Crochet Key Monster - Free Pattern!

This is one long craft famine.

I've been ransacking the internet in search of any cute fabric or yarn stores within an hour's drive of Bainbridge, but I've been coming up empty. When you're used to having a gold minelike the Urban Craft Center a mere ten minutes away, and when you grew accustomed to going there five days a week for the better part of a year, well...there's really just one word for what's happening right now.

Withdrawal.

At least I had the sense to panic and stuffed some yarn and crochet hooks in my carryon at the last second. I'm glad I did. I crocheted this little guy over the course of a few nights because I just needed to make something.

Then I realized he would be the perfect keychain for my single office key.

My car keys are at home, so the key to the production office has just been kicking around at the bottom of my purse. Now that it's tied to the key monster's tail, I can always find it right away. Thanks, monster!

The full [free!] pattern for this little guy after the jump.

Cotton Pickin'

I've decided that I love Georgia.

This past weekend while driving down a dusty red dirt road, passing through pine forests and spanish moss, we suddenly came across a huge cotton field.

We squealed and slammed on the brakes, skidding to a stop in the middle of nowhere. We got out of the car and ran to the edge of the field. All the cotton looked ready to pick [I don't think you'd say ripe, would you?]. The top of every stalk was covered in soft, fluffy white balls of cotton. We each plucked one off. It was so clean and pure and white. There weren't any insects or seeds or anything in it. It smelled like sunshine.

I always knew that cotton grew like that, but seeing it was kind of bizarre. There was just a puff of cotton, occurring naturally, the same size as a cotton ball. It was ready to be spun or combed or made into anything. It was really pretty cool. I wish I had my sewing machine with me so I could make something and use it as batting.

Georgia Sweet Tea

I finally tracked down that sweet tea recipe I was gushing about in my last post.

Well, sort of. 'Recipe' is being a little generous. As I expected, after showering dear southern Mel with compliments and asking what her sweet tea recipe was, she waved her hand at me and said, "Oh, honey. That was nothing. It's just tea."

But I was relentless. I continued interrogating her about specifically how she made it, and she finally buckled. She was right, there really wasn't that much to it, but I just wanted to be able to copy her method as closely as I could [most important: lots of sugar]. I'm sure I'll never quite achieve the level of deliciousness that she did, because I'm guessing southern hospitality is a key ingredient. But I'll definitely try.

So brew up a glass pitcher of this sweet concoction, pour it over some ice, and sip it in the rocker on your porch.

Mel's Georgia Sweet Tea

Ingredients

3 family sized black tea bags

[Mel just used "the cheap stuff, decaf"]

1.5 cups sugar

12 cups water

1. Boil the water on the stove. Turn off the heat and add the tea bags. Steep it for about a half an hour.
3. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Pour into a 3 quart pitcher.
4. Pour over ice and enjoy.

Source: Purl Soho

It's hot and humid down here in Georgia and I'm insanely busy. The town square in Bainbridge is adorable and the rambling Victorian houses around it are covered in vines and Spanish moss. Yesterday, an amazing local lady brought homemade peach cobbler and sweet tea to our office. I can't even tell you how good it was. I'm going to try to track her down and ask her how she made the sweet tea. It was the best I've ever had.

Since I haven't gotten a chance to make very much over the last few days, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite websites. Purl Soho is a beautiful online store overflowing with gorgeous fabrics, yarns, patterns and tools. They also have two brick-and-mortar stores in New York City, one for fabric and one for yarn.

Sometimes I go on the website just to look at the photography. There isn't a single picture on there that's an afterthought. The styling is so pretty, window shopping alone is very satisfying. But you probably won't be able to resist buying something. It's very difficult, trust me.

Georgia Bound + Semi-Hiatus

I received a phone call Thursday night for a five week job in small-town Georgia. On Saturday morning I got on a plane for Tallahassee.

Unexpected, I know.

I'll be working in the production office of an independent movie. It should be interesting, fun, hot and humid. I'm excited for the adventure, but that means I'm not going to get a chance to make very much over the next month or so. During a last minute panic attack about this upcoming craft drought, I did stuff some yarn and crochet hooks in my carryon, but I just checked the weather in Bainbridge, Georgia and it's 96, humid and stormy. So I probably won't be in the mood to do much crocheting.

I was planning to devote all of my crafty time next week to working on a quilt I'm trying to finish. It's a gift for someone, and I'm making it throw-sized, the biggest quilt I've attempted yet. It's a color scheme that's completely different from what I normally do:

But now it looks like that's going to have to wait. I actually did try to think about how I could bring my sewing machine, but finally admitted to myself that that would be ridiculous. I'm going to do my best, though, to keep blogging with pictures and fun etsy finds and hopefully a post or two about the cute yarn and fabric shops I discover.

By the way, I'm doing this post via the onboard wifi on my Delta flight. Isn't technology incredible?

Make Your Own Glass Cleaner

Ok. So I realize that this post does not sound very exciting.

And maybe it isn't.

But since I love to make things, all things, I find it pretty cool that you can make your own glass cleaner at home, that it only has three very natural ingredients in it, and that it works just as well as the chemically sprays like Windex. I realize that Windex has that "green list ingredients" sticker on it now, but just look at the stuff. It's electric blue.

The cleaning agent in this spray is vinegar. Vinegar is an amazing substance with a thousand and one uses. It's been employed since ancient times [it is mentioned multiple times in the Bible and has been found in ancient Egyptian urns] as a cleaning tool, medical aid and condiment. The natural acid in it cuts through grease and grime and makes your salads and potato chips extra scrumptious.

