Country Living articles from March 2009

Country Living archives from March 2009

Hello! You don't know me yet.(EDITOR'S JOURNAL)(Editorial)
March 1, 2009... Hello! You don't know me yet, but I've been doing my best to learn a thing or two about y'all. After reading hundreds of your e-mails and letters, this much is perfectly clear: You love Country Living. Well, I'm a big fan of the magazine, too....

The antique recipe booklets.(THE COUNTRY CLUB)
March 1, 2009... The antique recipe booklets in the January issue reminded me of my grandmother--some of her best meals came from the very items you showed! --MILDRED MANN, DETROIT [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A love of nature.(THE COUNTRY CLUB)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... Until I read "The Beauty of Bark," I thought I was alone in my fascination with the stuff! I enjoy walking through the wooded areas around my home, where I can admire tree after tree, and your article helped me identify what I'm looking at. ...

Paper profiles.(THE COUNTRY CLUB)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... I was so excited to see "Something About Silhouettes" in January. I make hand-cut silhouettes and am always referring to magazines for examples of how to display my work. I also loved that you included the new ways this craft is being...

Where's the beef?(THE COUNTRY CLUB)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... Everyone at the National Beef Cook-Off was excited to be included in January's the Good Life section. We just want to point out that the "Best of Beef" grand prize is $25,000, not $50,000 as you cited--which, you have to admit, is still a big...

Hello, Sunshine! Like light peeping through the clouds, a little yellow--on furniture and accessories--brightens the outlook of an entire room.(HOME FRONT)
March 1, 2009... NEVER A COWARD By turns daring, dramatic, and joyful, yellow doesn't deserve its timid reputation. Bursts of sunny color boldly invigorate any room--flip the page for ideas. Cheerful stripes give these 14-inch wax tapers a special...

A fresh start for a tired dresser: with just a few simple changes, this hand-me-down looks tailor-made.(HOME FRONT)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... SOURCE When Country Living photo editor Barbara Ovrutsky needed more storage space, she eyed her parents' 1980s chest of drawers. "Take it," her mother said. "Now your father will finally buy me a new one." POTENTIAL Barb...

Letter-perfect details: how she did it.(HOME FRONT)(Kristan Cunningham decorates a drawer)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... TOOLS AND MATERIALS: 1 Wood filler 2 Paintbrush and roller 3 Putty knife 4 Screwdriver 5 Craft knife 6 Low-grade sandpaper 7 Spray-paint primer 8 White water-based latex interior paint 9 Drill 10...

Rhapsody in blue: borrowing motifs from vintage china patterns, these easy crafts celebrate tradition in surprisingly fresh ways.(inspiration)
March 1, 2009... More than a millennium ago, during China's Tang Dynasty, artisans invented a color scheme for pottery that's still iconic. These blue-and-white Chinese patterns later enjoyed a renaissance in 16th-century Europe, most notably in Delft, the...

Dish decor.(Supply Closet)(Hambly Studios)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Transform a plain plate into a display-worthy specimen by affixing one of Hambly Studios' rub-on designs, like this silhouetted chair (above). A $4 sheet has 15 illustrations, including a sewing machine and a chandelier. The appliques adhere...

Win this!
March 1, 2009... Singer's Fitira Ce-150 Embroidery Machine connects to a computer so you can upload images, or you can choose from one of 120 built-in designs. either way, it knocks out elaborate embroidery projects in mere minutes and needs little...

Thread art.(Supply Closet)
March 1, 2009... Written by a self-taught fabric fanatic who eschews complex patterns (and even a measuring tape), Kathy Cano-Murillo's Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing includes 30 low-stress and low-sew projects. $22; pottercraft.com. [ILLUSTRATION...

Expert advice.(Supply Closet)
March 1, 2009... I've always thought of tableware as art, so I like to arrange platters--along with an assortment of dinner and dessert plates--in a symmetrical composition around a mirror. The mix of different sizes really dresses up a wall. --eddie Ross...

Custom stencils.(Supply Closet)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Bypass the limited selection of motifs at stores to create your own design: Plug in the stencil cutter (right; it heats up like a glue gun) to burn intricate graphics onto Mylar sheets. The tip also handles details better than a craft knife....

Diy.(Supply Closet)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... 1 PATTERNS GALORE Embroiderers will find hundreds of downloadable patterns--both traditional and contemporary--for their machines at My Embroideries. From $10; myembroideries.com. 2 HEAVY-DUTY HARDWARE With a wide range...

