Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

Pandora, Fashionstoryteller, & the Milk Café by Breville

One of my favourite YouTube Pandora videographers is Emily at Fashionstoryteller. She creates the most beautiful style videos and has a wonderful collection of Pandora charms, bracelets, and other jewelry which she shares in such a creative and professional way. When I first happened upon her channel I was amazed at the work she puts into her videos, from the gorgeous way she films to the final editing and production. It's like watching an actual Pandora promotional release!

I have been so inspired by this fellow Pandora fan and it is largely thanks to her that my passion for the charms has been renewed. I have learned so much from Emily about the way to go about designing a bracelet as well as how to properly size, care for, and wear Pandora jewelry. If you enjoy Pandora bracelets and haven't already become addicted to Emily's videos, definitely check out her channel to discover a great source of inspiration!

Another passion included in the fashionstoryteller videos is TEA! Emily always has an interesting cup of tea on the go while she films and she recently shared how she makes her tea lattés at home. The secret is the Milk Café by Breville, a stand-alone home milk frother machine. While this small appliance is a pricier choice when it comes to frothing milk, the reviews are consistently excellent and it tops many of the lists I read while researching frothers. Emily swears by the Milk Café and if you also enjoy lattés and cappuccinos daily, it might just be a worthwhile purchase.

The Breville machine uses induction heating to gently and evenly heat the milk to the selected temperature. Having a variable temperature dial allows you to choose how hot you want your drink and the option of a latté frothing disc or a cappuccino disc gives you the pick of a smooth and silky milk or a thick and creamy froth. There is a cold stir setting, as well as a removable measuring cup in the lid for adding chocolate, syrups or flavouring while the milk froths.  The large 3-cup capacity stainless steel jug has various level markings inside and is dishwasher safe.

The Milk Café really does work perfectly to deliver a hot, frothy milk for at-home beverage creations. My first cup was a delicious London Fog (Earl Grey tea, vanilla, and creamy, foamy milk) and it was so fun to make. I am tweaking my recipes to perfect them and am enjoying playing barista for my family. Chai tea latté anyone?

Here is Fashionstoryteller's video tutorial for tea lattés at home...

ingenuiTEA Steeper

I have been using a lot of loose tea these days so I picked up this ingenuiTEA steeper to make things easier. It is a very cool teapot and is ideal for brewing the perfect cup. When the tea is ready you place the steeper on top of your mug which releases a valve and lets the tea flow through the mesh strainer. Clear tea with no bits of leaves is the wonderful result, with easy clean-up - just tap out the tea leaves and give the pot a rinse.

I purchased the larger 28oz size so that I can make two cups if I want. One cup can be made just as easily and once you see where the fill line is for the quantity of tea you want, no measuring is required. If you do make two cups, the valve stops immediately when you lift the pot switch cups and there is no dripping or leaking.

I love being able to see the colour of the steeping tea and the easy cleaning is great. While the ingenuiTEA is dishwasher safe, the tea shop where I bought it recommended simply rinsing under water - no need for anything more. Sounds good to me! I love using it!

You can see how this cleaver teapot works in the video below or check out the IngenuiTEA website HERE.

Stackers Charm Box

I love my Stackers jewelry boxes for storing my Pandora jewelry, bracelets, and charms. While I was choosing the system that worked for my collection I also had to add a Charm Box.  This is a wonderful little storage box which is perfect to hold one bracelet and extra charms. I bought the 'stand-alone' lid rather than the two-layered set because while I have enough charm storage in my larger boxes, I loved the idea of being able to style my bracelets using this top lid.

The box I selected is a beautiful blush pink with a soft, padded grey interior. There is a sunken form to hold a bracelet and 18 indentations for beads. This is the perfect design to hold charms in place while deciding how to arrange them on a bracelet. It's easy to switch out different choices, seeing roughly where they will sit, and plan the perfect layout for the theme of the day!

