MUSICA!❤️ Well, first off, I promised you a photo of the wool coat I bought in England ~ the one I wrote about a couple of blogs ago … And I finally managed to remember to do it. And, btw, while out and about on the Internet, I happened upon a website in the English Lake District that sells them (just in cases you want one too! The label says, “handmade.”). It’s a wonderful store Joe and I visited when we were there called Stewardson’s of Hawkshead .
Welcome over from the new Willard if that’s where you’ve come from (he’s just starting to go out today ~ takes 3 days for him to get to every email box, so if you’re signed up, he 
should be there soon!), and if not, welcome anyway! As lots of you know, Joe and I are on the train right now, in our “room with a view,” actually in the beautiful Berkshires as I write, heading down the tracks for Chicago, then on to LA ~ and right now, out our window, is the most gorgeous sunset between the leafless tress and across snow fields! It’s kind of a miracle, to be on a moving train and writing you at the same time! I’ve been sending photos and videos of our views over to Twitter … hope you’ve been able to see them (you can click on the link and take a look if you like, you don’t have to join Twitter in order to see the pictures).
Yesterday, before we left (which was just this morning), I needed to do some ironing for the trip. I’m sure many of us remember our mothers starching clothes before they ironed them ~ rolling them up while damp, putting them in plastic bags and keeping them in the fridge until they were ready to iron. Seems so old-fashioned to us now! My mom did it, there were always bundles of ironing in our fridge, she ironed all my little sister’s puffed-sleeved dresses with starch, and taught me to do it too. And my dad’s shirts ~ we were all very crisp around our house. And it wasn’t spray starch, it was the real thing. Liquid starch, the kind she used, is hard to find, at least where we live . . . our supermarket doesn’t sell it anymore, I had to go to Amazon to get it. Mostly, these days, it’s used for crafts, but I have this linen jacket I was bringing along that is no good without good old-fashioned starch, spray starch just doesn’t do it. In fact, I have a lot of things I use real starch on. There’s actually a really good reason to do it! I’ll show you! (Jack, as you can see, was there for the whole thing! But he was more interested in . . .
. . . what was going on outside our kitchen window, than what was going on inside . . .)
So, just in case it’s been a long time, or maybe never, since you starched something, and just in cases you’d like to try it . . . here’s how. It’s really easy. First off, you can read on the bottle how much starch to mix with how much water to make the fabric as stiff as you’d like it to be.
I wanted my jacket to be slightly stiffer than medium, so I mixed 4 c. water with 2 c. starch in a very large bowl. My summer potato salad bowl if you want to know.
I swirled it around with my hand to mix it . . .
Then I put my clean linen jacket into the liquid and got it soaking wet.
I took it out and rung it out as best I could … then I noticed all that left over starch and thought, what else do I have? Then I remembered I’d just washed a dresser scarf from the bathroom and thought, perfect timing!
I like dresser scarves to be really quite stiff, so I added a bit more starch.
And in it went.
Then they both went out to the pantry to partly dry on the clothes rack. Soaking wet is not good for ironing, you want them damp. So while that was happening . . .
I wrapped birthday presents for my mom, we’re heading to California to celebrate her 87th birthday (on the 27th)! 🎁 She loves it when I wrap her things in my own paper, so I ordered some from Spoonflower, (the people I do the fabric for … they make all the fabric patterns into wrapping paper too!) which I’d never done before, I was interested to see the quality. And was happy because it’s the thick stuff! Very nice.🎈My mom will love it!
And then, for a couple of good reasons, I made a cake ~ An Orange Marmalade Cake, because Jack’s other Mother was coming from California to stay with him while we’re away . . . and we were making dinner for her . . . and also, because every time Lowely makes something delicious, she always brings me half.
And I wanted to do the same for her before we went away.
Which I did. She only lives two doors down, so I walked it over, and got a goodbye hug. The next time I’m doing a blog and NOT on the train, I’ll give you the recipe! It was delicious!
So then it was time to iron. And what is the first thing I have to do? I have to get Jack’s hair off the ironing board, unless I want to iron it into my clothes. The ironing board doubles as his perch at the pantry window to watch the world go by. So I got out my packing tape, laid a big long strip down, and moved it along until all his little hairs were stuck to it!
And now, I’m ironing. And it’s coming out beautifully.
Voila! When you starch something, it stays fresh looking so much longer. You can wear it and re-wear it and it doesn’t look wilted.
And that, in a nutshell, is why I love starched things. They last forever.
