"Thursday's Housekeeping Tips".....

Lately I have been in the mood to clean?....Not sure why,.... but somehow it seems when the weather gets really hot, I simply cannot stand an untidy house!...instead I prefer everything in order!...
So needless to say, my house is pretty darn clean, considering it's mid-August in Southern California! :)
For my housekeeping tip today, I have two items that I L.O.V.E!!

1. white sponges (12/$18)
The white sponges I purchase from designer Tricia Foley's new on-line shop,
"The New General Store". Now for sponges they are quite price-y..... However they are incredible sponges & "white" which I adore!...so fresh & clean at my sink! You must check them out!

NOTE:
remember too, that running your sponges through the dishwasher, helps to disinfect & keep them clean!)
*******************
2. olive oil soap (Savon de Marseille Soap/$8)
These large blocks of soap are amazing! They last forever & can be used for every task around the house....from washing people to pots & pans to laundry!.... & they are also incredible for your skin!....I think the taupe-y color is lovely & again looks great sitting next to my white sponge in my clean kitchen!

NOTE:
I think a chuck of this soap is pretty sitting on an antique transferware saucer, or a top a pile of pebbles in a small ironstone bowl....
********************
Both these products are a tiny bit of expensive, however, both are functional, utilitarian household items,.... so why not splurge on items like these that elevate housekeeping to a whole new level!

Happy Housekeeping!

heidi
xo

"I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, & gutters that need fixing, because it means I have a "home"....I am thankful for the piles of laundry & ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby."
~ Nancy J. Carmody

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"Crafting 101".....Creating a Workspace

Today is "Crafting 101". Before you begin any craft projects, you simply need a place to work.....and for many of us it is the kitchen table!.....As wonderful as working at the kitchen table can be, it is also a place that is continually being used for various activities.....making it possibly not the best choice for crafting.

With that said, crafting doesn't require a fancy room or lots of space. In fact any little area of your home or garage where you can have a workspace, a little storage & a source of good light will work just perfectly!

For me, it is a skinny little area in my garage!...Now this is not the most attractive crafting area, but it does meet all the requirements!.....
After moving into our house, I noticed there was a long counter in the garage, which I believe had been used as a carpenter's table. It was a little dirty & used, but nothing I couldn't scrub up & make all mine! So that is precisely what I am showing you today!.....

Organization is key!.....Decide what you truly need to do the crafts projects you love & get rid of the rest!...holding onto tools & such that you know you will never use, just contributes to the madness!
I have used old glasses found at a thrift shop to organize my pens, lint brushes, scissors, etc. I have also used a little old dish to place tacks in , as well as always having a pin cushion at the ready! A package of pretty note cards, tucked among the utilitarian items, adds a little bit of prettiness to the area!

In this photo, you can see how I have used inexpensive particle board shelving from Target, to create convenient storage....& I have arranged them so they will give division to my cardboard boxes & pillow forms....keeping them accessible, as well as nice & tidy!

Plastic buckets & cheap waste paper baskets work very well for storing all my cellophane & wrapping paper. I can easily see what I have at a glance....making wrapping a lovely gift all that much more enjoyable!

As you can see, I have a crazy mis-mash of containers, but each one houses exactly what I use most!....My crafting area in the garage, is one where I can leave out a project if I wish too, & /or work on something without worrying that I am ruining our good furniture or creating a huge mess. This space works incredibly well for me! It has been inexpensive to put together , & a bit "home-ly" decor-wise,..... but this area is so very efficient for me!...
I love sewing, stenciling, & doing crafts of all kinds... This little space helps me be a creative...something we all need to nurture!

So claim a small area in your house or garage & get to crafting!....You will be surprised at how much you can accomplish!

Happy crafting!

Your friend,......
heidi

Next week: How to transform 2-thrift shop lamps, into a gorgeous pair, using Martha Stewart's new decorator paints!!

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"A New Idea".....

Dear Friends, With this summer turning out to be one of our busiest yet, there has been very little time for blogging or writing my monthly newsletter, "Living Little with Heidi". Between my pillow business, & trying to keep up with the house, garden & family, there simply are never enough hours in the day are there!?
So after much thought, I have decided to combine my newsletter into my blog. I have divided the week into the 5 categories, each being near & dear to my heart!.....

