Country Living articles from February 2009

Country Living archives from February 2009

December 2008.(THE COUNTRY CLUB)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... I have browsed through the December 2008 issue three times already--and with each read, I notice more and more things I like. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] --JOANNE CLAYTON, HERRIN, ILL.

A wedding-worthy table.(THE COUNTRY CLUB)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... While searching for an idea to decorate the rehearsal dinner tables for my youngest son's wedding, I saw an article about gilding, "All That Glitters," in your October 2008 issue. I ended up buying and decorating several sizes of pumpkins and...

New inspiration.(THE COUNTRY CLUB)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... Thank you far the September 2008 story on Rolane Hopper's Vintage Barn America Show (Antiques Across America). I am the fourth generation to live on our family farm, which includes a big red barn. My sister and I havelong believed we could do...

Wrapper's delight.(THE COUNTRY CLUB)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... I am so excited to use the gift-wrapping ideas I got from "Special Delivery" in the December 2008 issue. I have a lot of ribbon at home, but I'm not sure where to find the plain light brown paper you showed. Is it kraft paper? Editor's...

This month on countryliving.com.(THE COUNTRY CLUB)
February 1, 2009... 1 CELEBRATE THE TASTE OF VALENTINE'S DAY Surprise your loved ones with a decadent chocolate dessert. Visit countryliving.co' chocolate for more than 100 recipes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 A ROMANTIC GIFT Make your own...

A fond farewell.(EDITOR'S JOURNAL)(Editorial)
February 1, 2009... My letter this month is bittersweet. As of the February issue of Country Living, I will be stepping down as editor-in-chief. I have had the honor of being editor of the magazine for 10 years. In its 31-year history, there have been only two...

Return to retro: innovative materials turn 1950S-style kitchenwares into modern-day must-haves.(marketplace)
February 1, 2009... TIME FOR A CHANGE! Could your kitchen use a little freshening up? With their classic lines, retro-inspired housewares offer beautiful and often inexpensive accents that complement any style. Hang this enameled steel light over a sink....

The vintage stove: ranges from bygone eras drew inspiration from automobile design and other "new" technology. Today their hardworking designs still serve cooks well.(country classic)
February 1, 2009... THEN... ORIGIN Shelbyuille, Ind., c. 1949. ORIGINAL USE Immediately after World War II, most American appliance manufacturers were owned by automotive companies. Stoves typically sported bumperlike curves and chrome fixtures. DETAILS...

Reviving a classic chair: a new slipcover and easy-to-do alterations upgrade a 1960s armchair.(make me over)
February 1, 2009... SOURCE The owner rescued this 1960s barrel chair from her mother's basement- When she discovered it was made by Baumritter, which later became Ethan Allen. she knew it was a quality piece worth saving. POTENTIAL Despite the dated...

Garage overhaul: smart solutions help maximize the storage potential and utility of this overlooked space.(weekend project)
February 1, 2009... In theory, the garage serves as a place to park the car. In reality, it's often a dumping ground, requiring an ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK sign posted at the door. That was the case for this two-car garage in Trumbull, Conn.: The unfinished walls...

A dream kitchen--on a real-life budget: Designer Nancy Taylor poured her heart and soul (and more than a few pennies) into creating this room. We'll show you how to get similar results at a price you can afford.(get the look)(Buyers guide)
February 1, 2009... Yes, this is my dream kitchen," says interior designer Nancy Taylor, who spends weekend afternoons making jams and baking cookies in her cozy 18th-century farmhouse in Haversham, R.I. A self-proclaimed "major cook " Nancy had functionality in...

Lighten the load: wash, dry, and even craft in a compact laundry room that's packed with style.(inspiration)
February 1, 2009... This room is only a cozy 6- by 10-foot space, but with careful planning, storage was built in for laundry, crafts, sewing, and other projects using simple components found at Lowe's. Savvy space-savers include a (full-size) stacking...

Supply closet: creative sources, clever ideas & new crafting projects.(tips & tools)
February 1, 2009... Under cover Protect special attire from dust with an elegant linen cover that slips over both the clothing and the hanger. A lavender-filled pouch lightly scents garments and naturally deters bugs. $35; elizabethw.com. [ILLUSTRATION...

