Fall Wedding Central

It's fall wedding central here at the house. My niece is being married tomorrow and I'm baking the wedding cake.

My mother is brilliant at flower arranging and she's enlisted the help of the grandchildren.

 

We haven't had a fall wedding before and the colors are so gorgeous! I promise to share my recipes and more pictures...

A Thank You Gift Beyond Words

A dear friend gave me the loveliest thank you gift on Monday. It was WAY too generous, and completely unnecessary, but I am tickled beyond words! The silky soft Liberty of London fabric and the Koigu 100% Merino Wool fingering yarn purchased from Purl Soho in NYC are stunningly beautiful and I am all a-twitter with anticipation and delight at what to make with them!

I've been wasting precious time researching today on Pinterest (the time-sucking void of delicious ideas and pictures) for a summer hexagon quilt for my bed. Our duvet and down comforter is WAY too hot for summer, so I'd like a lighter quilt during the hot season. I won't get to a quilt until the new year, but I'm so excited at the possibilities!

I think that I'll make some finger-less gloves with the yarn. Won't that be colorful and fun during the drab winter?!

I'm so grateful for this unexpected gift!

Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Dead

Polka and Bloom Calavera Skull Embroidery Pattern

Today I've been thinking about Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. The Mr. lived quite a few years in Mexico as a preteen, and then for two years as a missionary for our church. He has a deep love for the people of Mexico, their food, and their culture. Ask the children what one of the favorite things they love to do with their father, besides fishing, and they will say, "making bolillo," a traditional Mexican crispy crust bread roll. Last week we used the last of our tomatoes from the garden to make a roasted tomato salsa in our molcajete. Our favorite soup? Caldo de Albondigas (Mexican Meatball Soup - someday I'll share my recipe with you!).

Sweet Sugar Belle

Last year I attempted to make Day of the Dead cut-out cookies. They did NOT turn out as amazing as these cookies by Sweet Sugar Belle. (But go check out this amazing tutorial she posted!!) I think I like Day of the Dead traditions because the holiday celebrates the amazingly vibrant colors of Mexico and it emphasizes the importance of family and ancestors.

Frida Kahlo Mexican Tile

One of my favorite artists is Frida Kahlo.The way she embraced her ethnic roots, the uncompromising honesty of her artwork, the way she wore her hair!! And her unique perspective.

Happy Dia de los Muertos!

Chevron Stripe Scarf for Japan

Apparently I wanted to crochet a scarf for Japan instead of knit it. 

I usually knit and crochet in very small gauges, but this time I chose a bulky yarn and I'm thrilled at how quickly the scarf was to crochet! An easy, fast, and thoroughly satisfying project.

Chevron stripes seem to be all the rage right now. Remember the Missoni for Target frenzy?!

This chevron stripe scarf is a free pattern from Lion Brand yarn. I've used Lion Brand Alpine Wool, which is 100% wool, for the light blue, and a vintage (like, really vintage) wool-blend yarn that was in my mother's stash for the cream.

We'll send them off when {G} is done with hers.

With the weather turning cold here, I'm thinking about scarves for myself. Here are a couple patterns that I think are really, really lovely...

 Knit by Dawn Sparks. This is her Etsy shop. Apparently the pattern is in 101 Designer One Skein Wonders.

Crocheted by Coco Rose.

Mr. O'Leary's Scarf. Free Pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

If you're interested in sending a scarf to Japan, please go here for more information, or click the link below or on my side bar.

S'mores Cookies

Martha Stewart S'mores Cookies

I made these yesterday and they are so unbelievably addictive that I'm struggling with getting any sort of healthy nutrition from anything else. The cookie is dense, but crumbly too, with a hint of cinnamon. And the chocolate and broiled marshmallow really do conjure up the taste of campfire s'mores.

Um, I made a double batch. I think I'm in trouble!

Fru Dahle - Toy Tuesday

Look who came to play today! Fru Dahle from Norway has come to play with my fairy family for spooky All Hallows' Eve. Made by Emily of Ravenhill (who sadly is no longer blogging or selling her super cute matroyshka dolls. Boo hoo hoo!).

