Make Good with Verabelle & Goodwill

I've got big news, folks... My Sew-It-Yourself button and ruffle kits are going to be on sale at Goodwill!!! Yes, THE Goodwill. You know, the thrift store that I've been frequenting since I got my driver's license. Squeeeee!!!!

I've been blogging for Goodwill for over a year now, sharing my tips for thrifting and how to upcycle your Goodwill purchases into something new. But the Goodwill-Verabelle partnership has recently blossomed into something even more exciting!

On September 24, I will be at the Concord Goodwill Center to lead Goodwill's first ever Make Good DIY workshop! We'll be using my Sew-It-Yourself kits so that shoppers can customize their very own thrifted cardigan. My kits will be on sale inside the Goodwill store and will remain there until sold out.

Next Saturday's workshop will start with sewing demonstrations by yours truly, and then you'll get to rummage through the racks at Goodwill (with the help of my trained eye) to choose a cardigan to recreate. You'll leave with a new, one-of-a-kind top that will be a perfect addition to your fall wardrobe.

I'll be teaching techniques for both the beginning sewer and for those more experienced. You can either scour the shelves at Goodwill for materials to create your very own ruffles and fabric-covered buttons, or you can use one of my readymade Sew-It-Yourself ruffle and button kits for a quick and easy update. 

With my SIY kits, all you have to do is pull the drawstring on your ruffle to adjust it to the length of your cardigan. Then pin it on and sew! Use your coordinating vintage fabric covered buttons on the same cardigan or another top.

And using examples from my line of redesigned vintage clothing, I'll also show you how you can apply the same techniques to other items from your wardrobe.

All the details...

What: Make Good: A Do-It-Yourself workshop, hosted by Goodwill
When: Saturday, Sept. 24 at 10 a.m.
Where: Concord Goodwill Center
What to bring: Nothing! You can participate by just watching the demonstrations, or you can shop for a cardigan on site! We will have “sew-it-yourself” kits (including buttons, ruffles and instructions) available for purchase as well, so you can get started embellishing your cardigan right away.
RSVP: To sign up, visit your local Goodwill store or send an email with your name to community@goodwillsp.org. We look forward to seeing you there!


Read more at the Wow Goodwill blog!

A Virgo's Birthday Wish List

My birthday is just a hop, skip, and jump away - wheeeee!! I have always loved birthdays, both my own and others'. It's the one time of year to truly celebrate that person, and as the one having the birthday, I think it's a great time for reflection. It's also the perfect time to make everyone do what you want to do, since it is, afterall, your birthday! ;)


This year, I decided on a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure theme to my celebrating. Since I'll be at an out-of-town wedding rehearsal on my birthday (and in the wedding the day after), I decided to pick fun things to do throughout the month and invite others to participate.


All the fun starts this weekend with a little daytrip to the NC mountains, and with fall on our doorstep, it couldn't be a better time to head that way. Our Saturday will include the first three things from my list, so that people can do as much or as little as they want. The other two activities are spread out throughout the month. Here's the full line-up of choices...


1. Altapass Orchard for apple-picking, live bluegrass, and a hayride, all right along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
2. Local brews at Loe's Brewery and Olde Hickory Taproom
3. A double feature at the Belmont Drive-In
4. Partying in my old college town at some of my favorite bars
5. Contra dancing with a little lesson before


There's also not many things that are more fun that sitting down and making a birthday wish list. Even though there's no way I could ever have (or truly really want) every single thing on my wish list, it's so much fun to browse around and find the things that inspire me. And there is no shortage of that on Etsy! Here's an Etsy treasury I made just for my birthday, "A Virgo's Birthday Wish List." 

Now it's time to share - what do you want to do and/or get for your birthday this year? Or what has been your favorite birthday to-date?

xoxo,

Amanda Aileen

P.S. The photo at the top is of my best friend Nicole (left) and me (right) at my carnival birthday party last year.

A Fresh-Picked Dinner

We've been enjoying our own little bumper crop of tomatoes this year, getting a surprising amount out of three plants. I don't think I can ever tire of having fresh tomatoes around the house. They're so good in just about everything! Here is one of my favorite recipes for using both your red, ripe tomatoes, as well as a few green ones off the vine. I've adapted it from my favorite cookbook, Fresh Everyday by Sara Foster.




Fried Green Tomato & Red Ripe Tomato Salad
Serves 6-8


big handful of mixed greens
2 lrg. ripe heirloom tomatoes, cored & sliced 1/2" thick
1 t. sea salt
1/2 t. freshly ground pepper
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. yellow cornmeal
2 T. sugar
1 lrg. egg
1/2 c. well-shaken buttermilk
canola oil for frying (about 1/2 c.)
4 lrg. green tomatoes, sliced 1/2" thick
1/2 pint grape or small heirloom tomatoes, halved lengthwise (optional)
4 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
8 fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips


Sometimes I like to add in other things from the garden or whatever I might have on hand in the pantry: peppers, pine nuts, golden raisins, a different type of cheese. It's always fun to experiment!


Sweet Basil Vinaigrette
Makes about 1 cup


1/2 c. balsamic vinegar
juice of 1 lime
5-7 fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips
sea salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil

Picking ingredients for dinner:

tomatoes, a banana pepper & basil

- - - Our garden is by our front porch. It's the only sunny spot! - - -

1. Stir the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, and pepper together in shallow bowl.

2. Whisk the egg and buttermilk together in separate small bowl.

3. Pour enough canola oil in a large skillet to fill to 1/4" deep and heat over medium-high heat, until the oil sizzles when you drop a small amount of flour into skillet.

4. Dip a green tomato slice in the egg-buttermilk mixture to coat both sides; dredge it in the flour mixture to coat both sides; repeat. (Doing this twice makes your fried green tomato extra crispy and keeps the batter from flaking off in the skillet.)

5. Place the tomato in the hot oil. Repeat with enough tomato slices to fill the skillet without crowding, and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Turn and fry the other side to golden brown.

6. Remove tomatoes and drain on paper towels.

7. Arrange the fried green tomato slices and red ripe tomato slices on top of a bed of mixed greens. Scatter the small tomatoes over the slices and sprinkle with goat cheese. Drizzle with vinaigrette and top with basil strips. Serve immediately.

For Sweet Basil Vinaigrette, whisk vinegar, lime juice, basil, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl. Slowly add the olive oil, whisking until the oil is incorporated. Use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.