shhhh, secret

Today, I tried something new and exciting.

Something I've been waiting all summer to do!

 Something that has limitless possibilities and will drive me crazy with creativity.

But I can't tell you what it is yet.... shhhh. 

 We interrupt this post shrouded in secrecy for this public service announcement...

CLEAN OUT YOUR BOBBIN HOLDER!!

This is from sewing many pairs of mittens in wool and cashmere. 

Lots of dust there.

But really, when's the last time you opened that baby up (without cursing 'cause your thread wasn't working) and gave it some love and oil. Don't forget to give it some oil.

And the deer picture....

Neve came down the stairs for breakfast the other day and stopped mid tread..

we had company..

ciao, 

Amanda

Christmas Stocking a les laines

So last week, when I bought my hill of sweaters, I knew some of them weren't suitable for mittens, or puppets or hot water bottle covers.

What I did know, is that they would be very suitable for Christmas Stockings!

Yes, Stockings!

With that idea in my mind, I went crazy.

Here is my first one.

 I was thinking of different designs to make when a post by Betz White popped up.

They were perfect. And to make it even better, I owned her book, Warm Fuzzies, with the pattern in it.

 I just couldn't stop myself! I'm so pumped to make more, 

but I must make the cashmere linings for my mittens. 

And add a few embellishments to these new babies.

Ciao,

Amanda

Autumn and the bear

Ah, what a lovely Monday so far. 

I'm sitting outside, eating an awesome omelette 

with the left over roasted veggies from last nights dinner fried into it. 

Yummo!

 The crickets are chirping, the birds are singing. 

There are 3 female and one male cardinal flitting about the bird feeder.

Yesterday, we started to prepare for autumn.

The winter wood that was dumped at the end of the driveway back in the summer is being moved to the winter resting place. 

 The garlic bed has been tilled for this year's planting.

We've been enjoying just picking what we need for our meal. 

Soon, we will have to harvest all the potatoes and the 1 million green pumpkins that are growing and taking over the garden.

Oo, the woodpecker has taken up the bird feeder. Noisy things aren't they.

The angle of the sun has changed and the shadows are much deeper. 

The sun gives warmth in the lea of the house.

 Yes, autumn is a comin'. Best to embrace it. 

After all, it is my favourite season.

It is also the season to think of new products for my wares.

Here's the first ...

Bear finger puppets. 

Which eyes do you like better? Vs or tents?

Here's my piggie

 

Love my owl and it's ribbon belly

 And the sad/worried elephant. Is it too emotional?

So, I've finished my omelette, my tea is cold. 

Time to head inside and make more things!

Hope it's a good day where you are.

Cheers,

Amanda

Finger Puppets have been found!

Oh wait, you didn't know that did you?
I think I put that on my face book page.
Anyhow, they were on the cd player in the children's room! Go figure.
Now I can take some pictures of my new bear finger puppet.

And in even more exciting news..

MORE SWEATERS!!

 A hill of them in fact.

Last night, we took a trip into the city to see Holly Cole

Now that lady is an entertainer and an amazing musician.

What a voice.

But back to the story of sweaters....

A quick trip to 2 Value Villages.

The first bought some passable sweaters, not terribly exciting, but will work in combination with others.

Then the 2nd store... well, the men's section did not disappoint!

This sweater is special. It was shrunken when I bought it, but when I felted it at home, well....

It's mini.

It's so tight, it stands up on it's own.

 This is not mitten material! There is no stretch.

So... I'm asking you for your consideration....

What should I make with it?

Purse

Cushion Cover

iPad cover

Christmas Stocking

Other ideas?

I will leave it up to you. Or what ever my whim decides when it's time to cut it up.

Cheers,

Amanda

POPCORN!!! on the cob.

Popcorn is a pretty regular treat around here.

Popped on the stove kinda popcorn.

 My husband makes the best. 

You don't even need to put butter on it. It's that good. 

We decided to take a chance on this one. You know, in case he isn't around.

 I set the timer for 2 minutes, 40 seconds.

 mmm, I'm thinking I may have stopped it a little early.

  I didn't use the whole 40 seconds.

Isn't it so cool?

 4 hungry hands and mine were all over it.

 Butter and salt recommended.

I figure we can try popping the rest another time.

 It was a hit and hit the spot before these guys hit the road again.

 It was Pink Shirt Day here today. It was so cool to see so many pink shirts on the playground, coming off the bus, around the stores.

