The Best Ever Gingersnaps

picture from the web/no reference found

Today is cold and rainy in my neck of the woods- so rainy that I spent two hours sitting in the school parking lot this morning.  I was ever so nonchalantly waiting for the raging rivers roads to clear so that I could drive and not float home-

Now that I'm here I'm seriously thinking about making these very yummy soft, chewy gingersnaps--so, very, very good.  Even better after they been out of the oven for a few hours and the flavors have blended.  This is my mom's recipe that my sisters may have tweaked a bit.  Good stuff!

Chewy Gingersnaps

3/4 c. margarine
1 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg
1/4 c. black strap molasses
1 1/4 c. white flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. ground cloves
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger

Cream margarine and sugar. Add egg and molasses and mix well. mix in dry ingredients. Cover dough and chill for one hour. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. Bake between 350-375 for 8-10 minutes. Don't over bake. These should be soft, chewy and very yummy!

Corsage shirt

I'm feeling so much better.  Thanks for all of the 'get well' wishes...  now there are piles of dishes and laundry to get to.  But I wanted to quickly post my version of the ever popular corsage shirt.  Sorry about the icky pictures- no time for retakes!.  Just cut a stack of 2" and 2 1/2" circles out of an old t-shirt (you'll need five circles per flower).  Then fold four circles into fourths and sew them to the center of a circle. 

Then you fluff up the flower and tack it down in random spots to keep it "fluffy" and sew it onto your blouse.  Easy Peasy.

Favorite Crochet Blog

I think I have a new favorite free crochet pattern website- it is called My Picot.  If I wasn't still sick and miserable I'd be at Hobby Lobby stocking up on all sorts of new yarn!!

Candle holder makeover

A nasty cold has taken over our family and it loves us so much it refuses to leave!!!  I'm getting tired of feeling icky!  To lift my spirits I thought I'd share a quick weekend makeover project. I found these brassy candle holders at the Salvation Army. With a couple of coats of the rubbed oil bronze spray paint

they are ready to display- sorry about the lack of staging to perfection (and the fake tea lights- can't find the real ones)- I'm not feeling up to messing with all of that!

Serging Project #2: Skirt

My first serging project with my new machine was a scarf. No pictures. It looked like a first serging project.

Project number two was this skirt made with a stretchy knit.  After serging it together I made my first ever blind hem and zig zag stitched the ribbon rose on... still far from perfect- but I am enjoying how the serger works on the stretchy material. 

Sewing stretchy fabric on a traditional machine was always a bit tricky for me.  I'd end up with puckers and edges that had an unintentional lettuce finish.  The first skirt I ever made with stretchy fabric was in junior high and I had to put fishing weights in the hem near the seams to "pull" them down where they were supposed to be- no joke!  Anyways, this machine makes it all so much easier.   I think I want to get some FOE (fold over elastic) and try some more fast, and easy skirts.

Sweet Hubby

It was my birthday this week and sweet hubby really out did himself. For my gift I asked for his help on a "little" make-me-a-new-bed project. He said yes- I'm so excited!! He also surprised me with a clean house, a home grilled steak dinner, some friends invited over for the evening and a dozen roses. Have I mentioned that I LOVE that man?!

I had some fun thrifting today and spent $40 at Goodwill- yeah- some fun fashion remakes are in the works and I'm chompin' at the bit to get started. If you are in the mood to transform a cardigan Target has a bunch on sale for less then $5. Don't forget to check out JCrew if you need some inspiration-

                                                                              

Another silky rose for a Hat

Still playing with the ribbon and silk roses.  In fact, I made fifteen for a group of girl's at church- just a momentary touch of insanity when I decided to do that- but I'm back into reality- kind of ;o)

I found this sweet hat on clearance at Target and added this little pink rose to spiff it up a bit.  Much better I think.  The link for directions on how to make the rose is just down a bit with the other silky flowers.  Enjoy!                                                                                                                                              
                                              

Bright Crocheted Scarf

On a cold gray day this scarf adds a cheerful pop of color! I used "I love this cotton" variegated color #8 Carousel Ombre yarn.

