Anyone else getting ready for the big shopping weekend? I am prepared to brave the cold and the crowds in search of the perfect DVD/VCR player. Mine broke months ago, and after this weekend and all of the dishes I made for my family cookbook I will need to start watching and participating in my Winsor Pilates again.
I also ran out of batteries last night. Ugh! That is always the way it is when you need to take pictures of something. So, batteries are on my shopping list too. I did manage to squeeze in a picture of one of my finished Christmas ornaments.
My little crocheted candy cane was made using PlanetJune's pattern. It was super easy and took about 10 minutes to do. I love all of her patterns, especially the paint set!
I also finished Futuregirl's seahorse ornament, but my batteries died before I got a good picture. I'll post that one next week.
I hope to finish up two of the three remaining handmade Christmas items this weekend too. That will only leave my grandmother's afghan, which I think I'll still be working on in the plane!
To all of you living in the U.S.A., have a Happy Thanksgiving! And to everyone outside the U.S.A., have a nice weekend!
Whew! What a busy week and weekend. I did accomplish quite a bit though.
First, I am happy to write that Drusilla is feeling much better. She and I thank everyone for their get well wishes. And, she is one very happy kitty now that she is back on her old food again. She loves her salmon!
I am still deciding on which pet vacuum to try. I might wait until after Christmas to decide. I really don't want to have to wait in the big Best Buy line on Friday morning at 5:00 a.m. for a stupid vacuum. Now for an iPod, I would!
I did get a little early Christmas shopping done, for family, friends, and myself on Etsy. I got a ton of really cute crochet patterns, several of which I am currently working on. I can't wait to see how they turn out! I'll definitely be posting pictures of them as I finish them. Some I am customizing and they should be pretty funny and cool when they are done.
I am also very happy that I finished a few handmade Christmas presents. One of the items I finished was a crocheted washcloth (I actually crocheted two). They turned out nice, but I have to say that I really hate cotton yarn. I don't know if it is just me, but I can't stand the stuff.
As I was crocheting the washcloths, the strands of cotton kept breaking. Ugh! It was awful. I'll take acrylic yarn over this stuff any day.
I also finished a few really cute ornaments that I'll be posting this week. I found a lot of the patterns on One Pretty Thing. Check it out if you are looking for quick, cute, and cheap handmade gift ideas.
Now that only leaves one toy, my sister's pillow, and my grandmother's afghan to finish. Yikes! Thank goodness there is an NCIS marathon on this week. NCIS always gets me through the tedious crafts!
In shop related news, I have decided to shut my Etsy shop down for a few months, beginning December 11. It is so hard for me to make the crafts for the shop and still have time for my own crafts, plus time for myself. I have a few pretty big projects I want to start in January, two of which are afghans, and I will need a lot of time for those. So, shutting down the shop is really the only option.
I am also working on a craft-a-long, which I think will begin sometime in January. It should be a lot of fun! I am trying to get links and craft ideas pulled together, so anyone who wants to join in can get started on their crafts, early. Look for the info on my blog early December.
I would also love for someone to make a really cool button for my craft-a-long. I'd like to have one that I can post on my blog and let others link to. I have tried to make one for myself, but it just isn't working. I have also contacted a few designers, but have not received any responses. If anyone knows of someone who makes ad buttons, or if you make your own ad buttons, shoot me an email with your cost. I'd really like to have it done by the first week in December. I know that might be asking too much!
Drusilla has been feeling under the weather this week. My poor baby girl!
Back in July, when I took her for her yearly physical, the vet told me that she was putting on a little weight. She said I should change her food to a weight control food. Unfortunately, I think this weight control food has made her susceptible to hairballs.
So, I have decided to take her off of the new food and put her back on her old food, which she likes better anyway, just in smaller serving sizes.
I am also seriously considering getting a pet hair vacuum.
The two I am thinking about are the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser and the Eureka Pet Lover Bagless Upright.
I don't think I'll be posting much this week. I am a busy little bee, trying to finish my family cookbook, Christmas presents, and some special orders from my shop.
I really hate to do this on my blog, but this is the easiest way I could think to get my Christmas list to everyone who has been requesting it, especially with links to the actual items.
So to everyone buying me a Christmas present this year, here it is. And to all of you who are not, here's a glimpse at what I hope to find under my tree this Christmas!