Of course, the Stackers Charm Box can simply be used to safely store a smaller Pandora collection and could also work as a travel box. I think these are beautifully made and so well suited to charm bracelets. They mimic the design trays in-store and are a wonderful addition to a Pandora collectors storage system.

Here is my video detailing the Stackers Charm Box...

Phillips Sonicare DiamondClean Toothbrush

I recently had the easiest, fastest, most comfortable dental check up ever and it is because of the Phillips Sonicare electric toothbrush. I've had it for just over a year and it's a life-changing way to take care of your teeth. I bought mine at Costco and while it was pricey (I can't remember exactly but way over $150??), the big box offering was a complete kit of charging/cleaning base, extra brushes, travel cases, and a travel charger...so a very well appointed toothbrush!

It feels a little strange at first, especially if you don't already use an electric toothbrush, but you get used to it within a few days. Our model has different settings, including a gum massage and a quick-clean cycle. The amazing thing is that all the options have a subtle timing feature to encourage brushing for 2 minutes. It goes even farther by alerting you when it's time to move on to a different section of your teeth based on quadrants of your mouth.

If you don't relish the time spent getting a cleaning in the dentist's chair, it is totally worth every penny to invest in this fabulous toothbrush. I gifted all my kids their own Sonicare and they absolutely appreciate the difference in the feel of their teeth - and their check-ups. I used to take a pain reliever before going to my appointment to combat the ache after the hygienist's picking and scraping. This time I was in and out of the chair in less than 25 minutes and there was practically zero actual work done. I was even praised by my hygienist for the excellent "work" I was doing keeping my teeth clean! My appointment was a breeze and such a wonderful relief. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops that Sonicare is the best thing you can do for your dental hygiene!

I am in no way affiliated with Phillips and this blog is not sponsored by anyone. I truly want to share with you the good products I find that make life easier, better, healthier, and more efficient. A toothbrush may not seem like a big deal but this one is a game changer for me and my family. Teeth are meant to last a lifetime and I intend to do whatever I can to keep them healthy and clean :) 

Color Crystals Quilt: It's Not a Race & Perfect Points Positioning Pin

I have been avoiding the next step in the Color Crystals quilt. I enjoyed piecing the half-square triangles and even joining the units into rows. However, I knew that sewing those rows together was going to be a challenge. There are points to match and that always requires special pinning to achieve an acceptable-to-me result.

Fortunately, almost six years ago now, I participated in the Connecting Threads Perfect Points Quilt-along and I learned how to use a positioning pin to help sew seams for accurate points. I shared the progress in a series of posts, starting with THIS ONE and I did end up finishing the quilt project (you can find it HERE). It wasn't a perfect job but it was done and that was good enough for me. That was many quilts ago at this point so I had to revisit the instructions and practice my points once again.

Here is the PDF instructions for using a positioning pin which was extremely helpful for refreshing my memory. I stitched the first set of rows using the pinning technique as I had recalled it with ok results. I thought I'd sew the next pair with no pinning to see how it compared (not great, not good enough for my liking), so then I read the instructions and switched how I pinned - adding the side pins in at a straight angle rather than at a diagonal - and had much better results.

This pinning will make the piecing a much longer process but I am trying to remind myself that I went into this project saying it was not a race and I wanted to keep it fun and not stressful. I may only get a couple rows sewn each day but that is still progress. I am satisfied with the points - far from perfect but not too bad. Once the quilt is finished they will hardly be noticeable. Angela Walters appears to sew her units together without any pinning at all so that is all the permission I need to keep things relaxed!

Stackers Jewelry Boxes

More than a few years ago Pandora offered a gorgeous set of jewelry boxes as a gift with purchase. This was a tiered bonus in that the more you spent, the more layers of the set you could earn. The lovely cases were embossed with the Pandora logo and/or name and had little rods to hold charms, as well as compartments and forms for bracelets and extra beads. A few lucky people were able to buy them in one configuration or another after the promotion period ended. I was not one of them....

