More Hats!

When I was in Grade 5, our school introduced electives for the upper grades.  I chose knitting being taught from our lovely Liberian Mrs. Furtney. She taught us to knit a scarf. I finished it, fringed it and wore it for many winters. My mother can also knit, so I didn't see a need to knit much since she did it for me.
 When I was in my 20's, crocheting was my new past time and knitting was put way on the back burner. I always tell people I crochet, not knit.
Since the January post telling you how I plan on only making my wardrobe from now on, I felt that knitting had to be pulled out of a very loooonnnng retirement. Finding nice sweater patterns to crochet are really hard to find and I also read, that knitting is easier on your hands. (side note - my hand is actually getting better thanks to my chiropractor. He found some things out of place)

So here it is... my first knitting project in a super duper long time.

This was this morning.

And this afternoon!!!!!!

All I can say is I DID IT, I DID IT, I DID IT :)

Third time not a Charm.

About a year and half a go I bought a pattern from etsy and try as I might I could not get my hat to look like the picture of my boughten pattern. Every time I crocheted it, it looked like a Gilligan hat. I was going for a cloche. So I set it aside in frustration and ignored it, and thought "that'el teach it."
Last week for the third (or maybe fourth) time I thought I'd try again. I double and triple checked my yarn, my hook and the pattern and guess WHAT!!.... another stinkin' Gilligan hat. No cute little brim, that is supposed to just come to the top of my eyes just a a hat with an absurd brim waiting to jump ship.

So, what's a girl to do? Try and make her own pattern, thats what.

I took some things that I liked from the boughten pattern, checked youtube for other suggestions, checked the internet for more suggestions and came up with this.

( by the way, not a fan of selfies, can you tell)

Its not perfect and still needs tweaking, but I finally feel closer to what I was looking for. So here's what I'm hoping to do, get it to where I really, really like it, and then share the pattern with you!

So you also may be wondering why not just find another pattern? It's because I can't seem to find one like this. 

I'm kind of picky and sometimes picky can be a good thing or bad thing. I haven't decided which one this is yet. :)

Hello January!

I'm finding it hard to believe that Christmas was just a couple of weeks ago, and how when January comes along, everything feels new and fresh to me. Regardless how people say "its just a change of a calender, and nothing has really changed"in my mind it has and I'll go with that.
With that in mind, at the end of last year, I made the decision to only make my clothes from now on, and my fabric can only be sourced from what I already have, thrift stores, or a responsible manufacturer. This isn't by any means a resolution, it is something I want to change in my life.

Last year I began my search for old patterns to sew a new wardrobe, and boy am I liking this. Not only and I finding some very cool patterns, but I found myself being drawn to certain eras.

I'm a big fan of the 50's, but 40's and 30's are sneaking in there too. I thought I'd like the 60's, and although its ok....it's just not enough pizazz... I think?

 Take this dress, its a 1960's pattern.

I just wasn't feeling the love after I made it, but I'd like to try making it again in another fabric and see how I feel then.

I am however lovin' my hat, and the pretty little ice crystals stuck to the tree.

The hat is a secondhand find as is the necklace and the shoes.:)

Goodbye 2013

I don't think that there is one person out there, that on this day, doesn't look back on the entire past year.

From a personal point of view it was a roller coaster year, from husband having no job, to be taken miles and miles from home for a month (blah), to new a new baby, and a first plane ride.

From crafty point of view, lots of less crafting due to what I like to call crochetingitis, which in the end effects all things. Looking back the only thing that I really liked that I made was the stocking.

Looking ahead to 2014, I'm giving myself a challenge. How to Live More with Less. (Yes there is a book by the same title and its a very good book I might add)  My hope is to inspire you to think differently about things from crafts (more tutorials) , to what we put in and on our bodies.( more recipes) And to hopefully see that you can do things to save money, without having to change things you like to do... too much. 

So heres to 2014, and all new challenges! :)

On a Roll

Its that time of year, where I once again take a Pottery Barn Kids creation and make one similar for me. Well really for the newest addition to the family, Jonah.

This was Leah's

And Penelope's

Annnd Jonah's

I think the train is super cute and pays homage to his Great-Great Grandpa who was a train engineer.

Here's the original

I thought maybe I'd have a break next year from making these... but nope. Come April we add another to our family!!!!

For the instructions on how to make these, refer to

Miss Sweet Peas Stocking.

