Friday Moment-Standing on the snowman

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Books, Blizzards and more...

Welcome back after the holidays. We have had a lot of snow activity here lately. We got hit with 16-19 inches of snow. Which means a lot of shoveling, playing and sledding the past couple of days. On the homefront there has been reading, book browsing, reading and sewing.
I apologize for not sharing our handmade gifts but they are scattered around the house. I was not the most organized this year for the holidays. I usually have list for baking and holiday to do's but not this year. Didn't make the cake balls, not enough sugar cookies, no gingerbread house and didn't finish the handmades I'm crochetting. I guess it was the year take it easy and be together and figure stuff out. That's ok there's still New Year's Day to celebrate the last of the handmades and baking :)
2010 was a good year but there was a lot that was "new" a new house and homeschooling for the first time all 5 children. That was enough to enjoy,juggle, balance, frustrate and adjust for one year for all. Looking forward to our third season in our home and settling into some traditions and a more consistent homeschooling rhythm.
Today I'm looking forward to more snow fun, sewing, homemade pizza and book browsing.

• Don't Sing at the Table: Life Lessons from My Grandmothers I started it before the holidays but never finished.
• Mudbound hmm maybe my next book
• Crochet the Complete Guide This book is going to be very handy.
• Yummi Gurumi Oh the yummy crochetting.
• Artful Blogging
• Maglia This book is a knitting in Italian I don't have the link.
• Nonna Tell Me a Story

Hoping you too are enjoying your day.

Just wanted to pop in to say hello. Fell behind on blogging, baking and sewing. I'm picking up some speed and back on track. This space will definitley be quieter this week. I'll try to be back Monday with pictures of the handmade stuff and hopefully a couple of new recipes. I'm trying Cake Balls and Angry Pizzelle Cookies. What are Angry Pizzelle Cookies? It's when the pizzelle maker decides to burn and ruin pizzelles instead of cooking them. Then when you get tired of burning them your stuck with a lot of batter and decide turn them into cookies and hope for the best. So far they taste good they just need some icing.

Have a Merry Christmas and Winter Solstice !

Gone Baking

Actually been baking and crochetting. I'll be back in this space later this week.

Hope you are enjoying some holiday sweets.

Friday Moment-checking out an exhibit

Latest Addictions...

If there was theme for Tuesday it would be I have a doilie addiction. I can't stop making these for our Christmas tree. The two on the left I can't give a tutorial I just made it up I know it's obvious because they look a little off but on a tree from a distance who can tell. The tree on the right I actually followed all the directions and I am pleased how it came out.

Our family addiction latley has been collecting vinyl records. I never had a record player growing up and thought hey it's not too late. I'm actually surprised I found them online and in 2 sales adds. I'm still looking into either a thrifted one or a new one with a cd player. We have been talking as a family about bringing more music into our home in the form of records instead of cd's and downloads. So we will be on the look out at the thrift stores for records.

What's your happy addiction this week?

Pie with those Monday Links

What did I do with all those left over cranberries? Make a variation of the cranberry pie. There were some pears in the fridge so I peeled and sliced them. Added them to the cranberries and sugar and continued with the rest of the recipe. It was quite good and was a nice sweet balance to the tart cranberries. Enjoy for dessert or for breakfast with cofee or tea.

Now for those Monday links. To be honest the beginning of last week I didn't think I would have anything for today but by the end of the week I think I went to crafting inspiration overload. You'll see why.

• I just love this festive children's book. Vintage Kids's Books is one of my favorite websites for children's books.
• I can't wait to do this kids project. I never got to paint with marblesbut this looks fun and would be great for cards, gift tags...
• Spoonful of Sugar featured this book Gourmet Crochet. I almost wanted to hug the computer when I saw this. Crochetting all kinds of food and broken down by menu. It's just too yummy.
• Ok I know I have featured the crayon molds on my blog but aren't these way cuter for holiday gifts or stocking stuffers.
• These sweet little pod people look so cute.
• I found this blog off another blog and was just inspired by all the crochetting ideas. It got a little overwhelming for me but I think my favorites are the granny square bag and grandma hearts.

That sums up my list of inspirations for the week. :)

Friday Moment - Walk the railing :)

Crochetted make up removers

Past couple of days I have been working on these crochetted pieces cotton eye and make up remover pads. I made several different sizes and styles. Thought they would be great with baking soda to exfoliate or with a homemade toner. Found these websites for toners #1, #2, #3, and #4.

This was my smallest one. I decided to be a little daring today and give a tutorial on how to make one of these.

1. Use cotton yarn and crochet hook US H8/5.00MM. Chain four.

2. Slip stich into first chain. Put the hook through the first chain, then yarn over and pull through both loops. You will be left with ring or as I call it a tiny wreath.






3. Next chain 3 and place a stitch marker in the third chain.

4. Begin double crochetting into the center of the ring. Yarn over hook put through center of ring. It will look like this.

5. Then do yarn over hook pull it through the ring and there will be three loops on the hook.

6. Yarn over hook and pull through first two loops. Now there will be two loops left on the hook.
7. Do the same again yarn over hook and pull through two loops. One loop will be left remaining on the hook and the first double crochet is completed.8. Keep double crochetting into the center ring all the way around. This could be anywhere from 8-15 double crochets. It will look like this. 9. Now that your back at the beginning slip stich into the third chain where your stitch marker is. Put your hook through that third chain then yarn over hook and pull through both loops. This will close and you can begin the next row.