You don't need a pattern. Just make a chain stitch the length of the scarf  you want, turn and double crocheted back across, at the last stitch chain one, turn your work and single crocheted back across. When  you reach that end chain two, turn your work and then double crocheted back across.  Repeat this until the width you want and then added some fringe to the ends. Super Simple-

For fun I've stayed up until one the past two night reading Cathy Hake's books- my favorite was Letter Perfect.  The plots are a bit unusual, but they are still fun Christian Romances.  A cold front has come to town so I'll spend most of the weekend indoors- I'll need to find another good book to read :o)

Non- Christmasy Topiary Tree

Out with the old dusty ivy and in with a new topiary (that won't be staying next to this lamp).  So easy to make!! Just go to Hancocks and buy the styrofoam tree shapes- 60% off because they are "Christmas" items. You'll also need lots of glue sticks, a stick from your yard, a container, and styrofoam for the base.  Dollar Tree carries styrofoam and some moss, too.

Moss mini lesson:  The "Reindeer" moss looks alive, feels like parsley and is a little trickier to glue on then the other stuff.  The "Natural Moss" from Hobby Lobby has bits of bark in it- love that added texture- and is a little easier to work with!

Take the stick from your yard, cut it down to about five inches long and carefully add it to your tree for the trunk. Start gluing on your moss, work from bottom to top- oh, and use a low temp glue gun because it really hurts when you are burning your burn blisters-trust me! 

Find a cute container- now, just because it is Jan. and freezing outside, and you need a spray painting fix-(not THAT kind of fix- a need to paint something ugly fix)-  Don't  spray paint your tree holder  in the house because it will give you an awful headache- even with all the windows open.... not that I've ever done anything so foolish!  Ahem.... Yes, well then, "plant" your tree in (styrofoam and more moss) and you have a non-Christmasy topiary to display all year long!

More Ribbon Roses

While my daughter was home from college she wanted to make a few ribbon roses. We pulled out the craft supplies and.... here they are! There are several ways to do this. We simply cut out a circle of felt (we traced vitamin lids for a variety of sizes). Scrunch, twist, gather and pleat your ribbon as you hand sew it onto the felt. Begin by turning a bit of the raw edge to the back. End by using some fray check on the ribbon edge and then turn the raw part underneath.

Add some beads, buttons or vintage jewelry to the flower centers.  Sew a pin, hair clip or both to the back of your flower and you're ready to wear them. 

I especially like how these look worn in the hair... the wired ribbon was surprisingly easy to work with.

For ideas on how to make the black, silky, organza flowers check out Reese Dixon's directions here.  Have fun!

Hello Again!

I hope your holiday was delightful!  Mine was full of family and fun!!  This is my new toy. Santa is so good to me!  I've only given it a practice run, but so far I'm excited about the possiblities.  The Brother 1034D  is one of the least expensive sergers out there but it has some great reviews!

I know it is a bit early for Valentine's Day stuff, but you've just got to read this true love story!  It is seriously one of the best I've ever read and it brings a tear to my eye every time!  This is true love!

A little craft project:

My New Year's craft was to take three of the 99 cent calendars from Target and spiff them up.  I LOVE the month at a glance calendars and my life is so much more organized when I use one (didn't last year and missed my best friends birthday- still MORTIFIED!).  These make sweet gifts for friends.

Anyhow, you just carefully remove the calendar from the plastic cover it is in.  Add some scrapbook paper and an inspirational quote or cute, very thin, embellishment to the calendar cover and carefully place it back inside the plastic cover- Ten minutes and you're done!  Here's to an organized 2010!

F.Y.I.  Amazon is selling fabric now- they had some Sandy Henderson and Amy Butler that looked awfully fun!