The Little Black Dress

Canadian Talent. Canadian Fashion. Canadian Made.

“Design A Dress” Contest for Aspiring Designers

In celebration of Canadian fashion, the Velvet Room Boutique design team would like to show off the talents of a new generation of designers. The “Design a Dress” contest has been created to inspire designs that combine classic looks with current trends.

Designers are asked to keep the philosophy of the Velvet Room Boutique in mind while creating styles that will appeal to both mothers and daughters of all ages.

Eligibility

The Velvet Room Boutique “Design A Dress” contest is open to aspiring designers who have less than two years trade or professional experience and are 18 years or older.

Design Specifications

Choose one of the below events and submit a design for a dress that fits the criteria described. Participants may include sketches, pictures, flats and fabric selections in their submissions. Participants may submit designs for one or more of the categories for a maximum of three submitted designs.

Gala: Design a floor length dress for a black tie gala or awards night

(size 6)

Wedding: Design a dress that can be worn to a daytime wedding and evening reception (size 8) *a dress for a quest not the bride

Birthday: Design an age appropriate dress that the Birthday Gal can wear to her 40th or 50th Birthday Bash. (Curvy size 8)

I am not sure that I am that "aspiring designer", but I did acquire a beautiful piece of fabric that inspired me to design a I dinner dress, and when I came across this contest I knew my dress design need to be entered. Not only would be perfect for the Birthday category it makes making the dress all the more fun.

The design is my interpretation of "The Little Black Dress" My design is a rich chocolate brown lined bias halter dress with a gathered neckline and tie back closure. I think the halter dress is one of the sexiest formal looks around. The halter dress calls extra attention to the upper half of the body, including the face, and shoulders . This makes it great to help draw unwanted attention away from hips or legs.

I will do some beading at the neckline, allowing to skip the necklace. Long matching earings will complete the look.

One might wonder what I will need a dinner dress for here on the farm...I will be accepting dinner invitations once the dress is complete :) I will update with photos.

Monster Meat Birds

We have 50 Meat Birds. Our only experience so far has been raising heritage dual purpose birds and they are much different. The meat birds are like a monster chick, they grow at an accelerated rate and just eat and eat and eat some more. We did a mad dash at trying to get them outdoors, the boys worked on a Coop today. They should be ready for the new coop in a week or so. This is the first 50 of the 200 we will raise this summer before the turkey's come in June. They are ready for slaughter at 6-8weeks, a heritage chicken takes 24-28 weeks.

Chicks in the Brooder

"The Farmer" is deciding what to do...
"Mr. D" Helps out with the coop? Notice his hands are in his pockets.

The Gardens

We are getting ready for planting on the farm. We have 6 raised beds and are going to plant lots of vegetables. One of the gardens we will grow this year is a Three Sisters' Garden.

What is a Three Sisters Garden?

It is an ancient method of gardening using an intercropping system which grows corn, beans, and squash crops simultaneously in the same growing area that is typically a rounded mound of soil, often called a hill.

Corn is the oldest sister. She stands tall in the center.

Squash is the next sister. She grows over the mound, protecting her sisters from weeds and shades the soil from the sun with her leaves, keeping it cool and moist.

Beans are the third sister. She climbs through squash and then up corn to bind all together as she reaches for the sun. Beans help keep the soil fertile by coverting the sun's energy into nitrogen filled nodules that grow on its roots. As beans grow they use the stored nitrogen as food.

This is really going to be a garden for "Miss J", my ten year old daughter. It was a legend we read about together in a children's book. I could never remember the book. The legend seems to vary quite a bit from tribe to tribe. After sifting through many legends I was able to find a Canadian Account that was close to the one we read about.

The Native American story of the Three Sisters vary from tribe to tribe. This story below is taken from an oral account by Lois Thomas of Cornwall Island, found in "Indian Legends of Eastern Canada."

The Three Sisters

A long time ago there were three sisters who lived together in a field.

These sisters were quite different from one another in their size and way of dressing. The little sister was so young that she could only crawl at first, and she was dressed in green.

The second sister wore a bright yellow dress, and she had a way of running off by herself when the sun shone and the soft wind blew in her face.

The third was the eldest sister, standing always very straight and tall above the other sisters and trying to protect them. She wore a pale green shawl, and she had long, yellow hair that tossed about her head in the breeze.

There was one way the sisters were all alike, though. They loved each other dearly, and they always stayed together. This made them very strong.

One day a stranger came to the field of the Three Sisters - a Mohawk boy. He talked to the birds and other animals - this caught the attention of the three sisters.

Late that summer, the youngest and smallest sister disappeared. Her sisters were sad.

