Various attempts at crafting

2018/04/06 Karen 2 Comments

Pie making II

2018/04/06 Karen 0 comment

I learned how to make pies before, but I needed a refresher.

3. Make as much gravy as humanly possible.

Ultimate cupcakes

2017/10/10 Karen 0 comment

When Eric played an ultimate tournament in Guelph in September, I sent him off with a dozen chocolate cupcakes vaguely representing the theme ‘Misfits on a green field’. Then I read books all weekend.

Dogs and blankies

2016/10/20 Karen 2 Comments

blankie-1 — One of three new blankies sewn from repurposed fabrics. Sage demonstrates how to ignore you in a blankie made from turtleneck sweaters and a leftover IKEA duvet cover.

blankie-2 — Here Abbey is modelling a blankie made with leftover fleece and more of that duvet cover.

blankie-3 — Not a new blankie, but the girls can’t do without.

Cartoonified

2016/06/24 Karen 1 Comment

Pie making

2015/02/27 Karen 5 Comments

Mom visited and taught me how to make veggie pot pies, my favourite winter food. I was fairly successful (for a first try). A couple look like “Frankenpies”, but if they taste as good as the one we cooked already I won’t even notice how Arctically cold it is outside.

Matching slippers. — Start with magic slippers.

pie-03 — Add shortening and ice water, and it eventually turns into a ball. When it does, refrigerate it.

pie-04 — Precook miscellaneous veggies, such as: potatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots.

pie-05a — To melted butter, add onions, flour, and spices. Also, milk and broth.

pie-06 — Stir until the instant coffee is finished.

pie-07 — When it’s thickened into gravy, add green peas and all the precooked veggies. Set aside.

pie-08a — Splatter flour on the table! Wheeeee!

pie-09 — Carefully roll a portion of dough until it’s big enough to fit a pie plate. I said carefully. Try again.

pie-10 — Fold in half twice and lift the dough into the pie plate. This is delicate work. Next, spoon in the filling. Wet the outer edge with hot water before placing the top on top. (You can ‘seam’ broken pieces together like this as well, luckily).

pie-11 — Press down all around the edge and slice off the excess.

pie-12 — Etch a fork mark design around the edge to beautify.

pie-13 — Place the pie into a freezer back and suck the air out with a straw! Freeze for later. Hurray!

Sweater for Klara

2014/09/11 Karen 2 Comments

sweater-0 — Front and back knit in one piece

sweater-1 — Knit with Estelle Woodrow yarn in “Fox Sparrow” (merino acrylic blend). Buttons are made of antler.

Lace knit scarf

2014/03/21 Karen 0 comment

I just finished my first lace knitting project, a lightweight merino spring scarf in a heathered turquoise colour. Sage volunteered to model, she knows it’s not hers.

Abbey’s new green mohair grandpa sweater

2014/03/21 Karen 0 comment

Feeling guilty that we got the dogs clippered before the weather warmed up, I decided to sew up a dog cosy. I used remnants left over from an old-sweater-into-pillow project from four years ago. I didn’t measure anything, just cut pieces in the same shape but slightly bigger than the Korean “I want to see your mind” sweatshirt Sage doesn’t fit into anymore. Since Abbey is the only one who actually likes wearing sweaters, here she is modelling:

Kangaroo mug

2014/03/09 Karen 0 comment

I got two new mugs in the mail last week from Marie. They’ve got ingenious little pouches in the front to hold the spent tea bag. No more excuses for bitter tea or messy desk :)