Knitting Bag

Years ago, my husband's grandmother, Bev, gave me all of her knitting/crochet supplies.  I just started really getting into knitting and she wasn't able to knit or crochet anymore so whalaaa, I had an instant yarn stash!!!  Granted, most of the yarn was itchy acrylic from the 70s in very 70s colors, but I adored it all!!!  I still have a lot from that stash and I have used a bunch too.

As Bev would find more yarn and supplies, she would send them along... even now, when she is no longer with us, her husband still finds things here and there and makes sure they make their way to my house (those are the supplies that I find really special).  In the last group of things I received,  was a fold-able knitting basket.  It's probably not THAT old... maybe purchased in the 70s or 80s?, but it doesn't matter because I was instantly in LOVE!!!!  Not only was it sentimental because it was very well used by my late friend and 'grandmother-in-law', but it is also a functional piece that I will use everyday! 

I knew for sure that I was going to have to replace the lining before I could use it, so it has been sitting in a corner of my craft room waiting until I could make time to work on it. Last week I finally had the time to spend, so I sat down to tackle the project.  As I was removing the lining....

..... I notice that the exterior fabric was shot too!  I know that they have had mold issues and alike in their home and there was evidence on both the interior and exterior fabrics, and I didn't want to take any chances so I had to replace the exterior fabric too.  I failed again to get a 'before' image but here is what the exterior looks like:

I picked out my 2 favorite fabrics from my fabric stash and went to work.  The construction was very interesting and I had to do a lot of hand sewing but I LOVE the final result!  

I absolutely treasure it!  It has been in use since it was completed, filled with various knitting projects and I can honestly say that there probably won't be a day that goes by that it won't be filled with yarn and supplies.  I think that Bev would really like it and I think that she would be tickled to see how much I use and adore it!  I will honestly think of her every time I see it and just in case I forget (won't happen), I found these 2 little safety pins attached to the old fabric that is clear evidence that she used this basket, so I think they will make a permanent home pinned to the new fabric of her basket!

Until next time, Happy Sewing!

Baking

Christmas is the time of year when I go a little crazy in the kitchen!  I love to bake but I rarely eat much of it.  I am more of a taster and I love variety, so I use the holidays to test out new recipes and perfect my favorites.  Here are just some of the things that I made for this Christmas.

One of my favorite things to make is marshmallows....  it's pure magic!

And I like to dip them in dark chocolate and sprinkle with Heath bits:  recipe found here (follow through step 5 and garnish as desired)

Gingerbread cookies are a Christmas staple!  I remember making these with my mom when I was a kid. Similar recipe found here.

These are my favorite, homemade peppermint candies: recipe found here.

This was a new recipe and it was amazing! Cappuccino Fudge Cheesecake: recipe found here.

Camouflage cupcakes, perfect for our Redneck gift exchange, even the cupcakes are camo! recipe found here.

And Meringues!!!  I LOVE these!  I made them in peppermint and butter rum this year.  They are like eating flavored sugar air.  It's awesome.  recipe found here (follow through step 5 & I use gourmet oils instead of extract)

Believe it or not, this was only about half of the baking I did!  Until next time, Happy baking!

Tribute

This very blog is all about my nutty domestic tendencies and my crazy crafting compulsions.  I work part time at an Independent craft boutique and I teach a variety of crafty classes, including crochet.  I get asked by many customers and my students how I started crafting and how I ended up so domestic.  I believe that there HAS to be a domestic/crafty gene that I inherited and there is only one person (well 2) to blame.  My mother passed this crazy gene on to me from this lady, my Grandma.

My grandma did it all, cooked, cleaned, sewed, crocheted, crafted....  you name it.  My mom and my Grandma both taught me how to crochet and I will never forget that!  I remember a specific time when my Grandmother was "heckling" me (her term) because my crocheted beanie was more of Yarmulke.

On Friday, December 28th 2012 my Grandma passed away.  She celebrated her 90th birthday this past June and lived a very full life.  She had 6 kids (wow), 11 grandchildren (if my math is correct) and currently 8 great grandchildren.  She had a great and feisty sense of humor and she told the best stories!!!

Every time I crochet I will think of my Grandma....  she will be missed dearly by many people and her stories will live inside us all!

Love you, Grandma!

Oh MY!!!

I can't believe that it has been so long since I last posted!!  Christmas season this year was crazy, to say the least.  The preparations and the family that we visited kept us very busy.  This year I decided not to make my Christmas cards...  that adds a whole new level of busy onto an already busy season.  Plus this year I was a little more interested in making my gifts.

And so here are some of the gifts that I made...

I made a TON of these Headbands/Ear Warmers this year:

...  I had to make one for my in-law's dog too!!!  :-)

I had fun mixing yarns for a cowl:

This is the flip toy that I made for my 4 month old nephew.

