Country Living articles from June 2008

Country Living archives from June 2008

Passing it down.(READERS' LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... I always love it when you showcase yo-yos (Simple Projects, April 2008). My mother used to make quilts from yo-yos using old clothes-like her grandmother, she'd say. When she passed away, I took her shirts and made two yo-yo quilts for my...

Doily decor.(READERS' LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... I read the April 2008 issue from cover to cover and was excited to see your article on doilies (Idea Notebook). I, too, have collected doilies over the years. The piece gave me so many new ideas for displaying them. Every issue of your magazine...

Quiet moments.(READERS' LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... It was fall of 1968 when my mother and I set out to explore the Shaker village in Pleasant Hill ("Simply Shaker," April 2008). As the sun settled into the western sky and nestled into the mountains, we looked at each other and said, "I hope...

Calling all quilters.
June 1, 2008... Enter to be among the 30 top juried quilts honored in a special Country Living Classics exhibit at the Fall 2008 International Quilt Festival in Houston. Get the details at countryliving.com/quiltshow. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

What America collects.
June 1, 2008... Have a fabulous collection? we want to see it! Visit countryliving.com/americacollects to post photos, videos, and descriptions, or comment on others' collections.

Collecting.(EDITOR'S JOURNAL)(Editorial)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... When I look around my house, in my cabinets and in my closet, I see collections of many types: photography, china, textiles, vintage jewelry, funky T-shirts, and charm bracelets to name a few. And when I use, wear, or look at these items, they...

Blue on blue: from nautical cobalts to cheery teals, blue stands the test of time.(marketplace)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2008... Bold country checks and delicate ruffles reinvent this classic style. LAUREN HOME COTTAGE HILL LINENS. FROM S6O; (800) 475-7674; RAI or LAUREN COM Enjoy an afternoon ride on Schwinn Bicycles' 1955 cantilever-style frame. CRUISER SS IN...

The Wedding Ring quilt: highly popular in the 1930s and '40S, this quilt filled hope chests, marking betrothals, weddings, and anniversaries. It retains its fresh charm today.(country classic)
June 1, 2008... THEN... ORIGIN American, 1930s. ORIGINAL USE To celebrate betrothal or a forthcoming marriage, this popular pattern called for a skillful quiltmaker's hand. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DETAILS Most Wedding Ring quilts were crafted in...

Updating an old stairwell; An inexpensive paint-by-number collection transforms a dowdy space.(make me over)
June 1, 2008... LOCATION Fake paneling, synthetic carpeting, and a swagged brass lantern with amber glass made this stairwell dated, dull, and in desperate need of a makeover. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] POTENTIAL The homeowners knew paint would...

Seaside style for less: update the exterior of your home with affordable craftsman-inspired accessories fit for a coastal cottage.(curb appeal)
June 1, 2008... FIRST IMPRESSIONS "The exterior of your home is what visitors see first, so it's important that it looks welcoming," says Home Building Assistant Editor Jennifer Pantin. Updating with fresh paint in complementary colors, installing new...

Houses with barns: here, a look this month at homes with barns on their property.(real estate sampler)
June 1, 2008... HISTORIC HOMESTEAD A re-creation of a 1730s New England-style salt-box, this 3,400-square-foot home in Little Rock, Ark., was built in 1972. Set on about 16 acres overlooking Blue Mountain, the house has 4 bed-rooms, 41/2 baths, a study,...

Prepare your house and garden for summer.(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... As sunny skies and longer days lure you outdoors, keep your home's interior in mind. Summer is prime breeding time for mold and mildew, which can hide in moisture-prone bathrooms, closets, and basements. Prevent growth with dehumidifiers and...

In about three weekends: paint your home's exterior.
June 1, 2008... Follow these suggestions from Debbie Zimmer of the Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute (paintquality.com) to work like a pro: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * WEEKEND ONE Clean the surface of your home thoroughly:Remove dirt and mildew...

Bugs be gone.(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Fit a citronella candle in Pier 1 Imports' painted wire lantern to prevent pests from invading your backyard during muggy nights. A sturdy hook makes it easy to hang the lantern from trees, rope, or outside doorways. RED WIRE HANGING LANTERN...

Keep your home cool--naturally.(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Rather than turn on the air conditioner, which can account for half of a home's energy use and cost more than $350 per year, try these tips from the U.S. Department of Energy. 1 Apply a reflective coating--such as white latex, available at...

