This domestic life

What I am Working on: The African Flower

2012-02-21T10:22:00.000-08:00

I fell in love with this granny square. Some call it the Paperweight Granny, but current circles call it the African Flower granny.

I love that it looks like a flower with its six round petals, yet it's a granny "square," and a very easy one to make at that.

I opted to use tropical colors as I am planning a trip to Hawaii next year and so these colors have been on my mind.

What's it going to be? I am not sure yet. Most likely a bathroom mat.

Pattern Source: Joanne at CraftPassion.com

Let Them Eat Fish with Guts

2012-02-16T10:22:00.000-08:00

The crocheted sardine with guts

Sometimes I make things and wonder why I am doing so.

This sardine was one of those times when I thought I just wasted 30 minutes of my life.

But I finished it, stuffed it, and added some guts and x'ed out eyes for verisimilitude and gave it to two new enthusiastic cat toy testers, ~~Fezziwig~~ Zoe and ~~his~~ her* sister Katniss.

Katniss gives it the sniff test. There is no catnip in this toy. It's just cotton yarn and yarn clippings stuffed inside. Despite this setback, she is intrigued.

Zoe, on the other hand, is timid right now as she's new to the test toy lab and has isolated herself on the chair and is ready for his portrait to be taken.

I willingly oblige.

Finally, my two feline scientists get to work. Much curiosity and playfulness ensues. Zoe struggles to walk away with the test toy, but it's attached to the post.

Finally, I decide to break proper observation protocol and release the fish. I throw it as a test to see if they'd retrieve it.

They do!

Perhaps I need to make more fish?

Next test: Catnip fish w/ guts

* Turns out, Fezziwig is a girl. Her name's now Zoe.

Pattern source: Lion Brand

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T13:13:00.000-08:00

What kind of chocolate eater are you?

Do you eat your chocolates with reckless abandon?

Or

Are you a cautious tester and use a knife to slice open the little truffles and treats to make sure you're gettin' something good?

And if you have your candies hand selected and hand packed why the need for the precaution?

mi amor

Warming Up

2012-02-11T14:56:00.000-08:00

February is a month of coldness, rain, occasional rainbows, confirmations of love, and promises of seasonal warmth.

I've joined up with Iron Craft again to keep my creativity charged. We are on challenge #3 "Warm Up" which I interpreted both literally and figuratively: literal warmth in the wooly coasters for our tea as well as a figurative warm up in that I am beginning a new endeavor--drawing with ink and watercolor pencils. I am just getting started. What fun it is to try something new.

I made these coasters out of wool I had on hand and because it's a natural fiber that can handle the heat of a hot cuppa, it symbolizes warmth, and the colors are perfect for this Valentine month.

Pattern:

Lamb's Pride and Debbie Stoller Worsted weight, 100% wool in red, hot pink, and aran

Hook size G

Chain 8 join with a slip stitch to form a ring

Row 1: chain 3 (counts as dc), 23 dc into ring, join w/ slip stitch at the top of the ch 3 (24 dc)

Row 2: slip stitch to first ch 1 space, chain 3 (counts as dc), 1 dc in same stitch as chain 3,*chain 1, skip 1 stitch, 2 dc in next stitch.* Repeat 10 more times. You should have a total of twelve groups of 2dc around. Join w/ slip stitch at the top of the first ch 3.

Row 3: Slip stitch to first ch 1 space, ch 3, 2 dc in same stitch as chain 3, * ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 1 space* around. Join w/ sl st at the top of the ch 3.

Row 4: Slip stitch to ch 1 space, ch 3, 2, dc in same stitch as chain 3, * ch 2, 3 dc in next ch 1 space * around. Join with sl st at the top of the ch 3.

Row 5: Join new color in any back loop stitch. Sc in back loop only around. Finish off. Weave in ends.

My coasters started to curve upward, but a good blocking fixed all that. Now they lay flat and have a better shape, so don't forget to block yours too.

Pattern source: My brain and trial and error.

Forcing Blossoms: How to Crochet a Plum (or cherry) Blossom

2012-02-05T11:03:00.000-08:00

I've noticed on my way to work that the flowering plums are right on time. How do I know they are plum blossoms rather than cherry? Plums tend to bloom in February and the cherry trees generally bloom in March and April, however blooming times do overlap which makes it quite confusing.

Even the lowliest and most neglected flowering plum tree in the neighborhood and in shopping center parking lot landscapes offers a visual pink feast to winter weary eyes; a reminder that warmth is around the corner.

Enjoy this quick tute on how to "force" your very own crocheted plum blossoms. I collect interesting twigs and am always looking for some way to use them in art. These little flowers do the trick. Just make a bunch and hot glue them on.

Grab some worsted weight yarn and a corresponding size hook

I used a J hook for this tutorial

Make a magic ring and a slipknot. Click here for magic ring tutorial

Chain 3

One double crochet into ring.

Chain 3 and slip stitch into ring.

First petal made.

Now let's do it four more times to give us a total of 5 petals.

Chain 3
1 dc into ring
Chain 3
Slip stitch into ring

So far, so good. Two more petals to go.

All five petals are here. Time to finish off.

Cinch your magic ring tight to close the hole. The petals should overlap.

I like to tie my ends in a knot to keep that center shut tight. Then I weave in the ends.

Now make a whole bunch more because these little flowers are quick to make and they look best in clusters.

Pattern Source: This is meekssandygirl's flower pattern with a magic ring instead of a beginning chain.

Resting the Crochet Muse

2012-01-18T11:42:00.000-08:00

Fellow crocheters, I ask you, Is it okay to be in a crochet slump?

Sure it's okay.

I am in a crochet slump. I'll start a project and about a third into it I find I don't like it or I just don't want to commit to a big project.

I am learning to be okay with it. After all, this is a hobby, not a business.

Over the years, even before I started a blog, I would have spells of crochet apathy. I've learned that this isn't a permanent situation. It's merely a muse rest.

So what have I been doing for two weeks?

Getting in shape! Eating better. Feeling better. Losing some weight. Fitting into my jeans that were beginning to squeeze me. I've been enjoying following Astri's and Family's new blog Fat to Fit to Phat. I really appreciate that I am not alone in wanting to get my act together.

Reading books about fitness and health.

Knitting. Yes, I can knit...er...somewhat. I have accepted that I'll never be a great knitter, but every once in a while I'll feel the urge to pick up the sticks. I am still at dishcloth level.

Writing more Poems. January is the month in which I participate in writing small bits of thoughts and observations on my sub blog "Look for a Lovely Thing."

Pinning. Yes, I am hooked on Pinterest.com. I know many folks don't understand the attraction but I find it very handy to keep my inspirations, recipes, ideas, and whatnot in one place. Over time I discovered it really gives me a good visual on my personal tastes and even more interesting, my values. I would not have thought that a cyber bulletin board could do that, but there it is.

Paper crafts. I signed up for a craft group, bought some supplies, and then completely missed yesterday's deadline and I am okay with that.

I have to remember that the crafting is for me and it's not an assignment. I thoroughly enjoyed punching out butterflies out of various magazine pages and pasting them onto canvas and a twig from the yard. It was a nice "branching out" and doing something different.

Of course, being a crocheter, I thought about how to adapt the project to crochet and this morning I came up with this:

This butterfly pattern is basically a doily folded in half. I used dk weight yarn to keep it delicate as possible but not so delicate like thread yarn.

You can go hog wild and embellish a million ways. You can change colors. You can embroider a bit around the ends. You can add beads.

Or you can enjoy the simplicity of a natural color.

And that's where I'll leave you and your muse for now.

Perhaps I will make a few more of these lovelies and attach them to this branch for an interesting table centerpiece.

Balmy with a Chance of Big Snowflakes.

2011-12-31T13:40:00.000-08:00

Here in Southern California the weather has been a balmy 70 degrees lately. That's fine. Be that way, weather. See if I care. I'll create my own snow.

Why do snowflakes have to be so tiny? Why not make 'em big?

I gave it a whirl with some jumbo yarn by Lion Brand called "Hometown."

I will eventually make an assortment of flakes, but my first was made out of the jumbo yarn at the bottom of the photo.

This pattern, of course, works up quick.

I like the triple picots. They resemble clovers a bit and perhaps this pattern in dark green will look nice for a certain holiday on March 17.

And so, we have a snowflake the size of a dinner plate.

Fun. Three more to go.

Pattern Source: Better Homes & Garden

Crochet Class 101: The Picot Stitch Tutorial

2011-12-20T11:21:00.000-08:00

Picot stitches are mostly used to add a nice edging to blankets and towels. They're also found in some amigurumi patterns as well.

But I was most impressed with the use of picots in this pine cone.

This clever crochet pine cone pattern uses picot stitches to make the cone scales. If you don't need help making picot stitches, follow the link for the pattern.

If you need help learning the picot stitch continue on.

To learn our picots, let's make a pine cone. It is a series of double crochets with picots on top of them.

Make a chain and double crochet in 3th chain from hook.

To make a picot, chain 3 and make a slip stitch at the base of the chain 3, i.e. the first chain in your chain 3.

The hook is inserted into the base of the chain 3, I'll yarn over and pull through both loops on hook.

One picot made.

Now dc in same stitch, chain 3 and slip stitch in the base of the chain 3. Repeat one more time.

You should have 3 dc with picots on top of each in the same stitch.

The arrows point to the roundish nubs on the tops of the double crochet stitches.

The first cluster of 3 dc with picots on top in progress.

The work is beginning to curl as you insert 3 dc w/ picots into each chain.

The base of the pine cone is formed and it's starting to look pine cone-ish.

They work up quickly. I made these two in about 15 minutes more or less.

The cone on the left has it's top glued down for better hanging aesthetics. The cone on the right needs its top flap tacked down. You sew/crochet stitch it down too.

I experimented with "snow" created by shredding some cotton batting, but I decided against it.

Pattern Source: Planet M Files

Crochet 101 Class: Preventing Foundation Chain Twists.

2011-12-18T11:33:00.000-08:00

Has this ever happened to you?

You're crocheting a fingerless glove, mittens, a cuff, a bracelet, a cowl or anything else that requires a long foundation chain to be joined to form a circle and the slippery noodle just keeps on twisting!

The most frustrating part is when you think you joined the chain without any twists and half way through the row you discover that, yes, there was a twist after all. So you have to frog (unravel) and start again.

I've been there.

Many times.

l offer you two helpful tips to avoid this annoying bump in the road.

First, if your chain is relatively short, you can eyeball it.

Lay your chain on its edge as shown and join it while it's laid out. I've used this method many times.

For longer chains try the pillow method.

Find a pillow, a rolled up towel or anything that your chain can wrap around without stretching it.

I'll use this Slippery Noodle pillow because it's apropo, no? We're dealing with slippery noodles, are we not?

Lay your chain flat across the pillow.

Take care to keep it flat like this as you wrap it around and turn it over to meet up with its end.

When you're sure your chain is twist free, join with a slip stitch to form a circle. Do not remove from the pillow yet.

Complete your first row while the chain is still wrapped around the pillow. The pillow helps keep your chain from twisting.

In my demonstration I am chaining 2 and I'll do half double crochets all around.

