Book Review: “The School of Essential Ingredients”

Posted on April 30, 2013 by kmore

“Life is beautiful. Some people just remind you of that more than others.”
― Erica Bauermeister, The School of Essential Ingredients

My book club read this lovely title a couple of years ago, and it still stands out as one of my all-time favorite “foodie” novels. Today I learned that the author has recently published its sequel, and it reminded me of how much I enjoyed it, so I thought I would share a little bit about it with you. I hope you’ll grab yourself a copy and when your done, please send me a note and share your thoughts. Happy Reading!

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister (Putnam Adult)

As a young girl, Lillian learned that by combining certain ingredients in the kitchen she could make a connection with her wounded and withdrawn mother. As an adult, Lillian uses this gift to run a first-class restaurant as well as a weekly cooking class. On Monday evenings, students are allowed to conquer their fears in the kitchen as well as create delicious, simple food. In doing so, each of them discovers what “essential ingredients” will not only improve their culinary skills, but also bring flavor to their lives. Told in a series of vignettes, readers will step into the personal struggles of each character and delight in the way stirring, slicing, smelling and tasting can inspire friendship and renewal. This tender novel will seduce your senses and inspire you to create loving menus with enticing ingredients. More importantly, through its tender glimpses into challenges of each character, it will encourage you to embrace your own abundance of small pleasures. With captivating language and believable characters, this insightful novel will leave you as satisfied as a delicious meal.

Book Review – “Microcrafts: Tiny Treasures to Make and Share”

Posted on April 3, 2013 by kmore

“For the person for whom small things do not exist, the great is not great.”
~Jose Ortega y Gasset

Microcrafts: Tiny Treasures to Make and Share compiled by Margaret McGuire, Alicia Kachmar, Katie Hatz and Friends (Quirk Books)

Take a regular item, make it smaller, and what do you get? Something that’s just plain adorable! Miniatures have always been popular for their “cute-factor” and this book is BIG on cute. Prepare yourself for the dilemma of deciding which of the twenty-five unique and completely different projects you will want to make first. Will it be the scrumptious looking candy charms, the adorable little spool dolls, or perhaps the itty-bitty houseplants and terrariums? Whatever you choose to make, you will have something to decorate your dollhouse, give as a gift, wear as jewelry, or simply add some charm to a darling little shelf. Each project comes with simple, easy-to-follow directions as well as diagrams and illustrations that will make craft-time a joy. The photographs are lovely, and the overall feel of the book a blend of sophisticated whimsy. You will want your own copy of Microcrafts to turn to again-and-again– if for nothing more than to get your daily-dose of cute! We want to extend a big thank you to Quirk Books for sharing the “Book” and “Deer Head” projects from Microcrafts with us for this issue. Go ahead, give them a try, and don’t be surprised if you start dreaming up your own microcraft ideas!

(This review was first published in the Christmas issue of Amy Powers’ Inspired Ideas. The publisher, Quirk Books, was generous enough to share two amazing projects from the book with readers of the magazine. The images below come from the magazine, not the actual book. Hop on over to Amy’s site to check them out, and then grab yourself a copy of the book to see all of the other amazing projects!)

“Inspired Ideas” Spring Issue – It’s Here!

Posted on March 25, 2013 by kmore

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. ~Hal Borland

I loved working on the spring issue of Amy Powers’ Inspired Ideas. Once again, I helped edit the articles and wrote several book reviews. This issue includes several more book reviews for craft titles as well as three amazing fiction titles. This time I chose three novels with a flower “theme.” All of them are very different, but very good! Isn’t this the perfect time of year to settle in a sunny window and crack open a good book?

My favorite non-fiction book review this go-around was a fantastic little book by Lilla Rogers called I Just Like to Make Things. This book is just a treasure-trove of advice and inspiration for those of us who want to maximize our creativity. It’s especially for those who want to turn their creative passion into a career. Pick up a copy soon. You won’t be disappointed!However, it’s really the crafts that make Amy’s publication so special. Each unique craft idea is full of cheer and whimsy. You’ll have a hard time deciding which project to try first! To be honest, Amy’s bird nests are at the top of my list, as well as the sweet little Easter cloches designed by Ashlee Park.

If you’re in the mood to bust some of the stashes in your craft closet, head on over and check out all of the great ideas in this issue. It’s quite an amazing deal for so much loveliness! Be sure to stop back by and let me know if you read one of the recommended books or whip up something special for spring!

Happy crafting and happy reading!

The Night Circus: For the Creative Book Club

Posted on March 11, 2013 by kmore

“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” – Oscar Wilde

“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.” (Excerpted from: http://erinmorgenstern.com/)

Do you need a great pick for your next book club? Look no further…

The Night Circus is a magical book that will have your group talking into the night! Without a doubt, it will be like no other book you’ve read before! If you want to get creative, there are so many fun things you can do to make your guests feel as if they have entered: Le Cirque des Rêves.

