It's About the Process...

I thought it would be fun to make felt balls with the girls this weekend. I have never made them and how hard could it be, right?! And it was pretty simple, but it was definately about the process not the product. Kyra thought this was really cool and good at it. Mae started out good but ended up having more fun witht the soapy water. It was fun, but so much for thinking this might turn into some Christmas gifts.

Lets Talk Recycling

During a recent trip to the library I came accross two great books about Recycling Your Wardrobe. I have done this minimally throughout my life.... patches, cut off shorts, you know you probably did it too. But to make a whole new piece of clothing is very motivating. And after reading some good advice I started my mission by adding another pile when going through my closet this fall. Now I have the Keep pile, Give away pile, Throw away pile (things have always had to be pretty bad for me to actually throw them away), and now the Recycle Me pile. I am constantly longing for new clothes and a new wardrobe, but that is just NOT happening. So, with a few alterations to clothes that I haven't worn in a while, don't wear anymore or have just gone out of style I am coming up with new clothes for myself. And I am excited to wear them. A little too excited, I didn't take any  pictures of this sweater before I altered it.  My sister Amy is always telling me to "take before pictures!" I really do need to listen, before and after pictures are key! So my new sweater photo follows, but I do not have a before picture:(

I will explain since I do not have that "before" picture. This is a cotton Old Navy sweater that used to have long sleeves and the neck was open to right under my ribs. I didn't mind it, but just didn't wear it much. And this season I have been noticing the style is short sleeved sweaters with long sleeved t-shirts worn under. I liked the style and knew that this sweater would be perfect! It took me a few tries to get the sleeve length right but I think this is a keeper, at least for another season...

I am off to take pictures of my Recycle Me pile, just so I have them for when I decide to reuse something.

One year I tried trading clothes with my sisters, that worked really well too. And Amy has also been talking of a swap with a bunch of people. I really like that idea, I may have to do that here with my friends.

If anyone has more ideas please pass them on!!!

A Beautiful Day

The sun is out, I already have my windows open. Is it really December in New York?! What else will this beautiful day bring? Why am I sitting at the computer....

Another Fun Week!

This past weekend we had visitors, my Mom and Dad were here. It was a wonderful visit, we did a lot of hanging and talking. And they got to do a lot of playing with their grandchildren.

The week started with Mae's Birthday!

Grampy is so proud of Kyra for learning to read all the bird names!

Is this  ANOTHER birthday party?

We also visited Daddy's job site, Brooklyn Bridge Park. It was amazing to see how far it has come. We got a personalized tour, Kyra and Mae loved running around and exploring. I love to go into "The Big City" (as the girls put it, I think it came from a Curious George book). But I never really push it because that is where Steve spends all his days and a lot of them at that.  So, this was a treat for all of us!

I love this shot of my little family!

Then we stopped by a flea market in search of treasures. Which this puzzle would have been, but it was priced for someone else.

Then we stood in  this line for pizza. It was good!

Thanks for a wonderful visit Mom and Dad!

Where Have I Been?!

It has been so long since I have written here. I paused when I had to send my camera in to get repaired. Then I couldn't think of anyway to start back up again. So I thought I would start with a little montage of what we have been up to this fall....

Peaceful playing.

Halloween.

This was the "Boat Burning." A tradition our community Maritime Museum does every year to thank the local residents for putting up with summer tourism. It was my first experience at first I didn't even know why they burn the boat (so I looked it up) but now that I know it was a very special night to enjoy with the community.

A few walks in the woods...

And...

Our big Birthday Girl!!! This was her day! I think we will have a girl who takes the whole month of November for herself.....better save one day for me!

I will be back soon to share more.

Catching Up

We have been catching up with life around here. Getting rooms and furniture painted. Yes, actual projects getting done, I cannot believe it. We had a rainy weekend last weekend so we took advantage of it and got some stuff done. I have been rarely sitting at the computer. Today I figured I better sit down and pay some bills and catch up with my e-mailing and write a little blurb on here.

