Tuesday, February 21, 2017

What a Journey Through FARMHOUSE STYLE We've Had!



I read recently that FARMHOUSE STYLE is a way of life that reflects a love for the land. . .I like that. . .It's an attitude. . .a state of mind. . .and as individual as the decorator. . .
I dearly loved the simpler, dramatic look of the living room a few posts back: STRIKING HEART IN HAND FOLK ART IN THE LIVING ROOM . . .One day this past week I began to think that I would like to go this direction in the future. . .but. . .What made it work? What style would it be called? Was there a style that embraced this look already? In order to answer those questions, I found myself reviewing my journey through several  FARMHOUSE STYLES these last five years. . .It's always good to see where you've been so that you know where you're going. . .or not going again!
I learned that FARMHOUSE actually 'marries' well with many other styles such as COTTAGE, ROMANTIC, RUSTIC, MODERN, INDUSTRIAL,  TRADITIONAL and PRIMITIVE. . .Unintentionally, I have decorated with just about every one of these styles. . .It WAS  a surprise to me. . .I never started out to decorate with cottage. . .or shabby. . .or traditional. . .Where most people do start with a decorating style in mind. . .I don't. . .just go with my likes and intuition. . .although they did fall somewhat into the various decor styles that are popular today . .
SHABBY CHIC: COTTAGE STYLE: ROMANTIC: Characterized by Soft Colors: Chipped Painted furniture and Re-purposed items: Dreamy: Feminine: Sparkly Chandeliers and Mirrors: Floral touches
I admit I was influenced at first with the SHABBY CHIC, ROMANTIC COTTAGE STYLE. . .Our 'move in' LIVING ROOM looked almost like an ENGLISH COTTAGE STYLE . . .Did I really choose so many different flower patterns?
Remember those days?

The BEDROOM and BATH were toned down a bit. . .a softer look. . .styled with COTTAGE, SHABBY, ROMANTIC.



 




 


 



Truthfully, COTTAGE CHIC is a look that I had incorporated for at least ten years. . .I was a little bored with it. . .and the trend seemed to be heading toward less fuss. . .Simpler. . .I was ready to try my hand at it. . after we got settled in. . . after a time. . .I began to add FARMHOUSE TOUCHES to those parts of COTTAGE that I liked . . .
FARMHOUSE CHIC: CHARACTERIZED BY A LITTLE FARMHOUSE WITH A ROMANTIC FLAIR: Mostly Neutrals and a lot of White: Floral in pops of color: Old feed sacks and other farm found items: Homey: Relaxed: Welcoming and NOT fussy. . .Make-do

 



















About a year of FARMHOUSE CHIC went by when I began to simplify a bit more. . .I looked to Shaker and Primitive and chose the elements I liked. . .
PRIMITIVE FARMHOUSE: Simple: Unsophisticated: Primitive farm items: often Crude; Unrefined: Patched: Life's basics: Feels of an earlier age: Lots of Patina in woods and antiques
That winter, I turned our home into a semi-PRIMITIVE FARMHOUSE. . .

KEEPER: Some Prim Element but with a Twist







I like PRIM for the Winter months. . .always have. . .but when the warm days and sun return, I'm ready for a brighter feel inside, too . . .The FARMHOUSE does light up in the Summer months, as the sun streams in through the windows. . .
FARMHOUSE STYLE:  Simple: Unpretentious: Welcoming: Old paint: Chipped and Aged: Weathered barn wood: Recycled: Up-cycled: Soft colors with lots of White, White, White: Nostalgic farm items

KEEPERS: White Dishes and Egg Sign. . .




KEEPER: the Denim. . .

I think DENIM mixed with FARMHOUSE are my favorites. . .I'll keep some DENIM in my new concept for The Country Farm Home. . .Denim goes with anything. . .as you will see. . .





KEEPER: Touches of Worn, Chippy



Now I was getting closer to our LIFESTYLE. . .With a few tweaks, magic seemed to happen. . .
RUSTIC FARMHOUSE STYLE: Roughen, Weathered Pieces: Rusty Wire and Tin: Honest: Organic: Warm, Earthy Colors; Burlap: Natural Fabrics: Galvanized Farm Items: Barn Inspired Elements: Off-beat Lighting: Folk Art

KEEPER: Touches of Wire and Metal




Keeper: Simplicity


KEEPER: Boo (the cat)


KEEPER: Cabinet in White and Black










KEEPER: Black and White and Checks

 Do you see the pattern here?. . . .FARMHOUSE DECOR is a base. . .a starting point. . .on which to build a decor--and a home-- that is all your own. . .It is so versatile and inclusive. . .Now that I know that capturing the spirit of FARMHOUSE STYLE is personal and individual, I'm ready for a new journey. . .I think. . .FARMHOUSE is still my base to build on. . .but I will try a little something different. . .Besides, it's time for paint and polish and updates. . .


I thought with this review I might begin with a specific FARMHOUSE STYLE as I move on to new ideas. . .but I have found old ways don't change easily. . .To be boxed in with any one style doesn't sound interesting enough to me. . .So maybe in the long run, I'm better off keeping the description PLAIN AND SIMPLE FARMHOUSE STYLE. . .and letting you guess what that is. . .(grin)




Monday, February 13, 2017

FARMHOUSE RECIPE: Rich and Decadent Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake with Mock Cherry Topping




If February is the MONTH OF HEARTS AND FLOWERS, it is also the month of  CHOCOLATE. . .I try every VALENTINES DAY to bake something SPECIAL. . .I kid you not, this CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE is so moist, so chocolatey, so mouth-watering that it is almost sinful. . .Add a topping of "CHERRIES". . .and what can I say but 'YUM'?
Maybe 'YUM! YUM!' ?????


