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Welcome to February's edition of "Feather Your Nest!" Here at Gooseberry Patch, we're smack dab in the heart of winter. Our little town is blanketed with snow and the sledding hills are full of colorful toboggans racing down the slopes.
When we're not out enjoying the frosty fun, one of the best ways we've found to keep cabin fever at bay is by tackling an area in need of reorganizing...closets, attics, you name it. We've included our favorite organizing ideas below and we hope you'll find something that sparks your imagination (and motivation!) among them.
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We've also included a delicious recipe for Easy Potato Soup from our new cookbook, 101 Easy Entertaining Recipes. There's just nothing better after a day of snowy fun (or hard work!) than a steamy bowl of homemade goodness. Whip some up and keep your whole family warm...maybe even surprise your Valentine!
P.S. Did you know that this month includes a whole week devoted to Random Acts of Kindness? Celebrate February 9th through the 15th by surprising someone you love with a simple gesture to let them know how much you care. Bake a batch of muffins for a friend or shovel a neighbor's walk...the little things add up!
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| Whether you decide to tackle the craft room, pantry or office, a day of reorganizing will leave you with a sense of accomplishment and, if you're lucky, some extra room too! |
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Clear plastic over-the-door shoe holders provide handy storage for craft materials or sewing supplies...they hang in unused space and let you see what's inside. They're great for organizing kids' stuff too! |
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Transform any flat, smooth surface into a handy kitchen blackboard with just a coat or two of chalkboard paint. Tape off where you want your chalkboard, paint and allow to dry. It'll be a super spot to jot down grocery lists, upcoming birthdays and other reminders. |
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Looking for a new message board? Hang a metal flea-market tray or an old-fashioned washboard for a whimsical way to keep notes organized! Just use magnets to keep messages and photos secure. |
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Keep a permanent marker handy in the kitchen to keep track of foods destined for the freezer. Once packaged, jot down the contents and purchase date right on the foil or plastic bag...no more mystery packets and you'll always know which to use first. |
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Roomy and easy to clean, retro tin picnic baskets make great cookbook caddies in the kitchen. Use them to corral party supplies, cookie cutters or even paper plates and napkins. Their fun patterns add a pop of color to the kitchen at the same time as hiding away bulky or hard-to-store items. Our wooden storage boxes and wire baskets work great for cookbooks too! |
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Look for cast-off metal lockers at the flea market and give them a new life in the kitchen as a mini-pantry! Cleaned up and repainted, they're perfect for keeping baking staples or party supplies all in one place. |
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Remember, vintage kitchen finds don't have to stay in the kitchen! Enamelware muffin tins are ideal for organizing push pins, paper clips and rubber bands...a vintage dish drainer will hold file folders in place on your desk! |
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Stack up several pieces of vintage luggage for a handy end table with hidden storage space. Use hand-me-down suitcases or tag-sale finds...the more old travel stickers they have, the better! Inside, make the big space usable by adding clear plastic drawer dividers that'll keep everything in place. |
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Oversized spring-type clothespins make such handy refrigerator clips...just glue a magnet on the back and use them to hold appointment cards or recipes you'd like to try. |
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A folding wooden wine rack is handy for holding fluffy towels in the bath...roll them up and place one in each opening. Smaller hand towels and washcloths can be rolled and tucked in on top. |
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Vintage canning jars, pantry jars and diner-style cookie jars are perfect for showing off supplies in the craft room or cotton puffs and swabs in the bathroom. You'll be able to see the contents easily and their country style can't be beat. |
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Hosting a celebration for a crowd or just want to put a new spin on dinner with family & friends?
Our brand new cookbook 101 Easy Entertaining Recipes is one you'll come back to again & again. With so many simple but impressive recipes, it's sure to inspire you to create a party (or a weeknight dinner!) to remember...without spending too much time in the kitchen!
Here's what Peggy in Marion, VA thinks about 101 Homestyle Favorites.
I have all of your cookbooks and have enjoyed each one immensely. My absolute favorite is one of your newest "101 Homestyle Favorites" that I use often. Many of these recipes have made it to church homecomings and family reunions this summer and I received great reviews. I think the pictures add so much appeal to the recipes and you know immediately how appetizing your dish will be when you prepare it. I hope you will have many more books in this series. They are wonderful.
Thanks, Peggy!
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Here's one of our favorite dishes from our newest cookbook in the series, 101 Easy Entertaining Recipes...perfect for these chilly February days.
Easy Potato Soup
4 to 5 potatoes, peeled and cubed
10-3/4 oz. can cream of celery soup
10-3/4 oz. can cream of chicken soup
1-1/4 c. water
6.6-oz. pkg. instant potato flakes
Garnish: shredded Cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, crumbled bacon
Combine potatoes, soups and water in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on high setting until potatoes are tender, about 2 to 3 hours. Stir in milk; add potato flakes to desired consistency, stirring constantly. Cover and cook on high setting an additional 2 to 3 hours longer. Spoon into bowls to serve; top with garnishes. Serves 4 to 6.
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Felted Cup Cozy
Surprise friends, co-workers, neighbors with this easy but sure-to-be-appreciated craft...perfect for anyone who could use a random act of kindness.
Next time you pick up coffee on the go, hang onto the cardboard sleeve that comes with your cup. You can use it as a simple pattern to make your own cozy and reusable sleeve to keep your hand warm while you sip. Lay it flat on a piece of folded craft felt and cut around it. Trim edges and fit to your cup, glue or stitch edges together and embellish with buttons, little felt flowers or even beads.
Even easier, you can use the cuff of a felted sweater for this simple craft. Just snip off the ribbing at the end of the sleeve, sew or glue on your embellishment and you've got a heartfelt gift in a snap.
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In the spirit of Valentine's Day (and because it was fun!), we got out
the glitter and made some handmade cards to share! |
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With color copies of Vickie's vintage valentine collection, some cardstock, a few doilies and plenty of glitter, we had some sparkling greetings in no time.
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Voila! Wonder who the lucky recipients will be?
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Spring is on its way!
We're already looking forward to March and the very beginning of little green shoots poking up to find some sunshine. Okay, March weather might not be warm enough for anything but the crocuses but hey, we can dream! Thanks for reading...see you next month. |
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