Here I've been crocheting hdc stitches and I am about to turn my pillow over to get to the other side. It's coming along nicely and I've not come across any nasty twists in my chain.

Zipping along. Crocheting along across the back of the pillow.

Home stretch. Just a few stitches to go until I join the first stitch with the last with a slip stitch.

Success! First row completed without encountering any twists in the foundation chain.

Now remove the chain from the pillow and you should be all set.

Ain't life grand?

Amigurumi Polar Bear: My Cookie Mountain King

2011-12-12T11:08:00.000-08:00

Meet my Mountain King. He dares you to swipe a Russian tea cake.

You may want to kiss him. I know I want to. Even the menfolk took an instant liking to him which says a lot. Usually they pay zero attention to my crocheting.

This is another fine PlanetJune pattern. I highly recommend her patterns. They're worth the $5. The feet and legs have shape! His body has the classic bear hump on his back too.

I am not a designer but if I had that talent I'd try to get my amigurumi creatures to look as lifelike as possible. In the meantime I rely on PlanetJune. Most amigurumi creatures do not get anywhere near this amount of detail that June G puts into her amigurumi designs.

When I made Mountain King I had to give him claws and paw pads. I just had to. He also needed a scarf.

I also made him smaller by using dk yarn and a size E crochet hook.

Next time I make this pattern I am going to try felting the pieces to make the crochet stitches disappear.

Simple Pleasures, Simple Gifts. Another One Skein Wonder.

2011-12-07T17:36:00.000-08:00

I wanted to make a holiday scarf for a co-worker friend.

It needed to be red, simple to make as I only had 3 days to make it, and I wanted it to be soft and frugal too.

So I chose this red Lion Brand Homespun and once again, the half double crochet stitch going lengthwise.

I have a love hate relationship with Homespun. On the one hand it's a pretty and economical yarn and has a wonderful rippled and soft nubby texture.

However it's that texture that makes it a bear to work with as I have a hard time seeing where to put my hook. I end up crocheting by touch rather than sight.

With one skein I was able to get about twelve 6 foot long rows of half double crochet. I worked my stitches the standard way, that is, through both top loops rather than create a ridge by only working the back loop like I did on my previous scarf. I still wound up with some lovely ridge pattern. The fringes are just strands of Homespun knotted on the ends and at random intervals.

The end result is a lovely, soft, simple stitched scarf that was quick and frugal to make. If you're looking for quick and easy holiday gift ideas, well, here's one.

Don't miss my quick tutorial on how to keep the ends straight.

Tutorial: Maintaining Straight Crochet Edges and Ends

2011-12-07T11:16:00.000-08:00

Even experienced crocheters sometimes have a tough time keeping their edges straight, especially if they're working with fuzzy yarn.

Here's a quick tutorial to show you how to capture those naughty last stitches and make them submit to keeping straight and narrow.

In this tutorial the swatch is made in half double crochets, hence the chain two at the beginning of each row.

Foundation or first row. The last stitch has the slip knot to the left.

Chain 2 and insert hook into first stitch. It's common to accidentally skip the first stitch and to straight to stitch two, but this will make you lose a stitch.

It's also very easy to not see the last stitch. Sometimes the last stitch is hanging on the side so you mistake it for the edge.

That's better

Another row almost finished. See how that last stitch is sort of hiding on the edge? But we see it and it won't get away from us, right?

See? Straight edges.

Hope this helps, Juanita :)

The Crochet Ribbed Scarf

2011-11-26T21:10:00.000-08:00

I fell in love with a skein of yarn. I bought this lovely skein of Bernat mosaic in Medusa shades. Plum, burgundy, mustard, blackberry; my favorite shades. It has a lovely drape and stretch. It doesn't scratch because it contains no wool.

The skein wrapper has a lovely ribbed scarf pattern on it but it was for knitting and I was all thumbs.
So after three tries, I switched to crochet. Ahhhh, much better.

This ribbed scarf is super simple to create, but sometimes you just have to make something simple to showcase a beautiful yarn. This is one of those times.

Basic Crochet Ribbed Scarf Pattern:
Choose a yarn that has a good drape otherwise this pattern can give you a goofy bulky scarf that doesn't wrap well.

I used Bernat Mosaic, Medusa
worsted weight
J hook.
I wanted to create a loose and lovely fabric and have a slight imperfect look. You know, that fair trade scarf with the rustic or artisanal look that retail for big bucks at, say, World Market stores? That's the look I was aiming for.

Chain 162 loosely (you can make this longer or shorter if desired)
Foundation row: HDC in the back loop of the second chain from the hook and across.
Chain 2, turn
Rows 2 and beyond: HDC across
Crochet how ever many rows that give result in the desired width. I did 14 rows.

About six or seven rows of half double crochets so far

Used up the entire skein of yarn with about 3 inches left to weave in.

I managed to use the entire skein of yarn with no leftovers. That's never happened before.

Assemble Your Own Moccasins

2011-11-20T10:25:00.000-08:00

It's getting cold and so it's time for some new slippers. I hired a cobbler to assemble my moccs.

My shoe cobbler is reporting for duty. She's really excited.

Inspecting the materials: She loves the smell of leather in the morning.

Busy at work.

Part one complete: Heels assembled.

Now onto the toes.

One moccasin almost complete.

Testing out snugness.

Moccasins complete

Moccasin kit source: Tandy Leather Factory.com

It Wouldn't Be Thanksgiving Without Good Cranberry Relish

2011-11-10T13:11:00.000-08:00

My sister-in-law shared this cranberry relish recipe with me years ago. It really is called Good Cranberry Relish.

We make it every year and like witches hovering over our special seasonal brew we delight in fact that everyone else pretty much prefers the ol' can O cranberry sauce and we have it mostly to ourselves. Eeeehehehehe.

Let 'em have their can O' cran. We're going for the something extra tasty.

We're going to work with whole cranberries today. Start by washing them.

In a large saucepan over medium heat bring the following to a boil:
1 16 oz pkg cranberries
1+3/4 C water
2 Tbs orange juice concentrate
1+1/2 C packed brown sugar

The cranberries will begin to pop when they get hot. Watch out you don't get popped in the eye. I am serious!

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

It's starting to thicken a little. Keep simmering the full 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, chop up 1/2 C walnuts...

...and a medium apple and have them ready.

Side note: If you don't care for apples or walnuts then leave them out. If you don't care for cranberries, well then I can't help you.

Remove from heat, stir in the goodies and pour in a container with a lid.

Refrigerate for several hours. It will thicken more during chilling.

Enjoy.

Make Your Own Pumpkin and Apple Pie Spice Mix

2011-11-05T13:35:00.000-07:00

Tis the season to add pumpkin or pumpkin spice to just about everything thing. Tea, coffee, hot cereal, yogurt, ice cream, toast, sweet potatoes, frosting--the sky is the limit.

I had been meaning to pick up a little jar of readymade pumpkin spice, but I kept forgetting. Then I had this crazy idea: Why don't I just make my own? After all, I have cinnamon, cloves, allspice, ginger and nutmeg in my pantry, so why buy more of what I already have on hand?

And so, without further blibber-blabber here are two bulk spice mix recipes for your consideration:

Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/4 C. ground cinnamon
1 Tbs ground ginger
2 tsp ground cloves or allspice
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp cardamom (optional)

Apple pie mix uses the same ingredients as the pumpkin but the ratios are different, s'all:

Apple Pie Spice

1/4 C ground cinnamon

1 Tbs ground allspice

2 tsp ground nutmeg

2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp cardamom

Mix and store in air tight container.

You may be wondering how much of these mixes should you use when making pumpkin or apple pie.

My loose and fast rule is to use however much or as little as you want.

or the following:

1 Tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice per pie.
1&1/2 teaspoon of apple pie spice per pie.

Make your own pumpkin and apple pie spice mixes.

Crochet Rag Rug Complete

2011-10-03T17:06:00.000-07:00

Pattern

Making Fabric Yarn Tutorial

Joining Fabric Ends Tutorial

Quick Tutorial: How to Join Fabric "Yarn"

2011-10-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

This is a quick tutorial on how to join fabric "yarn" for projects like the crocheted rag rug.

Cut holes on the ends of each piece as shown

Insert A through B

Insert the opposite end of A into A.

Pull until A and B create a knot

Quick Tutorial: How to Make Fabric "Yarn"

2011-10-01T17:35:00.000-07:00

There's more than one way to turn fabric into yarn for projects like rag rugs.

Some crafters, such as myself, like their yarn to be in one piece. Others prefer to sew strips ends together to avoid dealing with bulky corners on a one piece strip. You'll see what I mean in a minute.

I don't cut on the bias, I just cut lengthwise. I don't want stretch in my fabric because I tend to crochet tight stitches and if my yarn was stretchy my work would probably be stretched taut and buckle unattractively when all was said and done. This is one reason I do not crochet with t-shirt fabric yet.

Note: I used a small swatch of fabric to make it easier to photograph. In reality, I am cutting whole yards and sheets which is not very easy to photograph. Just know that my strips are roughly 1 inch wide.

Cut a strip about an inch wide (see note above) and stop about a half an inch from the edge. Do not cut off.
Turn the piece 180.
Repeat step 1.
Repeat step 2.

You are cutting a zig-zag pattern.

That's all there is to it.

Some crafters prefer not to deal with the bulky corners and so they sew the strips rather than do this zig-zag technique, but I just trim them if they stick out of my work.

Work in Progress: My First Crocheted Rag Rug

2011-09-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

My kitchen rug died. The rubber backing crumbled to bits and skuzzied up my wash machine. I hate when that happens.

I went to the store to replace it but they wanted $55. Forget that.

I've been seeing some gorgeous crocheted rag rugs on the Internet. Some of them are works of pure folk art and make my heart go pitter patter.

I thought I might give it a try. This is, after all, a great stash busting opportunity.

So I gathered my fabric stash and started turning my fat quarters into strips to make "yarn."

In the beginning my little rug looked like vomit. I was getting discouraged but I kept adding color.

No fancy shapes, here. This is just a circle.

I am using the biggest crochet I own. It's not labeled, but I think it's a size N hook.

Start with a magic ring with 6 stitches.
Working in the back loops only:
Row 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12 sc)
Row 3: 1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next (18 sc)
Row 4: 1 sc in the next 2 sts, 2 sc, around (24)
Row 5: 1 sc in the next 3 sts, 2 sc, around (30)
Row 6: 1 sc in the next 4 sts, 2 sc, around (36)
Row 7: 1 sc in the next 5 sts, 2 sc, around (42)

and so forth. Increasing by six sts in each new row.

The size of a large pizza.

No one tells you this, so I will. Working with fabric "yarn" is tough work at first. It's chunky and clunky and awkward. Since I crochet tight by nature, I am probably half the problem.

But the results are worth it. I love playing with colors and this is just the project I need.

Even Mr. Awesome is interested in this project which is odd.

I am out of fabric so I am off to the store to get some more. Don't you just hate having to go to the craft store? Hahahaha.

Dyeing with Spices

2011-09-25T16:30:00.000-07:00

Last spring I read a blog about dyeing Easter eggs using natural dyes. Turmeric was one spice mentioned. It made a pretty yellow, the blogger said.

