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September 2009

  • Apple Pie Secrets Revealed!

    Submitted by Pam on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 05:04

    Recipe!  And apple pie secrets!! 

    Who doesn't swoon over the heady fragrance of an apple pie baking in the oven?

    And since we are right in the middle of apple season (in the Northern hemisphere),  what better way is there to welcome fall than by baking an apple pie! 

    Making the filling is very easy - remove the skin and core, slice thinly, stir together with a few simple ingredients, place the mixture in a pie shell and bake!  If you haven't yet learned to make pie crust, there are  ready-made pie crusts on your supermarket shelves.

    You will find my simple filling recipe at the end of the post.   Making a good, flakey pie crust is a bit more complicated - I'll save pie crust technique for another post - perhaps the spring. 

    My purpose here is to get you started making pies! So, if you have never made a pie before, make this simple filling and put it in a ready-made crust. 

    Whether you already are a pie baker or not YET a pie baker,  check out my "Apple Pie Secrets"!

    Secret #1.    7 apples are usually needed to make an apple pie.  When you are shopping for your apples, select one each of seven different varieties.

    (I know!  my photo only shows one variety!  These are from the very old tree still living on our property - just showing off!)

    If you have ever had the chance to go to an "apple tasting", you already know that every single apple variety has a different and distinct taste all it's own. Blending several different varieties in one pie will result in the most delicious apple pie you have ever tasted

    We have a favorite apple farm we go to every year and usually come home with at least three or four each of 14 different varieties!  Secret #5 reveals what I do with them all!

    Secret # 2. Slice your apples very thin so they will get nice and soft during baking.

    For slicing, a food processor or a mandolin makes the job much easier. I use the thin slicing disk in my "vintage" Oster Regency Kitchen Center.  Sadly the Kitchen Center is no longer manufactured, but if you find one on e-bay or an estate sale, buy it! 

    Secret # 3.  Most recipes call for sugar, flour and cinnamon.  Add a couple grates of nutmeg! 

    Secret # 4. Sprinkle a little sugar over the top crust of your pie before baking. I actually first started doing this on my blueberry pies and found it really enhances apple pies.

    Secret # 5. Freeze your pie filling right in the pie plate!

    Don't delay! Apples are at their peak!  Peel and slice enough apples for 2 or 3 pies. (I usually need to make 5 or 6 pies with all those apples I can't resist beinging home from the farm!)

    In a huge mixing bowl, mix the flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg with the apples.

    Line the pie plates with two layers of plastic wrap.  Use peices of plastic wrap long enough to line the bottom and fold over the top of the pie. Divide your apple mixture evenly among the lined pie plates. Bring the ends of the plastic up over the top to seal and pop pie plate and filling into the freezer.  Freeze until completely frozen.  I usually leave mine over night.

    Remove the frozen, wrapped pie filling from the pie plate and over-wrap in two layers of foil.  Mark the top with the year and the pie plate you used when you froze the pie!  (I have white Corning pie plates, metal pie plates and a 10" glass plate, so it is important for me to know which pie plate to use for each package of frozen pie filling.)

    When you are in the mood for a lovely, freshly baked apple pie on a cold , dark afternoon in February, or have guests coming for dinner during the busiest days of the holiday season, take a frozen pie filling out of the freezer, unwrap and place, still frozen, right into your prepared crust.  Scatter a couple pats of butter cut into tiny pieces over the surface, put on the top crust, make a few slits for the steam to escape, sprinkle with sugar, and bake!

    Bake at 400 degrees for about an hour, using a pie shield to protect the edges from browning too much during baking.  When you can see your filling bubbling up through the center slits, your pie is done.

    Notes: 

    Frozen pie fillings will last at least a year in the freezer.

    In my experience  this technique works BEST on apple pie.  Other types of pies either don't "set-up" into a frozen block, or they "set-up" too well, becoming a solid block of ice and bake unevenly.

    Not a secret but a good idea! Peels and cores apples like magic!

    Recipe:

    Apple pie used to be simple, but now days -  apple pie can be crunchy, upside-down, carmelized, creamy, nutty, fruity, even crustless!  All manner of additions can be found - cranberries, bourbon, nuts, maple syrup....

    I prefer to keep it simple so the flavor of all those blended varieties shines through! 

