It’s time to cozy up to the fireplace, roast some chestnuts, and crank up the Christmas carols.  ’Tis the season to be jolly!  I hope you are enjoying this holiday season, and have the opportunity to be with the ones you love… and maybe get in a little knitting time.

I was very excited to be gifted by Adam with two tickets to see Jim Brickman in his Christmas tour. What a fabulous concert! He was also joined by singers Anne Cochran and Ben Utecht, and electric violinist Tracy Silverman at the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, TX.

Haven’t purchased your 2012 calendar yet? How about the 2012 Calendar of Hope from Fitter Knitter. The proceeds from the sale of these calendars benefit Army of Women, who seek to go beyond finding a cure for breast cancer, and focus on finding the cause.

I’ve been putting in a lot of work on Adam’s Dovahkiin Gamer Gauntlets, knit out of Sublime Lustrous Extrafine Merino DK. One gauntlet down, one to go! I’ve also been lamenting the very hairy state of the Casual Rugby Pullover from The Easy Learn to Knit in Just One Day, which I knit from Lion Brand Homespun. Any ideas about how to remedy it’s current furry condition? Leave me a comment below.

The “Merry Knitmas: Holiday Favorites for the Knitter” 2-CD set may really be a possible gift option, but if it were, it would feature knitterly holiday tunes like, Let Me Knit! Let Me Knit! Let Me Knit, A Knitters 12 Days of Christmas, Fleece Used to Baa, and We Wish You A Merry Knitmas, among many others.  And of course, feel free to join in and sing along with Christmas Knits.

Lyrics to this week’s song (based on the Christmas classic “Jingle Bells”)

Christmas Knits

Christmas knits, Christmas knits, Christmas time is nigh.
I hope you planned your knitting well, and started in July.
Gloves and mitts, socks that fit, scarves and sweaters, too.
Lots of warm and wooly things made by me for you.

Digging through my stash looking for that one last skein.
I’ve finished half a sock, need more yarn that’s the same.
I’ve made it half way through – a little left to go.
Heel flap, that’s done, and gusset, check. Kitchener up that toe!

Christmas knits, Christmas knits, Christmas time is nigh.
I hope you planned your knitting well, and started in July.
Gloves and mitts, socks that fit, scarves and sweaters, too.
Lots of warm and wooly things made by me for you.

A day or two ago I cast on a new shawl
With cables, fair isle, lace, intarsia blocks and all.
I’ve lots of gifts to knit with Christmas my deadline.
Will someone tell me what to do to buy me some more time?

Christmas knits, Christmas knits, Christmas time is nigh.
I hope you planned your knitting well, and started in July.
Gloves and mitts, socks that fit, scarves and sweaters, too.
Lots of warm and wooly things made by me for you.

CraftLife is taking a winter break, and will return in February, 2012!

“Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat.
Please put a penny in the old man’s hat.
If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do.
If you haven’t got a ha’penny, then God bless you”

Congratulations to MelodyJ, the winner of the Hello Kitty Online Premium edition giveaway!

Many thanks to Shine of Shine and Lee’s Christmas Trees for sharing a little about Christmas tree farming. You can find info about the different trees they sell, wreaths and decorations that are available, and pictures of the farm and family at the website, or on their Facebook page.

Shine and Lee got the idea for starting a Christmas Tree farm after visiting the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. (BTW, Biltmore is one of my favorite places in the WHOLE WORLD)

“A soal, a soal, a soal cake. Please, good missus, a soal cake…” You can find a recipe to make your very own soal (or soul) cakes in this NPR article.

There has been much premie hat knitting lately, including my favorite red one which has the word “HUMBUG” duplicate stitched in green around it.   I have also put in a bit of work on  the Dovahkiin Gauntlets for Adam.  Here’s my progress so far:

Ebenezer Scrooge opens this week! Tech week is upon us, costumes and props are being worked in, sound and light queues are next in line.

Pearl Fryar is a master of topiary sculpture. You can learn about his story in the documentary “A Man Named Pearl”. You can check out the trailer at that link, too.

One of my favorite holiday movies, and where I first learned about Hot Buttered Rum, is White Christmas. Bing Crosby and Christmas music are synonymous in my house.

Hot Buttered Rum

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup unsalted butter

2 cups vanilla ice cream

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp all spice

1/2 tsp clove

1. Combine sugar, brown sugar and butter in a saucepan over low heat until butter is melted.

2. In a large bowl, beat ice cream, sugar/butter mixture, and spices at medium speed until smooth.  Store in refrigerator up to 2 weeks, or in freezer for 1 month.

3.  To serve, fill a mug 1/4 – 1/3 with mix, add one ounce (2 Tbsp) of rum and fill the rest of the way with boiling water.  Sprinkle with nutmeg.

It’s giveaway time! Leave a comment in this post between now and 11:59pm CST on 12/1/11 to enter to win a copy of the Hello Kitty Online Premium Edition. The random number generator will be used to chose TWO winners, each of whom will receive a copy of the Premium Edition, which comes with $15 worth of in-game points to shop and spend as you play, an exclusive virtual pet to follow you around and assist on quests, and 2 Hello Kitty Online collector’s postcards. (System requirements include Windows 2000/XP/Vista (32 bit) and 512 MB RAM minimum)

Speaking of giveaways, Janeen of the Clothed in the Lamb podcast just had a 1 year podiversary giveaway, and I was the lucky winner! I’m looking forward to casting on the Gypsy tank with my winnings.

I’m working hard on the Dovakhiin Gauntlet’s for Adam. The Lustrous Extrafine Merino DK by Sublime Yarns is working beautifully!

Thanks to Fraydele on Ravelry for suggesting this week’s song!

Lyrics to this week’s song (based on the song “Whip It!” by Devo)

Rip it!

Frog that sweater
Then re-knit it better
Take out your sticks
Get right to the fix

When a problem comes along
You must rip it
If you want to fix what went wrong
You must rip it
One sleeve is far to long
You must rip it

Now rip it
Frog it back
Back it up
Don’t be slack
You must go backwards
To move ahead
When you detect it
It’s not too late
To rip it

Rip it good

If you mess up the design
You must rip it
If you put in a life line
Then you can rip it
It will look better in time
If you just rip it

I say rip it
Rip it good
I say rip it
Rip it good

Frog that sweater
Then re-knit it better
Take out your sticks
Get right to the fix

When a problem comes along
You must rip it
If you want to fix what went wrong
You must rip it
One sleeve is far to long
You must rip it

Now rip it
Frog it back
Back it up
Don’t be slack
You must go backwards
To move ahead
When you detect it
It’s not too late
To rip it
Frog it back
Back it up
Don’t be slack
You must go backwards
To move ahead
When you detect it
It’s not too late
To rip it
Rip it good

Put on the teapot, or fill up the french press, whichever is your preference.  Let’s take a few minutes to chat and just catch up on what has been going on lately, what do you say?

I’ve been moonlighting with Ebenezer Scrooge quite a bit lately. If you’re in the Dallas area this holiday season, come on down to Pocket Sandwich Theatre for a musical re-telling of a Christmas classic in a casual dinner/theatre atmosphere.

If you get an opportunity to take a class with the ever-fabulous Ysolda Teague, don’t let it pass you by! Her “Perfect Sweater” class was wonderful.

Many thanks to the staff of The Woolie Ewe for hosting the “Perfect Sweater” class. The day of the class was the first time I visited this LYS, and I have already been back a second time.

I’m very excited about spinning up my new Icelandic roving. Here’s what wikipedia has to say about Icelandic sheep. Any ideas what I should knit with my

Very focused on learning short rows during our train ride.

finished product?

If you’re looking for something out-of-the-ordinary to do in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, why not give the Grapevine Vintage Railroad a try?

Ready to tackle short rows? Check out this video from KnittingHelp.com.

11-11-11 marks the arrival of a video game for which I have been waiting years. And I’m not exaggerating. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Tease me if you must, but I am taking the day off of work on November 11 to celebrate.  This game is also the inspiration for Adam’s special request knitting project. Any ideas what it might be?

I caught Christmas trying to sneak up on me this week.  What was I thinking, getting distracted by all of the lingering hot weather?!  The truth is, it will be here before we know it, and it looks like “full steam ahead” for me until the end of the year.  Even though by schedule will be bursting at the seams, I will do my best to keep to a regular podcasting schedule if at all possible.

Already behind on your Christmas knitting?  Have no fear!  Make a virtual tacky Christmas sweater for everyone on your list!

If tee-ball doesn’t pique your kid’s interest, and violin lessons aren’t working out, how about Mutton Bustin’ for a change?

October is half-way over, but Treacle and Ink is still Going Pink for breast cancer research. All sales made during October will Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Need a comedy improv fix? Here’s a bunch of “Who’s Line is it Anyway?” videos. These bring out Adam’s over-the-top laugh.

I really enjoy using the traditional anniversary gifts list as a guideline to help me get creative with anniversary gifts.

The Holden Shawlette, by Mindy Wilkes – DONE!

