Caring for Your Regal Cottage Products

I was recently asked by a Developmental Therapist if the Regal Play Balls were machine washable because she wants to use them in her practice. My response, "You bet they are!"

It is so important to me that all Regal Cottage products be durable, easy care items. Kids get dirty, and they get there stuff dirty too! Every product I make is machine washable. I think you will be delighted how well my products wash. One of the best things about using repurposed vintage fabrics and organic cotton, is they start out soft, and they get even softer the more you wash them.

Here are the official Regal Cottage washing instructions:

Machine wash on delicate cycle in cold water. Low to medium temp. setting in the dryer.

That's it. Simple. Easy care. Now go get dirty!

Smoothies: A Refreshing After School Treat

Wowwee, it has been a very hot first week of school for us. My kiddos definitely weren't going to go for the old cookies and milk treat after school. All they have been screaming on the way home from school has been either, "Jamba Juice" or "Slurpy" everyday. Well, we aren't having any of that, but we did make homemade smoothies. And these were just the right sweetness and creaminess.

This recipe uses strawberries as the base, but you can substitute most any frozen fruit.

Fruit Smoothies (makes 6 small servings)

2 cups frozen strawberries (or other frozen fruit)

1 small container of flavored yogurt (such as yoplait or dannon)

3/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate

2 cups milk

1 cup ice

Mix all ingredients in blender. Garnish with a fresh strawberry on a straw if you wish.

Sneak Peak: Matryoshka Baby Dolls

Here's a sneak peak at something new I will be bringing to the Cowtown Indie Bazaar.

Matryoshka Baby Dolls!

These little darlings have the most adorable little hand embroidered faces, repurposed vintage fabric dresses, and are so cuddly soft.

A Budding Athlete Gets his Game On

Oh, what fun Little G and I had with my latest Regal Baby Balls. He is learning to throw, catch, kick, and roll. He is almost two now, and seems to be developing quite the sports prowess.

These were just perfect. They are easy to grip and so super soft. The vintage chenille that I used adds such a nice fluff and texture to these balls.

Little G is definitely all boy, and was infatuated with the hot rods, Vespas, and VW Bus designs on these balls. The fabric is Monaluna for Birch's Circa 50 Cars. This line is organic and just lovely. It is everything organic cotton has been missing for so long. Vibrant colors, trendy designs, and the highest quality weight.

We had a blast, and I am happy to report no sports related injuries.

Into the Woods

My Treasury made it to the Front Page on Etsy; a very exciting day!

If you want to see it up close and personal, you can see it better here. Thanks so much to KimsCraftyApple for alerting me. I really, really, really appreciate alerts to exciting events like these, because I would have missed it completely.

Meet the Tooth Buddies

I would like to introduce you to the friendliest little tooth fairy pillows around, the Tooth Buddies. They are full of personality and fun.

Meet Isabella. She is a real girlie girl and loves to wear flowers in her hair.

This is Pinky. Isn't she a darling?

Meet Mr. Macho. He is very manly and likes to twirl his mustache in his free time.

Each has a pocket on the back to hold a little one's baby tooth until the Tooth Fairy arrives. This pocket is also the perfect place for the Tooth Fairy to leave her goodies.

If you are not familiar with eco-felt, it is a wonderful new green product. It is felt made from recycled post-consumer plastic. Who knew going green could be so much fun?

Many more Tooth Buddies are on their way. Coming soon, glasses and bow ties. You can see the entire collection in my Etsy shop.

My Granny's Biscuits

My Grandmother, Ruth Johnson Bowers, made the best biscuits you could possibly imagine. She made them every day. She made them before she went to work. She even made them before she went to church. Biscuits, gravy, bacon, and fried eggs were her specialty.

Many years ago I tried to get her to "give" me the recipe, and she said there was no recipe. She did it by feel, she told me. So I tried to make it along side her several times. I took notes that are now long gone.

Today I decided it was time to figure out her recipe. This one comes pretty darn close, except for one thing, bacon grease. My Granny made her biscuits with bacon grease that she saved up like gold in a little can on the counter. It was gold, pure liquid gold that gave all the best southern cooking it's fabulous flavor. Oh, the good old days...

I used butter and a little extra salt to replicate that bacon grease flavor. It comes close.

By the way, Granny's biscuits are nothing like the ones in the can. They are not fluffy and not very flaky. But, they are so very yummy. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Granny's Southern Style Biscuits

3 cups bread flour

1/2 cup softened butter

1 cup buttermilk

3 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons salt

Mix the dry ingredients. Cut in the butter. Stir in the milk. Turn onto a floured board and knead lightly. Roll the dough with a rolling pin to a 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with a biscuit cutter. Place biscuits onto a lightly greased baking dish. Bake at 450 degree oven for 12-15 minutes.