Nocino

Outside our house we have two large English Walnut trees.  Growing up I lived in a house that had a English Walnut tree as well.  I wouldn't say these are overly beautiful trees.  They don't turn a vibrant yellow or red in the Fall, more of a mud yellow.  They're also quite messy.  They drop their leaves late in the Fall, usually the first week in December.  This means I'm usually out raking leaves in the cold and rain.  In the summer they drop walnuts with the help of squirrels, who take up permanent residence in the trees in mid summer.



I am, however, a firm believer in never harming a mature tree.  So I rake the leaves in the cold and I sweep the walnut shells up in the heat.  This year I decided to do more with my trees, I decided to make Nocino.  

Nocino is an Italian liquor made with unripe, green walnuts.  

Begin by cutting green walnuts into quarters.  It's best to use a hammer and a flat head screw driver for this.

Next add sugar and warm spices (think cinnamon, allspice, cloves, vanilla,etc) to a seal-able jar.  I added about 1/3 a cup sugar to a pint size jar.

Then fill the container with the quartered walnuts and fill with vodka.  Store for 5-6 months, or at least until the holidays when you can gift your creations to friends!

One thing to note, walnuts will stain your hands and cutting boards so if you care, wear gloves and use a cutting board you don't care about or quarter the nuts outside.

Cheers!

Another Furniture Redo

I know, it's been a while.  I've still got some great soap on the website and I'm still busy making it.  I've also been busy picking up free furniture on the side of the streets and redoing them!  I've got another furniture redo I finished last week.

This armoire was mine that I purchased years ago, when TVs fit inside pieces of furniture, you know, before HD, 20 years ago.  You see a lot of these pieces of furniture at garage sales now days.  I never got around to selling mine at a garage sale and I'm glad I didn't.

Here it is back in the day it had a TV in it.  This is the only "before" picture I have and I had to crop myself out of it.  I need to do a better job with "before" pictures.  I'm just so anxious to get started on refinishing the pieces that I neglect to take any photos.

For this piece I wanted a country-vintage look.  I pictured an old pie cupboard.  The type that would sit on a covered back porch and hold pies to cool.

To accomplish this, I removed the panels on the doors and stapled chicken wire to them.  I then added wheels, because everything is better with wheels!  I finished by painting it in Mustard Seed Yellow milk paint on the outside and Grain Sack milk paint on the inside.

And here's the final product!  I'm quite pleased with it, even if it's holding blankets and not pies!

One more look from the side.  Love the wheels!

I have a desk I'm working on now that was a free find on the street.  I hope to have that finished in a week or so.

For luxurious artisan soaps checkout Lora's Beauty!

A Non-Soap Related Post

Several weeks ago, as I was on my way to work, I came across this dresser on the side of the road with a "Free" sign on it.  As I was on my bike and had to get to work, there was nothing I could do about it but sigh and ride on.  I got a couple more blocks away and thought, "I could call Jeff and have him go get it!"

So I pulled to the side of the road, dug out my phone and placed the call.

Me:  "Are you busy?"
Jeff somewhat warily:  "I guess."  Knowing that even if he were EXTREMELY busy, I would still ask him to do something.
Me:  "So, there's this really cool dresser a couple blocks from the house with a "Free" sign on it.  Will you take my car and go get it?"
Jeff: "I guess."


Here's what I found when I came home later that day!  Another project!

I quickly ordered some milk paint, wheels for the bottom, and new pulls.  And then I waited for everything to arrive, patiently.

Finally this past weekend I had everything I needed to begin working on the dresser.  I figured I would devote all of Saturday and maybe Sunday to painting it and stripping the top.

Here it is pictured without the drawers and before I did anything to it other than put on the new wheels.

Here's the top of the dresser before I started stripping it.  Looks promising....


As it turned out, this project went really smooth and I was pretty much finished with it, other than adding more coats of Minwax to the top, after a couple hours.

Here's what the top of the dresser looked like once I finished it.

Pretty nice!  I believe it's burled maple.

I painted the base of the dresser in Miss Mustard Seed Shutter Gray milk paint and distressed it a little.

I also added the new glass pulls that I purchased off of Etsy.

I'm quite pleased with the result especially since it was free!

Sharpologist Review!

We here at Lora's Beauty and LB-Equipment love reviews of our products!  Check out the latest review from Sharpologist of LB-Equipment's Beard Oil, Mug-o-Beer Bar, and Shaving Soap.

"it is safe to say that I liked the products offered here, especially in light of the quality stuff you’ll be putting on to your skin."

Lovely Soap

If you will die for me,

I will die for you and our graves will be like two lovers washing their clothes together in a laundromat If you will bring the soap I will bring the bleach.

~Richard Brautigan

Pictured: Himalayan Salt Bar Soap. Just $5 per artisan bar!

Immortality and Soap

Immortality and Soap by lorasbeauty featuring a silk flower arrangement

Laura Cole silk flower arrangement
bluefly.com

Yoga Mat Spray

What's a new year without a new year's fitness routine?  Not one to be left behind, I too started a new fitness routine, albeit I started it in October.  

Hot Yoga is the fitness routine of my new year and with it brings a lot of sweaty shorts, tops, towels, and yoga mat.  All of which can be thrown in the washing machine and washed with my homemade laundry soap, except the yoga mat.  Enter my latest homemade cleanser, aptly named, Yoga Mat Spray.

To make this yourself simply combine in a spray bottle: 

• 2/3 the container of witch hazel
• a little less than 1/3 the container of water 
• a few drops of essential oils-- I like lavender, lemongrass, and grapefruit. 

Spray on both sides of mat after work outs and allow the mat to dry flat.

Enjoy!