Coffee, Crochet, and Food

Its been back to work for me these past few months...pattern writing which I absolutely dread...back to work part time at preschool which leaves me exhausted and sick for the past 2 months and as well getting back into teaching Yoga a few days a week as well. Getting back into the game I am...but below is a bunch of good happenings take a look...

 I am going to be featured on the UK craft blog Cut Out & Keep as one of there Super Stars featuring my crochet patterns. I'm really excited about it and will let you know when it is scheduled to post. Thar is my daughter in the Spring Meadow cowl and finger less gloves. Don't they just scream of Spring!!! Everyday a new pattern will be released. This week I am featured...so make sure you go and have a look!

The food...Well I wasn't cooking and blogging as much as I used to to and one day the itch just came back...My Mom and I love Raisin Tea biscuits. We used to get them from an Italian Bakery when I was young and NO!... they are not an Italian specialty but however they were the best and that bakery is now long gone. So I went a searching  and found this recipe. Very good and close. I swear though the ones I remember had cornmeal or semolina flour in them. The massive Chocolate looking thing in the cast iron pan. That is me trying to recreate a Chocolate Coffee scone form my favorite Cafe in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia La Colombe. I got really close too!! But my texture is slightly off but not much. I also made a Chocolate Moose for a dinner party we attended. I must say not only was it pretty simple but really delicious!Its definitely a must try!

I painted my window seat in my bedroom with Annie Sloan Chalk paint. Years of sun damage just ruined the original finish. I used Old Ochre and then used the dark wax over it. I love the fact that you don't have to do any prep work or stripping you just go and paint.

Its a rainy Spring day here and I am eager to get cozy on the couch with some tea and finish my next design. 

Be well,

Ming

Making... Making... Making...

It's been a few months of making for friends, family and a craft fair that was an "Epic fail" as my eight year old would say...I sold a pair of gloves ..one pair!!

Well as Evita Peron would say ..."Don't cry for me Argentina" It was fun prepping and being on a schedule! I got a lot accomplished and came up with this very sweet pattern for a Christmas pillow. Fast easy and so adorable. I will really try to get a tutorial up but, I'm not going to lie it really may not happen and if it doesn't just email and I can walk you through it. 

The shawl was made for my dear friend Elisabeth for  Elizy Art Crochet for the #autumnshawlswap2015 which she hosted. I loved every second designing this for her! 

I hope you holiday season is off to a wonderful start...ours as always is of to a good start...a wee bit stressful....a bit of family drama (when you have 5 kids and a big Italian family it just can't be avoided) but we always find the joy in the little moments, the important ones...the ones without the material gifts and fuss. The ones with twinkling lights and decorations, the excitement of an 8 yr old who just believes in everything... the ones watching EVERY Hallmark movie with my mom and mother in law (who were my little elves helping me make)... discussing the movies after rating them and then laughing at ourselves.. discussing what Christmas carol we would love to hear Adele sing!! Holding onto faith that all will work out in this crazy wild world we live in. I will immerse myself in more making, (now that the decorating is finished whew!!) finding joy in every moment even in the rough ones. Creating its so cathartic...when the hands move the mind ceases. My daughter showed me a Meme.."When your mom deserves an island and all you can afford is a candle" when asking me what I want for Christmas and expressing that she wants to get me something special and can't really afford it.  You just gave me the best gift ever...you just did! <3 

Peace..love... and light to you all!

Ming

Autumn food and blooms

Hello Friends,

Can someone tell me where September went??? What happened?? Was I in a deep sleep and miss it?!

It was one of the busiest "Back to School" seasons I can remember... every night there was something...Soccer..school meetings...Karate. I was also involved in a bunch of "Swaps" which I will get to on my next post. In the meantime there was this going on as well...as usual recipes below.

Lots of food a blooms...first up my Zucchini Chocolate Chip cake. If you follow me on Instagram I posted the recipe there as well but here it is.
Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cake

• 2 1/2 cups shredded zuchinni 
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup sugar 
• 3/4 cup safflower oil ....Mix these together in a bowl 

Next bowl

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg 

Sift together and add to the Zucchini mix then stir in

• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup semi sweet chips

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes in a 9x13 baking pan.
This is not a super sweet or spice version just something light to go with tea or coffee. You could up the sugar and the spices. The crumb was very nice and moisture was good.

Next up... Baked Acorn Squash with Sage and Maple Syrup

•  2 Acorn squash sliced
• handful of sage
• Irish butter...I used Kerrygold  
• Good quality Maple syrup ...mine is form my in- laws property in Upstate NY <3
• S&P

Bake at 450 till tender about 35 min.

The Blooms ...Echinacea,Chamomile and Straw Flower have become fast favorites...YES...we got a new puppy named Oakley and Australian Shepard...I adore him,sweetest thing ever...the crocheted shawl is for a swap...I'm going to be very sad to part with it but the pattern is made up by me and I will be sharing it with all of you as soon as it gets to its owner... who I might add is completely adorable and I cant wait to see her wear it!
Ohh...the biscuits...I used this recipe here..cut the cooking time a bit...they were great!

