What do you do when you need a pin cushion?

Ok, what do you do when you need a pin cushion, but you can't even bear to look at, let alone touch the tomato/strawberry one's from the fabric store, or your grandma's sewing table?   You make one of course!

I have had Posey in my que on Ravelry for AGES!  It took me a while to decide what 3 colors I wanted to use, but I slowly collected them (on sale at Michaels!  2 for 1 deal!) and I found the cutest button, too.  So, I needed a small, easy road trip project a few weeks ago.  The Hubs and I finally headed north to my uncles for the weekend.  It's a 4 hour drive.  I got all of the balls done while in the car.  I stuffed them when we got home and sewed the button on.  Adorable!  And I have enough yarn left for washcloths too!  Another 2 for 1.  What a deal!  And big dashboards come in handy for holding lots of yarn!

Pizza Dough

For the last few years, I have been on the hunt for a good pizza dough recipe.  I came across a good one Sunday night.  Maybe not the best one, but it was pretty darn good.  It is from Tyler Florence on the Food Network.    It made a big batch.  I made a thin crust for me and a deep dish for Brian.  I had a bit left over and just made a plain one with some garlic, sauce and cheese.

I was hungry and forgot to take a picture before I cut into it!

I used Quick Rise instant yeast and it worked.  I have terrible luck with yeast, but it worked!  Oh, and I think the recipe is incorrect for the amount of salt. I will decrease it to about 1/2 Tbsp. next time and see how that works.

Finishing the Acadian

I finally got up the nerve to block my Acadian Shawl.  It turned out really well.  I can't wait to wear it!

Holiday Handmades

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and wonderful holiday!  I can finally share what I've been working on for holiday gifts this year!  I have been busy knitting and sewing away, therefore, all of the creative juices have been flowing in that direction.  I have barely thought about interesting meals at all.  Ask Brian.  The dinners have been very uninspired around here.  Back to the menu planning next week!

I digress....  Here is the crafty goodness...

Jamie is a U of M fanatic!  I have reports that he sleeps with the blanket every night and it is hauled to the couch first thing in the morning.  I'm so glad he likes it!

I love the one I made for Sophie.  I told her I would keep it if she didn't like it, but she smiled and shook her head.  Apparently that means I did well choosing the colors!  I'm still the cool aunt!

I had to keep up with tradition and make Mimi another shawl. She got a shawl pin from my parents and pinned it right on and wore it the rest of the day!  

Terttu Shawl  

Raveled Here

Springtime Bandit Shawl for Mom
Raveled Here

Mom loved her Christmas shawl.  I think she will get a lot of use from it!  I also made her coasters, but I can't find the picture!

I think I will start next years gifts in a few weeks.  I always say that, but maybe this year I will actually do it!

Lists

I am a sucker for lists.  A sucker.  I make lists for everything.  I carry a notebook in my purse.  All the time! When I have to downsize for fancy occasions, I kind of go into panic mode...  It's a little frightening!

This weekend, I have a list.  The hubs is heading to the lake to keep hunting, so I plan on some VERY serious sewing.  I have a big list.

See, it's big, and this is only part of it, because somethings can't be added to that list because people might see.

My list also includes Apple Cookies and Pumpkin Cookies, when I'm not sewing, oh, or knitting, cause I have some of that to do, too.  I also get to puppy sit for the next week.  Our friends are going on a family vacation so Atlas is staying at our house.  This was taken tonight, about an hour after I brought Atlas home.  I think they might be friends by tomorrow :-)  Just maybe...  (uh, yeah, that's some of the fleece for the blankets.  There is another bag the same size next to it.)

I will miss these two furry faces this weekend though.  I took this a couple of weekends ago at the lake.  They were watching me eat breakfast.  Cute, right?

Have a happy and productive weekend!

An adventure with wool

So, here's the story...  My dad went to Ireland in September of 2009.  Before he left I asked him to bring me back Bono, or The Edge, or yarn.

Fast forward 2 weeks...  He's home and so excited to show me the yarn he picked out.  Then he says to me in an Irish accent, "I thought you would make me a waistcoat!"  He looks like a kid on Christmas morning, rubbing his hands together and everything.  Oh, so you actually bought yourself some lovely wool in Ireland in the hopes that your wonderful daughter would be gracious enough to take the time and make you a vest.  I see how it works.  (plus I still have 3 different kinds of yarn waiting for the perfect projects from the last time mom was in Ireland)...oops.

We finally found a pattern.  It's from Knit Simple Holiday 2009, P. 75.

 I punished him by making him hold all 4 hanks while I wound them in to balls.  He blissfully sat there smelling the sheepy wool and telling me how wonderful the lanolin felt on his fingers. Punishment backfired, he enjoyed every second of it.   Then I went to work getting his measurements.  Oh boy.  The back of the sweater is smaller then the smallest size listed and the front is a medium to accommodate his belly.  Completely custom.  He doesn't make things easy, that man, but I love him.

I promptly discovered that I didn't mind at all that the yarn wasn't going to reside permanently with me, because my eyes, nose and skin itched like mad within about 5 minutes of starting his "waistcoat", making it difficult to work on for an extended period of time.  Then summer came and his project took a backseat to other, smaller, more warm weather appropriate projects.  

I got it out again a few weeks ago when the cooler weather arrived (and he had asked me about 5 times when I would have it finished)  I finished the back and went in search for buttons.  Thank the powers that be for Etsy.  I emailed him a list of links and he picked the buttons that I would have picked myself, so predictible.  A special thanks to Lulu's Emporium for having exactly what I needed!

I blocked it last night.  The buttons were in the mail box today.  Nice right?  It should be dry by tomorrow.  Finished this weekend with a picture to share next week.  A happy man with his new, custom, daughter made waistcoat.  P.S.  I have 2 balls left.  What should I do with them?

Pumpkin Pound Cake with Buttermilk Glaze

Cooking Light came through for me with this recipe.  Mine didn't look this pretty, but it was moist and tasty.  I think I would like to try it with a gooey, nutty layer in the center, or on top, or both.  Enjoy!