This weekend my project is a baby shower for my younger sister. She is having her 4th baby, a little boy. Er, not little exactly, he's looking like a big fella, but you know what I mean.
The shower will be a small affair and mostly about Mom-to-be instead of the bundle of joy. 4 of the 7 guests are diabetic, so the refreshments required a little more thought. Green onion roll ups, sugar free coffee and tea, a vegetable platter are on the list, plus a cake that is in no way sugar free. :) Hey, I have to have a cake!
The cake is going to e home baked, devils food and classic white cake marbled together with a home made buttercream frosting and topped with raspberries and mint leaves as well as decorated around the edges with miniature chocolate flowers... you guessed it, I'm making those, too.
The coffee is a recipe similar to the coffee I had at a wedding years ago. It was soooo delicious that I had to ask what was in it. Caramel flavoring, coffee, and cream. i thought, 'that's it!?'
The key was the coffee preparation, it was cold brewed. this is basically putting coarse grounds into a large stainless steel bowl and mixing cold water into them. the recipe I used called for 2 cups water for 1/5 of a pound of coffee. Let it steep for 12 hours and then strain the grounds out. Relax, I know it sound expensive for how little coffee you get, but it makes something of a coffee concentrate that is then mixed with ice, cream, flavors, etc. For $7-$8 you get a full pound of coffee, another $2-$3 and you can buy heavy cream, half and half, or even skim milk for the fat conscious.Add a flavored syrup or simpler still -- get flavored coffee beans.
I'm finishing up all the details today - prepping any food that I can, baking cake, brewing coffee, chopping veggies, and so on. Since he shower site is 3 hours drive away, the food will be installed in a cooler in the back of the van.
I'm also making a shower gift as well as a prize for one of the games. I am right on schedule with all of the details, how did that happen?
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Handmade RAK from a Ravelry group
I got one of the items on my wish list for August... and I adore it. It's beautiful! i don't knit well enough to make it myself but I kept going back to the pattern so I made it one of my wishlist items.
Isn't it lovely? I put it on before I even read the card that came with it and I didn't want to take it off when I went to bed.
Thank you so much Triega!
I love this pattern!
So I talked about Dot's Little Ditty bag, a crochet pattern for a mini purse. I have made 4 of them now an all of them took me roughly an hour.. a few minutes less once I memorized it. Which, my fellow hookers, is EASY with this particular pattern.
I have been tempted to make so many additions or changes to it because the bag is basic, like a canvas waiting to be painted. I controlled myself. Mostly. The handle was too small for me, I have giant wrists and hands. So I extended the chain for the handle from 30 ch to 45 ch. It was just right. I even tested it out and it fits my full wallet, a bottle of eye drops and a chap stick. I'm sure I could have fit my keys in as well, but I wasn't driving. :)
I've loved this pattern for stash busting, it's a great gift (or gift bag) and it could be even nicer with stripes, an accent edging, a spray of flowers, a cute smiley face, buttons... etc. I could go on forever. Make it taller and it's a great wine bag, make the base circle bigger and then adjust the height to match and it could be a beautiful laptop case, book bag, or beach tote.
See what I mean? I controlled myself.
I also made a rippled cosmetics bag. Not as thrilled with this style but it ended up looking sort of like a flower and I think it would be perfect for one of my nieces to store her pretties.
I made my oldest niece a scarf and soon, a matching hat. Can you believe the gorgeous wool you can find at a thrift shop for $2? i got 4 balls of it, all for that price. Back to the scarf! It's my favorite crochet pattern for scarves and I found it at crochetme.com under the quirky title Zen and the Art of Stash Diving.
It's the most amazing thing I think I've made. No matter what yarn I use, it works. It can be any length or width or color or texture. It's FAST, too. I whipped one up while I was in labor, as a distraction. I think I'll always feel a bond to this pattern :)
Last but surely not least, I made a pair of slippers from a pattern in Simple Crochet for Cherished Babies. It's supposed to have a ribbon through the eyelets on the cuff, but I haven't gotten there yet. Mostly because I hate sealing the edges, that's a pain. But they're worth it, don't you think?