Here’s my dresser scarf, back on the table in the bathroom. Note shadow under table.
Old linens are one of my passions, loves, downfalls. The beautiful cloth, the delicate embroidery and the cotton lace ~ irresistable! Smoothing an old damask tablecloth onto my dining table is one of the simple joys of life. Lighting a candle on that table, where it almost reflects in the sheen of the cloth, is another.
Here is an example of starch and what it does. I haven’t ironed these in over 6 months. No one really uses them, because a terry hand towel is right there, so they are really more decorative than anything, but they look as nice today as they did when I hung them up 5 years 6 months ago.😜
These are the bathroom curtains in that same room, made from an old lace tablecloth, the last of the ones I brought from California when I moved into my first little house on the island. Starched and perky, I won’t have to do it again for a long time. You could never do this with spray starch. Not even with the one that says, “Heavy.”
And here are a few more linen things, just so you get the picture, which I’m sure you do by now! I should be a door-to-door liquid starch salesperson!
One more tip, and that is, you may have starched something a while back, like this linen jacket. But maybe it was crushed in the closet and got kind of wrinkled again. No problem…
As long as it’s clean, you don’t have to rewash and starch, you just spray on a little water, and iron, and it all that good starchiness comes right back.
And there they are, ready to go into plastic bags and into the hanging bag … yes, they will need a touch up when we get there, but it won’t be much! So there you go, adventures in ironing from the Heart of the Home! Pure
Okay, enough about ironing, how about some maple syrup? I LOVED your comments in the last post, like I always do, thank you so much.💞 And yes, we did stuff poor Vanna into our duffel bag, she’s here, fluffed out, head to toe in pink cashmere with a leopard faux fur collar (she knows how to be comfy), complaining because she broke a nail and there’s “no manicurist on board.” It’s okay, we’ll fly her outta here when we get to Chicago. Her and her “little pink zipper bag”👛 which we have had to find for her about six times now. She’s a princess. Not fit for train travel. We knew we would need her for the drawing for our Vermont Valentine Giveaway . . . and so, with no further adieu … Vanna? Come here darling… (oh, the look on her face😱) ~ here we go . . . the WINNER of this delicious Vermont syrup (I know because we got a bottle of this too!) is . . . . PAMELA TASKER!!!!! Congratulations Pamela! You will love this! Be sure to heat it up before you pour it on everything! Look for an email from me in your box . . . I’ll need your mailing address so I can send it to you.
And now, so it doesn’t have to end . . . there’s more . . .
Hello. Remember I showed you these cups I was designing a while back? That’s the one I designed on the left, my glued and pasted paper cup without a bottom. And on the right, that’s the sample they sent! Pretty darn wonderful if I do say so myself! So I did more!
This one is called
and it has Ms. Lambikins on it, amongst other recognizable doodads from my flora and fauna art repertoire. Plenty to read early in the morning when the brain requires quiet time.
And this one is called
for us, the normal ones.💞
Last but not least, we have “Little Things,” because 
All three are being made right now, of fine bone china, in the potteries, in England. Yes, real, bonafide English cups. ❤️ Each holds a truly magnificent 16 oz (if filled to the very top). I’m so excited. You who have hung out around this blog for a while, know how much I have wanted to do this. Finally, the time has come. They will likely be here in May, in time 
for Mother’s Day, if all goes as planned. And if you leave your name in the comment section of this blog,😁 you will be entered in a drawing to win one of these. There will be 3 winners, and the moment they come in, those winners will be the very first on our mailing list! And yes, just in cases you don’t win, they are available now for preorder. Which means, if we haven’t ordered enough, we should know fairly soon, and can get more into the works right away. After a decent amount of time, each of the designs are going to be retired, and replaced by new ones (I have so many fun ideas!) And the only place on earth where they will be available, at least for the foreseeable future, will be here in our web store. I hope you like them.💖
The last time I was in California, Joe and I were driving across country … I picked these two roses, one from my Grandma’s garden, and one from my moms. They sat on the dashboard of the Fine Romance Van the entire way. And when I got home, I took this photo of them. As beautiful as they were when they were first cut. In two days I will be in my mother’s arms. 💞 The dearest person, who was in labor with me for so long (72 hours) that a tiny piece of her soul broke off, and went into me. And that is the way it has always been and will always be. I feel so lucky. Thank you all for being here. Have a wonderful day! WILLARD’S on the way! I’ll be back soon!
