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!
AWESOME mugs! Your love and attention to your mama is so dear……ENJOY!
Dear Susan: A visit here at my ‘sweet spot’ is just the loveliest resting & reading & dreaming place—add a little music of Nat King Cole in my ear and…….heaven! :o) I just love that you and your Momma will be having the Birthday Reunion – what a beautiful blessing for you both Susan. Have a wonderful “away” with many a cheerie along the way Susan and should I be among the winning ‘sippers’ of one of your ever so cute mugs — I’ll be dancin’ with my morning cuppa! :o)
God Bless!
Your new mugs are “to live for!!” Can’t wait to drink my favorite herb tea out of one ❤
Dear Susan,
What a joy it is to read your blog, books and cookbooks. I’ve had your cookbooks for years, but have just become acquainted with your blog after reading and loving A Fine Romance……I love England too, have visited several times and have collected almost all of the Miss Read books….tales of Fairacre and Thrush Green. I’m curious if you have read any of her books about the simple English country life. I have just finished reading The Fairy Tale Girl and couldn’t put it down, after reading the Isle of Dreams…..so I guess I’ve read them in reverse order but totally great no matter which way. I hope you write a book of your adventures in Scotland too.
Hearing about how our mothers starched and ironed brought back memories of that long ago household chore. Thank you for sharing that and the benefits of starching. I also love your mugs….they are adorable! All the best as you travel – enjoy your mom’s birthday celebration.
❤️
Thank you so much Susan! I have read some of the Miss Read books, but it’s been a long time, and I became a little more infatuated I think with the Barbara Pym books . . . same sort of thing I guess, small town English life. Love them.
Your mugs are beautiful! Just as we all expected. 🙂 I have pre-ordered but will keep my fingers crossed to win one also. You’re a lucky lady to have such a sweet mom, and she is lucky to have such a wonderful daughter. Happy birthday to her! I hope you and your sweetie have a fun twain twip.
Love the mugs. Will be giving one to my BFF who loves tea. I will use mine and remember the pleasure I had talking with you and Joe in Asheville, NC.
The mugs are so unique and beautiful! I would love to win one! Either way I would like to have the entire set! They are so beautiful and capture your artistic talent so well! Yay for a dream come true! Your tenacity is contagious! 😁
Godspeed Susan and Joe! It warms my heart that you will be with your mom for her birthday. Thank you for the beautifully worded Willard. Happy almost Spring!!!
I love starched linens as well…making crocheted doilies for my daughter’s end tables. ..pineapple pattern…they MUST be dipped before ironing…then rolled around a paper towel roll to mail. Safe journey to your Mom…thence to Ca..Hi to Joe!💕
I would love to drink tea from one of your mugs.
Hi Susan! It’s me! Mary! I’m the one who is excitedly leaving my name here … hoping to be gifted with an oh-so-loverly mug!
I teared-up a tiny bit as I read that you’ll soon be in your momma’s arm. Oh, what I would give for that!! “I miss you, Mom!”
Dear Susan, please tell me how you are keeping the right time on this twain twip. You are heading west and going backward in time right? How do you know when there is a time zone change. Love the cups! How about one with one tuxedo kitty, one grey tabby, and one white lab? Debby
I hate to say this, but you look at your phone. It changes the time automatically from the big time-clock in the sky. Then I change the time on my Dad’s wristwatch that I wear, then I tell Joe, and he changes our little travel clocks. Cats are a must!
Oh, I just love the mugs! Thank you for the chance to win one. I have the old fashioned starch on my shelf with laundry things. I enjoyed the pictures of your ironing.
Wonderful lesson in starching! I’ve never done it, but I do remember my mom doing it. I love the look it gives!
Hope your trip is fun and fascinating, and that your mom has a wonderfully happy birthday!
The cups came out gorgeous!! How exciting!
Oh my goodness, Susan, what a WONDERFUL post! Can’t wait for the orange marmalade cake recipe!
And the new cups are absolutely adorable! Cannot wait to see them in your store! They will also make the PERFECT gift.
