Fabric Shopping Tip

If you've ever purchased your own fabric for curtains you know the time and patience it takes to walk up and down the fabric store aisles!  You go into the store with one idea in your mind and then see things you might not have thought of so now you are overwhelmed with the possibilities!  Not to mention you're in a store surrounded by colors that aren't in the room you're planning to make curtains for and let's not even discuss the terrible lighting!

Photo Credit

For me, the toughest part is picturing what the fabric will look like gathered as a curtain.  In the store the material is "flat" but we rarely hang our curtains in a perfect flat line.  The large bolts are easy to unroll and gather yourself to get a visual but those little square samples in the special order section are not as easy!  


While shopping with my Mom the other day we wanted to compare three fabric options for her dining room windows.  The curtains are almost always open so we needed to be able to visualize how the pattern would actually look scrunched up.  I quickly took advantage of those annoying hangers the samples hang on and pleated the curtains up...now we could see and compare how they would each look. 

I would always shy away from these little sampled because I couldn't picture how it would look, but now with this trick I might just give them a second chance!  Unfortunately, neither of us were in "love" with any of these options so we are actually still on the hunt for her perfect dining room curtains! 

We have just a few more days till the end of our Patriotic Link-Up Party!  Take a minute to pop over and see all the great links...there's so many awesome ideas I'm having trouble picking a recipe to use for July 4th!  Also remember to share your Patriotic posts! 

Blueberry Scones

Proper British Scones With a Pop of Blueberry!


I absolutely love scones!  When I am in the UK it is my number one treat! There is nothing better than stopping in a little cafe for tea and scones - delicious!! In fact some of my best travel memories are from sitting in little cafes just taking in the sites (and people)!

I have been searching for a good authentic recipe and finally found one...but you know how I am, I always have to tweak it! ;)  The original recipe is from Nicky at delicious days. Be sure to check out her blog, she has great recipes and it's fun to read! I really didn't tweak too much, the main change was using fresh blueberries instead of dried fruit like sultanas.  

I think the neatest thing about this recipe is that you combine all the ingredients in a food processor! It is super quick and easy as well! 

Ingredients (yields 10 smallish scones)

1 2/3C all-purpose flour, plus more for handling the dough
1,5 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp white sugar
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
4 Tbsp cold butter
5 oz half & half
1/4C blueberries (or other dried fruits)


For brushing: 1 egg yolk and 1 tbsp 1/2 & 1/2

First combine all your dry ingredients and blend with the food processor.  

Next add in your chilled butter cut into small squares.  Pulse the food processor a few times until the butter is no larger than a tiny pea.  Once that is completed add the half and half.   

Turn the food processor on until the dough forms a ball (or oval in my case!).  

Place the dough on a well floured surface and knead.  DO NOT overknead - if you do the scones will be tough instead of flaky! 

After I flattened the dough I pressed the blueberries into the top.  I later realized I could have just kneaded the berries in during the previous step.  (My initial fear was I'd burst the berries all over the kitchen, but they were tougher than I thought!)

You can use any type of cutter to cut the round scones out of your dough.  Growing my my grandmother always used a glass to cut round things (primarily pierogies!); my glasses all seemed too big so I decided to use a mason far - it was the perfect size!

This was my first time using my silicone spill mat (Thanks Mom!).  I simply placed it on a cookie sheet then laid the scones out.  (They don't spread when they bake so you don't have to worry about spacing!)

Before you place them in the oven be sure to brush them with the egg yolk mixture.

The house smelled amazing while these little British treats were baking!  Sanka & were both anxious for the timer to go off, but it was well worth the wait!  

They came out beautiful - I love the color!

Traditionally these would be served with clotted cream and jam, but to be a tad healthier I ate mine plain!  I didn't miss the extras at all!  It was so yummy and the baked blueberries were like their own little jam!