MORE BULK MAXI PIPING AND BIAS TAPE COLORS! By Dove Originals Trims

Our bulk 50 yard rolls of double fold bias tape and maxi piping have been selling so well that we've decided to increase the colors that we offer. These bulk rolls of maxi piping and bias tape are economically priced and are great for larger projects where continuous lengths are needed. (Joining the shorter lengths found in packages is tedious and time consuming.)  And, we're happy to note, both the maxi piping and the bias tape are made here in the USA.

Our new colors include: cloud blue, cobalt blue, pedal pink, fuchsia, cranberry, teal,violet, purple, jungle green, and lemon drop. So pretty! I hope you'll stop by and check out the new colors.

Regards,
Flo
Dove Originals Trims

Cranberry .5 inch DF bias tape, 50 yards

Cloud blue .5 inch DF bias tape, 50 yards

Cobalt .5 inch DF bias tape, 50 yards

Teal .5 inch DF bias tape, 50 yards

Lemon drop .5 inch DF bias tape, 50 yards

NEW COLORS OF BULK BLANKET BINDING IN STOCK!

The new colors of our 25 yard rolls of 2 inch wide satin blanket binding are now in stock and they are GORGEOUS!  We have teal (a lovely shade of blue green) burgundy wine, silver gray (very similar to Wrights grey), purple, and orange (close in color to Wrights orange).  For larger projects, 25 yard rolls help to avoid unsightly seams and joins. These rolls of binding also come in 14 other colors as well as a 1 inch width to meet every need. All are in stock ready to ship immediately.

And did you know that our packages of Wrights binding are only $3.85 per package? That's one of the lowest prices on the internet. We also stock a huge selection of Disney binding as well.

 Of course in addition to blanket binding we carry a full selection of home decorating, apparel, and craft trims with almost 2000 items in stock.  As distributors for Simplicity, Wrights, and Conso we are able to work with other businesses to have products shipped directly to you from the manufacturer.  Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions.

Cheers,
Flo

Burgundy blanket binding

Gray blanket binding

Orange blanket binding

Purple blanket binding

Teal blanket binding

NEW BLANKET BINDING COLORS COMING!

We have some very good news for those who use blanket binding either for their personal use or as small businesses!  We will be adding the following colors to our line of 25 yard rolls of bulk satin binding: burgundy, purple, teal, silver grey, and orange.  We expect to have these colors within the next month.

Wrights will be releasing the following new colors colors in their line of 4 3/4 yard packages: purple, candy pink, lime green, turquoise, light pink, berry sorbet, canary, plum, multi pink, tie dye lime, leopard, tie-dye red, zebra, and tie dye blue.  Look for these new colors to be released in July.

And for those of you who use packaged quilt binding from Wrights, look for these new colors in July: orange, candy pink, kiwi, ox blood, turquoise, hot pink, berry sorbet, citron, yellow, leaf green,orange peel, porcelain blue, baby maize, and blackberry.

Of course, Dove Originals Trims will stock all of these beautiful new shades!

Cheers,
Flo

A COUNTRY KITCHEN By Dove Originals Trims

Is there anything that says 'family' more than a huge country kitchen? I don't know how it is in your house, but in our house everyone congregates in the kitchen. Forget the family room and the dining room. The food is in the kitchen and that's where my family prefers to be.  My kitchen is truly the heart of our family. It's the place where we eat and fellowship together, read the morning newspapers, work on crafts, entertain friends, snack, access the laptop and iPad, and more.

Our house, as some of you may be aware, is a 1750 center chimney colonial in rural Connecticut. The main house is 30 feet wide by 40 feet long, and my kitchen runs almost the entire length of the house. It's 15 feet wide and about 33 feet long, effectively divided into two areas, one for dining and relaxing (see photo above) and one for meal preparation. (See the photo right.)

The 6 foot long island acts as a traffic barrier funneling family and guests through the kitchen but keeping them out of the "Do not trespass" areas where I cook. Not visible in the photo above, the sink is to the left and features a 6 foot long bay window which admits light and a marvelous view of the wooded area behind the house. Deer are constantly wandering through there. I like open shelving and I use the ceiling beams to hang pots and containers of spices harvested from my garden. I also enjoy having cooking utensils, dishes, and equipment within easy reach, and the slightly cluttered look bothers me not at all.  It's clear from the photos that I like red as my primary accent color. It's warm and comfortable especially in my north side kitchen.

The dining section (top of page photo) has a 10 foot fireplace and, in the back, an 1860 pumpkin pine step back cupboard that holds a collection of vintage white cabbage leaf plates (see the photo below left).  The fireplace is a working model with pots, a crane, and trivets for cooking over an open flame.Yes, I do cook in it on occasion. There's nothing like a pot of bubbling soup on a cold winter day.