I bought some turmeric with the intention of dyeing eggs, but I never did.

So many months later I was spinning my spice carousel looking for garlic powder and I came across the unopened turmeric.

I decided to give turmeric the old dye test. I was skeptical. I expected it to not work or if it did work, I expected it to be some greyish, watery urine color.

So I poured a couple tablespoons of the spice into a stainless steel sauce pan with about 2 cups of water and brought it to a boil.

Then I put my scrap pieces of cross stitch linen (or whatever it's called) in and let it simmer for 'bout 15 minutes and then turned off the heat and let it sit for an hour.

I didn't follow any dyeing protocol, I just made it up as I went along and then looked up the instructions on the Internet and found out that that is pretty much how you do it more or less.

The fabric came out a beautiful curry color. I adore this color as you can probably tell from looking at my blog design.

So I used this turmeric colored needle point fabric to embroider some rather witchy labels for my canisters.

It was a quick and fun little project. I have to embroider a third label "Gillyweed" for my third canister.

Next I plan to give hibiscus flowers a try.

SteamPumpkin

2011-09-24T17:36:00.000-07:00

While my autumn apple buckle was baking I decided to finish up a pumpkin I've been working on.

And oh, let me tell you, the house smells so good; like apples and cinnamon and autumn goodness.

If I had a long attention span I could have finished this in a day, but mine happens to be short and therefore I made this during evening movies. Today I set a goal to finish a couple small projects and this was one of them.

It's my steampunk pumpkin.

I do so enjoy steampunk style which is an amalgam of Victorian or Edwardian fashion, Industrial Revolution technology mixed with science fiction and fantasy technology.

Elements of steampunk can be found in films such as Sherlock Holmes, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Wild, Wild West, The Prestigie, Van Helsing, The Compass to name a few.

And steampunk is not limited to film. It's in literature, fashion, and art too.

But this post is about my steampumpkin. Back to our program:

The stem is made of old buttons strung up on some thin wire...

...like so.

And then attached to the pumpkin body.

The pattern for the pumpkin body is found here, by the way. It's the same pattern I used to make the giant pumpkin. This time I just used worsted weight yarn and switched colors after two rows.

Nuthin' to it.

My Big Fat Cinderella Pumpkin

2011-09-12T14:37:00.000-07:00

I love pumpkins.

They're comin' soon too.

I can feel it in the air.

I have visions of orange, orange, orange

There are several crochet pumpkin patterns floating around on the Internet.

They're all for tiny pumpkins.

I wanted a mondo pumpkin, a Cinderella pumpkin.

So I made one.

They're super duper easy to make if you know how to crochet in the round. The size of your yarn and hook determines the size of your pumpkin. You're essentially making a giant ball or hacky sack.

My hook isn't labeled so I don't know if it's a size L or N or P, but it's big!

I fell in love with this Lion Brand Thick and Quick "spice" colored yarn. It's a rich, rusty, spicy, orange. I almost want to eat it cuz it looks like spice cake.

Here she is in all her glory. She took 2 skeins of Thick n Quick and a bit of green chunky. To make the loverly ridges, just tie some of the yarn around. I tied it tight.

I made the stem up myself. Took me three tries to get the stem right. I used single and and then front post double crochet stitches. To make it stand up instead of flop miserably I stuffed a bit of the green yard inside.

I initially made a magic circle with four stitches. I single crocheted for a few rounds and then changed to front post double crochet. Then I slowly increased round by round until I had 12 stitches in the round and then I added the pointed "leaves" (or whatever they're called) which is a chain 5, sc in second st from hk, 1 hdc in next, 1 dc in next, 1 tr in next, then skip 2 sts and sl st in the third stitch.

Pumpkin pattern by Janene Renee

Work in Progress: Stash Buster or The Crocheted Penny Rug

2011-09-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

I do love primitive crafts, especially penny rugs.

You know, those colorful little circles hand stitched from felt and fashioned into rugs, wall hangings, and table runners?

Here's one selling at Amazon to give an idea of what I am talking about.

I don't have a bunch of felted wool, but what I do have is a stash of yarn. So I am going to be resourceful and bust my yarn stash and create a crocheted penny table runner.

First, a little ode to Vanna. Bear with me. Crocheters and yarn stashers will understand my love.

Here's my stash of Vanna's Choice yarn. I like this yarn because it's budget friendly. This week she's on sale for 2 for $5 at the craft store. That's cheaper than what Goodwill prices their secondhand fodder.

Also the quality is consistently good, meaning I rarely find broken or thinning strands or knots in my Vanna skeins.

Even better, all the Vanna's Choice colors are the same size. Nothing more frustrating than buying different colors of the same brand of yarn in supposedly the same size (worsted) only to find out that their white is a tad thinner than their brown so you have to switch hook sizes to allow for the difference. I once gave up on a beautiful afghan because of this.

Vanna's Choice yarn is really good to me.

Ode over. Time to bust some stash.

So these are my single crochet "pennies."

I do not have a color scheme and I like it that way. I just pick a color I like, pair it with another color and crochet up to thirty stitches around.

I haven't decided whether I'll do a tutorial. Right now I am just enjoying the simplicity and monotony of making these little things.

It will, though, become a table runner, this much I know.

Stay tuned.

Work Complete: Tapestry Crochet Cat Bag

2011-09-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

This single crochet tapestry bag reminds me of fall for some reason.

Could it be that I am sick of summer and dreaming of my favorite season of the year?

You bet!

I really enjoyed the challenge of following a graph and switching colors as I went. Because I've done filet crochet before this tapestry technique wasn't difficult at all.

If you're looking for a crochet challenge I recommend you give tapestry crochet a try.

I decided to make these handles instead of long strap.

An awesome trick or treat back, no?

Pattern source tapestrycrochet.com

Work in Progress: Tapestry Crochet

2011-08-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

My first attempt at tapestry crochet. So far so good.

I have not been enjoying my unrelenting case of crochet burn-out. I'd look at my yarn stash and want to toss it out the window.

Nothing was inspiring. I wanted something new. Fresh. Not done by everyone. Something maybe at an intermediate or maybe advanced level.

I finally found something: Tapestry crochet aka mosaic crochet or intarsia although I associate the latter with knitting.

Tapestry crochet is just single crochet that makes a picture or a pattern when you follow a graph.

This is my beginner project, a little cat purse crocheted in the round.

It's a free pattern offered by Carol Ventura. She's pro at this technique and has lots of free patterns and instructions to try out.

The white yarn is being "carried" until it's needed. Just insert hook under the two loops PLUS the white yarn.
When I yarn over, the brown on the hook will wrap around the white carried yarn nicely and hide it.

In this picture, the brown strand is being carried until a color switch is needed.

Once you get the hang of switching and carrying colors, it's just a matter of paying attention to pattern and when you need to make a color switch.

The back of the work or inside the purse.

But what I really want to do is learn how to make my own designs.

In time, in time.

Finishing or Revamping Abandoned Projects

2011-08-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

Crochet Finger Puppet

Meet Octopus. He's been wandering around my desk and craft shelves for a couple years in search for his own garden under the sea.

Behind Octopus in the above photo is a shadow box of sea shells collected during the time we lived on Okinawa Island in Japan in the late 90s. I had given the shell collection as a gift to my mother-in-law back then, but I inherited it when she passed away.

I didn't really want to keep it, but Mr. Awesome got upset when I tried to get rid of it.

So over the years I've added more details to it such as the green "seaweed" yarn and beads as well as the silver charms and some stupid stamped words which I don't like but can't get rid of now.

All this time Octopus's garden was right there!

So this week I moved Octopus into his home.

He seems happy.

The Fabulous Crocheted Lotus

2011-08-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

Crocheters out there. You gotta try your hand at making this pretty lotus flower.

Just because you can.

It's supposed to hold a tea light candle, but I fear it to be a fire hazard, so I won't be doing that. Maybe if I find a battery powered candle...

My flower is made out of Lamb's Pride and Debbie Stoller "Full of Sheep" wool.

Source: Tea Light Lotus on Ravelry. You must have an account to sign on for the free pattern.

Work in Progress: Crocheted Chili Peppers

2011-07-26T17:22:00.000-07:00

This week's Iron Craft challenge is simply "hot."

Pretty simple interpretation, huh?

And cute too. I couldn't resist making another.

And a few more.

They're quick and easy and the instructions can be found here at Crafty Crafty.

I wanted to get this up and linked to icrochet because their gallery closes tonight.

My what a lot of name dropping.

Start by making a tiny circle of 6 sc stitches.
The second round increases to 8 sc stitches.
Then you keep crochet in sc in the round until you get the length you want.
Then you follow the directions to make the cap.
Before you attach the green cap add a little stuffing.
Sew on the cap
Give the little pepper a twist to make it curve.
Weave in ends.
That's all there is to it.

Made of Ticky-Tacky

2011-07-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard that old 60s song "Little Boxes" by Malvina Reynolds?

I admit I just discovered it this week. I love social satire.

When I was making this little bird house, that song wouldn't leave my mind.

The T.V. show Weeds uses it as its intro song. Click to hear.

But back to my Iron Craft project:

Start with a ticky tacky birdhouse from the $1.00 bin at your craft store.

Chose your ticky-tacky buttons and add some ticky-tacky color.

Now add your colorful Ticky-Tacky "shingles."

Use a low heat glue gun to attach.

I used my low heat hot glue gun to attach the buttons and I am glad I did. Had I used my turbo-super industrial glue gun I'd have huge blisters on my fingers and I would not have been able to fix any crookedness as those super duper glue guns make things permanent.

A simple project for a simple song.

Little Boxes by Malvina Reynolds (1962)

Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same,
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And the people in the houses
All went to the university
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same
And there's doctors and lawyers
And business executives
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.

And the boys go into business
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same,
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same

The Fabric Remnant Bistro Table Cloth

2011-07-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

A few years ago my sister gave me some fabric remnants gleaned from her work. In the pile was this rather large scrap. It's been sitting in a drawer for a long time.

I wanted to turn it into something last February as the colors are perfect for Valentine's day, but my creative energy just wasn't there.

So along comes Iron Craft challenge #28, recycling, and I thought this was a good opportunity to get going on this project.

So I stared at it all day Saturday and half of Sunday. I had grand ideas of appliqueing swatches of various fabric pieces and embroidering Alice in Wonderland quotes all over it, but I realized I only had a few days with which to work.

So I simplified.

I turned this shabby rectangle into the biggest circle I could. I used the bistro table as my template and added three inches all around.

Click this caption to take you to the crochet trim tutorial

I added some crochet edging. This is Lion Brand's Amazing yarn. I love the color changes.

From there I traced some random circles in pencil and just started embroidering like mad.

Looks a little lonely.

Crochet Class 101: Adding Crochet Trim to Fabric

2011-07-11T12:18:00.000-07:00

I love the look of a little crochet trim, don't you?

It's not hard to do, but the first row--attaching the yarn to the fabric--is tedious.

But the results are worth it because it makes you look like a real crochet wizard in my not so humble opinion. I used to look at projects like these and think "Wow, how'd she do that?"

I'll show you how.

