HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 9 days in but that's definitely still new!
Well, I've been away for a couple months but that's no surprise, right?
I guess Nanowrimo really used up my writing juices for awhile. But I'm getting back into it, updating my journal, finally responding to my letters and last but...probably not...well, maybe it is, least...this blog! It occurred to me that I did a lotta stuff last year that I totally intended to do a full on post about and never quite did. My apologies, you're missing out and it's all my fault.
Let me know if you would like a more detailed post of any of the following, and I'll be happy to oblige.
I made a nifty thrifty little purse using half a cloth place mat and a long length of ribbon. Easy-peasy.
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| Love the colours. And the adorable clasp. |
Foodwise, I made my first (and second) turkey in 2011. It was delish and now I feel all empowered with this new ability. I'd recommend always brining one's turkeys. Unless you're going to deep fry it, now that I'd like to try next. Noms.
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| Not the greatest photo, but the only one I have. |
I also made second place winning apple cinnamon rolls! Complete with whole wheat flour and deliciousness!
And a first prize winning Pumpkin Pear trifle, my own recipe. This photograph is terrible but it's better than the other terrible photo I took. We were in a hurry to get to the baking contest at the church and a rushed photo is generally never all that great.
Crochet wise, I made a scarf and two cutie beret-style hats, which I unfortunately haven't taken pictures of. The scarf I already gave away as a Christmas present, foolish me. But I also made this awesome tea cozy, isn't it great!? I didn't have a pattern but it was pretty simple and it really works to keep my tea hot for longer!
Herbalism adventures included making tons of extracts for using in cooking and a couple medicinal ones, the ones I can remember off the top of my head include Earl Grey tea, jasmine green tea, peppermint, rose, lavender, ginger, vanilla (duh, haha), yarrow and st. Johns wort.
And herb vinegars too! A fire vinegar with ginger, garlic, thyme and cayenne pepper will knock the socks off of any cold or flu, and I made a pine vinegar which is tasty on salads and I'm considering doubling it's use as a cleaner...Blackberry and tarragon vinegars made it into my stock as well, this year. And
herb infused olive oils have been very handy for making salves, salad dressings and deodorants!
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| oils |
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| fresh poured salves |
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| Making fire vinegar |
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| The round up |
I've been trying my hand at making earrings too. Here's a couple photos of some of them. I made these with the intention to sell them, but only ended up selling one pair. I'm considering an etsy account, but maybe not just yet. What do you think of this style?
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| Blue and Gold |
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| The pair I sold |
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| Wedding earrings, get it? white lace, pearl and blue. |
Well there's a lot more but time and space should be limiting me now.
Here's to a happy new year filled with even more awesome projects and good food. Got any big plans this year?