    I like my apple pie sweet and soft and juicy!  If you prefer yours tart and crunchy, this is not the recipe for you!

    Apple Pie Filling:

    7 apples of different varieties - some tart and some sweet. (Delicious apples are not a good choice for pie

    1 cup sugar (I use Splenda in Diane's Pie!)

    1 teaspoon cinnamon

    a few grates of freshly ground nutmeg (grater and nut meg pods here!)

    2 tablespoons flour

    2 "pats" (tablespoons) butter. (Slice off a couple tablespoons using the marks on the paper wrapper. Be sure your butter is cold.)

    To assemble filling and pie:

    Peel, core and thinly slice the apples. Whisk the sugar and spices with the flour, add to the apples and stir thoroughly.

    Let sit while you are making your crust.  If you are using a ready made crust, let the filling mixture sit 10 minutes.

    Place your apple mixture in a pastry lined pie plate. 

    Scatter the butter pieces over the top of the apple filling.

    Cover with the top crust.  Seal the edges with pretty crimping or a fork pressed gently into the pastry around the rim.

    Using a sharp knife, make a few slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape during baking.

    Sprinkle the rop crust with a little sugar.  Trust me!  You won't believe the difference it makes!

    Bake in a 400 degree oven for about an hour and let cool.

    You know what to do next - right?
     

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  • Playing with Gourds, Dried Leaves and Mod Podge

    Submitted by Pam on Thu, 09/24/2009 - 02:57

    I love playing with gourds!  Absolutely love it!  And, apparently, I am not alone.  So - I have planned a few posts to share crafty gourd goodness!

    Since it is now officially Fall, I have chosen to decorate my gourd with dried fall leaves; but just so you know, dried flowers work just as well. 

    I have these flowers drying right now. I just picked them from my fall garden - rudbeckia, delphinium, hydrangea, pansies, asters and lobelia - to create a fall flower gourd.

    Follow the tips in this post for drying your flowers and fall leaves. Kids get a huge kick out of pressing flowers and leaves and they will LOVE playing with gourds!

    Dried gourds can often be purchased at local farms or at farmer's markets.  If they need cleaning, follow the cleaning technique in Diane's tutorial for CraftStylish. 

    If you can not find them locally, you can order them from Northern Dipper, Welburn Gourd Farm, Amish Gourds or  Martha's Gourds. If you live in the Portland area you can get all you want at the Pumpkin Patch!  They are sitting there waiting for you right now!

    "PAINTING" GOURDS WITH DRIED LEAVES AND FLOWERS

    1.  Select the dried materials you plan to use.  (For this gourd, I am using fall leaves and ferns.)

    2. Assemble your "supplies" - Mod Podge and a brush.  I like to use the foam brushes for this project because they allow me to dab and build up the Mod Podge to create texture and depth.  Important note:  use your foam brush for only ONE project as the foam seems to break down over time and leave little bits of foam behind!

    I pour my Mod Podge into a paper cup to keep any stray plant debris from getting into my big bottle.

    3. Brush a little Mod Podge over the area you wish to decorate.

    4. Place your dried plant material directly onto the wet Mod Podge and gently press into place.

    5. Let dry a few minutes and brush on a layer of Mod Podge right over the dried material.

    6. Let dry about 15 minutes or so, brush on a coat of Mod Podge and add more plant material, pressing it into the wet Mod Podge.

    7.  Let dry 15 to 30 minutes and brush over the new leaves or flowers with another coat of Mod Podge.

    8. Continue adding layers of Mod Podge and dried plant material to your gourd until you have created a composition you like.

    9. Once you have your design completed, apply one or two more coats of Mod Podge over the entire surface area of the gourd and then set the gourd aside to dry for at least three to four days. When the gourd is completely dry, seal with acrylic spray.

    A few useful tips!

    I prefer using original matte Mod Podge and a matte acrylic spray for my gourds.  But experiment.  You may prefer using gloss or satin finishes.  "Sparkle" Mod Podge might be interesting as a final coat! Check out the formula guide on Mod Podge Rocks for more possibilities.

    Begin building your design with the plant elements that will be in the background of your composition. In this case, that would be the ferns. (Ferns and Jacob's Ladder dry beautifully and make a lovely background.)