Collectibles under $10: thanks to prices that fall mostly in the single-digit range, anyone can afford one--or more!--of these charming artifacts.(antiques)(List)
March 1, 2009... COLLECTING 40 Antiques 47 What is it? What is it worth? 52 Seen & noted MANY SPLENDORED THINGS Often-overlooked vintage items--from pincushions to oversize letters--take on a whole new meaning in a group. The best part: no...

A vintage LP, toy tractor, glamorous slipper chair & more; professional appraiser helaine fendelman evaluates and appraises your collectibles and antiques.(COLLECTING)
March 1, 2009... VINTAGE SIMON & GARFUNKEL RECORD WHAT IS IT? The folk duo released a second album, Sounds of Silence, in 1966. However, this is not a first edition of that album. The original cover featured text only--no photos of Paul Simon and Art...

At Midweek in New Hampshire.(SNAPShot)
March 1, 2009... Who? Clifford A. Wallach, who left the garment business to become a tramp-art dealer in Greenwich, Conn. Where? At New Hampshire's Midweek in Manchester Antiques Show, a 112-dealer event held each August (barnstar.com). What is tramp...

Vintage eyeglasses: looking for one-of-a-kind style? These practical collectibles from the 1950s to 1970s combine quality craftsmanship with bold design.(collecting)
March 1, 2009... In the 1950s, details like rhinestones, cat-eye shapes, and bright colors began to transform utilitarian spectacles into full-blown fashion statements. Even better, according to dealer Naomi Goldstein of Vintageous, frames from that era and...

A passion for primroses: bred for their exotic ornamental characteristics, these charming spring flowers are enjoying a revival.(LIVING)
March 1, 2009... 60 in the garden 64 clippings 66 entrepreneur 70 pets 73 the good life SPRING BEAUTIES In the Victorian age, growers were so passionate about primroses that they displayed the plants in elaborate theaters, or stages. This...

Clippings.(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... DIGGING IN 1 FORCING BRANCHES Quince, ornamental cherries, and forsythia can be forced to bloom early indoors. Snip branches with plump buds, and put them in lukewarm water in a sunny room. They should bloom in two to six weeks....

Dear diary.(Clippings)(garden planner)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Keeping a record of your garden--what you planted, where and when--helps you achieve better results through the years. The months and days in this Jill Bliss planner come blank for flexibility, and the fabric cover has pockets for seed packets....

Expert advice.(Clippings)
March 1, 2009... Instead of buying starter kits this year, sow seeds in biodegradable cardboard egg cartons. Use them as you would traditional peat pots, and transplant them directly in the garden. --Tare Heibel OWNER OF SPROUT HOME, CHICAGO;...

Handy tool.(Clippings)
March 1, 2009... This strong but lightweight border shovel features an ergonomic red oak handle and a pointed, stainless steel blade that's designed to handle tightly planted beds. Best of all: It comes with a lifetime guarantee. $48; nybgshop.org. ...

Win this!
March 1, 2009... Beauty and utility combine in these cheerful boots by Hunter. Made of sturdy rubber and lined in quick-drying nylon, these versatile-and comfortable-shoes will stand the test of time. RHS short boots, $115; zappos.com. For details, go to...

Instant centerpiece.(Clippings)
March 1, 2009... You don't need bunches of flowers to make a statement. Single stems become standouts in these hand-pinched porcelain vases by potter Nancy Banch. $140/set of 10; whiteforestpottery.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Feel-good fabrics: disappointed by the lack of stylish eco-friendly linens, these women decided to start designing their own.(LIVING)
March 1, 2009... After moving to one of the country's greenest cities--Portland, Ore.--Marisa Kula Mercer (above right) thought she would have no trouble finding organic bed linens. Yet choices were limited, and nothing fit her Marimekko-meets-1950s-housewife...

Loving livestock; farm animals as pets? One fan tells julia szabo why she adores her barnyard "babies".(pets)
March 1, 2009... "We don't watch TV, but we never miss the distraction--the animals provide a nonstop source of entertainment," says Susan Thomas of the 78 beloved creatures that share her 240-acre Missouri farmstead. "There's nothing like watching five...