The dollmaker: a fascination with early American dolls inspired Christine LeFever to start making them.(country living guild)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... ONE-OF-A-KIND Country Living Guild artisan and dollmaker Christine LeFever marks every one of her hand-made papier-mache dolls with her signature and a painted pansy. Christine LeFever, a devotee of Early American crafts, fashions...

Lucite purse: professional appraiser Helaine Fendelman evaluates and appraises your collectibles and antiques.(what is it? what is it worth?)
February 1, 2009... WHAT IS IT? Lucite is a synthetic plastic introduced in the 1930s. In the 1950s, handbag companies designed Lucite purses as an alternative to leather and fabric bags, and these purses remained popular fashion statements into the 1960s....

Perfume bottles: designed to delight the eye, vintage perfume bottles are appreciated today for their fanciful forms.(seen & noted)
February 1, 2009... While it's easy to find post-1960 bottles at flea markets for a dollar apiece, these finer examples, all from antiques dealer Ken Leach, start at $100. 1 Sevres by Sauze Freres, 1936. 2 Notturno by Mury, 1926. 3 Shalimar by Guerlain, 1925. 4...

Captivating Camellias: this iconic flowering shrub delights with its foliage and blooms.(in the garden)
February 1, 2009... The camellia is the belle of the winter garden: elegant, poised, and strikingly beautiful. The dramatic blossoms come in shades of red, white, pink, and even yellow, and the glossy dark green foliage charms year-round. But this is no...

Clippings: what to do in the garden this month.(tips & tools)
February 1, 2009... EXOTIC BEAUTY Orchids enliven an indoor winter garden with their enchanting flowers. The American Orchid Society offers expert growing advice and a directory of local orchid nurseries; aos.org. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EXPERT ADVICE...

Tiny houses for sale.({OUR COUNTRYSIDE})
February 1, 2009... In a bid to reduce their footprint on the planet and simplify their lives, a growing number of architects, builders, and homeowners are thinking small--real small. For the past decade, Jay Shafer of Tumbleweed Tiny House Co. in Sebastopol,...

February moon phases.(THE GOOD LIFE)
February 1, 2009... In 2009, astronomers and amateur star gazers alike will celebrate the International Year of Astronomy, which commemorates the 400th anniversary of the first time Galileo viewed the heavens through a telescope. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Necco candy.({MADE IN AMERICA})
February 1, 2009... FAMOUS FOR their printed messages-including "1-800 Cupid" and, new this year, "Recipe 4 Love"--Necco's Sweet-hearts Conversation Hearts have been a Valentine's Day staple since 1902. Today Necco produces more than eight billion of the pastel...

Keep cut flowers fresh: prolong the life of Valentine roses and seasonal bouquets by following a few simple steps.({THE BEST WAY TO...})
February 1, 2009... Use a sharp knife or shears to trim flower stems (fig. A). Avoid dull scissors, which won't produce a clean cut and can bruise tender stems. For woody-stemmed flowers like camellias and forsythia, sharp, heavy-duty clippers work best. * If time...

Arcosanti.(INN OF THE MONTH)(Brief article)(Hotel review)
February 1, 2009... PERCHED ON A MESA in the Arizona desert, Arcosanti is a community of compact earthen structures and solar greenhouses started in 1970 by architect Paolo Soleri, a forward-thinking student of Frank Lloyd Wright's. The community, which seems...

Brown sugar body polish.({NATURAL BEAUTY})
February 1, 2009... Exfoliate and moisturize dry, winter-weary skin with this simple-to-prepare brown sugar body polish. Infused with spicy cardamom oil and ground cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, this aromatic scrub works well for all skin types--and takes less than...

Letter writing.(THE JOY OF)
February 1, 2009... "Letters are special for the sheer amount of time and thought they require; they possess a special quality not ordinarily found in e-mails or phone calls" says Samara O'Shea, author of For the Love of Letters (Collins; $20). This Valentine's...