    I use a fairly heavy hand with my Mod Podge layers.  I have found that it helps to create an illusion of depth and when you are adding ferns, it gets into all those little crevices between leaves..

    The down side of the heavy layers of Mod Podge is that drying takes a few days. Don't start this project in the morning and expect to give it as a gift in the evening!

    Mod Podge is fabulous at restoring the original color of dried leaves and ferns!  As a result, my ferns were restored to bright green and I had to tone them down a bit to blend with my fall leaves.  I did this with a brown Sharpie right over the Mod Podge - before spraying with acrylic.

    But sometimes, Mod Podge changes the color of certain flowers.  I dried some gorgeous red Cardinal flowers that turned a deep brown once they were sealed in Mod Podge.  If colors are important to you, test them on a scrap of paper and let them dry completely before applying to your gourd.


    DON'T FORGET AMY'S MOD PODGE GIVEAWAY!       If you haven't already, be sure to click on the link and leave a comment so you will have a chance to win the 5 jar Starter Set of Mod Podge. Her giveaway closes at midnight Saturday the 26th!

     

     

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  • Fall Leaves and Mod Podge Magic!

    Submitted by Pam on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 18:49

    Use Mod Podge to save those beautiful red, yellow, orange and purple fall leaves for this year and the next and the next.

    Toss a few newspapers in the back of the car.  Anywhere you find gorgeous leaves, gather them and place them between pages of the newspaper.  Place another group of papers on top to provide just enough weight to flatten the leaves gently and prevent them from curling.

    When you get home, carefully move your stack of papers to an area where they will be undisturbed for a couple weeks. No need to press under heavy books unless you just want to. 

    I do not press leaves I am going to  scatter about on tables, I just let them dry between pages of newspaper.  The newspaper prevents curling and cracking but keeps some of the original texture so they appear more "leaf like".

    For pressing leaves, flowers and foliage really flat, I use an old sketch pad and press under heavy books for a couple weeks.



    Now for the Mod Podge magic part!      Once the leaves are dry, gently brush on a coat of matte original Mod Podge and let dry.

    Turn over and brush another coat over the back surface and let dry.  Repeat with a second coat on each side of your leaf.

    It's like magic!  Your leaf becomes flexible and supple again, and the original color reappears! And your leaf will last and last for years!

    I have never sealed mine with acrylic spray, but you may wish to do so with yours.  So far, I haven't found it necessary.



    Now - even more Mod Podge magic!      Amy of Mod Podge Rocks is giving away a starter pack of five 2 oz. bottles of Mod Podge - one each of Gloss, Matte, Sparkle, Outdoor and Paper!  And Amy tells you how to use each one here!

    Enter right now!  The deadline is midnight, Saturday, September 26th! FIVE winners will be chosen!     

    What a great way to celebrate just 90 days until Christmas!  Thank you Amy!  I hope I win!  I hope, I hope, I hope!

     

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  • Wheat Harvest - Make House Blessings

    Submitted by Pam on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 00:22

    For centuries it has been traditional, during the wheat harvest, to bring a bit of the harvest into the home and fashion simple or intricate wheat weavings  as  "house blessings"  in the hope they will bring prosperity and good fortune to the family.  In the spring, the wheat buds were scattered over the newly planted fields to ensure a bountiful harvest.

    I am no wheat weaver!  But I have learned how to make these simple wheat weavings, called Mordifords, and I thought it would be fun to show you how to make two very simple versions - a braid and a twist.

    Wheat can be purchased from craft shops, flower shops or ordered from Blackbeard's . I used a variety called Blackbeard for this project.

    In order to be used for weaving, wheat usually needs to be prepared by removing the sheaf from the straw.  This is done by cutting the wheat straw just above the first joint below the wheat head.  The sheaf will easily slide right off.



    Just before use, soak the wheat in very hot water for two hours to soften    .

    NOTE: Diane's beauriful hands were not available for use while I photographed this post. I am very grateful to my husband for stepping up to the plate and not only holding my wheat bundle while I was weaving, but also for stretching out and working the shutter button at the same time!  Please overlook our "well used" hands! Hand positions during the weaving should be helpful as you are learning.

    WHEAT BRAID

    Tie six wheat stalks together at the base of the heads using dental floss.  Divide into 3 groups of two each.