Get ready for Fashion Camp: at her Nantucket shop, Cheryl Fudge fosters her guests' creative spirit.(inspiration)
June 1, 2008... While the ground floor of Nantucket Stock Exchange in Nantucket, Mass., houses nautical antiques, upstairs lies a crafter's paradise--rows of rickrack, trim, baubles, and beads, plus bins of vintage fabrics. Here, owner Cheryl Fudge hosts...

Supply closet: great sources, clever ideas & new crafting projects.(tips & tools)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... DIY 1 LABELS FOR LESS Personalize knitting or sewing projects with customized woven cloth labels. $48/set of 50; namemaker.com. 2 FUN FABRICS For summery textiles by such designers as Jennifer Paganelli, Denyse Schmidt, and...

Antique.(COLLECTING)
June 1, 2008... Finders & keepers The collectors on the following pages are as individual as the finds they choose to keep. Here, fashion designer and hat collector Isaac Mizrahi holds a bouquet of a hat from the 1950s. isaac mizrahi FASHION...

Vintage Barbie: professional appraiser Helaine Fendelman evaluates and appraises your collectibles and antiques.(what is it? what is it worth?)
June 1, 2008... WHAT IS IT? Ruth and Elliot Handler, the founders of the American toy company Mattel, introduced Barbie in 1959 at the American Toy Fair. Barbie, who was named after their daughter, Barbara, was sold attired in a swimsuit for $3. Mattel...

Heirloom Roses: back in fashion, these gorgeous intensely fragrant roses still delight after all these years.(in the garden)
June 1, 2008... COLLECTING ROSES As any passionate collector knows, there's always room for one more. Eliza Soeth's garden in midcoast Maine is planted with hundreds of old roses, including (left, clockwise from top) 'Cardinal de Richelien', 'Celsiana',...

Clippings: what to do in the garden this month.(tips & tools)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... DIGGING IN 1 Sow seeds of fast-growing annuals such as cosmos, nasturtiums, and zinnias directly in the ground. 2 Finish planting your favorite varieties of dahlias, gladioli, cannas, and other treasured summer-blooming "bulbs." ...

In Search of Shaker Antiques: each June antiques lovers flock to the pleasant hill antiques show & sale in Harrodsburg, Ky., for Shaker artifacts, American furniture, and a wealth of vintage finds.(out & about)
June 1, 2008... Now in its sixth year, the Pleasant Hill Antiques Show & Sale has become a summer hot spot for collectors looking for fine 18th-and 19th-century American furniture, quilts, and folk art; standout Shaker artifacts; and affordable china, jewelry,...

Connect with nature and improve your health-one step at a time.(Walking)
June 1, 2008... READY, SET, GO! start here "The easiest way to develop a walking habit is to start in your neighborhood," says Carolyn Scott Kortge, author of The Spirited Walker (HarperOne; $15). "Even if you take the same routes over and over, make an...

Apricot beauty: Delicious to eat, the apricot also provides nourishment for your skin.(natural beauty)
June 1, 2008... The apricot, or Prunus armeniaca, is a staple of summer. A member of the Rosaceae family, it grows throughout temperate regions of the world. While cherished for its flavor, this luscious fruit has also been used in skin care for centuries. ...

It's all in the details: Susan Gower turned her love of trims, ribbons, and buttons into a crafter's delight.(entrepreneur)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... How did you get started? Nifty Thrifty Dry Goods is my third business. I started off focusing on collectible buttons, then I added vintage lace, French ribbons, and European trim. Later I expanded to incorporate new items, such as beads and...

Did spot get skunked? Do battle with skunk spray and a regular bath is a cakewalk, says Julia Szabo.(pets)
June 1, 2008... STENCH STOPPERS bottle it Besides deodorizing skunk spray, Omega Zapp also removes all traces of other stinky substances that could befoul your best friend, such as deer droppings (which dogs love rolling in). It even works magic on...

10 fun-in-the-sun summer festivals.(june calendar)(Calendar)
June 1, 2008... JUNE 6-7 JUNE BUG JAMBOREE Springfield, Mo. Volkswagen Bug and bus owners-and fans--meet for a car show, engine sound-off contests, and more; groovevws.com. JUNE 7 MOSS MANSION COUNTRY FAIR Moss Mansion Historic House Museum, Billings,...

City Walks.(june calendar)
June 1, 2008... Planning a trip to a major metropolis this summer? Forget taxicabs and tour guides, and instead pick up City Walks (Chronicle; $15 each), oversize card decks of 50 walkable excursions in cities such as Boston, New York, and now, Los Angeles....

Feed 100 bags.(june calendar)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Sold nationwide at Whole Foods Markets, the Feed 100 bag is an earth-friendly alternative to paper and plastic (it's made from organic cotton and sustainable burlap), as well as a simple way to help fight hunger. For every $30 tote sold, 100...