Again the Mohawk boy came to the field to gather reeds at the water's edge. The two sisters who were left watched his moccasin trail, and that night the second sister - the one in the yellow dress - disappeared as well.

Now the Elder Sister was the only one left.

She continued to stand tall in her field. When the Mohawk boy saw that she missed her sisters, he brought them all back together and they became stronger together, again.

Here are a few pictures of flowers sprouting around the farm.

Lupins

First Rose of the year.

Farm Buddies

The Plum Trees are in bloom
The Bees are already hard at work on the farm.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Well my lemon adventure seems to have only started with the 3 lemons, and lemon loaves. I love lemons. I went on to make many sweet and tangy desserts this week; Lemon Meringue Pie, Lemon Coconut Cupcakes and a few more Lemon Loaves. I had not even thought of the savory uses of lemon yet; Lemon Asparagus Rissotto, Lemon Chicken and of course we cannot forget the Lemon Drop Martini. The lemon drop was a favorite of mine when I was having an affair with the martini. I then remembered an article from Real Simple Magazine "101 New Uses for Everyday Things" Lemons were one of the everyday items. I love replacing commercial products with simple everyday things. With only one lemon left in the bowl, I am going to have to fill it again if I am ever going to keep up with the lemon frenzy. Here are a few favorite lemon recipes and ways to use lemons.

Lemon Meringue Pie

1 cup white sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups water

2 lemons, juiced and zested

2 tablespoons butter

4 egg yolks, beaten

1 Moth Hair's Pie Crust( Following)

4 egg whites

6 tablespoons white sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

To Make Lemon Filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in water, lemon juice and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter. Place egg yolks in a small bowl and gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of hot sugar mixture. Whisk egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture. Bring to a boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat. Pour filling into baked pastry shell.

To Make Meringue: In a large glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until foamy. Add sugar gradually, and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie, sealing the edges at the crust.

Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown.

"Moth Hair's" Pie Crust Recipe

Moth Hair is my friend Kathy here on the Island. She has shared many of her canning and baking secrets with me and we had so much fun in the kitchen! After 2 failed attempts at pie crust. Kathy shared her recipe and I have had only success.

In a large bowl combine:

3 Cups Flour

1 tsp Salt

2 Tbs Sugar

Cut In

1 1/4 Cup Tender Flake

Stir in

6 Tbs cold water

2 Tbs white vinegar

Once dough clings together divide into 2 balls. Wrap and refrigerate if need be.

Makes 2 crusts

Lemon Coconut Cupcakes

1/2 cup (125 mL) butter, softened

1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar

2 eggs

1-1/2 cups (375 mL) all-purpose flour

1/2 cup (125 mL) shredded sweetened coconut

4 tsp (18 mL) grated lemon rind

1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder

1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt

1/2 cup (125 mL) milk

Lemon Cream Cheese Icing:

2 tbsp (25 mL) cream cheese, softened

1 tbsp (15 mL) butter, softened

1/2 tsp (2 mL) grated lemon rind

1-1/2 tsp (7 mL) lemon juice

1 cup (250 mL) icing sugar

1/2 cup (125 mL) shredded sweetened coconut

Preparation:

In bowl, beat butter with sugar until light; beat in eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each. In separate bowl, whisk flour, coconut, lemon rind, baking powder and salt ; stir into butter mixture alternately with milk, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 of milk. Spoon into 12 greased and floured or paper-lined muffin cups.

Bake in centre of 350°F (180°C) oven for 20 minutes or until tester inserted in centre comes out clean. Remove from pan to rack; let cool completely. (Make-ahead: Store in single layer in airtight container for up to 24 hours or freeze for up to 2 weeks.)

Lemon Cream Cheese Icing: In bowl, beat cream cheese with butter until fluffy; beat in lemon rind and juice. Beat in icing sugar until fluffy. Spread over each cupcake; dip icing into coconut. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 24 hours.)

"Miss J" and her friend waiting to sample :)

" Lemon Drop Martini"

Juice of 6 lemons

4 tablespoons sugar

6 fresh mint leaves

4 shots vodka

Ice in shaker

1 sugar-rimmed martini glass

Mix lemon juice, sugar and vodka in a martini shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour into sugar-rimmed martini glass. Garnish with mint.

Use Lemon to:

1. Sanitize a chopping block. Run a slice of lemon over the surface to disinfect.

2. Eliminate the browning that occurs when food sits out too long. Sprinkle apple or pear slices with lemon juice before serving, or squeeze a bit into guacamole and give it a stir.

3. Remove tough food stains from plastic and light-colored wooden cutting boards. Slice a lemon in half, squeeze the juice onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with water.