You need your yarn, the appropriate size hook for yarn, and a sharp yarn needle.

Note: Some yarn needles have a blunt end. You want one that's sharp because it's what you're going to use to poke holes in your fabric.

Like this:

Poke holes about .5" from the edge. Being me, I just eyeball where the holes should go, but you can get out the ruler and mark evenly across with one of those temporary pens if that helps.

I only poke about 3 holes at a time because while working the stitches, the fabric tends to move around the close the holes up. It's a bit frustrating, but on the bright side if you accidentally put a hole in the wrong place you can work it closed and start a new hole.

You'll probably need to also push your hook through to widen the hole a little more. Notice how the other two holes are starting to close up?

Now we're going to make a slipknot.
Yarn over and pull through.

Loop is pulled up and you're ready to yarn over

and pull through loop on hook.

Slipknot made.

Now you'll chain one, (I forgot to do this in the photos)

Dive into the next hole and single crochet it.

Yarn over and pull through both loops on hook.

Poke more holes as you go.

This is the back of the work.

It's hard to see, but the edge of the fabric starts to curl under itself, which is nice.

I've stopped here because this is just a scrappy sample.

Let's pretend I finished the row and I want to do the fun and quicker part, the next rows.

So now I just follow my crochet edging pattern beginning on row 2.

For this trim I need to chain 5 and turn.

Next I dc in the first stitch, ch 3, 3 dc in the same first stitch. One shell made.

This is the front of the work.

Skip 3 stiches

1 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in next stitch

repeat across

Stars n Stripes Challenge

2011-07-05T15:33:00.000-07:00

A magic wand designed to banish the nation's economic woes.
If only it were that easy.

The front. Two crocheted stars in red wool, sewn together.

Mr. Awesome thought that this craft was awesome. It was he who suggested I add buttons.

I thought that was a moment of genius on his part. When he suggested I hand sew them on with contrasting thread I told him to get me a drink instead.

Buttons hot glued cuz I am a lazy crafter in 100 degree heat.

The back.
stick wrapped in fabric scraps and glued on
I heart hot glue guns.

Okay, so one can't wave it around and make the national debt disappear.
So stick it in a planter instead and go make some more.

It's Not the 4th of July Without Potato Salad

2011-07-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

I woke up today craving potato salad. Not esoteric potato salad. Not gourmet potato salad. Not a healthy, low-fat, or lite potato salad. No potato salad containing sour cream or yogurt either.

Just the good old-fashioned potato salad that you'd find the recipe for in any Betty Crocker or Joy of Cooking cookbook. The kind your grandma would make for potlucks back in the "good old days"

I started by boiling 2.5 lbs of Baby Dutch thin-skinned potatoes.

Next I peeled and cubed them.

To the potatoes I added 1/4 C of diced red onion.
I didn't have any celery or bacon, but I would have added that too.

Then in a bowl I mixed a cup of real mayo, a table spoon or two of mustard, quarter cup of relish, and juice of half a lemon. Oh, and salt and pepper.

Then I mixed the mayo blend with the potatoes.

I sprinkled paprika on top because that's the potato salad rule!

And now it's busy melding in the refrigerator and waiting for me to eat it all before I get a chance to add the pretty hard boiled egg slices on it.

It's very evil, this dish.

Friday Photo Miscellany: Fairies

2011-07-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted a Friday photo.

These are simply salvaged garden decor. One day I found them in my front yard flower beds. My gardener brother rescued them from the trash.

Around late afternoon the sun shines through the trees in such a way that it creates the perfect silhouette.

They look alive sometimes.

Fresh Summer Salad Time

2011-06-30T12:13:00.001-07:00

This is a terrific summer salad for those days when it's too hot to cook and you have to use up the produce before it goes bad anyway.

It's colorful, nutritious, and delicious. Even better, no one in my house will eat it except me so I have it all to myself.

I found the base of this recipe from Prevention Magazine, but I've changed it enough (I think) to make it mine, but I want to give credit where it's due.

I don't measure anything except for the vinaigrette ingredients everything else I just eyeball. Like almost anything else I create, one can add or subtract any ingredient one likes or dislikes.

I start with rinsing a can of black beans and dumping it into a pretty bowl.

Next I add finely chopped:

bell pepper
red onion
avocado
cherry tomatoes
cilantro
and about a cup of corn kernels (frozen or fresh)

The vinaigrette is on the sweet size and has the same flavor of the marinade of traditional three bean salad. I am tempted to reduce the sugar next time I make this.

Vinaigrette:

1/4 C red wine vinegar
2 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp citrus juice such as lemon, lime, orange. I used limes this time.
2 tsp sugar

Toss salad and serve immediately.

This is a great dish to bring to potlucks except the avocado may discolor even with the acidic vinaigrette so omit or add at the last minute.

Also, if you add avocado and tomato it doesn't keep well. These two ingredients get mushy/soggy/discolored if stored overnight.

Enjoy.

Source: Adapted from Prevention Mag recipe

Making a Granny Chic Walking Stick at Imaginary Summer Camp

2011-06-29T09:29:00.000-07:00

While I was making this whacky craft, I imagined what it'd be like to attend a craft camp for grown-ups.

My perfect summer camp is for women only; maybe up to 15, and we would all be strangers. No best friends, no mom and daughter cliques. Just women who meet at Golden Pond for the first time for the sole purpose of relaxing, creating, exploring our inner artists. We'd stay in private cabins or even yurts with private bath. I can dream.

Our camp counselor would be old and a wee bit on the salty side. She'd resemble Lois Smith when she played Aunt Meg in the movie Twister. Wizened, crafty, blunt. She'd feed us steak and gravy if we wanted. She's tell us all about how to make her giant metal whirly-gigs too.

We'd learn to weave, collage, cook, tie-dye. We'd hike, canoe, fish, and learn herbology. We'd crochet, knit, and cross stitch to our hearts content. We'd let our hair go grey and learn to French braid, and write poetry to share around the evening campfire. Granola would NOT be a bad word and we'd have it for breakfast too. We'd wear our altered t-shirts with pride and sport moccasins. We'd learn macrame friendship bracelets. We'd bicycle, swim in a swimming hole, make popsicles and ice cream, tell ghost stories, and customize walking sticks. We'd take naps if we wanted. Participation in any activity is optional.

On walking stick making day craft flotsam and jetsam would be piled on the picnic table. We'd spend a few lazy hours crocheting or knitting walking stick cozies. We'd take fabric scraps and tie them on randomly or whatever...

Whatever is the best part. It's were the creative juices are stashed.

Some of us would get really into customizing our sticks and add granny squares and found trinkets.

And at the end of the session we'd take a hike with a guide that you'd swear was Daniel Day Lewis looking like Hawkeye in the Last of the Mohicans.

S'more Variations

2011-06-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

"You're killin' me, Smalls!
These are s'mores stuff. Now pay attention.

First you take the graham.

You stick the chocolate on the graham.

Then, you roast the mallow. When the mallow's flaming,

you stick it on the chocolate.

Then you cover it with the other end.

Then, you stuff.

Kind of messy, but good."

Ham Porter in The Sandlot

It's summer camp week at Iron Craft. I vaguely remember summer camp when I was a kid and you'd think that after serving 5 years as a Cub Scout leader I'd remember something cool, but the first thing I think of is food.

Specifically, s'mores.

Traditional s'mores as described in this entry are good, but so dry.

Luckily there are countless variations of s'mores on the internet. S'more cookies, s'more brownies, s'more ice cream sundaes, s'more bars...

For the Iron Craft challenge # 26 I made s'more bars which uses all the traditional ingredients--grahams, mallows, chocolate. They turn out just as messy, just as good, but more for grown ups.

The bottom layer is half of a graham cracker streusel-like crust which is parbaked. When that comes out of the oven, a layer of chocolate is placed on top. On top of the chocolate is a generous layer of mini-marshmallows. On top of the marshmallows is the rest of the graham cracker streusel-like crust, and back in the oven it goes.

When the mallows melt, they blend in with the topping in a most satisfying molten way. Reminds me of geology.

Of course, with strata this lovely, it would not be hard
to create this with kids and tack on a geology lesson to boot.

Recipe Source: She Knows Food and Recipes

Magic Circle Tutorial

2011-06-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

The magic circle is one of those skills that you'll want to master especially if you're going to make any sort of amigurumi or if you simply do not want a whole in the middle of your crochet-in-the-round work like in this crochet catch-all.

It's a bit tricky to master, so keep practicing.

Wrap your yarn in an X as shown. The tail is in the front.

Insert hook under yarn as shown and draw a loop.

I've drawn up a loop and created the circle.
Now I am going to slip it off my hand.

All I did was take it off my hand.
Now I need to make a slipknot.

Slipknot: Yarn over and pull through loop on hook as shown.

Magic ring with slipknot. Ready to make some stitches in the round.

Single crochet:
Insert hook through the circle
yo, draw loop
yo again and pull though to both loops on hook make a sc.
In this photo I've made 8 sc.

Now the fun part--cinching.

Take that tail and gently pull or cinch your circle closed.

Slip stitch the top of the first stitch to complete the circle.
This circle has 8 sc.

Crochet Catch-All

2011-06-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

Iron craft challenge # 24 is a Father's Day theme. Well, dads are dudes and the dudes in this house neither craft nor care about crafts.

Still, why should that stop me?

I like this little catch-all. The handles look like a mouth. It's saying "Duuuuuuude.

When Mr. Awesome comes home from work, he empties out his pockets and piles it on the counter and on top of the curio cabinet. Mini notebooks, cell phone, mini flashlight, iPod, pens, pencils, and a thingy that looks like a pen but is something else, business cards, pennies, nickels, and a Blue Tooth.

Well, this will help corral the clutter.

HOW TO:

You do not need a pattern to make this. You can totally make this up as you go. You do need to know how to crochet in the round, though.

My catch-all is make of two strands of worsted weight tweed-ish yarn. I used a size I hook.

The beauty of this project is that you can make this as big and thick or small and dainty as you want. It all depends on the yarn and the hook you use.

First, make a circle in single crochet to the size you want.

I always forget how to increase a circle evenly so I used a book to remind me, but here are the basic instructions:

Basic Crocheted Flat Circle

Also, I started with a magic ring because I didn't want a hole at the bottom.

Magic ring tutorial

Side note: I highly recommend learning how to make a magic ring especially if you're into amigurumi. Your projects will come out so much nicer. No holes in round work ever again.

Once your circle is the desired size continue crocheting without increasing. Just keep going and the sizes will begin to form. Magic!

Making handles is a cinch. Determine where you want your handles to be. My basket is shallow, so I created handles at about row 5.

To make the handles begin by chaining as many chains you need to reach desired handle width. I chained 12. Then skip the same amount of stitches and sc crochet into the next stitch. So I chained 12, skipped 12, sc in 13th stitch.

Then I continued single crocheting until I got to the opposite side of the basket. For my project it was 22 stitches until I needed to make the next handle. You can do all the mathematical wizardry--i.e.counting, LOL--to make it all symmetrical or you can eyeball it and call it "art." Who cares? It's your project.

So once again, for the second handle I chained 12, skipped 12, stitched in the 13th, and then continued crocheting until I came around to the first handle again. Then it just sc 12 over the handle and continued crocheting until I thought it looked good enough to be finished.

