Internet Spies

Remember when I made this creep-deterring computer mask? Upon further thought, this is all an internet spy would see through my webcam:

If you want to “spy” on me, go check out the guest post I did for Whipup.net. I talk about how craft and the crafty community helped me through a tough time . . . and how craft changed my life. Have you had a similar experience? I’d love to hear what you think! Until next time, friends. ♥

Dandelion Honey, Honey

I did it. I made dandelion honey, suggested by reader Elisa! And let me tell you . . . if you want to undertake a project that is both tedious and time-consuming at every turn, this project is for you! However, I’m glad I undertook this task because now I have a new experience under my belt and a bunch of honey to boot.

I followed this recipe here. I picked two bowls-full like this, and it turned out to be just about right. These were washed . . . and then the petals plucked out of each and every one. Now, here is a technique you can take away from this: To get the petals out – without getting any green – pinch the base of the flower head very tightly and roll it back and forth between your thumb and pointer finger. This will loosen the petals from the green part, and they will either fall right out, or you will easily be able to pull them out. Here’s four cups of petals ready for steeping:

When the petals are done steeping they get strained out, and lemon juice and peel is added. After it cooks a little bit, it starts to turn honey-colored. This was a relief because my dandelion water was the color of a stagnant swamp right after I strained it. I removed the peels before the honey got too thick.

After about 15 hours of work and pot-watching – just kidding – out comes the honey! It does look quite dark in the jar, but it truly is honey-colored and very-close-to-honey-tasting. And now – I’m off to drink some chamomile tea with dandelion honey. And, I see the possibility of biscuits with honey for breakfast this weekend! Do you think you’d undertake a project like this? If you make some dandelion honey, post a link here!

Lion Teeth

Way back a million years ago, when I was in high school, my French teacher told us that the word dandelion came from the French dent de lion (lion’s teeth), because of their teeth-shaped leaves. This was a shocking moment for a girl who thought for fifteen years that dandelion referred to a dapper lion’s mane.

And now dandelion season is upon us at our little green house in the Midwest. The first two years we lived here, I fought them. Not wanting to harm the bunnies and chipmunks, I dug them out one-by-one rather than poison them – a truly thankless task. The years that followed, I just let them be because . . . well, I just had better things to do than spend hours digging up dandelions.

This year, I think I’ll try to move beyond tolerating them to enjoying them. I’m currently obsessed with anything yellow, so there’s a head-start. I also know that you can use dandelions for good:

Dandelion Pesto

Dandelion Wine (Is that a Grateful Dead song? Sounds like one.)

Chickpeas & Dandelion Greens

Dandelion Chips

Dandelion Tea

and, of course, dandelion crowns and necklaces (especially if there’re kiddos around)

and wishes – lots of little fuzzy floaty wishes

Have you embraced the dandelion already? Tell me all about it . . . and I’ll try to give it a shot!

A-dough-able

I acquired a few more vintage craft books from my underground source.*

This one, Board Art Featuring A-dough-ables, is something I’ve never seen before . . . and it is amazing. The gist is that you make a homemade dough, shape it, dry it, paint it, and stick it to stuff. Mostly, boards. BUT, I can think many other applications for this.

The patterns are pretty awesome, and if the dough works how I think it will, I’ve got plenty of projects in mind. I’m hoping Nicky might enjoy this, too, so I’ll try to get him in on the a-dough-able action. One of our Super-Mini-Dates is to craft a project together, after all.

Here’s a quick list of what I have in mind for this project book, and if you have ideas, give me a shout!

1. Wall art – just like in the book, just to try it
2. Necklace pendants
3. Little jewelry or key dishes like this
4. Buttons for my red jacket
5. A brooch or sweater guard
6. A garland or ornaments
7. Gift tags (!)

* Thanks, Kay!

A Face for Radio and a Voice for Print

So here’s something I’ve been waiting to talk about for a while . . .