4. Fade tea stains on cloth. Dilute lemon juice with an equal amount of water. Use an eyedropper or a Q-tip to make sure the juice targets the stain. Thoroughly flush with cool water.

5. Decorate on the cheap. Fill a glass bowl with lemons for a sunny centerpiece. Or display a row of them along a windowsill.

6. Relieve a sore throat. Cut a lemon in half. Skewer one half over a medium flame on a gas stove or an electric burner set on high and roast until the peel turns golden brown. Let cool slightly, then mix the juice with 1 teaspoon of honey. Swallow the mixture.

7. Whiten fingernails. Rub a wedge on the surface of your nails.

8. Shine the interior of copper cookware. Sprinkle a lemon wedge with salt, then scrub.

9. Brighten laundry whites. Add 1/2 cup lemon juice to the wash cycle of a normal-size load.

10. Remove soft cheese or other sticky foods from a grater. Rub both sides of the grater with the pulp side of a cut lemon.

You Might Be A Farmer's Wife If:

You Might Be a Farmer's Wife:

• If you have a "mailing address"
• If your driveway is longer than a stone’s throw
• If you have a yard, but not a lawn
• If your car’s color is two-toned and one color is gravel road brown
• If the neighbor’s house is best viewed with binoculars
• If you buy antiques because they match the rest of your furniture
• If that pail with a hole in it is a flowerpot in the making
• If your rock garden was hand-picked
• If you consider "hot dish" a food group
• If the "fresh ingredients" your recipe calls for reminds you to do the chores
• If "wild game" reminds you of dinner and not the bedroom
• If you can make a meal that can be ready in six minutes and will still be ready in two hours
• If you’ve ever said, "Oh, it’s only a little mud."
• If grass stains are the least of your laundry problems
• If you can find a use for that old pair of jeans
• If your husband says, "Can you help me for a few minutes?" and you know that might be anywhere from a few minutes to six hours
• If Zaa Zaa Gabor is on your list of "Most Admired Persons"
• If your husband gave you flowers, but you had to plant the seeds yourself
• If family "pets" include farm animals
• If your job in town is considered a farm subsidy

In less than a year; we have raised over a hundred birds here on the farm. We learned early about loss, and yet it doesn't get any easier. This past Sunday we lost 5 animals on the farm.

First thing Sunday morning Robert found Kumi, our Maremma Sheep Dog, lying beside one of our Rescued Isa Brown Hens watching the trees. We have been having a problem with raccoons and Kumi has fought and won many epic battles against raccoons.

Robert went on to take care of the "Meat Birds" and found one of the 2 week old chicks dead. It was a natural death and you expect that you might lose a couple.

Tanya, our mama duck, has lost 5 ducklings, we don't know what happened to all of them. It was sad to lose them. We have confined them and hope to prevent any further losses. Tanya is a young mother and we are inexperienced farmers so I hope that now we know better we can do better.

It was a sad day on the farm and I was thankful to be a farmer's wife, because it was the farmer who took care of all of the chore of what was called "D Day on the Farm". When life give you lemons...this farmer's wife says make a few lemon loaves.

Lemon Loaf

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter or margarine (We prefer butter)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk, 2% is fine

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 lemon, rind of

Glaze

lemon, juice of

1/4 cup sugarCombine lemon juice and sugar in saucepan. Stir and heat till sugar is dissolved.

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until creamy.Blend in milk. In another bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt and lemon rind. Pour into batter. Stir to moisten. Scrape into greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. Bake in 350f degree oven for 55 to 60 minutes.Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Remove to rack and while still hot, with a toothpick poke holes all over the top of the loaf, and spoon glaze evenly over.

Happy As A Duck In Water

Little Mama had all the ducklings out for a tour of the farm today. She even had them in water for a swim...just 1 day old. I was mesmerized by them today. Tanya has 12 little ducklings. Here are some pictures of the precious babies.

March came in like a lion...

So much has been happening here on the Farm. Blogging it all would be impossible, Here are some highlights. We have 50 "meat bird" chicks. They are growing so fast. It will only take 6 weeks for these birds to be ready for the table. I believe it! We survived March Break and kids are back to a nice routine. I have turned my attention to the gardens and farm clean up before the real planting weather gets here. We are also had Tanya's eggs Hatch! I am not sure how many little ducklings yet. Mama is very protective and they are still under her. As soon as I can get some pictures I will post them.

Kumi and I trying to get a peek at the ducklings in the early morning.

I see a few ducklings!!!!

A Fishing Adventure

It is always an adventure out with Captain Al of Wild Pacific Charters. It wasn't a serious fishing day. We did manage to have some fun and catch dinner. We put out the prawn and crab traps. It was a nice ride down the Port Alberni Canal.

Crab Traps
Robert Pulling in Dinner