Warm Fuzzies

Work in Progress: Backyard Leaves...and some Cranberries

We're going to have a very mild winter this year...the average temperature for New York is expected to be 40 degrees...all winter!  Not so frosty, and probably not much snow at all.  Heck, the temperature was in the 60s this weekend, hardly what I would call December weather.  So there you have it.  But that doesn't mean that I won't need some nice knitted goodness to keep me warm.  After all, 'tis the season, and 40 degrees is plenty cold.

I've started on Backyard Leaves, a scarf that I've been coveting for, oh, about a year.  I chose a darker olive green instead of the bright apple green suggested, but I've got to say, a piece of me is regretting that decision.  The color of the original scarf is so bright and spring-y.  Just like me!  (erm, right).  But I figured a darker green was a little more formal, and something I'd be able to wear with the ubiquitous NYC black suit year-round.

This is my first time trying lace knitting, and I'm really enjoying it.  I like how every row is different; it keeps the knitting process infinitely more interesting than row upon row of stockinette.  But, heh, the coin has two sides.  Because the pattern changes from row to row, I've found that I really have to think about what I'm doing, or else m-i-s-t-a-k-e-s happen.  There, I said it.  The "m" word.  And they've been happening waaaay to frequently with this scarf.  I've had to rip back more times than I can count.  It seemed like a good idea at the time to watch cartoons and work on the scarf at the same time, but, apparently, that's a little too much for my brain to handle. 

I'm spending the holidays with my family in California, so I kind of had my ticket to a lazy holiday season...not so much baking or decorating going on here.  But I did make a tasty little something that I'd like to share, a little recipe for Sugar-Frosted Cranberries.  These are absolutely delicious, and beautiful, to boot.  Sweet and crunchy on the outside, the juice from the poached whole berries just burst in your mouth, filling it with cranberry goodness.

Sugar-Frosted Cranberries (makes 2 cups)  adapted from Cooking Light

• 2 cups water
  
• 2 cups granulated sugar
  
• 2 cups fresh cranberries
  
• approximately 1/2 cup of superfine granulated sugar
  

1. Combine 2 cups of granulated sugar with 2 cups of water in a medium saucepan over low heat.  Bring to a simmer, and remove from heat.  Make sure the mixture does not boil---if it's too hot, the cranberries will burst.  Stir the cranberries into the syrup, and pour the mixture into a bowl.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.
2. Transfer the cranberries into a colander to drain.  Place the superfine sugar on a baking sheet.  Use a slotted spoon to transfer a few cranberries at a time to the sheet, lightly roll them around to coat with sugar.  Place coated cranberries in a single layer on a baking sheet.  Allow the cranberries to dry at room temperature (this takes about an hour).

Enjoy!

Winston the Wonder-dog

Ashley really liked these amigurumi cats, so when I brought up the potential of doing a swap, she asked if it was possible for me to make a little black dog (6-8" tall) in a similar style for her.  And that's how Winston the Wonder-dog came about.

Here's the little guy, sleeping soundly as the sun rises.  Winston was born with heavy eyelids (an unfortunate inheritance from his mother, I'm sorry to say), so he has always had a little trouble keeping his eyes open.  He doesn't mind so much; he claims that he can see what's going on with his eyes closed - it's his superpower (hence his title/position as wonder-dog).  But don't mistake Winston for your average domesticated canine.  As soon as he's left alone, Winston lets loose his wild side.

 

Oh yes.  Winston has a serious skullie obsession.  As soon as his owners leave the apartment, Winston decks himself out in his "mad dog" gear.*   And then he takes the city by storm.   He'll chase squirrels.  He'll terrorize pigeons.  He'll scare tourists.  There's not much that he won't do.

* Winston's "armband" doubles as a ring, and his "cummerband" is actually a wrist warmer (link to pattern in this post).

But he's a sly little guy.  Winston always makes sure he's back by sunset, so that his owners always come home to a sweet, cuddly, snoozing puppy.  As for what he'd been doing earlier that day...that's Winston's little secret.

