Scarves, Snow, Sipping, and Stitching

Before I ran some errands, I got this far on the scarf I'm making.

I'm glad it's stitching up fast!  I've got cross stitching in the frames on the ready.

And when I left at midday, it was 44 degrees.  By an hour later, it started snowing hard. 

The biggest snowflakes.........gorgeous.

I totally missed that forecast.

Our "vegan snowman". Yup, a recycled fern plant. :0

5 more hours of this stuff. May accumulate to 4 inches in the mountains!

Can't wait until the morning to see the rest.

Sipping on my hot chocolate now by the wood stove with Abbie in my lap.

She is a laphugger for sure!!!

Here she is today as Mr. Darcy and I were watching the big snowflakes out the window.

Stay warm,

Jennifer

Pink Knitting and Banana Nut Bread Recipe

A special friend wants a pink and green scarf. I did not get it done before Christmas, so here goes for Valentines Day!

I found this gorgeous, soft yarn at Joanne's on sale. 

Deborah Norville

Serenity

Red Bayou

2 skeins

I think she will like it. I haven't decided if I am going to put some other stitches in this. I'm tempted to do some different ones.............................just tempted.

Using #11 needles, Bates aluminum,  I picked it up with a cup of coffee after my slice of NANNER bread and went to knitting. The wood stove burned all night and this morning it's got it toasty and cozy in here. 

PERFECT, I think! We both slept like a rock last night.

After I stitched several rows in garter stitch, I just had to show you you the lovely pinks, greens, plums this scarf will have.

 I cast on 26st.

And this little sweetie, Abigail is gathering any banana nut bread crumbs left from the little end we haven't eaten.

IT WENT FAST!

Sorry I didn't get a pic when it came out of the oven but it's a way yum recipe. I think it tastes better than the one in Southern Living magazine and that used to be my favorite.

I will warn you that in order for this NOT to overflow in your oven, set aside part of the batter for some little muffins or something. Mine overflowed pretty bad in the oven, using the streusel recommended in the larger size pan they recommended.

Here's the recipe for it!

This is from an old Better Homes and Garden book that is PRICELESS at Fox mountain.

Banana Bread

Make this favorite quick bread extra special by sprinkling streusel topping over the batter before baking.

2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp of cinnamon

1/2 tsp of nutmeg

2 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 cups of mashed ripe bananas ( medium)

1 cup of sugar

1/2 cup cooking oil

1 small bag of chopped Walnuts

1 recipe Streusel-nut Topping (optional but I use it)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of one 9 x 5 x 3 inch OR 2 71/2  x 3 1/2 x 2 inch loaf pans. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and set aside.

In another large bowl, combine eggs, banana, sugar and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy) ~~~~I did use my mixer,and liked it that way.

Fold in Walnuts with a spoon. Use 3/4 of the bag.

Spoon batter into prepared pan. If desired, sprinkle the Streusel-nut Topping over the batter in the pan.

Bake for 55-60 minutes for 9 x 5x 3 inch pan or 40-45 minutes for the smaller 2 pans OR until wooden toothpick inserted near center is clean.

I recommend covering with aluminum foil for the last 15 minutes of baking to prevent over browning.

Cool in pan on rack for 30 minutes before slicing or removing from pan.

OK~~~~~~~~the BEST PART

The Streusel Nut Topping

In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup packed brown sugar and 3 tbsp of all purpose flour. Using a pastry blender (I used a knife and edge of spoon), cut in 2 tbsp of soft butter (spread butter) until mixture resembles really course crumbs. Stir in the rest of the Walnuts and then sprinkle on top of the batter in the pan.

Yum!

Enjoy!

That's alot of yummies in one day!

I enjoy your comments and emails! I"m still learning at this knitting but so much enjoying it.

I also started a Valentine freebie of my own for the model.

It's going fast and I will post this later.

Have a cuppa and carry on,

Jennifer

Finishing Knitting Projects and My Finished Stitching Journal

 

I finished my Kindle Cozy today!

 

 

 

By whip stitching in the calico lining and making a flower button on the corner, I then tucked in my reading glasses, small Kindle light, and Kindle and it's ready to go now.

 Abbie was really not into my crafting today. It takes away from her snuggle time.

 

NEXT, I finished with this in mind:

 

My Stitching Motif Journal

made with love by Feathers in the Nest
2013


I knitted in garter stitch the journal color in Lion's Brand tweed yarn in Mixed Berries with #9 Bates knitting needles.

After binding off, I decided instead of inserting rough paper, that I would cut some Antique White 28 ct linen into  slightly larger pieces than the binder cover. 9 pages.
I used some white DMC  to "bind" the pages of linen together.

I sewed on a vintage red button from my stash and the white thread wrapped around it for closure. Then tied on some white ribbon.
I'm sure othe ribbons, laces, buttons and ideas are endless on securing this journal..............

 The girl is silly.

When you have sewn the 3 part binder and secured it, you can see the pieces of linen of which you can stitch 1 over 1 on this 28 count for small motifs and have a nice journal.
This pic is when you roll back the knit cover.
 

Other ideas include:

redwork motifs
heart motifs
crown motifs
initials
Christmas motifs
monograms
small verses or words
or
whatever your HEART desires!