    This is a fun craft to do with a partner - your child, spouse, BFF!   Have your partner hold the heads together as shown and provide a bit of tension.

    If you must make one alone, simply wrap a piece of twine around the wheat head bundle and attach to a door knob!

    If you know how to braid hair, you already have mastered this technique! Move on to the finishing steps for the wheat braid. 

    Begin by bringing the group of two straws on the right over the two straws in the center.  The right hand group is now the center group.

    Now bring the left group over the center group so that it becomes the new center group.

    Again, bring the right group over the center group...

    the left side group over the center group...

    and continue until you have braided about 4 inches in length.

    Secure with dental floss.

    Bring the end you just tied off to the base of the heads....

    and tie securely by winding dental floss around the joint several times and tying with a surgeon's knot.

    Finished!   I have always snipped off the long shafts.  However, while I was teaching a class at the Pumpkin Patch Harvest Festival, several of my students wanted to leave the long shafts just as they were.  And I fell in love with the "new look"!

    WHEAT TWIST

    Start again with 6 wheat shafts but this time, after tying them together at the base of the wheat heads, divide into two groups of three each.

    Hold one group in each hand with your palms facing UP!

    Now, believe me when I tell you this is much,  much,  much easier to do than to explain! 

    Tucking the left group into your left hand palm as you see me doing, hold the right group between your left forefinger and thumb.  Then with your right forefinger and thumb, firmly grasp the right group below the left thumb and begin to twist the straws away from your body.  Your left thumb and forefinger help with the twisting by rolling the straws as you twist.

    Be patient! The first time I read instructions for this technique my brain exploded!  I am hoping the photos will help prevent that from happening to you!

    Continue twisting until you have a twist about 1 inch long.

    Trade hands so that the twisted group is in the left hand and untwisted group is in your right.

    Twist the new right hand group away from your body to about 1 inch.

    Now, keeping a firm grip on everything, lay the right hand twist over the left hand twist and change hands! You will get the feel of this very quickly - I promise!

    Be sure not to let the wheat in you left hand "un-twist" as you continue working.   Twist the wheat in your right hand a few more twists and again change hands.

    Continue twisting and changing hands in this manner...

    until you have twisted to a length of about 4 inches. Tie off as before.

    Tie the base of the wheat heads and the end of the twist together to form a loop as shown.  Snip the straws to within an inch of the knot if desired.

    EMBELLISHING!

    Almost anything can be used to embellish your "house blessings". Let your creative juices run wild!  I'm thinking these flowers or these flowers or even these bows made of newspaper or magazines.  Or why not a few quilled flowers -Ann shows you how to make them here!

    I  embellish mine with flowers, leaves and seed pods gathered from my summer garden and then dried.

    Additional wheat and oat stalks can be tied on with dental floss.

    Note: I love the look of oats.  If you keep a watchful eye this time of year, you can often see wayward oat stalks growing by the roadside OUTSIDE  farmer's fences.  I try to "save" them before the county weed whacker destroys them!

    To attach dried flowers and other fragile dried material, I like to use my glue gun.  I added oats and a dried echinacea flower to my wheat braid.

    Dried hydrangea flowers and dried poppy seed pods on the twist with the cut straws.

    A rose, forgotten in a vase, dried beautifully and I couldn't bear to toss it.  Good thing too!  It worked perfectly with dried ferns on a twist with the long shafts left uncut.

    See - easy!  And fun!  Make some.  And send me pictures!

    CHRISTMAS NOTE: These are also very, very pretty as ornaments on Christmas trees and as package decoration - especially if you are wrapping in brown paper bags or craft paper.

     

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  • Correcting a mistake! There still is a Pendleton Woolen Mill Store in Portland!

    Submitted by Pam on Thu, 09/17/2009 - 02:11

    Last spring, I created a post to celebrate the 100th birthday of  Pendleton Woolen Mills . At the time I posted, I was under the mistaken impression that the Portland Pendleton Woolen Mill Store was no longer open.

    A very nice reader left a comment letting me know the Woolen Mill Store is very much still open!  To rectify my mistake, Diane and I recently spent a whole morning finding treasures and recording the visit.

    Diane just couldn't leave this beautiful Pendleton wool houndstooth behind. And that stash of red and turquoise remnants - mine - all mine! You will be seeing what I do with them closer to Christmas - but for now - it's top secret!

