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 :)