Monday....Cooking
Tuesday....Decorating
Wednesday...Gardening
Thursday....Crafting
Friday...Housekeeping

Every week, I will share ideas centering on each of these topics, some my own & some borrowed from talented friends!....
And will continue the philosophy of "Living Little",....
"Creating a Beautiful Life with Little Money, Little Time & Little Space".

In doing so, I hope to provide "knowledge & inspiration" that you will find useful!...along with some lovely quotes & lots of pretty pictures!
I hope you will join me for lots of great ideas we will all enjoy!
See you tomorrow!

Your friend,

heidi

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"Wallflowers".....

"Beauty in Numbers".....

"Overflowing Abundance"......

"Linear Veg"......

"Canned Creativity"....

Here's to walls & to flowers.....
Happy weekending!

heidi
xo

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"Sweet Summer Dreams".....

Bedrooms should always be the "ultimate retrea"t...but during the warm weather months sometimes our indoor spaces are somewhat forgotten about.
With just a few decorating changes to our "Summertime Bedrooms" we can change all that....& create rooms that we can't wait to spend a few hours in on a hot afternoon or retreat to at the end of a long day at the lake.

For me it is all about "classics"....here are my suggestions...

*add fabrics that are crisp & cool, such as fresh white cottons & striped tickings

* touches of anything that speaks of the water....shells, boats, coral, fishing paraphernalia, etc.

*shades of blues, greens & of course red....

* items that remind us of vacations spent at grandma's lake cabin,.... or a friend's beach cottage, patchwork quilts, embroidered pillowcases, & charming old one-of-a-kind lamps

* & lots of books....classics, mysteries & of course a few old paperback romance novels....

Most importantly though, our summer bedrooms should be ones where not only the past is represented, but ones that allow us time each day to make new memories. Create spaces where children & adults alike can play board games, read books & fill journals with entries of lazy summers spent together with family & friends....not to mention fall asleep to the sound of crickets & the hum of the fan.

your friend, heidi XO

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"Veg Basics".....& a flower.....

-french radishes-
basically the same taste as regular radishes, but somewhat prettier with those little white bottoms; best when sliced & placed on a thick slice of sourdough bread, that has been generously slathered with soft sweet butter, & then sprinkled with kosher salt; also delicious eaten right out of the garden, slightly warm

-sweet garden carrots-
very easy to grow; incredible color; sweet as can be; try washing, cutting into coins, arranging on cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with kosher salt & pepper....& bake for 10-12 minutes at 425 degrees; if extra sweetness is desired, sprinkle with a handful of brown sugar & pumpkin pie spice; warning....these carrots may become addictive; NOTE: children love them!

-nasturtiums-
pepper-y little blossoms that are truly edible; thrive in poor soil, so will grow anywhere; tuck seeds in & around all other veggies & flowers, for a wildly-rambly garden; pick & sprinkle across a salad of butter lettuce, cherry tomatoes, french radishes & carrot curls....tossing with a sweet vinaigrette of 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/8-1/4 cup champagne vinegar, generous pinch of kosher salt, a couple grinds of pepper, 2 T. shallot or green onion, 1 t. dijon mustard & a squeeze or 2 of honey...may add a handful of crumbled feta cheese & a few cashews if desired; best eaten out-of-doors, at twilight, surrounded by lots of little white lights & a glass of "lemonade beer" ( 1/2 lemonade/1/2 beer, I prefer dark)

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"Paula & Pork".....

I have never been particularly familiar with cooking meat. I'm not terribly good about what's what, when it comes to which cut of meat to use in what dish. Of course I can take a recipe, go to the grocery store & make a fairly accurate evaluation of which cut to buy,...but I'll admit, I'm kind of faking it.
So lately, with cooking being an area I really want to explore & learn more about, I decided something most of you have already figured out......"As the butcher"!...Off I went, straight over to the butcher's counter & when this crazy-young looking man asked if I needed help, I looked him in the eye & somewhat desperately said "yes"!.....
I went on to tell him I was wanting to make Paula Deen's BBQ Pork Sandwiches, & asked what he recommended. He lit right up, asked for my recipe & then quickly led me over to the largest pieces of pork ever! He grabbed a 5 lb. pork roast shoulder & told me that it would be perfect for what I was making.....I was thrilled!....so thrilled that I ended up purchasing pepper encrusted bacon, & some gorgeous shish-kabobs as well!.....
Off I went, back to my kitchen, where I proceeded to make this recipe. OMG!!!!.....Let me say it may be one of the best things I have ever made!.....I followed the directions to the letter & Paula was right!..Incredible pulled pork sandwiches!......It all worked!.....