My current sweater deconstruction will (hopefully!) result in a few pairs of French Press Felted Slippers, by Melynda Bernardi.

I am so excited to be attending Ysolda Teague’s “The Perfect Sweater” class offered by The Woolie Ewe!

The Pocket Sandwich Theatre is presenting the 30th consecutive year of Ebenezer Scrooge, a musical based on the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol”. I’m very pleased to be able to participate in the capacity of Music Director.

Lyrics to this week’s song (based on the song “B*tch” by Meredith Brooks)

St*tch

I knit a lot today
At the office, in the store,
And the subway.
I smiled at you, but you look at me like maybe I’m a great big oddity,
Some strange mystery.
Yesterday you spied
What I was doing, and you flagrantly implied
I did not look like what you think a knitter looks like.
Will this always be my fate?
It’s time to educate you,
And set the record straight.

‘Cause I stitch, I’m a mother
I’m your sister or your brother
Hand-knit items, I make many
I just might be your Granny
I’m a Las Vegas showgirl
I rock the CEO world
I am anybody that you’ve ever known

So take my sticks and string –
Put them together, I can make most anything.
Baby booties, scarves, and sweaters, or a life-sized knitted royal family
So what, if I decide to make
A toilet paper cozy?

‘Cause I stitch, I’m a mother
I’m your sister or your brother
Hand-knit items, I make many
I just might be your Granny
I’m a Las Vegas showgirl
I rock the CEO world
I am anybody that you’ve ever known

So if you think you’ve got me figured out
You’ve got another think coming
I think it’s cool you try to relate
But I am anyone at all

‘Cause I stitch, I’m a mother
I’m your sister or your brother
Hand-knit items, I make many
I just might be your Granny
I’m a Las Vegas showgirl
I rock the CEO world
I am anybody that you’ve ever known

Yeah I stitch, drive the carpool,
Coach some football at the high school
Funky hip-hop I devour
Sing opera in the shower
I’m a gamer, I wait tables
I help where I am able
I am anybody that you’ve ever known

A good friend of mine and I had the great fortune of spending a month in New York City, doing an independent study for credit toward our Theatre degrees.  Before we left our hometown and headed north of the Mason-Dixon Line, I made a tee-shirt that said, “Actor For Hire” in big, bold letters on the front.  While this tee shirt did not lead to any acting employment during my time in the Big Apple, it did lead to inquiries as to where others might purchase one like it.  I guess I wasn’t the only one looking for paid work as an actor.  This week in the podcast, we’ll be taking a look patronage in the arts, the good parts and the not-so-good parts.  I’d love to hear what you have to say about it!  Leave me a comment below.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if all actors stopped working for free?  I did, in this blog post.

The Treacle and Ink Etsy shop is officially Going Pink!  100% of the proceeds from all sales during the month of October will be donated to Susan G Komen for the Cure.  Please enjoy a browse and pass along the link.

It was very nice to have Adam back on the podcast!  I’ve missed him lately as he has been enjoying much football in his man cave.

Pumpkin Premie Hat, modeled by my Snowball mic

In addition to the premie hats, I am still hard at work on the Holden Shawlette.  The end is near!

Lyrics to this week’s song (based on the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin)

Don’t Worry, Knit Happy

Here’s a little sock I knit,
Stitched it together bit-by-bit
Don’t worry, knit happy
With every stitch, something could go wrong
Don’t think about that, just sing this song
Don’t worry, knit happy
Don’t worry, knit happy

Oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Knit happy
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry, knit happy

Oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Knit happy
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry, knit happy

Ain’t got no needles so costly and nice
Your less expensive ones will suffice
Don’t worry, knit happy
Sometimes you will drop some stitches,
And some of the wool gives you the itches
Don’t worry, knit happy
Look at me, I’m knitting happy

Oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Knit happy
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Give me your Ravatar.  When you worry I’ll draw a smiley on it.

Oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Knit happy
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo

Ain’t got no coin, ain’t got no cash
That’s okay, you can knit from your stash
So don’t worry, knit happy
‘Cause when you worry, your gauge gets tight
And makes your knitting to look affright
Don’t worry, knit happy

Oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Knit happy
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry, knit happy

Oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Knit happy
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry, knit happy

Now here’s a little sock I knit
Try it on and see if it fits, like good little knitters
And don’t worry, knit happy
With every stitch something could go wrong
That is why you should sing this song
And don’t worry, knit happy

Oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Knit happy
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry, knit happy

Oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Knit happy
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry, knit happy

Oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Knit happy
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Don’t worry, knit happy

]]> http://treacleandinketsy.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/craftlife-episode-14-dont-patonize-me-well-maybe/feed/ 4 treacleandinketsy Pumpkin Hat http://treacleandinketsy.wordpress.com/2011/09/17/craftlife-episode-13-no-place-like-home/ http://treacleandinketsy.wordpress.com/2011/09/17/craftlife-episode-13-no-place-like-home/#comments Sat, 17 Sep 2011 23:57:10 +0000 treacleandinketsy http://treacleandinketsy.wordpress.com/?p=1277 ]]>

As I was putting together this week’s episode, I started to notice a not-so-craft-related theme emerging. Home. Not necessarily my home of today, but the familiar territory of my youth, and place where most of my family still resides. When I go there for a visit, I am “going home for a visit” – hence, this week’s title.  I hope you enjoy!

Monkey Bread

3 cans biscuits

1 cup sugar

3 Tbsp. cinnamon

1 cup light brown sugar

1 stick butter

1. Cut biscuits into quarters with scissors.
2. Shake biscuits quarters in a bag with sugar and cinnamon.
3. Layer cinnamon/sugar coated biscuit quarters in a greased tube pan and sprinkle chopped nuts, raisins, or both between layers if desired.
4. Bring butter and brown sugar to a boil, and let it boil for 1 minute
5. Pour butter and brown sugar mixture over the biscuits.
6. Bake at 325 degrees fahrenheit (163 celsius) for 35 minutes. Let it stand 10 minutes before removing from pan.
7. To serve, just pinch off a piece and eat with fingers.

(Recipe by Ophelia M. Leitzsey from the “Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Newberry, South Carolina” cookbook)

The weather man asserts that tomorrow will be the last of the 100+ degree days. There is only one thing I can say to that. Hallelujah!! The temperature drop can not come soon enough, but by now, you must be as tired of hearing about my weather as I am of sweating through it, so on to the show notes!

A big “Thank You!!” *blush* to the very kind Anita of The Well Knitted Life podcast. Go have a listen.

If you haven’t made your entry into the iMake giveaway, have a browse around Martine’s Etsy and Folksy shops, and then leave a comment in the iMake Giveaway thread in the CraftLife Ravelry Group telling me which one of her items you like best.

If you’d like more info on the Effort Driven Rewards Circuit, check out this article from the June 2010 edition of Body+Soul.

When Good Knitters Go Bad is a news report that is not to be missed! Be on the lookout for the Shabby Sheep, from whence came my Alp Light yarn used in knitting the 4X4 rib shawl. You can also follow K Witta’s antics in real time.

If you’re dealing with CKS and would like some online help www.Ravelry.com is a great place to start.

Lyrics to this week’s song (based on the song “Rehab” by Amy Winehouse)

A Knitting Intervention

They tried to make me go to rehab,
Because I knit, knit, knit.
Once I cast on, I’m so far gone
I can’t quit, quit, quit.
I ain’t got the time
I’ve got really long queue line.
They tried to make me go to rehab,
But I won’t go, go, go.

I’d rather be at home all day,
Making hats and sweaters, knitting away.
‘Cause there’s nothing, there’s nothing they can teach me
That I can’t learn from reading E.Z.
Yeah, I think that it’s a drag
That they want to take my project bag.

They tried to make me go to rehab,
Because I knit, knit, knit.
Once I cast on, I’m so far gone
I can’t quit, quit, quit.
I ain’t got the time
I’ve got really long queue line.
They tried to make me go to rehab,
But I won’t go, go, go.

I know all week the dishes haven’t been clean,
And the house is the messiest you’ve ever seen.
I’m gonna, I’m gonna lose my stitch count,
If I stop to do other things in between.
Can’t I hire a maid?
Just until this scarf gets made.

They tried to make me go to rehab,
Because I knit, knit, knit.
Once I cast on, I’m so far gone
I can’t quit, quit, quit.

Remember the socks I made you last year?
And the gloves and sweaters?  Baby, it’s quite clear.
I don’t hear, I don’t hear your complaining
About all those gifts you hold so dear.
I know it’s time to go.
Just let me finish one more row

They tried to make me go to rehab,
Because I knit, knit, knit.
Once I cast on, I’m so far gone
I can’t quit, quit, quit.
I ain’t got the time
I’ve got really long queue line.
They tried to make me go to rehab,
But I won’t go, go, go.