I have been tempted to make so many additions or changes to it because the bag is basic, like a canvas waiting to be painted. I controlled myself. Mostly. The handle was too small for me, I have giant wrists and hands. So I extended the chain for the handle from 30 ch to 45 ch. It was just right. I even tested it out and it fits my full wallet, a bottle of eye drops and a chap stick. I'm sure I could have fit my keys in as well, but I wasn't driving. :)
I've loved this pattern for stash busting, it's a great gift (or gift bag) and it could be even nicer with stripes, an accent edging, a spray of flowers, a cute smiley face, buttons... etc. I could go on forever. Make it taller and it's a great wine bag, make the base circle bigger and then adjust the height to match and it could be a beautiful laptop case, book bag, or beach tote.
See what I mean? I controlled myself.
I also made a rippled cosmetics bag. Not as thrilled with this style but it ended up looking sort of like a flower and I think it would be perfect for one of my nieces to store her pretties.
I made my oldest niece a scarf and soon, a matching hat. Can you believe the gorgeous wool you can find at a thrift shop for $2? i got 4 balls of it, all for that price. Back to the scarf! It's my favorite crochet pattern for scarves and I found it at crochetme.com under the quirky title Zen and the Art of Stash Diving.
It's the most amazing thing I think I've made. No matter what yarn I use, it works. It can be any length or width or color or texture. It's FAST, too. I whipped one up while I was in labor, as a distraction. I think I'll always feel a bond to this pattern :)
Last but surely not least, I made a pair of slippers from a pattern in Simple Crochet for Cherished Babies. It's supposed to have a ribbon through the eyelets on the cuff, but I haven't gotten there yet. Mostly because I hate sealing the edges, that's a pain. But they're worth it, don't you think?
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Dot's Bag
I love Dot's patterns and yet somehow missed a cute, simple little bag on crochet. Of course, once I saw the pattern I had to try it out. She named it Dot's Little Ditty bag. It took me under and hour to make and it's about 5 inches tall and the handle is the perfect size for my nieces. Since I have 6 nieces, simple, fast and cute are essential. I'm thinking I could fill these little purses with some presents like nail polish, jewelry, and candy... top with a pretty bow and voila` a great gift.
Thank you to Dee for bringing this purse to my attention. I am making several others soon. I love trying out patterns, don't you?
Thank you to Dee for bringing this purse to my attention. I am making several others soon. I love trying out patterns, don't you?
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Ravelry Swaps
As a member of Ravelry, I've been a bit of a slacker. I didn't take easily to the way the forums and groups were set up and I never made much effort. When I finally did devout a little time to it, I found a few groups I am really loving.
I joined the Traveling Creature Laboratory and then once all the details were worked out in regards to shipping and send-off dates, of course I had a snag in Paypal. It took me a week longer than it was supposed to for me to send the body off, but I did it! I am so excited to get a body in the mail so I can add a head.
The other I have recently joined was French Press Cozy swap. I made a cozy tonight but I am not really pleased with it. I'm starting another and crossing my fingers that it has a little more UMPH than the lack-luster first cozy.
My Paradise Skirt didn't make it. I got about 8 inches into it and ran out of cotton. Too bad about that, it was really a lovely pattern but I didn't have any cotton that would look good with the salmon color. I think I'll make one in a thicker yarn for the fall, I was given a bunch (and by that I mean two giant black garbage bags full) of acrylics. I think that they would work beautifully for a skirt or even dress for the cooler weather.
The salmon cotton has begun a new life as a light top instead. It's a create-as-I-go pattern, starting with a raglan style neck, ruffled short sleeve, and a shell pattern down the body. I'm using a smaller hook and though it looks nicer with a C hook instead of an F, I am worried I might have too little yarn again.
I joined the Traveling Creature Laboratory and then once all the details were worked out in regards to shipping and send-off dates, of course I had a snag in Paypal. It took me a week longer than it was supposed to for me to send the body off, but I did it! I am so excited to get a body in the mail so I can add a head.
The other I have recently joined was French Press Cozy swap. I made a cozy tonight but I am not really pleased with it. I'm starting another and crossing my fingers that it has a little more UMPH than the lack-luster first cozy.
My Paradise Skirt didn't make it. I got about 8 inches into it and ran out of cotton. Too bad about that, it was really a lovely pattern but I didn't have any cotton that would look good with the salmon color. I think I'll make one in a thicker yarn for the fall, I was given a bunch (and by that I mean two giant black garbage bags full) of acrylics. I think that they would work beautifully for a skirt or even dress for the cooler weather.
The salmon cotton has begun a new life as a light top instead. It's a create-as-I-go pattern, starting with a raglan style neck, ruffled short sleeve, and a shell pattern down the body. I'm using a smaller hook and though it looks nicer with a C hook instead of an F, I am worried I might have too little yarn again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