Moral to the Story....

* Ask for help when needed.
*Trust young butchers.
*Trust Paula Deen.
*Learn to cook meat....one cut at a time.

Happy cooking......heidi XO

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"How Do You Manage?"...."

I have been so busy working lately,... that I am forgetting that Summer has arrived. Well not actually forgetting, since the weather has been uncharacteristically hot & muggy here in California...but I'm sure you know what I mean. Too much work & not enough "enjoying"!

So my question to all of you is this.....
"How do you manage work & play?"

I have a tendency to think I must be finished with all my work, before allowing myself time for my own projects!....which of course is so silly?.....With a growing etsy shop, I "want" to be busy with orders, so learning to manage work is really important....but how?

So once again,... how do all of you manage?

* Do you get up really early & work till noon, allowing the rest of the day to be your own?
* Do you work only certain days of the week?
*Do you simply, yet successfully mesh working,... with your other obligations during each day, feeling like you are getting to everything you want to?

To be honest, I'm not sure what I'm doing?
It seems I work around the clock, squeezing in the gardening chores, laundry & keeping house,.... around stenciling & sewing pillows,... or working on decorating plans for clients. It's always a balancing act, but one where most of the time I feel slightly behind...never quite accomplishing everything I would like to?

It is late in the day & I am a bit tired tonight, but am truly interested in any suggestions that you may have.
I know I will find a solution. Taking on less,.... & occasionally saying "no" may be helpful....however, I do enjoy all that I take on, I would just like it all to run a little smoother. Am I making sense?

Thank you for indulging me....
Your over-worked, yet happy friend...

heidi
xo

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"Lessons Learned in the Garden & from Jamie"....

I have long admired Jamie Oliver's views on growing your own food, preparing it in simple, yet lovely ways, & sharing the process with those you love, especially your children.
If you read this blog, or know me personally, you know that gardening is an important part of my life. I feel I am just scratching the surface as far as my knowledge is concerned, but am constantly striving to learn more.

The idea of being a "sustainable suburban farmer" is my goal. I am beginning small, with raised beds filled with what I refer to as "salad fixings".....lettuce, tomatoes, shallots, radishes & carrots. I have another bed filled with herbs, that I use often, such as "rosemary & dill" for bread,
"basil" for pesto... & of course "lavender" just for my own well-being.
And of course there is always room( or maybe not?) for zucchini, yellow squash, & pumpkins....and last but not forgotten about ..."flowers"!.....
Oh! I must grow bouquets!....it simply feeds the spirit!

So back to Jamie Oliver....who's show "Jamie at Home" on the Cooking channel is definitely a must see!.... Jamie was talking about, how so many children these days are not exposed at all to gardening, & in turn not at all in favor of eating & enjoying vegetables. He was even saying how years ago there was not a person alive not in love with strawberries, but now how you run across children who don't like them?, ....Or feel the same about carrots or greens or onions?
( just because they are not exposed or are eating under-ripe grocery store varieties!?)

The answer here is to expose children to vegetables,... through growing vegetables with them. Like Jamie says it is not difficult....& I agree!
My grandson Andrew & I love being together working in the garden!.... After all,... getting dirty, playing with water & being outdoors is what long summer days are all about.
Not only are we spending time together & working together, but the conversations that we find ourselves in are possibly the most important.
We chat about how bugs & bees are helping us garden, not out to harm us. We talk about how shallots are so sweet compared to onions,.... & how basil leaves & tomatoes picked right off the vine are the best "lunch" ever.

And the best lessons too are the ones brought back into the kitchen....When we return to the kitchen, Andrew is learning to clean the vegetables, to cut the lettuces, & to take the scraps back out to the compost bin....Together we are creating salads & Andrew is realizing that salad & vegetables are amazingly delicious, eating every bit of green off his plate.

