On this wonderful Monday morning we’re going to take a few minutes and meet Jenny Bormett of The Painted Daisy.  This is not her first time at the orchard and we’re always excited to have her!

Be sure to check her out online before the show!

• Website:  www.thepainteddaisy.etsy.com
• Blog: www.thepainteddaisy72.blogspot.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/thepainteddaisy72
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/painteddaisy72
• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jennybormett/boards/
• Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28974028@N07/

What kind of items will you be showcasing at the orchard?

Summer Skirts & Dresses with select clearance items!

zippy clutches

trivets - fun fruit & veggie inspired themes

Artsy vintage upcycled pillows - on clearance

PS – You can see a great photo shoot where I’m wearing one of Jenny’s AMAZING sweaters – HERE. 

Fall preview of new sweaters & sweater accessories

Where does your inspiration come from?

I love color and texture.  I also LOVE vintage textiles and an am always picking them up at sales and hoarding them for future creations.

What is your favorite apple? 

Favorite apple - I'm old school and love Cortland

Please share any 'apple orchard' memories you have: 

Watching my son run through Viney's Orchard (near Edgerton WI) run through the orchard picking up dropped apples and taking bites out of the nasty things when he was 2.  He also loved standing at the fence feeding the steers apples until I had to drag him away.  Viney's is now closed, the owners have retired, but I always think of that when its apple season!

Event Details

3rd Annual Craft-apple-ar

at Lapacek’s Orchard

Sunday, August 25th from 10am to 4pm

ONE WEEK!  ONE WEEK until the third ‘Craft-Apple-Ar’ at the orchard!  Who else is excited!??

Let’s meet a fabulous vendor – I met her at the last craftacular I was at and she’s fabulous and her work is fabulous!  So happy to have her joining us!

Name: Ashley Gries

Company Name: Casa&Co

Website: www. Casaandco.etsy.com

Fb: www.facebook.com/casaandco

Pinterest : Ashley Gries

Twitter:  CasaYCosecha

What kind of items will you be showcasing at the orchard?

Hand-stamped Linen Quote Pillows, dish towels, and other small gift items

Where does your inspiration come from?

Mostly nature - I love finding textures and patterns in nature and translating those into beautiful objects. I'm also very influenced by vintage and antique items - especially items that were made from scraps- it amazes me the creativity and ingenuity that people had when they weren't able to just go out and buy something, and had to make it instead.

What is your favorite apple? 

Definitely Duchess- if only for the name!!

Please share any 'apple orchard' memories you have:

My mom used to take us (my sisters and I) out apple picking when I was younger. We had so much fun, till we got home and she'd plant each one of us on a chair in front of an apple corer/slicer for hours...

Event Details

3rd Annual Craft-apple-ar

at Lapacek’s Orchard

Sunday, August 25th from 10am to 4pm

In 2010 and 2011 we planted many of our ‘new’ varieties of apples.  Some of the odder ones that we weren’t quite sure of we just planted 5 of each tree.  This season we’re starting to get enough apples off these trees to give you all a ‘try’ and get some feedback – do you like them?  Should we plant more?

Red Gravenstein is one of those varieties.  Diane likes these apples for fresh eating.  If they’re still around when you stop in the store be sure to ask for a sample.

Since we had a few apples I decided I should sauce them and see what I thought

So, yesterday I tossed them into the crock pot to see what happened.

The flavor was decent – appley, a bit sharp, and definitely some tartness to it.  I was not a fan of the texture.  It seemed a bit slimy to me.  Looking at the description we’ve read about Red Gravenstein’s is that they should hold their shape when cooked.  I’m thinking maybe I left them in the crock pot too long…I may have to try these again next year and see what happens. 

I’m sure you all know that we’re pretty busy during the season.  To keep myself full and satisfied until I have time for lunch I make a special oatmeal.  I’m not a fan of oatmeal…but I’ve discovered that if you use 1/2 water and 1/2 applesauce (yes, I use instant) when you cook it, it’s almost like a faux apple crisp for breakfast.  Once it’s done cooking I like to add some granola to the top to fix the texture of the oatmeal into something a bit more crunchy.  It’s really not too bad and since our apple sauce has no added sugar or preservatives it’s actually pretty darn good for you too.

Anyway – my point of the oatmeal story was that I used my Red Gravenstein sauce in the oatmeal and it tasted pretty good mixed in.  Much of that weird texture was lost once it was mixed. 

The big event is just eight days away!  I can’t believe it’s going to be here so soon!  The apple orchard will not only be filled with farm fun, delicious apples, donuts, and caramel apples – but amazing vendors too!  It’s going to be a lot of fun.  Let’s meet another unique vendor you can expect to see at the Craft-Apple-ar – rain or shine!

Name: Laura Conners

Company Name: Usborne Books & More, Madison, WI

Website: www.UsborneBooksMadison.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UsborneBooksMadison

What kind of items will you be showcasing at the orchard?

Educational books, fiction books, and activities for kids from birth through middle school!

Where does your inspiration come from?

    I am inspired by my love of reading and desire to raise my son in a house that reads.

What is your favorite apple? 

My favorite apple is a variety from my hometown area called the La Crescent Apple. I also really like Vista Bella. My favorite saucing apple is a MacIntosh. I was raised on homemade apple sauce made from MacIntosh and that's what I prefer. People who only know grocery store apple varieties are truly missing out!

Please share any 'apple orchard' memories you have:

I grew up in Minnesota apple country just across from La Crosse, WI. However, there aren't Pick-Your-Own orchards where I'm from, so "apple orchard" memories are few. What I will say is that I love it when the apple trees and pear tree in my yard in Madison are blooming! My pear tree is loaded this year. I'm hoping that I'll actually harvest some that are edible! (Our first year in Madison, the tree produced one absolutely perfect pear. It's been hit or miss since then.)

Event Details

3rd Annual Craft-apple-ar

at Lapacek’s Orchard

Sunday, August 25th from 10am to 4pm