I’m in a magazine! Issue 11 of Handmade Living has been out for a month in the UK, but it only recently became available in the States. It’s just a tid-bit about this blog and what-not . . . but it’s still a little crazy to go to Barnes & Noble  and see yourself tucked away on a shelf there. You can find a little bit of everything in this issue – crochet, sewing, cooking, jewelry-making, homesteading . . . and on and on.

So if you want to see my goofy face in print, or – more likely – if you really want to get your craft on, go get yourself a copy! You can find them in the States at (some) Barnes & Nobles and craft stores, or you can get one through the magic of the internet here.

Life Lately // 3

Nicky got me an enameled cast-iron dutch oven, and I can’t wait to spend some quality time with it. Easy spicy garlic bread perhaps?

Saturday Free Bingo when we’re home (so not often). I’m gonna win me a big-screen TV one of these days.

A hand-me-down box of old sewing bits: beautiful wooden spools of thread and what I think is a tatting shuttle. Do I dare take on tatting? What do you think?

Family stayed with us for several days, including the best dog in the world . . . Penny begrudgingly got along with her (which is a big deal for Penny).

Also:

1. We saw Dr. Dog at First Avenue
2. Nicky went to SXSW. Penny and I missed him like crazy.
3. Taxes! If you live in the Twin Cities, especially if you are an artist or musician, you need to go to Fox Tax.
4. I was already enthralled with Megan’s “Tuesday Progressions,” and now she has VIDEO. Check it out!
5. Something drastic must happen: I’m thinking either a DIY-style BluePrint Cleanse or full-body Spanx. Busy+sitting most of the day+wedding season+summer = UH-oh. But, you can’t wear full-body Spanx AND a swimming suit. Hm.

Little Skull and Crossbones Crochet Pattern

My co-worker asked me if I could make her a skull and crossbones cuff, and of course I said, “Sure, why not?” I’d never made a skull before, so I thought it would be a fun little challenge. This motif works up really quick, and will make a great applique for just about anything . . . some Peasy Gloves, perhaps? Also, I could barely resist sticking some google eyes on this guy. I think google eyes are for me what glitter is to most other people. I love me some googly-eyes. Enough about me, let’s make some skulls!

Firstly, this pattern will read a little strange, but it will make sense as you go. Second, I didn’t write a pattern for the black cuff part because it’s just rows of single crochet. Third, if you make some skulls, please post them in the Flickr group – especially if they have google eyes!

Okay, grab a 4mm hook and some regular-old-medium-weight yarn. For the skull:

1. Ch 15 and join to the first sc, making a ring and being careful to not twist the chain.
2. Make a sl st in the 8th ch from your hook. This sl st joins the two sides of your ring, and it will look like an “8″ at this point. The holes of this “8″ will become your eye sockets eventually.
3. Make 7 sc in the first eye loop (make them around the chains, not through them). Ch 2 (this will become the nose hole). Make 7 sc in the next eye loop. Join to the first sc with a sl st.
4. Ch 1. Sc in the same st as the one you just joined in, and in the next 5 scs. Sl st in the next sc (this is the last sc in the first eye socket). Make 5 dc and one sl st in the ch 2 space. Skip the first sc of the second eye socket.* Sc in the remaining 6 scs of the second eye socket. Join to first sc with sl st. Cut yarn, finish off, weave in your ends. If you want, make some teeth by whip-stitching a strand of yarn through the mouth part of the skull.

* The reason you make the second sl st in the ch 2 spc rather than in the first sc of the second eye socket is this: it eliminates a weird-looking thread hanger-outer in the nose hole.

Let’s make some bones (make 2):

1. With same 4mm hook and same kind of yarn you used for the skull, ch 4.
2. Sl st in the first ch. Ch 4.
3. Sl st in the same st as the last sl st you just made (two bone nubbins made). Ch 14.
4. Sl st in the 4th ch from hook. Ch 4.
5. Sl st in the same st as the last sl st you just made. Cut yarn, finish off, weave in your ends.

Sew your skull and bones onto anything that needs some instant bad-assery, and you’re done! As usual, please feel free to use this pattern for your own personal enjoyment or for gift giving, but please do not distribute the pattern itself or pass it off as your own. Thanks!