Enjoying "Autumn's Charms"....

O.K..... Enough is enough. All I have been doing these last few weeks is working.....stenciling, sewing & packing up, lots & lots of pillows!...... Now I am very, very thankful for the business & to have such lovely clients.....& tomorrow I am thrilled to report that I will be completely caught up!.....

With that said though, I am in desperate need of a bit of "Autumn Charm"!.....

You know,.....

*pumpkins & falling leaves......

*afternoons spent cooking delicious chowders & soups....

* front porches sporting big pots of golden mums....
I want to think....

* "Halloween", about costumes & candy corn.....

& *baking as many apple desserts as one family can handle!.....

And above all, I want this time of year to slow down.....just a little.

I want to savor each moment of Autumn.....

I am deliberately clearing my calendar, so this season doesn't slip by without me noticing.....And it feels incredible!....Like many of you I am a "pleaser", always taking on more than I can possibly do,...not wanting to say "no" or "disappoint" anyone...

but I have come to the conclusion that for a few weeks I will be a little selfish with my time,.... & do what I want,
& if that means sitting, sipping hot cider, reading magazines & watching the leaves fall.... then I'm doing it!

Before long the holidays will be upon us, & these days of Fall will be
"sweet memories"...

So for today & for the next few weeks, I will be celebrating Autumn in every way imaginable!.....
And I would love to share this Fall with you!.....

So stop by whenever you can! I might have a new "recipe or idea" to share!

.....or then again, I might just be wandering through
a "leaf-carpeted orchard", enjoying my Autumn afternoon.

Here's to enjoying each season......

Your friend,

heidi
xo

Read more...

Remembering Autumn Weather.....

Good Morning & Happy Thursday.......
Here in Southern California, we have been having crazy hot weather, with temperatures in the 100's....Now today & for the immediate future, the temps. will be only in the mid-eighties, but with very high humidity?....
Now I know that in California we cannot expect the Autumn weather that many other parts of the country enjoy......& in reality we can't do much about it anyway....
However a girl can certainly dream, right?
Growing up in Washington State, Spokane to be exact....I remember those crisp September mornings, that required a little sweater,.... while walking to school or years later waiting for the school bus.
I remember how the afternoons would indeed become warm, but then quickly cool.
I remember how exciting it was for the early days of Fall to turn into the chilly ones of October & November....with trees turning & leaves falling.
I remember beginning the school year in dark cotton dresses & anklets, but graduating quickly into wool-y jumpers, tights & cozy jackets.
I remember loving the changes in the weather, finding it all very exciting!
Our family now has been living in California for many years, so you'd think I would be used to our "Fall", ....but no. Each year I go through a couple-three weeks of feeling sorry for not living in a cooler climate.
However, I do eventually come out of it, realizing that "Autumn" can also be a "state of mind", ...... I shake off my sadness, adopt a better attitude & begin to notice the subtle changes that we do experience. Fall weather does come to Southern California,...you just have to look a bit harder & be keen to all the little seasonal differences.
So today, still warm in temperature, my day will include the purchasing of a few "mums" for the front porch....adding a few" tiny pumpkins" to my kitchen hutch & the lighting of "candles" in various spicy scents.
And if I'm not mistaken.....I believe I do see a few trees with slightly golden leaves?
So in conclusion....It is reassuring to know that Autumn arrives in one form or another at all our homes.....You just need to be patient & keep a watchful eye.

Wishing you a lovely Fall day!
heidi
xo

Read more...

My Mother's Pumpkin Cookies,.... thanks to Sarah.....

Please understand! My mother used to make the most incredible "pumpkin cookies". They were supremely tender & frosted with a cooked, brown sugar frosting......so good that sitting here I can smell the aroma drifting through the air,... & I haven't even begun to make a batch yet!

I have been looking for this recipe EVERYWHERE!...I have googled it a million & one times, still not finding this perfect recipe?...Then today, all of a sudden, after altering the phrase I fed into Google,.... I found it!!!....I followed it back to a lovely blog, "In Praise of Leftovers". It seems that it's hostess, Sarah, has the same adoration for these cookies, as I do... & also remembers her mother baking them for her!.....I left a comment to Sarah, telling her I just had to steal her photo & this recipe & post it on my blog!!!...of course giving her all the credit!!!....So this is Sarah's photo & Sarah's mother's recipe!!!!!......