And he needed a hat too, although it didn't fit because lil man had a HUGE head!  :-)

 I made a similar hat for my son's teacher.... hopefully it fits :-/

I also make a bunch of these scarflettes:

I made this ruffle scarf for my ma...

The beard hat is the biggest rage here in the Midwest.  I knitted & crocheted this one for the Redneck Gift exchange that we participated in.  

I embroidered a few tea towels for my MIL, and failed to get completed pictures:

Despite my diligent watering....  my Christmas tree died 2 weeks before Christmas!  Just dropped all of it's needles and decided it was done....

....so we ran out and bought a fake one!  We are now officially a 'fake-Christmas-Tree-houshold':

But.... I love how it looks.

And even though Christmas is over, I am still working on projects!!!  Which I can't wait to share!  Hope everyone had a great holiday and I wish you all a fantastic New Year!!!!

The Jessica Scarflet!!!!

'Tis the season for a free pattern!!!  I can't take credit for this one, my girl, Jessica made this and I became completely obsessed with it last year and made one for pretty much everyone on my list.  She posted a free pattern here or you can just use this one that I adapted.

The Jessica Scarfflette

Hook Size G, 2 skeins Manos Silk Blend

Ch 31. 

Row 1: 2 DC in the 4th Ch from hook. Skip 2 Ch, SC in the next Ch. *Skip 2 Ch, 5 DC in next Ch* repeat from * 3 times. Skip 2, Sc in last chain. Turn.

Row 2: Ch 3, 2 DC in same Sc from previous row. *SC into the 3rd DC from previous row, 5 DC in the next SC in the previous row.* repeat from * 3 times. SC in the top of the Ch 3 from previous round. Turn.

Repeat Row 2 until piece measures aprx. 28”. On last row, do not end yarn, continue scallop pattern around the other 3 sides of scarf. Sew on 5 buttons, vertically, along the bottom right side of the scarf. Buttons will fit through holes created by crochet stitch.

Here is a recent one that I made with a different yarn.  This is made with Monsoon, which is a chunkier yarn, so I used a K hook with this guy.  Below I have a comparison between the Monsoon version and the Manos version.

Hope you like this pattern.  I also have another free crochet pattern coming soon! Until then, Happy Yarning!

Beverages

Winter is practically here and I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite winter drinks.  First up is my Caramel Apple Cider Cocktail.   I came up with this recipe a few weeks ago (although I am sure there are some similar recipes out there).

Ingredients (makes one drink)

1 c. Spiced or Mulled Apple Cider

1 shot Butterscotch Schnapps

1 shot Whipped Cream Vodka

Caramel sauce, whipped cream, ice (optional)

Ingredients (makes 1 pitcher, apx. 5 drinks)

5 c. Spiced or Mulled Apple Cider 

1/2 c. Butterscotch Schnapps

1/2 c. Whipped Cream Vodka

I buy apple cider from the store, I heat it up in a pot on the stove or in a crock pot and steep mulling spices in a tea ball infuser.  (At this time of year you can usually find the mulling spice next to the apple cider in the produce department.)  Although this adds depth of flavor, it is by no means necessary.  I mix the cider and alcohol together pour it on ice or serve it hot in a mug.  I like a small amount of caramel ice cream sauce in mine, but it is also fun to serve topped with whipped cream with caramel drizzle.

Chai Tea has become pretty popular and my best friend came over with a Vanilla Chai Latte form the new Dunkin Donuts up the street.  One sip and I knew I could make it and for WAY cheaper.  Here is what I came up with.

Ingredients (Make 3 drinks)

Chai Tea Bag  (I use Twinings)

3 c. water

Vanilla simple syrup (recipe below)

Milk

I use one Chai Tea Bag per 3 c. of water, this makes a weaker tea which is pretty common when buying the drinks at a fast food restaurant.  In a mug, I pour in 1-2 Tbs. vanilla simple syrup, I nearly fill the cup with the prepared tea and then add a splash (about 2 tbs.) of milk.

Vanilla Simple Syrup

1 1/2 c. water

1 1/2 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Heat the water and sugar in a saucepan over Med. heat just until all of the sugar is dissolved. Remove from hear and add the extract.  You can store this in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

I hope everyone drinks lots (responsibly) during this holiday season.  Until next time, Cheers!!!

Headbands!

I have started on Christmas already!!!  I have been a knitting fool and I am completely obsessed with making these headbands!!!

You can find this FREE Pattern, The Morning Walk Headband Ear Warmer, here and it is super easy and quick to make.

I just. can't. get. enough.  And I have decided that I need one in every color. I use vintage buttons and I have been crocheting a ton of wool flowers for embellishments.  

I am also considering knitting another sweater....  this time with a pattern.  Am I crazy or what?  :-) Until next time, Happy Yarning!!!