The sharp smell of the peppermint oil works to mask the sharp smell of the vinegar. If you can't find essential oil, you could also use peppermint extract from the baking aisle. You'll need to use slightly more extract, about 1.5 - 2 tsp. You could use other scents too if you want, but sharp ones work the best. Lemon would probably work too. You could even mix lemon and mint together.

When you use this on glass, it might look smeary at first because the water has to evaporate. Just wipe it until the smears magically disappear, leaving behind sparkling crystal clear glass.

Peppermint Glass Cleaner
Materials Needed:
distilled white vinegar
water
.5 - 1 tsp peppermint essential oil
empty spray bottle

Directions:
1. Fill the spray bottle 1/3 full with vinegar.
2. Add the essential oil. Essential oil is strong, so start with a smaller amount first and add more if you still smell the vinegar when the spray is finished.
3. Fill the bottle the rest of the way with water. Screw on the top and shake well. Use like you'd use Windex, shaking well before each use.

Easy Drawstring Bag Tutorial

This is one of myfavorite 'lunch break projects' from my job at the Urban Craft Center. We were able to craft all day if we wanted to, but the only time we were allowed to make something for ourselves was during our one hour lunch break. Everything else we made [very reasonably] belonged to the store.

Usually I would work on a quilt for an hour, but occasionally I wanted to make an entire project beginning to end for the gratification factor. This double compartment shoe bag fit the bill perfectly. It's really simple but is actually very functional. I have visions of the entire shoe section of my closet being organized and protected in bright, cheery shoe bags. [Said vision has yet to be achieved.] The center panel keeps the shoes from scuffing up against each other. They are also a great thing to use while traveling for keeping your shoes away from your clothes or your lingerie neat and untangled.

So if you've got a 1/2 yard of fabric and an hour to spare, give it a shot!

Easy Drawstring Shoe Bag

Materials:

1/2 yard fabric

1 yard coordinating ribbon less than 3/4" wide

matching thread

Directions:

1. From the fabric, cut out two rectangles that are 13" x 17" and one rectangle that is 13" x 15".

2. On larger rectangle, fold over long edges 1/8" toward wrong side of fabric, starting at short end and extending fold three inches. Press and sew along fold to create seam.

3. Starting on seamed end, fold short end over 1/4" toward wrong

side of fabric and press. Fold over another 1" and press. Sew right along bottom fold to create casing seam.

4. On smaller rectangle, fold one short end over 1/4" towards wrong side of fabric and press. Fold over another 1/4" and press. Sew along fold to make a seam.

5. Lay down one large rectangle right side up. Lay the other large rectangle on top of it, right side down, aligning the tops. Lay smaller rectangle on top of that, right side down, with top seam aligned with bottom casing of larger rectangle. Pin in place. [Don't worry too much about all sides lining up.]

6. Starting just under casing, sew around three raw sides of fabric with 1/4" seam allowance, backstitching at beginning and end.

7. Clip corners and turn bag inside out. Thread ribbon through both sides of casing [I tied it onto a knitting needle]. Tie ribbon ends into a knot and trim excess. Put your favorite pair of shoes inside!

Sugared Lemon Shortbread

When it comes to heritage, I can claim German and Scottish. While both these cultures are wonderful and interesting and have many positive qualities, my bloodlines are quite possibly the worst hybrid of cuisines possible. My German brethren enjoy mounds of sauerkraut, a plethora of cured meats, and little schnitzel dumplings swimming in cream sauce. At least they have beer.

And then there's Scotland. I love all things Scottish, and bagpipes give me goosebumps, but I cannot think of a nation with less appealing food. You can hardly blame them, the Scots really don't have a lot to work with up there in that dreary cold land of bogs and fishing villages. All that comes to mind are bowls of ambiguous gruel and the delightful sounding haggis, which is a pate of sheep lung, heart and kidneys simmered in an animal stomach.

But then there's shortbread. Like the rest of Scottish food, the ingredients are few and simple. Shortbread is humanity's bare minimum for a cookie - sugar, butter, and flour. That's literally one ingredient away from frosting. But it is scrumptious. I can imagine it was pretty comforting to sit next to a fire in a sod house as the cold fog swirled outside, eating a piece of shortbread and drinking a hot cup of tea.

Shortbread is traditionally made with oat flour, which you may or may not be able to find in your grocery store in the natural/organic section. It gives it a more crumbly, nuttier taste. If you can't find oat flour, you can use regular flour. I did half and half because I wanted some gluten in there to hold everything together. The cookies turned out pretty crumbly, so I wrote the recipe using less oat flour. I also added lemon zest , which the poor Scots of yesteryear probably didn't have. But it's such a bright clean flavor, perfect with a steaming cup of darjeeling.

Sugared Lemon Shortbread

makes a 9" round of wedges

Ingredients:

1/2 cup oat flour*

1.5 cup regular AP flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup white sugar, plus more for dusting

2 tsp lemon zest

*if you can't find oat flour, substitute regular AP flour

1. Preheat oven to 325F. In a bowl, whisk together two flours and salt.

2. In a large bowl, cream the butter. Add the sugar and lemon zest and beat until fluffy, about 30 sec.

3. Add flours and stir together until just incorporated. Line a 9" cake pan with plastic wrap. Pat dough into it. Turn dough round out onto cookie sheet. Slice it into 12 wedges and prick with a fork. [See photo above for reference].

4. Bake for 30 minutes or until slightly golden. Remove from oven and sprinkle with sugar. Reslice along wedge lines. Cool and enjoy with your favorite cup of tea.