More goodies in the mail

I've been a lucky girl lately.  But you know, Santa says I've been nice this year.  And I have one last package to share with you (for now, bwahahaha!). 

From Ashley.  I saw some earrings that she had made, and asked if she'd be interested in swapping with me (I'm getting pretty bold now with the swapping requests, huh?).  We had agreed to swap some of her earrings for an amigurumi, but Ashley put in some additional time and effort to make and send a couple of extras, too.   She's such a sweetheart.  Here's the card she sent me:

What a cutie.  He doesn't look too stinky to me, but he sure does look embarrassed.  Maybe he mistook some beans for peanuts during lunchtime?

This snowman is just great.  He's made from a bell, pom poms, felt, craft foam, and a ribbon.  I think I'm going to attach some string and use him as an ornament, or maybe attach him to a chain so I can wear him around my neck...you know, so I can jingle while I walk.

And these are the lovely earrings that I was coveting (the pink earrings are Swarovski crystal, and the green ones are peridot), photographed with a magazine scrap bowl that Ashley made for me.  I've always loved these bowls, and actually tried to make one once upon a time.  I didn't get very far.  I lost it ("it" being my sanity) somewhere between all the folding, cutting, and glueing.  I'm so happy that Ashley made one for me...it's fabulous, and must have taken *so* much time.  Thanks so much, Ashley!

I'm running a little late this morning, so I'll have to post the amigurumi I made for Ashley later.  Ta-ta for now.

Woo! I <3 Mail.

A couple weeks ago, Kari sent me the sweetest package.  I can't believe I waited this long to post it.  Just look at all these goodies!

Not only did she include some great handmade items, but not wanting to leave Kyle out of the goodness of getting mail, Kari tossed in a little something for him, too.  I'm going to show off the entire package, item by item.  First up: a beautiful handmade card (she received it in a swap...isn't that great?).  It came in a lovely vellum envelope, too.

She also sent me some gorgeous glass beads from Blue Moon Beads...can't wait to use them in a project.  The blue-greenish beads with the white flowers make my mouth water.  If I could eat them, I would.  And Kari also sent some of her famous tsumami kanzashi flower snaps, which, by the way, she now sells in her etsy shop.  Lavender and green, lavender and green!  Woot!  These came snapped onto pins, so now I can pin them on bags and blazers.  Kari also included a hair clip with a snap button, so the kanzashi goodness can be worn in my hair, too.  I love how versatile they are.

Recently, Kari also posted a tutorial on how to make bath bombs.  After sampling the bath bombs that she sent me, I'm super-tempted to make some, too.  They smell like heaven.  The bigger greenish one is jasmine-scented, and the smaller yellow flowers are tropical hibiscus (with a bit of glitter, too!).  I think I'm addicted to baths now...doesn't hurt to pamper yourself once in a while, right?  Or in my case, several days in a row.  Hehe.

See those lovely bird marble magnets?  They are the first magnets that Kari has made, and they are just gorgeous.  I adore the drawing and simple coloring.  Kari says that artwork is from a Michigan artist named Gwen Frostic, who created works inspired by nature.  The hand-written cards that everything is sitting on are recipe cards for making a delicious-sounding white chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce.  I can't wait to make this...as soon as I get a food processor or blender for the sauce.  Can you believe that I have *neither* of these?  I have uber-strong forearms from whipping/blending things by hand.  Not something I'd like to brag about =P.

See all of this chocolate?  Kari was nice enough to include enough white chocolate to make her mousse recipe, and some bonus truffles and dark chocolate for Kyle to nibble on.  So thoughtful!  Oh yes, and I have to say something about the tea bags.  They are Might Leaf tropical green tea, and seriously, the *best* tea bags that I have ever used.  The bags are stuffed with whole tea leaves, and really do give you a taste of the tropics. 

Last but not least (Kari totally spoiled me, huh?  Bwahahahah!), Kari made me a fleece tree scarf.  It's very soft and cozy, and very well-made.  I love all of the little details on it, and it's so unique.

Thanks so much for everything, Kari!  You rock!