a.k.a. The Peppermint Experiment No. 2
I had meant to make these with Elijah on Christmas Eve, but we used up our baking time hunting all over town for a candy thermometer. We found one in store No. 6, but only after checking two different sections of that store – twice – and then asking two managers if there was any other place they could be.
We were told that they used to have a few hanging on a "clip strip," but were currently sold out. You’re thinking, "What manager knows the exact state of his store’s candy-thermometer inventory at any given moment?" Precisely, my thought. So, unwilling to give up entirely, we took one last jog to the baking aisle to check the clip strips and there they were, two glorious thermometers. At that point, I would have paid a mint, but we got out of there for only $1.06 – a Christmas miracle.
Of course, it was too late to make marshmallows in time for Christmas, but we did have fun running through the stores holding hands. (Who knows how much longer he’ll hold my hand, so I’ve got to soak it up.)
We initiated our thermometer last night, using Jocelyn’s basic vanilla marshmallow recipe, then flavored the mallows with peppermint extract and dressed up their tops with swirls of red food coloring (her idea too). Sticky, sticky fun. I love the mildy-sweet powder they’re coated in and their springy texture (reminds me of my sweet children’s cheeks.) And, ooo, what a way to justify a cup o’ cocoa! A serious upgrade from store-bought marshmallows.
Improvements? Next time I’m going for stronger flavor. Maybe I’ll add some crushed
red hots or leftover candy canes into the mix. After all, there are two minty holidays, Christmas… and Valentine’s Day (arranged with leftover candy canes in mind, I’m sure). And, I’m making a half-batch. That recipe makes a ton of marshmallows, no kidding.
Worth the hassle? Totally. At least once. For us, I’m certain there will be cherry-vanilla marshmallows and chocolate-dipped coconut ones in our future. And shaped ones too. I can easily see homemade marshmallows becoming an enduring holiday tradition at the Baileys’.
On other fronts, I spent the entire day yesterday catching up on emails. I’ve never written so many emails in my life and I still didn’t get to responding to any of your comments. Thank you so much for the love. I’m overwhelmed by your kindness. I appreciate each and every note.
Do you ever wish there were two of you? Or three, or four, or five? One of me would be assigned to never letting any comment or email go unaddressed. One of me could do the exercising and healthy-food-only thing. One could be super-mom. And the other two or three of me would be assigned to keeping up with the idea factory. Aah, sounds nice.
Back to emails, a number of yesterday’s emails led me to some boutique children’s designers who sell their one-of-a-kind outfits on eBay. It looks like Freshcut has shipped and is starting to pop up all over the place. Check out these cutie patooties: here, here, here, and here. Adorable! And, some of these photos make it much easier to see the fabrics than those little swatches on the fabric sites. A happy diversion, if you’re looking for one.
Or, you can check out the Heather Bailey interview just posted on CRAFTzine. Fascinating.
*This post was brought to you by the number: two*
The marshmallows look lovely and sounds like a fun tradition to start! I am in love, however, with the designer duds on eBAY!!! Using your fabric for the template is just gorgeous! I hope I get a girl grandbaby one day instead of just the stinky dirty little boys ( wouldn’t trade em for all the world, but they just won’t wear ruffles!!) Your fabric is lovely and I can’t wait for mine from Hancock’s of Paducah!! You rock, Heather 2!!!!
Hello, I want your life! Just kidding. Your photos and projects look like so much fun, they inspire me to be more creative. Thanks.
WHEEEEE! It tought I was the only nut that made marshmallows! Good for you – yours are lovely, I did peppermint two years ago for the first time and they’ve been a big hit ever since. And I love your blog – btw – your photography is gorgeous – I’m now looking at the camera you used to take photos of your daughter – thanks for the link!
mmm… i’ve been thinking about marshmallows since i saw them in martha’s handmade gifts last month…. yours look fabulous. love the red jar!