My kids & grandkids from Souther CA just left us (Steveston BC) after a heartwarming visit. I went for a long walk this morning, tidied up a bit (had to leave the fingerprints on the sliding glass doors :D) & I’m now luxuriating, toes up, with a hot cuppa tea. Heart of the HOme felt inspired to reveal itself to me in 1990 & I’ve been unravelling in your books ever since. Luxuriate in your mom’s arms…there’s nothing quite them ❤
Your mugs turned out just perfect didn’t they?!
xoxo Mary Lou
They did. 💞 And “luxuriate” is the perfect word, thank you Mary Lou!
love starching and doing things the old fashion way! love love the mugs! I must get one!
In all my years I have never used real starch….I think I’ll have to purchase a bottle and get my runners and doilies looking sharp, like yours. Please enter me in to win a wonderful tea mug. I love that all your designs are on them. Thanks for writing….have Wonderful trip to CA.
Have a safe and fun trip, Susan. I love your Twitter and Blog, thanks for sharing with us. My husband and I traveled by train from South Carolina to New York City a number of years back. It was relaxing and I loved seeing the world go by. I love what you wrote about your mom. So sweet! I have already pre-ordered one of your mugs. I am so excited about them. I may have to order another for my coffee loving daughter-in-law. Have fun. Thanks for sharing your life, drawings, everything with us all. It is an early Spring here in North Carolina and the Bradford Pear trees out back, Rose of Sharon, Dogwood, and lots of other things are blooming and popping up. YAY! Love you!
Dogwood is one of my very favorites. Just love spring blooming trees!
Starching clothes to iron makes me think of my mother and grandmother. I still remember that smell when the hot iron hits the damp clothes doused in liquid starch. Good memories, thank you for reminding me. Praying Traveling Mercies for you and Joe. Enjoy being in CA with your mom.
Thanks for the starch lesson! I have been looking for some to no avail ,so will try amazon.
The cups are precious! Count me in the drawing☕️
Safe travels ! Hug your momma from all of us 😘
How magical to dream something up and then be able to hold it in your hands. The mugs are “So Susan”. That’s what my girlfriend and I say whenever we see something adorable💕Have a blessed trip. The weather is beautiful here in California…Spring is coming!🌸🐝
Oh boy, and so are we!
Enjoy your cross country trip to California…. a very WET California. But we are so happy our draught (at least in the north) is over! Looking forward to a beautiful Spring! Wish we could visit in SLO but just checked and it’s sold out. ☹️
The mugs are luvlee❣
Oh nooooo. I want everyone there!
Your starching lesson reminds me of my Grandma washing, starching, and stretching all of her crocheted doilies- for table toppers and for armchair arms and backs, and then putting the stretching board in the sun to dry. good memories! the mugs are outstanding- cant wait !
Neat information about starch.
Enjoy your blog so much.
Thank you.
“The dearest person, who was in labor with me for so long (72 hours) that a tiny piece of her soul broke off, and went into me. And that is the way it has always been and will always be.” ~ Oh, my heart! This is the sweetest, most beautiful way of describing our Mommas! So happy you are celebrating your Mom’s special birthday together! Happy Birthday to your sweet Mom! 🙂 Love your starch account 🙂 I always loved the smell of my mom’s starching! Have to try it! And Ms. Lambikins is super adorable! Congrats on your mugs ~ they are delightful! Hugs, Sue
Must be what labor is really all about. Soul sharing. xoxoxo
I love old (vintage) lines too. I have my grandmothers dresser scarves and doileys and a set of tablecloth and napkins that are the pulled thread embroidery. Love them. Thanks for the reminder on starch. Have a safe trip and happy visit with your mom. And the cups are adorable.
I love your new mugs and would love to win one! Have you thought about doing one with teacups and teapots on it? It would be so cute for tea lovers (like me) out there.
So a cup with teacups on it? I could do that!
Yes! What a wonderful design idea for your mugs! A mug with teacups and teapots on it. I would buy one in a flash!
Love the mugs. A very happy birthday to your mum. My mom turned 87 too!
Was an EXCELLENT year!
Always loved to iron, even as a kid. Something so satisfying about smoothing out all those wrinkles! Never used liquid starch for ironing, go figure, only crafts, will have to try it! Thrilled you are getting the mugs made!
Th cups are lovely and I can’t wait to get them!
The mugs look amazing! I love them and am so happy that they willbe made of bone china! Everything hot tastes best in bone china!
Happiest of Birthdays to your Mum. Have a beautiful trip
I love the mug designs.
