Skunky, Scones and a Head

Yesterday I finished Smallest's sock monkey. He was made using a pair of old socks and looks old, worn, loved and really quite 'Skunky' whatever that means. This morning I handed him to Smallest who instantly smelt him! Anyone that knows my Smallest, knows that if he smells something, he loves it. It is what gets him to sleep (normally sniffing his elephant called 'Smelly').

 

The edges were quite frayed and it wasn't a neat sewing job, but I wanted him to look worn. These socks were originally Small's and then passed to Smallest, so they have had plenty of wear. That undeniable dirty heel that you can't ever get really clean.

I made it in two days. He loves it. Now I have to make one for Small. Thank goodness I only have two children and one husband.

Smallest helped me to make some Canadian Scones yesterday. I have had trouble baking since we came here. I blame the cooker (old, came with the house, only one cooking shelf, too hot), and the ingredients (no self raising flour here, need to use baking powder and baking soda, all purpose flour or cake and pastry flour). Anyway a lady at the Garden Centre where I work gave me this fool proof recipe.

4 cups flour (I used all purpose)

1 cup sugar

1 cup butter

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon baking powder

Mix it all up together.

Add 2 cups of buttermilk

1 cup fruit (I used blueberries)

Bake (I put them at the top) 400* for 12-15 mins.

They look like rock cakes but they do taste like scones. They are quite moist so you don't need butter or jam, especially with the blueberries in them.




I joined in with Annaboo's CAL (Crochet a long) to attempt to crochet a monkey, doll or cat. I chose a monkey - you can never have too many monkies in one house!!!!

Sorry Annaboo, I don't know why this picture is so small

She is blogging step by step instructions, which is great because I finally understand a pattern and she gives pictures to show you what it should look like. Fabulous. I started it Tuesday Evening and it didn't go well and then tried again the next day and it worked.

It isn't perfect. I didn't always have the correct number of stitches. The face is a bit wonky. But I kind of like him/her already. The kids have already asked me "who is that one for?". FOR ME, IT IS FOR ME!!!

There will be more of this CAL next week. How exciting. Maybe I will make a start on a doll while I am waiting. Or maybe I should get on with Small's sock monkey. or maybe I should finish my Granny Blanket, or perhaps I will try some more baking now I have some confidence back.

Woyww #154 a new monkey

Yay it's Wednesday, the time to share what is on work desks all around the world. Started by Julia over at http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com.

This was my desk this morning when Smallest decided he wanted to do some crafting

He is decorating Easter hangings! He started them at Easter and then forgot about them, I put them away, he remembered he hadn't finished so I had to find them! He made a lovely job.

......and this is my desk after some work. A pile of books and magazines, an old photo of me and my mum (I was showing Smallest), my sewing basket and Huffle's Skinky (sock monkey)........,,,,,,

Huffle bought me this book for Mothers Day. I love it. I have made a Dollar Bill Vikings Helmet and a leaping leopard frog. It really leaps too! What will I make next?

Two more socks ready to make another sock monkey for Small, he chose his own socks to use, not a pair but they kind of go, and my new wool and crochet hook ready for Annaboo's CAL (Crochet a long).

This is the sock monkey I am making for Smallest. He chose the socks and the buttons and has already named him Skunky and he loves him so!

Grab yourself a cup of tea/coffee and go and see what you can find on other people's desk. It may take a while though, there are a lot out there.

 

 

 

WOYWW #153 - a Monkey named Skinky

Wednesday is the day when WOYWW people show off their desks,however messy, creative, crafty, tidy they are. You can see 100's here. 

In the meantime, here's mine.

I had a bit of a tidy up. My pile of mending had sat there so long, I moved it to the floor. Other things that had been there too long are now filed away. I have my Kirsty book opened at the Elderflower Cordial page as we were in the woods the other day and spotted some elder. We talked about making some in the summer. I also found a cool monster to make out of felt. I don't think I will make it yet but it is cool.

I finished my monkey. We called him Skinky.

The stripe on his eyes (purely coincidental) makes him look a little like a ninja I think. He is very worn and already looks rough and well loved.

He was made using a pair of Huffle's old skiing socks that had holes in them. Therefore, the Monkey is now Huffle's.

He has the longest tail ever - Skinky, not Huffle!!

Guess who now want Monkies of their own?

 

 

What's on your workdesk Wednesday #152

Still the same rubbish but with half a sock monkey and a finished bag!

Smash book full of ideas, Mollie Makes Magazine and ribbon. Still a pile of mending. A lovely ball of wool and some napkins I picked up from the thrifty shop. My 'started ages ago' knitted hat. The lovely bunting that I won from Faded Reverie. Looks great and cheers me up. Wind up radio, zentangles, valentine hearts, gifts from Faded Reverie. Candles. Kirsty book. Lovely bag that was brought back from Rome with some tea and biscuits in from Huffle's work colleague. My finished knitted bag using the handles I won from The Felt Fairy. The bag has turned out a little different from what I was expecting.

One side.......

....l..and the other. Can't get a lot in it.

Then there is my newest project. A sock monkey. Ages ago, I found an odd ski sock and thought "I know what I will do with that". I started him today and then realised that I need a pair, not just one. Silly me, now I've got to find another odd one which is similar!

 

I don't know about Monkey, I think he looks more like a frog! I will let you know how I get on.

Pop on over the Julia's to have a look at hers and everyone else's desks this week.

Giveaway Entered

I have just entered the Mary Jane's Tearoom Giveaway

 

What a lovely blog. Go and see and enter her giveaway.

