HANDMADE GIFT PARADE: SHARPIE MUGS + DAVID'S TEA.

Every year, I work really hard to make sure that my co-workers receive meaningful handmade gifts. I spend as much time with them (if not more) as I do with Dave, so it's really important for me to make sure that I make the most unique gifts possible.

I made these mugs using the tutorial on A Beautiful Mess for my boss and his soon to be wife, Paula. I wanted them to be neutral enough to fit in with any theme or decor they have going on while still encompassing that crafty handmade vibe.

After wrapping them up, I tossed some Sleigh Ride tea from David's in the box for a complete gift set. (I also gave them the craziest vintage bubble bulb lamp. I should have taken a picture before I packed it up.)

Finally settling in to make gifts always puts me into the hoilday spirit! I hope they liked them!

another gift for a co-worker.

based on the pattern from last minute gifts. i used seed stitch instead of the thermal pattern b/c i had to finish this quickly. the mushroom is needle felted on with lambs pride. the teapot is a vintage arnel, found on etsy.

it was kinda hard to give this one up. i almost gave them something else. i've been searching ebay to find another of the same teapot for myself.

i have so much to do today, and all that i've done so far is read blogs and watch kate bush videos on youtube. i'm such a slacker.

my to do list is jam packed today:

-vacuum

-mop

-bake bread for dinner tonight

-go grocery shopping

-put away xmas gifts

-do load of laundry

-make bed

-put away decorations

-take down tree

-fill up the fish tank...

it just keeps going. i haven't even got a shower yet. all i want to do is darn some socks and read a book. i guess if i can chug enough coffee, i'll get moving. maybe.

what do you do to get motivated?

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Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights (i'm currently reading it, actually...)

i know this video is for accquired tastes,and 90% of people will hate it. i just can't get enough. she's soooo magical...

<3

knitxcore.

pointy kitty.

another gift FINISHED. YAY!!!!

free wee wonderfuls download. 

vintage tweed from etsy seller MsLegacySews.  

the tweed kept pulling apart, but i just couldn't imagine it in any other fabric. it was worth the extra work. 

i'm almost finished all the handmade x-mas gifts.

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holiday entertaining special!!!!!

Charles Phoenix's Astro-Weenie Christmas Tree

<3

knitxcore.

the owls are not what they seem.

gift number 2 = finished!

the owl transfer i used is from sublime stitching.  

the awesome faux bois hoop is from michaels.

it took about a week, but i didn't really a big block of time to just stitch away.

i'm pretty sure the recipient doesn't read my blog but he's really into twin peaks and "the owls are not what they seem" is a clue THE GIANT gives to Agent Cooper.  researching twin peaks got me sort of intrested in the show, i've only watched a handful of episodes though.  so don't give anything away in the comments :-)

so that leaves like 5 more gifts to make, at least.  

what are YOU working on??????

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Hair (1979)- Good Morning, Starshine

i love to watch this clip as soon i get up, it makes me smile.

<3

knitxcore.

WIP Wednesday.

too many to even count.

hopefully everyone will recieve some sort of gift.

i may have overwhelmed myself just a little.

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cat stevens - peace train.

(i watch this almost everyday.)

<3

knitxcore.

early x-mas.

i finished my first xmas gift!!!!  these are for dave's niece.

i embroidered a free pattern from wee wonderfuls on a piece of linen i had sitting in the fabric stash and used vintage tweed i found on etsy for the back.  i really need to take a picture of it, it's fantastic!

one down, ten to go...

who else is trying to stick to handmade gifts this year???

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Little Self Centred Queen - Clare Bowditch

i wanna play musical chairs.

G is for GroW!!!!!

You may remember last years garden, and that even though I had all the basil anyone could ask for I couldn't get a damn tomato to grow???? Yeah, that garden.
Instead of getting discouraged and throwing in the towel, I've decided to give this whole "growing food" thing another shot. Inspired by Jana's recession garden, I lurked a few gardening messageboards, I found what could be a perfect plant fot my tiny shady deck.
Tom Thumb Peas!!!!! (even their name is cute!) Apparently, it is a quite rare heirloom variety dating back to the 1800's. I had quite a hard time actually getting the seeds, though. I ordered from one website and they had sold out, others were in the UK and Canada and the shipping wasn't worth the cost of the seeds. I finally found some @ Trade Winds Fruit. They sprung up pretty quickly considering I didn't use an inoculant or even bother to freeze the seeds first. The lil' seedlings need to make it a few more days on the kitchen table before I'm comfortable putting them outside in their pots.