I love your new mugs and would love to be entered in your contest!! Your blog makes me feel so happy! Thank you.
So thrilled with the new cups. So glad they are being made in lovely England.
Thank you for another wonderful read, sweet Susan! I’d love to have my name entered into the drawing for your beautiful mugs…Sarah Crenshaw.:)
In love with those mugs!! ❤️ So glad you are doing these. Can’t wait to have one to enjoy my coffee and tea in each day!!
I just reread Fairytale Girl and Isle of Dreams, and I so appreciate them and all the blogs and Willards, Susan. Such great escape from the news. I remember you wrote that piece about your mother’s soul in one of the books, and it is such a touching sentiment. I’m so glad you still have your mom to share all your adventures with. And thanks again for sharing them with us. And now, on to a reread of A Fine Romance! Maybe this is one more sign we need a book about Scotland. 🙂
Yes, I did, I just wanted to hear myself say it again. and again. xoxo Thank you so much Donna!
Love the cups…..and your writing & Art! ❤️
Such lovely mugs! How sweet o you to do this! BTW I used to iron my Nanna’s tea towels using “real starch” as well as pillow cases. My mom ironed my dad’s shirts this way, and tucking them in the ice box first! One more story…my uncle worked in a lumber mill way down in the piney woods of southeastern OK. My aunt ironed his overalls inside and out using cooked starch!!! So he looked nice going to work!
Oh, those mugs are so lovely! It would be a wonderful gift for Mother’s Day! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
My Mom’s turning 86 on the same day that your Mom is turning 87! I just moved down to take care of her and all of my beautiful Susan Branch items are in storage. I guess I’ll just
have to go to your store and buy some more! How fun!
Have a wonderful time on your trip and I hope you and Joe enjoy every bit of it!
Sherry
Happy Birthday to your mom! xoxo
The cups are just beautiful. 😊
Have a wonderful time with Mom on her birthday.
I’m sure she must be thrilled that you will be there to help her celebrate
That cake sounds yummy too
Oh, yes, I remember my mother starching all the pillowcases and my blouses and they smelled so good from drying in the fresh air and then being starched. Brings back wonderful memories and reminded me why I love to iron so much. Think I will be getting some starch soon. Have a wonderful trip to California and please tell your mother “Happy Birthday!” for me.
Susan, I love your blog, and LOVE the mugs. I plan to order some. Can the maple syrup be ordered from Baker Farm?
Roz Constant
I would imagine it can, why not! Or from the cider donut place, which is where I bought it.
I so enjoy your posts and your books and your cups are beautiful!
God bless.
Betty
Another delightful post, Susan! Safe travels to California. I loved our train trip last summer to Arizona—Grand Canyon. And…your mugs are wonderful. Your creative spirit knows no bounds!
Thanks for the tips on starching! I have some crocheted doilies that I need to starch. My Nannie used to put all her doilies that she was starching outside on a big piece of cardboard for them to dry. It was fun helping her do that. Your cups are wonderful! They will make nice gifts. Hope you and Joe have a good and safe trip.
Oh,my…thank you for the memories of my mom having all the starched laundry in the refrigerator! And then she would iron them on what we called “the mangler”…one of those ironing machines with a roller. I don’t know if that was the real name or if we called it that because if you got your hand in it your fingers would be mangled! Would love to win a mug…they are adorable and would work so well with my new electric kettle. Never had an electric kettle but on a recent trip to London there was one in our room and we were hooked! Have a safe trip…enjoy!
The real name was Mangle, and those were the REAL DEAL. We didn’t have one, but you could do sheets in there they were so big!
I have memories of a Mangle as well. The flat things were real fun to do, not so much anything with sleeves. And the water bottle with sprinkle gadget plugged into the top. And the pile of damp rolled up things left too long in the fridge that got moldy! Oh no, had to start over from scratch. Laundry used to be quite a project back in the day.
People used to be much more “dressed up.”
Thanks – good to know it was called the Mangle. In our home it was kept behind the dining room door with a lovely slip cover ( made by my mom) kind of making it not so obvious. My toys were kept in a basket underneath where your legs went when you used it. YES…people were much more dressed up ( I miss that sometimes) and all the tablecloths and napkins were ironed. Miss that crispness and still try to iron mine so they feel the same…
Safe travels…have a wonderful trip !
I never knew how to use liquid starch for actual ironing. Thanks for the info! Love all of your mugs!!
