Fabulous Find Friday For March 29th

Living in Amish country has so many perks.  Not only do we have a abundance of bakeries specializing in good old fashion treats, quilt shops full of handmade items, buggies tied to lamp posts at the local Walmart and bulk food stores where you can get staples (and candy!) at low prices, but we also have friendships with these knowledgeable people who have been living off the land for generations.  Several years ago some of our Amish friends told us of a seed company that they bought all their seeds from.

 After tasting the wonderful corn from their garden we knew we needed to try some of these seeds for our garden.  Berlin Seed Company is located in Berlin, Ohio and has the highest quality seeds with wonderful germination.  Plus they have "Incredible" corn seed.  That's really it's name, "Incredible", and it does describe the corn we have gotten every year since.  The only thing bad I can say about this company is that you can't order online, duh, it is Amish!  That meant that every year I needed to drive to Berlin to get my seeds (hardly a huge problem since I usually stopped at my favorite fry pie bakery on the way).  I could also order on the phone but that meant I had to find my catalog, which I am always losing.  So when I found another company that loves Berlin Seed so much they have an online store that carries them, I knew this would be great for me (I can now order seeds and officially start my garden without ever having to get out of my PJ's) and for those of you who don't live in Amish country!  You're welcome!  Direct Garden Seeds carries all my favorite seeds, including Incredible Corn, Amish Paste Tomato, and so many others.  I placed my first order this morning!  Click on the link to order yours too!

Diana

Fabulous Find Friday For Jan 4th

First of all, I KNOW it is Saturday.  I just didn't get this out in time!  Now that that is settled......guess what I am getting!!!!!!

William Sonoma is having this beauty on sale right now plus they have free shipping!!!  The free shipping code expires tomorrow but it is definitely worth taking a look at all their goodies.  Just type FREESHIP in the discount code area as you are checking out.

Now back to my new toy.  It is an electric slow cooker/pressure cooker.  I didn't even know they made these.  That's right, both!  In one!  Here is why I needed this........it is both a slow cooker and pressure cooker!!!!!!!!  And it is electric and programmable and the lid won't come off when you take a meal to church or the cabin.  No more juice or sauce getting all over the car.  No more pot watching waiting for the pressure cooker to explode.  Plus my friend Rhoda got a new electric pressure cooker from her sister for Christmas.........  Got to have one too. 

  I can not wait for this to get here!

Diana

Fabulous Find Friday 8-10-12

I have been a long time customer of GG Designs because their embroidery designs are so cute!  Check out the new free download for hair inchies.  Just in time for back to school too!  I wish I had one stitched up to show you all but I have been laid up with a blown knee for a week and a half.  We are talking crutches and old lady walking.  Just what I needed!  Worse yet, the sewing and craft room is down a steep set of stairs so no way can I get to my embroidery machine.  But if you can get to yours, download this freebie and have fun stitching it up.  Diana

Fabulous Find Friday 12

I have a terrible confession to make.......I am basically a lazy person.  I would much rather surf the net and dream of all the craft projects I want to make......someday, than actually DO ANYTHING......especially housework.  ESPECIALLY HOUSEWORK!  So while I manage to keep the house looking OK, I am terrible about the details, like sweeping under appliances or dusting baseboards.  I know, I am horrible....and I feel horrible for admitting this out loud.  So when my daughter told me about this super cool lady that would email me everyday with words of encouragement and a chore that would help me have one of those houses people could drop by and I wouldn't die of embarrassment.....I jump right in and signed up;  And it is free!  Her blog is called Flylady and she is wonderful.  She does send a bunch of emails (like about 8 a day) for some of her other offers but no biggie BECAUSE everyday I get a chore that I can check off and feel good about.  Superior actually.  I now am organizing my house, one day at a time.  Diana

Fabulous Find Friday 11

THE WORLD'S BEST CHOCOLATE SPRINKLES!!!!!!

And why is it important to have THE WORLD'S BEST CHOCOLATE SPRINKLES instead of the inexpensive jimmies available at the grocery store?  Silly people, you have obviously never eaten THE WORLD'S BEST CHOCOLATE SPRINKLES......or you wouldn't ask.In Holland they eat these as a sandwich topping ( I knew the dutch were smart people).  I saw these at the hotel we were staying at on the breakfast table along with the jam and butter in little white boxes (shown in picture).  How weird I thought, to put jimmies on your bread at breakfast.  Then I popped a few in my mouth and went "wow", these things are soooooo good.  Like in real chocolate taste!  We have been eating brown colored playdough and no one told us!  NO ONE TOLD US!!!!  So I did what any sensible person would do.....I "borrowed" a few boxes to hold me over and headed to the neighborhood chocolate store (yes in Holland they have neighborhood chocolate stores!) to buy a big box of these delicious little sprinkles.  But what to do when I run out of these and can't justify a trip back to Holland just for chocolate (my husband is unreasonable that way)?  Well, amazon does carry them (three 14 oz boxes for about 18.00) as does a dutch import store (one 14 oz box for about 4.00).  Just think of the ways you can use these.......on ice cream, cupcakes, hot cocoa (with whipped cream on top), or the traditional dutch way, on a slice of bread spread with butter and a huge pile of sprinkles on top......... Diana