Maybe our mothers found the recipe in the same magazine or newspaper article years ago?.... who knows!...But one way or another, with Sarah's help,... I have found my mother's long last "pumpkin cookie recipe"!...Thank you Sarah!!!

Read more...

My New Fascination for Fall...Dundee Marmalade Jars....

Hello Friends,
O.K. it's official...I am in love with those darling little
"Dundee Marmalade" jars!.....They are so darn charming!!!!.....It's not that I have never seen them before, but for some reason they are now just calling to me!....

I adore their "plain-jane" cream, crockery pots..... & even more so their exquisite black lettering! So simple, yet so very elegant, a combination that always delights me! These little vintage jam containers will be my Autumn obsession!.....I will be scouring antique & thrift shops, as well as continuing my hunt on Etsy!....Of course I would be
"over the moon" to have a cupboard filled, as in my first photo,.... but also would be very content to enjoy 3-5 jars arranged on my mantle, each filled with button mums!.....Oh! how pretty!

I know you all can understand such a "fascination"!....So I will let you know what I find!.....

Happy Hunting!

Your friend,....

Heidi
xo

Read more...

Preparing for Autumn with Pretty New Pillows!....

Happy Sunday to you all!....
With Autumn just around the corner, I have been thinking new "pillow designs"!...You know,... thoughts of coming inside once again, creating rooms that will offer functionality, but still be cozy & inviting as well!..... I am anxious to shift the furniture around, re-arrange my hutch & organize my kitchen cupboards, preparing for the cooler months ahead!

In my quest for cozy,... I have designed some new pillows, which I will be debuting this week.... in my Etsy shop
"Heidi Devlin Design".
The first is my "Home Sweet Home" pillow, which is absolutely charming! Whether we live in a county cottage or a contemporary downtown loft, these "iconic words of home" must be displayed!.....

The second pillow is a darling little "tuffet",.... measuring just 12"x12". The front is a French-inspired cotton, with the back being a tan burlap... & then hand stenciled with the most adorable little bird....hence my "Little Swallow" pillow, a tribute to one of my favorite feathered friends!

Both of these lovely designs would be so suitable tucked into the cozy corners of our Autumn homes. I invite you to visit my shop soon, for these & more Fall-inspired designs!

Wishing you a relaxing Sunday!.....

Your friend,
Heidi XO

Read more...

School is Starting & Cookies Are Baking.....

With school having already started for us our house is feeling a little like Fall!....And along with a new teacher, a new classroom & new school supplies....it is again time to make sure our cookie jar is filled!....I am vowing this year, to keeping this big glass cookie jar of ours filled at least 1/2 full, since it truly is a very large jar!.....
So this week, I decided to start the year with the
classic Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. Can you really improve on perfection!....Of course our family is in love with the dough as much as the cookies, so it is a constant battle, between spoonfuls of the dough making it to the cookie sheet or simply into the open mouths of the husband, the daughters & the grandson!
I ended up doubling the batch, so I am happy to report lovely chocolate-y cookies did make it to the actual jar!.....Oh how pretty they looked!
Now even though I am quite sure you all have made this recipe over & over again, we all know a classic recipe can never be repeated to often, so with that said, here is "the" chocolate cookie recipe of all time!....I am not sure quite yet what next weeks cookie will be?...but when I decide I will be sure & share!....
Happy baking & a spoonful or two of dough as well!......
Heidi
xo
**********************************************

Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe
( baking time:9minutes/makes 5 dozen cookies)

2 1/4		cups all-purpose flour
1		teaspoon baking soda
1		teaspoon salt
1		cup butter, softened
3/4		cup sugar
3/4		cup firmly packed brown sugar
1		teaspoon vanilla
2		eggs
1		(12-ounce) package (2 cups) real semi-sweet chocolate chips (We recommend NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE® Morsels)
1		cup chopped nuts

Heat oven to 375°F. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Set aside.

Combine butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla at high speed in large bowl. Beat, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce speed to low; gradually add flour mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in morsels and nuts by hand.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely.

Read more...