Liquid starch is also excellent for turning fabric into wallpaper. Just dip the fabric into the starch and smooth it onto the wall. When you want a change, peel off the fabric and wash the wall with water. Easy, inexpensive and fun. The mugs are darling.
Oh yes, luv-lee advice and ideas, Molly! xoxo
I have fond memories of my Mom starching my Dad’s shirts and the dresser scarves in this exact way. She used to listen to the radio while she was ironing, and I would hear her humming along with the music.
I know your Mom will be excited to see you for her birthday. Soak up every moment with her. Sounds like a wonderful trip.
I adore your new mugs that you have designed. Please include me in the drawing. Love that they are made in England — my paternal grandparents were from England – London and Bristol – and they came to Alabama in their early 20’s. I am fond of all things British!
Happy travels!
I love trains and old linens. I’ve never tried liquid starch. I do so enjoy your blogs. Love the mugs too.
How I would love to win a cup, but barring that, I feel like a winner every time I read your blog or re-read one of your books.
Very sweet compliment Marcia. xoxo
Hi Susan!
I am going to be ordering my starch as soon as I am finished writing this comment. Thank you! Have a wonderful time in CA. My daughter is moving there in March. It’s a long way from NJ. Your mom’s birthday is the same day as my father-in-law’s. He will be 85.
With love and gratitude,
Terry
PS: I ordered my mug!
Thanks for the reminder about starching, I can smell the damp pillowcases and slips we used to unroll and have to press. WE used a old orange soda bottle with a sprinkle head top filled with water to sprinkle on the mistakes (creases) while we were ironing. We also had a “mangler” that we ran the sheets and long tablecloths through. Do you remember those? They saved time. We had it next to the treadle Singer sewing machine in the “Sewing Room” ( a downstairs bedroom used for naps and sewing). Wow remembering now – how simple life was then. Everything took so long to do, washing with wringer washer, hanging everything out to dry on the lines next to the tree rose garden and then folding everything before taking inside. Monday really was wash day…..it did take all day.
As always such a treat to receive your blogs….
p.s. LOVE THE CUPS!!!!!!! I have pre-ordered all three of the cups!! Who could make a choicel…you have to have them all!!! Maybe I will be a lucky winner and then just might be able to share one with my best friend!!
Susan, Have a wonderful trip. Love your mugs.
Happy Bday to your mum😁
I absolutely love the mugs! Hope I win! And I will definitely order. (More than one of course!)
Love your delightful stories about your train trips. The farthest I have ever traveled on a train is about a hundred miles. You have given us some details in some of your blogs, but I wonder if you might do a whole blog on train trips? Have most of your trips been on this route, between California and your home, or have you taken other trips that are more about “sightseeing” or a certain destination? Tips about food, bathroom facilities, and packing. Just a thought. Maybe for some of us, who who have vacations right here in our beautiful United States on our “bucket list.” I hope you have a wonderful trip. Hug your mama tight!
I have but I should do it again. xoxo
Well I truly hope a scenic train trip is in my future SOMEDAY!
We have to “make our dreams happen” and not wait too long.
“Ain’t it funny how time slips away?” My husband has a degenerative
disease, and I wish we had started a little sooner!”
I too remember real starch. I used it on my high school uniform blouses. Sister asked me one day to stand up and show the class how a starched Peter Pan collar should look. This was 1954 in Philadelphia at Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls.
I love your cups. Such pretty patterns and colors. You must be so happy to see them.
Have fun with your dear mother.
Smiles
Little Flower . . . what a wonderful name!
Happy Birthday to your wonderful mom-mine went to heaven when I was only 10, but my dad had his prayers answered that God would let him live long enough to see my youngest sibling turn 18-& He did, & then some . My hero turned 88 this month! LOVE the beautiful cups…
💘
love the mugs! have a wonderful trip!
I LOVE to wear and knew nothing about what starch could do. Thank you. The mugs are beautiful! Thanks for the giveaway.
Those mugs are wonderful! Maybe mugs in the four different seasons? Holidays (Halloween especially)? I can see an entire collection of those mugs in my cupboard.
Off the subject a little, but because like you, I hate flying but still want to visit my children and grandkids who live clear across the country (I’m in Idaho; they’re in Maryland), we’re planning a train trip back east this October. You’ve inspired me to embark on an adventure across the country. I’m so excited.
Have a wonderful trip.
I hope you love it as much as we do, Tina!
I’m in love with “In Love with Nature” mug! Beautiful.