When Emily closed her shop in January of this year, I promptly ordered Fru Dahle (1) because she's amazingly cute, (2) because I had wanted one of Emily's matroyshka dolls for quite some time and I shuddered to think that I wouldn't be able to order a doll if I didn't act very fast, and (3) Dahle is the Norwegian family name of my maternal great-grandmother!! It is also {K}'s middle name! So it seemed like fate that Fru Dahle should come to live with our family.

But, alas! Even though Emily sent her to us in January, Fru Dahle decided to gallivant across the globe, visiting all the places that I'm sure I'd wish to go, and making me cry a very sad Boo Hoo, because not only had Emily closed her shop and wasn't making any more deliciously darling matroyshka dolls anymore, but I thought that Fru Dahle didn't want to come live with us!

But, Fru Dahle DID want to live with us and she arrived safe and sound and she is now comfortably housed with the Fairy Family and they are planning what costumes to wear for Halloween.

For other darling matroyshka dolls, visit here, here, or here. Enjoy!

Pixie Cable Hat and Booties

Introducing my 

Pixie Cable Hat

and

Cable Mary Janes!

I've been working on the pattern all spring and summer and I'm making the final revisions right now. Look for the knitting pattern and custom knits for infants available in my shop soon!

Pictures by Carissa Rasmussen for alipyper.
Thank you Carissa!!

Uncle Winn's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

One of my fondest memories growing up was the freedom my Mom allowed in the kitchen on Sunday afternoons and evenings. Baking cookies, muffins, caramel popcorn and simple candies with whatever was in the pantry became a weekly ritual.


But my mother's kitchen was a kitchen dedicated to utility and quantity - there were eight kids to feed! All our meals, including desserts and snacks, were about how far you could stretch the ingredients and how quickly you could get the food to the table.

I distinctly remember the first time I saw my Uncle Winn scoop out and bake cookies. Not only were his cookies super large, perfectly round and laden with chocolate chips, but he was using an ice cream scoop to put the dough on parchment paper lined baking sheets! What was that?!

This was WAY before Martha Stewart popularized the techniques and tools from a gourmet restaurant and showed us how to incorporate them into our home kitchens. I had never seen anyone use a scoop for cookie dough! Nor had I ever heard of parchment paper. These cookies were nothing like the misshapen and hodge-podge cookies we were turning out in our kitchen!

For more than twenty years, my Uncle Winn's cookies have been one of the most anticipated treats at family gatherings. Recently, he shared his recipe in a family cookbook and he's generously allowed me to share it with you!

Uncle Winn's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 lids of vanilla (about 2 tsp)
3 cups Quaker Normal Oats (quick oats, NOT old fashioned)
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 pkg of milk chocolate chips or raisins

Preheat oven to 375º F.

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Add quick oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and mix well. Mix in chocolate chips. Using a large scoop, scoop out cookies onto parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake 12-14 minutes, or until edges are golden. Don't over bake!

Transfer to cooling racks and enjoy!

Isn't this afghan amazing? My Grandmother Mangum crocheted it in the 70's and I'm BLOWN AWAY at the warm memories this blanket evoke in me and now as an adult, how brilliant her color combinations are! That super crazy brilliant pop of neon coral/peach against the dark green and olive green. LOVE that this afghan is crocheted in a wool blend and that it has retained it's shape and texture. LOVE IT!

Scarves 4 Japan

{G} and I are each going to knit an adult scarf to send to Japan. {G} has already started hers...2 x 2 rib that she figured out how to do on her own! Isn't she so smart?!

I haven't decided how I'll knit mine. Nothing super complicated - that's not the point.

If you're interested in knitting a simple scarf yourself, here is the link with more information, or click the link below or on my sidebar. This is a great project to do with your kids or youth group and it would be a nice way to give back during the upcoming Holiday season!

Pumpkin Carvin' Time!

My little sister Sarah came over with her kids and we carved pumpkins out in the autumn sunshine. Luckily, she was willing to help the kids clean out the pumpkins while I provided logistical, photographic,and design support. Sorry, but cleaning pumpkin guts makes me gag.

I think all the kids did a bang up job!

 {G} is definitely into simple, statement pumpkins...last year she carved a mustache.This year? Cat eyes.

{I}'s pumpkin says, "The soda tastes good." Apparently this is an inside joke with his cousin?

And {K} left some guts hanging inside for the extra gross factor.

We're ready for the spookiness to begin!