Have fun in California and safe travels ♥
I adore the love cup! Travel safely and keep us updated on all your adventures along the way.
Happy Travels to join us in rainy California! Your mugs are deee-lightful, and about time, I say, since you’ve wanted to create them for so long! And they give me an idea for you: How about a set of nested beautiful bone china measuring cups decorated with your favorite easy-peasy recipes? Looking forward to reading your Willard (during the commercials of the Academy Awards on Sunday, I hope!) Cheers!
Love starch, love you! Have been looking for liquid starch since you blogged about it a while back, and none of the stores around here have it! I even look for it as I travel! LOVE the mugs, the lambie is my favorite 🙂 Much love, Debra Henderson!
Love,love,love the mugs!!!!! Beautifully done,Susan Branch! Can’t wait to have a cup of black decaf coffee in one! Safe travels.
Liquid starch…brings back memories of the fifties at San Luis Obispo High, wearing full skirts over billowing can-can petticoats, then spending every weekend liquid starching and ironing them back to their full, demanding measure of “poofiness.” On Monday mornings the halls rang with the sound of a popular cereal at the time: snap, crackle, pop….but it was just us girls with all our stiff-as-a-board petticoats!
Wishing you safe and happy travels. I love armchair traveling with you! The new mugs are perfect. 🙂
The mugs are beautiful, so good another dream is coming true. Thanks so much for the lesson on liquid starch, I learned a lot. Have a great trip and a wonderful time in California.
Hi again Susan!
Vintage linen lover here too. When I go to estate sales, they are the first things I go looking for. I lover embroidery. Mom and grandma taught me how when I was a kid. In the 60’s I embroidered big daisies on my sweaters with yarn…and my girlfriend’s sweaters too. (They loved it..not sure their mother’s did). Later in life I designed embroidery and counted cross-stitch patterns for magazines for awhile. I’m writing this from my tablet as I lay my head on embroidered and tatted pillow cases grandma did. It’s like she’s hugging me. I need to get some real starch!
Happy birthday to your mom and enjoy your visit. I look forward to my first Willard!
Cheers!
Me too, brought up with my great grandmother’s embroidered dish towels, inspired by them, so my mom taught me how to do it myself, and have loved it ever since.
The cups are so stinkin’ cute! ❤❤❤
Susan, this is the perfect day to read your blog because today is our 27th anniversary. So Thank you for a lovely gift of your blog. Love, love love the cups. You blog is always a great treat to read.
I love the “Little Things” Mug!!!!!
I love to iron with the starch you used. There is just nothing better to use on pillowcases. You just live the best life. Thanks for sharing.
Just trying to tell everyone we have a choice about the life we lead, to a certain extent, like the books and the starch, and the old movies that sooth our mortal souls. xoxoxo
Wow Susan – I never saw starching done like that. You teach me great music, great food, great decor and hygge, great travel tips, great books and old movies, and now this! I thank you for being the best big sister ever. I’m already hinting to my loved ones that they can get me the trifecta Susan Branch mugs for my birthday and make me the happiest girl ever. Happy Trails on the Rails to you and Joe❣
I love being a big sister to you Holly Jo! xoxo
I love all your mugs and would love to own one, if not all three! What a joy it would be to sit and relish a cup of coffee or cocoa in them, relaxing and enjoying the art and the sayings. Thank you for your blog on starch. A friend who is now 95 made me a beautiful crocheted doily and told me she would starch it with liquid starch but got Alzheimer’s and never did it. Now I know how to do it and can use the doily. I can remember my mom having a mangle and how much it helped her with a husband and seven kids. She’s been gone over eight years but your blog brought back some memories that made me smile. Thank you. Enjoy your mom! God bless you. Karen
Thank you Karen!
Absolutely love these! SO Great!
