Ice Milk Aprons

Most people who know me, know that I love to cook, and I especially love to bake.  I enjoy eating baked goods which spurs my love for baking, but I also love all the kitchen supplies needed to bake.  Vintage rolling pins, wooden cutting boards, wooden spoons, aprons, and flour everywhere just conjure up for me ideas of a simpler time when breads, cookies, cakes, pies, jams, and butters were made on a daily basis.  I love that idea!  And, although I enjoy baking, I haven't quite made it to the daily routine of it yet, which, according to the fit of my jeans, is probably okay.  However, the enjoyment of a delicious baked good and all those little details that fill that romantic idea of daily baking just make my heart smile.

So, a few years ago, one of my favorite magazines I use to read quite often caught my eye as it sat in my local grocery store magazine stand.  The colors on the cover appealed to me, but more importantly one of the headlines under the title - "Enterprising Women" - drew my attention too.  I picked it up, thumbed through it to this certain section, and saw several stories of these really creative women who had turned their craft into a thriving business.  One story in particular stood out to me and spoke directly to that daily baking idea that lives in my heart.  It was the story about Ashley Leckey (now Schoenith) who, inspired by and along with her grandmother, took her love of handwritten recipes and family dinners and was inspired to make these really amazing vintage style aprons.  

{photo credit: Ice Milk Aprons + Victoria Magazine, May/June 2010}

Ice Milk Aprons was born out of the love of family, cooking, and tradition, and lives to inspire others to treasure family memories, passed down recipes, and time spent together.  Such a sweet story and such beautifully styled aprons!  Ice Milk Aprons come in either full or waist length and are packaged in an over-sized preserve jar with a few recipe cards to get you started.  The other signature piece of Ice Milk Aprons is that each apron also comes with an Heirloom Tag - a piece of fabric that can be used to hand-stitch the initials of family members as the apron gets passed down through the generations.

These beautiful and functional aprons will inspire bakers and wanna-be bakers to get their rolling pins and favorite family recipes out.  They make such great gifts too, especially bride and bridesmaid gifts and for the cook in your family who has everything.

{photo credit: Ice Milk Aprons}

Ice Milk Aprons has grown quite a bit since 2010, and Ashley's collections now include table linens, garden aprons, market totes, cookware, vintage goods, and a holiday collection as well.

And, if you haven't seen these aprons in your local shops, then maybe you have seen a glimpse of them being stylishly worn by Food Network's Demaris Phillips on her show Southern At Heart.  She is a cooking instructor, turned Food Network Star, turned celebrity chef with amazing recipes and a fun show, and she does a fabulous job of showing off the ease, simplicity, and beauty of Ice Milk Aprons every week on her show.

{photo credit: Ice Milk Aprons + Food Network}

The article that I read that spring day back in 2010 led me to contact Ashley and stock these lovely aprons in my own little shop.  I still love them today and hope that you will too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

{Find Ice Milk Aprons}

www.icemilkaprons.com

facebook.com/icemilkaprons

A Momentary Pause

Hi friends!  I took a bit of a pause from the Olive Basket since the holidays, but only momentarily.  Like the leaf in the picture below, our little lives over here in Austin have been in a bit of transition (including moving apartments), but we are getting settled into our new surroundings and our new routines.

Thank you for hanging in there with me through the pause of the new year!  

My hope is that 2015 will bring lots of new finds - shops, bakeries, cafes, products, ideas - and that you can be inspired by all the creative businesses that are popping up everywhere.  My exploratory travel schedule has slowed down quite a bit, but when I do get a chance to get out and about, I will be sure to bring you stories about all the inspiring shops and businesses that I discover along my journey.  In the meantime, I will be focusing the Olive Basket on Market Finds, Artisan Goods, and Creative Ideas that I come across.  It brings me such great joy to discover one-of-a-kind, beautiful goods that I can use to create warm, welcoming spaces and places for others, so when I come across these treasures, I will be sure to pass them along. 

 Stay tuned as I transition the focus of the Olive Basket just a bit and know that you can count on me to bring you what I see along my journey through neighborhood markets and small town main streets.  Thank you for walking with me on this journey and here is to a path full of new ideas and inspiration!!

Happy Holidays!

Wishing for you all the Joy of this season & for this Joy to carry you into and sustain you in the New Year!
Merry Christmas!!!!

{Smock Paper Holiday Card}

{The Holiday Season: Last Minute Gifts}

With Christmas only being a week away (what?!), I know there are several of us who are or will be searching for those last minute gifts, stocking stuffers, or both.  Well, I just thought that I would suggest some places to shop for those last minute gifts and stocking stuffers instead of recommending specific items.  Here at the Olive Basket, my goal has been to bring attention, exposure, and some local love to local boutiques that are in the area.  I have focused a lot on the area that I live in currently because I have just had so much fun exploring my new surroundings and discovering all the unique boutiques that abound in Central Texas.  My hope with all of my posts is to bring these unique and lovely places that inspire me to you in hopes that you might visit these fabulous boutiques and be inspired too.

{Find a directory of your local shops @ Restylesource}

So, during this season of hustle and bustle and last minute gift pick-ups, I would like to encourage you to shop your local boutiques for those last minute finds.  Your local shops will have the BEST selection and the most unique selection and they will provide the most personal and relaxed service you can find this time of year.  So even though you are picking up your gifts last minute, your recipients will appreciate the one-of-a-kindness of their gift, and your local shops will truly appreciate your support and your business.  So, here is a selection of some of my very favorite local shops here in Central Texas, but also in my hometown of Evergreen, CO, and my nearby home-city of Denver.  Please check them out if you live in one of these areas, and if you don't, explore and find some of your local boutiques that are sure to be a hop, skip, and a jump away.  Happy Local Shopping!!!!