You may want to cut your linen pieces smaller, make a bigger knitted binder (i/e for 5 x7 pieces), or a variation of things.
I just thought this size would be neat.

I'm knitting a second one to put rough paper in for a paper journal in progress now.

Well, today went by in a flash and soon to head to sleepy time.

I did make some really good Banana Bread from a different recipe.
I thought it would be perfect for one large loaf pan but.......it floweth over in the oven......;)

Seriously. It did. Made a mess to clean up. I'll post the recipe tomorrow.....methinks it's time for getting ready for bed.

This picture reminds me of Mr. Darcy and me.
Time to snuggle, be silly and tell bedtime stories. :p

With love in my heart and home,
Jennifer
 

Twisted Tuesday--new knitting project and old/new cross stitch pattern

The foot is getting much better, thankfully! Woke up last night with it hurting but wrapping it during the day helps a bunch. Mr. Darcy's sweet love helps too. 

While NOT doing housework and such at the homestead yesterday ((((sigh)))), I knitted up a small journal cover. There is a great pattern in a book called Simple Knitting: A complete how-to-knit workshop with 20 projects  by Erika Knight. This book is from Joanne's Fabrics store.

 I got it back a few months ago when I SO wanted to learn how to knit. Along with U tubes, both have been helpful.

page 75 is number 4 lesson Notebook. 

So this is the end result and should be fairly easy going now. I will get some leather tie and sew a button on. I plan to cut up some rough paper, probably from a grocery bag and punch holes in it to put in the binder.

Then I'll show pics later of it finished out. So far one small notebook done and the next working on it. I have a couple of people I would like to give these to for Valentines Day.

Using # 9 Bates aluminum needles with Lion's Brand Mixed Berries. It's really a pretty yarn but I have to say it's tweedy texture didn't really have any "give" to it and it split quite a bit.

Got to sew a button on it, get some leather string, find a grocery bag to cut up rough papers yet to go. I've also thought about using some lace instead, as this if for Valentines.

And on to the second one.

Knitting really has been enjoyable, productive and anxiety-reducing all in one.

Anybody heard of this sampler maker?    This is a package with DMC floss, and the 26 ct natural linen, and chart for a gorgeous sampler with one of my favorite Bible verses. I think it was put out in the 80's.

It's a band sampler.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"

I don't know when I will start this but I just had to show you. I had not heard of this designer before. If you have or know of other patterns, let me know!

This pattern is very little to see. I will have to use magnifier to read it; however,

the address and name on the pattern is:

Words of Praise

2 Alexis Drive

Richmond, Virginia 23231

Whoever is the designer, did a great job and the work is so meaningful.THANK YOU!

The colors are PERFECT for our family room!

The natural, unbleached linen in 26 ct will be perfect for my vision as well.

Well, I guess I've started enough projects for who knows when to finish.

The Downton Abbey episode was so SAD this past Sunday night. Of all people, Sybil. {{{frown}}}

 We can't wait to see the next one though.

I haven't much progress to show on my spot sampler for DA but when the mood strikes I'll pick it up again.

Right now I have a bit of stitcher's ADD.

Seriously.

Is it the Winter time?

the variety of crafts we all have in stash?

Whatever it is, it keeps me going!

As the verse says~~Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Carry-on and stay strong!

Love to all,

Jennifer

Finished a Nook Cozy

Well, no pattern indeed for this one. Just playing with rows of stitches and measuring for a Barnes and Noble Nook e-reader for a gift.

This project took 1 whole ball of yarn. Stitched with my glass knitting needles and learning how to yarn over and decrease stitches with this one. Started out with the garter stitch. I only had one skein of this yarn so a scarf was not possible..............or a long scarf that is......

then I practiced some yarn overs (YO) and through several U tubes learned how to decrease, increase, and yarn over. I was nearing the end of this yarn skein and I thought this would measure out perfect for a NOOK reader.

The finished project is like this:

You can see Abbie is begging for attention with her "Virginia baby". OK, I will spare the details of how she got named that one........

Anyhoo, I initially used some large gold rickrack through the yarn over smaller section and I did and secured it by hand sewing in the back. Then I decided to make a decorative tie from a scrap of the material, roughed it up a bit and pulled through the open sections and secured with a wood heart button.

To make this piece initially, I simply folded over the knitted piece to fit a NOOK and used a blind stitch with yarn x 2 on the sides for a good hold.

I then machine stitched a piece of calico fabric for a lining.

I then whipstitched it by hand in the inside.

The large rickrack ribbon gave it some stability and also for the heart button as well.

My stitches are not perfect but I did like the general look of it.

I also love the fabbie I got from my stash cabinet for the liner.

The back is not perfect but I'm still learning. :P

and there ya go for a first attempt at a NOOK e-reader cozy.

Now.........tonight is Downton Abbey!!!

Can't wait to see the next episode.

 I sprained my right foot putting on a pair of new boots. The boots are my Christmas present from Mr. Darcy and they initially were too small. Then after a month they finally returned the right size and they also were almost impossible unless you don't wear socks to get on in the instep. The length was actually a little large. 

But in my excitement I twisted my right foot down and the heel went down sideways. NOT a good thing.

So here's my Santa present! 

Country Outfitter--Durango

Hope you all had a great weekend and especially a good start Monday!

Jennifer