    Good news for all of you who wrote to tell me they were envious of our access to the Pendleton Woolen Mill Stores in the Northwest,  you can purchase many items at their e-bay store!

    If you live in the Portland/Vancouver area and you haven't yet visited the Portland Woolen Mill Store, I encourage you to do so SOON!  So many  "leftovers" ready and waiting to be recycled into beautiful Christmas gifts and decorations as well as simple, easy garments, quilts and pillows!

    Bins and bins of small blanket and worsted weight wool pieces left over from cutting out garments -  perfect for making ornaments based on these cute little birds or softies like this adorable donkey by Myra Masuda. Blanket weight wool is almost like felted wool.  You are going to love working with it! Especially at $5.00 per pound!

    Yards and yards of felt edge tape.  Although it is designed for use to finish the edges of blankets and garments, these brightly colored felt strips could be used in weaving projects.

    Selvages!  Perfect for rag weaving! You could make rag placemats using some of Diane's simple looms. Or - make a hand tied rag rug following the instructions in this tutorial by the Vintage Chica.

    Wool strips and instructions to crochet a wool rug - classes are taught at the store! 

    Check out the Woolen Mill Store blog for fall classes starting now such as selvage crafts, selvage rug crochet, crazy critters and fabric book covers.

    And for all you felting enthusiasts - everything you could ever need for felting...

    including a beautiful selection of wool roving in amazing colors - .25 oz. for only $1.50.  A perfect package size and price for stocking up on lots of beautiful roving for all those little critters we all dearly love.

    Diane and I have a play date for felting already scheduled.

    While you are shopping, be sure to wander into the amazing rug gallery which adjoins the store.  Beautiful rugs designed by Paul Alan Bennett and woven on looms at the Pendleton Woolen Mill in Pendleton, Oregon are on display.  Be sure to follow this link to the Pendleton, Oregon mill site for images of their legendary blankets, a little company history, a glossary of all the wools produced under the Pendleton name, and lots, lots more.

    Diane trying to figure out "how they did that" - gives you little idea of the size of these gorgeous "rugs".   Whether you live here or plan to visit Portland anytime soon,  be sure to visit this gallery.

     Did you notice the floor?  Diane is standing on the original Pendleton Mill hardwood flooring.  It really is beautiful, battle scars and all.  As you stand on it looking up you realize you are standing right in the middle of the original textile mill.  Very cool.

    We both found lots of wonderful treasures while we were visiting but I think this was Diane's favorite!  She plans to make a skirt, but it could also be made into a lovely, fringed shawl or scarf.

    This is what she found to make a scarf - a remnant the perfect width and length.  A quick hem and it's done!  At a cost of $5.00 per lb., these two garments of 100% pure Pendleton wool are a fabulous deal!

    We even found a bin filled with large pieces of  blanket weight wool for $5.00 per pound.

    Christmas is only 100 days away!  Time to get started, if you haven't already, on all those lovely handmade gifts you have on your list.  And what better place to find just what you need for those projects than the Pendleton Woolen Mill Store in Portland. Those of you not living in Portland, check out their e-bay store - you never know what you might find!

     

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  • Green Chile Harvest - Roast and Freeze You Own

    Submitted by Pam on Fri, 09/11/2009 - 00:33

    Green Chile picked by me!

    ROAST GREEN CHILE now, at the peak of the harvest, for use all winter.  If you can't get them at your local markets or farms, you can order them from the world famous New Mexico green chile growers, Hatch Chile Express.

    You might even try growing them in your garden next summer.  We grow them in our container garden and local farmers are successful in growing them here in the Pacific Northwest, so they should do well almost anywhere.

    Just so you know, you're going to need them December 12th for a special recipe I am sharing for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  

    Get out your grill, scrub the grilling racks, turn up the heat to high and lay out your chile.

    As they begin to char on one side, turn them over and over until the skin is charred on all sides. 

    As you pull the chile off the grill, place them in a pyrex baking dish and immediately cover with a towel.

    As soon as the chile is cool enough to handle, place about 10 to 15 chile in a plastic bag.  Don't seal the bag yet - fold the top over and let the chile cool completely.  Once the chile is cool, seal the bag, removing as much air as possible, and store in the freezer.