Invitations: Most book clubs are pretty informal, but if you want to make this meeting a little more enticing, try coming up with a unique, circus themed invitation. Check out these ones from Zazzle. Not only are they circus-themed, but they are black, white and red – just like everything in the book!

Be sure to invite your guests to wear Night Circus inspired clothing: black, white, and of, course red! As the Rêveurs, they should definitely wear a lovely red scarf! This outfit is from Restyle, and it may be a little over the top.

754_3 The gals in my book club would probably opt for something a little more casual, but we all love scarves! This ruffled one from Etsy’s Maha Maha creations has a fun, circus-vibe, don’t you think?

Decorations: Without a doubt, the decorations for your Night Circus party could be out of this world. However, if you have a real life, and can’t spend a fortune on decorations, here are a few ideas!

There were so many interesting tents at the circus, you could simply try to re-create one of them. One of my favorite tents was “The Wishing Tree.” Check out this tree from Kaboodle. Wouldn’t it be fun to let your guests make a wish and light a candle, just like in the book?

One of the tents was papered with playing cards. It would be simple and easy to create a fun, playing-card garland to drape on the food table or across your fireplace. This one came from Etsy’s Country Chiq.

One of the most memorable tents was the Ice Garden. Beautiful decorations could be made from clear vases, crystal-like accents, or perhaps these actual ice vases from HGTV.

Other decorating ideas that would fit with the book are: mirrors, candles, bird cages, feathers, etc.

Food: There are so many yummy foods that the characters enjoyed at the circus: caramel corn, caramel apples, cinnamon twists, mulled cider and of course, the gourmet midnight dinners were feasts accompanied by decadent cakes and chocolate covered strawberries! However, my favorite food at the carnival were the chocolate mice. According to author, Erin Morgenstern, the mice were inspired by these ones from L.A. Burdick. Aren’t they adorable?

There are numerous chocolate mice recipes online. Try this one from All Recipes.

Wouldn’t it be fun to let your guests enjoy yummy food on these amazing plates from Pottery Barn? Perhaps you can find (or make) something similar! The clock at the circus is an important part of the story, and time is something that affects the characters dramatically. These would be perfect!

Perhaps you want to add more circus flair by picking up some vintage popcorn bags from Etsy shop Spiral Sage.

Activity: Many of the characters relied on the fortune telling abilities of Isobel, who discovered the secrets of others while keeping a very big secret about herself! Set up a fun fortune teller’s table. Get an “8-Ball” toy, buy a pack of Tarot Cards, spread out some tea-leaves. See what kind of fun you and your friends can have telling the future! Sycamore Street Press has a lovely origami fortune teller party favor! Remember these from when you were a kid?

Discussion: Well, we all hope that our book club gatherings end up with at least a little bit of discussion about the book, right? Author, Erin Morgenstern, recommends the questions provided from the publisher at Random House.

Favors: You probably couldn’t help going a bit overboard for this book club gathering, so why not send your guests off with a small token of your time together? I think they would all love to settle in with a gooey caramel apple and your next book selection, don’t you? These ones are from Matisse Chocolatier, but you can try your hand at making your own!

Missing Pieces Studio makes beautiful charms like this circus inspired beauty!

I hope your Night Circus book club gathering is as magical as the book. It just might last until midnight!

My Ideal Bookshelf

Posted on March 5, 2013 by kmore

“A man’s bookcase will tell you everything you’ll ever need to know about him.”
― Walter Mosley

Lately, I have become enamored by the ideal bookshelf artwork of Jane Mount. I stumbled upon her website on a Pinterest binge and suddenly became obsessed with trying to decide what books would go on my ideal bookshelf! I love the slightly whimsical quality of the paintings, and I could browse the site for hours admiring the “shelves” that have been created for others.

I’m thinking I would want to choose books that had important meaning in my life, but of course, I would try to avoid being a book snob and choosing books simply to impress others. I mean, most folks would know that War and Peace wasn’t really one of my favorite books!

So, off the top of my head here are a few of my picks:

1. Where the Lilies Bloom (Cleaver): I read this book numerous times in my childhood and was enthralled by the way a group of siblings took care of themselves after their parents died.

2. The Master Butchers Singing Club (Erdrich): I can’t remember many books that draw me in the way this one did. When it ended, I felt sad that my time with the characters was over.

3. Autobiography of a Face (Grealy): This sad story was written with such honesty and some of the most beautifully crafted language I’ve read.

4. A Thousand Splendid Suns (Hosseini): One of the most moving friendship stories I can remember. This book touched me deeply.