Oooh! I think I might have to try making those marshmallows–if nothing else ’cause they look so pretty! 🙂
Those marshmallows look perfect!
And wow, the ebay boutique gals did a great job with Freshcut; those outfits are adorable!
~amy rue
Yummy! Delicious looking marshmallows. I think I’ll have to try them out soon. But the son will not go for holding hands in the store let alone go shopping 🙂 – lucky you!
I’ve gotten cuts of most of your gorgeous prints – had to scour a few online sites for the ones I wanted. They ARE such wonderful, pure, bright colors! and, the finish of the cotton is wonderful. Congrats to a great start to your fabric!
The marshmallows look so scrumptious! I would love to try this and think I shall this weekend.
I’ve always wanted a clone of myself, too, in order to get everything done that I want to do in my life. It’s not enough being a Gemini, I still need more hands!
Your photos are always, always so fabulous–you really do a fantastic job with how you present everything.
Those look yummy! I’m definitely going to give it a try! Thanks for being such an inspiration.
mmmmm I’ve never taken on making marshmallows but they are well loved here! Maybe for Easter
they look wonderful!
Ground up red hots work beautifully in the heating step as a substitute for part of the sugar. I keep on meaning to try ground up lemon heads too…
You’re not kidding!! Those marshmallows make hot chocolate down right sinful. 🙂 (Try cinnamon instead of the peppermint….YUM!!) Oh, and Heather, I’m DYING to show you the little projects I’ve been making using Freshcut. I am SOOO in love with this fabric. Thank you so much for designing it! You make my life so much easier just by creating such beautiful stuff for me to work with. Love it!
We’ve been using our marshmallows up for weeks! At least once per day we’ve been enjoying a cup of hot vanilla milk (cup of milk with tsp of sugar or honey and a squirt of vanilla) with a big candy-cane-coated marshmallow. It infuses the whole cup with a light minty flavor, but not so much as to give you a tummyache. Yummy.
very sweet! you take lovely photographs.
mmmm Marshmallows have been on my list for so long to make….maybe this week!! I hope you get immense joy out of seeing your fabric being used in beautiful places!
your photos are always amazing! what kind of camera do you use if you dont mind me asking?
Oh now I so am tearing the cupboards apart for ingredients… mint marshmellows ! Brilliant… just the thing for a cup of hot cocoa…hmmmm , here’s hoping my candy thermometer hasn’t been used in some nasty science experiment since the last time I used it!! I love the pics!
Well those outfits are definately CUTE! (Not hard with such GREAT fabrics!! 😉 So FUN HEATHER! It must be a blast to see YOUR fabric designs transformed into creations by others!
Those are some tasty looking/sounding marshmellows!! I have been wanting to try making some – now I MUST try! YUM YUM!
Thanks for the updates Heather! And yumminess too!
~gyl
Hi Heather! I’ve been lurking for a while and thought I’d finally say hello and let you know how much I love your blog and your creations!
Here’s another site (one of my favorites!) where I found your beautiful fabric made into something wonderful!
http://sosdiapers.wahmweb.com/store/WsDefault.asp?Cat=Diapering&Sub=6&isThumbs=No&Thumbs=
Not only do those look beautiful but the pictures are great too. I’m drooling and I don’t even LIKE marshmallows!
Yum Yum!!
Toally Yummy! 🙂 Will have to try it out soon and those outfits look like so much fun!
Nothing beats homemade mallows! These look especially delish!
looks delish! I am glad to hear that you were able to find the candy themometer.
The quilt shop I work for just recieved your new Fresh Cut line, and I am totally in love with it ALL. Wonderful designs and colours! I can’t wait for you do do some patterns. I will be spending the weekend coming up with some projects to make with your beautiful fabrics.
