After sorting through some bags of goodies that have been stashed away for ages, I came across these little gems that I got in India. I cant wait to use these and create some beautiful fabric.F
SundaySwatching
I spent my morning finishing up this lovely swatch of Madeline Tosh’s Tosh Sport in a sunny colorway called Gilded. Its bright like a marigold and its just so pretty! I love the subtle variegation from pale gold to deep ochre. Such a nice way to spend a Sunday morning.
-M.
Sybil Fingerless Mitts
Today, October 1st is Reset day!
Today, October 1st is our Reset day! Marie and I have been chatting for a while about getting our butts into gear and blogging again. We have had many good intentions of doing so over the past few months, but we all know where good intentions lead you.
So today, we reset not only our blog, but also, for me personally my eating and exercise habits and my outlook in general. It’s about finding some new energy to get us through the dark days of winter. And creativity in passions old and new. Getting out of a funk and making some changes.
F.
Throw
Autumn Leaves just in time for Spring
Hello all! I’m excited to bring you the final Autumn Leaves Scarflette pattern. As you may remember it was my very first ever attempt at writing and publishing a knitting pattern and there were some inevitable mistakes in it. I recently got myself a brand new Macbook and I have been able to revisit it and re-knit the pattern to iron out the kinks. As much as I liked that big bone button on the initial version it was completely impractical. It was heavy and would topple over at the slightest movement. A better solution is to use the 5 yarn overs along one edge as buttonholes and then place 5 corresponding tiny buttons on the opposite side. Very pretty and useful! I found a stash of vintage buttons and covered them in some very pretty fabric.
Here’s the link to the PDF download. Please let me know what you guys think! Skip ahead to see some pictures of the fabric covered buttons.
I found a bag in someone’s garbage one day and it was filled with 1950′s notions. among them were these diamond shaped button forms that you cover with your own fabric. Very clever design.
You cut out the little circle template that was on the card of buttons, and cut out 5 circles of fabric. Then you place them over the button front and poke the edges behind and over the little metal teeth that catch and hold it.
Then you use a nail file or the blade of your scissors to poke the edges into the groove along the corners to make it neat.
Then you just pop on the little metal back plate that clips onto place. SOOOO easy! And so fast.
Now, get to knittin!
Remember the ‘Closet of Doom’?
Eeek. I know. I wasn’t using my closet to hang my clothes, so much as to cram odds and ends out of sight. For months I planned it out in my head and talked about fixing it up. A few weekends ago I decided to put my money where my mouth was and finally finish the job.
I went Home Depot and got a gallon of a very pretty pale robin’s egg blue paint from the Martha Stewart paint line.
In case you like it the name is Enamelware and the number is MSL116. Aqua is one of my very favorite colors, and I wanted to make a nice fun pop of color inside the closet when the doors were opened. I started by pulling everything out and washing down the walls, filling in holes with spackle and sanding it down. The walls are old plaster so there was a lot of mending to be done.
I gave everything two coats of paint and even before I put everything back in it looked so pretty. That blue is such a cheerful happy color. I love it.
Sorry for the blurry picture, but you get the idea. Its soooooooo much better! I know where everything is, and nothing is wrinkled and horrible looking. It is so worth the $20 in paint and the few hours it took to do. I hope this inspires you to get in the spirit and get a spring cleaning project done. It feels great to make a positive change.
We Missed You!
Hello everyone! I know its been a long time since we’ve posted, and for that I apologise. The busy holidays took over our lives and then we fell out of habit with blogging. One major issue for me was that my old hand-me-down computer was on its last legs. Happily, after saving my pennies and with the help of my tax refund I got a shiny new MacBook last Friday and I am really excited to be back on track. With this new computer I will be able to publish knitting patterns with ease, edit pictures and blog blog blog! I am going to republish the Falling Leaves (long overdue with corrections!) Scarflette, Wren Cowl and several other patterns that I have been writing and test knitting. I really am excited.
Yesterday I took a trip to the top of Manhattan to see the medival museum the Cloisters. Spring is certainly springing in the North East, there are bits of green pushing out of the black earth, buds are swelling on the trees. But its been cold. Soooo cold. So here’s proof that winter won’t last forever. Even though it feels like it!
So don’t be distressed my dears! Even though we’re still wrapped in winter coats and hats, just look around you for the little signs of spring. Its coming, though slowly, we just need a little more patience.