Dogs we love.(june calendar)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... A smart, funny addition to any canine fan's library, Michael J. Rosen's Dogs We Love (Artisan; $16) is a charming collection of short stories and black-and-white photographs depicting man's best friend. Contributions from playwright Edward...

Inn of the month; Inn at cedar crossing.(june calendar)
June 1, 2008... The Door County peninsula, a 75-mile stretch of land edging Lake Michigan, numbers among Wisconsin's most popular vacation destinations--for good reason. In addition to its 300 miles of shoreline and five state parks, the region houses historic...

If you ...(june calendar)
June 1, 2008... HAVE A DRAWER FULL OF SOUVENIR SPOONS Display them at one of the American Spoon Collectors annual conventions, which also feature buy-sell-swap sessions, auctions, and workshops; campanian.org. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] STILL CHERISH...

Come say hello!(june calendar)
June 1, 2008... COME SAY HELLO! June 7 and 8, don't miss the Farm Chicks Show, held this year in Spokane. It's a must-attend event for collectors in search of one-of-a-kind jewelry, hand-spun yarn, and vintage kitchenware, textiles, furniture, and Americana....

Milestone.(june calendar)
June 1, 2008... A BELOVED ICON among spicy-food eaters worldwide Tabasco has been made on Avery Island, La., by the McIlhenny family since the company's founding in 1868. This year marks the 140th anniversary of the zesty pepper sauce--celebrate by picking up...

Homing instinct: antiques dealer, decorator, and collector Mindy Schwarz intuitively knows what she wants for her house and business in York, Maine.(COME HOME TO COMFORT.)
June 1, 2008... Collections make a home. They can trigger memories or even inspire the palette of a room. But mostly these pieces, personal and collected over time, reveal who you are. When you open the door, these are the treasured objects that welcome you...

Collective Wisdom; A new hampshire couple turns a love of 18th-century American design into a deeply personal aesthetic--and a thriving business.
June 1, 2008... SAVING TRADITIONAL American crafts from extinction was not what Dennis Belanger, April 2003 Country Living Guild Member, had in mind when he and his wife, Sheila, bought their Colonial-style New Hampshire house. * "I'd always been more of...

U-pick strawberries: at a farm near you, rows of red berries await. Gather the family and head to the fields.
June 1, 2008... RIPE FOR THE PICKING, strawberries in season offer a perfect excuse to spend time with family and friends. Open fields provide room to mingle and play. Time passes quickly as baskets fill with fruit. Just ask Jamie Jones of Jones Family Farms...

Magnificent obsession: collecting is John Weisse's passion. In the engaging displays that fill his home, items that were once purely functional become art.
June 1, 2008... "I've been collecting Since I was 7 and hoarded comic books," says John. While he is the chief operating officer of the family business--Lillian August (named for his mother), which is a furniture line for Drexel Heritage and a group of...

Rethinking ricotta; Made by hand by regional dairies, fresh ricotta adds richness and flavor to summer meals.(fresh ricotta)
June 1, 2008... Creamy and delicately sweet, fresh ricotta achieves its deepest flavor in early summer, when milk from cows that have been grazing on new-grown pasture is readily available. The milk's grassy notes add herbal undertones to artisanal versions of...

Tastings: great products, entertaining ideas & what's in season now.(tips & tools)
June 1, 2008... READER-TO-READER I always look forward to shopping at my local farmers' market. I love being able to connect with local growers and to find out from them what produce they are most excited about. Anne Zimmerman PORTLAND, ORE. ...

The Oxnard: with open spaces just right for entertaining.(HOUSE PLANS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Visitors to this one-story home are greeted by an ample foyer that opens to a family room, which features vaulted ceilings and a fireplace flanked by radius windows. From here, guests will notice the breakfast nook and open dining and kitchen...

Shopping guide.(READER'S RESOURCE)
June 1, 2008... NOTE: ITEMS FEATURED IN ISSUE BUT NOT LISTED ARE PRIVATELY OWNED OR UNAVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. editor's journal PAGE 16: Festival Red Lace-Up boots, $145: Hunter, available through zappos.com. Fish Wicker handbag in Natural, $495:...

Bridal guide.
June 1, 2008... Just in time for June's crop of summer weddings comes The Wedding Book: The Big Book for Your Big Day (Workman; $20). Written by expert wedding planner Mindy Weiss, the 485-page softcover will help soothe the nerves of even the most frazzled...

SIMPLE COUNTRY PLEASURES.
June 1, 2008... As I started looking, I found more and more. PHOTOGRAPH BY JUPITER IMAGES