Jalapeno and Cheddar Cookies

When I saw this recipe on Design Sponge the other day for Leah Verwey’s savory cookies, I knew I had to try them.  Being a lover of cheese, spice, and cookies, I figured this was the perfect cookie for me.  I made them yesterday and you know what?  Delicious!

I used an extra sharp white cheddar and did a rough-cut on my jalapenos.  I think the next time I make them I will dice the jalapenos and grate the cheese more finely to make a smoother consistency.  I will also roll them out a little thinner, maybe to 1/4" thick since I really liked the crispier ones best.  Mine took quite a bit longer to cook and I suspect it was because they were a little thicker than Leah's.

The flavor though, amazing.  Nom.  They're sort of like a condensed biscuit.  A cheddary, slightly spicy delicious biscuit.  I can't wait to make them again.  I'm already thinking of the flavor combinations to be had...

Pop over to Design Sponge, here to see the recipe and the beautiful photos that accompany it.

What are you cooking this weekend?

Crafting For Ourselves Dec. 9 2010

Wow!  Look at some of the gorgeous work I found in the Crafting For Ourselves group this week.  It makes me even more eager to get going on these projects I have sitting here. 

My intent with starting this group was to inspire (myself and you) crafting for our own enjoyment and enrichment.  Sometimes we get so busy tending our Etsy shops or making things for others that we don't take much time to spoil ourselves.  This is a place to share what you've made for yourself, your family, or your friends.   If you haven't joined us, please do!  Show us your crafting, your baking, your re-fashions, whatever you're working on.   We'd love to see.

1. CrochetTree.jpg, 2. cactus cheer, 3. Japanese creeper wreath, 4. joulukoriste 53, 5. cranberries, 6. Sternenlicht, 7. Embellished Candle Holder, 8. mitts for sister, 9. Crochet covered stone with circle.

Thanks to everyone who takes part, and to those of you who are having a peek today.

A Thrifting We Will Go

My big plans to travel down to Minneapolis were dashed by mother nature this Saturday.  With the several inches of snow she dropped I feared my 2 hour drive to the cities would become longer (and less safe).  Though I wanted to go see some amazing art and eat gyros, I wasn't up to spending 5 or more hours on the road to do it.  I was not about to waste a day out though, it's not often I get out of the house much less without the kiddies so I headed to some local antique stores to see what I could see.  My mother in law joined me and we shopped and lunched.  I found a few keepers; some for gifts and some for me!

I'll warn you now, there are lots of pictures...bear with me.

No thrifting trip would be complete without coming home with a worn wood object that I adore (and hubby loathes).  This time I came home with no fewer than three of these items. muahaha!

I have wanted an antique wooden rake for a long time.  This became my Christmas gift from my mother in law.  Sheryl, really you shouldn't have, but I LOVE it! 

I found this old wooden trough/bucket and couldn't resist.  I'm going to bet at least one of you is going to covet this one too.  (ahem...Lynn) 

I also brought home another wooden tool box.  I have a thing for tool boxes.  This is vintage, not antique, but is handmade and HEAVY.  I should have some good biceps after lugging this one around.

Lately I've been digging on these vintage brass animals so I brought home a set of cranes to adorn my mantel.  I have a set of deer that my grandma gave me so they'll take turns.  Or perhaps I'll have a brass animal sanctuary sprouting up on my mantel.  Who knows.

I also came home with several linens.  I found some delicate hankies, and a lace tablecloth for a steal that I want to use to cover one of my trees like my friend Odile did.  I also found a bag of lace, mostly pieces cut from garments, that I couldn't wait to dig through.

There were a lot of collars and trim in the bag, but also this sleeve.

and it had the tiniest shell button closure.  So sweet.

There was also this piece that looks like it might have been cut from a dress.  There are remnants of what might be silk on the edges.

The tiny detail of the lace is just incredible.

There was also this weighted piece.  It's heavy and feel like lead shot wrapped in fabric.  Anyone know what this is?

I couldn't resist these great vintage linen tea towels.  They were only $1 and I plan to use most of them in my kitchen, but some of the cuter ones might be worked into clothes for my daughter.  Here are a few of my favorites.

I also came home with a few tablecloths.  The floral one is a very heavy weave but I have no idea what kind of fabric it is.   I'm going to try to make the one with the Dala horse into a skirt for E. 

Although it wasn't how I planned to spend the day, it turned out to be a great time.

How about you?  What was the highlight of your weekend?

Tiny Birch Bark Canoe Tutorial

If you find this, or one of my other tutorials, helpful and would like to make a monetary contribution to help me keep wool in my basket and ideas flowing, I'd be so grateful.  By clicking the "Buy Now" button below you can choose your own price for the tutorial.  It's completely optional, but oh so appreciated.

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As promised, a birch bark tutorial! 

Since so many people seemed to love these tiny birch bark canoes, I thought I'd share how I make them.

What you'll need:

birch bark (bark, not birch paper)

raffia or waxed thread/artificial sinew

a sturdy needle

scissors

small twigs

clothespins or small binder clips

I've found it really helpful to soak the birch bark for several hours or overnight before doing this project.  It makes the bark more pliable and seems to keep it from tearing quite so easily.  If your bark starts to dry out while you're sewing you can dunk it in a bowl of water or steam it with your steam iron (which is also a nice way to convince pieces of bark to lie flat since the bark wants to curl up.  Perfect for making gift tags.).

Cut a rectangle of bark to the length and twice the height of the boat you want to make.  The piece I've cut is about 2 1/2" x 2".  Gently fold it in half but don't try to crease it.  I lay my finger along the center and use even pressure when I fold.