In a traditional house such as ours, the ceilings are entirely beamed (great for hanging "stuff"), and there is a set of stairs leading to the second floor from the kitchen. (See the photo below.) These stairs are in additional to the stairs which also lead to the second floor from the front foyer.  I've used this stairwell to display some of my little quilts and a portion of my chicken collection in the antique white corner cabinet. Just visible on the right in this photo are sliders which lead out to the deck. Since my kitchen is on the north side, the sliding doors are necessary to admit light as well as provide access to the deck.

The walls in the kitchen are painted a cheerful light yellow with an aged, faux finish and on the floor-  which is brick-  are Persian rugs. These are remarkably durable and easily hold up to the wear and tear of an active family. As previously noted the accent color is red. Incidentally real brick is a marvelous flooring material. It's impervious to everything and is very easy to clean.

 
In creating a country kitchen, I've found that keeping collections together and using a single dominate accent color helps to tie the various elements together. I'm  always introducing new collections and changing out old ones. Currently I have a collection of salt glaze pottery, kitchen utensils (see photo right), redware pottery, polish pottery, and a set of Royal Doulton Old Country Roses on display in addition to plants and pots.

Of course the most important element in establishing a country kitchen is comfort. Aim for an atmosphere that makes folks want to kick off their shoes, put their feet up, and enjoy a hot cup of tea with you. Oh, and don't forget the cookies. Most of all, have fun.

Regards, Flo 
Stop by and check out our great home decorating and sewing trims!

By Florence Dove

NEW ELEGANT EXPRESSIONS APPLIQUES FROM SIMPLICITY by Dove Originals Trims

Simplicity has just released a new line of appliques and are they ever gorgeous! There's something for everyone here, whether you want to dress up a sweater, add a unique touch to a dress or skirt,  make over a purse, or turn a plain pair of jeans into a designer look original. Some are designed to follow the curve of a neckline, others are long and perfect for a jacket, some simply add a splash of color and bling with sequins, stones, animal prints, bold colors. The styles vary from  traditional to contemporary to evening out.

There's 17 new designs to choose from and all are easy iron on. We are offering these Elegant Expressions appliques at wholesale prices. So I hope you'll stop by and check them out.

Cheers,
Flo
By Florence Dove

AUTUMN AND APPLESAUCE By Dove Originals Trims

Two large pots of applesauce cooking.

In my mind the month of October and autumn are inextricably linked. With 5 large apple trees on our northern Connecticut property it's difficult not to think autumn, applesauce, and apple pie. (Yes, my family is spoiled. Rotten.)

But this year a late frost hit at precisely the wrong time and our trees bore not a single apple. Undaunted I trudged off to a local orchard to see if their trees had fared any better than ours. The answer was a little bit, but the crop overall was poor. Nonetheless I bought a bushel of apples and decided to use all of them to make applesauce.

Cooked apples waiting to be run through the food mill at the left. 

With hubby helping, we set up an apple assembly line. I washed, he cored and sectioned, and I tossed them into two large pots. When I say large, my massive 15 quart Le Crueset is not for the faint of heart. It weighs in at about 27 pounds empty and when filled with apples is upwards of 33 pounds. It's an utterly amazing pot but very heavy. The rest of the apples went into my smaller 7 1/2 quart Le Crueset.

Rather than add water to start the apples cooking, I use apple cider or apple juice. I let them cook down and then season with lots of cinnamon and sugar or, if the apples are very tart, a mix of sugar and Splenda.  When they have reached a nice mushy consistency I remove the pots from the heat, check the flavor, and correct as necessary. I then let everything cool and run the sauce through a food mill. I seal in airtight plastic bags and freeze.

This year I know I didn't save any money making my own applesauce versus buying it at the grocery store, but there's simply no comparison in taste between the two.  It's so easy to make that I hope you'll give it a try. Even fussy eaters like homemade applesauce.

Finally, did you notice my green cabbage leaf dishes from Bordalo Pinheiro in the background? They are so whimsical that they make me smile every time I use them. I leave them out on the island in my kitchen within easy reach. These are not vintage dishes, but I do have about 40 pieces in the Bordalo Pinheiro white cabbage leaf pattern that are vintage. The design is utterly charming.

Cheers,
Flo
Dove Originals Trims

DIY GARDEN POTTING TABLE by Dove Originals Trims

DIY Potting Table

Fall has arrived here in New England and gardening chores are slowing, but there's still much to do before the first frost hits and winter begins to settle upon us.  Indoor plants vacationing outdoors need to be cleaned up and usually re-potted before bringing them indoors. This is a chore I've never enjoyed as I usually work on a make-shift wobbly table as a potting bench. But this year it's vastly different.

