Clan Wallace

 
Who knew that the difference between the Wallace Crest and the Wallace Coat of Arms could cause so much drama?!? Getting {I}'s projects finished this morning was crazy town around here. I'm sure hoping that his presentations went well today...

Free Gingerbread Castle Template

Pin It

{I} is in the midst of a Medieval section at school and all the kids had to make a 3-D castle, with 10 labeled parts, and bring it in to school.

{I} convinced me to help him make his out of gingerbread. He did twist my arm...but only a little bit. We worked on a design, I baked the pieces and we constructed it together with tinted meringue powder royal icing.

It was surprisingly easy to construct! I forgot to get the exact outer measurements before I took it into the school, but the gingerbread is about a 1/4" thick, so the basic measurements are 12 1/2" x 12 1/2", with the drawbridge sticking out a little bit more.

We couldn't resist adding some knights and a dragon.

We labeled these 10 parts of a castle:
1. Moat: A ditch around the castle, usually filled with water.
2. Drawbridge: A bridge that could be raised or lowered. It was usually located over a moat.
3. Wall: Strongly built and usually not less than 10 feet thick, the wall surrounded the courtyard of the castle.
4. Portcullis: Main gate of the castle. It was made of heavy wood, reinforced with iron grating and could be raised and lowered.
5. Murder Holes: Holes in the ceiling just after the front gate. The holes were used for dropping large stones on attackers who got through the front gate.
6. Parapets: Low walls around the top edge of a tower or castle wall.
7. Machicolations: The reason why parapets were built. They were holes in the parapets used for dropping all kinds of things, such as boiling oil, hot water, stones, etc.
8. Arrow-loops: Narrow openings in the castle towers through which archers fired their arrows on the enemy below.
9. Outer Bailey: The first courtyard inside the outer walls of the castle.
10. Keep: The strongest and most heavily fortified part of the castle, as it was designed as the last line of defense. The Keep usually housed the owner of the castle, his family, and the Great Hall. The Great Hall was a room at the heart of the castle used for family dinners, banquets, games, dancing, entertainment, and sometimes also contained a courtroom.  

If you want to make your own gingerbread castle use 4x the recipe used for my Gingerbread Houses and this Gingerbread Castle Template.

When {I}'s Medieval section is done at school, he is planning on devouring the castle with his friends! Yummy!

Gingerbread House Recipe

Gingerbread Medieval Castle Template

Mouse in the House

This wee mouse in a tin pattern from Larissa Holland at mmmcrafts is so much cuter than the REAL MOUSE that is pooping in my pantry and gnawing open bags of barley. No joke. The thorough cleaning that I've been procrastinating since the beginning of the new year is in full swing now. I'm sorry little grey field mouse that is running across my floor and giving me the heebie jeebies, but you can't live with us! You must go!

THIS little mouse could live with us forever, though! 

When I'm done being grossed out by the real mouse in my house, I think I'll make a little fabric mouse like this one so that I can tuck it away in it's tin when I'm done playing with it.

All images Larissa Holland for mmmcrafts.blogspot.com.

Zigzag Chevron Blanket

I've been kind of naughty this week. I've been watching hours and hours of Downton Abbey episodes from Season 1 AND Season 2 trying to catch up before the Season 2 Finale on Sunday. It's been so glorious!

To make myself feel better about the time commitment of such an undertaking, I've been working on the unfinished afghan I gave to my parents for Christmas.

Yes. I gave my parents an unfinished blanket for Christmas this year. Pretty lame, I know. Check out my Ravelry project page for more information about the pattern and how I adjusted it for the blanket. I'm really loving the pattern! When it's finished I'll post more pictures.

Sure Love Ya!

My Grandmother Mangum's favorite endearment was "Sure love ya!"

Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day with lots of love!

Knit heart with banner adapted from this free pattern.

Aargh Matey! - Toy Tuesday

A friend's sweet little boy turned four last month and I made a pirate doll for him.

It was so fun to make!

Made from the free Black Apple Doll pattern.

Pixie Cable Hat Pattern

Did you know that I've finally finished my knit Pixie Cable Hat pattern?! I'm so excited to finally have it available for PDF download in my Etsy or Ravelry dowload shop! It's a very vintage-y feeling hat to keep a little one's ears warm. Don't let the cables fool you! It's very easy to knit!

Vote for Angie!

Blond Designs Blog

My very talented and put together friend Angie {of Blond Designs and Blond Designs Blog} has a DARLING Valentine craft currently in the running for the best bloggers kid-friendly Valentine's Day craft project on Martha Stewart's Living in the Family Room blog!

Blond Designs Blog

Can you believe how lovely and personalized this craft is? A really nice way for your child to spend a few minutes thinking about the recipient of their Valentine wishes. Check out Angie's blog for detailed instructions and a free printable download, then HURRY and head over to Living in the Family Room blog at MarthaStewart.com to vote!!

Don't wait! Go vote!