This Texas summer has been hot, hot, HOT! But, not in a dancing-in-the-streets-limbo-with-a-frosty-beverage kind of way. More like a stay-indoors-with-the-windows-covered-wearing-very-little kind of way.  Though the weather outside is frightful (and yes, it can be deemed so even in the middle of summer), I am so glad to be back behind the mic again. Episode eleven is coming at you, and is dedicated to anyone who has ever had to say, “But, I’m NEW!”

CraftLife is pleased to announce the winner of the very first giveaway! The winner of the “Name That Skein” contest is….. Sandrada! Sandrada suggested the name “Peregrine”, which also happens to be the name of the patron saint of cancer sufferers.

If you seek the wisdom of the Godmother of Knitting Podcasts, look no further than Cast On with Brenda Dayne. You can also follow her on Twitter as @knitsib.

Are you completely musically illiterate, or maybe you just need a little brush-up? Check out www.8notes.com and click on the “Music Theory” tab on the right side of the screen for step-by-step instruction. You can learn as little, or as much as you want.

Did you miss out on entering the first giveaway? No problem! Martine, of iMake, has offered up this gorgeous red leather cuff:

Leather Cuff with Stars by iMake

All you have to do to enter, is visit Martine’s Etsy and Folksy shops, and leave me a comment in the iMake Giveaway thread in the CraftLife Ravelry group, telling me which one of her items you like the best.

In celebration of my one year knitting birthday, Ishbel has been cast on. Those pesky pink-ribbon fingerles mitts have been frogged and transformed into a new hat, and the stuffed TARDIS is nearing the end of it’s period of incarceration.

Here’s a shout-out to Laura of The Ood Cast for planting the idea of song parody’s in the back of my mind.

Lyrics to this week’s song. (based on the song “Breathe [2 am]“, by Anna Nalick)

Knitter’s Mistake
2 am and she calls me ‘cause I’m still awake.
Can you help me unravel my latest mistake?
Dropped a stitch about seventeen rows behind me.
There’s no way I can pick it up from where I am.
This is so frustrating, I feel I should just slam
It down on the table, and walk away, madly.

‘Cause my stitches don’t count up, and I missed a cable,
This yarn’s not the size that it says on the label.
Now I can’t find which repeat I am on.
I think I should have a sit-down
And breathe, just breathe
Woah breathe, just breath

They say, “Do a gage swatch”, but I think that they’re dumb.
Now my choice has come back to bite me in the bum.
It’s turning out a whole lot smaller than I’d planned.
And who’s idea was it to knit while watching TV?
I think I completely skipped row thirty-three.
I’ve had just about all of the mess-ups I can stand.

‘Cause my stitches don’t count up, and I missed a cable,
This yarn’s not the size that it says on the label.
Now I can’t find which repeat I am on.
I think I should have a sit-down
And breathe, just breathe
Woah breathe, just breath

There’s a right way to knit this, but I’ve done it wrong.
How is it that I’ve carried on for so long?
Is it even worth trying to fix it from here?
Or should I just frog it all back?

2am and I’m still awake knitting along.
If I get it fixed now before bed, it’s no longer
There taunting me, full of the errors I’ve put there.
When I cast it on, I thought I’d finish it proudly
But all of this stress has me screaming out loud,
“Is it worth it?” or is it much more than I can bear?

‘Cause my stitches don’t count up, and I missed a cable,
This yarn’s not the size that it says on the label.
Now I can’t find which repeat I am on.
I think I should have a sit-down
And breathe, just breathe
Woah breathe, just breathe
Yeah breathe, just breathe
Breathe, just breathe

I have finally finished spinning up that kool-aide dyed fiber I shared with you all those episodes ago, but I’ve run into a bit of a snag. What should I call it? This yarn ranges the spectrum of bright reds to pale pinks, and will be offered up for sale in my Etsy shop during the month of October to raise money for breast cancer research.
Here’s a peek at the as yet unnamed skein:

Drop Spindle Spun Yarn In The “???” Colorway:

If you have a brilliant idea for a colorway name for this, please share it in the CraftLife group thread on Ravelry. If you have more than one brilliant idea, share that as well! There is no limit to the number of ideas you may submit.

This contest will be open until August 16th at 11:59pm, CST. I’ll choose my favorite colorway name from the suggestions, and announce the winner in Episode 11.

The winner of this contest will receive one skein of Corntastic by Kollage Yarns in the Garnet colorway. This is 105 yards of machine washable and dry-able 100% corn fiber. I had originally purchased this yarn to use in a project that I have since decided to take in a different direction. It has been wound into a center-pull ball, but I can certainly re-skein it if the winner prefers.

Tell ‘Em What They’ll Win!

Thanks for offering up your suggestions! I can’t wait to see what all of you creative-types come up with.

Episode ten is up and running!  I hope you enjoy this mini-milestone, and I’m looking forward to being back with you in August.

If you love to laugh (and who doesn’t?) and knit, The Knit Wits Podcast will be right up your alley. You can listen to them on their website as well as on iTunes.

Do you have dreams of becoming a Southern Belle? This humorous list, courtesy of About.com, will provide you with a few simple steps to help you on your way.  And, if you would like a classic example to model yourself after, spend a few hours with Scarlett O’Hara from Gone With The Wind.

Fried Green Tomatoes

2 green tomatoes, cut into 1/4 inch sliced

1 egg

1/3 – 1/2 cup milk

cornmeal

oil for frying

salt and pepper

1. Heat about 1/4 inch of oil in the bottom of a frying pan over medium-high heat.
2. Beat together egg and milk.
3. Coat tomato slices in egg/milk mixture, then dredge in cornmeal.
4. Fry slices in oil until golden brown on both sides.
5. Drain slices on paper towels.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Try a little pepper jelly or chow chow with your fried green tomatoes.  Oh, and they’re not just a delicious food, Fried Green Tomatoes is also the title of a most excellent movie.

And many thanks to all of you who have left me great iTunes reviews!  It is much appreciated.

The heat is really wearing us down in TX this week.  As I write this the thermometer reads 100 degrees.  I’ve heard of people trying to fry an egg on a hot sidewalk, and I’m thinking of seriously giving that a try this Wednesday when it’s supposed to be back up to 106.  Ugh!  Wherever you are, I hope you are staying cool.  And whether or not you celebrated Independence Day on July 4th in your part of the world, I hope you get the chance sometime soon to celebrate your creative independence.

If you’d like to learn a little Mandarin while getting your knitting podcast fix, you should give a listen to Clothed In The Lamb.

Let’s have a go at that recipe sharing!  Here’s your first one:

Classic Pecan Pie

1 cup Light OR Dark Corn Syrup

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract

1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) pecans

1 (9-inch) unbaked or frozen** deep-dish pie crust

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (178 °C).
2. Mix corn syrup, eggs, sugar, butter and vanilla using a spoon. Stir in pecans. Pour filling into pie crust.
3. Bake on center rack of oven for 60 to 70 minutes (see tips for doneness, below). Cool for 2 hours on wire rack before serving.
4. **To use prepared frozen pie crust: Place cookie sheet in oven and preheat oven as directed. Pour filling into frozen crust and bake on preheated cookie sheet.
5. RECIPE TIPS: Pie is done when center reaches 200°F (93°C). Tap center surface of pie lightly – it should spring back when done. For easy clean up, spray pie pan with cooking spray before placing pie crust in pan. If pie crust is overbrowning, cover edges with foil.
6. High Altitude Adjustments: Reduce sugar to 2/3 cup and increase butter to 3 tablespoons. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F (163°C).

*This recipe is courtesy of Karo.  Pictures and a how-to video can be found here.*

Here are some of the bracelets I have been working on.  Thoughts?

Along with the bracelets, I have been working on the Tangled Branches hat by Grace Akhrem. You can click here to have a peek at her many other designs.  And, the kits for the breast cancer awareness socks are available through Pagewood Farm.

I had an absolutely lovely time va/stay-cationing with my family in and around my home town of Newberry, South Carolina.

If saving the world at the point of an animated gun is your idea of a good time, I might peg you as a Call Of Duty: Black Ops player.

Yes, I went and did it. I made the cut! And, you can too. Locks of Love and Pantene Beautiful Lengths are two places you might want to consider sending your donation.

Before "the cut"...

... and after.

1 hr post-donation. Grabbing a quick pic in the the bathroom to shoot to my bff.

If you did NOT want to knit in public with me on WWKIP Day, you could have joined me for a little cruise on Lake Murray.

Though Treacle and Ink on Etsy has been shamefully neglected lately, it is all due to preparations happening in the background for Treacle and Ink Goes Pink for breast cancer research fundraising in the month of October.

The Ravelry rumor mill reports that a magazine full of Jane Austen inspired knitwear will be coming out late this fall! I read about it in this thread.

CraftLife has spread its wings! You can now follow CraftLife on Twitter.

After this very busy week of unexpected overtime, and unexpected knitting, I wasn’t able to get a full podcast together for you.  But I didn’t want to leave you with nothing.  So, instead of a full episode this week, I present you with a mini episode – part one of a two parter.

Many thanks for the lovely comments from Lori of Happycrafter 207, and Martine of iMake.