Since I only recently renewed my interest in Pandora I never paid any attention to promotions or sales. Now that I AM paying attention, and taking advantage of new offers, I realize that it was a sad thing to miss out on the beautiful jewelry boxes. There are only a few floating around the auction sites but the prices are astronomical, the locations are typically Australia or England, and purchase from an unknown source could be highly risky. I needed a more easily obtainable solution to my storage problem!

I heard about Stackers from a Pandora expert but sadly, the company based in England doesn't ship to Canada. After searching US sites and being unable to find a way to access the product I ended up emailing Stackers directly for guidance. A wonderful customer service rep sent me a link for a UK stockist who does indeed accept international orders. While I don't think the choice for components is as broad as availability with the actual Stackers company proper, I was able to customize a jewelry box simply ideal for my needs.

I chose the size, colour & lining, lid, and then trays to stack underneath. It took me a few days to play around with the configuration but in the end I settled on a white Classic lid with 3 charm trays and one 3-section deeper box. Why those items? I chose the Classic size because there was more selection and it was adequate for my collection, and also easier to display and handle.  While I love the blush pink exterior it was not available at the stockist with a neutral interior. I absolutely did not want a lining with a pattern (e.g. polka dots) because I wanted to keep the look clean and plain to showcase the silver jewelry. White was my choice and it came with a grey lining. I was worried it would be bright white but it is actually perfect and stunningly classy. I picked the charm trays so that I could have the long rods for charm storage and styling. I wanted a section for my bracelet and rationalized I could have a tray for each and keep the relevant charms together. The little square sections could be for holding charms while I plan and/or overflow.

The lid can be accessorized with shorter charm bars and will hold up to 4. I added them in because I wanted to make sure I had room to grow without having to reorder and pay all the costs that go with international delivery. They are perfect for specialty charms or items that can work with any of the bracelets (like clips, spacers, or Muranos). The lid also has room for rings and other items like earrings and necklaces.

The deeper 3 section tray is perfect for holding less often worn jewelry or differently shaped bracelets like leather and bangles which don't have a home in the trays. There is also a longer section in each level to hold an unclipped charm bracelet stretched out. I love that there are many storage options!

As the name suggests, each tray stacks upon the next with the lid at the top sealing up the set. I was giddy with anticipation waiting for the box to arrive and couldn't wait to see how it all would work with my jewelry. I was beyond delighted with the look and quality of the Stackers and what I picked works perfectly for what I have. I had a lot of fun organizing and figuring out exactly how I wanted to set things up.

So I can highly recommend Stackers as a jewelry storage and display option. It is wonderful for Pandora or charms/beads specifically but obviously you could select different components (earring tray, watch form, etc.) based on your own jewelry collection. The quality and construction seems excellent, with beautiful stitching (of course I would notice that!!), nice hardware clasp, padded lining and charm rods that fit securely in the notches. I am very, very pleased!

Each piece of Stackers is well priced (imho) and I found shipping to be really reasonable considering how far it had to come! The overall cost can add up if you purchase additional layers or accessories but I feel it's a worthwhile investment to protect the other worthwhile investment, one's lovely jewelry!

Bracelet Fairy

As much as I adore Pandora bracelets, it is always a struggle for me to do them up! Even though I wear mine on my right wrist and my dominant left hand is doing the latching, with a full snake chain of charms, it's difficult to get that clasp closed. I contort and try to hold the one side against my body while pulling the other side around but then it shifts and falls and I get super frustrated. If hubby or the kids are not around to help I can spend 5 or ten sweaty minutes fighting the bracelet...

Enter the Bracelet Fairy! This little tool is a life saver and makes fastening and unfastening any bracelet a cinch. One side of the Fairy clips onto the open end of the bracelet - and don't worry, it's padded to keep your jewelry safe and scratch free. The handle fits perfectly in your hand and holds the chain so you can use your free hand to fasten the clasp.