Then, I put all of Mr. Awesome's stuff in it and left it for him to discover in the morning when he went to fill his pockets.

The good news is that it seems, so far, to be 100 percent effective. When he came home, I found that it was full again. Training complete.

Tea Time: Thumb Print Cookies and Marmalade Love

2011-06-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, we never made thumb print cookies. When I was a young mother, I never made them either, and I don't know why because they're delicious like crumbly shortbread.

They're also the perfect receptacles for some high quality, imported-from-Scotland marmalade.

I bought a jar of Dundee orange marmalade from the import store a while back on a whim. I wasn't a big marmalade fan. It was alright, was my opinion. American marm is very sweet as I guessed all jams and jellies are, but the Scots got it down to an art. Check out MacKay's array of marms.

Imported marm is tangier and has lovely strips of specialty oranges in it. Give it a try.

Sorry, I digressed, didn't I? Ahem. About those cookies..

As far as thumbprint cookies go, the recipe for them is everywhere. I used my good ol' 1988 Betty Crocker cookbook. The thumb print cookie recipe is online, which is always so very handy. The batch is very small so one might have to double the recipe.

I rolled mine in coconut and chopped walnuts. I also left some plain. It's all good. I like them with my tea.

It's a lovely simple pleasure.

The Vintage Crochet: Mommy Crocheted Me This Rockin' Vest

2011-06-06T16:09:00.000-07:00

Looky me in 1971. I am around age 2. I am so cute I want to reach in and squeeze myself. Why the heck was I so happy? Was it my new crochet granny vest?

I think the photographer had a bag of Oreos, that's why.

Gold was groovy, and Oreo cookies were not bad for you back then and aliens invaded on the sly.

Thems were the days.
I think I spy some filet crochet with some front post double crochet and single crochet trim.

How do you think she made it?

EDITED TO ADD:

Wow, thanks Chris for the link to Groovy Crochet at The Wayback Machine.
That pattern is really similar.

Just for kicks I Googled "Groovy Crochet Vest" and found several vintage (late 60s, early 70s) yet modern looking patterns.

I want to make this little cover up dress. It looks modern, but it's dated 1970.

And look at Janis Joplin. She must have loved her vest because is seems like she wore it a lot.

Looks like it's filet with single crochet trim.

Didn't she look gypsy good? Poor Jan.

Refashioning T-Shirts

2011-05-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

This week's iron craft challenge was to refashion a t-shirt. I wanted to NOT go all out for this cuz I am lazy lately.

About a month previous I had thrifted some t-shirts to turn into night-tees. This consisted of merely cutting off the crew neck and trimming the sleeves to be a bit more feminine and less constricting during the night.

But they're not very exciting. Who cares, artistically and craft-wise about a hacked concert t-shirt? So back to the thrift store I went in search for more shirts and back to surfing the Net for more ideas.

Days past and I felt uninspired. I wasn't in the mood to sew anything. I just wanted to do something simple.

Finally I decided to make an iron-on patch. The inspiration came straight from the Iron Craft challenge suggestion pictures.

I cut some circles from scrap. I finally got to use my lucky cat fat quarter fabric. Next I ironed on some interface to make it stiff and embroider-able. Then I tried out this stuff called Insta-bond and it worked like a charm. No need to sew.

It's been gloomy and dunky outside, so pictures have been a challenge once again.

Worked Completed: The Ripple Lap Blanket

2011-05-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

I am happy to announce the completion of my first ripple blanket. It took three months to make only because I put off weaving in 100 billion yarn threads. It turned out that the weaving-in-the-ends process was quite quick painless and I finished in an evening. Who knew?

I decided to make it a lap blanket because I don't need another bedspread sized behemoth. I also didn't want to buy more yarn.

This is Vanna's Choice yarn, by the way. It's affordable acrylic and it's very soft and lovely.
I began with a border of chocolate and then rotated the colors in a 3, 1, 2, 2, 1, 3 pattern.

Inspector Twelve gave it the snuggle and kneading test and it passed with flying colors.

Great for napping and picnics.

For Better

2011-04-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

There's a lot of hub-bub about the latest royal marriage that's kicking off this Friday.
It's on the 29th right?
I haven't really followed the William and Kate nuptial progress. I read the headlines and that's about it.
But, I hope it works out for them, I really do. Marriage is hard no matter how rich or royal a couple is.

Anyway, my Iron Craft project #17 is complete.

Mr. Awesome and I married in 1988. Although we didn't elope, it was pretty close. We planned on going down to city hall, but my mother asked me to "Just have a little something here."

So we hired a verbose preacher and had a small backyard wedding with about 40 people in attendance. I bought my flowers and my cake and my wedding dress for about $200. The food was potluck. The photos? Snapshot. A friend video taped it though. I think I weighed about 95 lbs.

We were 19 and 20 years old.

For many years, I was not exactly proud of our ceremony, but I realize now that I would not have had it any other way because I cherish simplicity and frugality and being Real.
Most importantly, at my humble backyard wedding, several people I adored were present. My mother, my mother-in-law, and my grandparents were alive. When I look at my snap shotty photos I start doing morbid math and calculate how much time I had with them at that point.

The only picture of the bride's family ever taken
Left to right bottom row: brother, sister, brother. Top row: mom, me, Mr. Awesome, dad

Really, who cares about cakes, gowns, bouquets when it's all about families coming together and having a great day?

Now, onto the my commemorative mixed media wedding day craft.

The wedding clothes rose with retired wedding rings for a finishing touch.

Three purple mums which were the the few flowers in season and affordable at the time. I recently discovered that the mums at our wedding are still alive and blooming in my parent's backyard some twenty odd years later.

A floating heart exactly like the one Mr. Awesome gave me during our courtship.

On display.

The poem reads:

We wed

Under the Mulan magnolia

While mums whispered, "They're so young."

Coasting Granny Style

2011-04-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

The coasters in this house have disappeared. Those cool sandstone ones eventually break and the rest just sprout legs and walk away.

So I made myself some out of colors similar to this thrifted tourist mug. I have a thing for California kitsch, I don't know why.

This granny circle is the first few rows of a granny mandala pattern. I was all set on making a pot holder until I realized I don't need any more, but I do need coasters.

I learned a new stitch called the two double crochet together or 2dctog. The directions for it is provided in the source link below.

The backsides are made from scrap fabric and a thrifted skirt. I cut two circles a little wider than the coaster, put the right sides together, traced a circle the same width of the coaster and sewed on that line.

Then I turned it right sides out, pressed, and sewed it on to the granny circle using the ladder stitch so it won't show.

That's all there is to it.

This idea is a marriage of two great ideas from the terrific blogs below.

Sources:

Crochet with Raymond

Purl Bee

Work In Progress: Embroidery Hoop Mixed Media Project

2011-04-23T14:01:00.000-07:00

This week's IC theme is weddings. I was about to sit this week out, but anniversaries was mercifully allowed since some of us are old marrieds, or aren't into wedding flair, or not attending a wedding anytime soon.

I mulled over several easy ideas such as making a scrappy banner, crocheting a bouquet, creating a mini quilt, but nothing panned out.

You know you've been married a long time when your rings no longer fit.

I had already made this fabric flower a few months ago. It'd be perfect, but we have to make something during the week of the challenge and not use something made months ago. I did add our retired wedding rings. Yes, these are the real rings. I hope it's not bad luck.

But, I could use it in another project!

So I used the flower as a sort of spring board. I wrote a small poem about my wedding and then got stuck.

I crocheted some mums since they were present at my wedding. Then I remained stuck.

What do I do with all this hodge podge stuff?

So around noon today I decided to make a collage and frame it all in an embroidery hoop. I used this thrifted linen skirt as my background fabric. I really wanted to wear this skirt, not use it for crafts, but it's too small. Today I managed to make the cut.

Then I rummaged through my scraps, found some of my wedding fabric and some lace bits and started sewing them on. I used the ruffle part of the skirt for a nice texture effect.

My poem is printed on grocery sack paper.

All I need to do now is attach the wedding flower and add some embroidered embellishment.

Cheater Horchata

2011-04-19T17:34:00.000-07:00

Horchata is a delicious beverage made from ground rice or almonds. Usually cinnamon and vanilla and perhaps some other spices are added to it. It looks like milk but traditionally has no dairy in it.

There are a zillion ways to make this drink, so what's one more?

Readymade horchata concoctions contain a large list of ingredients that I don't care to consume such as corn syrup and preservatives. Readymade is extremely sweet.

On the other hand, traditional recipes call for grinding up rice or almonds and steeping it in water for long bouts of time. I've tried this process and found to be a tedious.

I don't think it has to be that complicated, so here's my cheater version:

I am not striving for authenticity, here. I just wanted a refreshing drink that doesn't require hours to prepare or contain a bunch of weirdness.

This version uses:

readymade rice milk
cinnamon
vanilla
sugar
and a dash of half n half because I like a creamier concoction

These are just general directions, you can mix this any way you want, but I do it the following way:

Fill glass a quarter way with rice milk. Add cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar to taste. Whisk briskly until well blended. Add more rice milk and add a splash of milk or half n half if desired. Whisk some more. Add ice and gently stir. Top off with rice milk if desired.

Some people like to add rum. I haven't tried that.

Adventures in Making a "Simple" Coin Purse

2011-04-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

Iron Craft challenge this week is a money theme. "Oh, I want to make a coin purse," I said. I promptly went the craft store and picked up the only clasp thingy they had.

It's cute, this handle, but a bit fancy for this shabby chic style girl. I didn't have the right fabrics, so I went thrifting.

I picked up a grey wool skirt and one royal blue Wal-Mart sun top and promptly washed and cut them up. The royal blue was a XXXL sun top so I have a lot of this fabric, which is great because I love the color.

I searched the Internet for some guidelines and examples and I found three. None of them were exactly what I wanted, but I went with a hand sewn version that provided a template.

Easy, I thought.

I had some false starts. My first one, the hand sewn version, went into the garbage. I even for a short time tried to crochet a bag. It got frogged.

Finally I settled on using my sewing machine rather than hand sewing. I also gave up trying to follow other people's instructions and just designed my own by trial and error.

I streamlined the process by creating a template that's cut on the fold. Then I sewed the outer and inner lining rights sides together and turned it right side out and pressed. The result was a coin bag in one piece.

From there I sewed up the sides, and the delicate operation of attaching the bag to the handle began.

I tried sewing it, but it slipped around and wasn't even. So I hot glued it in places to hold and then I was able to sew it on evenly.

Chain in multiples of 3 + 1, 2 sc in 2nd ch from hk, sl st in next

*3 sc in next ch, sl st in next* across

I crocheted some trim for aesthetic reasons, which was more trial and error, and hot glued it on. It's thick so I had to work to get it to close. It still fights me, but over time I think the crochet trim inside will flatten.

And so, I completed the Iron Craft challenge in two days.

Then these silly little birds that I used for color inspiration came to investigate.

"Oooo, vhat iz dis?"

We don't needs dis shiny ting. Take avay, pleez.

Yes, yes, veddy nice, dis plaz. How much iz rentz?

