Handworks Crochet and then Some!

Alot going on as usual... and no, no sewing to be done with my sewing rooms still all packed up ready to move when everything is all done! But I have been doing some crocheting... a little bedside rug here... of thick chenille yarn. More and more dish cloths... seriously, if I could stop I would.... and a hat made from suede yarn... the little brim makes it look 'sporty'! And doing canning, when I have something that needs to be canned. Homemade chicken broth is a hundred times more flavorful than store bought! So is homemade mushroom broth!... and alittle Spiced blue berry jam made from some blueberries mom had in her freezer... I love having jars of mushrooms on hand for homemade pizzas! I waited for months for organic oranges to go on sale... finally! $4 a bag! I wanted to make my own Grand Mariner for Bald man for awhile and since you have to use the zest of the orange they had to be organic, since it took so many they had to be on sale!!! With the left over oranges I ma...

The Bald Man and me... out on the town doing a little celebrating! Nights out in Knoxville will be fewer and farther between... and I'll tell you why in a second... First.... I've been crocheting my little hands to the bone.. but with most of the things I've been crocheting are gifts I can't show till after Christmas... But heres a couple of doilies I've done for myself in between presents... A pineapple doily... I love doilies, they look so elegant and old fashion... I've been sewing some... again just gifts that can't be shown yet.... But in the kitchen today I roasted a big 'Cinderella' pie pumpkin and made this Pumpkin Chutney... turned out yummy!!! I used a recipe found on Putting up with the Turnbills blog.. you can find their site on the side bar of links I have. And Pumpkin pie!!! I love real homemade pumpkin pie!!!! And I have so much pumpkin puree leftover I can foresee pumpkin breads, muffins and cookies,, maybe a soup in the next week!...

This post is long and exactly what the title says... its alittle bit of everything I've had going on the last few weeks... First... my well loved Pfaff Embroidery machine has been getting a workout! $1, $3 and $6 dollar thrift store finds are getting new life! One of my favorite designs is this skull from Urban Boho... added to these two $1 dollar t shirts! I'm really starting to love appliques... Here is a hot pink jacket for $3.. I added a pink camo lining in the hood and a design on the front from the same cd.. And the skull again! This one is a reverse applique though... JEANS!!! How I love them!!!! and I have to say finding thrift store jeans that fit my new size is alot easy than the old size! The first pair I used design CD Glamour Rocks... ripped the old label and added my little RD... I also added alot of AB crystals... I guess they are my dress jeans.. haha! The second pair ... riped the old label again... used the Urban Boho cd again.... You can't see in the p...

I just LOVE the way food looks all preserved in canning jars!!!! Here are a couple of my latest... Dill Pickles and Pickled Banana Peppers...so pretty... Since last post I have now started to take over the 3 big shelf in our pantry.... Few more pretties up close.... Canned Summer Squash (great for squash casseroles!) Pickled Hot Peppers (going to be a present for someone!!) and Anise Pears And I've dried and vacuum bagged about a bushel of apple rings, lots of sweet potatoes and bell peppers! Anyone know what this is???? Its a Cushaw squash!! This huge squash was only $5!! And they are sooooo good!! Many meals can come out of this on squash (it weights ALOT!)... soup, pies, just roasted is really good to! I even canned some Cushaw butter! Anything you can do with sweet potatoes or winter squash you can do with a cushaw! Yep.... Muscadine wine in the making.... also Elderberry wine, Concord wine and an Apple wine. It takes so long though... which is why The Bald Man and I have be...