To make this item even more useful, there is a tapered part on the other end of the Bracelet Fairy that fits into the slotted groove of the traditional barrel clasp/snap closure mechanism of the Pandora jewelry. It pops it open flawlessly and it's so convenient to always have the tool available.

I bought the Fairy for all my girls and while they didn't think they needed it at a young age, now realize how awesome it is! Sure, I know you CAN get a Pandora bracelet and other jewelry done up by yourself BUT the Bracelet Fairy just makes it so much faster, easier, and less frustrating. I bought mine for about $24 and it's worth every penny. It is very helpful for older people too and those with arthritis or other dexterity issues. Here's a video showing how the Bracelet Fairy works...

Pandora Silver Travel Jewelry Case

I'm waiting for a delivery of a beautiful jewelry box to organize and store my Pandora charms and bracelets but in the meantime I thought I'd share this travel case with you. It is an authentic Pandora 'gift with purchase' item and I am thrilled to have it. It is the perfect size for taking one or two favourite pieces along for a holiday with room for extra charms, rings, and other items.

The silver finish is quite lovely and the Pandora name is in rose gold. Inside, the velvety black lining is a stunning backdrop for shiny silver bracelets. There is a snap-on strap in the lid with holes for earrings (LOVE that idea to keep them safe and together!), and a raised slotted area for dangles. Next to those are two snap loops to keep necklaces in place with a pouch at the bottom for the pendants to stay protected and tangle-free.

In the main section of the case there is a padded circle form to house a bracelet or two, with 2 snaps to keep it/them in place. To the left are a couple of little cinched pockets for extra charms or other jewelry. There is a zipper at the top but I'm not exactly sure what the intention of that space is - it could be a hidden area for a small item but it's very snug and difficult to get your fingers in. Any suggestions or guesses???

The cutest feature of this versatile travel jewelry box has to be the ring holder! It is a wee matching zippered case that holds several rings. It stays nestled in the vacant area above the bracelet form. I think it is a sweet addition and great for keeping rings secure. It's just the right size for me since I tend to only swap out one or two of my rings.

I really think this Pandora box is ideal for a getaway because it not only holds bracelets and charms, but also other pieces like rings, earrings, and necklaces. While I'm away I always take my earrings off at night and usually just stick them in my toiletry bag. It's not particularly suited for small studs and I often forget to put the earrings back on in the morning! I'm excited to pack up my new jewelry box for its first excursion and be able to take several options of bracelet styling components with me to play with.

I'd be very interested to hear how you travel with your jewelry and what you like to take on holiday...  When my new jewelry box for at-home storage arrives I will be sure to review it for you! I can't wait to get it!!!

HSTs for the Color Crystals Quilt & the Bloc Loc Ruler

There are hundreds of half-square triangles (HST) needed for the Color Crystals quilt and I am more than happy making them. Things are going along well so far, slowly but without incident. The pattern calls for cutting squares of fabric diagonally into triangles, pairing them with another colour and then sewing them together. This is not the method I have used in the past, having previously taken advantage of the two-at-once way to make HST. However, that involves marking a line from corner to corner and stitching 1/4" on either side. While some commenters have suggested this method, I for one did not want to mark a zillion squares and I think it would actually take longer to sew them. I, like Angela Walters demonstrates, am following the pattern designer's written instructions.

I have been very careful not to stretch the bias edge of the cut triangles and am stitching slowly and carefully for accuracy of the final HST size. The actual time at the sewing machine is very little since chain stitching makes the process very speedy. I am layering the squares of appropriate fabric, cutting them in half, and delicately moving the paired triangles onto my portable cutting mat to move to the sewing area. That, and the pressing, are the lengthiest parts of the procedure and still I have stacked up quite a few HSTs so far. I remember now how much fun piecing a quilt is and the time flies by.