Dear Susan, I’m reading this post in my Paris appartement, looking at the roof tops from my window. I could picture myself doing that sipping tea in one of your gorgeous new cups😉 So please, enter me in the draw! Is it open internationnally? You probable don’t remember, I am the Canadian living in Paris who wrote to you not too long ago to tell you about one of my favorites authors, Alexander McCall Smith and his Scotish stories. Enjoy your trip to California and your lovely mother. Blowing kisses all the way from Paris! Funny thing, since I’m writing on a French keyboard, everytime I write the word From, it defaults to “Fromage”! Ah those French people and their cheese 😉 Cheers!!!
So funny, what auto correct wants to do with us!!! Very nice to hear from you Genevieve! Yes, of course, open to all, because we are the world! Would love one of my cups end up in a Paris apartment, it could live the life I would like to try! ❤️ Have a wonderful day!
Darling read ! Love the cups. In England now. I must look up the coats …
You’re posts are like a hot cup of tea and a slice of cake! Yum! Congratulations on the tea cups. So delicious. From Kim H. in Anchorage, Alaska.
Love your stories!! Cook for my siblings when they come to visit and they ask for your chicken enchiladas! Yum!! Will get my mom your love of nature mug for Mothers Day. She will love it!! Safe travels! Put me in to win a beautiful mug!! Thank you!!
How you spoke of soon being in your mother’s arms made me get weepy. I miss my mom and my dad so much; both in Heaven now, just four years ago. It’s wonderful that you’re coming out here to California and that you can be together with so many people who are dear to you.
Congratulations on the cups. I cannot WAIT to buy each and every one. They’re wonderful! Cheery, colorful; so pretty.
Have fun on the train; I always love your photos taken from the train.
So odd, losing parents. When my dad died last year, I wanted it to be the day before again, because the ticking hand of the clock had just changed my world. I imagine it stays that way forever.
One day, your life is one way. Then, the next day, it’s irrevocably changed, because they’re gone in the sense we’re used to…right in front of us, to see, to hug, to chat with, to tend to. Death is so…final. A question comes up about ancestry or a memory, for instance…what was that story again, Dad?…but there’s no one left to ask. You wish you had their opinion; their guidance; their wisdom. Like you had all your life; and now you don’t. You can’t have that conversation…about anything…you’d wanted to have. That opportunity has passed, as they have passed. I remember when my dad was on the way out, I wanted to tell him about the snow in the foothills that morning…but I couldn’t; he’d never see it again. Then I had to change, re-think it; realizing that he’s there and sees everything, still with me from above, each and every day, just in a different way. But it does again remind us to make every minute count with those we love while here on Earth, which is why it’s very, very important that you’re making the effort to see your mom here in SoCalif…but you don’t need me to tell you that; you know. I’m glad you’re not too rushed this trip; you’ve left yourself enough days to get in some quality time with your West Coast connections, not just your dear mother.
You know, I have a friend whose sister is 17 years older than she is; they live together now, both widowed; are best buds as always. That’s the same age diff as you and your mother! She started out so young, didn’t she. And I thought it was so poignant how you thought of her bathing all the babies in one tub when seeing that big ‘ol shower in Vermont. What a thing it must have been, to grow up in a household with all those brothers and sisters, Susan. You were a little mommy yourself in those years!
Yes, childhood memories are so important for everything, for the happiness of the child for their whole life, but extrapolate that to the health and welfare of the world, which is what makes motherhood such a profoundly important job.
I am now California Dreaming but would love one of your mugs too.
Silly me ~ I forgot to say earlier, my Great Grandmother ran a cottage industry laundry from the family home {called Evergreen Cottage, and where I spent the first 20 years of my life} She did all the laundry for the Cathedral, and had special ‘goffering’ irons to do the ruffles of the choir boys surplices. Sometimes, before the ‘big’ services, she’d be working through the night and still be at the 8:00 o’clock service in the morning! I always think of Cranford when I think of my Great Grandmother’s cottage industry.
When I was in college, if they couldn’t find me, I’d often be found at the ironing stations just pressing away on a scrap of unbleached calico {muslin} for there’s no smell in the world quite like it to me, unless your talking pages of a new book!
Penblwydd Hapus i’ch Fam! Happy Birthday to your Mom!
