Fabric Flower Garlands

My beautiful little sister Leandra is getting married here in June so there's been a lot of gardening, crafting, building, and cement pouring happening these last few weeks. We had a little party for her over the weekend; all the girls got together to help her get a start on some of the decorations. It was really just an excuse to try out potential "signature cocktails" but we also got a little (easy!) crafting done. I wanted to feature one of the projects here: these little fabric flower garlands. They're super simple to make, require almost no sewing and (just like my sweet sister) are so pretty and joyful. So grab a bit of fabric, some ribbon, and a needle and thread and let's get started.



First: cut a strip of fabric as wide as you want your flowers to be. Fold it up, lay something round on top (a jar lid or drinking glass works great) and trace a circle.



Cut 8 to 12 circles out, don't worry about being precise here.



Grab one circle and fold it into quarters so that it makes a little point.



Run your threaded needle through the point of the folded circle. Don't worry if you don't have matching thread, it won't really show.



Keep adding folded circles, just like stringing beads on a necklace, until you've got 10 or 12 circles together.



Tie off your string, fluff up the circles, and like magic you've got a flower! Now make a couple more flowers in lots of beautiful colors.



Attach the flowers to ribbon with a little "x" of two stitches.



Now hang it up and get ready to party!



Stay tuned for a recipe for the chosen cocktail...

Dirt under our fingernails

Spring has already arrived in our blessed part of the world and today we finally got out into the garden to give it some much needed attention. Turns out Finn is a pretty natural gardener: he went right to work pulling some of the dinosaur-sized weeds that have been growing up all winter.







(It's a good thing these "weeds" are edible!)

What I've been up to

There hasn't been much crafty posting here, but there has been a fair amount of crafting ("fair amount" considering the traveling and parenting that's also been going on.) I find that when my crafting time is limited, it can be really nice to use a tutorial. No second guessing or starting over or craftfails -- and lots of nearly instant gratification.  I've been using some wonderful free tutorials and patterns from the internet and it's been so easy and rewarding. So here's a linky lineup in case you're in need of a quick crafty fix too.

Cooking
Well, not exactly cooking, but playing with food. I've been making my own chai latte mix (like the one from Trader Joe's but better!) loosely based on this recipe. I gave jars of it away as stocking stuffers at Christmas and it's been a big hit.

I leave out the instant tea (ew.) but the recipe still calls for non-dairy creamer (scary stuff.) so I'm thinking about trying this recipe which calls for sweetened condensed milk instead (I can get a nice organic version at my local grocer.)

Sewing
For my dear friend Beth's birthday, I made a reversible tote bag from Skip to my Lou. I made mine a wee bit bigger and finished it off with an apple print with an appliqued leaf.


I put a few goodies for Beth's beautiful baby Jonah in the bag: a ball from felted wool sweaters and a flannel crinkly square using an old baby wipes package...  The crinkly square especially is perfect: it only took about 10 minutes to make, saved an old diaper wipes package from the garbage, and (most importantly!) it was such a hit I had to make Finn one too.  It's become my go-to last minute baby gift.


I've also been whipping up a bunch of these super easy wool pants for Finn.

They're made from the sleeves of adult-sized felted sweaters and they seriously only take a couple of minutes to throw together. Wool is a perfect material for diaper covering as it's naturally antibacterial and absorbent without feeling wet. Plus you can add fun and easy (no unraveled edges) appliques. I'm kicking myself for not keeping all the shrunken sweaters I've sent to the Goodwill over the years!

Knitting
I've been knitting too, several as yet unfinished projects -- and these ones are (almost) all for me! I'm making a simple sleeveless cardigan, the Shalom Cardigan from Involving the Senses.
Finn's helping with this one:


Also a Burberry-inspired cowl (every girl needs a little luxury, especially if it's homemade and $720 less than the Burberry version.)


And I'm finally attempting an Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern, the Baby Surprise Jacket), just in time for Finn not to fit it at all.


And I haven't cast on for the last project yet but I just had to show you this yarn: Malabrigo Merino Twist, isn't it beautiful?

I'm thinking some sort of slouchy beret for myself. Perhaps the Star-Crossed Slouchy Beret or maybe the Grace Lace Beret. Do you have any suggestions?

Any other good (quick and easy) tutorials I should be looking at? What are you working on?

Walking between raindrops

Finn and I have been taking advantage of those lovely hours between rainstorms. We've been walking a lot and enjoying the lush greenery, the swollen creeks and the squelchy mud. We don't talk much when we walk; my normally chatty little man gets very quiet and just looks around. And up, he loves to look up at the very tall redwoods. I imagine that he is experiencing awe and wonderment for the first time and I'm reminded to allow those emotions into my life again too.

So here, without much chatter, are some of the wonderful things we've been seeing.

Flourless Chocolate Cakes

Arnoud's birthday was a few days ago and we had a very quiet celebration. We took Finn for a walk, talked to the continental relatives on skype, had dinner at home with my family, and lit a big bonfire on the upper meadow. It was quite a change from years past when we've done big parties with costumes or ski jumps in the backyard or brunch for all the neighbors. But there were some very sweet, intimate moments that just may become traditions, starting with these individual flourless chocolate cakes.