I guess my message here is this...
* create a garden....no matter the size
* grown vegetables
* get your children involved
* watch "Jamie At Home"
* improve your diet
* improve your life

Thank you for listening....

heidi
xo
( photos courtesy of Jamie Oliver)

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"Home Again".....

We are home again after a week long road trip to visit family....It was a lovely trip, with lots of catching up, visiting... & driving around familiar places of our childhood.
It feels good to have gone back to Washington for a few days,....
but even better to be home again.... back in California.

Enjoy this June weekend.....

Your friend,
heidi
xo

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My Pillows are in the Washington Post!!...

This morning, I am just thrilled to announce that my "Mr. & Mrs." pillows, along with my "Sweetheart" pillow are being included in a article in the Washington Post!....It is an article in the Lifestyle section of the paper, that is actually a wedding gift guide,.... helping people with creative ideas for that special couple you are purchasing a wedding gift for.
I was contacted a few weeks ago, & have been working with the loveliest lady who actually wrote the article...and yesterday she contacted me saying that indeed my pillows were included!...
I am so tickled about it all!
So if you've recently received an invitation to an upcoming wedding, & haven't the faintest idea what to give the bride & groom, you may want to check out this article on-line!....
Such unique & charming ideas!

Thank you again to the Washington Post!

Here's too romance & the art of giving!

heidi
xo

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"Summer Blues"....

Shutters & doors......

Bowls & Jars.....

Tickings & Treasures.....

Fabrics & Flowers.....
Indeed this is what Summers are made of....

"Sweet Summer Wishes" from my house to yours!

heidi
xo

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"Lucy's Sweet Nursery".....

I just had to blog this morning about this adorably charming nursery!....
It happens to be the nursery that was put together by Jill, a lovely client of mine,
for her baby daughter Lucy....

Jill recently sent me these photos that were recently spotlighted in the new baby blog....
"One to Baby".

(And of course my "Mommy Love You" pillow is tucked in that cozy chair!)

Jill, this nursery is one that dreams are truly made of!....Congratulations!

Have a lovely day!

heidi
xo

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"Floral Draperies"......& how -to's!

Who knows when my love affair with "floral draperies" began?.....

All I know is that I L.O.V.E. them!

Of course the "flower-ier" they are the more my affection increases!....

Large cabbage roses strewn across yards of linen,.... or antique cotton, simply make my heart skip a beat!...

Faded, textured fabric,..... laden with blossoms,....
is what I would prefer all my windows to be dressed with.

The nicest thing is that draperies like these are within our reach!...Purchase a few yards of a charming floral that speaks to you, & sew yourself a pair of the most romantic draperies ever!....

After-all, shouldn't we all be surrounded with "fabric & flowers"!

heidi
xo

INSTRUCTIONS:
Just determine your desired "finished length" and add 4" for the casing & 4" for the hem,... & cut two panels that length. For the casing: Turn down top 4", turn raw edge under 1/2"; press & stitch. For the hem: same instructions apply, just at the opposite end.
You now have yourself your own "floral draperies"!!
How talented you are!

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"Sheets & Paint Tarps"...the Perfect Summer Slipcovers....

I absolutely love white slipcovers, but have found that they are somewhat expensive to have made….& personally I just don’t feel like sewing them myself!…

Not giving up quite that easily,… I have come up with the perfect solution…

slipcover with sheets &/or paint tarps!!….

I am telling you this is the best idea!…First of all, sheets come in pure white which is always the perfect color,…& paint tarps are that fabulous heavy oatmeal-y fabric that is not only a great shade, but is about as durable as you can get!….With 3 large dogs, 4 cats , a little boy, 2-big girls & a husband here at my house, I know what I’m talking about!
I recommend washing both the sheets & paint tarps, so they are soft & somewhat wrinkly, which I love. Then just drape them over your furniture, tucking in as much as you prefer!….
Now remember this is a warm weather look, ….very, very casual, so no need for perfection! And remember sheets & tarps come in various sizes so keep that in mind too when purchasing.
After “reupholstering”,... decorate as usual!…with large squishy pillows, (maybe in tickings, or grain sacks or over-sized cabbage rose prints!)….& Lots of flowers, & bowls of fruit!…

Now isn’t this the kind of summer decorating we all love!

heidi
xo

( excerpt from my May issue of my on-line newsletter, "Living Little with Heidi")

* to subscribe, e-mail me at heididevlin@gmail.com

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"Blessed"....

