Monday, January 30, 2012

~I have a Problem~








My husband informed me this weekend that I have a problem.
I become obsessed.
Apparently with the oddest items too.
I am currently obsessed with Tea Tins.
I mean, just look at the decorating opportunities that they offer.
And honestly, its like a "bonus",because you receive a delicious tea and then you get this cute tin out of the deal!
I was looking at some yummy looking tea in a catalog I got in the mail this weekend, and my Manly thought it interesting because while looking at the catalog, I was muttering to myself "oh, my this tea just looks SO good....but it comes in bags not tins...so I guess I wont get any"
Thats when my husband informed me that I had a problem.
Happy Monday,Folks!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

~ Another Knitty Hepburn ~



Awhile ago I shared a lovely picture of the very talented and classy Kathrine Hepburn knitting.
Well, here is another awesome Hepburn, who is indeed as well, classy and talented, knitting away.
I just adore both these women and to see them enjoying a craft, catching them in the middle of playing with sticks and strings, just makes me adore them even more.
Happy Tuesday, Folks!

Monday, January 16, 2012

~ Be Soft ~

I needed these words today.
Maybe you do too....



Sometimes the world around us seems to try to make us hard doesn't it?
When the world has beaten you down, how do you get up and smile again?
How do you make your words made of honey and not vinegar?
Especially, when vinegar is all that you are given?

Friday, January 13, 2012

~ A Recipe ~

Manly looked at me the other day with his big blue eyes and said "You know, you haven't made any munchies lately"
Well, my handsome Mark Wahlberg look-a-like husband was right.
I have not really baked a whole lot since before Christmas.
I guess, my knitting isn't the only thing that has been tossed by the wayside.
I feel like I finally got rid of those sugar-y treats from the holidays (well, not totally gotten rid of them....every time I turn around I find them...literally, they are residing on my caboose)
But, his statement made me realize that not only have I neglected my dear Mr. Manly, I have neglected you all dear readers...I have not posted a recipe in ages.
So, yesterday I made something simple but very tasty and are always a hit, Manly adores the frosting I make for these and why wouldn't he, it has both butter and cream cheese in them:

~ Sugar Cookie Bars ~


1 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
5 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda


Manly's Fav Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
5 cups powdered sugar
1 tbsp. milk (more or less)
food coloring
sprinkles



Cookie Bars:
Cream together butter and sugar till fluffy, about 5 minutes in a stand mixer.
Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla extract and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda and stir with a wire whisk to mix well.
Add gradually to wet mixture and mix till just combined.
Spread on greased 13 x 18 jelly roll pan (or line pan with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup)
Bake at 375 for 12-14 minutes

Frosting:
(wait till bars are fully cooled to room temp before icing)

Combine butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla extract and salt. Add powdered sugar in 1 cup increments until combined,add food coloring now, if you wish, i suggest 2-3 drops of red, which of course will make pink icing, which who can not smile with seeing a pretty pink bar with sprinkles(yes, sprinkles are a necessity with this recipe as well), then add milk and mix until smooth and spreading consistency. Spread over bars.

I suggest eating these bars with a nice cup of tea, maybe you would like to try my new favorite kind???


OR, I just set the table for tea would you care to join me?


Hope you all have a great weekend!

( there are no pictures of the bars while being made, and for this I am sorry...I realized after I made them and decided to share the recipe with you all, that I never include pictures of the baking process on my blog, mainly because the lighting stinks in my kitchen and because I am a messy cook and hate touching my camera with messy hands and mainly because I forget.
When I bake I am all "lalala oh, how funny, the cat has flour on her hahaha, oh, these bars are going to be so yummy...lalala, what should I make for dinner....lalala" and so on and so forth, so please forgive me dear ones)

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

~ Kitchy Love ~

Just look at these two kitchens...
Open, airy, bright.
I just adore those windows and the sinks.
Just lovely!





Happy Tuesday, Ladies and Gents!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

~ Katie Being Knitty ~


Look at her...Successful, Stunning Actress.
And she knitted on top of it all.
What a photo:)
Happy Saturday Everyone!

Friday, January 6, 2012

Country Cooking~Farmhouse Stoves

I love kitchens and all the aspects that make it an awesome country kitchen.
I am currently crushing on these style of stoves!






Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

~ Do you Knook ? ~

This is a question that was posed to me in the middle of a craft store.
I believe I looked at the woman who asked me like she just asked me what color my belly button fuzz was....
I figured it was some sort of slang word the young kids were using nowadays for some unmentionable thing.
I pushed the incident away and avoided the craft shop for awhile.
Until the other day when I opened up a new craft catalog that I had just received in the mail and they had a whole section for Knooking.
So, an immediate google search was needed to see what all the fuss was about and I have to say I am intrigued.




Apparently, its like a cross between knitting and crocheting and No, it is not Tunisian.
So, my question for you is...Do YOU Knook?



(For more information on Knooking visit one of these two blogs or just google it like I did:)
http://knooking.wordpress.com/
http://knooking.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Hello, Friends!

Well, Here we are again, Dear Ones....
The family is gone, the tin of candy is getting down to those last little crumbs, that just don't look that appetizing anymore and the winter is before us.
And a New Year.
I am not one for resolutions, never have been.
But, a New Year does always does get me excited for new beginnings, new hopes, new dreams and new projects.
However, the last couple of years, I have become to realize there is a B.C. and a A.C. in my knitting.
Before Christmas (B.C.) I am focused, I have projects that need to be finished for gifts, I rarely even let myself look at new patterns, its all so far off...that time with no deadlines to knit freely.
Then, After Christmas (A.C.) finally comes....and I am like..."knit??? Knit what??? what are these sticks for...." In other words I totally lose my Mojo, I blame it on the late night forced knitting in early December to send something off to someone the next day.
But, regardless of why or where it went...its gone,my Mojo that is.
So, even though, unfinished projects are piled up and waiting (socks...and more socks and then oh, I forgot about the socks)
I need to find a project to get excited about, something to make my fingers tingle for those needles again.
So, this year, I am drawn to cables.
After knitting that one pair of cable socks I have wanted to explore that area more and think it would be fun to try something else with cables.
Maybe a hat?


Or I have really been into the chunky coziness of a cable knit pillow...





I kinda like this one, where it is cable knit on one side and then a cute fabric on the other...
I also find this photo hilarious...apparently after knitting this pillow you will feel the urge to run outside with it and hold it to your chest by an old run down building, while looking rather forlorn....that just intrigues me more about this particular pillow...



Or perhaps a scarf?



Do you have any favorite Cable patterns?
What are your New Year Craft plans?
How do you get your crafty mojo back or does it never leave you?