     PREPARE YOUR CHILE FOR USE IN RECIPES

    Note of caution:  Always, always wear gloves when handling chile to prevent the capsaicin from burning your skin.  And avoid rubbing your eyes during preparation.

    Defrost your green chile right in the bag it was frozen in.

    Remove the charred skin.  It will slip right off.

    Another view just for reference showing the skin on and off the chile.

    Slice open the peeled chile and remove the seeds - the seeds are one of the two places the HEAT hides!  You can do this under running water, or simply scrape them away from the flesh with the edge of a knife blade.

    Once the seeds are removed, you will notice there are two fleshy ribs - also where the HEAT hides.  If you are a fan of hot foods, leave the ribs in place.  If, like me, you are not fond of that "mouth on fire" sensation, these ribs can be removed to reduce the intensity of the HEAT considerably.

    A closer look at those ribs!

    To remove them, simply cut through the flesh on each side of the rib with a sharp knife.

    Now chop into pieces and your chile is ready to be added to your recipe.

    Frozen green chile lasts at least a year in the freezer and is perfect for use in casseroles, stews, guacamole, quesadillas and salsas.

     

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  • Viva LA FIESTA!

    Submitted by Pam on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 17:45

    Here she is!  My beautiful mother, modeling a gorgeous, hand crafted late 1940's Fiesta Dress!    (As a grade school student,  I was convinced I had the most beautiful mother on the planet!)

    Ah!  Memories of La Fiesta de Santa Fe!  Growing up in that most magical village instilled so many cherished memories - La Fiesta celebrations being among my favorites.  And since La Fiesta is being celebrated this very weekend in Santa Fe, I thought I would share a few memories with you!

    Mom and I often modeled in fashion shows together during Fiesta weekend.  wearing long, flow-y velvet Navajo skirts and blouses, squash blossoms and conchos.

    Can you believe that frown?  What is that phrase - if looks could kill? I still remember getting that picture taken.  LOVED being dressed up, but  I REALLY did not like that photographer very much!

    This amazing illustration is from a treasured book from my childhood "Pancho and the Pink Horse", written and illustrated by neighbor and friend, Teresa Kalab Smith (Teddy).  Printed in 1951, it is long out of print, but if you can find it, or any of her other books written for children, don't hesitate - own it!  

    The 50' tall Zozobra aka "Old Man Gloom" will be burned in Santa Fe this very night!  He represents all our anxieties, worries and troubles.  Once they are consumed in flames, we are free of them and ready to enjoy three days of La Fiesta celebrations!

    You, too, can have the chance to experience the burning of Zozobra thanks to you-tube and this video of "The Burning of Zozobra" in 2008.  Nothing has changed much since 1949 when I stood out in the field watching, my hands over my ears to dampen the loud bangs from the fireworks - except that he has grown taller!  Really!

     (Sorry it is a bit soft)  My grandmother Gwennie in her most fabulous, custom designed "Fiesta Dress".  She and my grandfather owned a gift shop in Santa Fe for 45 years and every Fiesta she greeted her customers and friends dressed in colorful "Fiesta Dresses" and wearing her favorite pieces of turquoise and silver jewelry.  I thought she looked like a queen!

    Poncho and his Pink Horse with the very carosel I used to ride in the center of the Plaza - right next to the cotton candy vendor!! Another of "Teddy's" charming illustrations bringing back golden memories.

    I hope you will visit the links and celebrate a little "Viva La Fiesta" this weekend.

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  • Old Books become New Wall Storage Folders!

    Submitted by Pam on Wed, 09/02/2009 - 07:05

    Here are some great ways to create wall storage folders out of old books bound for the dump!

    This is a 90%  recycle/reuse project!  Other than rescuing the books from the Goodwill bins and buying a small package of buttons, everything else used to construct these wall storage folders came from project leftovers.

    While I was at the bins, I saw lots of discarded children's books.  If I had school age children, I would be making these for their rooms to store school art projects, homework and other treasures using large format children's books in good condition. 

    Diane inspired me earlier this year with a post announcing a library class in which she was teaching purse making using old book covers.  I immediately realized the idea could be adapted to create wall storage for all those millions of recipes and craft ideas all of you wonderful cooks and crafters have been sharing on your blogs. 