Up-and-coming sweater designers might like to check out the I Knit Guernsey design competition.

Need yarn, and need it fast? I had great turnaround time with the skein of Apl Light I ordered from Covetedyarn.com.

I’m just about finished with the frog from Amy Gaines’ Knit Animal Friends Amigurumi Set, and I am quite pleased with the results. AND… the Beehive Booties are done!

Looking for ways to get involved in crafting for good? Check out Talents of Sisters and M.E. Research UK.

CraftLife Knitters Theatre brought you “The Elves and the Shawlmaker”. You can read the original story that inspired this adaptation here.

Last weekend saw the final football game of the season for the Hill Country Colts, and while my intention was to once again take the opportunity for a little knitting in public, I was thwarted by the weather.  Tornadoes and hail storms in the surrounding area left the humidity level incredibly high.  But, not all knitting related goodness was was done away with.  Hooray for garage sales put on by fellow fiber enthusiasts!  For more details on that, have a listen to this week’s episode, in which you’ll also finally hear a little more from my husband than just a Southernism definition.

If you are new to the world of crafty podcasts, or if you have been around for a while and, by some glitch in the space-time continuum, have managed to remain completely unawares, allow me to direct you to the absolutely fabulous CraftLit, with Heather Ordover.

Were you a child of the ’80s? Take a trip down memory lane with the inspiration for today’s episode title, Jem and the Holograms.

Many thanks to email Adam for allowing me to pick his brain about photography and videography! If you have any questions for him, or just want to do a little more brain-picking, email treacleandink@hotmail.com and put ADAM in the subject line.

I really want to knit the Horai scarf by Hiroko Fukatsu, and one day I will… just not today.

If you do anything charitable with your creative skills, please visit the CraftLife Ravelry thread, “Creating for a Cause”, and tell us all about it!

AND, if you are in the US, have a great Memorial Day weekend.

I have been absolutely spoiled these past two weeks.  Right after completing episode four, Adam took me out on a catamaran for a dinner cruise to celebrate my birthday!  (…which was back in January, but who wants to be out on a boat in the middle of winter??)  Then, on Mother’s Day weekend, he surprised both me and his mother with a day of pampering at a spa.  Like I said, I am completely spoiled sometimes, but after weekends like these, where does a girl find the funds for crafting?  Well, that’s why “Thrifty” is the name of the game in this CraftLife episode.

If you visited Mayfest in Fort Worth, TX, you had the opportunity to see Tim Decker (aka: Painter Tim).  If you didn’t make it to Mayfest, check out his facebook page and watch the video of Painter Tim at work.

Looking for some inexpensive craft supply alternatives? How about Kool Aid Dyeing, Tee Shirt Yarn, recycling yarn from old or thrifted garments, making use of newspaper end rolls, or home made play-dough.

Interested in trying you hand at tea bag folding? Here’s a website to help you get stared. A quick google search for printable tea bag folding papers will furnish you with plenty of pretty patterns to choose from.

If you’d rather cut paper than fold it, how about some nice silhouette portraits? If your model doesn’t have the time (or “fidget” control) to sit still for you to trace his or her shadow, you can achieve similar results with a photograph and tracing paper, or go a little more high-tech with this Photoshop method.

Still need a few thrifty crafty websites to get you inspired?  Check out DollarStoreCrafts.com, DecorHacks.com, and TheThriftyCrafter.com.

WARNING! Before you precede any further, please familiarize yourself with that hacker genius, MacGyver.

If you’re looking for inspiration from other crafty hackers, check out the works of Rachel Betty Case and Hye Jin Lee .

And if you’d like to do a little more reading about hacking in general, take a peek into “The New Hacker’s Dictionary”.

So you still want to try your hand at cow tipping?? This how-to video provides step-by-step instructions.

Indy Mogul offers up some great inspiration and DIY goodness. Their Backyard FX series is full of incredibly good how-tos. You can watch their Fallout fan Film, Nuka Break, and then see the episode about how some of their props were constructed.

About that yarn swift that Mr. E. Bunny told me about… check it out for yourself here.

I have managed to cast on and complete the Waterfall Scarf since the last episode… though it may get frogged and re-knit.

The CraftLife promo is now up and running.  Distribution of this promo is strictly forbidden highly encouraged!

Have no fear, this is not in place of this week’s upcoming episode, but merely a bit of a teaser.  See you on the weekend.

Whew! After being up to my neck in fiber over the past two weeks, I am just itching to share it with you. But first of all, what do you think about my new design?! Much better, no? Many thanks to Adam, my resident Photoshop whiz.

And now on to the fiber-y goodness!

Looking for yet another knitting podcast to try? Check out the Knitting Podcasts Blog for a whole slew of options.

Hone your expert garage sale-ing skills, and you just might score some used knitting books such as “Knitting Today’s Classics”, or “Knit Tricks”

If you’re ever in the Horseshoe bay area, a trip to Nan’s Needleworks is well worth your time. While you’re there, pick up a few skeins of Trabajos Del Peru in honor of me!

If your calendar is looking pretty empty this time next year, you might like to plan a trip to the Dallas Fiber Fest. Here you can find all kinds of interesting fiber dealers such as Two If By Hand, FiberLady.com, Knitting Fairy, and Shabby Sheep.

Still have more questions about CSAs? Check out Jacob’s Reward Farm for more details.

While I still may be working on those pink ribbon fingerless mitts, I have cast on the Liesel Scarf to keep me interested in the mean time.

If you haven’t done so yet, please join me in the CraftLife Ravelry Group!

Well, as a newbie at this whole podcasting thing, there are bound to be bumps in the road.  Such a bump happened this weekend.

I recorded the podcast early this week and set it to publish on Saturday morning, since we were out of town visiting the family.  I (foolishly!) left my computer at home, confident that everything was going to go just fine.  The blog post went up right on time on Saturday morning, and episode two appeared in iTunes about 4 hours later.  If you have already downloaded episode two as of the time I am posting this, you already know the rest of the story.

When my dear mother-in-law downloaded the episode from iTunes and played it, it played a one minute clip of Natalie MacMaster’s song “Appropriate Dipstick.”  Arg…

Evidently, putting a link to an mp3, other than the actual podcast, in the show notes is a bad idea!

So sorry if you have already downloaded episode two and wondered what in the world was going on.  I ran to my computer as soon as we got home tonight and have removed the link from the show notes.  iTunes should update over the next 24 hours, and hopefully that will fix everything.  My best guess for those of you who have already downloaded the erroneous episode two, is to unsubscribe, and then resubscribe.  Sorry for the inconvenience!

I actually recorded this week’s episode a little early since we will be visiting family most of this weekend.  Could this result in another KIP report for Episode 3??  We shall see!

Are you looking for some audio to augment your creative environment?  Here are a few suggestions from mine:

• For all of you techies and trekkies, a few episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine might be just what the doctor ordered.
• If incredible fiddling and music you can move to are more your thing, check out Natalie Macmaster’s “Appropriate Dipstick.”
• If you don’t have the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice in your movie rotation, put it there NOW.  It should be required by law.
• Feeling a little mellow and laid back?  Kate Rusby is so easy to listen to.  If more people were tuned into “Village Green Preservation Society” while driving, I think instances of road rage would drop dramatically.
• The Wailin’ Jennys will just make you stop and take notice.  Their vocals are wonderfully folky and their harmonies are so tight.  Check out “Come All You Sailors,” among others.
• Ever think you should have lived in a different time?  Dr. Who will give you a smorgasbord to choose from… plus aliens.

If you are looking for a fabulous podcast that covers a variety of crafty topics, Martine at the iMake podcast has just what you’re looking for.

And, here’s the little beauty I dare you to knit (at your own risk, of course).

The Dallas Fiber Fest is happening April 8-10.  I’ll be there!  Will you?

As I have been strangely absent quite a bit the past few months, you may have been asking, “What the heck is up?”  Well, this is it!  I’m so excited to bring you the first episode of my new podcast, CraftLife.  The topics covered in this podcast will hopefully be as varied as my creative interests can take me.  I would love to hear what you think about the show!  Leave me a comment at the bottom of the page.

Check out Amy Finlay’s awesome knitting techniques videos.

Pemberley would like you to read about her namesake in Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen…

…while Catti-brie would prefer you to read about her fiery warrior-maiden namesake in any of The Legend of Drizzt books, by R.A. Salvatore.

*A note about grits as whole grains.  Not all grits are whole grain, in particular instant/quick grits.  Most grits that are “stone-ground” are whole grain, but as always, check the label.

Looking for a knitting project?  Try Amy King’s Boogie Vest, or, if you’re a Dr. Who fan, the knitted Tardis Stuffed Plush by Penwiper.

Magda Sayeg, yarn-bomber extraordinaire, was interviewed on “The Story”, March 17th episode.

Curious about hand spinning?  Marti at La Tea Da Designs can set you up with an awesome drop spindle starter kit!

CraftLife is now on iTunes!