I became a mother 28 years ago.....
and have celebrated 28 Mother's Days.

Each year on this day,....
I am once again reminded just how blessed I am.

heidi
xo

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"Queen Bee" Pillow Giveaway!!........

Happy Sunday to you all!
I first want to announce the winner of my "Springtime Pillow Giveaway"!.....The lucky lady is Victoria over at the darling blog, "Things I Learn From Bear" !
CONGRATULATIONS!!
I will wrap up & send off your lovely pillow tomorrow morning!
*******************

And now for this week, I am having a giveaway of one of my very popular
"Queen Bee" pillows!...

(Perhaps it's that I still am feeling so very delighted after the royal wedding of William & Kate!!....)

All you need to do is to leave a comment here on my blog, & also become a "favorite"!....I will leave this giveaway up for a couple days & announce the winner later in the week!
Wishing you all a lovely May Day!.....

Your friend,

heidi
xo

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"Fairy Tale Friday".....

Today it's all about "The Wedding"!......I was taping it on NBC & BBC from 1:00am on. However, last night while in bed reading, my husband & I had the coverage on,... but we both fell fast asleep, with lights on & books open on our laps!?.....
Somehow though, I happened to wake just as the British Prime Minister was arriving!......then William,... then the Queen.... & then Kate!....Perfect timing!...
So both my husband & I watched "live", the unveiling of Kate's dress!.....We managed to stay awake long enough to watch her make her way down the aisle with her father & then decided the rest would have to wait till this morning.

At 6:30 we got up, & I made coffee...& then proceeded to the couch to work on pillows & watch the ceremony. Something happened though. I became over-whelmed with how traditionally lovely this wedding was. I stopped working & got cozy...
& simply enjoyed all the "pomp & circumstance"!

So far it has been the most wonderful Friday!....
a handsome prince,... a beautiful bride....and a palace & carriages!......

Fairy tales do come true!

heidi
xo

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"Remembering William....& his Lovely Mum".....

With the royal wedding of Prince William & Kate Middleton just days away,...I couldn't help remembering his lovely "mum" Lady Diana....who I have been thinking a lot about these last few weeks.
You see I adored Diana.
It all began when she became engaged to Charles,.... at the time, I too was falling in love & was soon to be engaged as well.
When Diana got married, I set my alarm clock & awoke at 3:15 a.m.,.... along with my mother, to drink our coffee & watch every minute of the this enchanting wedding!

And when Princess Diana announced she was expecting, I too was just a couple months from announcing my pregnancy!....I remember sewing maternity dresses similar to hers & wearing her trademark white nylons & black patent leather flats!....
I felt a certain kinship with her,.... loving her style, her demeanor & her English ways.

I remember like it was yesterday, when Diana & Charles came out to introduce the world to their new son, William. And what a doting mother Diana was. In fact I think her happiest moments were those spent with her boys!.....I remember those adorable smocked "bubbles" that William wore & how I let all my girlfriends know I wanted to have some for my own new baby!...
( luckily one of my dear friends happened to be a Children's Apparel buyer for Nordstrom, so I received 1 large box where 2 smocked bubbles & 1 smocked dress where hidden!!!...thank you Celeste!!!)

How adorable baby William was!.....& how content he made his beautiful mother!

I watched as William grew from a baby,... to a toddler,... to a darling little boy....learning from his mother how to relate to the common man & to all those less fortunate the he.
I admired how Diana put off boarding school till William was a bit older than most royals, wanting to keep her children all her own for as long as possible.. and I loved how she was such a hands on mother.

Many years have passed since William was a child,....but he will always be his mother's son. How proud she would be of the man he has become.
Although Diana will not be sitting in Westminster Abbey on Friday to see her eldest get married,.... I like to believe she will be there, watching over William & Kate.....
lovingly guiding them to their future.

Here's To a Happily Ever After.....

heidi
xo

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"Little Faces of Spring".....

"The splendor of the rose and the white-ness of the lily do not rob the little violet of it's scent, nor the daisy of it's simple charm.
If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its lovliness."

Therese Leisieux

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