Then Sings My Soul Saturday is a weekly meme that I found while searching through Christian Woman Online. The instructions are to blog about one of my favorite Christian songs, which shouldn't be hard for me. I might write about why I like the song or artist, post the lyrics to the song, link to the song, or, if I can find it, post the video from YouTube.
I would really like to show that Christian music can be just as enjoyable as secular music, so I'll be sure to include a few secular artists that are similar in voice or genre to the Christian artist.
My hope is that you will find at least one of these artists enjoyable and that the song will speak to you in a positive way!
Now for this week's song. . .
I had to start with my absolutely favorite Christian artist, Nichole Nordeman. She is so amazing and her songs are truly inspiring, and she is even more amazing in concert.
My favorite song of hers, hands down, is, To Say Thanks, from her first album, Wide Eyed. It is a my favorite song to listen to when things in my life aren't going the way I think they should be.
To Say Thanks
Hello, Mr. Darkcloud Never thought that we would meet so soon Never thought I’d bundle up in June Funny how the fog rolls Funnier that I’d know who to blame Never thought I’d have to own this pain If all that’s good and true comes from heaven Then what’s a girl to do when it rains?
CHORUS: And I’m sayin’ Why, why, why, why? I’m shakin’ a fist in the dark, and I’m askin’ Why, why, why, why? Why does it keep getting harder To say thanks?
Even fields of flowers Dressing in their best because of You Knowing they are blessed to be in bloom But what about November When the air is cold and wet winds blow Do they understand why they can’t grow?
CHORUS
And I could not pretend to know the difference Between the storms You send and those I find And I'm askin
CHORUS
Similar secular artists include: Sarah McLachlan, Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor, Sara Bareilles, Tori Amos
Sometimes having no money can have its advantages, take this weekend for example. I don't get paid until Monday, so that means no early Christmas shopping or any other kind of shopping for that matter. But, it will give me time to spend indoors, working on my many Christmas craft projects and my family cookbook.
My goal is to have the majority of my handmade items and my cookbook finished by the Steelers game Sunday afternoon, because you know I can't craft and concentrate on the game at the same time. Oh, and I'll be putting up my Christmas tree too! So much for fall crafts.
If you're looking for some handmade Christmas present ideas, swing on by Sew Mama Sew and One Pretty Thing. Both blogs are offering many free handmade patterns and tutorials just in time for Christmas.
I could go on and on about how much I love Etsy, but I figured I'd just show you why I adore it so much.
Isn't the rubber ducky soap so cute? I ordered this and the beach soap, which seriously smells like the beach, from Karen's Soaps. Karen is a local Etsy seller and member of our NCTriangle Street Team. I'm so glad I could support Etsy and a local girl!
Back in early spring, I decided to take on the task of compiling my family recipes. I am still pretty far from being finished, and my December 5 deadline is approaching fast.
I have been using Tastebook.com. It is really pretty cool. You can design your own cover and spine, type in all of the recipe information, and post a picture of the finished dish. Unfortunately, this means I have to make as many dishes as I can by December 5 (minus the beef and pork ones since I don't eat cows or pigs). Yikes!
Well naturally, I decided to go right to the dessert section! So, this past weekend I made two dishes, noodles romanoff, my absolute favorite, and for dessert, my cousin's toffee.
Now, I am going to share with you the toffee recipe, but you must promise you will not be turned off by the ingredients. I swear to you, this stuff tastes really good. My waistline can attest to it!
Toffee
40 saltine crackers
1 cup butter 1 cup dark brown sugar 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate) 3/4 cup chopped pecans (I used walnuts)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Line cookie sheet with tin foil and then with saltine crackers in single layer. In a saucepan combine the sugar and the butter. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. Immediately pour over saltines and spread to cover crackers completely. Bake at 400 degrees F for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Let sit for 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate and top with chopped nuts.
Cool completely in refrigerator (I let it sit overnight) and break into pieces.
Let me know if you give it a try. Believe me, you'll love it!
As you have probably noticed, I have changed my blog banner again.
When I chose the name for my blog, I envisioned as my banner a girl, crafting with a black cat. I have been searching through hundreds of digital scrapbook kits, looking for just the right picture. I didn't find exactly what I was looking for, but I found this one on a doll making site. I tweaked it a little and am pretty happy with the end result, though it does have a dog on the chair and I don't have a dog. Who knows, I might change it again if I find the right one, or maybe I'll get a dog! I don't think so.