The Most Sublime Gingerbread, Evah.
Don’t you just love Nigella?
Don’t you just love Nigella? Well I have another reason why you should, as if we needed one more reason. It is within the pages of this book:
Its my go-to baking book. Everything I have ever made from it has been wonderful. On page 236 is a deceptively simple sounding recipe for gingerbread. Florrie was making this last Christmas and raved about it, she served it with creme fraiche ice cream… oh my, sounds like heaven. I only made it myself this past Thanksgiving. I needed to bring a few things to my boyfriend’s mum’s house and I wanted to bring a dessert. This gingerbread is cake-like, moist and possibly the most tender cake I have ever eaten. Its dark and delicious.
I was a little skeptical about the lemon glaze… but it really makes the cake! We’re doing a charity bake-sale at work next week, and I plan on making this recipe as mini loaves to sell. I will have to exercise a lot of self-control not to gobble it all up myself! -m
My Blueberry Teapot
I got this teapot when I lived in Buffalo in the mid nineties. It was my very first teapot and it instantly caught my eye. I was walking down Elmwood Avenue past this little dress shop and it was sitting in the window, waving at me. I love everything about it. Its small, about 16oz, so its perfect to make a pot for just me or just me and a friend.
I walked right in to the dress shop and bought the pot on the spot. I asked the sales lady if there was a matching creamer and sugar bowl, she said yes, but they weren’t in stock but that she would order it for me. I checked back every week for about 3 weeks but it seems that she was a bit of a dingbat and kept forgetting to order it. Finally I came back a couple of weeks later and they were there! Believe it or not she gave me the creamer for free since I had waited so long and didn’t flip out over her dingbattedness. :O) How nice!
Today its keeping me company as I write and re knit (for the fifth time!) my pattern for a knitted coin purse. I love it when the weather turns cool and I can spend a cozy day inside with good movies, my blueberry teapot and a knitting project. The only thing that would make it better, for me, is if it was grey and a bit rainy. Ooo, or SNOWY! I adore the snow. But if it were snowing I would feel the urge to bake some cookies… mmmm cookies. I have been in the mood for gingerbread lately.
For now I’ll settle for some tea. The stamp on the bottom of the pot says April Cornell, with a long string of numbers. I have tried googling the designer before to see if there are any other pieces, but I have never come across the elusive blueberry teapot. Wouldn’t some blueberry teacups be darling? Hope you are having a nice cozy weekend too. Cheers! -m
Halloween at The Croakery
Halloween was rather crazy up here in the woods. The Tiny Terror hosted a party, need I say more. Everyone got into the spirit and dressed up including the adults, there were games, crafts and a scavenger hunt! A spooky good time was had by all.
A flying ghost greets the guests
Tiny Terror is a dab hand at crafts
The worlds cutest bat, doing a final walk through before the guests arrive
After 20 minutes TTT was ready to change out of his costume, I’m so glad I spent so much time making it!
Witch (Grammy) & Slice of pizza (GG)
Doofenshmirtz and A Spider
My spider babies making their way down from the nest
A part wouldn't be complete without a cake or two
Another party, another costume
He must be my son. In true Florrie fashion, The Tiny Terror decided that he need a different costume for his pre school party. f
My Pretty New Baby
Let me tell you about how I was an extremely lucky girl! My job sells Le Creuset pots, and for years I have coveted one, but as I’m sure you are well aware they are quite an investment. I love the Carribean Blue color especially, but my store only stocks the Cobalt Blue.
Once a year we get an employee appreciation extra discount, but we aren’t allowed to buy anything that requires a special order; for example a Le Creuset pot in a non-stock color. We had a few in stock in the size I wanted so I said to myself, “Self, just have a look at the Cobalt and maybe you’ll like it enough to get over the fact that you can’t order the color you want.”
I cracked open the orange box that was labeled Cobalt Blue and LO AND BEHOLD, when I flipped the lid around the ocean was shining up at me. It was a MISPICK! Some soul in France was distracted momentarily and a Carribean Blue pot was slipped into a box labeled Cobalt Blue, it was shipped to NYC and it was meant to be mine! I was able to buy it with my extra discount and I took that gorgeous beauty home and now it lives on my cooker in its rightful place of honor. :O) I’m the happiest girl in the world today. -m