Crumpets

2011-04-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

I debated about writing this blog post for a month now. It's sort of a success yet fail story, but here goes:

A crumpet looks and tastes similar to an English muffin, but it's a lot more moist. Being an American I don't have much experience with crumpets. In fact, I made these before I ever tasted one. But they looked tasty especially with my favorite marmalade.

It was a frustrating adventure. The batter is easy enough. Mine rose quite nicely.

Because I don't own the metal rings needed to form a nice round crumpet, I improvised by using canning jar rings which made the whole process tedious.

Plus, I wasn't sure what to expect.

What you want to see are lots of bubbles. My batter was very thick, and I wasn't getting any bubbles. I had to keep adding water to the batter, and eventually, after a couple of failures that ended up in the sink, I started to see glorious bubbles.

Getting the crumpet out of the rings was a challenge even with the use of cooking spray.

They look okay, I think. They look very similar to those sold at Trader Joe's if that's any sort of accurate measure.

The sad part of the story is, after all that frustration and work, no one wanted to try them.

Friday Photo Miscellany: Frogging a Project

2011-04-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

The dark side of needle craft.
What's never shown in the glossy books and magazines.

Following the Muse to Strange Neighborhoods

2011-04-04T11:33:00.000-07:00

This week's Iron Craft has had me stumped. I've got two days to come up with an artist trading card.

I've never sat down with the intention of creating an ATC. I've dabbled in collage with mixed to poor results. It always comes out buckled and wrinkled. I am not a sketch artist or painter either.

But persevere did I, because like a fellow Iron crafter says, the challenge of Iron Crafting is pushing yourself to try things that you'd probably not try otherwise. The human crafter tends to get stuck in craft ruts, and Iron Craft helps get the wagon out of the rut, so to speak.

My inspiration piece for my cards is a birdhouse sold by "Trendy and Expensive Store" a few years ago. They're very charming. I wish I had the real birdhouse.

I reduced the picture size and printed a bunch of birdhouse photos. I spent a Friday afternoon messing around with a dozen of them. I turned them into birdies, toyed with socio-cultural themes, and finally came up with a simple picture with an overall inspiring message and glued it all down on appropriately sized card stock.

My First ATC: "Imagine, Unlock and Soar"

I made the card and it promptly wrinkled and buckled. Totally unswappable.
And I promptly digitally airbrushed the hex out of it.

Meh, not fun. Love the idea, hate the delivery.

So I digitally chopped it up and played with the pieces in a photo editing program until I discovered I had a pretty cool new blog header that you see today.

When I woke up this morning I had this micro-crochet concept in my head, so I just went with it.

Micro crochet

American Dream: White Picket Fence

Crochet circle stuffed in a tea infuser,

crochet chain fence, paper houses on pins.

Some projects are like this, I guess. It can start out as one thing, and wind up quite another.

Work Complete: The Mitered Pot Holder

2011-04-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

Work complete.

I saw these terrific mitered dish cloths my fellow blogger buddy, Astri, has been making and asked her how she does it.

Astri so generously created a tutorial just for little ol' me on her blog, Apple Blossom Dreams, and I've been busy making my first one. Only mine's so thick, it'll be a pot holder.

It's been slow going only because I've been playing with color and stitch combinations.

I like the little dots of color here. This is simply switching from teal to brown on every stitch.

This is what the back looks like when you switch color. You just keep working the two colors without finishing off. This back side will be covered with cloth, but it's not that ugly.

The mitered dish cloth pattern is quite easy and it allows you to experiment, which is always fun. I am not sure what kind of trim this will have, but I'll figure it out when I get there.

This fabric is my color inspiration piece. It has sort of a tropical "feel" to it.

After several experiments and lots of frogging, I decided on a double crochet filet trim.

This trim allows me to weave in a strip of the inspiration cloth. I did not sew the strip. I just ripped a strip and wove it in and tacked down the ends.

Although this photo doesn't show it well enough, the fabric is woven in the filet trim and tied in a knot at the top which serves as its hanging loop.

Amigurumi Owl

2011-03-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

After making Lucky Cat I thought I'd worked the amigurumi fever out of me.

I guess not, because I could not help myself from making this little owl. Surely it would be quick and easy.

And it was quick and easy once I got the hang of the pattern.

The trouble, though, is my penchant for going overboard with the embellishments. I go to bed and instead of counting sheep, I dream up things to add to a project.

His body took all of a Thursday evening to make. It resembles a potato, doesn't it?

He's made out of baby alpaca because a) it's what I had on hand, b). because it makes him soft, c). because it makes him much smaller than when using cotton yarn. Therefore I used an F size hook.

From there it was just a matter of embellishment, which is the best part. I spent a lot of time looking at pictures of real great horned owls to get the details as accurate as possible. Why? I don't know, I just like details to resemble the real animal if at all possible.

The eyes are, of course, vintage buttons I have in my button box. He has mustard colored felt behind the buttons.

His ears and eyebrows are made from garden variety acrylic felt with little embroidered stitches made to resemble brindle colored feathers.

The cream colored brow is alpaca yarn, split into two strands and blanket stitched across.

When I finished the eyes, I decided he needed eyelids. Owls have the most comical and expressive eyelids. So I gave him some out of felt.

His tummy is embroidered with yarn. Very simple and easy "V's".

The wings are little crocheted "cups", if you will, flattened and sewn on. Felt would work too, but I wasn't in the mood to design wings.

Pattern source: Adapted from RoboTrish's pattern. I followed the pattern instructions for the body and the wings and the template for the "horns." The embellishments (eyes, embroidery, etc) and such I made up as I went along.

Thrifted Salvation

2011-03-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

I discovered a pinhole in this thrifted tee after I washed it. I don't know if I missed it when I checked it over at the store or if the hole happened in the wash.

Well I can't wear it with a silly hole in it. I can't really hide it and worse, when I put it on the hole stretches so it's even bigger!

Tomorrow is Wear Orange Day at work. What to do?

Embellish.

First, mend the hole, and take care not to cinch the thread too tightly because t-shirt fabric stretches and puckers--uggh!

Crochet some small flowers. Surely there is something I can make from this book.

Here we go, this looks doable.

I modified the pattern just slightly in that I used a Magic Ring so I could cinch the circle tighter. Other than that, the pattern is in this book.
I wish I could share it but it would be a copy right vio.

I love it when I find just the right button for a project. I had exactly three of these perfect sized and perfect colored buttons in my stash. The craft Gods were smiling down on me.

Sew on, taking care to sew the back of the flowers only. Sew on the buttons next.

Saved!

Work in Progress: Maneki Neko or Lucky Cat

2011-03-21T09:04:00.000-07:00

My first official attempt at the Japanese craft of amigurumi which means crocheted (ami) stuffed doll (nuigurumi).

While learning the skill, I thought it appropriate to make a Japanese luck talisman, a lucky cat. It also helps that this week's Iron Craft is to make something with a luck theme.

In Japan maneki neko brings good luck. You'll find them placed at the entrances of shops and restaurants.

Lucky cats are not waving hello, rather they are beckoning. A raised right paw is supposed to bring monetary and general good luck. The left paw brings in customers.

When I lived in Japan I saw them a lot, but they never registered on my craft radar. They resemble a gauche Hello Kitty. Or perhaps Hello Kitty is a simple adaptation of the lucky cat?

Amigurumi is basically single crochet tubes and balls, stuffed, sewn, embellished into super cute and irresistible useless stuffed creatures. I swore I would not make a stuffed animal, but I was weak.

The pattern I used to make my Lucky Cat made some assumptions in my skills, such as knowing how to make a so-called "Magic Ring" which is a technique that allows one to cinch a circle tight so that there are no holes at the beginning of one's work. I muddled my way through and eventually got the hang of the Magic Ring technique.

There is no hole on the paw where I began making the leg, thanks to knowing how to do a magic ring. There are tutorials on the Internet, but I may make a tute once I figure out how to photograph it.

An extra touch of luck, a koi fish.

Pattern: handmadekitty

The Vintage Recipe: Yeast Rolls

2011-03-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

St. Patrick's Day was mid week so we're having our big dinner on Saturday.

I don't like traditional Irish soda bread because it's a giant dry biscuit with raisins in it, so I'll make yeast bread instead.

This year I dug out my Momma's old recipe booklets. She used to collect them as a teen (1950s) when she went to the supermarket. She gave a small stack too me back in the 90s.

This one's jam packed with recipes. Whoa! I guess that's why it says "250 Breads, Biscuits and Rolls on the cover." Duh, Lolly.

This recipe booklet is 57 years old and nobody has made anything from it in probably since 1960.

Until today.

Yeast rolls are swell. I am making these today. In typing this out and looking at the recipe, I realize, ooops, I forgot to sift the flour. It's okay, I am pretty sure they'll still turn out just fine. After baking bread for a while you get a feel for what's extraneous instructions and what's vital.

I especially appreciate the reminder to be creative. It's very handy. I was totally planning on being mundane today until I read this. Use some originality, girl!

The recipe directions say to rise and punch about 4 times. Today I am very lazy and since I've made rolls many times, I know I can say with confidence that twice is enough, as in, rise once, punch down, shape, rise again, bake.

Final rising session.

Waiting for me to get off computer already and put in the oven.

Cooling.

Displayed (and still cooling).

Iron Craft Challenge: Make Something Green

2011-03-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

The Iron Craft Challenge this week is to make something green.

This button necklace is a total recycle of things I've had on hand.

It's nice not to have to buy something to complete a project.

I used some hemp string that I hand on hand from another project. The buttons are from my collection. The Celtic knot is from an old necklace. The little beads, puka shells and clasp are also from an old necklace.

All I did was rearrange everything and restring it all.

Crocheted Scalloped Pot Holder

2011-03-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

This crocheted pot holder is quick to make as well as cute. The color combinations are limitless. I chose green in honor of St. Pat's Day.

Source: Priscilla Hewitt (kitchen category, "Scalloped Pot Holder")

Crocheted Hummingbird Feeder Cozy

2011-03-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

We crocheters and knitters make all kinds of cozies. There are cozies for coffee mugs, cozies for tea pots, cozies for various electronic gizmos.

We even make cozies for beer bottles.

But I've not yet seen the hummingbird bottle cozy and I think it's high time we acknowledge the need for one.

I like to watch the hummers from my kitchen window. With their sassy attitude, short attention span and overall fairy-like cuteness, they're easily my favorite bird. They mesmerize me every time they show up at the trough.

Hummingbird nectar is a ratio of 4 parts water to 1 part granulated sugar brought to a boil to dissolve the sugar.

I like to make a small batch of 2 cups water to 1/2 cup sugar.

Most recipes on the Internet call for red dye. I don't like to add red dye. It's only purpose is to attract the birds as they love bright colors such as red, hot pink, purple, and orange.

My hummer feeder has very little of any of those colors so I am making a red, filet crochet cozy to attract the sweeties.

Make a chain in multiples of 3 long enough to go around the bottle and fit a little snug.

Join with a slip stitch.

NOTE: Take care when joining to not let the chain twist. Many a time I've had to frog my work and start my first row over because it twisted.