{Side Note: All the photos in this post are directly from the shops and resources listed - click on their links under their pictures to go directly to their Facebook Pages}

My Favorite Boutiques in Central Texas:

{The Nest Box - Taylor, TX}

{Cherry Tree Creative - Taylor, TX}

{Fourth Street Bakery - Lexington, TX}

{Petals, Ink - Austin, TX}

{Spice Village - Waco, TX}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Favorite Boutiques in Evergreen, CO 

(my hometown!): 

{The Comfortable Home - Evergreen, CO}

{Rustic Point - Evergreen, CO}

{Mountain Daisy - Evergreen, CO}

{Nellybelle General Store - Evergreen, CO}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Favorite Boutiques in Denver, CO (my home-city!):

{Old Glory Antiques - Denver, CO}

{The Perfect Petal - Denver, CO}

{The Holiday Season: Delicious Gifts}

One of my most favorite things to do during the holidays is to bake, which really is one of my most favorite things to do any time of year.  A couple of years ago, my husband and I thought it would be fun to send our families (who all lived in other states at the time) sweetly wrapped boxes of our favorite Christmas cookies and treats.

{Photo Credit: Liebesbotschaft Blog}

The little special twist we added to the gift is that we sent a combination of our favorite treats that we each grew up traditionally having during the holidays.  So my family ended up with a box of some of our own favorite family treats mixed with a few of my husband's favorite family treats (which were completely new to my family) and we did the same for his family.  It was a fun way for us to celebrate our family traditions and recipes and honor the blending of our families too.  We enjoyed putting these boxes of happiness together for those we loved, and I think they were pretty well received too!

{Sweet Paul Magazine's Chocolate Chili Icebox Cookies - DELICIOUS!}

If your putting together homemade gifts this year, I hope it is a sweet time for you as you select and prepare what your making and thinking of those on the receiving end of your homemade delights. You can find Kraft Paper Bags and adorable Gift Boxes at your local craft shops along with a huge selection of festive ribbons and bows.  I have also included here a few of my favorite packages and bows for homemade treats and some recipe links too that I am hoping to add to my repertoire this year.  Happy baking and making this holiday season!

{Chocolate Dipped Hazelnut & Cocao Nib Sandies - photo, idea, & recipe courtesy of Seasons & Suppers}

{Fried Herbed Almonds - Photo & Idea Courtesy of Evermine Blog}

{Homemade Vanilla Extract - photo & idea courtesy of Will Cook for Friends}

{Herb Honeys - photo, idea, & recipe courtesy of Not Quite Nigella}

{Terrain's Weck Jar Sets - perfect for Jams, Chutneys, and Salts}

{Knot and Bow's Glitter Red Twine & Parcel Tags - perfect for finishing touches!}

For more ideas on Holiday Treats and Delicious Gifts, follow me over on Pinterest!

The Holiday Season: Christmas Cards

With the Holiday season upon us, I thought I would focus my next few posts on some of the things you may be doing as you enjoy this special time of year.  I know there can be a lot of hustle and bustle that goes on, but hopefully you are finding some time to enjoy the simple things of this season as well - time with family, cozy moments, a little play, and a little rest too.

{Card and photo credit: Smock Paper, Syracuse, NY}

I know the Holiday To-Do lists begin to grow long and the stress begins to grow in size as well, and my hope for you (and for us all) is that there are several things on our lists that we can find joy and meaning in doing.  One of those things for me is sending out Christmas Cards.  I know there are a lot ways to send out Christmas Cards these days - digital, photos, letters, etc. - but I am kind of old fashion I guess with continuing to send out good ole' cards with a simple handwritten note.  I love getting mail, especially handwritten letters and cards, so I try to honor my old fashion side with the sending out of cards each year.

{Card and photo credit: Mint and Maple Designs, Austin, TX}

This has been something I have always done, and I enjoy doing, but honestly, sometimes it can be more of a task than a joy.  But this year, I am hoping to take this task and add to it a little bit of intentionality and a whole lot of joy!  The card and the message may be simple and the same for each recipient, but the difference I am shooting for this year is to think about each individual that I am sending a card to - think about the connection that I have with them, memories we have shared, special ways they have touched or even shaped my life, and to say a little prayer of thanksgiving and blessing over each one.  It will take time, sure, but that's okay.  My Christmas Card list is full of people that I care about and keep connection with, so it will be time that is well spent and will add joy to my Season.  

{Card and photo credit: Smock Paper, Syracuse, NY}

If you are a card sender too, I have included some favorites of mine in this post.  They are all from local artisans located around our amazing country.  And, I tend to love letterpress cards in particular because they have that handmade, artisan look and feel that appeals to me, so a few of these cards are from letterpress artisans.  Letterpress, by the way, is actually a printing technique that uses relief printing (ink applied to type and pressed against paper) and it has actually made somewhat of a revival in the printing world because of it's artisan touch.  There are lots of talented card designers and letterpress artisans out there, but these are some of my favorites.  Take a look at each of these and hopefully you will find a card set (or more!) that will send the message you are looking to send this Holiday.

{Card and photo credit: Egg Press, Portland, OR}

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!
I am truly grateful for you and for your readership here at 

the Olive Basket.  Enjoy this week of gathering and of giving thanks!!

{artwork/photo credit: JillianArtandDesigns}