As I was searching through many of my favorite blogs this weekend, I was really surprised to find one of my favorite digital scrapbook/craft sites, the Pink Toque had awarded me the Kreativ Blogger award. Cool stuff!
Along with the award, I am to list 7 things that I love and pass it along to 7 bloggers that I believe deserve it. So, here we go. . .
7 Things I Love:
1. Drusilla 2. the Steelers (we will bounce back next week!) 3. crocheting 4. the '80s 5. A1 sauce (I eat it on everything) 6. rain 7. my iPod
Now, onto the 7 bloggers (in alphabetical order) that are so darn kreativ!
Here are some craft ideas for every year and links to help get the creative juices flowing for your '80s crafts. I've also listed the week I'll be covering each year.
I was asked to make a few crafty Christmas tree ornaments this year. I thought it would be easy, but I found so many cute patterns online it was hard to decide which ones I wanted to craft. But, I narrowed it down to four and then one I came up with myself. I am still deciding whether to post them here or not. I know the recipient of these ornaments is probably reading this. :)
Who needs some good news? I know I do! Well, here it is. . . Christmas is only 49 days away!!! This actually might not be good news for some people, but I am very excited.
I spent half of the day at the mall this past Saturday, not on purpose but because I had to get my car fixed. Who knew it took five hours to change a light bulb? Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Christmas music in the stores. I love Christmas music. I think the radio stations should play it all year round.
I am very happy that I am almost completely done buying my Christmas presents; I actually got started in February. Now my handmade gifts, that is another story. I am only about 30% done with all of my crafts. The more I look forward to Christmas, the more I get heart palpitations worrying that these handmade gifts are not going to be finished. Anyone else feel this way?
I figure we can all use a little Christmas music to get us in the Christmas spirit. Plus, it might inspire me to get cracking on my handmade items.
I have decided to join my very first Book Club, via Ravelry. I normally don't like the books that are chosen by book clubs (they are usually pretty bizarre), but this one is right up my alley, 100% Jane Austen novels.
Even though I graduated with a degree in English (British Literature), Jane Austen was never on my must read list. I guess I was too busy reading macabre poetry and literature by Edgar Allen Poe, Edgar Lee Masters, Robert Browning, and William Shakespeare.
Our first novel, Sense and Sensibility, started Saturday, November 1 and runs through the end of January. I have never read the novel, but I have seen the 1995 film version with Emma Thomson, funny that when I took the Jane Austen quiz I actually got Emma Thomson's character. I am really looking forward to diving into Austen's novels and getting back to my love of English literature.
The really cool part of the book club is that we all have to crochet or knit something that coincides with each novel. Some of the items we can stitch are scarves, gloves, socks, and shawls. Whew! That sounds pretty difficult, since I have never crocheted a piece of clothing other than a scarf before. I take that back. Last year I tried to crochet a hat, but it came out looking like a doily! Not cool.
I figure I needed some help on Austenesque crochet projects, so I Googled "Jane Austen crochet". Amazingly enough it came back with a few items that I can try.
The first I found is the Jane Austen Cameo Doily. I've never done filet crochet before, but I figure I can crochet it using a heavier yarn and turn it into a pillow.
The second item is the coolest, the Austen Lace Muffler from Interweave Crochet.
Photo courtesy of Interweave Crochet.com
I am going to have to pick up this magazine at my local AC Moore to get the pattern, but that is okay. This item is something that I would actually use. It doesn't seem to be too difficult, except for maybe the edging, but I am up for the challenge.
There are also so many great Jane Austen blogs & websites where I can get some inspiration:
So those are my two challenges. Thank goodness I finished myCaf-Pow cup cozy or I would be one busy girl these next few months. I'll be sure to post pics when (or if) I get them finished!
My favorite part of participating in blog parties is that I get to see so many different blogs that I never knew existed.
I came across Cupid's Charm during one of these parties last week and saw it was holding a birthday party for Marie Antoinette on November 2. It sounded like so much fun that I had to join in.
Unfortunately, I don't know too much about Marie Antoinette. I do know that she was beheaded, but I think we've had enough of the macabre lately. I also know that she said, "Let them eat cake", so I went with that.
I included a few crocheted pastel macaroons too for fun. Yummy!
So, Happy Birthday Marie Antoinette! You can take a peek at the other crafty birthday items at Cupid's Charm!
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. . . . And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men'."