My Mum will be 89 the end of March
~~~Waving~~~Deb in Wildy Wuthering Wonderful West Wales xoxo
Thank you Deb!!! Waving from traveling train, teetering and tottering down the track, through the dark night to destinations not quite all known at this very moment!
Oh, those mugs are SO lovely! I want to order all of them now!! Happy dance!
What a lovely thing it would be to raise such a happy mug to the coming day, or for that matter to any time of day! Thank you for sharing, again, your incredible creativity with your readers! I can just see my fave hot tea, with a dash of lemon, or maybe a hot chocolate with big fluffy marshmallows on top in that darling, cheerful mug! Or I could just sit and admire the love and dreams that have gone into its creation and dream some daydreams of my own…Thank you so much🌻
Oh the mugs are adorable! I love the shape! Perfect for an ample cup of hot chocolate! Right away I thought they were so cute that I could see their designs on matching sets for grandchildren or just special tea sets for the little girls in my family! It’s just a thought!
I like it!
The starch brought back memories . . . good ones! Yes, thanks to our grandmothers who taught our mothers. I remember my grandmother teaching me to bake. She was always busy in her kitchen. My grandmother canned everything from veggies to fruit. She made her own jams & jellies. I remember seeing her pantry in the old coal room in the basement. My dad built shelves for her canned goods. What a beautiful sight! Starching, like knitting and crochet seem to be one of those lost arts! I agree about the cutest mugs ever!
Yes, and now all of us can inspire our daughters and grandchildren with some bit of the “old ways.” Because cooking, knitting, quilt making, canning, pie-making, curtain hanging, and homemaking in general (flowers in a vase, nurses corners) is such a genuine pleasure in this fast paced world, would hate for everyone to lose the rhythm of it. It’s a way to feed our souls with homemade goodness, a bit of self-sufficiency, and we definitely need that.
It’s always sort of stunning to see how much we are all YEARNING for what was; how so many things used to be, which meant something to us; how important it is to get some of it back. So much of it was…better. We lost something along the way, didn’t we. Our moms were so busy but they ended their days with good satisfaction, time well spent; productive, useful; dutiful. Real feeling of accomplishment. Redefines the word, “job” to me. Domesticity and homekeeping, not bad words. Very thought-provoking; to be self-sufficient.
I can’t stop commenting on all these wonderful, wonderful stories from your readers on this truly heartwarming post of yours, Susan. I don’t know how the Vanna thing works, but if I were to win a mug/cup, you have to have her redraw because I had too many comments and that’s not fair to somebody else. The post just grew a life of its own with memories of ironing and growing up; such nostalgia. I’ve loved all the sharing. Many women/’girlfriends’ close to my own age here. It all started with my intrigue over the liquid starch because I never liked how the spray stuff got all over everything else. So, see what you started??!!!
Only one of each of your comments is counted by the backend of this web site, so you can do it as often as you like. They choose by email address (in real life, not withstanding Vanna!). xoxo
Haven’t had a chance to read your blog so have spent a few hours catching up. I must tell you….I’ve been reading other blogs. Well, I decided to expand my horizons….so I added a bunch of blogs to my usual list of bookmarked ones. After reading and reading, yours is still one of the best in the world. No one does it like you. So keep blogging and painting and telling us about your world. We’re enjoying it immensely. And I’ll try not to wander away again in search of blogs unknown…it’s kinda scary out there you know. Nice to be back with everyone in Martha’s Vineyard. Thanks so much for all you do!
This is good to know, because as you might imagine, I don’t have much time to read other blogs, so for all I know, mine is an antiquated lump of useless gibberish. But my blog has just taken the places of the letters I used to write all the time, before email took it all away! Welcome home Kathie!
Have a wonderful trip and a very happy birthday to your Mum.
I love the mugs, and would love to be picked! 😊
So glad to see your lovely cups/mugs are in production.
