"Pearl" Bracelet

Our son has been in an Ocean Odyssey class this semester. Each week, the students were given a list of homework assignments that would help them earn points. One week, he chose to use beads to make a 'pearl' bracelet for someone (the lesson that week was about shells, univalves/bivalves, pearls, etc.).

Even though this blog is mostly my crafty creations, it's time to show off a little highlight of a kiddo craft.

He started with the simple pearls, and then he decided that he wanted some extra color added into the mix.

For the 'clasp' part, he added a large bead to one end and a loop of elastic to the other end.

Unfortunately, we could have used one or two more beads because this ended up just a bit tight (you can sort of see the impression from where it was sitting a little higher on my wrist earlier), but that's ok! Maybe I'll have to try to undo that knot and add a couple at some point so it's a little easier to wear. I'm proud of him!

Hot Mustard Recipe

We're huge fans of spicy food around here. There are myriad condiments in our refrigerator, but very rarely do we have the standard ketchup and yellow mustard. I decided recently that I wanted to try to make my own mustard rather than buy some of the specialty mustards that we tend to like. This recipe is definitely worth repeating! It reminds me a lot of the Asian Hot Mustard that you'd put on an eggroll.

Hot Mustard

1 C dry ground mustard
1 C apple cider vinegar (we prefer the raw, unfiltered variety)
2-3 T Truvia or 1/4-1/3 C honey
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan; whisk to blend. Simmer over medium heat for 5-10 minutes. Pour into a clean jar. This will last for several weeks.

The hot mustard flavor comes through VERY strong initially, but it mellows out a bit over the next day or two. If it's still too strong for you, add a bit more sweetener to balance it out. It took a few adjustments to get it just where we liked it.

I was featured!

My New Row No-Chain-DC photo tutorial was featured over at Sarahndipities' Make Something Monday!

What an honor--thanks Sarah!

Go check out the other features and link up your own special project!

Mother's Day Cards

Interesting time of year in the U.S. for this post. That's what happens when you look through last year's photos! You suddenly find a project you forgot to post.

Nothing special, just some stamped cards. But since I'm never very creative about making original cards, I was pleased with the final product. One for my mom and one for my mother-in-law.

This was done with a Stampin' Up! set. I stamped the letters, trimmed them close, stuck them to the turquoise paper, trimmed that close, and stuck them to the card which I had already stamped to create a colorful background. Fun geometric look!

This one was also done with Stampin' Up! stamps. It is just a stamped image and ribbon with layers of purple, red, and silver paper. It's hard to see in the photo, but the silver has a nice matte shine to it.

Do you ever hand-make cards? Do you have an intense amount of guilt buying any when you know you could just make them if you'd planned ahead or had enough time? Some people are so talented at it that I'm often afraid mine won't measure up, but that's what keeps us trying, right?

A regular goofball

My favorite conversations seem to happen while preparing or eating lunch. I never quite know what to expect, but it's always entertaining! Recent example:

Son: Well, VeggieTales teaches us at least one thing!
Me: That 'God made you special, and He loves you very much!'?
Son: ...and not to point! Because they don't have any arms OR hands!

Yep. I didn't see that one coming.

Baby Hat

Some friends of ours just had a baby girl. How about a little purple hat for that precious tiny head?

I used this pattern as a guideline for the hat and my own made up pattern for the rosette. The hat was done with a lavender and a shiny white yarn held together, and the rosette was done with a dark purple with silver strand running through.

Hopefully I'll get to see her wearing it before she grows out of it!

No-Chain-DC to begin a row

Recently, I saw this video on how to start a new row of double crochet without doing the ch 2 or ch 3. I don't always want to load up a video to try a new technique, so I decided to make a photo tutorial really quickly. Now you can try whichever way you learn the best.

Complete your previous row, and turn your work.

Start your new row by pulling up a loop a little taller than a dc.

Place your pointer finger on the loop to hold it in place.

While keeping your finger on the loop, pull your hook toward you then behind the loop.

Yarn over, and pull through the first part of the loop...

...leaving two loops on the hook.

Yarn over...

...and pull through both loops to complete the dc.

Dc in the next st. They look identical!

There you have it! Have you ever tried this? Am I just slow to catch on to this technique as I was with the Magic Circle? Do you like it? It has taken a little practice to get a consistent size, but I really like the way this turns out.

Another Gift Scarf

I finished another gift scarf recently. It's the first Catherine's Wheel pattern I've done. One misread step caused great frustration, but it all worked out eventually.

Yarn used is some leftover Loops & Threads Impeccable in Lavender, Chocolate, and Cream.

The pattern can be found here.

I'm not a fan of fringe--it seems to get messy too quickly or get caught in things. Instead, I finished the edges with a strand of Chocolate and a strand of Lavender in 15-20 ch before a sl st back to the edge to form the loop. I've done this once before and have been very happy with the results.

It turned out to be quite thick and warm!

Bananas In Pajamas

Our boy was greeted by this on the kitchen table one morning.

Giggles, galore.

Have a wonderful weekend!