10. To begin the next row chain 3 and put a stitch marker in the third chain. Begin double crochet all the way around.

The second row is now complete. This may curl a bit. If you prefer it flatter then do 2 double crochets into each spot. I'm not sure if I said that right and I don't have a picture but this will make it a little bigger and flatter. 11. At the end of thsecond row slip stitch into the third chain where the stitch marker is. Put the hook through the third chain, yarn over hook and pull through both loops.

That's how the round ones were made with a few variations. As I was making this one I thought how about a few knitted squares lol?

WIP Wednesday

What I have been working on?

crochetted make up removers

grey blanket

suede colored shawl

grey scarf

Love to hear what your working on this week.

Forgive me yesterday I forgot to post the Cranberry Pie we made for Thanksgiving. Everyone loved it for breakfast Thanksgiving morning it kind of set the mood for the day. The topping reminded me more of a cobbler whichI think would go over well with other fruits like cherry or peach. The recipe was easy peasy but I had to change a few things to make it allergy friendly so here's my version.

Cranberry Pie

dairy free margrine for greasing

2 1/2 heaping cups washed cranberries

2/3 cup sugar

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup dairy free margarine melted

Mix 3 tablespoons water, 3 tablespoons oil and 2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon orange extract

1 tablesppoon for sugar for sprinkling

Grease pan with dairy free margarine. Pour cranberries then sprinkle with 2/3 cup sugar. In a bowl mix 1/2 cup dairy free margarine and sugar, then add flour, baking powder mixture and orange extract. Mix till smooth then pour evenly over cranberries. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Five minutes before it's done sprinkle with a little sugar.

Enjoy warm or later :)

Monday Lists...

Hope everyone had a restful weekend. We've had our fill of Thanksgiving leftovers and Christmas decorating and some organizing and sorting for mama. Yes my tree is up, the lights are on outside and the Christmas books are in the living room. There has been a lot of yarn on our minds and ideas for Christmas.

Here are some of the posts that I collected for this holiday season or next year.
-I was thinking about making dishtowels these are cute.
-Inspiring crochetted and embroidered projects.
-These sock ornaments are cute ideas I was thinking maybe white socks with some beading.
- Colorful stars for any season.
-I know we are a long way off from spring but these flowers are cheery.
-Crochetted gift tags for any occasion. Hmmm... I'm thinking maybe next summer making a batch of these for all occasions.
-I could just hug these owls.

Random:
-For Thanksgiving I tried a Cranberry Nantucket Pie which I'll share tomorrow.
-The salmon recipe from the last Monday list was very good. Hope to have pictures next time.
-The wooden bowl and beads in this post was a thrift store find over the weekend. I added string and keep it in the kitchen for my busy 2 year old when she can't prep meals with me.

Happy Monday!

Friday Moment-Snoring at Dinner

Warming up the kitchen

Wishing each of you a warm and restful Thanksgiving.

Sweet Potato Soup

I sort of strayed from the blogs to the finish some Christmas shopping and prepare for Thanksgiving. I have been meaning to share this Sweet Potato Soup for days. I started this post on Sunday night and never finished it. The night I prepared the soup it went like this....
Went to Field Wonderful to look up the recipe. There weren't exact quantites to this recipe so I pulled the clipboard out to write down what I was doing.Next pulled out the ingredients I had: cooked sweet potatoes, 1 onion,1 garlic, curry poweder, coconut milk, chicken broth (didn't have any homemade) and ground ginger (because I didn't have any fresh ginger). Continued following the recipe and then went on to slice fresh bread I made that day. Watched out for the bread thief while soup cooked.

Then enjoyed soup with a little bit of rice and a slice of fresh bread. This is how I came up with the soup adapted from Alison's recipe.

Sweet Potato Soup

1 tablepoon olive oil

1 onion chopped

1 garlic chopped

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger (or use fresh ginger)

1/4 teaspoon curry powder

32 oz chicken broth

1 can coconut milk

3 sweet potatoes boiled and mashed

In a pot heat oil then add onions cook for 1-2 minutes then add garlic. When onions are clear and garlic is soft stir in ginger and curry powder. Add the rest of the ingreadients and warm soup up to your liking. Enjoy it's really good.

Note:

-I cooked the sweet potatoes a day ahead which made it easier on the night I wanted to make soup.

-This tasted great with rice which made a hearty meal.

-Might be nice with turkey broth for a post thanksgiving meal this weekend.

-For my allergy friends stay tuned for some more of my finageled allergy friendly soups. I love the combination vegetable/chicken broth with the coconut milk it looks creamy and tastes good which I'm thinking could open up a world of creamy soups for our family.

Friday Moment-playdough anyone?

Finished Basement Projects

There has been a lot of cleaning, projects and sprucing up in the basement especially in the art studio and my sewing studio. So here goes.

We put curtains up to hide the storage utilty shelves. The curtains are from the Ikea "As Is" bin. They not only hide the shelves but make a great stage. To the left of the curtains is the art studio.

It was in need of a clean up and an area carpet to cover the cold basement floor. Across the way is my sewing studio.Covered the chairs with new fabric and made pillows.

Made copies of the fabric with the patterns to be used as templates for doll clothes or paper dolls.

Oh and the little red table finally made it into girls' room.

Tired but now have an aahhh feeling.