And how is your Autumn coming along?
Be Well,
Ming

Ever so...

Grateful for a another wonderful (and a wee bit stressful) holiday season with family and friends...

We had a Holiday concert at school, a visit from our cousin from out of town and a great nephews first Christmas...lots of laughs,love and the editable stress but it was all good!

Gingy got his mate and added some adorable trees to go with them. these prototypes will go for sale in my Etsy shop as soon a I fix it. Some how it got completely deleted..arrghh. I am not that tech inclined so all this takes me a while.

I hope your holidays were warm and wonderful and I look forward to sharing and creating with all of you in 2015!!

Much love,

Ming

Note... I apologize if that last picture offends anyone ...I inherited this house with the animals and if possible I would remove them but its not ..so instead I honor them. 

Merry Making...crochet gingerbread man

Merry making verb. / making things while continuing  state of merriment.

Yes, thats what I am doing this year. Making while being happy about and not rushed and agitated.

If it gets done... great ....if it doesn't ... Oh well. Thats how it is going to be this year. Enjoying the season for its real joys, excited children, first Christmases, little things that make people smile..and quite frankly things that make me smile! If Momma isn't  happy no one is !!! Right?!

One thing that has made me smile is this little Gingy that I crocheted up...

Fig. A

Fig. B 

Fig. C

Fig. D

Fig. E

Fig.F

Fig. G

Fig. H

Fig. I

Fig. J
  

Fig. K

Fig. L

 So here is the pattern: I used Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift and an E hook 3.5mm...prior to this I used Filatura di crosa sport wool which they discontinued the color.  If for play I would use a super wash and adorn accordingly for little ones. 

Legs: Figures A & B

Chain 6 join with a slip stitch

Next row: ch 3 serves as first double crochet 11 dc in ring join with slip stitch..12 dc total

Next row: single crochet in next stitch place marker in stitch just made sc around... 12 sc total

repeat for 17 rows. make 2 

Body: Figures C thru G

Join the  legs together by two slip stitch into two sc  pm in next sc. Sc around to start to form the body - 22 sc  *you do not sc into the two slip stitches that join the legs. 

Next 3 rows repeat sc around 22 sc.

Next row:  5 sc to hips increase 2 singe sc in 6th sc  pm here... 12 sc to next hip increase 2 sc in next stitch pm...sc around to beginning marker. 24 stitches

Next row: sc around 24 stitches

Next row: sc around  increasing one sc at markers 26 stitches.

Next 2 rows: repeat 28 stitches.

Begin decreases 

Next row: sc to  marker decrease 1 stitch at each marker 26 stitches

Next row: repeat 24 stitches 

Next Row: repeat 22 stitches 

Next row: sc in each stitch  22 stitches pm accordingly

Next row: Sc decrease in 1 stitch at each marker 20 stitches

Next row: repeat 18 stitches fasten of leave a long tail 

now stuff the body.

Head: Figures H-J

Ch 6 sl st to join

Next row: ch 3 serves as first dc 11 dc in ring join with a slip stitch...12 dc

Next row: pm to mark beginning of round ...2 sc in each stitch ...24 sc

Next 2 rows: sc in each stitch around 24 sc

Next row: 2 sc in each stitch 48 sc

Next  2 rows: sc in each stitch 48 sc 

Next row: decrease 1 stitch ...sc 22 pm. dec 1 stitch ...sc around to beginning marker 46 sc 

Next row: dec 2 stitches sc to marker dec 2 stitches ...sc around to beginning marker 42 sc 

Next row: repeat 38 sc 

Next row: sc in each stitch around 38 sc 

Next 2 rows: repeat 38 sc

Next row: dec 2 stitches at each marker 34 stitches 

Next row: repeat 30 stitches 

Next row: repeat 26 stitches

Next row: repeat 22 stitches 

Next row: repeat 18 stitches 

fast off leave a long tail to sew

Arms: Figure K

chain 4 join with a slip stitch pm marker to mark begining of round

Next round: ch 3 serves as first dc 7 dc into ring ...total 8 dc 

Next round: sc crochet around 8 sc 

repeat for 14 rows 

make 2 

stuff head and arms and sew doll together. 

* I do not sew up the body and the heads before joining. this is to make sure the ear has enough base so it does not flop around. So make sure you stuff accordingly so it has some strength to hold the head up.

** I am the worlds worst at typing... any problems or errata please contact me asap... I will be happy to walk through any issues you occur.

I adorned my "Gingy' with a hat, scarf ...mini yo you for buttons and plastic buttons for eyes. Be creative!

                                             

Next post will have more of what Christmas fun is going around here. This adorable house was a present from my sister for Thanksgiving. It was one of her thrift store finds...it play music and has skaters! My new favorite decoration...Thanks Sister!! 

 I hope you take a go at "Gingy" and I am working on the misses at the moment!

Be well, 

Ming