Loved the post……however, I have no intention of even attempting to starch things like you do. On the rare (very rare) occassion I must confess that I do use the “spray stuff”. You are my hero for sharing with us the proper way to do it!
My favorite thing is that the mugs have turned from paper mock-ups into reality. How can I possibly live without one?
And last but not least, my Willard arrived today……yay me!
Time for me to check Twitter now to see how you and Joe are enjoying the Twain to CA.
As always I am right there with you…..and I can’t begin to thank you enough for that.
#girlfriendsforever
xoxoxo Kathy!
Soak up all that love from your mama’s arms (like your linen things soaking up starch), and then you will be refreshed and ready to send more love into the world again! You are truly blessed, and so are we, your girlfriends. I especially love the Little Things mug, and can hardly wait to have my morning brew in my very own! Have fun with Joe as you chug chug chug along!
I hope you and Joe enjoy your cross-country train ride and have a wonderful time with your Mom for her birthday. I just love reading your Willards and your blogs. They really bring me so much happiness. You are so creative and blessed to recognize and enjoy the “little things” in life. I love your idea of the beautiful china mugs and would love to be lucky enough to win one… we’ll see… Again, thank you for sharing yourself with all of us.
Eileen
Loved your blog and books, calendars, etc. for years. Would love to enter my name into the contest to receive one of your new adorable mugs from England.
Wow! I will have to starch the linen skirts I have as they drive me wrinkly! And my dresser scarves.
The mugs turned out well. Your grandma still has a garden?
Arnie is home now, but we are running to GB for wound treatments for at least another week. An hour and a half drive in a snow storm today. What I do for LOVE. Love the LOVE mug! 😍
Hugs and safe travels,
Margot
It was the bush she planted in her garden, but no, my grandma is gone to heaven. Hugs to you both, stay well!
😇 To our grandmas who taught us as well as our mothers!
I could not agree more! To our grandmas!
Love reading your stories, somehow reminds me of when I was little and someone had signed me up to receive letters from a farm reporting all the activities and sometimes a feathers or some other little token. How I looked forward to those letters as I now look forward to your emails. Would love a mug. Dagmar Nicosia
Read the comments, because I’m enjoying wonderful stories there too! xoxo
LOVE the teacups! Even if I don’t win one, I’m going to order one for me and one for my grandmother. It’ll make the perfect Mother’s Day gift.
Lovely post!!! I have always loved to iron. Still do when sewing and creating quilts. Put on the radio, iron and drift away. I am so anxious to purchase a new cup!!!
Absolutely LOVE these mugs!
How I love your Blog! My grandma always starched her laundry and doilies the same way you do. After all these years, I can still smell them! The mugs are beautiful! ( I see another collection in my near future)! Thank you for everything!
Debbie McQuillan would love to win a mug!
I hope she does!
In all my years I have never used real starch but hated the canned stuff so gave up. I think I’ll have to purchase a bottle and do my table runners and curtains, as yours look so pretty. Wow no creases, lovely!
Please enter me in to win a wonderful tea mug as I love all your designs, so pretty and unique. Hope you have Wonderful trip to CA and Happy birthday to your Mom.
Thank you Bev!
I guess I’ll be comment 675! WOW, everyone wants one of your mugs – well, they are so very pretty!
Have a safe journey and enjoy every minute and your visit. Happy Birthday to your Mom.
Thank you for the starching lesson I will give it a go. Your mugs a so lovely thank you for the chance to win one.
Be safe
Darlene
I love the cups…. all of them!!!
It was very interesting to read about the liquid starch. Do you know that I’ve never used it before? Always the spray starch. I never enjoy using it as it sprays all over the place.
My husband is taking me out for dinner tonight as it’s my birthday today. I’ve had the most fun reading all the birthday wishes on Facebook.
Hope your trip out to California is great! The weather there should be a bit better than last week I hope. Can’t believe all the rain California has gotten!
Until later….. I still need to read Willard.
xoxo,
Carol M
Happy Birthday dear Carol! Have a wonderful evening!
Happy Birthday Carol…I hope it was a fun day!
My dear hubby just got home Tuesday night from San Diego. I picked him up at the train station. If he had waited a few more days, you-all might have crossed paths in the Great Plains! He loves to travel by train across the country.
The cups are precious. I love the busyness and all the different images on them. I too use starch and love to iron. I enjoy your inspiring ideas and stories. Thank you.
