Final Package!

So, I got this on...Monday? Or Tuesday? I can't remember, but I really was super stoked about it!

Its the final package from my Ravelry Swap! My Spoiler, who I found out was Rows Red (go read her blog!) really knows how to make a girl feel special :) She themed this package after my favorite color, yellow :)

I got 3 super sweet hand knit wash cloths that are already being put to good use, yarn and the pattern to make more (!) which came in a super awesome knitting bag that definitely ensures that nothing will slip out along with some wonderful smelling candles and great star shaped sticky notes which are also being put to good use already.

She informed me that she had the bag specially made for me by Etsy Seller Babylove Designs so if you are a knitter or know a knitter its a wonderful gift idea! *hint hint*

Thank you so so much miss RowsRed, you did a phenomenal job and its spoilers like you that make me want to keep doing this (not to mention all the great spoilees!) .

So stay tuned for the next swap I join to see all the other cool stuff I get hehe.

Oh, and as a side note: Its snowing in Socorro. And its sticking. :)

Recent Knitting

I know I have been so bad about posting lately, especially last week! The semester is winding up and with that a lot of time is sucked out my life into some academic-wall-papered black hole. I have had some time to knit (I have to keep whats left of my sanity somehow right?) and here is one of the projects I am working on:

Its a menswear-inspired scarf for my friend who's birthday is next week. Its her gift to herself, isn't that awesome? Do you get yourself stuff for your birthday? You should.

anyways, I've done a TON more since this picture was taken and I promise to show you pictures of the completed piece :D

Oh! And I got the final package for the Ravelry Swap I've been doing the other day, I PROMISE pictures will come tomorrow.

tartocstreasures winner!

Pam Hoffman is the lucky winner for last week's giveaway from tartocstreasures, she will be contacted today :D Thanks for entering Pam!

Interview and Giveaway with Seababe!

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, I know I did, and I wish it didn't have to end. But alas, it does. To make this week back a tad more bearable, we are hosting another giveaway! This week's giveaway is sponsored by seababe, creators of fine, casual, beachy jewelry :)

Kristin and David run both Seababe and Seababejewelry on Etsy and the two shops, although both offering jewelry, offer very different styles and price ranges. Between the two shops, you are sure to find something that fits your needs.

Read on to learn more about the amazing couple behind this fantastic shop:

What prompted you to start a second shop? How is this new one different than the other?

We were prompted to start a new shop when Kristin started working with new materials like leather and glass. The new style was a little more casual than our Sea Babe Jewelry shop, so we thought it was a good time to expand. The second shop has turned into a more casual and inexpensive shop, while the original shop has all our gold pieces, and some items that have a higher ticket price.

Who started the jewelry making, Kristen or David? How did it begin?

We started making jewelry together. It all began as a hobby and escalated to more.

Where do you find your inspiration for your pieces?

We are inspired for our pieces by the ocean, surf culture, history, traveling, current fashion trends, and even our customers! We get our inspiration from many different sources.

What is the most valuable advice you have ever been given? About the shop, life, whatever?

One piece of advice that sticks out in our minds is to "mind your business." Meaning that we need to be aware of what's going in in all aspects of your business.


Seababe has offered one of my lucky readers a chance to win a pair of their Pink Posie Earrings:

To Enter:

-First and foremost, you must visit seababe and leave a comment on which item is your favorite from the shop

-to gain another entry, follow this blog and leave a separate comment saying you are!

-to gain another entry, tweet or blog about this giveaway and leave the link in a separate comment so we can all see

with every comment, please leave a way for me to get a hold of you so I can notify the winner as soon as possible :)

That gives you 4 ways to enter this giveaway!

The giveaway will end at midnight on Sunday, December 6, a winner will be chosen by random number generator and notified on the 7th. What are you waiting for? Get started!

Recipe for Pumpkin Pie from Scratch!

Matt and I got a pumpkin with the hopes of carving it for Halloween. Well, that didn't happen, but we decided that we couldn't let it go to waste and made a pie out of it. Here's the recipe we used as well as helpful photos of the process :D If you make you own, please share your results, recipe, photos, or whatever in the comments!