Heather,
The FedEx guy brought me my first pieces of FreshCut from Hancock’s of Paducah just yesterday. It is more beautiful in person than in the swatches online. Congratulations!!! I couldn’t wait to create with it so by the time I went to bed last night, I’d sewn my first ensemble with 2 prints from the line. I’ll list it on e-bay on January 16th-the day a new group I am heading up hits e-bay for the first time. Make sure you check out LimeVine on January 16th anytime after noon EST. You’ll see a lot of fabulous creations made with YOUR fabrics on that day—oh how exciting!
This will take you to LimeVine:
http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=limevine
Oh, and check out these beautiful pieces of jewelry made to match your fabrics:
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZwinipooQQhtZ-1
This jewelry designer is incredible. Have a fabulous day. Nice to “meet” you! Hugs, Eva Taylor (freshandvintage)
So you live in Phoenix, right?
Well, today I went to the Sew and Vac store at Northern & 35th Ave!!! Oh my gosh! Have you been there yet? I have NEVER seen so much fabric in all my life! Gorgeous fabric! Do they carry your line?
I wasn’t able to look… but it’s an amazing place… classes, repair, etc. Check it out!
OK, I feel silly… I just went to the store location on you web site… and you do have your fabric at the Sew n Vac store!! So cool!
Can’t wait to go see it!
You are absolutely right, Heather….Seeing the adorable outfits made up from your fabric DOES showcase the fabric far better than little thumbnail photos! If Hancock’s of Paducah has Freshcut, then surely the Hancock stores in Mississippi have it! (Hancock, is after all, of Mississippi origin). Sadly, a good many Hancock stores have been closing. Other well-known fabric stores and craft supply stores have closed in areas of Mississippi that are growing!
Why are fabric and craft stores closing when we are seeing a new Big Bang in the craft industry nationwide….the new craft revival? I wonder what business models/trends are emerging in the craft market. Has anyone read a story about this topic?
But I digress…..If you find any grown-up clothes or projects made from your fabric, please also share (for those of us who don’t have precious children to dress up)!!!!
Hope you are working on another collection of fabric!!!! I WILL be purchasing! When do we get to see your quilt made from Freshcut? It has been even more exciting to read and “feel a part of the unveiling process”….”feel like we are some of the first to know/discover” your work! Thanks for letting us come along for the ride!
Fondly,
Penny
http://www.pennysanford.typepad.com
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
And, Penny, you guys ARE the firsts to know about Freshcut. I decided to pursue fabric design, hurriedly put together a portfolio, secured a contract with Free Spirit, then rushed right on to designing my first line. I started my blog a couple of weeks after I turned the line in. Only my family and a few close friends knew what I was up to. I’m afraid blog-readers heard the scoop far before the fabric shops. I was thrilled to debut my collection and it was a treat to have so many new friends to share the experience with.
Also, I’m pretty sure Hancocks and Hancocks of Paducah are unrelated fabric stores.
Oh so cool. This blog is lovely. You are truly an all-around arteest, Heather. Thank you for your hard work. You make the world a better place 🙂
Thanks for mentioning my jewelry, Eva. The freshcut fabrics are inspirational on many levels.
Here is something I found on Etsy that would make great thank you/care instruction cards.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5187332
Kind Regards,
Kirsten
Heather Bailey, you have arrived. I read you’re entire interview and you are a creafting rock star. The boutique outfits are adorable. love you!
Hi Heather, I just discovered your blog and your fabric line today and I adore both. Your photography really inspires me to put *the* extra little effort into taking pictures. You rock!
your blog are wonderfullllllllll and with marshmallows irresistible ; ))
I have a LOT of candy canes left over and maybe this is a good project to use them in? Or maybe i’ll just continue making hot chocolate kits with candy cane.
WHY DID I BUY SO MANY BOXES OF TINY CANDY CANES!?
Yay! Thanks for referencing this post. My daughter’s kindergarten class is going camping this Friday and they’re asking folks to bring S’mores supplies. So I’m gonna whip up a batch of the marshmallows! (I hope it goes well. I don’t usually follow recipes and I’ve already subbed organic agave nectar for the corn syrup!)