Renew, recycle, restore!
February 1, 2009... Renovating on a tight budget? Pay a visit to your nearest Habitat ReStore, one of 500-plus salvage and resale shops nationwide that benefit Habitat for Humanity. The stores stock everything from gently used appliances and surplus tile to new...

18 events not to miss.({COUNTRY CALENDAR})(Calendar)
February 1, 2009... ARIZONA SMALL WORLD DOLLHOUSE MINIATURE SHOW AND SALE Feb. 21-22; Arizona State University West, Phoenix. Great things come in small packages at this family-friendly show that brings collectors together for sales, raffles, doll-house...

Heart of winter show of original folk art.(TREASURE HUNT)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... To find one-of-a-kind dolls, paintings, paper art, jewelry, and home accessories, head to Warwick, N.Y., from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1. Organized by Earth Angels, an all-women artists' collective, this show promises more than 1,000 pieces of original...

Birding.({OUTDOOR PURSUITS})
February 1, 2009... Keep a close eye on your feathered friends during the Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb. 13 to 16. To participate, record the number and type of birds you see at any one time at birdcount.org. Results help scientists track migration and bird...

Happy birthday, Mr. president!(websites about Abraham Lincoln )(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Feb. 12 marks the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Join in the celebration at one of these famed historic sites or log on to Iincoln200.gov to find an event near you. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ILLINOIS At the 86-acre Lincoln Log Cabin...

The 09' house of the year: built in six months, this arts and crafts-inspired retreat makes a dramatic addition to a west Virginia mountaintop.
February 1, 2009... The facade of this Snowshoe, W. Va., house is covered with siding made of high-tech fiber cement that stands up to the elemnts--snow and rain-better than traditional wood. The "stone" is actually an easy-to-install manufactured veneer. SEE...

A home reborn: integrating house and garden is Kevin Reiner's trademark-and the key to the revival of his Ohio farmhouse.
February 1, 2009... Archaeology is no small part of the renovator's task. So when horticulturist and interior designer Kevin Reiner started work on his own home, he began by stripping off layers of low-budget paper, paint, and paneling to expose the house's...

The sailor's valentine: in the 19th century, men at sea brought intricate shell souvenirs home to loved ones. Today Lynda Susan Hennigan is revitalizing the art with finely crafted shellworks of her own.
February 1, 2009... So who could have guessed that Lynda Susan Hennigan's visit to a maritime museum in Provincetown, Mass., would result in a future career? Certainly not the shellwork artist. "I was just 7 years old," she recalls now, "but one look at the shells...

For the love of color.(interior designer Jutta Verde Rosa)
February 1, 2009... SHOP OWNER JUTTA VERDE ROSA BRINGS A LIFELONG ENTHUSIASM FOR VIBRANT TEXTILES, A PASSION FOR MAKING THINGS BY HAND, AND LOADS OF CREATIVE ENERGY TO THE 1740s CONNECTICUT HOME SHE SHARES WITH HER HUSBAND, TOMMY-BRIGHTENING TRADITIONAL INTERIORS...

Chocolate kisses: forget expensive imported truffles. All you need to win the heart of a chocolate lover are homemade treats like these.(chocolate treats)
February 1, 2009... Chocolate is not a luxury, it's a staple. Like bread and wine, its satisfactions are fundamental, profound, unquestionable. There's the soft creaminess of milk chocolate, the hard snap of its dark cousin. For kids, it's candy; to you, it could...

Tastings: new products, cooking tips & what's in season now.(COOKBOOK)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... During lunchtime, business people rub elbows with longshoreman at Mother's, a New Orleans institution since 1938. Join the line for po'boys, fried chicken, and home-style Cajun specialties, such as crawfish etouffee and jambalaya. And don't...

House plans you can buy: four stories make the 2009 house of the year the ideal mountain retreat.(HOUSE PLANS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The 2009 House of the Year, designed by Tom Tretheway, exhibits rustic Arts and Crafts-inspired style with overhanging wood rafters, shingle and clapboard siding, and stone accents. Guests can enter through the front of the home on the ground...

Simple country pleasures.
February 1, 2009... Where we love is home, Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.