This is me, shamelessly showing off my dogs. They love the snow almost as much as I do!

Ahhhhh, Texas in the wintertime!

You know, they tell me it’s not the norm here, but for the past two years, we have been hit with some serious winter weather in February.

Now, there are some who would scoff at my excitement to see a few inches of this beautiful white stuff.  You know the people I’m talking about – the ones who reside in areas in which they daily shovel their sidewalks before walking to work (up-hill, both ways…in short sleeves), who join “Polar Bear” clubs, and who eat snow cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  These people probably smirk at the way the whole of Dallas shuts down from a few days of ice and snow, and react to yet another day of snow the same way I react to yet another day of rain.

Needle Felting kit, Needle Felted Snowman - by bearcreekdesign

But, oh, the magic of snow still exists for me!  Whether it’s getting outside and making snowmen and snow angels, staying inside and succumbing to my sudden urge to bake, or enjoying the view from my cozy living room, curled up with some knitting or a good book, I love a snow day.

If the idea of snow cream for, well, at least one meal out of the day sounds good, and you’ve never tried it before, here’s a quick recipe to get you started.

What you’ll need:

Snow – Place a bowl outside to catch some while it’s still coming down. [Toss out the snow and start over again if it has "yellowed" ]

Milk or Cream

Sugar

Vanilla Extract

Snow Cream - Vanilla Fudge - Southern Style - by VeesWear

Once your bowl has filled with snow, bring it inside and add just a little milk or cream.  Too much will make the snow too slushy, and remember, you can always add more.  Add a teaspoon or two of vanilla, and sugar to taste.  Voila!  If you don’t eat it all the first time around, snow cream can store pretty well in the freezer for the rest of the day.

Have you tried snow cream before?  Do you just love it, or is it something you could totally live without?  Leave me a comment below and tell me about it!

CARD – Intervention BLACK LINOCUT kitty cat – by thebigharumph

At the end of the most recent exhausting work week, I sat myself down on the couch to revel in a little r&r.  A few moments later, my hubby sat down on the couch opposite me, called the dogs over to him, and began plotting with them.

“Babies,” he said in hushed tones, “I think it’s time we stage an intervention.”

“Who do you want to intervene with?”  I asked, interrupting their discourse, and mentioning that he might possibly be referring to an acquaintance who may have begun turning up the bottle a little too often.

“I’m talking about you,” he said.

I put down my knitting and looked up.  Whatever could he be talking about?

“At work on break, you’re knitting.  When we’re watching tv in the evenings, you’re knitting.  On the weekends, you’re knitting.  Every time I look at you, you’re knitting.”

I chuckled to myself.  He’s right, you know.  I can not deny it.  I love to knit.

While they say that knitting is a gateway craft, I only came to it back in August.  I had always wanted to learn to knit, and I had learned to crochet back when I was little.  A friend of mine, a non-knitter, purchased the book, “Pretty in Punk,” by Alyce Benevides and Jaqueline Milles, last fall when she became enamored by the hat on the front cover – a double-sided Union Jack with ear flaps, complete with a red, white and blue mohawk.  After making the purchase, and realizing she could not knit, and had no intention of learning how, she gifted the book to me, knowing the crafty gal that I am and hoping it may some day be of use.

The rest, as they say, is history.

With the help of some wonderful online videos (many thanks to Amy Finlay at knittinghelp.com), I have become another one of the thousands of self-taught knitters.  My iPhone has become cluttered with all manner of knitting podcasts (current personal favorites include Cast On, iMake, and Electric Sheep).  I am a new Ravelry member (stop by and see me, TreaclAndInk).  My knitting que is growing longer by the minute.  And in an attempt to put my new obsession to good use, I recently joined my church’s charity knitting group, Threads of Grace.

Where will this new obsession lead?  Who knows?

The possibilities are endless!

1708 - Vinyl Lettering - And now these three remain, Faith, hope and Love by DesignDivasGallery

“⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails…”

I popped on over to Facebook yesterday to see what had been going on over the past few days with my friends and family.  Some had been enjoying the leftovers of a rarely occurring snow storm.  Another had been surprised by her boyfriend with a trip to NYC.  One was reveling in his newly purchased Microsoft Kinect, while still another was lamenting her toddler’s tantrum-filled week.  I read through these updates with some interest, but one update in particular gave me pause.

“What is love?” (or, to be more accurate, “…wat is lovee?? to u??) was the gist of the post belonging to my niece.  She is approaching that age when friends begin to pair off and be “in love” for the first time.  She had been hearing these friends talk about loving each other, and was wondering what this love stuff was all about.  Remember that time?  Oh, I am so glad that I don’t have to live through it again. 

This update was one I felt compelled to respond to, almost as if I had been given a chance to go back and give my own younger self some sage advice that might have made a difference in the way I perceived life and love.  And so I responded:

“Hmmmm… I think sometimes what people call Love is just not love at all, but just a feeling they have. Love is not a feeling. Love is a choice you make each and every day to put the wants and needs of others above your own, even if it means going without, or not getting what you want. It is a choice to care for others before you care for yourself. It is a choice to give without expecting anything in return. That’s what love is, in my humble opinion. (check out 1 Corinthians chapter 13, verses 4-8 for a better explanation of what love is.)”"

I realized as I was writing my response to her question that I was reciting I Corinthians 13:4-8 in my head.  That really is the best answer to that question.  It tells you what Love is, and what Love is not.  And the best part is, it applies to any type of relationship.  Mother/daughter, friend/friend, brother/sister, husband/wife.  Real Love looks the same in any situation.

I must say, I am glad to be back, dusting off the blogging cobwebs…blogwebs?… and discovering a new routine.  I have been shamefully absent these past two months for one very good reason – my new job.

While I entered into this new occupation with high hopes and a positive outlook, I was not anticipating the physical, as well as mental taxation that I was going to undergo.  There is just so much new stuff to wrap my head around, and the pressure of excelling in my work, and getting used to sitting at a desk all day…ugh!  As a result, I have come home at the end of every day completely exhausted, without the motivation to do anything but veg on the couch.

The time has come to put a stop to that!  I can either revel in my lethargy, or I can choose to re-take my life.  No more coming home every day and just sitting around.  After all, energy can come out of doing, and especially crafty doing.

So, let’s get to the crafty doing.  Even though the blog has been completely neglected lately, crafting has still received a little share of my time.

In honor of my new job, I made this flower pen bouquets for my desk:

On a visit to the doctor’s office about a year ago, I was looking for a writing utensil with which to fill out my check, when the nurse casually said, “The flowers are pens.”  How cute is that?  I have since seen these all over the place, as I’m sure many of you have as well.

There must be plenty of tutorials on the web addressing this particular craft, so instead of going into a fully detailed one of my own, I’ll just give you a quick run-down.

Supplies Needed: artificial flowers, floral wire, floral tape, cheap pens, vase, pebbles/marbles/vase filler, wire cutters... hot chocolate optional

Cut the heads off of the flowers.

Wire the flower heads to the tops of the pens.

Wrap the floral ribbon from the base of the flower petals to the ends of the pen bodies.

Arrange the flowers in a vase filled with pebbles/marbles/ or other vase filling, and enjoy!

And that’s it!  It’s a really simple and fairly inexpensive craft to undertake.  I have not been gifted with the skill for flower arranging, so I went with these big bright Gerbera and Spider Daisies.  I’d love to hear from you if you’ve tried this craft before, or if you have any wise flower arranging tips to share!

Click to check out the treasury!

Any of you out there looking forward to the new HP movie??

According to Dictionary.com, treacle is defined as:

British Emporium in Grapevine, TX (photo courtesy of british-emporium.com)

Treacle Tarts

Hand Lettered Bible Verse Illustrated Sign- -Psalm 119-30 by mulberrylanefolkart

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

When I was little, my parents would close the door to our room after putting us to bed.  The room would get so dark, especially in the winter time.  But, while my sister and I were in our beds trying to go to sleep for the night, my parents were still up and moving around the house.  The lights would still be on in the kitchen and in the hall, and some of that light would creep in under the crack at the bottom of our bedroom door.

Now, if I had gotten up and turned on our bedroom lights, I would not have noticed that little bit of light peeking in under the door.  But, since it was the only light shining in a completely darkened room, it seemed so bright that it always drew my attention as I was trying to fall asleep.

I have heard people say things like, “I just don’t think I’m ready to go on a mission trip,” or “I’m not as strong in my walk as so-and-so, so I don’t think I’d do a good job at that.”  I feel like my “light” is brighter at some times and dims a little at other times.  But, no matter how strong of a glow that light casts, in darkness it is very noticeable.

Soooo…. my schedule will do a pretty dramatic change-up in two weeks.  No more days off mid-week.  No more half day work days when I can get my grocery shopping and errands done in the morning.  I’m really not sure of the entire impact this will have on my schedule, so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see when it happens.

