Few things are lovelier to me than lace and handwrought needlework. I hope you will enjoy a sampling of some of the pieces in our collection. Many were handmade by me, some were gifts from family and friends, and others are vintage pieces that I acquired over the years. I love to purchase new lace pieces when I’m in Europe - I’m long overdue for another trip. One day, perhaps, my daughters, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters will cherish them as much as I do today.

The filet name sign was given to me one Christmas by Barb Seward, Brian’s commander’s wife. I think fondly of her everytime I look at it. She stood in as proxy for Caroline’s godmother in 1997. Caroline was wearing a beautiful gown made of Nottingham lace. It is currently packed safely away at Grandma’s house.

Here’s a detail shot of the same pieces. The doilies were a purchase on our honeymoon in Bermuda. I love the delicate trim, hemstitching, and whitework. The lavender sticks are something that I have taught my daughters and nieces to make. It has become an Independence Day tradition for us to sit on the lawn enjoying home-made clam chowder and fritters while we weave tiny satin ribbons around the blossoms. In the dead of winter, they are a sweet reminder of seemingly endless summer days.

This was my first-ever attempt at filet crochet, back in 1990. I am a self-taught needlewoman. By the time I was interested, my Nana’s hands were too arthritic and her eyes too weak to teach me. But both she and my grandfather taught me that I could learn to do anything as long as I could read.

Ribbon embroidery is intensely satisfying. This is a beginners project which can be completed in one sitting. The feel of the silk slipping through your fingers and the soft variegation of the colors makes for an experience for the senses.

My great-grandmother used to make lace like this to trim her pillowcases. I adore making trims because they are small projects, quickly finished. These were made from a Devonshire-cream-coloured #20 crochet cotton. The finished pieces have a marvelously soft hand and a gorgeous drape. One day I’ll work up the courage to sew these to some of my own pillowslips.

This is a pair of ecru lace booties I’m working on. I hope that one day I’ll have another sweet baby girl to wear them - either a daughter or a granddaughter. With my first three children, I was in and out of Labor and Delivery for pre-term contractions. I soon learned that having a small project to work on - one that made me think of the sweet babe growing within me - was just the thing to pass the time.

My mother always had a dresser scarf on her chest of drawers. This one is another treasure from my honeymoon. Once again, I was completely smitten with the classic whitework and the delicate edging.

I’ve been blessed to receive some vintage pattern books and needlework magazines from Brian’s mother. Many of the volumes were more than 20 years old. This filet crochet runner is from a pattern in one of those magazines. When it’s finished, it’ll be a sweet round-bottomed cherub.

I love Irish crochet. I have collected many books on the topic. Here is another length of trim, which I think is vaguely reminiscent of tatted patterns and a “Marguerite” sprig that are awaiting assignment in my lace box.

Vintage lace and raw silk were used to make this First Communion dress for my middle daughter, Caroline. The dress was her own design and the lace was pulled from my English lace stash.

A multitude of sins can be covered with embroidery, including the hole I accidently made while unpicking the hem of Caroline’s dress. These things can also become a trademark of sorts, as this daisy motif has for me.

Vintage lace and my first attempt at shadow-work embroidery came together in Louis’ Christening gown last year. Correction: The lace is actually a Nottingham trim with Oak and Acorn motif.

In this close-up of Louis’ Christening gown you can see the Trinity knot and the beautiful Miraculous Medal pin that was a gift from his godparents, Bill and Mimi (foster parents to 101 children!).

Sacramental garments are my favourites. If I could make a living from making them, I think I might. But as it is, I’ll have to take joy from knowing that my children, and one day my grandchildren, will wear garments lovingly made by my hands. This Christening gown belongs to Sophie. It was my first smocked garment and was sewn from raw silk and vintage lace.

Here you can see how we used a gold beauty pin to good effect, holding the soft blue silk accent ribbon to the bodice.

I made this dress for Sophie’s first birthday from an antique pillowcase. It matched the theme for the day. I also hand-painted butterflies onto the fondant on her strawberry cake. She looked so sweet in this little dress. What a shame she grew out of it so quickly. I’ll pack it away for someday - perhaps one of her little girls will wear it for her first birthday, too.

And I simply couldn’t resist a close-up of the lovingly wrought embroidery. It’s delicious!

And finally, the tradition continues with the next generation:

This is one of my daughter Cate’s cross-stitch projects. I’m not a cross-stitcher at all. I simply helped her walk through the instructions and she flew from there. She’s not one to shy away from a challenge. This will surely find it’s way into a custom frame for someone’s Christmas present.

Just look at the eyes on this wolf. It’s amazing how soulful and painterly a picture wrought from fabric and coloured threads can be.

Long before my children arrived, I was in love with old handcrafts. I was saddened that there weren’t many remaining opportunities to learn these skills. Thanks to the internet, sharing these nearly lost arts is much easier. I was blessed to have been able to learn many of the techniques I use on my own, using vintage books, patterns and by studying antique textiles. I am so pleased that I have the ability to teach my daughters and other women and girls how to make beautiful heirloom pieces. For me, creating a piece of needlework is deeply joyful work. I pray with every stitch that whomever the intended recipient is will be blessed everytime she uses the piece.