Cut the top curve of the canoe while holding the top edges together, making sure to get a symmetrical cut.

Clip a clothespin on one end of your canoe to hold it in place while you cut the curves at the other end of the canoe, again making sure the two sides match up evenly.  Repeat for the other side.

You now have your canoe shape and can begin to sew.  Use the clothespins or binder clips to hold the ends together while you work or to hold the piece together if you have to leave the project for a minute.

Thread your raffia or waxed thread onto your needle and prepare to sew.  You'll be sewing the entire canoe with one length of thread so make sure  you snip a long enough piece.  I cut about 20" for this tiny canoe.

note: if you have a dremel tool with a very tiny drill bit you can pre-drill your holes.  This makes the job much easier and the bark is less likely to tear while sewing.  If you don't have one it's OK, just sew carefully and keep a distance between your stitch holes and the edge of the bark.

Begin stitching at the bottom of one end, sewing through both layers of bark.  Sew up the curve and over the top of the "point" using a whipstitch.

Hold a twig flush to the side of the canoe and whipstitch around it and the top edge of the canoe side. 

When you reach the "point" on the other end of the canoe, stitch through both layers of bark, down then back up the second curved end, making an "x" or shoelace pattern.

When you reach the top of the curve your needle should be on the unfinished side of the canoe.  Sew a twig to this side as you had done on the other side.

Sew the "x" pattern down the end curve, and tie a small knot at the end.  Trim any excess twig and you have a canoe!

I choose to add some decorative stitches under the twig supports, but you can leave it as is if you'd like.  You can add a loop to use as a hanging ornament also.

You can also simplify the process by just sewing each end and skip the twig supports.  This style is more prone to tearing so handle these with care.

I made one of these canoes out of a cereal box for the boys to play with and the cardboard is a great weight to practice with.  I think these would also be really sweet made out of felt.

This is a decorative canoe and won't float as is.  By sealing the holes and weighting it properly though, it could be.

If you give this a try, I'd love to know how it turns out.

Happy sailing!

My PSA:  I think it should be noted that I gather my birch bark from trees that fall in our woods.  You can read about that process here.  Although I've read that you can harvest birch safely from a live tree, it seems unnecessary and destructive to me.  That's not my kind of thing.  Birches are plentiful where I live, but if they're not plentiful in yours, I'd bet you can find some suppliers of sustainable bark online.

Thinking Out Loud

I'll be closing my Etsy shop tonight and will re-open sometime in the new year.  If there's anything you've been eyeing that you'd like to get...

The temperature outside while I write this is at zero.  It makes me feel kind of hopeful, like all we can do is go up from here.

I'm looking forward to starting on some projects for us.  I found a pack of burlap feed sacks at the feed store this week and plan to make stockings, ala Maya.

After seeing Nini's messenger bag, I'm thinking I need to make a couple of those as well. 

One of my younger chickens has started laying the most beautiful speckled eggs.  Within just the past few weeks her butt has gotten really fluffy and you can really tell she's a laying hen.  I whispered in her ear (well, in the general vicinity of her ear) "It's OK, lots of us get big butts when we mature.  It happens.  Some guys like it, in fact, Roger the rooster has been giving you the eye..."

I'm looking forward to getting presents wrapped, boxes off to friends, and putting up a few decorations around the house.  Gosh, I have so many things I want to do!  It makes me feel really happy that I'm giving myself the time to do it. 

I hope to have that birch bark tutorial for you up on Saturday while I am strolling No Coast Craft-o-Rama looking at handmade goodness and eating a gyro.  (note:  I haven't had a gyro in years and I love them.  I miss them.  I will have them.) 

I have a number of wood-working projects to do out in the (un-heated) barn.  I'll have to get the woodstove fired up in there first just so I have a place to warm my hands when they can no longer bend.  Non-bendy fingers and band saws don't mix.

Someone needs some coffee.  That would be me.  Have a great day, everyone.

Wordless Wednesday

It's A Wrap

A quick thank you to everyone who stopped by my shop update yesterday.  It was a success and I sincerely thank you!

I'll be busy boxing up orders today (and maybe tomorrow) but this weekend I'll be heading to Minneapolis to spend some of that hard-earned loot at No Coast Craft-o-Rama, a super fantastic indie craft show at the Midtown Global Market.  I was lucky enough to be a vendor at this show a few years ago and loved it so much I wanted to move in.  Seriously.  Not only will there be amazing handmade goods but good food and maybe music too.

Sometime this week I'm going to try to have a tutorial up for you all to try also so get your birch bark and sturdy sewing needles ready. 

Thanks again, everyone.  Happy Tuesday.

A Peek (part two)

Just a few more glimpses of what I'll be adding to my Etsy shop on Monday.

For the holidays, poinsettia brooches made of felted garment wool and some pretty fantastic vintage buttons from my collection (I love those rhinestone buttons but hadn't had the right project for them until now).

I've brought out several vintage tea cups from my stash and spent some time building nests.  I like these as decorations both on the tree and on the wall.  I think a grouping of them would be really cute. 

This is a beautiful Rosenthal china cup that has been fitted with moss, twigs, and a few tiny wool eggs.  There will be more styles including Wedgwood, Nippon (with beautiful irridescence), milk glass, and more.

There will also be a single wool dove with antique glass button eyes

and just a few sets of mushroom ornaments, including one collection of plant-dyed specimens, as well as a few apple and pear ornaments.

I'll be making gifts for family and friends in the coming weeks and I can't wait to share some of the projects wtih you.  Are you giving handmade this year?