Why eat grass-fed beef?(OUR COUNTRYSIDE)
March 1, 2009... Unlike their forebears, today's cows don't get the chance to spend much time on the range. Instead they're shipped, often at great expense, to cramped, supersize feedlots nationwide to gorge on corn before being sent to slaughter. "Corn is not...

March moon phases.
March 1, 2009... Don't forget to set your clock forward! Sunday, March 8 at 2 A.M. marks the beginning of Daylight Saving Time. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Savannah Bee Co.({NOTES FROM THE FARM})(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Ted Dennard was in the fifth grade when he first tagged along with Roy Hightower, a beekeeper who kept hives on the Dennard family property in Georgia. "Roy held up a honeycomb to the sun so that it was backlit, and I was hooked," says Dennard....

To store fresh herbs.({THE BEST WAY ... })(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... If you plan to use fresh-picked or store-bought basil, mint, parsley, or other herbs within 24 hours, trim the ends with scissors and stand the plants (unwashed) in a "vase" of water, as you would with flowers. To prolong their flavor and...

The Gaige House.(INN OF THE MONTH)
March 1, 2009... LOCATED IN THE QUIET town of Glen Ellen (pop.: 992), just a 15-minute drive from Sonoma's charming central plaza, the Gaige House offers 23 airy rooms, including eight suites. Each of the spacious rooms reflects a tranquil Asian design...

Produce baskets.(MAKE-DO)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Have you ever wondered what to do with leftover farm-stand fruit and vegetable baskets? Contributing editors Teri Edwards and Serena Thompson (a.k.a. the Farm Chicks) shared this thrifty idea for transforming them into organizational bins for...

Shea butter.({NATURAL BEAUTY})
March 1, 2009... Plucked from beneath the bright green leaves of the Shea trees, which grow on African savannas, the shea nut holds the key to soft, smooth skin. When ground into a butterlike balm, shea nuts become a superemollient, nongreasy moisturizer that's...

Maple syrup.({MADE IN AMERICA})
March 1, 2009... AS AMERICA'S NO. 1 producer of everyone's favorite pancake topping, Vermont's 2,000 independent sugar houses churn out approximately 600,000 gallons of pure maple syrup each year. And knowing the process will keep you from balking at the cost...

When to choose organic?
March 1, 2009... "Organic fruits and vegetables can be expensive and they're not always available, so we created our top 10 list of everyday produce that frequently contains high levels of contaminants," says Jovana Ruzicic of the Environmental Working Group,...

A-frames around the country: popular as vacation homes in the 1960s, these offbeat abodes feature open floor plans and light-filled, cabin-like interiors. and with the nostalgic style just now making a resurgence, bargains abound.({REAL ESTATE SAMPLER})
March 1, 2009... ROCKY MOUNTAIN RETREAT Surrounded by towering bristlecone pine and aspen trees, this recently remodeled Alma, Colo., 1-bedroom sits only 20 miles from the lifts at Breckenridge Mountain. The home touts double-pane windows, a new asphalt...

17 events not to miss.({COUNTRY CALENDAR})(Calendar)
March 1, 2009... CONNECTICUT HEBRON MAPLE FESTIVAL March 14-15; Hebron. Celebrate Maple Month with sugarhouse tours, syrupmaking demostrations, and maple-infused baked goods; hebronmaplefest.com. GEORGIA SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL March 19-April 5; Savannah....

National money show.(COLLECTING)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The gold standard among collecting conventions, the American Numismatic Assn.'s show--March 13 to 15--draws 500 dealers of antique bills and coins to the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Attend free appraisal sessions, take a workshop with...

Cookies for kids' cancer.(GIVING BACK)
March 1, 2009... Founded in 2007 by Gretchen Holt Witt after her 4-year-old son was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system, this New Jersey-based nonprofit raises funds to support research of the disease. Get involved by throwing a bake...

Butterfly conservatories.(SPOTLIGHT ON ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... ARIZONA Butterfly Magic, an exhibition at the Tucson Botanical Gardens through March 31, invites visitors to wander through a tropical greenhouse filled with live atlas moths, paper kites, and hundreds of other butterflies. During special...

Museum watch.
March 1, 2009... If you've ever accidentally stuck a just-washed wool sweater in the dryer, you're likely all too familiar with felt. Learn to view this versatile fabric as more than a by-product of careless laundering at Fashioning Felt, on exhibition at...

