Creative Valerina

Giant Hat

Hat number 2, pink, gray, blue, originally uploaded by valerina15.

This hat might not look that big in the picture, but I assure you it is. I guess that’s what I get for knitting randomly without using a pattern (or experience with hat knitting). I had a feeling that it was going to be too big but I couldn’t stop knitting it. I got this yarn at Stitches East over the weekend and couldn’t put it down. Its wool, so I’m hoping I can shrink it down a little bit without making it child size. I LOVE the colors though, and way it diagonally striped. I must make it fit me…without starting over again.

The encore I was hoping for

Wave that Flag
Originally uploaded by valerina15

U.S Blues, performed by Ratdog, live at Warner Theater, Washington DC.
"Wave that flag, wave it wide and high"

Mama to Mama

I found something wonderful yesterday. SouleMama has launched a new website:

 Mama to Mama: Connecting Families Through the Gift of Handmade.

I love the concept and idea behind this project and am excited to see where it goes. I couldn't feel better about hand making something that could have a positive impact on someone else's life.

Something as simple as a newborn hat, made from a re-purposed tshirt, can make a big difference to a baby born in Haiti. Check it out for yourself, the Caps to Cap-Hatien Project. These hats are super simple and fun to sew. I plan to make a few more and then send them off to the SouleMama herself. Although I guess in my case it will be (future) mama to mama. Cheers to crafting for a good cause!

White, the New Orange

We carved white pumpkins this year instead of orange ones. This was not the plan, but as I found out, one should not "plan" to wait until Halloween to buy pumpkins, because there wont be any left. I should say, there wont be any orange pumpkins left (anywhere), and only a few small white ones in the grocery store. But the white ones were very cool! And a little easier/softer to carve. I did the evil kitty, and J did the Steelers logo.

 
The pumpkin coconut bisque turned out awesome, as did the pear and blue cheese salad. It was a very festive evening.

 

On Saturday I went out and bought size 6 dpns to finish my hat. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out and so I started another one. Today, I brought Winston to work with me because we're getting our stove and our hot water heater fixed and although he is the friendliest, most harmless dog in the world, he is no fan of repair men. He's been sitting in front of the door all morning looking at me like, "Are you kidding me? We're not going to the park? Seriously? We're not even going for a walk? You want me to sit in this office all day??"

He is not amused. And every time I get up from my desk, he thinks we're leaving, and he looks at me with the most hopefully pathetic eyes saying "Are we? Are we leaving now?? Is it time to go??"  Happy Monday, from Winston and I, to you.

Pumpkin Coconut Bisque

This is perhaps my favorite soup ever. It's sweet, savory and spicy all in one and absolutely delicious. The flavor combination is surprisingly amazing. I'm making it tonight for Halloween. Pumpkin coconut soup, crusty bread with butter, lots of wine, and pumpkin carving; I cant wait.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 3 garlic gloves, minced
• 3 cups canned solid pack pumpkin
• 2 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• 1 1 /2 cups (about) canned unsweetened coconut milk
• Ground nutmeg

Melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Saute until golden, add pumpkin, broth, sugar, allspice and crushed red pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer until flavors blend, about 30 minutes.

Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Return soup to pot. (I use a stick blender, its much easier!)  Bring soup to simmer, thinning with coconut milk to desired consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with nutmeg and serve.

Enjoy, and happy halloween!

Jay McCarroll Fabric

Jay McCarroll Fabric Mosaic, originally uploaded by valerina15.

Just found out about Jay's fabric collection at Free Spirit Fabric and am totally in love with it.

Knitting and NPR

WIP Hat, originally uploaded by valerina15.

While wandering around Rhinebeck last weekend, I decided that I NEEDED to learn how to knit a hat. There were so many cute hats there and I wanted to be able to make one. Plus, I've only ever knit scarves, and I really do need to be able to knit something else, I have enough scarves now (as do my family and friends). I read a little bit about knitting a hat on circulars online and then cast on with some of my handspun yarn, basically a combination of all the little "samples" I spun up. The green stuff is just some yarn I had in my stash. I'm not sure I like it yet, although I never immediately like anything I make. I’m also not sure its going to fit since I'm not using a pattern. I’ve been knitting and listening to NPR for the past 2 days at work; I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t be doing that, but I can’t put the needles down.

Still blooming

Dahlia Bloom, originally uploaded by valerina15.

According to most of my garden, you wouldn't know that its autumn. My tomatoes, peppers, and pumpkins, are still filled with blooms and are still producing. I spent some time yesterday afternoon admiring this amazing dahlia plant and picking the last of the vegetables before the frost gets to them. I felt bad for the teeny tiny vegetables that won't have time to grow before frost and debated what to do with them.

This is the first year I grew pumpkins. And by grew, I mean I threw last year's halloween pumpkins into the garden, did nothing else, and watched in amazement this spring as the left over seeds started to sprout rapidly. Apparently I'm good at growing things accidentally. Intentionally, not so much. I shall grow them again next year by the same method.

Im pretty sure this will be the last harvest. Lots of peppers and eggplant. I think I'll make a jalapeno hot sauce. And the eggplant....I'm not sure.

Scenes from Rhinebeck

My mom and I had a lovely time at Rhinebeck on Saturday. It was an easy 2 hour drive from Scranton but we left a little late, got there at 11, and had to wait in an insanely long line of traffic to get in - that was just the beginning of the day of "insanely long lines" and I hate lines. The weather was beautiful though, and the trees were amazing. I didnt end up buying much because I can never decide what to spend my money on at those type things and then end up buying very little (probably a good thing anyway). I wanted to buy a pretty spindle but didnt want to pay 60 dollars for one, so I bought one of the cheaper spindles and am decorating it myself. After the festival was over, we stopped at the Ravelry party, had a delicious little cupcake, and drove home. And now, scenes from Rhinebeck:

Sea of Spindles

Me and my mom (who refused to wear the scarf she made because she wasnt cold)

The most beautiful spinning wheel EVER

The view

The ugly brooch

Ravelry cupcakes

The only girl in flip flops. Me.

 

It was a weekend of wool, and yarn, and spinning, and fresh air, and beautiful scenery and inspiration. No football, no politics. I need more of that.

My sweater for Rhinebeck

No, it really isn't. It looks like it could be though, doesn't it? I cant knit sweaters, ya'll know that. The above is just a rectangle I knit using a bit of yarn I spun recently (for a camera case perhaps). I AM going to Rhinebeck though! And I do need to figure out what Im wearing, as it will be far chillier there than it is here. I've started making a brooch that I hope to wear, I'd like to sport at least a little something handmade, although its far too ugly right now to even show you and Im not sure there is hope for it.