No worries about craft time, however.  As it happens, I ran across this podcast from Sister Dianne over at CraftyPod last week.  I have been listening my way back through the CraftyPod archives, and this little beauty from 2006 was exactly what I needed to reassure me that the crafting will continue!

photo courtesy of CraftyPod.com

CraftyPod #27: Craft Up Your Cubicle: Projects for your Workspace.

I already had it in the back of my mind that I was going to make one of those pen flower arrangements, and this just gave me tons more ideas.  Give it a listen and go make something!

Two years ago, my hubby and I hosted the first Thanksgiving in our home.  We had some family members over, and I decided that I wanted to make a gingerbread centerpiece.  I usually don’t see any gingerbread houses until people start getting ready for Christmas, but I thought the golden brown color of the gingerbread really lent itself to the Thanksgiving color scheme.  Up until that time, I had only pieced together those gingerbread house kits that you can pick up from various grocery and craft stores, but that year, I decided to start from scratch.  And, instead of a house, I went with a gingerbread church.  It was Thanksgiving after all!

Step 1

To begin with, choose a sturdy piece of cardboard on which to build your structure.  Cover it with aluminum foil.

**Optional: If you intend to illuminate your structure, cut out a hole in the base through which to insert a tea light.

Step 2

Come up with a design for your church.  If you don’t want to get that creative, do a little googling.  There are tons of gingerbread house designs out there.

Step 3

Gingerbread Church Pieces and Templates

Create and print templates for all of the pieces required to build your structure.  Once you have them printed, cut them out.

Step 4

Make up a batch of gingerbread cookie dough.  Roll out the dough onto parchment paper, and lay your template pieces on top.  Using a butter knife, cut out all of the pieces you will need to construct your structure.  Leave the pieces where they are on the parchment and remove the excess.   Transfer the parchment to a baking sheet, and bake your pieces.  Depending on the size of your structure, you will probably have to bake in batches.

If you don’t have a gingerbread recipe already, there are plenty of them online.  I found one that was intended specifically for gingerbread construction (not edible).  It was very sturdy, and had a nice color.

Stained Glass Windows

**Optional:  Since this church was a centerpiece, I wanted to give it “stained glass windows” that could be illuminated from the inside with a tea light.  These were made by crushing butterscotch and cinnamon candies and sprinkling them into the window cut-outs before baking.

Step 5

Once all of your pieces have cooled completely, assemble your structure using liberal amounts of royal icing.  (Just like with the gingerbread, I found a non edible icing recipe online that is specifically for gluing together gingerbread houses.)  Begin with the walls, and once they have set, move to the roof.  Apply the icing to the inside and outside of your joints.  You may need to brace your walls while you are waiting for the icing to harden.

Step 6

Decorate!

For this particular project, I went with pretzels, Reese’s Pieces, candy corn, cinnamon and butterscotch hard candies, red gumdrops, and those white crunchy peanut butter bar candies.  I stacked toasted coconut covered jumbo marshmallows in the front yard as haystacks, and used cinnamon toast crunch squares as shingles.  The fence was constructed with pretzel sticks.  As a last minute thought, I assembled a little Thanksgiving turkey with a red gumdrop body and candy corn feathers that were stabilized with a twisty pretzel.  All in all, I think it came out great!

I hope that gives you a jumping-off point to get started on your gingerbread house this year!

Just as a side note, while this gingerbread church did manage to survive until Thanksgiving, it didn’t last much longer after that.  A rodent of some sort discovered it shortly after, and we awoke in the morning to find one of the back corners of the roof nibbled completely off!  I had thought of possibly spraying a few coats of clear acrylic over it to seal everything really well so that I could use it for years to come.  When I make another one, I will most definitely do that.

Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

I love to cook.  I try to prepare just about every meal we eat from scratch, because those home-cooked meals, more often than not, just taste better.  Yesterday, I tried out a new soup recipe.  It simmered over a low heat for a few hours, and it had the whole house smelling absolutely wonderful!  I was really looking forward to finally sitting down over a big steaming bowl and enjoying supper.

When supper time came, I ladled out a bowl full and grabbed a spoon.  I dipped the spoon into the bowl, raised the contents to my lips, and… wow, what a let-down.  The soup was ok, fair, passable, definitely edible, but not good. Up until that very moment, I had looked at the soup, smelled the aroma, even heard it bubbling in the pot, but until I actually tasted it, experienced it, I really couldn’t tell if it was good or not.  And I didn’t have to eat the whole bowl to determine it’s quality, one taste was enough.

I can listen to a sermon in church every Sunday.  I can dutifully give my tithe and offering.  I can try to always do the right thing.  But it’s not until I experience God, and get past all the peripherals, that I can know how truly good He is.  And, like my soup, one taste is all it takes to determine His quality.  Fortunately, the Bible has already assured me that God is good (thankfully, much better than my soup!).   And once I have tasted how good He is, I can’t resist another helping!

Treats

Pumpkin Pasties – I found this recipe over at britta.com, a website dedicated to throwing a most awesome Harry Potter party.  I made these pasties last Halloween, and everyone loved them!  They’re really quick and easy, and are a great finger food alternative to making a whole pumpkin pie.  While you’re over there, check out the other recipes that are listed.  Those treacle tarts just might have to be made in my kitchen this year…

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies by PACountryCrafts

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies (because at Halloween, you can never have too much pumpkin) – This recipe is brought to you courtesy of Lindsay who blogs over at PACountryCrafts.  While I haven’t tried out this recipe yet, rumor has it that Lindsay is a whiz with pumpkin.  Don’t believe me?  Check out her posts on How To Cook A Pumpkin, and Pumpkin Muffins.

Owl Cupcakes from I Am Momma Hear Me Roar

Owl Cupcakes – Here’s looking at you, kid.  I Am Momma Hear Me Roar is one of my favorite blogs!  It’s always full of wonderfully creative ideas for cooking, crafting… you name it.  Many thanks to Cheri for sharing some of her last minute treat ideas.  While you’re there, check out the “Crow’s Feet” too.  Oh, my tummy is grumbling just looking at all that goodness!

Decorations

Spooky Glowing Eyes – This first decoration idea is thanks Sister Dianne, who heads up another one of my favorite blogs, CraftyPod.  Trust me, you don’t need to have a crafty bone in your body to pull off this quick and easy decoration idea.  Click on the link to watch her short tutorial video.

Needle Felted Eyeballs – Yes, more creepy, eerie eyes.  This decoration idea is brought to you via Michelle from Etsy and Nguyen Le from KnitKnit.  If you’ve got a little extra fiber laying around, I’ll bet you could churn out a few new sets of peepers in no time.

3D Blood Spatter Effect – Think your home could be the setting for a new episode of CSI?  This decoration idea is for you!  This is a Halloween how-to that Etsy put out last year, with the help of Meg Allan Cole from Threadbanger, and I thought it was so cool, I wanted to share it with you this year.  I like their idea of using it as a photo-op area.

These are just a very few last minute ideas.  I hope they help get your creative juices going!

Trick-or-Treat by LibbyFifeArtQuilts

It was a dark Halloween night four years ago.  The jack-o-lanterns flickered brightly and cast their eerie light across the porch steps.  Adam and I were enjoying a warm, cozy evening inside, away from the howling wind, and creatures that flooded our street, and occasionally stopped at our door.  The candy bowl, by now, had been partially emptied of its contents, passed along to pint sized princesses, pumpkins, ghosts and goblins.  It seemed that everything was just as it should be…

SUDDENLY, there came a pounding at the door!

I sprang from the couch, reached for the bowl of candy, and headed for the door.  I grabbed the door knob, turned it, and slowly opened the door.

What met my eyes at that moment can only be described as the most terrible trick-or-treat-er I had ever beheld!

Ditch that Wal-Mart bag, and opt for a much more awesome bag like this CUTE Halloween Trick-or-treat bag by YouNiqueCreationGift!

Who was I to argue with this giant?

I dutifully placed a few pieces of candy in the bag and closed the door.  That was the last year we handed out candy.

Now, I don’t usually like to use my blog as a venting platform, but as we have been getting closer and closer to Halloween, I have been remembering this incident.  Reading this article this morning prompted me to go ahead and post about it.  It was definitely not the first incident of it’s kind.  For a few years, it seemed that we had been seeing more and more older “kids” coming to our door with barely noticeable attempts at costumes (maybe a smear of white face paint across one cheek) using Halloween as an excuse to beg for candy.  Baby in the car?  For some reason, I’m not buying that.

This is more like it! 1950's Trick-or-Treat by DeerThirty

But, just like visits from the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny, there comes a time when we change places.  We move from the receiving end to the giving end.  These two sides are different, but both can be a lot of fun.

Unfortunately, that fun is no longer there for me.  It seems that too many of us have opted not to change sides, and that just spoils it for everyone.  We have managed to not be home to hand out candy to trick-or-treat-ers for the past few years, and I have been trying to come up with a reason to not be home this year, too.  We don’t know any kids of that age group anyway, but we live in a neighborhood now, so I’m anticipating a few knocks on the door that night.

I don’t know.  Maybe I should get all dressed up and hand out candy like I really want to, and have the guts to turn away the “big kids”. . .

