:Recipes:

Merry Christmas Baby

Nicky22 Comments

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No, you didn’t read wrong — the post title does say “Merry Christmas Baby” and I mean it.   No … I’m not going crazy, I’m just trying to prepare.  With everything going on with me and anticipation of some major events by the end of the year, my goal is to be as thrifty as I can be with regards to gift giving for Christmas this year.   Thrifty but beautiful.  What that means is  that I’m going  to have to do a “Handmade Christmas”.

I’m temporarily postponing my YOP in favour of Christmas production, but I’ll try to make as many items from that list in between my “Santa’s workshop”.

Since I love lists, of course I’ve made a preliminary list of what I’m going to make.  Since no-one in my family’s crafty or even know this blog exists, I’m okay with posting my initial list and updates to the projects.  On my list are:

Adults

Children

  • Om           Windschief
  • Marley     TBD
  • Iza            TBD
  • Jewel       TBD
  • Liv            Bag: Fit To Be Tied
  • Dari          TBD
  • Mal           Boyce Bruin
  • Nick          TBD
  • Nev           TBD
  • Munchkin TBD
  • Maya          Rainbow Scarf for Maia
  • T                TBD

Co-workers

  • Nikki       Gaptastic Cowl
  • V             Spa Package (3 Washcloths and soap made by me)
  • Ruth       Coasters
  • Raya       TBD
  • Ann         TBD

Right now, I’ve listed ideas of what kinds of gifts I want to make.  Some of the adults might end up getting food related gifts like home-made granola, fruit spice cooking oils in pretty bottles, chocolate covered strawberries or chocolate bark, macaroons … stuff like that.   I’ve also been messing around with rope knotting and have found some great inspiration for jewelry making with that craft. 

I’m starting May 1st because I’m a slow knitter and frankly, there’s stuff I’m still learning about knitting.  Crochet goes much faster for me so I might trade out some of the knit projects for some crochet ones.  I’ll see how it goes.

The question most  I got from some of the people I shared this rest of the year long project with is ” what if the recipients don’t appreciate your hard and time consuming work?”  Honestly, I don’t know how to answer that, but I think for the most part, everyone will appreciate what they get.  My family knows that I knit, but they don’t know how much or how far I want to go with this.  I think they’ll be speechless that I actually made the items I intend to gift.

I’m already sourcing the net and local flea markets for creative packaging.  I have more than enough yarn in my stash to do these projects.  Even if I have to purchase yarn, I’m positive that it wouldn’t be that much so I’ll still stay under my $100 budget for everything.

What about you?  Anyone started or plans to start their Christmas gift production anytime soon?

Weekend Happy!

Nicky5 Comments

I love rainy, cosy weekends.  These kinds of weekends where my house is spotless, smelling wonderful from candles and cooking.  These kinds of weekends where my time management is so good, I got all my chores done early.  I was then able to bake and cook then mess around with yarn, hooks and sticks. 

This weekend, the things that made me happy are:

Making home-made granola for the first time.  🙂 

I also made a Jamaican Easter Bun for the first time.  It tastes like one, but it doesn’t look like one (hence the lack of photo evidence :P). I think not doing the sugar syrup glaze for the top is why the top of the loaf looks more rough than smooth.  Next time, I’m also going to lessen the sugar amount and add more stout in the recipe.  I forgot how sweet this treat could be.  But that’s for another weekend.  In the meantime, I can still have “bun and cheese” with what I’ve made.

Continental Knit Stitch

(click for video instructions)

Practicing my continental knit stitch.  I’m struggling, but I’m committed to becoming a more efficient yarn crafter (I’m a super slow throwing knitter) so I’m in it to win it despite wanting the throw my yarn and needles across the room. 😳 😛

Starting my second crochet project — a large stripped  floor cushion. 

I’m having trouble counting, especially on the first row from the foundation chain.  Once I get past that row, it’s pretty easy for me to spot where my hook is supposed to go, but the struggle is all part and parcel of me learning to crochet.  I had to do that first row over twice,  but so far so good.  Once I got past that, I was able to complete the first five rows of that first section quickly.

Any counting tips from the crocheters is greatly appreciated.


Messing around with my camera.  Day 2 of my photography series — working with white balance.  I haven’t gotten it down pat yet, but it has been fun seeing my photos look different.

Movies with a historical backdrop (nevermind the factual inaccuracies 😛 ). 

This weekend … Troy is making me happy although I’m not a Brad Pitt fan.  I’ll take Eric Bana, thank you very much and please.  😛 

Orlando Bloom’s character was such a wuss and so cowardly  … ugghhh … get out of here. Stole somebody’s wife then had to have his brother fight for him.  Seriously dude?!!!

For love of God, family and country … fight, win or die trying.