And how can I leave without another picture of this?

Have a good one.

Amanda

September already?

I know, I know, I'm a little late with the acknowledgement of the whole back to school thing.

We've been busy. yada yada yada. Same ole story.

So here's the obligatory, 2nd day of school picture. We missed the 1st day of school picture. 

It was rainy and gloomy, we were late for the bus.

Grade 4 and Grade 2!!

That was last week. But this week.... this week, is all mine!

No bottling. 

No grocery shopping (hubby did a big shop with the kids in tow yesterday. Yay)

So this week, it's all about sewing, singing and pickling.

Some time ago, I misplaced my finger puppet patterns. 

Today was the day to redo them.

I only had 2 puppets left to measure them.

Thank goodness for this photo keeper of blog land. It was a lot easier to make them with actual photographs. There may be a new one in there too. Can you spot it?

 Somewhere a long the line, I bought this new book on one of my many trips to Halifax this summer.

 I have the first in the series, and I must say, this book is just as fabulous and more!

Such different things to make. I've bookmarked a ton.

This project is the Tuffet.

Yes, a tuffet. Like what Miss Muffet sat upon.

 I decided to make an innard and a liner.

It is filled with bags of sweater scraps from last year's mitten making frenzy.

I was saving all those scraps all year to make such a thing.

 I made the liner out of denim. Sewed it up, but for one side. Couldn't fit the tuffet inside! DUH.

So I opened another side and put velcro on it. You can see it on the bottom left hand side.

 Can I tell you how easy it is to make! 

Just 2 squares. 

But the neatest thing is how it's put together to get those points. 

This is the size it is. I also use it as a foot stool. 

Will be handy in the winter to keep my feet off the cold floor.

 Much honoured that these critters have come back. Saw them again today.

 Thanks for coming back. I should be in a better place for a sewing routine.

 And besides, it's cooler = mitten season!

Expect more soon!

Cheers,

Amanda

Profiteroles, cream puffs, really good, whatever you wanna call 'em

Last week, our Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club hosted a fundraiser for the  Sailing Academy. 

Our kids have been in the summer sailing lessons and Rafael has a keen interest in it. He LOVES it and talks about it constantly. Not so sure his crew is so excited, he dumps at least once a day.  But as his dad says, "if you don't dump, you're not trying hard enough" But I digress.... back to the post at hand....

The fundraiser was the annual lasagna dinner and cake auction. 

I've had this idea in my mind since last year's auction, but being new here, didn't have it together enough to make it. This year... I was ready.

(Just a little sample. As was noted by the auctioneer.. this year's theme was "Cake with a hole in it""

I have a cake pop maker and imagined a pyramid of cake pops... what kind? Couldn't decide. 

Instead, I made cream puffs. Have you made them before? It is sooooo easy!

 This recipe comes from an old Robin Hood Flour recipe book my late mother in law baked from.

1/4 c shortening and 1 c of water heated until shortening melts.

 mix 1/4 tsp salt in 1 c flour and dump into the wet mixture above. 

Stir until you get a paste.

 Remove from the pot and let cool slightly. 

Adding one egg at a time, mix after each egg for up to 4 eggs.

 You will get a bit of a runny consistency.

 On a greased or parchment paper lined cookie sheet, drop the dough onto the sheet.

I made 4 different sizes. I think these ones are from a 1.5 tsp. I made 1 tsp, 1/2 tsp and 1/4 tsp drops.
They temperature setting was 425 for 10 minutes, then 350 for 15, but it was too long.
After a few batches, I just did 375 for about 10-15 minutes.
My oven isn't the greatest. Play around on your own.

When they cooled, I sliced them half way and filled with whipped cream. It was warm out that day, so I put a little icing sugar in the cream before I mixed it. I also added some vanilla extract.

The chocolate glaze is a donut glaze from Alton Brown

So.. I dipped the bottom of the puff into the chocolate glaze and made a sorta pyramid shape. 

Once again, the auctioneer had his own names for things and this was lovingly named

Amanda's Volcano!

Not quite the effect I was going for, but killing it with powdered sugar can make anything look good! 

 It survived the heat and was bought up for $70! 

I was even complimented on how good they were. Phew!

As this is a fundraiser for our wonderful sailing program, people come prepared to spend.

This baby earned a cool $110!

All in good fun.

So friends, next time I'm invited to a pot luck.. expect these!

Now, what to make for next year.... hmmmm.

Ciao,

Amanda