jennifer, Author at Hopeful Homemaker

Ribbon Junkie

January 27, 2010 jennifer Ribbon

I have a confession to make. I am a ribbon junkie. I can’t help it. It’s all so beautiful, and you can do so many things with it. I can breeze through most any store making a beeline for what I need without being waylaid for any reason, unless I spy ribbon! If I see ribbon, I always have to stop and look. Thus, I have plenty of it (and it doesn’t hurt that Costco’s ribbon is priced so well!). I keep my 3 tiered basket full of spools in the closet…

And another small collection on the desk (stacked on my favorite paper towel holder) This holder is where my favorite ribbon of all time is kept.

It’s the leaves ribbon from May Arts . I have it in both white and olive green. For some reason, a few weeks ago I headed over to the May Arts website for some info about that very ribbon. Imagine my delight to discover that they have a ribbon blog ! Oh, how I wish they had a ribbon STORE!

They were currently running a little contest, so I typed the first thing that popped into my head and what do you know… I won! I swear, I’ve never won anything before! It was kind of fun. The prize was 3 yards each of six different ribbons, my choice. I was so excited when they arrived! It was very generous of them!

I have big plans for the black and white one in my guest bathroom. The others I’m excited to play with. All of them are beautiful.

Then May Arts announced a Valentines craft challenge. I submit an idea, they provide the ribbon, and I get to create my project. I joined in (and talked my two sisters into joining me). So, another box of ribbon arrived in the mail.

How pretty it all is! It sat like this for a while, so I could see it and consider how to use it.

I’ve been working on my project, and now it’s finished. I’ll share more in my next post! It was a fun exercise in creativity.

One comment Color, Ribbon

Pink Ticking Tablecloth

January 27, 2010 jennifer Linens

I love vintage linens. Among my favorite things is my collection of printed tablecloths, which make me smile when I look at them. I’ve always wanted to find a good way to catalog these lovely pieces, so I’ve decided to post pictures of one each day (or as often as possible) until I have them all photographed. I’m hoping this will also accomplish the task of driving away the winter blues.

So, since Valentines day is approaching, I’ll start with a pink one.

This is one of my favorites (but I say that about every one of them). I love the way it resembles vintage ticking, but on a larger scale.

The inner section has a scalloped border that is so cute!

The pattern continues around the outer border.

This tablecloth measures 41 inches wide by 52 inches long. It has a few flaws and tiny stains, but nothing that detracts from it or makes in any less lovely to me. It has no markings on it, and if anyone knows anything about it, I’d love to hear!

This is a fun cloth to use at a baby shower for a little girl. What would you use it for?

Black Bean Casserole

January 26, 2010 jennifer Main Dishes

This has been a favorite family standby for years. It’s healthy, meatless, and inexpensive.

Chop 1/2 cup onion and one green pepper, and saute in 1 tsp oil until crisp-tender.

Rinse and drain two cans of black beans.

When the veggies are tender and the onion is translucent and just beginning to brown, add one can diced tomatoes, the black beans, and 1 1/2 cups of your favorite salsa.

Mix together and add 1 tsp. cumin.

Cover the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish with corn tortillas. Then layer with 1/3 of the bean mixture. Sprinkle 2/3 cup mozzarella cheese over the beans. Then repeat the layers twice more.

Sprinkle the top with some sliced olives if you like them. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until casserole is heated through and cheese is melted. Serve with sour cream.

Black Bean Casserole 1/2 cup onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 can diced tomatoes 2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained 1 1/2 cups salsa 1 tsp. cumin 18 corn tortillas (I usually use 6 per layer, and have them overlap a bit) 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese sliced olives sour cream In pan, saute onion and bell pepper in 1 tsp. olive oil. Add tomatoes, black beans, salsa and cumin. Cover bottom of 9×13 inch pan with tortillas. Spread 1/3 bean mixture over the tortillas, then layer 2/3 cup cheese over beans. Repeat layers twice more, ending with cheese. Sprinkle with sliced olives, if desires. Cover and bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until casserole is heated through and cheese is melted. Serve with sour cream.

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