    Now when I print them for later use, I just pop them into my beautiful wall folders!  Not a permanent storage - just until I can get around to organizing them.  After Christmas maybe!

    These are EASY and QUICK to make.  I've included several simple construction options within the mini tutorials , so feel free to scan through and mix it up a bit.  You could literally make one very quickly by cutting the pages out of a book that's in good shape, use the string and button method to create hinge straps, attach a bulldog clip to the top and - DONE!

    Before we begin - one cautionary tale!  DO NOT DO AS I DID and use original Mod Podge when applying fabric to the book covers.  Use the Mod Podge designed to be used with fabric.  Amy of Mod Podge Rocks fame, has provided a very useful and thorough discussion of the many kinds of Mod Podge and their applications.  Please take my advice - read and heed her words! 

    LETS BEGIN BY REMOVING THE PAGES FROM THE BOOKS

    I was amazed at just how easily pages can be removed from books! This particular book has pages that are glued into the spine section.  Remove a few at a time using an exacto knife. (Pages are being saved for other projects!)

    Since this book is in excellent condition, I am not even going to finish the inside. Just remove the pages neatly and - Done!

    Removing pages from a bound book is even easier!  Simply cut the liner paper along the edge close to the binding.

    Same with the back. The entire set of pages comes out in oner piece.

    If you wish to give the inside a more finished look, simply cut pretty paper to size and glue in place with original Mod Podge.

    USEFUL NOTE:      Once you have removed the pages, you have created the framework for your folder. In most cases, the book cover will hang horizontally on the wall; therefore, when I refer to the "top" of the cover or the folder, I am referring to what used to be the long side edges from which you would open the original book.  When I refer to the "sides" I am referring to what used to be the top and bottom edges of the original book.

    NOW WE CAN BEGIN MAKING WALL STORAGE FOLDERS!

    To make the simple recipe folder:

    The book I chose for storing recipes just happened to BE a recipe book!  Believe it or not - I did not plan it this way!  But when I saw some of the beautiful illustrations I had cut out - well - I just had to use one for the cover.  Since I adore Biscotti with a cup of coffee, this image was a perfect choice! The green and white borders were actually part of another page.

    Glue paper to the cover using Mod Podge.   Brush on two over coats of Mod Podge for protection, letting dry between coats and over-spray with an acrylic spray to seal.

    Another option to make your recipe storage folder more "practical"  - attach several often used recipes and hints to the cover where they can be seen easily when you need to refer to them.

    Use an ice pick to "drill" holes for a simple hanging system and simple hinge straps. (Not reccommended for a very hard cover.)

    For the hanger, make two holes in the back cover 1-1/2" in from each side and 1/2" down from the top edge.  Pull a piece of ribbon through both holes, tie in a knot or double bow and hang.

    For the hinge straps, make the holes in both the front and back covers.  Place them  approximately 2 1/2" down from the top edges and 3/4" in from the side edges and proceed as shown below.

    The inspiration for this simple hinge strap came from a package sent to me from Joan who writes a lovely blog Nini Makes.  She sent me treats this past spring wrapped in stamped brown paper and tied with string and a button.

    Thread a needle large enough to accommodate your string or embroidery floss, but small enough to go through the button.  Place the needle through the button you have selected for the front, then through the hole you just made on the front cover.  Pass the needle through the hole in the back cover and then through the button you have selected for the back.

    Now take your needle back through the other hole of the back button, back through the back cover hole and then up through the front cover hole and the front button.

    Leave about 2 1/2 to 3" of string between the front and back, as shown, and tie a knot in the front button.  Cut the string leaving enough of a "tail" to tie a bow.  Ignore that black ribbon for now!  We will talk about that in a bit. Repeat on the other side.

    Finished!

    WALL FOLDERS FOR THE CRAFT ROOM

    I can see a whole group of these wall storage files in a craft room - each cover design reflecting a different "favorite" craft!  Rachel would  embroider one, Hope would put a trilobite on one, Teri would paint one, Ann would quill one, Susan would bead one and Kathy would no doubt decorate with Safe Sparkle!  I decided to make one using chile pepper fabric accented with a"chile pepper" Kanzashi and another using a mini"quilt".

