Summer In The Kitchen

Are you daring? How is the designing coming? Do you need more motivation? Let's not forget that, if your design is the winner and produced as part of the Shabby Apple line, you get three percent of the profits.

Fame and fortune, that's what we aim for around here.

In the meantime, if you need a break from the drawing and the sewing and the dreaming and the designing, here are some kitchen escapes that might help you keep your inspiration coming.

Were you lucky enough to get some delicious, fresh strawberries this season? I got a lovely, lovely batch from the farmer's market, and they baked up perfectly in this strawberry summer cake from Smitten Kitchen.

This glass pitcher, handmade in the Czech Republic, will bring some classy, international flair to any picnic table.

I was also quite taken with these recipes for grilled chicken sandwiches and lemon ice from caroline's bake shop. I have all the ingredients sitting in my fridge, just waiting to be turned into the perfect summer meal.

If you need a little help to whip up that lemon ice, or any other warm-weather ice cream treat, you might consider this adorable little ice cream machine from Sur La Table. The colors are endless!

Do you have any summer kitchen favorites?

Won't you share?

UPDATED-- Do You Dare? Go Design!

Hello, friends!

I have been talking a lot about myself lately (still on the look-out for creative wedding centerpiece ideas, btw) so today I thought I would talk about you.

Namely your chance to design a dress and have it become part of Shabby Apple's Spring line.

That's right, my lovelies! Dare to Design is back!

And this year, there's a twist. We will, of course, be accepting all your fabulous dress designs, but this year we are opening the competition up to skirts and blouses as well. So many design options!

The rules are the same as they have ever been.

You don't need to be a professional designer or seamstress or model or car salesman to enter.

Design a dress or a skirt or a blouse using whatever medium you are most comfortable with-- you can draw it out, sew up a prototype, use a computer program.

Then post your design on your own personal blog and be sure to link back to us in the post. (Posts that are not linked will not be considered. Because I said so.)

You'll also need to let us know where to find you. Please send us an e-mail at daretodesign@shabbyapple.com and let us know where we can find your post. We'll come on over and take a gander!

We'll narrow the field to 15 submissions and post them right here. The people will speak and a winner will be crowned.

The schedule will go down like this:

The contest starts on June 15th-- that's TWO DAYS from now! And you have until August 10th to submit your brilliant designs.

We'll have the Final 15 up on the blog by August 17th and you'll have until September 10th to vote on them. (September 10th, my wedding day! Because it always comes back to me.)

And we'll announce the big winner on September 14th. I mean, I won't, because I'll be sunning in the Turks and Caicos. But someone will. I promise.

And now, off with you!

Design away!

Stamped. Sealed. Delivered.

Here is something that will make all you letter writers (and wedding announcement senders) out there.

Patricia Mumau has the most darling custom return address stamps at her Etsy shop.

Each stamp is made from handwritten calligraphy and you can go simple, curly or flowery.

Imagine the time you'll save addressing return-to-sender wedding dinner invites!

Oh, just me?

What would you use these little beauties for?