The Maker's Guild

[sellerie]

Oh, I like this. That scarf is amazing. I'm to impatient for knitting and crocheting projects, and I'm still a bloody beginner when it comes to sewing. Iwould love to see (and admire) more of those stuff here. And maybe ask a question regarding sewing here and there.

I'm more into cooking. Plus I'm crafting a lot with my older kiddo. Right now we are mostly painting rocks that we hide around our community -> https://www.instagram.com/p/BZRF2c2lIbU/ . And I also like to work with polymer clay. Mainly I'm doing little covers for jewelry boxes and journals, but I'm thinking about doing some picture frame projects soon.

(Hm, is there a way to show pictures from my Instagram here?)

I also have some dA accounts where I used to show stuff pre-kids, but I haven't updated those lately ... mostly because my children. Instagram is faster to use nowadays. *g*

https://sellerie.deviantart.com/gallery/ (Mainly used for food pictures, but you can also find a few older craft projects there.)
https://drachenei.deviantart.com/gallery/ (There was a time when I was very much into jewellery making, so that stuff can be found there.)

[oceanmist]

Might finally get around to uploading those rug braiding notes soon. But here are some pictures of my polymer clay works https://katscrapmew.deviantart.com/gall ... -Creations. I haven't done these for a few years though.

So you cookers and bakers, what are your favorite cook books? My top three are an old Betty Crocker cook book (from the 40s maybe?), the flavor bible, and pretty much any Taste of Home cook books. Taste of Home is probably my go to right now. As well as awesome recipes with great pictures, they have all sorts of little helpful guides. Every section starts with how to cook the foods/how long and one of the guides I use the most is the apple one. It lists all sorts of types of apples and what they are best used for.

The Flavor Bible is my second favorite. It pretty much lists all types of ingredients and what herbs, spices, etc go well with them.

[sellerie]

@Oceanmist My hubby would probably tell you that I collect cookbooks. And, well, I guess he is right. I love to read them just for fun sometimes, and I have quite a collection.

Also, my mom regularly sends me my favorite cooking and baking magazines from Germany, and I like to try the recipes in there on a regular basis. The books I use the most are all from Germany, and most of them are not translated into English. But I can recommend some authors who have been translated or are writing in English, if you like.

[MistyoC]

I hope you don't mind me quoting myself from the old recipes thread in the HoS. lol

I know it's not Christmas, but:

Gingerbread House (or cookies)
5 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 cup shortening (solid)
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups unsulphered molasses
2 eggs, beaten
Mix flour, soda, salt, and spices.
Melt shortening over low heat. Do not overheat.
Add in order sugar, molasses, and eggs. [note: make sure mixture has cooled some before adding eggs so they don't cook].
Add 4 cups dry ingredients and mix well.
Turn mixture onto lightly floured surface.
Knead in remaining dry ingredients by hand. [note: I have the dry ingredients in an extra large mixing bowl, so I add the dough to that and just knead in the bowl + flour hands before doing this so dough doesn't stick to fingers]
For a house:
Roll dough directly onto cookie sheets and cut:
2 roof pieces 5" x 9 1/2"
2 side walls 5 1/4" x 7" and
2 pentagons 5" wide at base, 5 1/4" tall sides with a peak 2 1/2" above that (diagonal to peak should be 3 1/2" )
There will be some dough leftover for corrective pieces or you can use as a base.
[note: or download a pattern from one of the many sites online]
Bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees. 10 to 12 minutes for larger pieces, 6 to 8 for smaller pieces. After baking, check sizes and trim off rough edges on walls.
Let the pieces set for 48 hours before building.
Royal Icing:
2 tbsps and 1 tsp meringue powder
3 cups sifted confectioners sugar
4 tbsps and 2 tsp warm water
beat until icing forms peaks
Place all 4 wall pieces on base and glue at corners with royal icing. use unopened soda cans to brace until icing holds firm [gluing walls to base helps, whether using gingerbread or cardboard base] Once the walls hold firm, line top edges with icing and place roof pieces on top. Brace roof pieces from below [note: cardboard cut to hold pieces in place work great]. Line roof peak with royal icing. Once roof pieces hold, use remaining icing (or make another batch ) to affix candy design to house. [note: I actually put most of the candy on and let it set before putting the house together, so I'm not fighting gravity.]
For cookies:
Roll and cut as desired.
Bake at 375 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes.
(note: my own notes are in brackets, as I've revised my methods over the years.)

[sara4cows]

Bring on the cooking and baking. I should take notes on your ornament how-to, Merk. Because I need another craft hobby.

I've been busy with fluff stuff, and since there was sunlight today I took pictures. Got my yarn plied, it's very soft and bouncy and is hell trying to get a photo of because the colors just don't show up correctly. Ah well, it may do better once knitted up, I've seen this happen before.