Ah! Liquid Starch, and Linen, and Doilies, and Scarves, and Puffy Little Sleeves on little sisters’ Dresses–impossible to iron just right . . . So glad that a few months ago, you gave your friends this little-known, less-remembered, essential, method for ironing raised embroidered pieces. That is, upside down over a terrycloth towel on the ironing board. Iron from the underside, and the embroidery work absolutely pops up, un-smashed. My “Days of the Week” tea towels that I embroidered on unbleached domestic when I was about 10 (7 decades ago), are framed and hanging nearly-ceiling high in my kitchen. Lovely, lovely living memory. We never lose anything we can remember.
Good morning Susan. I bought both an iron and starch on amazon yesterday and started pulling out all of my old linens and they are all old and not fresh looking.I love learning new tricks especially for my treasured items. Can I over starch them? Do I just soak them until they’re saturated and then hang to dry or if they’re super wrinkly do I keep them soaking longer? Cant wait to start my new project!
If you follow the directions on the starch container you can’t go wrong. And then you’ll get so you might add a little more starch for some things, or a little less for others. Soak until saturated, then hang to dry. If you catch them while they’re just moist, you can iron then. Or after they are all dry, sprinkle with water, roll up, put in bag and keep in fridge until you’re ready to iron, probably should be done within a week, because they will get moldy if left in there too long, maybe that’s why some people put them in the freezer. There is much pleasure in seeing how nice everything comes out! Plus, for household linens, you don’t have to do it again for quite a while.
Got it. Im on a mission and thrilled to pull out all of my treasured linens again. Who knew!! Ill have every table covered in no time. Thank you so much for responding and have a lovely time with your family. I just love how you embrace life and I am following in your footsteps every step of the way. Its why I moved my family to Vermont and its been the happiest time of our lives. We embrace all of it, the friendly people, nature, the back to basic of living and just slowing down and living in the moment and you were a big inspiration to me to make such a huge life changing experience come true. Big hugs 🙂
Lucky lucky lucky ~ and, to top it off, smart. xoxo Choices. That’s what it’s all about. I see it more all the time. Good for you Rhea!!!
Have a lovely trip. We are moving to San Diego in late April and I am really getting excited. I love the mugs and would love to win one. They are a bit too expensive for me to preorder, but beautiful and worth every penny. I have starched things in the past, but not recently. I do love the look.
Getting them from England to here is the expensive part, but we were happy we could keep the price below the cost for Emma cups. I hope you win Charlotte!
Would love to win one of your mugs for my mother who turned 81 lovely years in January!! Since our family roots are in England it would be a wonderful gift. We adore all things Susan Branch!!
Love the mugs! Have a great trip, looking forward to your Twitter updates.
Thanks for the “real” starch reminder and rolled clothes in the fridge. Hahhahah.
I’m not a fan of starching clothes but now I want to try the liquid starch!
Dear Susan – Have a wonderful time in California! A cross-country train trip sounds like a great way to travel. I live in Northern NJ and have been experiencing the same “Spring” energy burst that you wrote about – it’s great isn’t it…this time of year with all the extra sunshine! How it makes me want to create and craft. Happy Birthday to your Mom! My Dad is turning 87 on March 25th and we’ll be traveling home to Rochester, NY to celebrate with him <3
Life is good isn't it? BTW, I absolutely LOVE your new mugs, the quality sounds wonderful, thank you for the chance to win one! Until next time…
Smiles, DianeM 🙂
Have been enjoying everything Susan Branch for a long time now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart………from one heart to another.
All I can say is, “Do I want to win a Susan Branch cup? Oh, YES!”
Have a wonderful trip and thank you for the ironing lesson – so helpful with my summer linen jacket!
I have never starched before, but after reading your post I am eager to try it. Next time I order from Amazon, I think I’ll get some. Oh the mugs are lovely. Just too cute, would love to get these, I hope I win one. Your posts always brighten my day. Enjoy your trip.