World water week, March 22-28.(MARK YOUR CALENDAR)(Brief article)(Calendar)
March 1, 2009... It sounds astonishing, but giving one dollar to UNICEF helps ensure that a child can access clean, safe drinking water for 40 days. To make a contribution, visit a restaurant participating in the Tap Project during World Water Week, and donate...

Creature comforts: one family has transformed a love of animals into a decorating motif for this 19th-century house in New York's Hudson River Valley.
March 1, 2009... OPPOSITE: The dark green standing-seam tin roof and trim contrast with the crisp white clapboard of this c. 1870 farmhouse. THIS PAGE: The homeowner extended the color scheme to a striped floor for the porch, which has a pachysandra border. SEE...

Acquiring minds: for some people, collecting isn't just a hobby--it's big business. a decoupage designer, a candy retailer, and an antique-jewelry dealer reveal how their passions fuel their careers.
March 1, 2009... WHO: JOHN DERIAN, decoupage artist WHAT HE COLLECTS: Eighteenth- and 19th-century paper ephemera, including maps, trade cards, and handwritten letters FIRST COLLECTION: Seashells. "I was hooked after I polished a dark one to a bright...

Home a way from home.
March 1, 2009... OFF TO MARKET Helen Bartlett and her husband, Tony Bill, with their daughters, Daphne (left) and Maddie, and dog, Roxie (a Labradoodle). The family uses this 1954 Chrysler Town & Country station wagon as a produce stand at their local...

The most humble collectible of all: they've held cake batter and noodle soup, dishwater and cocktail nuts. through it all, simple white bowls remain eloquent symbols of domestic comfort.
March 1, 2009... While beauty may have no price, an artful display can be achieved for little money. THIS PAGE: These six Japanese soup bowls from San Francisco's Kamei Restaurant Supply cost about $4 apiece. A vintage glass case and two $10 antique children's...

The beauty of biscuits: we've cracked the code to baking the fluffiest, most delicious ones ever!
March 1, 2009... COOKBOOK 114 biscuits 120 tastings GOOD THINGS TO COME A happy marriage of butter and flour, biscuits remain one of the most satisfying foods to emerge from an oven. For five delicious recipes, turn the page. Few...

Biscuit essentials.(Tastings)
March 1, 2009... 1 CUTTERS Ateco's reversible Double-Sided Round Cutters can shape dough into five sizes of biscuits with plain or fluted edges. $23.50; atecousa.net. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 BACON Cured with cane sugar and...

Win this!
March 1, 2009... For the lightest pastries and biscuits, fill the chamber of Cuisipro's Stay Cool rolling pin with ice water to ensure dough remains cold. &42; cuisiprousa.com. To win one of 20, go to countryliving.com/sweeps Enter for a chance to win one...

Editor's pick.(Tastings)
March 1, 2009... British designer Orla Kiely's signature graphic prints add flair to her new line of housewares, which includes these Pear canisters. Available for a limited time at Target stores nationwide. $15 to $20 each; target.com. [ILLUSTRATION...

ET here:commercial street fishery.(Tastings)
March 1, 2009... Located in the second-floor loft of a converted textile mill, Commercial Street Fishery reigns as Manchester's go-to spot for superfresh seafood with an Asian twist, including Maine lobster sushi rolls and tempura shrimp with ginger-lime hoisin...

Expert advice.(Tastings)
March 1, 2009... When poaching eggs, pan size counts. A seven- or eight-inch frying pan, filled halfway with simmering water, cooks two to four fresh eggs perfectly, without allowing the eggs to drift and lose their shape. --Howard Helmer SPOKESPERSON,...

In season: spring onions.(Tastings)
March 1, 2009... An excellent source of vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, these tender early onions are mild enough to be enjoyed raw but hearty enough to stand up to sauteing, roasting, or even braising. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Swanson pan sauteed chicken with vegetables and herbs.
March 1, 2009... Chef Lee loves the rich, meaty flavor of all natural Swanson stock to keep his meat dishes juicy and enhance their natural flavors. At home, he uses nothing else. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 1 hour Makes: 4...

House plans you can buy: ample porches make the peachtree perfect for outdoor entertaining.(HOUSE PLANS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... French Colonial influences play a big role in this home's design--illustrated by its steep roof, twin dormers, and wraparound front porch. A foyer with a vaulted ceiling leads to the central room, which opens on to a screened-in porch and back...

Simple country pleasures.
March 1, 2009... A multitude of small delights constitutes happiness.