Saturday, January 15, 2011

German Cream of Vegetable Soup

German Cream of Vegetable Soup recipe came from Food Com
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It's the week end and I still have to work both days so, I have made a wonderful pot of vegetable soup that way I can just come home and spend my time knitting or crocheting. I did go to a garage sale earlier this morning and found a few really neat things I would love to share if I had a camera that I knew how to work. In time I will get it all together and have more of my own pictures to share. Till then, enjoy your week end and  if you will sign the comment section if you like, I will be around visiting all my blogger friends real soon :)
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Just a Thought
“Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.”

Friday, January 14, 2011

Alpaca - Hooded Cowl (crochet)

MATERIALS
Bernat® Alpaca
(100 g/3.5 oz; 110 m/120 yds)
#93310 (Plum) 4 balls
Size 8 mm (U.S. L or 11) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.
GAUGE
9½ sts and 12 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] in pat.
ABBREVIATIONS
www.bernat.com/glossary
INSTRUCTIONS
Ch 70 loosely. Join with sl st to first ch to form a ring, taking care not to twist chain.
1st rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in each ch around. Join with sl st to first ch.
2nd rnd: Ch 1. *1 sc in next sc. 1 dc in next sc. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc.
3rd rnd: Ch 3 (counts as dc). *1 sc in next dc. 1 dc in next sc. Rep from * to last dc. 1 sc in last dc. Join with sl st to top of ch 3.
4th rnd: Ch 1. *1 sc in next dc. 1 dc in next sc. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc.
Rep last 2 rnds for pat until work from beg measures 26 ins [66 cm]. Fasten off.
MEASUREMENTSApprox 29 ins [73.5 cm] around x 26 ins [66 cm] long
Pattern from Bernat Patterns freePatterns

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Big Herringbone Cowl

This winter New York City streets are filled with people who have learned the secret of keeping warm. They are all wrapped up in the big soft folds of the oversized cowl. A long loop that you twist and double around your neck, it's definitely a glamorous touch in a what can otherwise be pretty frumpy season. Don't you love when fashion and function meet in such happy harmony?
The Purl Bee pattern can be found here   Enjoy :)

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Homemade Roasted or Raw Almond Milk


What You Need:
almonds
glass jar
blender
Almond milk is a tasty ingredient used in recipes and also as a beverage. Learn how to make almond milk at home with this easy recipe.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 15 minutes
Here's How:
Place 1 cup freshly roasted almonds in a glass jar.
Cover with 4 cups water.
Tightly close the jar.
Refrigerate for 1 day or no more than 2 days.
Pour into blender and blend until smooth.
Strain liquid from pulp through cheesecloth, applying pressure to squeeze out all liquid.
Retain the almond paste pulp for other uses.
Tips:
Use almond milk in recipes or as a delicious drink by itself or with a little honey and vanilla.
The almond paste pulp can be used to top cereal, vegetables, or rice.
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Raw Almond Milk

Ingredients:
1 cup raw almonds
water for soaking nuts
3 cups water
2 dates (optional)
1/2 tsp vanilla (optional)
Preparation:
Soak the almonds in water overnight or for at least 6 hours.
Drain the water from the almonds and discard. Blend the 3 cups of water, almonds and dates until well blended and almost smooth.
Strain the blended almond mixture using a cheesecloth or other strainer.
Homemade raw almond milk will keep well in the refrigerator for three or four days.

Cupcake Potholders

These cupcake patterns are making me hungry. I'll have to post some really good cupcake recipes. Banana Cream sounds good to me or maybe Lemon Cream, yum. Pattern also come from Bitter Sweet
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Cupcake Potholders
Cake (Make 4):
With an F hook and brown or tan worsted weight cotton yarn, ch 25
Row 1: (WS) dc in second ch from hook, dc in next 4 chs, sc in remaining chs. Ch1, turn (24sc)
Row 2: (RS) sc in each st across. Ch1, turn
Row 3: Working in back loops only, dc in next 5 sts, sc in remaining sts.  Ch1, turn
Rows 4-27: repeat rows 2 and 3.
Tie off.
Frosting:
Row 1: With frosting color and RS facing, attach yarn with a sc to the widest edge – right corner. Evenly space 34 sc total along the top edge. Ch1, turn. (34)
Row 2: Sc twice into one st, sc until the last st, sc twice into one.  Ch1, turn. (36)
Row 3: Sc twice into one st, sc until the last st, sc twice into one.  Ch1, turn. (38)
Row 4: Sc twice into one st, sc until the last st, sc twice into one.  Ch1, turn. (40)
Rows 5 – 8: Sc across. Ch1, turn
Row 9: Sc2tog twice, sc until the last 4 sts, sc2tog twice. Ch1, turn. (36)
Row 10: Sc2tog, sc until last 2 sts, sc2tog. Ch1, turn. (34)
Rows 11 and 12: Sc2tog twice, sc until the last 4 sts, sc2tog twice. Ch1, turn. (26)
Rows 13 – 16: Sc2tog, sc until last 2 sts, sc2tog. Ch1, turn. (18)
Row 17 and 18: Sc2tog twice, sc until the last 4 sts, sc2tog twice. Ch1, turn. (10)
Row 19: Sl st 4 times, switch to red yarn, and begin the cherry
Row 20: Ch 12, sl st into the next open st in the frosting. Ch1, turn. (12)
Row 21: Hdc into each st. Sl st back into the frosting. Tie off, and bury the ends of the yarn.
Repeat with all four cake pieces.
To assemble, sew two sides together using a whip stitch around.  Repeat with the other two sides.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Kimber's Blankie

  

Well finally a pic of my crocheting, A single crochet Blankie for my Little Kimber. Well actually she's not so little 30 something and it's for her now big bed but she will always be my Little Kimber :) It was made from years of left over stash from other projects.

I still have loads of left over yarn .
I think one of the next things I will make with it is the little cupcakes below.


I am also working on a knitted shawl made with some really colorful Noro Kureyon that my sister gifted me awhile back should have pics of that soon.



Simplify, and Savor Life

‘The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.’ ~Thich Nhat Hanh   Zen Habits

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Bake Me a Cake

One more really cute pattern I found today. I am going to make these as pin cushions.
 I think they would make cute gifts for my friends that sew and me :)
Pattern can be found at
She also has a really cute Cupcake pot holder pattern

Cake:
With brown worsted weight yarn and an F hook, sc6 in a circle
Sc twice into each st (12 sts)
Sc1, sc twice into next st* around (18 sts)
Sc2, sc twice into next st* around (24 sts)
Sc into back loops of each st
Sc around
Sc11, sc twice into next st* around (26)
Sc6, sc twice into next st, sc12, sc twice into next st, sc6 (28)
Sc13, sc twice into next st* around (30)
Sc around
Break yarn
Frosting:
Sc6 in a circle
Sc twice into each st (12 sts)
Sc1, sc twice into next st* around (18 sts)
Sc2, sc twice into next st* around (24 sts)
Sc around
Sc3, sc twice into next st* around (30 sts)
Sc around for 3 rounds
Skip one st, 5 dc into next st, skip one st, sl st* around
Break yarn, leaving a long tail to sew with
To assemble, simply sew bugle beads or embroider multicolored “sprinkles” on top of the frosting as desired, stuff, and sew the cake to the edge of the frosting just inside of the scalloped edge.

fabric flowers

These are so cute , the possibilities of what you can make with them are endless.
Instructions by Alisa are Here
Over at Craft Recipes they made some really cute headbands .
More instructions for cute fabric flowers can be found HERE