I don't usually make individual birthday cakes because there's just not enough room for the candles. But this time I put a candle in everyone's cake and we all made a wish for Arnoud before we blew out our own candle, and really what's better than your own cake and 12 wishes?


folding the beaten eggs into the chocolate

I've been playing around with this recipe for years and I think I've got it figured out now. Although the end result is impressive, the preparation is pretty easy, no double-boilers or sifting required. The recipe consists of just chocolate, butter, sugar and eggs (and a little water,) but together they are transformed into something decadently chocolate without being cloying, especially if you cut the richness with raspberry coulis and homemade strawberry ice cream like we did. And the pink fruit and dark chocolate would also be perfect for your valentine!


the cakes before baking

So happy Valentine's day to you and your love, and happy birthday to my love!



Individual Flourless Chocolate Cakes
Makes 12 small cakes
See notes at the end for a Mexican chocolate variation.

3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped (I leave mine in the package and just bang on it with a rolling pin)
3 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 stick butter, cubed
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup plus 1 Tablespoon sugar, divided
3 large eggs

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Grease a muffin tin or twelve 3 oz ramekins with nonstick cooking spray (if you use butter, they will stick. Ask me how I know.)
2. Combine chocolate and butter in a large heatproof mixing bowl.
3. Bring water and 1/3 cup sugar to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Pour over chocolate and butter and stir until melted.
4. Beat the eggs and sugar in a separate bowl until soft peaks form and slowly dissolve when the beater is lifted.
5. Gently fold the eggs into the chocolate in three additions.
6. Spoon the batter into the prepared pans and bake until a soft crust has formed on top of the cakes and tester inserted into center comes out with some moist crumbs attached, about 25 minutes. Cool the cakes 5 minutes (they will fall a bit) and then turn out onto plates to finish cooling. Serve at room temperature with raspberry coulis (raspberries blended with a little bit of sugar and then strained) and ice cream.

Mexican Chocolate Cakes: swap the water for strong coffee and add 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon to the chocolate and butter. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipping cream.

Acorn Cap Pattern

This little acorn cap is worked in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, so it is soft and warm, and perfect for covering your little one's ears on a blustery day. This hat is knit in a berry stitch adapted to work in the round, and the decreases for the crown shaping are integrated into the pattern.

Materials:
Size 8 DPNs
1 skein Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (I used a tan color, #300029)
Tapestry needle

Gauge: 4" = 5 pattern repeats and 30 rows
Finished size: 15" unstretched. Just fits my very large six month old.

Abbreviations:
CO = cast on
DPNs = double pointed needles
PM = place marker
P = purl
K = knit
tbl = through back loop
K2tog = knit 2 together
K3tog = knit 3 together
P2tog = purl 2 together

Pattern Repeat:
Row 1: *P3, (K1, K1 tbl, K1) in next stitch. Repeat from * around.
Row 2: *K3tog, P3. Repeat from * around.
Row 3: *(K1, K1 tbl, K1) in next stitch, P3. Repeat from * around.
Row 4: *P3, K3tog. Repeat from * around.



Directions:
CO 72 stitches across 4 DPNs and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist work.
Work in pattern for 30 rows. You will have 108 stitches after finishing odd rows and 72 stitches after finishing even rows.
Row 31: *P2tog, P2tog, (K1, K1 tbl, K1) in next stitch, P3. Repeat from * around. 72 stitches.
Row 32: *P5, K3tog. Repeat from * around. 54 stitches.
Row 33: *K2tog, P3, (K1, K1 tbl, K1) in next stitch. Repeat from * around. 63 stitches.
Row 34: P1 *K3tog, P4. Repeat from * to last 6 stitches. K3tog, P3. 45 stitches.
Row 35: *K2tog, P3. Repeat from * around. 36 stitches.
Row 36: *P1, K3tog. Repeat from * around. 18 stitches.
Rows 37-46: P all stitches.
Row 47: P2tog around. 9 stitches.
Cut yarn, thread through remaining live stitches. Weave in all ends.


photo by Leandra


Acorn Fairy illustration by Cicely Mary Barker
There's a bit of a resemblance there, no?

Home sweet home.

It's early, still dark, and quiet in my little house. My boys are still sleeping but the jet lag got me up early this morning. I've got a cup of tea and the quiet night noises to keep me company: clock ticking like a heartbeat, water rushing by outside the window, fingers tapping on the keyboard. It's good to be home.

Our trip was a whirlwind, here are the highlights:

We saw old friends


And met new friends.



We soaked up the culture


And gobbled up the food.


But mostly this trip was about Family

photo by: Tante Tinie





And it was a big trip for Finn. He saw his other homeland (the Netherlands) for the first time in all its snowy, wintry glory.


He started eating


And grew his first little teeth.


He went skiing with Papa


And sledding too.



And now we're home with our sweet memories and joyful photos. And blessed internet access! Oh, how I missed you!