Remember these are merely guidelines, let your imagination run wild and happy sewing! :)

My try at a Great British Bake Off Contestant.

Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry, ( yes that is their real names.) are judges for the Great British Bake Off. I've mentioned the show before here.
While going through some of the recipes at BBC Food, I went directly to Paul Hollywood recipes. You see I'm trying very hard to become a better bread maker, and he seems to be a bread making magician. I've watched the Masterclasses on Youtube and try and listen and follow his technique. I've had success so far.
Today I thought I'd share this one with you its Apricot Couronne. Now the written recipe from the site has a mistake. First the amount of flour is way off. It says 250 grams, it should read 3 cups of flour.
The recipe is also in metric and yes as Canadians we should know this, but I still use the old fashioned way....good old cups, tsp, and tbsp. I'm not sure who tried to convert it, but even thats confusing. So here goes my conversion. Feel free to post any mistakes you find that I missed. Happy Baking :)

* Bakers Note-I did change fruit for more of a Christmas filled Couonne. And I can tell you that it really wasn't that hard to make and it does look impressive (I think) that its a twisted bread.

         

Apricot Couronne.

3 cups white flour
1tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp instant yeast
1/3 cup butter softened
3/4 cup milk
1 egg

Filling
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup dried apricots (this is where I changed my fruit for the season to cherries, and currents)
soaked in Orange Juice (just to cover)
2 tbsp of flour
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 walnuts
zest of one orange.

To finish
1/3 apricot jam
3/4 cup icing sugar
almonds to sprinkle

Preparation method

1. Tip the flour into a large mixing bowl and add the salt to one side of the bowl and the yeast to the other. Add the butter, milk and egg and mix to combine, using your hands. Continue to mix until you’ve picked up all the flour from the sides of the bowl. Use the dough to clean the inside of the bowl and keep going until you have a soft dough.
2. Tip the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and begin to knead. Keep kneading for 10-12 minutes. Work through the initial wet stage until the dough starts to form a soft, smooth skin.
3. When the dough feels smooth and silky, put it into a lightly oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with a tea towel and leave to rise for one hour, or until doubled in size.
4. While the dough is rising, make the filling. Beat the butter and muscovado sugar together until smooth. Drain the apricots and add to the butter mixture along with the flour, raisins, walnuts and orange zest. Mix to combine.
5. Line a baking tray with baking parchment or silicone paper.
6. Turn the risen dough onto a lightly floured surface. Taking care not to knock the air out of it, roll out the dough into a rectangle, approximately 33x25cm/13x10in. Turn the dough 90 degrees if necessary, so you have a long edge facing you. Spread the apricot mixture evenly over the dough. Roll up the dough tightly (like a Swiss roll). Roll it slightly to seal, then cut it in half lengthways (you can leave one end joined to help you twist the dough and form the circular crown).
7. Twist the two dough lengths together to make a rope, then join the ends of the rope to form a circular ‘crown’. Transfer to the baking tray.
8. Put the tray inside a clean plastic bag and leave to prove for 30-45mins, or until the dough springs back quickly if you prod it lightly with your finger. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
9. Bake the couronne for 25-35 minutes, or until risen and golden-brown. Set aside to cool on a wire rack.
10. Gently heat the apricot jam with a splash of water, then sieve it and brush it over the warm loaf to glaze. Mix the icing sugar with enough water to make a thin icing, drizzle over the loaf and sprinkle with the flaked almonds. Leave to cool before serving.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

Midnight....

 Ok so this has nothing to do with Midnight and sometimes I just don't have a title for these posts. But black is involved, so I'm not all crazy.
I am once again finished a project that I started, oh so long ago. So long ago that I can't even find a before picture anywhere. What I can tell you is, that I bought it at Habitat. I know M'lynn and Roger were with me. I know I got a great deal on it, and I know that I really liked it.

It was a tired little piece that needed a little pizzaz. Now I like things painted black however, Isaac does not. After waxing things painted black, it has a tendency to show finger prints and it drives him crazy. Having a clean room.... not so much, but finger prints... go figure. So beware if you ever go this route with black and wax, it needs to be buffed quite a bit.

I like its curvy legs and I decided to leave the knobs as is. I like the contrast, and the fact that they are kind of beat up.

I didn't distress this one either, I'm going to let it continue to grow old gracefully. :)