What do you think?

Here’s what you’ll need:

Enough fleece to cover your size stool

Fiberfill

A sewing machine or needle and thread  (To be quite honest, you might even be able to use fabric glue instead of the needle and thread if you wanted to go super simple.)

Step 1:

Using the top of the stool as your guide, cut out the two pieces of fleece that will become the top and bottom of the cushion, making sure to allow extra around the edges for the seams.  My stool measured 15″ square, and I cut 16″ square pieces.  Since I wound up sewing a 3/4″ seam,  I should have probably at least cut a 17″ square.   As you can tell in the finished piece, the cushion still wound up being a little too small.

After you cut your two squares, cut 8 strips of fleece that measure 12″ long and 1″ across.  These strips will become the ties that attach your cushion to the stool.

You can adjust the length of your strips depending on how tall or short your stool top is.

Step 2:

Lay one square of fabric face-up on the table.  Arrange the strips as shown in the picture, making sure to cover the corners of the square.  It doesn’t matter how the strips are layered in the middle of the square.  The important part of this arrangement is how the strips meet up with the corners of the square.

The corners are the most important area.

Here's a close-up on a corner.

Step 3:

Place the second square face-down on top of the first, matching the edges.  Pin the fabrics together around the edges, making sure to secure the ties well.

Step 4:

Beginning in the middle of one of the sides, sew all the way around the square until you make it back to about 4 or 5 inches away from where you started.  Secure your thread, and then turn your cushion right side out through the hole.  Your ties are now on the outside, hanging from each corner.

Step 5:

Stuff your cushion with the fiberfill, and sew it closed by hand.

Close it up.

And that’s it!  This is a very easy project that can be completed in under an hour.  Now, all you need to do is tie the strips around the legs of your stool, and you’re ready to sit back, prop up your feet, and relax.

Kick up your feet. You know you want to.

Scripture verse pillow In the beginning God - by MRembroidery50

Genesis 1: 1, 26-27

¹ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

²⁷ So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

In the beginning, God created.  “Created” is the first verb we see in the Bible.  It is the first action by God – the first thing that we know he did.  The first book of Genesis is full God’s creative genius at work.  Light, dark, water, land, all the stars and planets, vegetation and animals, and finally, people.  He spent the whole first week of our history making stuff.  And when He made us, He made us in His image.

It’s this last part that I got to thinking about this week.  I was asked the question, “Why do you craft?”  The only answer I could come up with at first was, “Because I have to.”  But, it’s not just about crafting, it’s being creative in general.  I am happiest when I am working on some sort of creative endeavor.  After taking a look at this first glimpse we have of God, and His wonderful creativity, and then learning that we are made in His image, is it any wonder that I have this innate desire to be creative?

We had a garage sale recently, and after I decided to do the Man Cave, I went rummaging through the garage sale leftovers.  You know that if it didn’t sell at a garage sale, it’s really at the bottom of the barrel.  Then again….

Here is a silver and gold touch lamp, and two end tables that are part of a three-table set.  Each table is smaller than the next, so they can nest underneath each other.  I decided that the smallest and largest table would work best for my purposes.

Just add a little San Francisco 49ers colored Krylon spray paint, and voila!

I covered the entire lamp and the tops of the tables in Cherry Red.  Then, I sprayed some gold metallic paint lightly over the red lamp to give it a speckled appearance.  I used the rest of the gold to paint the metal frame and legs of both of the tables.

As you can tell, the smaller table was turned into a footstool.  I’ll be covering a How-To on the footstool cushion in my next post.

If there is one thing that this project taught me, it is that I am no spray paint pro.  I had drips here and there, especially on this bookcase:

There are quite a few drips on the sides, and an uneven texture to the back panel.

…and on the shelf:

Most of these drips are on the back. The gold hardware came out nicely, though!

But, all in all I think it all turned out okay!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.  It’s amazing what a few cans of spray paint can do.

So, here’s what Adam unwrapped yesterday:

Why did he unwrap it yesterday, you ask?  Well, this sign is intended to go with his brand new man cave that I have been working on.  I got it finished yesterday, and decided that I couldn’t wait until Friday to show it to him. 

We have this little 7′ X 7′ unfinished room off of our garage that is temperature controlled, but that hasn’t been used for anything but storage.  Adam had commented a few times that it would be the perfect room for a man cave.  Here’s what it looked like before:

Check out that exposed fuse box. That's got to be some kind of fire hazard, right?

Not too much to look at.

And…

here’s what it looks like now!:

Can you tell he's a 49ers fan?

Every king needs a throne.

This shelf was perfect for hanging some of his jerseys.

What Man Cave would be complete without a TV?

As you can see by that last picture, this “unfinished” room comes without baseboards.  We are renting right now, so I did not do anything with the structure of the room… well, except closing up that fuse box.  Don’t worry, there is now a metal box covering all of that wiring behind the flag.

The best part is, a good portion of the items in this room are things we already had, so that really helped to cut down on cost.  It’s amazing what a few cans of spray paint can do.  I’ll get into a little more details on some specifics in my next few posts, including a “How To” on that super simple stool cushion, so stay tuned!

The youngest dog had taken advantage of my absence, somehow managed to get up on the table, and pilfered my crocheting!  She had run up and down the hall about four or five times, unraveling and unrolling yarn as she went, and then chewed through a few outside rows of my hat!

Oh well.  Back to square one.

“¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.”

Adam overslept this morning, so we are heading out to the late service today.  I, on the other hand, got up and got ready for the early service.  I was, therefore, left with a few extra hours on hand that I hadn’t planned on.  I went into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee, and wound up also making a pot of grits, a side of gravy, and two loaves of zucchini bread.  So, I’m feeling a little P31 this morning.

Proverbs 31:10-31 speaks to “A Wife of Noble Character”.  I’m not saying that I’m there yet, but it’s always somewhere in the back of my mind – a goal that I will always be striving to attain.

And on that topic of zucchini bread, here’s a little recipe for you.  This is a vegan version of the zucchini bread recipe that was printed in the 1996 Newberry Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church’s cookbook.  The original recipe belonged to Mrs. Frances Goethe, but it has been altered to comply with a vegan diet by me.

Enjoy!

Vegan Zucchini Bread

3 Tbsp Flax Meal

9 Tbsp water

1 c. canola oil

2 c. sugar

2 c. grated unpeeled zucchini (about one large)

3 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 c. white flour

1 1/2 c. wheat flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

3 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 c. nuts, chopped

In a medium bowl, whisk together flax meal and water and set aside to let stand for at least 2 minutes.  In a large bowl, sift together dry ingredients.  Add nuts.  To the flax meal, add oil, sugar, zucchini, and vanilla.  Mix lightly, but well.  Add this mixture to the sifted ingredients, and mix until just blended.  Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour in 2 greased and floured loaf pans.

In the oven.

Out of the oven!

Personal notes:

*The original recipe just called for 3 cups of plain flour, so you can certainly use that if you don’t have any whole wheat.

* I used walnuts because that’s what I had on hand.  I’m a big fan of using whatever you have on hand!

*I think if I make this recipe again, I’ll go for one loaf with a longer bake time.  These two loaves just seem a little short to me.

And, in an effort to maintain honesty, and full disclosure with you…

…here is how the first loaf ended up when I tried to turn it out from the loaf pan too soon.

Please allow the bread to cool completely before trying to remove it from the pan, or this could happen to you too!

Oh well, like I said.  P31, still a work in progress.

Shine and Lee's Christmas Trees

While we may still be weeks away from Halloween, behind the scenes, many people are already in full swing with preparations for the upcoming Christmas holidays.  These people include my parents, whose Christmas tree farm, Shine and Lee’s Christmas Trees, will open for its third year the day after Thanksgiving.  They have been busy shaping trees, finishing up some last minute projects, and getting some details taken care of on the business end, which includes a brand spankin’ new website built by none other than my very talented hubby.

Yes, the time has come once again that I need to do a little boasting on Adam.

He has been working around the clock for the past few weeks building their new website from the ground up.  And finally, after going through a few different styles and layouts, doing a ton of editing, and tweaking, and tweaking….and tweaking……  Shineandleeschristmastrees.com went live just this week!

Home Page Screen Shot

This is the first website he has ever built, but you would never have known that if I hadn’t just told you.

Click on over there and check it out!  And if you happen to make it over to the About Us page, you can watch a short little video (written and voiced by yours truly) that tells a bit about how the farm came into being.  AND, if you live in or around Newberry, SC, head on over to Shine and Lee’s Christmas Trees this year, and say “hi” to my mom and dad.

Raggedy Ann Scarf – Multi

And now, with no further ado, it is time to announce the winner!

The volunteers at Random.org are reaching into the hat…

They are pulling out a name…

And it looks like… Yes!  We have a winner!

Congratulations to Jennifer! (AKA Studio JRU)

I’ll be contacting you via email shortly to get your shipping address so I can get this scarf on its way.