Chain 3 (counts as a dc)

DC in each of the next 2 chains (first filled mesh created)

*chain 2, skip 2, dc in each of next 3 ch ( 1 open mesh and one filled created)*

repeat around from * finishing with a slip stitch to join.

Chain 3 for next round.

NOTE:

If you're starting the round with an open mesh, chain 2 more (total 5 chains), sk 2 sts, dc next st. (open mesh created) Chain 2, sk 2, dc in next 3 sts (around).

If you're starting the round with a filled mesh, dc in next 2 sts. Chain 2, sk 2, dc in next. (around)

Repeat rows to the length you desire. Finish off. Weave in ends and all that.

It'll take a couple days for the birds to notice.

Hummingbird nectar should be replaced every couple of days and every day on hot days.

If ants find the feeder dab some cooking oil on the hanger to repel them.

Jell-o Ambrosia

2011-03-09T18:48:00.000-08:00

There's something magical about the marriage of the phoniest foods on the planet--Jell-O and Cool Whip. The home economist who joined those two in holy ambrosia matrimony was a genius.

This stuff is just as delicious today as it was back when I was a kid. It's dangerous. You'll want to eat the whole container, but it fills you up fast. You'll sneak back for more later, though.

Me? I don't fuss over gelatin molds because a.) I don't own one, and b.) who cares what shape it's in? Just put it in a pretty Pyrex dish with a lid and call it good.

So last night I followed the recipe and initiated Second Son in the delight that is Jell-O ambrosia. He was hooked.

Orange Jello, crushed pineapple, Cool Whhhhip, mandarin oranges, marshmallows. No nuts, no coconut.

Give it a try. It's now my standard potluck dish.

Source: Kraft

Tea Cup Pin Cushions, or I Think I Just Swallowed a Button

2011-03-07T09:14:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not, this was easy, easy, easy to make; therefore it was fun too.

The other day at Target I found these St. Patrick's Day themed handkerchiefs in the cheapo dollar section. Granted, these are not high quality fabrics, but they don't have to be for this project.

Transforming a tea cup or mug into a pin cushion is just a matter of wrapping a wad of fiber fill in the fabric to make a smooth-as-possible ball and stuffing the whole thing in the mug. Then fluff and arrange until it's just the way you like it. Secure with hot glue.

I chose this mug instead of a dainty tea cup because a) I don't have a sacrificial dainty tea cup on hand, and b) this mug is reminiscent of the Aran sweaters made in Ireland.

Once you get your basic cushion situated, the real fun begins. Embellishments! The sky is the limit.

Chain in multiples of 7 + 1 to the length desired: 1 ch, *sc 2 ch, skip 1 ch, 4 dcs in next st, sk 1 st, sc next 2 ch, rep from *

I crocheted a little green trim, scrounged around the sewing box for lace trim and secured it with these sewing pins. I lucked out in that the green pins match the green in the hanky.

I dug around for some buttons (gotta have those). I added a little orange by outlining a shamrock.

This is a small doily folded and pinned on.

Serve hot.

Cover Story: Steampunky Gears

2011-03-04T11:23:00.000-08:00

If you don't like flowers, there's always other motifs to crochet.

Case in point: Gears.

These are part of a little steampunkish project I am working on.

I made these gears several months ago, and as usual, I am just now finding a way to use them.

They're easy to make and you can add extra "flair" to 'em such as silver beads, vintage buttons, metal washers and whatever your steampunky imagination can come up with.

Gear pattern at Squidoo

So what am I going to do with them? You'll see in a second.

First, the fat quarter fabric gets folded, sewed all around into a rectangle that matches the measurements of a book.
Be sure to leave an inch or so to be able to turn it right side out. I used the the wrong sides to get a nice gray shade. The black side would not be a good backdrop for black gears.
Press and hand sew the turning out hole closed (or glue or fuse or whatever).
Then a piece of plain cloth gets shabbily sewn on the outside.

Yes, it's a fabric book cover.

When you tack down the book cover flaps, be sure to get them to match as best you can eyeball it. I tacked 'em down with crooked and sloppy zig-zag stitch.

Because this is a cover for A Series of Unfortunate Events, you gotta have an eye motif somewhere on it.

Arrange the goodies and then apply with a hot glue gun.

Be sure to let the ribbon extend several inches so it can serve as a bookmark.

Finishing Touches

2011-03-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

In my last post I was contemplating what to do with a collage. It's so rude of me, but I needed time to think.

It seemed incomplete for some reason.

I decided to hang it up after all, but it needed some finishing touches.

After doing what I call creative marinating, I decided to try crocheting some roses. I've never made these before.

I used different patterns to make these. All are very easy. I have a feeling I may want to make a whole bunch as they're sort of addicting.

Yeah, that's what it needed.

The secret to mounting the roses. Copper wire.

Work in Progress: Film Inspired Craft

2011-02-26T16:17:00.000-08:00

You can click twice on this photo to get a closer look.

Participants in this week's Iron Craft challenge, "And the Oscar goes to...,"
get to craft something that was inspired from their favorite film.

Choosing one favorite film was a difficult task. I considered:

Willy Wonka (1971)
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Chocolat
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Alice in Wonderland

I settled on the first film that ever captivated me completely with plot and acting, to be sure, but there was something else that made me love it--costume and sets.

This film is a veritable country vintage decor banquet.

Food, fashion, architecture, table settings, you name it. Every scene is a visual feast for people like me who adore country vintage.

Each time I view it I see something new and delicious. Oh to crawl into that movie and get my hands on those crockery bowls in the cafe, crocheted doilies on the wedding table, and those smock aprons the girls wear, and of course a slice of pie, but "Frankly," I'll pass on the Barbecue. I hear the meat is of questionable origin.

Here is a sneak preview of what I am working on.

What's is the movie?

What's the craft? Hint: What do you call the collection of photos above?

Pictorial Recipe: How to Make Crepes

2011-02-26T11:47:00.000-08:00

Source: Betty Crocker

Spanish Tile: My Favorite Granny Square Ever

2011-02-20T11:21:00.000-08:00

I have had this pattern for a long time. I think I've even made it once before, but I can't find it.

Once you get the hang of the pattern, it's easy, but I wouldn't want to make a bunch of these because it's 9 rows of work and I am a lazy gal.

I love the front post triple crochet stitches. They're fun to do and the little ridges are cool looking.

But what do you do with one Spanish tile granny square?

Well, you block it for starters, which is a matter of dampening it and pinning it down and leaving it to dry.

Maybe I'll frame it as a little crafted work of art for the Iron Craft challenge. This week's challenge theme is hometown. Well the Spanish influence on Los Angeles is obvious.

For source and pattern instructions click here

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T15:11:00.001-08:00

Chocolate Cherry Clusters: The Unphotogenic Valentine Snack

2011-02-09T18:28:00.000-08:00

I tried very hard to make these chocolate cherry clusters attractive. I even brought out my grandma's pink depression glass tray to make it pretty.

They still look like clumps of you-know-what. Oh well. They taste yummy.

They're sort of like Muddy Buddies for grown-ups : cereal, chocolate, and dried cherries.

I cut this recipe in half because the men in this house, I know, will not touch this with a ten foot pole.

Mix 1&1/2 C. cornflakes with 1/4 C dried cherries. Break up the larger corn flakes.

Melt 5 oz of chocolate in the microwave or a double boiler. I used the microwave.

Fold melted chocolate into cereal/cherry mixture until well coated.

Drop by spoonfuls on to parchment or wax paper. Allow a couple hours for chocolate to set or harden.

Crochet 101 Class: Queen Anne's Lace Scarf Tutorial

2011-02-09T09:58:00.000-08:00

Tutorial starts here

Grab some yarn, any kind

Any size hook

Chain 6, slip stitch to form a circle.

Chain 3, 13 dc in circle (chain 3 counts as a dc). (14 dc total includes turning chain).

Do not join

Chain 1, turn work. Now you'll be making the lacy loops.

Sc in next 2 dc. Chain 4, sc next 2, (repeat 5 more times). Total of 6 loops.

One motif complete.

Chain 6 to start another motif.

Turn your work.

Slip stitch into adjacent loop. See photo.

Chain 3,

Turn work,

Work 13 more dcs in chain 6 loop. (total 14 dcs).

Slip stitch in adjacent loop as shown,

Chain 1,

Turn work.

Sc next 2 stitches, chain 4, sc next 2 stitches (five more times). Total of 6 loops.

Second motif made.

Chain 6 and turn work to start another motif.

Slip stitch into nearest loop to start another motif.

Chain 3.

Turn work.

Work 14 dcs into chain 6 loop.

Slip stitch in adjacent loop

Chain 1

Turn work to make 6 loops

Sc in next 2 stitches, chain 4, sc next 2 stitches (5 more times). Total 6 loops.

Chain 6 to start fourth motif.

Repeat until scarf reaches desired length. Slip stitch in adjacent motif to finish. Weave in ends.

Other Queen Anne Lace entries:

Click Here to see my work in progress

Click here to see my finished scarf

Pattern Source: Queen Anne's Lace in Crocheting in Plain English by Maggie Rightetti.

Work Complete: The Wind Do Blow

2011-02-08T09:11:00.000-08:00

Scarf finished.

I am entering it into a contest tomorrow. Wish me luck. The contest theme is winter so I call this creation "The Wind Do Blow" which is a nod to Molly Mears, the wandering winter ghost on Larkrise to Candleford (Season 2, episode 1). I know, it's corny. SO? LOL.

Project Facts:

Yarn used: DK baby alpaca

Hook: Size G

Number of Froggings: Three

Pattern Source: Queen Anne's Lace in Crochet in Plain English by Maggie Rightetti.

I'll post a tutorial soon because beginners need pictures and the book does a poor job of photos.

Work in Progress: The Queen Anne's Lace Scarf

2011-02-07T08:50:00.000-08:00

It took me three tries and two Netflix movies to get this pattern set in my brain.

Still, it was worth the frogging and grumbling. This scarf is so soft, lacy, and Steampunkish. It also has a nice drape and is skinny, yet warm.

I wish I could wear it today, but I need to double its length, add a certain embellishment and finish it tonight.

~~Let me know if you want the pattern and I'll post it.~~

Queen Anne's Lace Tutorial link

Chocolate Mint Cookies the Easy Way

2011-02-03T10:41:00.000-08:00

Have you tried chocolate mint chip cookies?

There are hundreds of chocolate mint chip recipes out there. Most called for mint extract. Others called for creme de menthe extract or green creme de menthe morsels. None of which my local stores carry.

Others called for food coloring. No thank you. One popular recipe wanted me to use a box cookie mix? Really? It's not that hard to make cookies from scratch. Honest.

I was about to give up completely but Mr. Awesome came down aisle 3 at the store with a box of Andes mints. He found them in the candy aisle. "What about these? he asked."

It was brilliant. It sounded so easy.

And it is!

Just chop up some Andes after dinner chocolates and add it to your favorite chocolate chip cookie dough. My favorite recipe is Toll House.

That's all. No other changes necessary.

A box of these cookies smells divine and the taste will knock your mint loving socks off.

Work in Progress: The Crocheted Ripple Afghan

2011-01-30T15:01:00.000-08:00

This is much better. The color combination isn't making me cringe like my first attempt did.