Hi Susan, I remember my Mom’s rolled up bags of starched clothes in the fridge, too. But another use for that starch was for her nurse’s caps. She used to starch them heavily and stick them to her bedroom mirror to dry. Then when dry she shaped them and fastened the button so they stood up through her long, busy shift. I also love the old linens. I have a set of pillow cases my grandmother embroidered (another dying art) that look best starched and ironed! Love reading your blogs and seeing the pictures! Linda D’Elia
The mugs are adorable – I’d love to win one! And thank you for the starching lesson, something I was never taught but wanted to know:)
Oh my gosh, Susan! My favorite Willard EVA! My love of all things Susan Branch and my mug collection will collide in May! I have already preordered the set of 3 so if I win another, I will share with a special friend. I cannot wait!
Love,
Wendy Schreiber
Well, Susan, now I know how to iron my linen clothes and all of the family heirloom doilies and linens that are in this house. Have a wonderful trip out west and happy birthday to your mom.
Your stories of “how to bleach” brought back many memories of
watching my mother do the exact same ironing procedure!
Have a great trip & enjoy the view!
My dream would be to win a mug
Have. Wonderful time with your Mother I miss mine every day since 2004
First of all, I must comment on that darling wool coat! I know why it spoke to you and said “I was just waiting for you to take me home!” Love the colors, style and bit of England sass stitched on with each of the buttons. How fun for you! Secondly, thank you for the reminder about the wonder of starch. I have just the linens for a “freshen up” party today. And finally, those mugs….they are just perfectly perfect! You must be so pleased with how they turned out. I am not sure I will be able to pick just one of the three. I can’t wait to order them and share them as gifts. I love the shape and size and artwork, of course, but also the message they carry with them which is , “use your talents, enjoy a warm drink, make your home a cozy retreat, love your friends and remember that it is the small pleasures that make all the difference in life.” (imagine all that from such a little cup!) Thank you for the magical posts!
And you read it exactly perfectly Deborah! xoxoxo Thank you!
There is no qualification I can offer to be on your winners list for the lovely, dreams really do come true, mug. But if Vanna happens to find my entry, then a big “Hallelujah!” will occur.
I love that you recognized that during that long labor of your birth, a piece of your mom’s soul broke off and entered into you. You wear it well, I’m sure.
Have fun with your #1 guy on your adventurous trip!!
Betsy….from Indianapolis, IN
Very proud that she was willing to share. xoxo
I am so happy to see that your whimsical mugs will be ready to buy. My Mom Ruth W. already pre-ordered them. Maybe for me? Love the starch story. We also collect old linens, some with beautiful knotted needlework on them. Enjoy your visit with your Mom. Mom Ruth just turned 89 in early February!
Love that you and your Mom are both here, read her comment this morning too! xoxo
I LOVE how the mugs turned out!! So beautiful! And thank you for the starch lesson, I’ve always wondered how the liquid stuff worked.
Everytime I read you are on a cross country train ride, my heart sings…do it, do it, do it…I’m imaginaging the sound of the wheels on the track. Have a fun trip, soak up the warmth from CA and come back to us in the East real soon. Love the mugs, decision will be which one first.
The mugs are beautiful and I plan to have them all! Safe travels!
Susan, I also remember my mom starching everything and you’re right – spray starch just isn’t the same! I also remember the water sprinkle thing that was always on the top of a coke bottle. Maybe steam irons weren’t made yet. I looked for one a few years ago and actually found one! I wish I had gotten it.
Enjoy your mom and cherish the time you have with her! No matter how long you have her here, it’s never long enough!
So glad you don’t stop dreaming of what you might accomplish! Love the new mugs! Ordered one this morning. Wouldn’t mind winning a second one in the drawing. 🙂
Hope your trip to California is wonderful. Happy Birthday to your Mom.
Congrats on the cups – they are adorable! Loved the liquid starch 101 lesson – I will be using that on my table linens and tops this spring and summer. Have a great time on the “Twain” and Happy Birthday greetings to your sweet mom.
Yes to remembering starch, ironing and clothes in the fridge. Also, remember pant stretchers that Mom used on Daddy’s pants. Like you, I still iron and starch and nothing, but nothing, feels so good as putting on a freshly ironed shirt or jacket. One feels like royalty!