Back View of Potting Table

About a month ago my husband began construction on a potting table for me with a marvelous (and surprisingly inexpensive) custom galvanized metal top. The project took about a week to complete with my hubby working on it a few hours a day. I was inspired in the design of this potting table by an expensive one ($900) that I saw in a high end gardening catalog. Mine cost a total of $260 to build and, since it's cedar, it can withstand our harsh New England winters without protection.

I've published the instructions and costs on our website, so I hope you'll check them out. It's an easy to make "Honey do" project requiring only basic carpentry skills. My table also has storage underneath for stacking unused pots, and I added a couple of galvanized medium size trash cans to hold potting soil and mulch.

As noted the instruction for constructing this potting table are on our website DoveOriginalsTrims.com. With such a great workspace, you might find as I did that re-potting chores can be much more fun and certainly easier on the back.


Regards,
by Florence Dove

GREAT DRESSES FROM GREAT LADIES by Dove Originals Trims

Creating A Pillowcase Dress

One of the nicest benefits of having a home decorating and sewing trim business is the great customers I have the pleasure of meeting. And on occasion I have the even greater pleasure of assisting in a small way those exceptional individuals who sew and create for the benefit of poor children and infants who lack even the barest essentials of life.

One such woman is Betty Lynn, who sews for a marvelous charity that addresses the physical and spiritual needs of children in one of the poorest villages in South Africa, the village of Majakeneng. This week the New York team will be sending 130 dresses as Christmas gifts for the little girls of Majakeneng Village.

Majakeneng is composed of refugee families from other countries arriving in South Africa as squatters without legal documentation. Children are orphaned when the ravages of crime, disease, and unsanitary conditions take their toll. As undocumented orphans, they are ignored by the federal government. Hunger, abuse, and AIDS are rampant.

Thankfully, two organizations stepped forward to meet the need. One is Marchiano Ministries, a US non-profit organization started by actor, author, and missionary Bruce Marchiano.   The other is Flames Ministry which was headed by Pastor Martin Tivane of  the Flames Christian Church in South Africa until his death in March 2011.

Prior to their intervention, the plight of these children was terrible. A local primary school comprised of about 400 orphans was the only source of nutrition for these children-  providing one meal a day but nothing on weekends and holidays. Older girls were driven to sell themselves to provide food for their younger brothers and sisters, and stories of predatory rape and abuse were common. Pastor Tivane was deeply touched by the plight of these children and consequently formed an advocacy partnership with the principal, school counselors and teachers to provide the needed protection, sustenance, and mentorship for these small, vulnerable children. 

Flames Ministries, Marchmin Ministries and the counselors/teachers of this local school have become a safety net.  Majakaneng school is the outlet to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual sustenance for these little broken souls.  The need is vast as local social workers report that they get over 300 new children to place in foster care each month in this area alone.

I hope by now you are asking yourself, “How can I help?”  One way, of course, is money. You can donate through the Marchiano Ministries website which has an online donation capability and the mailing address for sending a check.

If you sew and would like to help, please contact Betty Lynn for instructions and an up-to-date list of needed sizes.

Pillowcases and trims such as ribbon, lace, rick rack, bows, appliques, etc.  can be mailed to: Betty Lynn, 78 Colgate Ave, Yonkers, NY, 10703.

The Children of Majakeneng Village

Animal, sports, and superhero T-shirts in boys sizes (ages 4-17) can be mailed to: Sally Herman, 4932 East Colby St, Mesa, AZ 85205. (Sally is the founder of Christmas Shoes and is gathering shirts so that the boys will also have a Merry Christmas.)

These children have so very little and the needs are enormous. Please, take a moment to make a donation or gather up suitable trims that you are not using and help with this very worthy cause. 

Regards,

Flo

Dove Originals Trims 

$21.95 For 15 Yards of Disney and Pooh Blanket Binding

Wow! Only $21.95! This is a great price on in stock 15 yard reels of Wrights Disney and Winnie the Pooh blanket binding. Perfect where a package of 4 3/4 yards just isn't sufficient. Kids just love this binding both for its adorable images and for its satin feel. 

I hope you'll stop by our site for a visit and check out the more than 2100 trims we currently have in stock, ready to ship.

Pretty As A Princess blanket binding, 15 yards, $21.95

Winnie the Pooh Beehives blanket binding, 15 yards, $21.95

Winnie the Pooh & Eeyore blanket binding, 15 yards, $21.95

Cheers,
Flo at Dove Originals Trims