Oh, it’s so hard to pick, but I’m going to keep brainstorming. I just worry that there will be too many books on my shelf! I really look forward to having one created just for me, and I think I know exactly where it will go! Happy reading!

Illustration Eye Candy

Posted on January 23, 2013 by kmore

“Who ever converses among old books will be hard to please among the new.”
-William Temple

Of course, I adore everything old. I love the patina, the layers and the story seemingly contained within anything that had a life before it entered mine. My love of vintage is especially strong for books. I cannot stop collecting beautiful old books. However, I am most enamored by vintage storybooks of a certain era. I can’t get enough of the graphics from illustrated children’s books from the 60′s and 70′s. There is just something about the artistic style of the time that reaches out and grabs me. Here’s one I picked up last weekend.

This lovely book is about a number of things that float and fly in the wind. Here are a couple of my favorite illustrations. Aren’t they beautiful?

Take a minute to search your attic and old boxes of books. I’ll bet you have some treasures. Of course new books are wonderful, but the style of illustrations just can’t compare with some of the gems I find hidden in the dusty corners! Happy Reading!

Book Review: “Bliss Remembered” by Frank Deford

Posted on January 12, 2013 by kmore

“I think that when you’re falling in love you see everything brighter and clearer. Everything is more vivid. That’s what love does to the whole world around you.” -Bliss Remembered, Frank Deford

“Bliss, Remembered is the saga of Sydney Stringfellow’s life from 1934, when she was a lonely 16-year-old innocent growing up in the Depression in a small town on The Eastern Shore of Maryland, until 1942, when war with Germany has begun and she finds herself personally caught up in it in a way she could never have imagined.” (excerpt from Frank Deford’s website.)

If you’re looking for a great book to start off the year, here’s your next check-out or download! I recently finished this gem of a novel that incorporates history, love, mystery and a whopping twist at the end to keep you turning the pages.

As Sydney reaches the end of her long, eventful life, she chooses to tell her son, Teddy, the secret of her trip to Berlin to swim in the Olympics. Almost by accident, she discovers the incredible talent she possesses for swimming as a sixteen year old girl mourning the death of her beloved father. As she follows her bliss, she finds herself crossing the ocean and wrapped-up in a whirlwind romance with a handsome German. This is a turbulent time in world history, and the implications of this love affair shape the rest of her life…as well as history.

I know you will love this book as much as I did. It’s a perfect book to while away a long January afternoon. Don’t forget your blanket and tea!

“A natural. Is there anything better anybody can tell you but that you’re a natural? I don’t think so.” -Sydney Stringfellow, Bliss Remembered

“A Green Tree….”

Posted on January 1, 2013 by kmore

“For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver. “ -Martin Luther

I can’t claim credit for this idea. Like many good ideas, I saw some amazing book trees on Pinterest, and we decided to try our own at the high school where I work. I think it turned out really well, don’t you? I probably should have taken some time to post this before the holidays, but, oh well. We already have some ideas for improving our design for next year, so I hope you’ll check back in about 11 months or so! It’s New Year’s Day, so, technically, I can still say, “Happy Holidays!” May lots of green trees and good books await you in 2013!

It’s Finally Here! Amy Powers’ Inspired Ideas: The Christmas Issue

Posted on November 28, 2012 by kmore

I am so excited to announce that the Christmas issue of Amy Powers’ Inspired Ideas has finally been published! If you’ve never had a chance to experience her beautiful, inspiring online publication, it’s time to head on over to her website to take a peek! Once you start looking at this issue, as well as back issues, you will become enamored and will want to read them all! This publication is a unique mixture of craft ideas and tutorials with a vintage feel that is strong on whimsy. Christmas is right around the corner, and I know you will be heading to the craft store right away so you can whip-up an adorable vintage mesh stocking (just like the one you got as a kid!), some shiny tin ornaments for your tree or perhaps a miniature deer mount as a gift for the friend who has it all! All of the directions, along with fantastic pictures, are provided to make it a piece-of-cake to create something delightful to get into the holiday spirit!

I was thrilled to contribute to this issue by reviewing some heart-warming holiday reads. Furthermore, I served as the editor of this issue, and was able to lend a scrutinizing eye for typos and other small nit-picky details that perhaps only someone with an English degree would even bother to notice!

To experience some unique craft ideas and be introduced to some adorable new products — and of course, read my inspiring book reviews — hurry over and take a look! If you read (or have read) any of the book titles that I recommend in my article, I sincerely hope that you will stop back and leave me a comment with your thoughts. It’s so much fun to talk books!

Happy Holidays, happy crafting, and happy reading!