But you don’t need to know how to make them yourself, you can become an admirer and collector. You can breathe new life into old textiles and preserve them for generations to come. Who knows? Perhaps your daughter or granddaughter will one day take up a needle or hook and create heirlooms for generations yet to come.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Simple Gifts Fair. I love that you spent some time to visit with me today. Have a blessed week!

Brian has often recalled to me childhood memories of family clambakes over the Independence Day holiday. The men would return triumphant the day before the celebration from the fishmonger – laden with clams. The shellfish was taken by tractor and wagon to the stream that borders the family homestead, where it would be kept cold until the next day. A large pit would be dug up by the farmhouse, and a fire would be lit in it, and allowed to burn down to coals in preparation of steaming the clams, potatoes and, corn. His aunts would make clam fritters and chowder and I’m very certain that there were also lots of sweet treats for afters. Dozens of cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, neighbors and friends all would gather at the homestead to enjoy a long day of cooking, eating, laughter – and fireworks.

I remember long weekends in Rockport Massachusetts with my parents, the smell of baked scrod emanating from the seaside restaurants - and the sublime taste of saltwater taffy while walking Bearskin Neck. Those were wonderful days!

But you needn’t have a hundred-acre farm, nor 100 guests. And you needn’t travel all the way to Cape Ann. Your own kitchen and your family will do very nicely. The receipts that follow include hearty as well as lighter fare. Many of the receipts have been halved from what I normally prepare. They should serve 4 adults. The exception is the fritter receipt – invite friends. They’re delish and make a nice nibble with a tall glass of lemonade or tea, eaten on the front porch swing, or anywhere else

Steamed Clams

2 dozen little neck clams
1 bottle good beer (Uncle Mike’s note – don’t use Corona. It’s great to drink, but imparts a strange flavour to the clams)
1 stick butter
Handful fresh, chopped parsley
Head garlic

Note: make sure your clams are live – the shells should be able to close when touched. This tells you that the clam is still alive. Scrub your clams with a vegetable brush under cold water.

Place all ingredients in a large pot and bring up to simmer. Cook for 3-5 minutes, until shells open. Discard any clams whose shells have stayed shut.

Clam Chowder

1 large onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
Butter
Potatoes, cubed (1-1.5 lb)
1 lb clams with broth
Handful chopped fresh parsley
1-1.5 tsp. chopped fresh tarragon
Water
1 pt. heavy cream
Salt and fresh ground pepper

Saute onion and garlic in butter over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add potato cubes and herbs and sauté 5 minutes more. Add water to cover, simmer 7 minutes, until potatoes are fork-tender. Add clams and heat through, finish with heavy cream and season with salt and fresh pepper to taste. Serve with oyster crackers or cornbread!

Aunt Claire’s Clam Fritters
I use the batter reciept to coat haddock for fish fry and also for onion rings.

3 c. self rising flour
2 c. milk
1 tsp. cider vinegar
Salt
2 sm. tins clams, with broth.
Oil for frying

Combine flour salt, milk and vinegar to make a batter. Add clams and broth, blending well. Drop by the tablespoon into hot oil (350F) and fry until golden brown on both sides, about 5-7 minutes. Drain on paper toweling and sprinkle with salt.

Fish en Papillotte
I love this light fish recipe – it’s quick and easy and equally lovely served with salad, rice or pasta – or just a good crusty bread.

1 lb fish steak (salmon, tuna or swordfish)
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
2 T. fresh lemon juice
2 T. capers
Sliced lemons

Preheat oven to 400F, or heat up the grill. Lay out a large piece of foil and turn up the edges. Place the fish on half the sheet and cover with remaining ingredients. Fold up the foil, taking care to seal all the edges. Cook for 20 minutes and serve.

Tartar Sauce

This is a simple recipe for tartar sauce, which I truly love. It’s a step up from the mayo/pickle relish variety.

1 c. mayonnaise
1 T. fresh lemon juice
1 T. capers
1 tsp. dill
Salt and pepper to taste
Dash paprika

Combine all ingredients and refrigerate. Delish!

Salmon en Croute

Another wonderful receipt for cooler summer evenings. It is lovely served with fresh melons and a rice salad.

Puff pastry, thawed
Pesto (homemade or from a jar)
1 – 1.5 lb. salmon fillet

Roll out puff pastry on a board. Spread pesto over the meat side of the salmon, then turn over onto the pastry. Fold pastry over the fish, trimming excess. Place the wrapped fish on a lightly oiled baking sheet and brush with butter or egg wash. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Salade Nicoise

I adore this receipt. I hits the spot for a summer Friday tea, right before rosary. It is best served with a crusty loaf and vast quantities of pink tea (iced tea with grenadine).

Salad greens (I like a good dark mix)
Boiled potatoes, cubed
Steamed green beans, cut
Chunked tuna (preferably home steamed, not from a can)
Black olives, pitted (whole or sliced)
Hard boiled eggs (sliced)
Anchovies
Grape tomatoes

Toss the greens with a small amount of Dijon Vinaigrette. Arrange the greens on a platter and layer on remaining ingredients. Serve remaining vinaigrette in a pitcher to dress salads as desired.