Fabulous Find Friday 10

Have you ever stayed at a Marriott's Residence Inn and had their waffles?  My husband LOVES them!  I have tried for years to reproduce them from scratch AND from different mixes to no avail.  After our last stay at a Marriott's right before Christmas I spent the better part of a day searching the net for their secret.  Here is what I found!  They use malted flour.......who knew. In fact, if my sources are correct, they use Carbon's Golden Malted Original Pancake and Waffle Flour.  I had to buy it and try it out!  And it was delicious, just like the ones at Marriott's.  The way my husband describes it is like the insides of a tractor wheel donut.  Yum.  We got the "just add water" mix, the original (add egg, water, melted butter) mix and the gingerbread flavor mix.  The gingerbread one was heavier and not my favorite but the just add water one was almost identical in texture as the original.  Now we just need to get one of the cool flip waffle irons and we will be set!  Diana

Fabulous Friday 9

Sometimes it is the simplest things that make the biggest difference in our projects.  Like when you've stitched a pillow or apron and then turn your almost finished project right side out and you have the three inch unfinished gap you have to slip stitched closed!  Hate it.  Never looks good.  Well, WHY DIDN'T SOMEONE TELL ME ABOUT THIS STUFF!!!!It will close up the gap without the tell tale hand stitching.  Just cut a piece the size of the gap and iron in place.  That's it, it's done!  And it does so much more.  Holds ribbon in place for a perfectly straight line for top stitching.  Saves Sunday morning panic when you notice an undone hem.  And it is cheap too!  Less than 5 bucks and the roll will last FOREVER!  Get some...now!  Walmart, Target or your local fabric store.  Diana

Fabulous Find Friday 8

This week's find is the SUPER FABULOUS Party Blog.  Free printables, links to suppliers, instructions.....it has it all to host the most adorable themed parties ever!  And the photos are soooo cute.   Check it out!  Diana

Fabulous Find Friday 7

Why do I love my Ezy-hem soooo much.  I get the crispest hems ever!  Because it is made of metal it is safe to use with an iron!  Just fold the fabric over the edge of the Ezy-hem at the desired width and iron over it to get a perfect edge.  Best money I ever spent and it is on sale right now at Nancy's Notions.  BUY IT NOW!  Diana

Fabulous Find Friday 6

No I didn't make these, but I am going to, as soon as the transfer sheets arrive from King Arthur Flour!  They look so sweet and aren't too expensive....less than one dollar per cookie.

And since I was already ordering the cookie sheets, I got a few other goodies too!  Diana

Fabulous Find Friday 5

Are you a sewer or even just someone who likes gadgets?  Well I fall into both categories so when I saw this machine a while ago I knew I had to have it.  So much fun and it can do more than make bias tape.It makes great quilt binding too!  Walmart carries it as does Amazon.  I also found a great video that teaches how to make continuous bias tape here.  And why would you want to make your own bias tape?  Because you won't be limited to the solid colors sold at the notions dept.  Instead you can have calico or polka dots or any fabric from your stash!  And I even saw some cute bias tape on etsy that someone made and would be cute as a gift for your sewing friends.  Love this machine.  Diana

Fabulous Find Friday 4

You know we love eggs around here!  With our own flock of chickens we are always looking for something to do with all the eggs the girls lay EVERY day.  Jenn had shown you how she used ice cream molds to make cute hard boiled eggs here.  Now look what I found.at Amazon today!  Love these egg molds!

I mean who can resist fish and car shaped eggs!

Mine will get here next week......can't wait.  Diana

Fabulous Find Friday 3

Have you heard of Hogwash soap?  Well you are about to.  This stuff is the best.  I found it at my local boutique downtown and since I love anything handmade, especially soap, I bought it.  The saleslady had made some pretty amazing claims, like it could take out old spots on clothes and clean grease off your hand as well as garden soil.  I just thought it would look cute in my kitchen.......  PLUS it come in a cute paper bag.  And the name, who wouldn't want to wash with hogwash soap.   I now am convinced this stuff CAN DO ANYTHING!  I got ring around the collar out of old white dress shirts!  It cleans hands like nothing else regardless of what mess you have gotten into.  And my husband swears if he washes with this stuff after tromping in the woods he doesn't break out with poison ivy!  I know, I sound like a paid advertisement (I'm not) but I love this soap.  And chocolate.  Lots of chocolate....ummmm.  A-n-y-way, since you can't all come to my hometown to get it (I wish you could, it is so cute with a town square and fountain and old buildings and brick streets and we have parades and car shows and festivals with lots of fried foods) I found their website.  Seriously, this stuff is good.  Diana

Fabulous Find Friday 2

Here are a few of my "must have" sewing tools.  Do you know what these are?  Turning tubes.  So much easier than a safety pin.  I use these at least once a week.  Turns purse handles, spaghetti straps and all the other tubes I have struggled with in the past.  I got mine at Nancy's Notions but I have seen them elsewhere too.   Seriously, you NEED these.  Diana  

Fabulous Find Friday

I thought I would try something new on the blog.  Most Fridays we will try to bring you cool things we have found in blogland that you can get too!  Our first find is this super cut ribbon found at an Etsy shop

that exactly matches some ribbon we bought at the Country Living Fair held in Columbus Ohio this past weekend. 

What would you make with this ribbon?  I haven't decided yet but I love this ribbon!  Diana