 

I found the recipe for MAYONNAISE CAKE in a vintage Christmas card box filled to the top with recipes cut out from newspapers and scrapes of paper hurriedly written. . .A recently purchase for $1. . .Really?. . .Mayonnise? . .Additionally, it didn't call for eggs either. . .Well, that one made me a little nervous, so I did add a couple of eggs to it. . .I figured it couldn't hurt. . .

I needed something to top it, though. . .Icing? . .Maybe just whipped cream? . . .There was a PRESIDENT'S DAY commercial on the TV at the time. . .Hmmmmm. . .George Washington. . .CHERRY Tree. . .Cherries in Winter?. . .Not here. . .Maybe a  MOCK CHERRY Pie Filling recipe made into a topping. . since I have a freezer full of CRANBERRIES from Christmas?




And that's what I did. . .I gathered all the ingredients, not knowing if it would be a SUCCESS or a failure. . .Well. . .these recipes are KEEPERS. . .and so very SIMPLE. . .I had to share. . .It's the next best thing. . .since I can't mail you a PIECE OF THE CAKE. . .The postal service frowns on that. . .




CHOCOLATE MAYONNAISE CAKE

There were no instructions for putting together the cake, so this is how I did it:

Beat together 1 CUP MAYONNAISE, 1 CUP OF WATER, 1 1/2 CUPS OF SUGAR,  TWO EGGS, and 1/2 TSP VANILLA EXTRACT
 Add 2 CUPS FLOUR, 1/2 CUP COCOA, 2 TSP BAKING POWDER, 1 TSP BAKING SODA 
and MIX WELL (with a mixer)
Bake at 375 degrees until done. . .about an hour. . .

Once the cake was cooled, I added TOASTED COCONUT 
and drizzled a mixture of POWDERED SUGAR and WATER over top. 

MOCK CHERRY TOPPING

In a sauce pan, 4 CUPS OF CRANBERRIES (1 lb washed) and 1/2 CUP WATER.
Reduce before it boils and simmer 3 minutes or until the CRANBERRIES begin to pop open.
Stir in 2 CUPS SUGAR and 1 TSP CINNAMON. Simmer until the sauce begins to thicken a little.
In a cup blend 1/4 CUP CORNSTARCH and 1/2 CUP OF WATER. Gradually stir into the Cranberry mixture and boil until it has thickened. Remove from heat. As the topping cools, it will thicken more. If it is too thick, add a little water until it is the consistency desired. 

Tip: The PIE FILLING is made by this recipe but reduce the water used to mix the cornstarch from 1/2 cup to 1/4 cup.


YUMMMMM!!!!!

The only thing left to do is. . .
ENJOY a piece. . .and. . .
SHARE WITH A LOVED ONE. . .

It's the makings for an absolutely WONDERFUL VALENTINES DAY. . .





Monday, February 6, 2017

WINTER FARMHOUSE: Striking Heart In Hand Folk Art for the Living Room




"WITH HEART IN HAND I GIVE YOU MY LOVE"

February is the month of HEARTS AND FLOWERS. . .Who am I to disagree? . .After the gray days of Winter, I'm more than ready to add them to the FARMHOUSE. . .They bring POPS of my favorite COLOR, too. . .RED!! 




John started the month out right with the ROSES. . .
and I decided to add the hearts with a JUNKIN' FIND that I simply. . .
Well. . .I simply. . .OK, I'll say it. . .LOVE. . .




It's a striking appliqued piece of FOLK ART that happens to be a QUILT. . .
and I almost missed it!!!

You know those Antique Mall booths that are so piled up that often you just pass on by them? 
That's where this piece was discovered. . .
I did pause for a few seconds. . .peeping in before deciding it wasn't worth the effort. . .but I hadn't gone far beyond the next booth when something registered in my mind. . .
 I immediately backed up.

Sticking out from an overly full clothes rack was just a SMALL corner of a QUILT with a black backgound. . .Since I have touches of black all around the house, I was curious. . .As I untangled it from jumbled LINENS and 30s quilts, I was delighted at what I saw. . .

Rarely do I purchase anything now without thinking about it for a time. . .
Does it fit into my Plain and Simple Style? Where will I put it? Is it a good price?

No thinking with this FIND. . .I grabbed it up and held it close. . .knowing it was coming HOME with me. . .As I walked around the Mall, others stopped me and asked where I had found such a wonderful quilt? . .I'd smile and hug it closer. . .




Some say the Heart In Hand is Shaker. . .Others attribute it to the Amish. . .and still Others claim an African-American influence. . .Doesn't matter who is right. . .it fits perfectly in the FARMHOUSE. . .and fills the stark wall of white behind one of the sofas with LOVE.




The quality of the workmanship is so nice. . .The HANDS appear to be tracings of actual  individuals. . .There are INITIALS on some of the squares. . .I'm certain more than one person made and EMBELLISHED the squares. . .I can almost imagine the different personalities by the story each block tells. . .so CHARMING. . .







Although I have no idea who made this FOLK ART QUILT, I'd like to think it was FAMILY AND FRIENDS who were truly in someone's CIRCLE OF LOVE. . .Sharing their HEARTS IN HANDS. . .
  



It was only right that I purchased such a special Quilt for our FARMHOUSE CIRCLE OF LOVE. . .

And that. . .I SHARE IT WITH YOU. . .




"WITH HEARTS IN HAND WE SEND OUR LOVE. . ."





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