One other part of getting the HST units ready to incorporate into the blocks is trimming. There are dog ears on either side and they need to be snipped off as part of the squaring up of each HST. I remembered that I had a special ruler tucked away in my tool drawer, the bloc-loc ruler. Even though I bought it years ago, I never had the opportunity to need it for so many HSTs. In fact, it still had the cellophane on it so I was excited to try out the 'new' ruler! I watched a YouTube video first to learn how to use it (see below) and I must say, it worked like a charm! Once I got the hang of it the ruler perfectly 'locks' onto the middle seam of the pieced unit. The ruler is moved first to one side to trim and then can be easily moved to turn the fabric to clean up the other side. It is very accurate and easy to use - I find it so fast and efficient! Having so many HSTs to square up I am very appreciative of this ruler and so happy I already had it ready to go!

Although it would be even more efficient to 'assembly line' each portion of the piecing (i.e. all the cutting, all the sewing, then all the pressing and all the trimming), I have decided to do a batch at a time to avoid strain on my neck, or legs, or hands (depending on which task I'm doing) and boredom. There is a sense of accomplishment to see the stack of completed HSTs and I was able to test out the pattern and method of construction before committing fully to the plan. Now that I know everything is turning out just right I can increase the the quantity of each batch. I am in no rush and simply enjoying the time in my workshop and at the machine. I've missed it!!

I have a couple hours before the crew comes home for our Valentine's dinner and dessert so I'd better get over to the machine. Happy Valentine's Day (or Gal-entines, or Ash Wednesday or just Wednesday) to you all!

Ice Cream Sandwich Maker

I hit one of my favourite stores, Williams Sonoma, while shopping in the city before Christmas and couldn't resist buying this Ice Cream Sandwich maker for my DD's boyfriend. He always enjoys it when I have a box of frozen treats in the freezer so this seemed like a whimsical, quirky little gift for him under the tree.  Ok, it might have been a little self-serving but I knew it would be fun to make them together.

The kit comes with the silicone form consisting of the top and bottom cookie-shaped molds, the insert tray to pack the ice cream in, and a trowel/spatula utensil for spreading and scraping the overflow ice cream. The instruction booklet includes a simple recipe for the sandwich biscuits along with the directions.

I followed the recipe exactly, which is very simple and basically the ingredients for a brownie. (I don't have the booklet here - he took it home - so I can't give it to you.) It was soon obvious that the quantity of brownie mix was going to be waaaaaay more than necessary to fill the very shallow cookie molds! It was a little tricky getting the batter to fill the rectangles because it pulled away from the non-stick sides. I learned to make sure to use the spreader from the centre out so as to force the dough into the shape.

The two halves of the maker go straight into the oven on a cookie sheet. It's actually quite clever that you can make and bake in the same tray. After cooling, the thicker form is nested over the bottom cookies and packed with ice cream. Of course, you can use your favourite flavour! We tried a lovely, traditional natural vanilla bean and a decadent Ben & Jerry's Tonight Dough. Once the ice cream has filled the spaces the top half of the mold is carefully flipped on the top to create the sandwich.

The next step is to freeze the whole maker for at least an hour. We were full of anticipation so we pulled it out at the 60 minute mark. While the ice cream sandwiches looked completely authentic and professional, I think it would have been better to let them freeze longer to become really firm. They were absolutely scrumptious but as soon as you bit into the cookie the ice cream oozed out the sides! Never mind, we just used a spoon to scoop up the excess as a bonus bite.

Since the sandwiches have to freeze for an extended period, and boyfriend was going home the next day, I just spread the remainder of the brownie batter into a pan and baked it off. The "brownies" are not as sweet and gooey as a real batch but he ended up using them as a brownie sundae base - not a bit wasted!

The Ice Cream Sandwich Maker was a fun (and funny to us) gift to give and receive but I think in the end it is much easier and a lot less expensive to just go to the store and buy a box of sandwiches. For the money I spent on the kit and ingredients, not to mention the ice cream and effort (!) one could choose the PREMIUM ice cream sandwiches at the grocery store in several different varieties!