“Oh, I just blew in from the Windy City–the Windy City is mighty pretty but it ain’t got what we got…..” Sing it, Doris! (Now my hand is in the air, waving like mad, asking Vanna to ‘Pick me, Pick me!”) Love the mugs, especially the Lambie, hope it has my name on it! Safe travels!
Hi!
First off, a HUGE congratulations on the achievement of your designed with love, bone-china made in Staffordshire, England mugs! That’s awesome Susan! Woot, woot! *clink*
I loved the show and tell on the liquid starch. I’ve acquired through vintage hunts quite a nice stash of linens and lace. It should be fun making them all stiff so that they hold up better while on display. My mom did a lot of ironing but I think that was when most items were made of natural fabrics. She made us look so pretty as young girls in getting our hair ribbons done and dresses ironed and starched. I was a twirler just to see how high I could get my dress to float out. I loved that part.
Reading what you wrote about your Mom and your birth made me pause and feel your longing and love for your Mom. I’m happy for you that you’ll soon be with one another enjoying time together. My mom is 85, and while we chat a couple times a week I can’t wait to see her in a few months time. There’s nothing better than seeing them…their eyes, hands, expressions. xo
Safe journey to you and Joe! xo
Erica
Yes, a phone call is wonderful, but a hug is way better. xoxoxo
Hi Susan…….we’ve been in Florida for a few months and I’ve been “lazy” with my social media….which is almost a good thing! I love this blog….of course I remember starch done the old fashioned way but haven’t done it in years. I am very excited about your wonderful mugs….must get a set. And, last but not least, I love how you love your Mom! Hope to be back in MA by Easter. Enjoy your trip to CA. Xoxox
LOVE the coat, it is so you……….great post and I sure do hope I win one of those beautiful mugs, I can almost taste my morning coffee sipped out of one of them right now…….I hope you took your Mom one for her birthday. She must be one special lady to have been given the gift of you for her daughter…….enjoy the ride and safe travels to your Mama’s arms
Oh your mugs are beautiful. Coffee and tea just tastes better in an English china mug. It is true. I have a love of vintage linens too. Starched pillow cases are heaven. I have been too lazy but seeing your big bottle of starch has me thinking. Enjoy your moving room with a view and the birthday with your mama.
Susan,
I am so excited about your new teacups!!!! I have a set of three Christmas mugs that you did and I purchased them in the 1980’s. I have treasured them and have often searched on the web in hopes there were some more for sale. I use them every Christmas and I’m often nervous when others use them because I don’t want them to get broken. So, I would make a suggestion that maybe you could do some Christmas themed cups. I would be happy to provide photos of the mugs I have. Safe travels and Happy Birthday to your beloved mom. 🎂❤
I will do that, Diane!
Ordered the 3 mugs today. Remodeling our kitchen right now and they will have a special spot in the new space!
Happy new kitchen, Beth!!! Fun!
What a lovely blog post & Willard. Enjoy your trip. A few years ago we flew to San Francisco, took the train to Santa Barbara for a few days, then to San Diego & then to San Luis Obispo where we stayed at Apple Farm – fabulous – before catching the train back to San Francisco. It was a wonderful holiday.
Please enter me in the draw to win one of your gorgeous mugs. Is there any way I can order them from England to save it traveling to US & back?!
Not yet, but I’m definitely going to talk to the manufacturer about it and see if they might have an outlet for them over there! Makes so much sense!
Oh, I just love the little lamb on the Spring cup!
Funny that I have been looking to buy this starch for craftscun my kindergarten classroom, but it is getting harder to find. I think everyone has gone to spray starch.
It’s always fun to read your blog and escape the ordinariness of my day into what is going on in your life and locale. I love the design of your mugs and will look into purchasing one or two. Enjoy your trip to “my locale–California!”
How marvelous to hear your lovely story of liquid starch…I’m looking for it again right now! It is maple syrup time in New England…the land of wonderful yummy tree syrup..glad to hear you love it too. Have a great trip!
I am off to buy some liquid starch! I am helpless (hopeless?) when I come across old linen hand towels, dresser scarves and tablecloths! Especially anything that’s hand embroidered! It’s almost as bad as finding a homeless kitten 😜
Someone may have already mentioned this, but I find the same starch at WalMart. I’m a quilter, and starch all my fabrics before cutting so they don’t stretch while sewing–awesome stuff! Your cups are totally charming–love them! I’m looking forward to the recipe for that cake too–yum!
Love your post. Have a safe trip!