 

 

Woyww #151 - winnings and winners

I missed last week as we have Huffle's parents here visiting at the moment. No crafting has been done. No mending. No zentangling. Nothing. Nada.

Same as two weeks ago except for my lovely giveaway from the very talented 'faded reverie' at http://carrad.blogspot.com - isn't it lovely. You can see more on my post before this one.

I also received my lovely badge from Julia at woyww. I put it on my handbag and I am eagerly awaiting someone to spot it. I haven't seen anyone wearing one either.



Thank you Julia, I love it.

Lots more lovely, busy, crafty desks at http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com

My PIF Giveaway winners have finally received their gifts so I can now show what I made.

3 little chickens sitting in a tree..........

Or soaking up the sun on the deck........

 

Sitting round the bird bath

Bunny Egg Cosy

Rabbit Korknisse

.........with his little fluffy tail

A cosy for a jar or a coffee mug

........with some little yellow buttons

Two of the winners are now hosting their own giveaways. Go and have a look and enter, who knows what gifts you may get. They are very talented.

Http://jumbleberries.blogspot.com

Http://crafty-mushroom.blogspot.com

 

Winner winner chicken dinner

I won a giveaway. Wahooooo.

 

A beautifully wrapped present....

 

Lovely card handwritten on the back......... I can spy some lovely material.......

What is it, what is it?

Wow a drawstring bag. Some adorable little bunting. A pin cushion. A personal tissue case (how clever). A gorgeous little notebook. A Lovely little lavender bag.

How lucky am I? What a very talented lady she is. Now let me introduce you to this clever lady. Her blog name is Faded Reverie and she describes it as "My world of vintage, recycled and handmade loveliness, knitting, stitching and a bit more besides".

 

It is an interesting read and her creations are beautiful, especially her freeform bags - clever lady. Go and see.

Thank you so much Carrad for my lovely things. Now I just need to find homes for them. I have been walking around trying the bunting here and there and everywhere.

 

 

 

What's on your workdesk #149

Today I have my 'Workdesk' Drawer which I stuff all the things I'm working on downstairs in front of the TV.

What a mess! Really must sort and clear this so I can start all over again.

Then I have my real workdesk which hasn't changed much from other weeks except that there are a few more things on there.

My mending pile has grown. My bag (you know the one I was making for my February Monthly Challenge) is almost finished, no more knitting, just sewing up and adding the handles. It has taken forever.

I have discovered Zentangles. Now I may not be the best at this but I love it and I find them so calming, especially when my two boys are fighting and arguing!

This one started as a drawing around my hand

My Kirstue Allsop book is there (my lovely friend gave it to me before I left the UK) and I am looking into candle making.

Smallest was sitting at my desk earlier and was colouring in some Easter decorations that I forgot to give him, so they a still there and there is a box which had chocolates in from then esate Egg hunt we went on. (I didn't eat them I thought I might be able to use the box!).

That's me done. Go and see some messy and organised desks here courtesy of Julia's stamping ground.

 

Clown Chicken finished

I have been knitting a Clown Chicken for my friend's birthday (who incidentally is a clown!).

Well here she is (the chicken).

Her favourite colours are yellow and white, so I striped the body.

I added a red beak-nose. Glasses and flowers.

I added bells on her body in different colours and various buttons.

And of course, the chicken posed outside on the tree. Well why not?

Now here is a picture of my friend just so you can see why I made it the way I did.

Is there a small likeness? Maybe?

WOYWW #148

Not 'What's on my Workdesk Wednesday' but What's on the arm of my chair Wednesday - doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it? Anyhow...............

 

Knitting pattern. Wool. Little bells. Buttons. Needles. That's it.

I am knitting a chicken for a friend's birthday and I am going to attempt to make a clown one! Should be fairly straightforward but we'll see. I can tell you are thinking 'a clown chicken?', sure, it makes perfect sense to me!

See if anyone else out there is more sane than me and has a proper workdesk too. Check this out.

 

 

WOYWW #148

Not 'What's on my Workdesk Wednesday' but What's on the arm of my chair Wednesday - doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it? Anyhow...............

 

Knitting pattern. Wool. Little bells. Buttons. Needles. That's it.

I am knitting a chicken for a friend's birthday and I am going to attempt to make a clown one! Should be fairly straightforward but we'll see. I can tell you are thinking 'a clown chicken?', sure, it makes perfect sense to me!

See if anyone else out there is more sane than me and has a proper workdesk too. Check this out.

 

 

Elmo Cake

My Smallest requested an Elmo cake this year for his fifth birthday. Since moving to Canada I have had trouble baking. Different flours, different, butters, different ovens. Anyway here goes:-

I made two 1litre pudding bowl vanilla cakes and two chocolate sandwich 7" cakes

Got a Huffle to mix some Orios into some vanilla buttercream and then we added a bit of cocoa powder. Give it some more oomph.

Sandwiched them all together! Added bits of cake on sides for arms.

 

Made a butter icing which I tried to colour red but dark pink was the best could manage. I daren't put anymore in, not with kids eating it - they are hyper enough without extra help!

Got some red fondant and pressed it through a playdoh squeezer.

 

Made some eyes (white fondant with a chocolate chip), nose (white fondant dipped in orange moulding wafers melted) and mouth (painted on dark chocolate).

 

We ran out of fondant, it could have taken loads more as you can still see the pink underneath but I think you get the general idea.

Will be eating this tomorrow.