This is an old picture of our asparagus. I was cleaning up the garden yesterday thinking about how excited I am for this upcoming spring because we will finally get to eat some asparagus. It will be year three, yippee!The reason I am using an old picture is because my camera has been sent to the repair shop. BOOOOHOOOO. It seems unnatural to be not snapping picutres every minute I get. That just made me realize that I will not have it for Halloween. I thnk I have to dig up my old camera that I have been letting the girls use. hmmmmm where could that camera be......

Thrifting

Thrifting is my new weakness. One thrift store that I go to always has zippers. So I went for zippers...

But, I also came home with this....

100 % Wool, came with a skirt too. But, the buttons are the best part, great additions to anything I might make.

And this....

The bottom one is a skirt, tempting to wear for a season. But, even but I think it will be better if I felt it.

And the best find of all is this...

A $3.00 bolt of fabric. Many, many yards of this printed linen. I have no idea what I will end up doing with it but it is so great!!! Believe me I already have 2 million ideas!

Off to celebrate Stephen's birthday, happy weekend!

My Mind Works Faster Than my Hands

I have been working in my studio whenever I get the chance. I really want to get an etsy account started to maybe get some products sold for Christmas gifts. I am hoping that if I post a little hint of what I have been making it will inspire me more to get that account going. It is up just not going. I have a million ideas in my head, I just need to produce some of them. Here are two hints of handbags that I have finished...

Do you like what you see so far? I have been using wool sweaters, felting them, and making bags. I have since come to find out that this is a new trend called upcycling. It is fun, I just wish I could use one of these bags for myself :)

Off to the Orchard

Weekends are the best!

We spend Sunday picking Apples!

When we got home Stephen had cooked dinner. I love Crock Pot season. And I baked dessert, great teamwork if I do say so myself. We couldn't decide between apple crisp and apple pie. I made a mix of both, it turned out allright. It wasn't sweet enough, and no cinnamon, apples need cinnamon! I am going to have to try it again so we can really enjoy it!

We sure did have a nice weekend! Hope all of you did too!

Friday Night.....Pizza!

Friday night is pizza night around here. Tonight I made our Acorn Squash Pizza. YUMMY! Living in New York it is hard to top the pizza you can get at the pizza parlor. But, yes I said but, I think I have mastered a pizza recipe that we LOVE in our home.  I thought I would share. I will follow with a recipe but I feel like I have to say, try it before you judge. It sounds like an odd combination, but it is sooooo good together!! So good!

I originally got this idea off Food Network at some point, maybe Giada. But I have seen it other places too. Our adapted recipe...

Acorn Squash Pizza

1 Acorn Squash peeled and cut up into small pieces

1 onion, sliced thin

2 Tbls Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Tbls Maple Syrup, or Agave nectar, honey, something to sweeten it up.

Salt and pepper

Toss together and lay out on a cookie sheet in a single layer for roasting. Roast in 350 degree oven for about 20-30 minutes. Or until soft and golden.

1 pizza dough rolled out

1 cup mozzerella cheese sprinkled on dough

1/2 to 1 cup blue cheese sprinkled on top of mozzerella

Bake in 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes, until cheese is golden.

Timing is tricky, you can do it all at the same time in the oven together *, it might just take a little longer.

Cook both until golden. Doing it together makes them ready at the same time, so you can enjoy it hot!

Arugula!!!!

You could toss it with a little Olive Oil if you like, I usually don't. Throw this on the top right before you serve it and ENJOY!!!

Once you do this a couple times it is easy. And Yummy! Did I already say that?

Okay, so Mae won't eat the other pizza so I make a small personal pizza for her. I end up freezing single portions of sauce because I have learned. Kyra does eat the other pizza, and tonight she didn't even eat the "regular" pizza. So most of us devour the Acorn Squash pizza!

*note: for those of you who don't know we have a double oven so making 2 pizzas is a lot easier. Don't get envious, they are original from the house and kind of dangerous (hot on the outside) but on a night like this they sure do come in handy! Don't know what I will do if we ever decide to redo our kitchen, I might have to get rid of the convenience :(

A Little Distracted...