The maple syrup looks fabulous; the tiny little WV maple syrup festival is in March but if the weather doesn’t turn cold, it might not hold this year.
Your mugs are cute as bugs; well done!
Thank you Sandra!
Enjoy your mom…she is waiting so anxiously to hug you!
Love everything about this blog! I have a trunk full of old linens, and use them regularly. I love to iron, but frequently am not satisfied with the spray kind of starch. Amazon here I come! The cups are adorable. They will compliment the ones I have from England with flowers and a cottage on them. Finally your love for your mom and her labor with you. (Our family tradition was to give our mom a little card and gift on our birthday to acknowledge her journey that day!). Safe travels. Enjoy the view from the window!
Lovely tradition, Pam!
Thanks for your acknowledgment! Forget how I discovered your
Coming to Martha’s Vineyard book, but so related to
Your artistic passion, creativity, loneliness. Fast forward- so happy
With the fairy tale ending and many years hence.
I am a New englander who ended up in NC. But New
Bern is a historic town(est 1710) that boast nearby ocean, beautiful
Architecture, (not burned during Civil War- but held
As Union headquarters.) if you are ever this way, a.
Not to miss town! And daffodils are in full bloom for the past
Two weeks- blessings
I put it on my list. Thank you Pam!
Love the mugs!! Every so often I tell myself I can’t buy any more mugs because I have too many. Well, that never lasts long. Between Emma and now your perfect shaped, adorable mugs, I will be overruling myself. Now I just rotate the stock and enjoy them all. I can hardly wait for them to arrive.
I appreciated the starch lesson. It reminds me of seeing rolled laundry in the “Frigidaire” or “ice box”, as my grandma would say.
The mugs are adorable. Love the description of Change around your home- enticing and brings me the joy of what you’re feeling. Happy spring, soon
I have already pre-ordered the LOVE mug but I just got my Willard so have hopped back over here to “ye olde blog” to leave a comment. I would, of course, love to have more than one—perhaps to give as the best gift of all time to someone I have in mind! <3 I loved the closing paragraph on your blog–to find the happiness in our day–in the little things and in the life we have been given. Thanks so much, Susan. Have a glorious month of March in CA.
Great starching lesson! You could have put the link to Amazon in you writing and I bet several girlfriends would have gone directly to buy starch! I know some writers receive a small portion of sales that result from their website. You might even make $2 or more! 🙂
Safe and happy travels to you and Joe. But it seems like the happy part is pretty standard!
I’ve never taken/gotten $$ to promote anything and I’ve put links to Amazon and lots of other place on my blog many times, I just forgot this time! Thank you for reminding me Sharrie! I just went and added the link! xoxo
Dear Susan,
I’ve recently joined your Willard list. You are a homemakers inspiration. I wanted to comment on starch uses. About 20 years ago I bought yards of fabric that I fell in love with. I decided to use it as ‘wallpaper’. Just the bottom half of the wall. I measured to see how much was needed, sewed seams to make it one long piece, starched it, and smoothed it out over the wall. It’s still up! I was able to do this by myself too. Starch is wonderful to work with. ( I don’t wash that part of the wall, I vacuum it)
Good info, Valerie, thank you!
So interesting, I learned something new!! I would love to win a beautiful English China tea mug to drink my wonderful tea!!! Safe travels , please enjoy every minute with your Mom, I miss mine so much.
Jean Coughlin
Have a wonderful reunion with your mom! You are so lucky to still have her with you – as you well know! Hope that the weather is just wonderful for your visit. We’ll be visiting SoCal the end of March to celebrate birthdays and reunite with friends as well! No better way to celebrate the new season!! Safe travels!
Dear Susan,
I use starch too, Pyrex sta flo and yes, I mix it with water. I have a collection of doilies and dresser scarves. They always look fresh and crisp after ironing. Your new cups are wonderful. Always enjoy your post. Have a good time with your Mom..
Susan,
The mugs are oh so sweet. Safe travels and happy visiting with family!!