Dijon Vinaigrette
This is the REAL French dressing – not that frightening orange stuff in the grocery store.

2 T. Dijon mustard (go on, get the best stuff you can find)
½ c. fresh lemon juice
½ c. extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp. fresh tarragon, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine mustard and lemon juice in a bowl (or in a blender or jar), slowly whisk in oil until fully incorporated and emulsified. Add tarragon, salt and pepper.

I hope you’ve been inspired to get into the kitchen and create a simply lovely seafood dish this evening! Come on back in two weeks for a sweet lemony menu! Please send me your receipts using lemons for inclusion, but be sure your receipt is not copyrighted, please.

Hospitality is a gift that we extend to everyone. Hospitality is a state of being ready to receive guests warmly at all times. The front door of a home is a portal into the warm embrace of your family and should be inviting. Real estate agents would call this curb appeal. I prefer inviting…

A front door should say something about the people inside. I imagine that behind these doors awaits a pleasant cup of tea, something sweet, and a nice, long chat.

I’m sure there will be a hearty welcome here:

Good bread, good cheese, good wine, and a good friend can be found here:

A refreshing glass of lemonade and a tray of nibbles is ready for you here:

An equine friend resides behind this beautiful stable door:

Pizza Margherita anyone?

Mug of Hot Chocolate? Perhaps not today…

Serenity and Spiritual Sustenance can be found behind these doors:

I hope you’ve enjoyed our little stroll and that this Simple Gifts Fair has brought you a lovely little break in your day. May you be blessed and inspired!

I really look forward to spring. During those long winter months here in New England, I long for green leaves, flowers, birdsong, warm breezes. And using my washing line again. I pine for the fresh-air scent that lingers on my sheets for the entire week - something no bottled concoction can boast. God does it so much better! Erin knows just what I mean. How blessed she is that washing lines are a year-round joy! Sarah is still waiting for washing line season to begin on the Plains…

I have such fond memories of the washing line from my childhood. I can remember trundling out behind my Nana with the clothes pins to hang up a load. As I grew, she had me put out the laundry all by myself. She told me that nothing gave her greater pleasure than looking out on lines full of clean, white baby diapers.

That’s why, when I saw this post by Elizabeth, I was inspired to share my own love of seeing fresh laundry out in the sunshine. There is something so tender about little clothes hanging in the breeze. There is an immense feeling of accomplishment at having line after line full of freshly washed clothing, towels, sheets. It’s a tangible badge of merit. It says “I have been working hard”, it says “I am pleased to serve my family”, it says “We have a big family with lots of dirty duds!” .

But Suzanne is so much more poetical than I… And what a pleasure to be blessed with lots of little girls so that your washing line looks exactly as though butterflies have perched there with their pink and orange wings flapping “Hello!”.

When we moved to our home seven years ago, I begged Brian for a washing line. I wanted one exactly like the one my grandfather put up for my Nana. It was made of wood with several lines run between. There were flowers planted at the base of each post - execpt for the one where the chives were planted. To this day, the scent of chives reminds me of laundry… There was a birdhouse nailed to one end. A funny thing to put near clean laundry, but beautiful, and homey and sweet.

Last year, my husband built that washing line out of wood left over from our recent deck demolition. He carefully measured and engineered, he dug holes, he backfilled. He tied anchoring lines, he drilled holes for the roping. All to satisfy my wild love of hanging up clothes. We have yet to plant flowers. I’m planning to plant these beautiful Zepherine Drouin roses to grow up each post and over the top. The scent is heavenly and is sure to attract more of the butterflies and dragonflies I love.

My friend, Dawn has just experienced the same anticipation as she watched her husband Bill put up her washing line, while Mary still patiently awaits her line. In the meantime, she is contenting herself with dreaming about the day she, too will be standing outside in the sunshine and sharing with us lots of beautiful, inspirational laundry-related links.

What’s to love about hanging out laundry? It’s heavy, it’s tedious, it’s unneccessary, you say? You have a dryer for that, you say? I have a dryer, too. And so does Marie. But we both treasure the quiet of being out-of-doors, away from ringing telephones, away from other pressing duties. We agree that it is good stewardship to consume less. And we both love that special, sweet time with our little ones. There is something so endearing to me about having my two-year-old daughter clinging to my skirts as I peg up her precious little shirts and jumpers. There is a wonderful bond formed under the lines when a child is in charge of the pins.

Still not sure that such a menial chore can be such a blessing? Take a walk outside with me to my washing line:

These beautiful colorful pennants are a humble reminder that they won’t always need my help, that it is such a blessing, such a grace to be able to serve one so small. One who can’t yet help himself. I am not just “doing the laundry”, I am engaging in a prayerful act. I am being shown that not only are my family a blessing for me, but that the work I do is indeed a blessing to them. That my work as a mother has great value, that these small tasks are full of importance.

And so I leave you with a prayer I recently wrote down to remind myself of this in everything I do.

Lord, May the work of my hands be an offering of thanks for the many blessings you have bestowed on me. May it sanctify me and those I serve. May it please you and glorify your Holy Name. Amen