Ingredients:

· For Filling:

o -Pumpkin (some recipes specify a pie pumpkin, but we used a normal carving pumpkin)

o -12 oz can evaporated milk

o -1 cup sugar

o -1 tsp ground cinnamon

o -1 tsp ground ginger

o -1 tsp ground cloves

o -1/2 tsp salt

o -2 large eggs

· For Pie Shell:

o -1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

o -1 cup firm unsalted butter

o -1/3 cup ice water

For your pie shell:

Step 1:

Cut the butter into the flour

Step 2:

Use an electric mixer to combine the ingredients. Pour in the ice water a little at a time (on low speed) until your mixture begins to clump and hold together.

Step 3:

Remove the formed dough from the mixer and sprinkle a bit of flour before wrapping in plastic wrap and refrigerating for an hour.

Step 4:

Remove the dough after it has set in the refrigerator and roll out the dough using a pie crust bag or placing it in between wax paper. Place the dough in your pie pan.

For Filling:

Step 1:

Cut your pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds and extra string.

Step 2:

Place both halves on a foil lined baking sheet and cover with foil. Bake your pumpkin at 350˚ for about 1.5 hours or until tender.

Step 3:

Scoop out the flesh, which should be quite soft and puree the pumpkin using a hand or regular blender (we had whole cloves instead of ground cloves and actually combined them with the pumpkin in the blender in this step) (also, see how the pumpkin is still steaming? and the steam above the blender? I don't have anything to say about that that adds to the recipe, but I think its cool :))

Step 4:

After pureeing, combine together the sugar, cinnamon, ground cloves, ginger and salt in a separate bowl.

Step 5:

In a separate bowl beat eggs and stir in your dry ingredients as well as your pumpkin. Mix well and slowly add in the evaporated milk while you stir. Make sure the filling is blended and smooth. Preheat your oven to 375˚

Step 6:

Pour your pumpkin mixture into your pie shell.

Step 7:

With your oven already pre-heated, bake pie in the middle of the oven for 50 to 65 minutes.

Cool and serve with whipped cream and cinnamon or whatever you prefer J

Last Week's Winner

By random number generator, last week's winner was chosen today and it happened to be number 1! The winner will be contacted today :)

Don't forget to enter this week's giveaway for a chance to win a colorful bracelet from tartocstreasures!!

Interview and Giveaway from tartocstreasures

There is a new giveaway this week! This week's giveaway is from tartocstreasures, the maker of unique and colorful jewelry in between her nursing and her life :)

Read on to learn more about her design process, and where she finds her inspiration!

How would you describe your aesthetic? What kind of person do you see wearing your jewelry when you create it?

As far as aesthetic: I prefer to use natural stones and arrange them in color combination that is both eye catching and unique.

I see people wearing my items as someone who enjoys having a unique handmade item of their own to wear, either free spirits or more conservative of any age

Where do you find most of your inspiration for your pieces?

Whenever I get inspired and picture what I want to make in my head, I find time. If I dont it just ticks away at me and I can't wait to see how the finished product looks.

I get inspiration in many different ways, from a color combo someone is wearing to inspiration from the great outdoors, to inspiration from my love of animals and the sea. Every time I sell a piece it is like I am giving away a piece of myself as I put my heart and sole into each item I make.

tartocstreasure's is offering up her Patriotic at Heart Memory Wire Bracelet (shown above) to one of my lucky readers!

To Enter:

-First and foremost, you must visit tartocstreasures and leave a comment on which item is your favorite from the shop

-to gain another entry, follow this blog and leave a separate comment saying you are!

-to gain another entry, tweet or blog about this giveaway and leave the link in a separate comment so we can all see

with every comment, please leave a way for me to get a hold of you so I can notify the winner as soon as possible :)

That gives you 4 ways to enter this giveaway!

The giveaway will end at midnight on Sunday, November 29, a winner will be chosen by random number generator and notified on the 30th. Don't delay, go visit her shop now!