savoy062

Perhaps its an over idealistic notion but I hope to be able to make a handmade gift for my child(ren) each year for Christmas.  For my little one's first Christmas I made her a very simple fabric doll.  It is lopsided and simple but I loved making it for her and she has loved playing with it. This year I decided the gift I wanted to make was a set of wooden blocks.  Only problem is, I don't know the first thing about making wood toys.  I looked online and most instructions are geared towards hobbyist and wood workers with a workshop to rival Santa's elves.  I don't have many tools of my own, but luckily my dad does.  I used his tabletop mitre saw and carpenters square.  Making blocks usually requires you to rip cut, or cut the board lengthwise, to get small narrow pieces.  That is difficult to do and usually requires a table saw.  Instead I found long narrow hobby boards that didn't need to be rip cut.  They are made of nice hardwood.  I picked poplar but they als

This hat turned out so cute.  I made it just for personal use but I thought others may like to make one as well.  Like so many of my patterns, this hat is worked in a continuous spiral.  It is so much easier than joining rows and makes for a seamless hat.  I made this hat in classic Santa Claus colors but you could make it in any color combination you like. This pattern is written with US crochet terms.  You may want to use a stitch marker or a scrap piece of yarn to make the start of each row.  I find its easy enough without stitch markers, so long as you can finish a row before putting it down, and keep track of which row you are on if you do need to set it down.  I have put the stitch count at the end of each row so you can double check yourself as you go. You will need about 3 ounces of worsted weight yarn in the main color, 1 ounce or less of contrasting color, size H crochet hook (or a similar size would also work), a pom pom maker or a way to make a pom pom or tassel (there are

I love soft, lightweight ornaments.  You can hang them low without worries of babies or kitties breaking them and you can hang them on even flimsy Charlie Brown style trees without the branches sagging too much. This ornament is incredibly quick and easy to make.  I can make one up in about 5 minutes with about 5 yards of yarn.  You can make them in all sorts of bright colors.  Make up a bunch to give to friends and family but make sure you keep a few for yourself. This pattern uses US crochet terms.  If you have any questions, leave a comment and I will be sure to get back to you. You can use any type of yarn (or even thread) for this pattern.  In the tutorial I used Red Heart Super Saver and a size G hook but any hook that matches the yarn you are using would be fine.  Gauge is not very important for this pattern as a slightly larger or smaller ornament would still work and look lovely.  Other than that, the only other tool you will need is a pair of scissors. BLO - back loop only ch

I used to have marathon cookie baking sessions with my friend Matt.  He made a great molasses cookie and he was kind enough to share his recipe with me.  It's chewy, spicy, and always comes out great.  I know some people will sub out the shortening for butter but to get the best texture shortening is the way to go. Ingredients 1 1/2 cups shortening melted 2 cups white sugar 1/2 cup molasses 2 eggs 4 cups flour 4 tsp baking soda 2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ground cloves 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp salt Mix together dry ingredients Cream together shortening and sugar.  Add eggs one at a time then add the molasses.  Stir in dry ingredients.  Dough will be stiff.  Scoop with a cookie scoop or portion out dough into walnut size balls.  Roll dough in you hands to form smooth balls.  Roll balls in sugar, place on a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.  Press the dough balls with the bottom of a glass to flatten slightly.  Bake at 375 F for 8-10 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.  The cookies will puff

Pecan sandies are one of those cookies you make to impress.  They are the gem of a cookie platter and the talk of the cookie exchange.  I don't know if its the buttery crumbly cookie or the big fat pecan crowning the buttery crumbly cookie.  Either way, they are a delicious addition to Cookie Week! Ingredients 1 cup (2 sticks) dairy free margarine (Earth Balance) feel free to use butter if you are able 1 cup canola oil 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 cup powdered sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 4 cups flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cream of tartar 1 tsp salt 2 cups chopped pecans plus pretty pecan halves for the top of each cookie if desired Mix the dry ingredients Cream the margarine, oil and the three sugars until a smooth batter Add eggs, one at a time, then add vanilla Spoon the dry ingredient and mix just until incorporated.   Stir in the chopped nuts Chill dough for about an hour then scoop and bake OR Scoop the dough then chill 20 minutes then bake OR Scoop the dough, then fr

This cookie is a delicious combination of a chewy oatmeal cookie and a sweet peanut-y peanut butter cookie. This is another great recipe to make ahead and freeze. 1 ½ cup flour 2 teaspoon baking soda 1 ½ cup quick cooking oats or rolled oats that have been very lightly pulsed in a food processor 2 sticks ( 1 cup) dairy free margarine or butter ( add ½ tsp salt if using unsalted butter) 1 cup packed dark brown sugar ½ cup white granulated sugar 1 cup conventional creamy peanut butter (if using natural peanut butter you may want to bump up the sugar and salt) 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs Mix dry ingredients. Cream together margarine, brown sugar and white sugar. Add peanut butter and beat again until fluffy and lightened in color. Add vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, incorporate each egg fully after each addition. Spoon in dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Scoop onto an ungreased cookie sheet leaving 1 ½ inches between each cookie. Bake at 350 F for 12-14 minutes until

I love these cookies.  This was my great aunt Vivian's recipe.  One of those good old fashioned recipes that calls for oleo and "handfuls" of things.  I made minor changes only to make this dairy free.  I switched out the oleo for Earth Balance vegan margarine and I use chocolate chips made without dairy ingredients.     I have great memories of them and I make them every year for Christmas. These cookies are soft and cake with warm spices, raisins, chocolate and nuts.  I hope you give this recipe a try and let me know what you think. Ingredients 4 cups flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp ground ginger 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 cup (2 sticks) Earth Balance Dairy free margarine *sub butter if you would like 2 cups raisins 1 cup chocolate chips *Ghiradelli semi sweet chips have no dairy ingredients (made on shared equipment) 1 cup chopped walnuts In a small sauce pan combine the raisins with about 2 cups of water.  Bring