Have a wonderful trip to see your mom! Sending love from the Village of White Level in NC!
That Orange Marmalade cake looks so delicious and I can tell that it’s a winner of a recipe by just looking at the pictures. Your new mugs look delicious also and I can picture myself sipping a beverage and eating the cake with a dear friend or two. Have a blessed trip.
Oh my goodness, this post brought back so many memories for me! I remember cotton blouses, men’s shirts, pillowcases and even sheets damp and neatly rolled and sealed in plastic waiting in the refrigerator to be ironed – and I learned to iron early! I have some old linens that you have inspired me to clean and starch, yours look so beautiful. I love the mugs that you have designed, one of those would be very nice for my morning cup of tea! Birthday blessings to your Mom, 87 years young I’m sure!
What a wonderful blog post! I so appreciate the tutorial on starching….Amazon, here I come! The new mugs are absolutely luv-lee! Maybe a teapot along the same lines in the future? A very happy birthday to your mama! There’s just nothing quite like a mama hug. Blessings to you as you venture to California! The weather here now is beautiful! Will watch for your posts on Twitter from the Twain!
Hi Susan! Happy travels to you and Joe! What a wonderful way to see our beautiful country. Your new cups will be darling! Can’t wait to order some for my sweet daughter in law–last year she received your newest book. And I agree that a cup with tea cups would be a super addition. Enjoy celebrating your Mom’s birthday 🙂
I Love your Coat of Many Colors!!
Every time i see your name in my E-mail,my day gets so much better!!
Can you see me smiling????
Have lots of fun in Cali
Oh.My. Goodness. I think I have fallen in love with your starch and linen collection!
Hi Susan,
Love your Willard post. You always make me smile and feel so comfy cozy inside. Just love how you express yourself in your writings as well as in your artwork. Love the mugs you designed. Can’t wait to have may morning cup of coffee in it. Enjoy your time in California with your mom and family. Hopefully our weather in California will be sunny and bright. The greenery is beautiful here now. The rain has been a good thing. Loved your comment about Love. I feel the same as you do. Enjoy!
Love,
Gail
I simply love the 2 dried roses. I have them all over my house. Yours are not only beautiful, they speak memories. xo Beth
I use to starch and really had forgotten about it. Have a wonderful trip
and happy birthday to your mom!
Oh, those mugs are adorable! Very nice job and I love the shape. Thank you for the starch lesson. I remember seeing the rolled clothes in the refrigerator, or rather the “ice box” as my grandma called it.
I just adore your art and your stories! Would love to win one of your mugs but will for sure pre order some. Your artwork is just so fun and lighthearted and whimsical – it makes my heart happy!
I think it was a great idea to remind us that using real starch can be so worthwhile. Love it that you took photos of the steps involved and then treated us to your freshly ironed coats.
Oh! The mugs are lovely!! I really like the one with the lamb!! I have scarves and doilies that were embroidered by my Grandmother~~what a good idea to starch them! I’m sure SHE did! I remember her using ‘bluing” on her whites, too.
Waved to you as you were “rolling” through the Berkshires. May your trip be as wonderful as the feelings which your work gives us! O, Happy Days!
Hi, Susan! The mugs are so precious. A wonderful gift for my girlfriends birthdays.
I’m a Susan,too, and was born on the 27th in ’42. I’ll be toasting you and your mom on “our” day. A starch story: we used liquid starch on our layered petticoats in the 50s and in late spring when it got warm, the starch would stick to our legs after sitting in class all day. When we stood up, we were “flat” on the backsides instead of our preferred puffy, twirly skirts. The things we did for fashion!!
Enjoy the train and I hope you have one of your mug wrapped up for Mom!!
Happy Birthday Susan!
Love the tea cups ! Must have them!
The cups are just beautiful Susan!! Can’t wait to get one or three!
I have lots of starch memories, as I am almost 76! But, the main ones are starching about 10 petticoats to hand on the outside line about once a month, I guess. What a mess….all that dripping. And fun to take them inside after drying, stiff as a board, and we didn’t have to iron them. And skirts stuck way out, and made us feel sooooo wonderful. I guess we were in junior high. I’m not sure. I can’t wait to preorder the cups! Beautiful beyond words.
Those skirts, those slips, remember twirling in them! And wearing them on our heads so we could be “brides?”
I loved the comments about your mother. I am very close to my daughter, and can appreciate how you feel about your mother. ♥️
Love the designs on the mugs/cups. Another great idea for your art.
Enjoy your trip!