    Kanzashi Pepper Wall Folder

    Place your open book cover on your fabric and cut around it leaving about 3 " of fabric extending beyond the edges, as shown

    Brush Mod Podge over the entire outside surface of the cover.  You DO NOT need to use as heavy a coat as I have here.  Way too much.  AND BE SURE TO USE FABRIC MOD PODGE HERE.  Original Mod Podge, especially in this concentration will leave unattractive shiny spots all over the surface. Definitely a candidate for Heather's CraftFail blog!

    Be sure your fabric is lying with the wrong side facing you.  Carefully place the cover, Mod Podge side down, on top of the fabric, centering as best you can. Press the cover material into place.

    Brush a little Mod Padge along the side and top and bottom edges of the inside cover.

    Fold the fabric over the Mod Podge and press.

    If you like, you can miter the corners as you fold them, adding a bit more Mod Podge to hold them in place.  You can easily see here that I got way too carried away with my own application.

    Once the folder cover has completely dried, you can line the inside with paper.  Cut your paper so that it is the right size to cover the fabric edges on the inside of the cover by about 1".  Brush the entire wrong side surface of the paper with original Mod Podge, apply to the cover, press for a good contact and let dry.

    Now, to create a hinge system using 3/8" wide ribbon instead of string and buttons.



    NOTE:     This hinge works well when glued to fabric, but I don't recommend it for paper.  Sometimes the paper layers will separate and the hinge will fail.   I, of course, speak from experience! 

    However, I am using the images showing the application on the paper because they are easier to see than on black fabric.

    Determine the length of your ribbon by laying it on the partially open cover as shown.  You will need about 3" more in length than the distance between the partially open front and back covers. See photo.

    Crease the ribbon about 1 1/2" from each end

    Measure 2 1/2" to 3" down from the top edges of both the front and back covers and make a pencil mark on the inside of the cover about 1/2" in from each side.  Place a bead of glue on the inside front cover starting at the pencil mark and extending 1 1/2" toward the top.  I used  Beacon Fabric-Tac Permanent Adhesive.

    Place one of the 1-1/2" folded ends of the ribbon on the glue bead, cut end toward the top of the cover and the fold right on the pencil mark. Repeat with the other ribbon, glueing it to the other side of the front cover.  Let dry thoroughly. Once dry, repeat with the back cover and the other ends of the ribbons.

    Makes a perfect little hinge!

    I made this little pepper red Kanzashi to resemble a Ristra to decorate the cover.  BE SURE to follow this link.  Gorgeous photo! Gorgeous!

    Then I decided to wrap the cover in some lovely pepper red gross grain ribbon to add interest and create a hanging system.  Again, I used the original Mod Podge in copious amounts - big mistake.  Ruined the look of the ribbon completely.  If I had used Fabric Mod Podge, it would have been lovely.

    TIP if you decide to use ribbon to hang your wall folder:      Depending on the thickness of your book cover, staple, glue or sew the ribbon where it meets the very top edge of the back cover so it doesn't pull loose. Mod Podge will not stand up to the tension.

    To make the "Quickly Quilted" wall folder

    Again, measure your fabric by cutting 3" beyond all edges of the open book cover as shown.

    Now cut a piece of scrap quilt filler exactly the size of the open cover.

    Cut a piece of backing material - I used an odd piece of muslin - also the same size as the open book cover.

    Now place the printed fabricwrong side up on the work surface.  Center the quilt filler material on top and then the muslin liner on top of the filler.

    CAREFULLY turn the sandwich over and using large safety pins, pin the three layers together.

    Use a sewing machine to quilt all three layers together.  I purposely selected this favorite piece of Laurel Burch Christmas fabric because it already looks quilted! And I wanted it out where I could see it every day!

    When you are done "quilting", remove the safety pins.

    Look familiar!  Brush Mod Podge over the entire outside surface of the book cover. Then apply the fabric and the liner paper just as described in the chile pepper wall folder above.

    Once the you have completed the cover, apply the ribbon hinge system as shown above for the chile pepper folder.

    To make hanging REALLY EASY, simply clip a 1 1/2" - 2" bulldog clip to the top of the back cover and hang.

    Make a bunch of wall storage folders! You can use them anywhere paper accumulates. I have three in use and they are already nearly full!  I hope you will have fun making, designing and using them. I would love to hear what ideas you come up with for your own wall storage folders!  

     

     

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