I still haven't made my mom a gift, it's obviously to late to knit anything fancy and I couldn't think of anyhing to sew :-( If anyone has any good ideas, lemme know? I have 10 days left and she really likes handmade gifts. If it gets down to the wire, I'm sure I could find something on Etsy.

I finished something for the shop!!!!! I know it's been empty for a while, but I have a plan and hopefully this time I can fill it up and keep it full. You all will be the first to know when it's ready :-)

---KatenaShcOre---

Kate Nash - Mouthwash



<3
knitxcore.

C is for Cupcakes!

I like to make a special treat every Valentine's Day. I usually bake sugar cookies and toss some royal icing on them, but this year I wanted to go just a step further. I bought this Martha Stewart cupcake kit at Macy's, and then searched all of my cookbooks for the perfect recipe. After looking through all of them and the creepy box of recipes from the seventies my mom gave me, I decided Martha could once again save the day. I went to MarthaStewart.com and there on the first page was exactly what I needed, not only was there a recipe but a video for those of us with little kitchen confidence.

---recipe---

Billy's Vanilla, Vanilla Cupcakes (Makes about 30 cupcakes)

1 3/4 cups cake flour, not self-rising
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Billy's Vanilla Buttercream
Colored Sprinkles, for decorating, optional
Alternate frosting: Billy's Chocolate Buttercream

Directions
-Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix on low speed until combined. Add butter, mixing until just coated with flour.

-In a large glass measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts, scraping down sides of bowl before each addition; beat until ingredients are incorporated but do not overbeat.

-Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about 2/3 full (I used about 2 tablespoons). Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 17 to 20 minutes.

-Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat process with remaining batter. Once cupcakes have cooled, use a small offset spatula to frost tops of each cupcake (I used the buttercream icing recipe above, and Wilton's Color Gel in Pink). Decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Serve at room temperature.



I know my pictures suck tonight, but it happens. It's been rainy and dark.

BTW... I finally have my crown!!!!!!! I forgot to let you all know. It's weird chewing on both sides now. I keep biting my cheek. lol.

<3

knitxcore.

How does your garden grow?

My fabric from PurlSoho came in!!!! I've already pre-washed it and I'm ready to start chopping it up. I never realized the importance of pre-washing until I read Simple Sewing and found out how much it could mess up an FO if you skip it.

I actually finished another sewing project and dyed some yarn, but you'll have to visit my Flickr page to see them. They're both for a swap that I'm not ready to send out yet.

The fabric all the way to the right is the Kokka print that I was drooling over last week. The other two are for something in my kitchen, but I'm not sure what :-)

Mr. Stripey is getting bigger. I should start measuring him, eh? Everything else is taking it's time growing. I planted a bunch of bulbs and some basil this week and I bought a hibiscus tree at Loew's. It has a bunch of buds so I'll get a good pic when it blooms.

<3

knitxcore.

in the sculpture garden.

i finally finished noni bags "in the sculpture garden", and just in time for my mom's birthday. i'm going to give it to her tonight. i hope she doesn't hate it. it's not like she would say anything even if she did. you know how moms are...

Pattern Particulars
Needles: Clover Takumi Circulars sz. 11, Clover Takumi Straight needles sz. 8
Materials: MC- Cascade 220 col. no. 8886, CC- Cascade Quatro col. no. 5012, Pink Acrylic Handles from LYS, Purple wool felt (for lining), 1" pinback buttons fron CubistLiterature's etsy shop and a sew in snap.

Loved: The yarn, the ease of the pattern, the flowers!!!

Hated: Sewing in the lining, and the bazillion tries it took to get is felted just right.

i'm really proud of it, and really beats the crap out the bag i made her last year. OHHHHHHHHH!!! P.S. i went with one pocket, you can't really see it in the pictures.