Print's Not Dead: You Can Wear It

This isn't a delicious pile of candy; it's a necklace of beads handmade from strips of magazine pages!  (And a gift from my super-sweet friends at Micato Safaris.  They know Kenya better than anyone so it's no wonder they discovered such a treasure.)

Fair-trade workers in Kenya craft the beads by cutting a thin strip from a colorful page, rolling it tightly from end to end and sealing with a daub of glue, then soaking it in varnish.  They're so intriguingly beautiful, and if you look closely, you can see text from long-ago stories.  The company is called Acacia Creations (not a polished site, but it tells the story and lists retailers) and the artisans share in the profits. 

Surely a lovelier end for reading materials than as fishwrap.  And it suits the Western-Boho-native vibe upon us for fall.

Clumsy Drinker? New Shirt!

Listen, stop beating yourself up about that careless toss of red wine that seems to have ruined one of your favorite frocks.  There just might be a silver lining.  (Always look for one after a night that involves a spill.)

Yes, of course you should try treating that damn spot with Wine Away (seems to work best), or take the sullied item straight to the dry cleaner.  But when all else fails, envision a new life for the poor thing.  The jaunty top above used to be a knee-length dress; luckily the wine in question fell mostly below the hip (great aim!) so I just lopped off the bottom.  If a sleeve gets soused, lose it (or both, depending on how balanced you need to be). 

Remember, it's a painless operation or the scrap heap.  You might find you like the new garment better.

Cheapskate Florist

You really, really can make florist-quality arrangements with grocery-store flowers, and I promise it's not too hard.  Most important is sticking to one or two colors, with a little greenery thrown in if you feel like it.  Second-most important is cutting the stems pretty short.  Your mood should be careless, romantic exuberance, not tall, willowy elegance.  I like to use little mason jars or even short drinking glasses.  Four bunches (I used ivory roses, ivory something else, purple chrysanthemums, and purple asters) should run you less than $20 (at the Giant in Harrisburg, PA they were $16) and turn into 6 to 8 small, low, awesome creations.   Focus on one vase at a time,.  Cut a stem be a bit taller than the top of the vase, strip it of leaves, and place directly into the water.  Criss-cross the stems, picturing a vortex in the center that each must go through.  That will intertwine them in a way that they'll prop each other up.  Add leaves (above you see rose leaves, and yes, I threw the baby's breath that came with the roses in, too) last as accents.  Work quickly and don't think too much, and they'll come out superbly.  Let me know if you have trouble.

Watermelon Makes it a Party

Make any summer evening (or, well, sure, afternoon) infinitely more festive, without trying too hard at all.  This is a good one even after Labor Day, as it instantly brings back that carefree vibe you feel every day in August.   You set the tone with the drink you hand your guests when they arrive.

Find a relatively oblong-shaped, seedless watermelon of medium size.  Work lengthwise, and slice a tiny bit off the bottom so the guy's bottom will rest flat and  he'll stand up straight.  Cut off the top (about a third?), scoop out the flesh, puree it, strain it through cheesecloth or a sieve, and refill the watermelon carcass with the juice, plently of vodka, seltzer and fresh lime juice.  Serve with a punch ladle over ice in tall glasses and garnish with mint. 

Arrange this magical beverage vessel right where everyone can see it. 

Even burly fisherman got way into this when I served it in Stonington.  After they teased me for dressing like a watermelon. 

(Inspired by Martha Stewart Living) 

Horseplay

Counting down the minutes until we leave for the Ranch at Rock Creek near Phillipsburg, Montana.  Will I wear head-to-toe denim the entire time?  Get really good at shooting clays?  A river runs through it!