This is three Netflix movies worth of work: Carrina, Carrina, Hope and Glory, and Penny Serenade.

When I give a project a name I know I'll finish it.

Project Facts:
Pattern Source: Royal Sisters' Chevron Granny
Yarn: Vanna's Choice (worsted weight) in honey, antique rose, dusty rose, brick, burgundy, rust, chocolate. Two of each color so far. I may have to get more.
Hook: Size I

Crochet 101 Class: Pyrex Craft Containment

2011-01-20T09:20:00.000-08:00

I love old Pyrex. I thought I was crazy until I discovered Web sites and groups devoted to it. Nope, I am not the only one.

My vintage Pyrex pattern of choice is the sunny yellow/orange Daisy pattern, but I've had this aqua refrigerator container since my mom gave it to me as part of my hand-me-down dowry. It spent many years ignored and shoved into the way back of cupboards. Poor baby.

Besides going from oven to table to refrigerator, it also makes a great needlecraft buddy.

It's smooth sides allow a ball of yarn to roll freely and yet it keeps it from rolling under your sofa.

The lid too serves as a little helper by keeping one's crochet gear in one place.

Of course, resourceful people know that any container will do the same thing. One doesn't need a vintage Pyrex dish to keep one's gear in place, but it's a great excuse to go thrift shopping to find some vintage pieces.

Work in Progress: Complete

2011-01-17T18:26:00.000-08:00

Dear Big Sister,

If you get around to checking this blog, looky! I finished. I finished! Thank you for the baby alpaca yarn from Peru.

My favorite feature about these granny squares is the double crochet edging all around each square. It makes for a nice, clean finishing touch. It also makes the task of sewing the squares

together much easier.

The embroidered pillow was a happy accident. I originally wanted to sew the grannies onto it, but the grannies were too large. So I just used the left over yarn and embroidered a running stitch around and around.

Does this fabric look familiar? Yep, it's that remnant you gave me from your work.

Thanks again and again,

Love your little sis,

Lolly

Quick French Toast

2011-01-12T10:19:00.000-08:00

I don't like to keep baked goods for more than three days. My orange cinnamon swirl has reached its expiration date.

To use it up, I turn it into French toast. There are a million ways to make French toast, but this is how I make it.

I whisk one egg for every two slices of bread. I add about 1/4 C milk or better, half & half, and cinnamon and sugar to taste. Because this bread is already sweet I don't add too much.

I quickly dip the bread into the mixture, but I don't soak it. I know some cooks soak, but I don't like soggy bread in the middle.

I dip, flip, and then...

...slap it in the pan. I greased the pan with butter. Flame is on low/medium so the butter doesn't start burning.

Cook until golden on both sides.

Serve.

Orange Cinnamon Swirl Bread

2011-01-08T13:39:00.000-08:00

Orange Cinnamon Swirl is a family favorite. It's particularly delicious as French toast (which will be another entry).

The slightly orange tint to this bread is from the 3/4 cup of orange juice in it.

For this blog entry I used fresh squeezed oranges, but regular concentrated o.j. works fine too.

Orange Cinnamon Swirl
Makes 2 loafs

In small bowl mix and set aside:

1 pkg. yeast

1/4 C warm water

In a saucepan heat until scalding:

1 C milk
1/2 C sugar
1/4 C shortening

Remove from heat, allow to cool to lukewarm temp, then add:

1-1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbs grated orange peel
3/4 C orange juice
1 beaten egg

Add yeast mixture and 2 cups of flour.
Mix well with whisk until smooth.

Add enough flour (a cup at a time) to make a soft dough.

Turn dough onto lightly floured board.
Knead for 5 minutes, systematically adding enough flour to keep it from getting sticky--about 3 to 4 cups, give or take.

Place in a greased bowl, spray the top with cooking spray, cover and let rise for about 90 minutes.

Punch dough in "da face."

Divide, cover, and rest while you make the cinnamon and sugar mixture.

In a small bowl, prepare cinnamon and sugar mixture:

1/2 C sugar
1 Tbs cinnamon

Set this mixture aside while you roll out each dough ball into approximately an 7" x 15" rectangle.

Like this

Now spread a tablespoon of water over the dough surface and then spread half the cinnamon and sugar mixture over that.

Take care to keep about a half inch clear of cinnamon and sugar otherwise you'll have trouble sealing the loaf.

Now, with the 7" side facing you, roll the dough into a loaf. It'll look like the picture below.

Now let's seal the loaf. This is the before picture--unsealed.

And this is the after. Just pinch the edges together. It's not very pretty, but it's effective.

Pinch the ends closed too. Pinch the sides, pinch from top to bottom, and then stuff and tuck it inside itself. It's almost obscene.

Tidy the shape of each loaf with your hands.

With the seam side down, place each loaf in a loaf pan.

Cover and let rise one more time--about an hour.

Now's a good time to preheat the oven to 375.

Bake at 375 for 10 minutes

Reduce heat to 325 and bake for 25-30 more minutes.

Turn out on cooling racks

Enjoy some now, but save for French toast tomorrow.

Making Orange Zest

2011-01-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

While I don't particularly enjoy the messy job of making orange zest, the scent that wafts through the kitchen and the zing it imparts in baking is so worth the hassle.

You need some orange rinds. I prefer using organic oranges so I am not knowingly zesting pesticides into my baked goods.

I only have a box grater, so it'll have to do. If I can remember, I am going to buy a zester that makes those pretty strips instead of this grainy stuff.

Rub the orange rind on the grater, rotating the rind frequently so you don't grate through to the white pith

Collect it as you go until you have the required amount.
I only needed a tablespoon.

Crochet 101 Class VII: The Double Crochet Stitch (dc)

2010-12-27T11:53:00.000-08:00

The double crochet stitch is a common stitch that creates a looser or more open weave than single crochet.

To start, make a chain and add two additional chains for turning.

Now yarn over and insert hook into 4th chain from the hook, yarn over again and draw up a loop.

You've just drawn a loop here and have 3 loops on the hook.

Two more steps to go.

Yarn over again and pull through first two loops.

Yarn over one more time and pull through remaining two loops.

Two double crochets were made because the turning chain counts as a stitch.

Working dc across foundation chain.

Finished the first row of dc.

Chain 3 and turn.

Dc in second dc in row as shown.

How To Make Aebleskivers (Danish Pancakes)

2010-12-25T12:14:00.000-08:00

Sometime in the late 70s or early 80s my parents went to the Danish style town of Solvang, CA and my mother picked up the recipe for the spherical pancakes called Aebleskivers from a street vendor.

Aebleskivers(pronounced "able-skEEvers") means "apple slice." From what I gather from research, they are typically served with an apple slice inside them. We sometimes serve them with chunky apple sauce on the side.

In our family we make these for Christmas brunch. It's just not Christmas without aebleskivers.

Making aebleskivers requires a good recipe (not no ding-dong box mix) and a cast iron aebleskiver pan.

The seasoned cast iron aebleskiver pan.

Available wherever cast iron skillets are sold and probably at some antique stores too. Lodge and Griswold make them. They are inexpensive, so don't pay more than $20 for one.

And for God's sake don't buy anything that says "Pancake Puffs" on it. YUCK! They're aebleskivers, not no commercialized Pancake Puff.

The family recipe.

Separate the eggs into yolks and whites

The yolks get mixed with the remaining ingredients.

The whites will be beaten until stiff peaks form.

Get your hand mixer ready.

On your mark.

Get set....

....go!

Beat until stiff peaks form.

Ta-dah.

Now fold in the egg whites into the batter. Do not beat. Just up and over...up and over...

gently, gently, keeping everything light and fluffy.

Fill each divot with vegetable oil (we use canola) 1/3 of the way.

Heat pan over low/medium heat.

Fill each divot with batter. Take care not to let it overflow.

When they begin to turn golden underneath its time to rotate them.

Use a bamboo skewer or knitting needle or other pointed implement and turn the 'skiver about a quarter way.

Rotate a little

The batter pours out and cooks

Repeat

Keep your eye on all of the 'skivers and turn when each side gets golden brown.
Pay particular attention to the 'skiver in the center because the heat is concentrated in the center.

Keep turning them in 1/4 increments until they're round.

Test for doneness by piercing the center. If your stick has goo on it, then it's still raw inside. Keep cooking.

When they're done, your stick should come out clean as if you were testing a cake for doneness.

Loverly.

Serve them with condiments of your choice.

Jam

A light dusting of powdered sugar

Whatever you want

Merry Christmas

Recipe:

3 eggs separated
2 C buttermilk
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
2 C flour
1tsp baking soda
1tsp baking powder

Separate eggs and set aside egg whites.
In a large bowl, beat egg yolks. Add buttermilk and stir in remaining dry ingredients.
In a separate bowl, beat egg whites with electric hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold egg whites into batter, taking care not to over stir.
Batter should be light and bubbly.

Bright Idea: Stars Revisited

2010-12-23T14:32:00.000-08:00

Find out what I did with this star pattern.

I wasn't happy with the way my first crocheted star project turned out. They're too poofy and rounded.

So I eliminated the last round in the pattern altogether and sewed two together with a whip stitch. I also skipped the stuffing step.

I like that much better. They're more star shaped now.

They make great gift toppers as they are, or hot glue on a magnet and put them on your fridge.

Pretty simple solution.
Now onto solving world peace...

An Ornamental Flour Sack Towel

2010-12-16T20:50:00.000-08:00

"We'll Keep Our Christmas Merry Still" ~ Sir. Walter Scott

Ornaments break, light bulbs go out. The gift you were looking for sold out. It's never perfect as we magic makers would like.
Still, we'll keep our Christmas merry as Sir Scott's poem goes.

I don't know what it is about white flour sack towels, but I like using them as a sort of domestic arts canvas.

This is the last towel of a pack of three. I wanted to embellish it in circles, maybe flowers of some kind, but then I forgot about it.

Finally I came up with a holiday theme.

Sometimes I just start experimenting with materials, but this time I actually did some sketching first. This is unusual. I am not a sketcher.

I told Mr. Awesome that all I want for Christmas is a spiral sketch book because right now I am sketching and doodling on junk mail envelopes and pilfered printing paper. I wonder if he'll remember.

Then I gather some fabrics and cut some circles out, find some coordinating thread to applique the circles onto the towel.

I finally found my special fabric marker, so now I can draw on my fabric with no worries. It washes right off.

When I get them placed just right, I basted 'em so they'll stay in place while I blanket stitch around them.

A little calamity won't ruin Christmas, will it?

Crochet 101 Class VI: The Decrease or SC2tog

2010-12-14T09:54:00.000-08:00

Eventually in your crochet endeavors you'll come across a project that will require shaping beyond squares and rectangles.

Take this little house project, for example.

This amigurumi gingerbread house has a pitched roof. To get that look you have to single crochet two stitches together (sc2tog).

Here's how to do a sc2tog:

Here we are at the beginning of a row that calls for sc2tog at the beginning.

Insert hook into first stitch and just pull up a loop. Two loops on hook.

Insert hook into the second stitch and draw up a loop.

Then yarn over and draw through all three loops. One single decrease made.