I did have a follow up for the Bread Season Blog post. But, we have been busy around here. And, a little distracted today. This is Kyra before...

And this is after...

At least she is still smiling! Kyra was very brave at the dentist. As he put it he had to "Play Tooth Fairy." This was mostly to prevent a disaster, but as it turns out it was good we got it removed.

Anyway, I spent the end of the day making sure Kyra had some thing to put that tooth in tonight...

I think she is excited for the Tooth Fairy to come...

Bread Season

I love the cool days of fall bright sun light, windows wide open, and the smell of fresh bread baking. I have a great artisan bread recipe. I think this is the main reason I love the fall. But, also fall is just so cozy, the heat isn't turned on yet, nights are cool enough to wrap up in a blanket on the couch. Mmmmm can't wait for this evening.
                                         

I better come up with a cozy soup recipe to go with the bread for tonight.

It's an Honor

Although I started this blog a few months ago I decided recently to share it with more of my friends and others on my e-mail list. Thank you to those of you who have visited! But, it is really an honor to receive first a phone call from a friend wanting her own reusable baggies (we made a trade deal!) Thanks Laura! Looking forward to my hat! And second I received a phone call hoping for a little inspiration for a gift to make. I suggested making some Tawashi scrubbers. These are my new quick project. Reusable sponges. Awesome! I somehow came across these while playing around on the internet one day, go figure.  I tried a few patterns and I ended up coming up with my own adaption of a pattern. I said I would post the pattern so some gifts could be made. By themselves or with a few dish cloths I think this would make a nice gift.

Thanks Anna! Hope this is fun and helpful!!!

Tawashi Scrubbie (adapted from a flower pattern in Crochet Today)
Round 1: Start with this awesome "Magic Adjustable Ring" Chain 1, work 14 single crochet into ring. join with slip stitch in first single crochet.
Round 2: Ch 1, single crochet in same single crochet as joining,*chain 3, skip one single crochet, single crochet in next single crochet. repeat from * 6 times more, join in first sc. There should be 7 chain 3 spaces.
Round 3: (flower petals) This is where I switch colors (join with slip stitch) Chain 1 in chain 3 space, *single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, treble crochet, double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet Repeat from * 6 more times more in remaining chain 3 spaces, join.7 petals.
Round 4: This might be confusing. Chain 1, with right side facing work behind petals. *single crochet around post of first single crochet on round 2, chain 4, repeat from * 6 more times. There should be 7 chain 4 spaces.
Round 5: Chain 1, in chain 4 space *single crochet, half double crochet, 5 double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet, repeat from* 7 times total.
Round 6: Chain 1, with right side facing work behing petals. *single crochet around post of first single crochet on Round 2, chain 3, repeat from* 6 times more. 7 chain 3 spaces.
Round 7: With wrong side facing repeat Round 3, without switching colors.
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Braid 7" piece and tie as hanging ring.

Below you can kind of see the 3 petals.

There you have it. I used a bamboo/wool blend. It did felt, and it looks cool, still works the same. I used bamboo because it is anti-microbal/bacterial and the wool makes it abrasive. Traditional Tawashi 's ( look at "other tawashi's") are made from acrylic and some even put some type of silver ions in to make it bacteria resistant. Why not use bamboo with its natural anti-bacterial properties. I have found that 100% bamboo is pretty silky, so I went for a natural blend. I will probably make some with organic cotton too. 100% bamboo would work well for face tawashi's. I made a few but haven't used them yet. And I made them smaller. Only one petal round and done. Maybe bye bye cotton balls.

It really is an honor that my friends and family are enjoying and appreciating this blog.
Thank you.

A Cookie Day!

Mae Mae and I made cookies yesterday. I love cookie days!!! If we are baking it means that the weather is getting cooler. And I don't mind turning the oven on. I love the fall, this year it feels like a true fall, back to school, cool weather, and beautiful landscapes. I think Mae enjoyed herself today...

We all enjoyed the outcome!

I finished the day off with a birthday present...

Another simple gift to make with scraps of fabric. And this is one of my favorite fabric lines.