take inspiration from reading diarys and accounts from my favorite eras (one of the best is 'Sarah Morgan, the Civil War Diary of a Southern Woman') and thinking how thankful I am that they took the time to write down a day-to-day record of the things happening in their lives. Even the most 'mundane' details are extremely interesting to me (what they were wearing, cooking, what was inside the shop in town....etc.) as a student of history. That's how I try to think about my own journaling. Even if nothing particularly 'epic' is happening, small details and everyday happening are just as important - or perhaps more so because it is these little details that are often forgotten as years blur our memories. And though I don't plan on anyone else reading my journals, it's a neat journey to the past for me to go back and read some of my old volumes, I am always surprised at how many little things I would have forgotten, had it not been for writing it down at the time!

I've always wanted to try other types of journaling too - for instance an inspiration/ephemera/sewing scrapbook/diary. This could include fabric and notions swatches fo future projects, inspirational magazine or book clippings, quotes and sketches. This would also be a fun way to experiment with collages and color combinations, either for future artwork, interior designs, or sewing projects!

Draw.

I have an intense need to draw, and I often feel like I fail, because I push that desire to the back of my mind, 'just until I get this one job done'......Mainly the only type of artwork I do now is dress sketches for upcoming projects.

One of my main goals this year is to paint, draw, and sketch more and varied subjects.

Read.

To really write well, you need to have a good vocabulary. The best way to learn? Read - read challenging books. Books of information, books of fiction, books of history. Books that were written well before our present century.

(Sir Walter Scott, Jane Austen, and Charles Dickens are always a good place to start for the fiction side!)

I could never stand the though of a kindle or electronic book. I realize that they can be useful...and I know they have a place. But I have adamantly refused to have one. Nothing could ever replace the feel and experience of opening a book for the first time (or the fiftieth....:), flipping through the pages, and discovering the adventure anew.

Practice.

Don't like your cursive hand? Think your artwork skills could be improved? Signature is sloppy? Don't have enough discipline to actually finish that long read? (and I'm talking to myself, here) There is only one way to get better - practice, practice, practice. If you become confident with your pen (or pencils, or paintbrush....) all of this will be so much easier and fun!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on old-fashioned paper arts, journaling, penmanship, reading and art. Any tips, ideas, or reccomendations?

Update on the Historical Costume Inspiration Festival 2012...

Hi all! I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas!

I feel like my life has been turned upside down, but blessed beyond belief since I last wrote here! And I can't believe it's already after Christmas!

But, I have some rather sad news to relate. Due to being urgently called to work out of town for a couple of weeks (without internet access probably), I've decided that I will have to delay the 2012 Historical Costume Inspiration Festival, as I just won't have time this month to properly organize and care for such an event. However, don't stop planning and working on your projects, I plan to reschedule soon, and will let everyone know when!

Have a blessed New Year!

--Atlanta

Now Available - Design Your Own Edwardian Dress Kit!

At long last! The latest installment in the 'Design Your Own Dress' Series is here!

Design Your Own Edwardian Dress

A beautiful kit that historical costume enthusiasts and girls of all ages will enjoy! Pages of designs ready to trace and color to create your own unique drawn ensembles!

Using tracing paper to take the drawing step by step, start with the model attired in proper Edwardian undergarments, then add a skirt, bodice, trimmings, hat, an apron, and much, much more! The possiblities for creativity are endless. Mix, match and trace to create thousands of unique ensembles, all historically correct for the era of Anne of Green Gables! 

Included in the kit:

-6 glossy cardstock sheets with black and white drawings, featuring a Model, Hairstyles, Skirts, Bodice Options, Fabric Designs, Hats, Trimmings, Jewelry, Accessories, Jackets, and more!

- 12 sheets of tracing paper

- 1 sheet of historical notes, descriptions, and instructions

All pages professionally printed on high quality paper.

Comes packaged in a handy clear plastic zipper pouch.

Kit enables you to design your own turn-of-the-century fashion drawings - perfect for young artists, historical fashion lovers, or seamstresses who want to visualize their designs!

Below are just a few of the endless dress designs possible!

      

I have to say, this kit is my favorite of the series so far! I love all the eccentric, lovely hats from the turn of the century, and the classic flowing lines of the dresses! (and who could forget the great hairstyles and 'puffed sleeves' of which Anne was so fond! :)

If you are still Christmas shopping for the perfect gift for a friend or sister who is a historical costume lover, seamstress, or artist, there is still time for holiday shipping to US addresses!

Please take a look and let me know what you think of the latest Dress Designer kit!



A Victorian Christmas Ballgown

A burgundy red 1850s-60s silk taffeta ball gown, destined to be worn to a Dickens Christmas ball!

The latest request from an Etsy client. (lucky me!! this was a fun project!)

There was no specific inspiration for the dress, but a simple, unadorned style was chosen, the only ornamentation being the creamy lace netting on the short, open sleeves.

Neckline finished with piping.

The silk is actually a bright red/black shot silk, which gives it such a striking shimmer in different lights!

Hand-sewn eyelets and matching ribbon lacing up the back.

Makes me rather long for a Christmas dance myself! :)

If you are interested in having a custom silk ball gown made,

 you may want to take a look at my new Etsy listing....



Vintage Cowgirl Photoshoot + eShakti Dress Review

Have you heard of eShakti? It is an online ready made and custom dress shop that offers classy styles and super fast service. Well, I recently recieved my own eShakti creation!

After much considering (there are so many lovely frocks to choose from!) I chose  the

Castles in the Air Dress!

The sleeves, skirt and neckline were all available to customize in style and length.

The first thing that grabbed my attention was the unique and fun printed cotton fabirc. Orange and red fairytale castles amid scattered roses! So perfectly adorable.

I had the dress custom fit. On eShakti, you can either choose from the full range of ready made sizes, or you can give them your measurments through their easy measurements chart, and your dress with be custom made for you! I found it very successful, the fit of the dress is excellent.

When I was first envisioning the dress, I was thinking to do retro 40s-50s theme with heels, but when the dress actually arrived, I happened to be wearing my cowboy boots (I am, most days....:) and that got me thinking that the style would also lend itself well to a vintage western/praire look. (or perhaps it's because I've been watching too many Roy Rogers movies lately.....)

At any rate, I can see this dress being extremely versatile and comfortable for a myriad of different occasions, whether it's picking cucumbers in the garden or attending an evening swing dance!

LOVE the details. Fitted, comfy smocking at the waist and ruffled, puffed sleeves. Neckline is high in back, dipping to a narrow V in front accented with two fabric buttons and loops.

  

Pockets! Nothing is handier than a dress with nice big pockets!

The eShakti Custom label

Possibly my favorite thing about the dress - a lovely full skirt with soft lines that fall just right.

Go and take a look at all the dresses eShakti has to offer - I am very impressed with the selection and style.

One of the things I like best - the dresses stay up-to-date with fashion trends, but remain classy.  And since you can customize skirt lengths, there shall be no more complaining about not being able to find dresses with skirts that are long enough! :)

From 50s swing dresses, to bridesmaids, formals, day dresses and casual skirts, eShakti seems to have it all! Take a look and tell me which pieces are your favorites! Here are a few of mine...

 

A big thanks to eShakti for the great dress and fabulous service!