For the Creative Book Club: “The Thirteenth Day of Christmas”

Posted on November 21, 2012 by kmore

“Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.” –C.S. Lewis

(This is a quote from the book. Marva gives Charlee’s dad his own special apron with this saying to honor his penchant for storytelling.)

“This new Christmas novel by New York Times bestselling author Jason F. Wright is filled with laughter, tenderness, and of course, hope as these delightful characters watch an old Christmas favorite turn into a true Christmas miracle.” Shadow Mountain Press

I recently reviewed this book for my upcoming article in Amy Powers’ Inspired Ideas. It’s not too early to start thinking about a good book for your book club’s holiday gathering! This book is a fast read, and would be perfect for the busy season when many of us are caught up with holiday preparations. So, if you want to make your next book club gathering extra-special…. here are some fun ideas!

Food:

One of Marva’s favorite aprons from her collection was embroidered with the quote, “If life gives you lemons, throw them through the candy shop window and grab some taffy.” That’s not the only reference to candy in the book! Charlee’s father describes her hair as the color of “Hershey’s Kisses.” Miss Marva fills her advent calendar with gumdrops (except for the 26th day, of course). Oh, and Charlee receives some yummy Milk Maid caramels as one of her secret gifts. Why not fill some sweet little candy dishes with saltwater taffy, Kisses, gumdrops and caramels and place them around the room for your guests to enjoy?

If your plan is to just serve munchies, don’t forget to fill some big bowls with popcorn. After all, Marva and Charlee spent a beautiful afternoon decorating for Christmas which included stringing, and eating, popcorn!

If you want something more substantial, and you don’t want to try to recreate Miss Marva’s entire Thanksgiving dinner with all of the trimmings, perhaps you would like to make “Anything Goes Nachos” that the Alexander’s they enjoy when Charlee comes home from the hospital.

Decor: This one’s easy! Since the book is a Christmas story, it’s fitting to decorate for the holidays. However, in the book, it’s important for Marva to have Christmas lights and her nativity, so you won’t want to forget these.

In decorating for this book, you absolutely MUST have an advent calendar. Can you find one with 26 days? If so, that would be the ultimate tribute to Marva and Charlee! If you don’t have one, perhaps you might want to splurge and give yourself an early gift. The one pictured here is available from WilliamMarie Designs on Etsy. Check it out!

Any decorations that pay homage to the “Twelve Days of Christmas” would also be appropriate. I might not be able to resist this set of drinking glasses from The Sisters Pick on Etsy.

Finally, Miss Marva is very proud, both of her apron collection, and also her habit of hanging her clothes on the line to try. How about hanging a string or wire across an open area, and using clothespins to display a collection of vintage aprons, or perhaps some cute ones made with lovely scrapbook paper. Better yet, have each guest come to the meeting wearing an apron of her choice – with a prize for the one that Miss Marva would have appreciated the most! Like this one from CreativeMama213 on Etsy….

Or this one from Sweet Magnolia’s Farm…

Discussion:

* Let everyone in the group share a special holiday tradition. Each of us has such unique and special ways to honor the season. Why not share them with others?
*Talk about the ways you can, or already do, extend the attitude of Christmas beyond December 25.
*Tell about a special adult mentor or friend who made a difference to you when you were young.

Activity:

In Charlee’s family, it was a birthday tradition to gather after dinner, and before cake, to say something that they had learned that year from the person celebrating his or her birthday. This would be a fun, easy activity for book club. Have each person choose another member of the group and share something they learned from her this past year.

Ask each member of the club to bring a gift inspired by the Traveling Elves during the “Thirteen Days of Christmas.” Gather these gifts and deliver them to a children’s Christmas charity in your community. What could they bring? Rubber ducks, stuffed toy dogs, kazoos, a Big Bird stuffed animal, purple gloves, or perhaps even a stuffed monkey like Charlee’s beloved Melvin.

Gifts/Favors:

I’m sure everyone in your group would be honored to receive a lovely apron with a cute or wise saying on it. Each time they put it on, they would be reminded of Marva and her selfless acts of kindness. Or, you could create some of these mini-aprons from the blog Hostess with the Mostess in Christmas fabric and they could be used as little favors.

Feeling Crafty? I’ll bet you could make something simple and special with these charms from Etsy shop Jewel Be Charmed.

Final Thoughts:

I hope your book club will enjoy this heartwarming book during this holiday season. Ideally, each person who reads it will be inspired to do something kind for someone in need, and if it leads to your own version of the “Thirteen Days of Christmas” all the better! Perhaps a new tradition will begin this year — as a tribute to Marva Ferguson!

Final Thoughts: I hope you and your book club will enjoy this sweet, holiday story. I would love to hear from you about your group’s discussion, and whether or not any of these creative ideas worked for you! Happy Reading, and Happy Holidays!