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!