Thanks to all of you who entered!  I have a lot of fun with these giveaways, so be on the lookout for more in the future.

Psalm 139: 7-10

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?   Where can I flee from your presence? ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

How wonderful it is to know that no matter where I am, physically or spiritually, God is there.  He is there in the good times and in the not-so-good times, guiding me and holding me fast.  What a relief!

*******************************************

It’s back to treasuries!  That’s right, after a long hiatus from treasury curation, I have decided to try my hand at it once more.  This time, in honor of my fellow teamies, I have a fabulous collection of fall goodies brought to you entirely by TeamCAC.  Enjoy!

Click here to view the treasury.

And, if you haven’t already, today is your LAST CHANCE to enter my giveaway!  Check out this post for details!

What does your creative environment look like?  Do you have one particular space in which you craft, or do you get creative pretty much anywhere?  Do you have a special craft notebook that helps you get inspired?  I once met someone who couldn’t get any work done unless she was holding her favorite pen.

For me, it depends on what I’m working on and where I am.  If I’m crafting from home, I almost always have my own special Celtic blend playing on Pandora in the background.  You’ll find me set up at the kitchen table, or, right now, in the garage, since I’m working on a super secret anniversary gift for my hubby. (more on that later)

If I take my crafting outside of the house, I’m usually listening to podcasts, such as Sister Dianne’s CraftyPod , Ira Glass’s This American Life, or the latest monologue from Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion.  Yes, I say with no shame that I am an NPR nerd.

So, I guess in my case, my creative environment is more auditory than visual or physical.

How about you?

And now, for your listening pleasure:

Okay, so this music video is definitely early ’90s, and definitely NOT one of the greatest music videos of all time, but it’s worth a watch just to give it a listen.

While this title is probably in my top 5 of pick-me-up songs, I could probably list, oh, about 30 or 40 others that work almost, if not just as well.  A few examples: Pride (In The Name Of Love) by U2, One Girl Revolution by Superchick, Different People by No Doubt, and The Fox by Nickle Creek.

Just in case you’re not familiar with The Fox, here’s a live version:

What tunes get you going?

*Don’t forget to enter the 100th post giveaway by following the directions in Monday’s post!  The giveaway is open to entries until 11:59pm, CST, on 10/10/10.

With this milestone, there comes a few changes, and a few surprises.  The next time you surf on over to the Treacle And Ink Etsy shop, you’ll find more than just tablecloths and china.  In order to reach a larger audience and stay true to my personality, I am adding items for other areas of your life.  If you have read more than a handful of the past 99 posts, you know that my crafty interests range far and wide, and Treacle And Ink will now reflect that.

Now, if you were here for my “50th Post Celebration”, you may remember the 25% off sale I offered exclusively to blog readers only.  How could I leave it out this time around??  For one week only (that’s from today until 11:59pm on 10/10/10), blog readers will receive 25% off of their orders.  Just type “Post100″ in the notes to seller to receive your discount.  What makes this sale even cooler this time around, is that I will be adding new items to the shop throughout this week, so you have the opportunity to purchase them at a discount as soon as they’re posted.

And now, on to the giveaway!

Raggedy Ann Scarf - Multi

Raggedy Ann Scarf - Multi (close-up)

This time around, I am giving away a multicolored Raggedy Ann scarf.  This scarf was made by knitting together strips of a variety of different fabrics that were knotted together to form one continuous strand.  The rainbow of colors in this scarf includes reds and pinks, blues and greens, yellows, browns, and black.  I actually have two of these multicolored scarves, and the other is available for sale in my Etsy shop.  Click on over there if you’d like to see a few more pics.

How to enter:

You can have up to three entries in this giveaway!

#1:  Become a subscriber to my blog. Simply click the button in the right column that reads “Sign me up!” and follow the directions.  Leave me a comment on this post and let me know you’re a new subscriber.  Or, if you are already a subscriber, just leave a comment letting me know you’d like to be entered.

#2:  Become a Facebook Fan. Click on the link to my Facebook Fanpage and become a fan.  Leave me a wall post to let me know you’re a new fan.  Or, if you are already a fan, just leave me a wall post letting me know you’d like to be entered.

#3:  Heart an item in my shop. Which one of my items is your favorite?  Just heart the one you like best and leave me a comment letting me know.

That’s three easy ways to enter!

*This giveaway is open until 10/10/10 at 11:59pm CST.  Each entry will be assigned a number in the order in which they are received.  The winner will be chosen on 10/11/10 at random using the random integer generator at random.org.

I’ll announce the lucky winner in next Monday’s post, so be on the lookout!

There were a few veggie/vegan selections, actually in their own little section on the menu, which was nice.  I ordered Buddha’s Monday Noodles, which came with crispy fried tofu.  I hesitated to order it because of the tofu, but I figured I could always eat around it, and I had never tried it crispy fried.  Oh my yum!  It’s true what they say, everything tastes better fried!

I liked it so much, in fact, that tonight, Adam and I tried another Pho restaurant, and I ordered…the exact same thing.  Crazy right?  Tofu, two nights in a row?  Ah well, I guess that, like many other types of foods, it’s all in the way it’s prepared.

Well, if you have been paying close attention, you have noticed that this is post number 99, which means that my next post is the big one oh oh, which means… giveaway time!  Be on the lookout on Monday for post 100, and details on how to enter.

Fitted Shirt Organic American Apparel Dinosaur Vegan Vegetarian 100 Percent Cotton - Herbivore - S M L XL - by ScreamPrinting

Well, I have hit my two-week mark on my new adventure as a vegan, and I’ve learned quite a few things so far.

Number one, I still don’t really care for firm tofu.  I attempted an egg-less egg salad last week that was, hmmm, okay.  But, it still pretty much just tasted like tofu and onion, so after the my second taste test, I had to toss it.

Number two, eating out can be tricky.  My first dining out experience occurred at Applebee’s… not the most vegan friendly place.  I ordered the endless soup/salad combo, which was the only thing I found on the menu that I could eat.  There were four soup choices: chili, chicken tortilla, tomato basil, and french onion.  I asked for the house salad (no cheese), and the tomato basil.  After about two bites of the soup, I realized that it had cream in it, so my next choice was the french onion.  After dutifully removing the wonderfully pungent and gooey layer of swiss cheese and toast from the top of the soup, I made it about half way through the soup before remembering that french onion is made with beef broth.  So, no vegan soups at Applebee’s!  By that time, I just laughed and called that meal a loss.

Number three, I’m still a meat-eater at heart.  I awoke from a nightmare on Thursday morning.  I had dreamed that I was eating a sausage link and looked down at the last bite in my hand only to realized it was made out of meat!!  Panic ensued, and I awoke feeling completely silly.

But, it has not been all bad!   I have discovered some very tasty recipes so far, and here are some links to my top three from the past two weeks.

Vegan Colby Cheese Dip – I make this both weeks, once to use just as a cheese dip, and once mixed in with some whole wheat pasta and re-hydrated sun-dried tomatoes.  Yum!

Curried Eggplant, Lentil, and Quinoa Burgers – This was a great veggie-burger.  I didn’t have quinoa flakes on hand, so I used quick cook oats instead, and they turned out wonderfully.

Creole Black-eyed Peas – I love black-eyed peas, and these had just enough spice and liquid smoke seasoning, that I didn’t miss the ham seasonings at all.  I made these with canned black-eyed peas, and that really helped cut down on the prep and cook time.

Let me know if you give these recipes a try!  I’ll still be here experimenting and trying new things in my own kitchen, so hopefully I’ll have some more recommendations for you in the near future.

And, don’t forget to be on the lookout soon for details on the next Treacle And Ink giveaway!  Things are rolling right along behind the scenes here, and new things will be popping up soon.

Around here, there is a little bit of changing going on, both with me personally, and over at my Etsy shop, Treacle And Ink.

As far as me personally, I am trying a little bit of an experiment with my diet.  Due to some health concerns, I have made the decision to try a vegan diet for at least the next month.  At the end of the month, I’ll see what effect this has had on my overall health, and then make a decision to go back to my meat-eating ways, or stick with my new dietary lifestyle.  This is from the girl whose “last meal” request has always been fried chicken.  Oh, bacon, how I will miss you!  And Whataburger, I would be remiss if I excluded you from my fond farewell wishes!  Will this be a permanent change?  We’ll have to wait and see!

I have to give a big shout out to my friend jane over at The Village Star, a vegan herself, who has set me up with all sorts of resources.  Thanks girl!

So, how does this affect you, the reader?  Well, hopefully, I’ll be sharing some delicious recipes I discover along the way.  And if you have any that you are particularly fond of, please share it in a comment below, or leave me a link to the recipe!

Now, on to TreacleAndInk.Etsy.com.  The changes over there are still going on in the background at the moment, but keep your eyes peeled for some new items and more details in an upcoming post.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I am quickly approaching my 100th post!!  That means that giveaway time is heading this way, so be on the lookout for more info on that, too.

Lots of good stuff going on over here, so stay tuned!