A Very Merry Sale at Amuse Me Shop

It is a very Merry Christmas indeed with 30% off of ALL items in the shop until December 14, 2014. Let us help you check some items off of your list.  Reversible aprons make excellent gifts for the girlfriends in your life and matching ones are available for the tots.  Be sure to check out our new line of kangaroo pocket tank tops and pants for girls while you are there.  The always classic Austen Dress is also available in many colors, including red for the holidays.  Happy Shopping!

etsy.com/shop/AmuseMeShop    Use code VERYMERRY

Angler Fish Costume for Halloween

I had hoped to post this for you before the holiday, just in case any of you were thinking of taking on your own fishy project.  However, I was sewing and primping this lovely bioluminescent specimen right up until the moment we went out the door.  

Six weeks ago when my 8 year-old decided to be a deep sea Angler Fish for Halloween, I said heck-yeah let's do this! Two weeks in, countless bent needles and two jammed sewing machines later, I was beginning to doubt my own sanity.  I kept moving on it and soon found myself really excited about the progress I was making.  Slowly our fish came to life and once we saw it lit up at night...

let's just say it was a proud moment.

Here is a little bit about how I put it together.

I found an out of print Simplicity pattern for a child's fish costume on eBay.  This was the base for the body and shape of the fish.  I wanted it to look less goldfish and more like a predator so I sketched new patterns for the tail, dorsal fin and side lateral fins.  I detailed these with black vinyl to get the feeling of bony spikes.  I also used vinyl on the lips and crafted individual teeth out of foam and felt.  These were sewn on at odd angles with longer ones in the center and along the lower jaw.  

 I also added a vinyl detail along his back with three bioluminescent circles on blue to shine through at night.  The illicium, that's the long projection from his head, was really fun to construct.  I used a very light tubing with a coat hanger to help give it weight and shape and ran tiny led lights through it.  the whole structure is topped off with a ping pong ball.  His eyes are battery operated push lights.

Notice that I am now referring to the fish as 'him'.  We have become somewhat attached.

A Deliciously Simple Jam Crostata for Fall

Summer overstayed its welcome this year.  It just wouldn't end.  Even now, as the cool undertones in the breeze whisper "fall", summer is struggling to stay just.. a.. little.. bit.. longer.  This is why I had to buy the dozens of late summer yellow peaches.  It simply just hit me, when I saw the pears and apples crowding the market stalls, that summer would eventually loosen her grip and I'd have to wait another year to make my jam.  So you see, I had to buy the peaches.

Luckily I found a good use for my pantry of jam (my jamtry if you will...)  You can use a combination of flours for the crostata crust.  It is delicious with a traditional buttery all-purpose flour crust.  I like addition of almond flour, the crumbly texture balances out the the chewy jam.  If you find  the crust too sweet for your taste, try using a more acidic jam or marmalade.  The Blue Chair Jam always balance out their fruit recipes with a good amount of acid so for me, the peach jam was delicious and not too sweet.

End-of-Summer Yellow Peach Jam//recipe from Blue Chair Jam Cookbook

Now for the recipe-

Jam Crostata for Fall

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup almond flour

3/4 cup cane sugar

1/2 tsp. baking powder

Small pinch of sea salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter

3 eggs, separated (save the whites for later use)

12 ounces of jam or marmalade

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees and butter a 10 inch tart pan.  I used a slightly smaller 8 inch tart pan for this recipe because I like a thicker crust and having extra crumble topping to use for other desserts later in the week.  If you prefer yours to be thinner, use the larger pan.
• In a food processor pulse together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter until the mixture is crumbly and resembles soft sand. Add the three egg yolks and pulse until mixture just begins to hold together.  Press 3/4 of dough mixture into your tart pan.  Reserve the remaining mixture.  This is your crumble topping.  There is no need to blind bake the crust first.
• Spread your jam of choice over the dough.  Be sure to go all the way to the sides.  The parts touching the pan turn out chewy and good!
• Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture on the top and bake for 30-40 minutes.

Crostata Crust//photography by Amuse Me

Jam Crostata//photography by Amuse Me

Welcome Fall, Another Sale

We are excited to welcome Fall with 35% off all of our Adult and Children's reversible Apron styles.
Children's Aprons, originally $45.00 are now $35.50 and Adult Aprons, originally $65.00 are now on sale for $45.50.  As always we offer $6 flat rate USPS shipping on all orders.

Happy shopping and let's get cooking!

Only 4 days left to shop the sale! We still have a few pantaloons left at 50% off.

Flash Sale happening now at Amuse Me Shop

Exciting things are happening in the shop this month.  We are clearing the decks to make room for our new Fall Basics Collection.  This means that all of our cheerful pantaloons need to find good homes.  Shop all styles and sizes now for 50% off through October 1, 2014.  Click here to visit the shop or click on the image below.

Midsummer Sale!