Lucy
LOVE the mugs and you!!
Love the illustrations on the mugs. What a wonderful way to enjoy your favorite hot beverage!
Love the mugs!
How delicious it would be to sip from one of your lovely mugs! Please enter me in your drawing.
Susan I woke up to Willard and your blog!! Just made my day! Your mugs are fabulous and I would love to have one. I will have one but winning one would be better because it would be free!!❤️🙃
You can never have too many coffee or tea mugs. Love yours.
Can’t wait to drink a cup,of tea from one of your adorable mugs. And, thank you for mentioning the DVD’s – A Place to Call Home. I have watched the first 2 seasons and am waiting for the next two from my library – on a wait list. I hope these people watch them as fast as I did so I don’t have to wait too long! I am really enjoying them. I,also, used to iron with the starch but not the liquid kind. After watching your blog, I think I will get some for my tablecloths and dresser scarves. You are amazing!!!! Have a fun trip and enjoy celebrating Mom’s birthday – you are blessed to still have a Mom!!
Hi, Susan! Well… I’ve got to start starching. It was soooo relaxing looking at the crisp, fresh-looking pieces. Kind of like when I organize cabinets, clostes, the fridge, etc… I stare at it for hours. Lol! The cups look great, too!! Also, watch the sunrise a little for me when on the train 😍 I want to take a train ride just to see that view 😊 Enjoy your trip! Xoxo
Cassandra 😘
Susan — thank you for the wonderful Willard and new blog. I love the mugs — would love to have one to sit next to my Emma Bridgewater mug! I skipped over to twitter to enjoy your “room with a view” — a lot to read this morning — good thing I already poured my coffee! It’s my birthday today — hearing from you thrice was a real treat! Right now my sliders are open, the birds are singing, and my new kitty is sitting at the screen chattering at the birds. I’ve never experienced “spring” on my Feb. 25th birthday — another gift to me from Mother Nature! I so enjoyed what you wrote about this being our only life and enjoying the little things each day. I try to do this, right down to noticing the changing patterns of sunlight on the walls. I love the changing of the seasons — just when we’re tiring of winter clothes and dirty snow; robins, crocus, and forsythias come along!! YEA! You and Joe have a safe trip
And wish Mom a very Happy Birthday from all the girlfriends!
Thank you JoAnne!
Thank you, Susan, for the starch tutorial. I remember my mother’s starch in a large pot on the stove, or maybe it was the “bluing” on the stove. From your photos I can see that the results are so much better than I’ve been getting from spray. Amazon order, here I come!
Thank you for the opportunity to pre-order that lovely mugs. The lamb is my very favorite, but it is hard to choose.
The tea cups are adorable!! I also have ordered fabric and wrapping paper with your designs from spoonflower. The quality is great and I especially love the birthday print! Safe travels 😊
Mary Ann Simmons
Hello Susan, I have my Granny’s and my Mum’s linens which I brought to the States from England. They would both use starch. I have been using starch when piecing bias blocks for my quilts so I will now try the real stuff from Amazon, thank you. Beautiful English bone china cups, however will I choose from the three? What a happy trip you are taking,safe travels.
crispy pillowcases – my mom starched and my sister and i ironed them – they were so crunchy that first night…
I lurve the new mugs!!!
I love the adorable mugs and beautiful gift wrap. I always enjoy reading about all of your adventures. Have a happy day!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE ❤❤❤ these adorable, fun mugs!! I want them all!
As I finished reading your blog, my husband rushed in from outside holding two very frozen towels yelling, “look, starched!”! Love starch and fondly remember our refrigerator filled with rolled up clothing! Can’t wait to get a mug, but having a hard time deciding! Do bring a warm coat as you pass through Chicago, very cold today, snow in the air! Have a wonderful trip and enjoy that Mom hug.
We were in Chicago yesterday, now in pretty cold Colorado! Heading for more California cold! 😄
Something about your artwork?? It just immediately clings to my heart. Lovely mugs. These would make drinking tea a special experience.
Heart, to hand, to you. xoxo