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It's summertime, so why am I opening up with a home coffee bar and not the beach? Let me take you back to our title:
It's Summertime…Inspiration Galore! Simply put, I'm inspired…and you will be too.
Here's why I'm inspired. I see a cozy cottage basking in the summer sun, even though the beverage it produces will be hot and dark, before the cream flows.
I can envision (First Tuesday-Third Wednesday Knitting & Crocheting Club) knitting and crocheting around that large table, enjoying our Kreug coffee and warm muffins from the vintage hanging baskets. I call dibs on the Shabby Chic lounge chair.
This cute cottage inspires me to be both bold and subtle, knitting bright, summer colors and soft white hues. I can leap out of my comfort zone and land on a challenging project that may spell disaster.
Sure, it could end up as a curly ball of mess on my living room floor that's so not in a cottage. But I'm not fretting… how could I… it's summertime, and mostly anything goes. Almost… but remember this… what happens in the summertime, stays in the summertime. Just stay away from cameras.
What's really great is that you don't have to look like you stepped off a New York Fashion Week runway. Yaay! This is the season your clothes don't have to match. Pantyhose stay in hiatus in your lingerie drawer until October. You can let a floppy straw hat hide your hair's moody disposition to the sun, heat, chlorine and salt water fun. Yes, carefree just arrived for a visit and it's ready to twerk. The proof is in Aunt Suzie's 4th of July potato salad.
Still not convinced?
Remember that watermelon wedge you devoured a few days ago? Did you worry about the watermelon juice dripping down your arms as you enjoyed each delightful slurp? That's what I thought.
How about your last visit to the frozen desert stand. Water ice, shaved ice, snow cones, Mister Softee and Good Humor stains now add character to your favorite tees and skorts. Surprisingly, celebs don't care about wearing white when they're enjoying an ice cream cone with extra sprinkles.
We even look forward to a hot sunny day, pampering us with our second favorite beverage. We're more than happy to supply the sugar and lemon. Hmm…sugar and lemon…describes summer to a tea? (I couldn't resist.)
Classic Sun Tea
Choose a sun tea container. The container you use to
make sun tea should be clear, to allow the sun's rays to penetrate to
the tea bags and water. Choose a container that has a lid so you can
prevent bugs and other outside particles from getting into your tea as
it steeps.
Ingredients
Classic Sun Tea
- 4 cups of distilled water
- 5 teabags of any kind
Herbal Sun Tea
- 4 cups of distilled water
- 1 cup of an assortment of fresh herbs, such as mint, hibiscus, chamomile, lemon verbena, and so on
- Make sure to use a container that is easy to clean. Don't use one that could easily harbor bacteria, like a container with a spigot that's difficult to wash.
- Avoid using plastic containers to make sun tea. Chemicals in the plastic can leach into the water, affecting the tea's taste and posing a health risk as well. Follow the instructions from this link-Wiki-How.
So back to our sweet and sour summer analogy. You've got the sweet--long, sunny days--tangy barbecue at a moment's notice--delicious veggies and fruits picked from your garden -- along with visits to water parks and beaches where we leave our sand castle signatures. Then there's the sour side of summer--those pesky mosquitoes, never-ending flies and scary thunderstorms that make you run for cover.
No worries, it's all worth it. So slather on some Off, grab a fly swatter and you'll be good to go.
What's that? I didn't tell you about my summer knitting challenge. Wow, good timing... I was just about to hit publish.
Okay, it's a knitted swim suit. Since I love vintage, this pattern is a win-win.
I'm no stranger to modification. I'd turn this into a tankini. See what I mean about being bold. Or, I may knit the pattern below and use the high-collar neckline for my two-piece design.
Here are a few more that might inspire you.
And if sewing is your craft of choice, you'll enjoy creating this pattern.
And for the crocheters...
The suits above would also look great in a solid color. But if you're really feeling summer bold, and want to create your own suit without a pattern, here are few to inspire you.
(Hawaii)
If you're feeling really daring, and can pull it off. Here's a fun swim suit that'll turn heads.
Want a fun summer craft? Try making these colorful yarn bracelets. Click on the link for instructions.
Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
(First Tuesday-Third Wednesday Yarn Bombing at Elkins Park Library)
First Tuesday-Third Wednesday Members - Google Alert
Don't Forget our Solstice Picnic on Wednesday, July, 15. Bring your favorite summertime dish. See you there!