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I got a picture of my hand blended Shetland/silk fiber blend. I'm narrowing down shawl options.

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And here's that scarf Enchanteddil loves.

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Anyone who's on Ravelry and is looking to pick up some new patterns, I suggest checking out the Indie Design Gift-a-Long group because every year a huge list of designers put up some of their patterns for 25% off and the sale started last night. I picked up like four of Nim Teasdale's shawl patterns today as well as a few others. (How many is a few?)

That yarn is beautiful, there is so much that goes into the yarn itself. I do very little crocheting but really enjoy working with nice yarn when I do. I have a hard time with the feel of the synthetic on my fingers.
Your scarf is beautiful as well, a lot of patience and time goes into a piece like that. I admire your dedication. I am very lucky if my attention span lets me do a straight scarf, or a hat.

Oh, I like this. That scarf is amazing. I'm to impatient for knitting and crocheting projects, and I'm still a bloody beginner when it comes to sewing. Iwould love to see (and admire) more of those stuff here. And maybe ask a question regarding sewing here and there.

I'm more into cooking. Plus I'm crafting a lot with my older kiddo. Right now we are mostly painting rocks that we hide around our community -> https://www.instagram.com/p/BZRF2c2lIbU/ . And I also like to work with polymer clay. Mainly I'm doing little covers for jewelry boxes and journals, but I'm thinking about doing some picture frame projects soon.

(Hm, is there a way to show pictures from my Instagram here?)

I also have some dA accounts where I used to show stuff pre-kids, but I haven't updated those lately ... mostly because my children. Instagram is faster to use nowadays. *g*

https://sellerie.deviantart.com/gallery/ (Mainly used for food pictures, but you can also find a few older craft projects there.)
https://drachenei.deviantart.com/gallery/ (There was a time when I was very much into jewellery making, so that stuff can be found there.)

Your rock paintings are amazing. I love using stuff from nature, first of all it is free and secondly the textures and shapes can lead to very interesting designs.

Might finally get around to uploading those rug braiding notes soon. But here are some pictures of my polymer clay works https://katscrapmew.deviantart.com/gall ... -Creations. I haven't done these for a few years though.

So you cookers and bakers, what are your favorite cook books? My top three are an old Betty Crocker cook book (from the 40s maybe?), the flavor bible, and pretty much any Taste of Home cook books. Taste of Home is probably my go to right now. As well as awesome recipes with great pictures, they have all sorts of little helpful guides. Every section starts with how to cook the foods/how long and one of the guides I use the most is the apple one. It lists all sorts of types of apples and what they are best used for.

The Flavor Bible is my second favorite. It pretty much lists all types of ingredients and what herbs, spices, etc go well with them.

Your dragons are adorable.
My go-to cookbook use to be the "Farmers Home Journal", and one I only know as "The Bread Book". I should get something like "The Flavor Bible" as it sounds like it would be a useful companion to my herb garden.

I hope you don't mind me quoting myself from the old recipes thread in the HoS. lol

That gingerbread recipe looks yummy and good and strong for building with. I use to make a Santa and sleigh with his nine reindeer. It would measure about 3 1/2 feet long by the time I was done, but a lot of fun. I've since gone gluten free so don't do as much baking as I use to.


I have a craft fair in the morning with over 300 ornaments packed up and ready to load. This is my first one with a handmade item, so I really don't know what to expect. I hope my prices are low enough to attract customers but still high enough to cover expenses. Wish me luck.

[ShaiNeko]

Yeeessss, more people doing things and showing them off.

How did your craft show go, sara4cows?


Next time I get the bright idea to spin 100 grams of wool in like, two days? Someone smack me and tell me no. On the plus side, I like this berry blendy stuff. On the left is what it looks like as I spin, on the right is the same stuff rewound onto a different bobbin for plying.

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And since it's December I got an Advent Calendar! One made especially for handspinners!

Here's a pic of day 1's fiber and what it looks like as I'm spinning it.

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[Wolfsister]

I really want to try spinning, but I probably shouldn't for a while. I have nowhere good to store fiber and would probably end up spinning hair into it all the time...

But I finished a couple of things I thought I would share!
That star wars scarf:

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And another scarf:

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Both are destined to be Christmas gifts. Now I need to make a wall hanging and finish my first knit top.

[sara4cows]

Yeeessss, more people doing things and showing them off.

How did your craft show go, sara4cows?


Next time I get the bright idea to spin 100 grams of wool in like, two days? Someone smack me and tell me no. On the plus side, I like this berry blendy stuff. On the left is what it looks like as I spin, on the right is the same stuff rewound onto a different bobbin for plying.

Spoiler

And since it's December I got an Advent Calendar! One made especially for handspinners!

Here's a pic of day 1's fiber and what it looks like as I'm spinning it.

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The craft fair went well, the turn out was small and the hours a bit longer than they should have been, as it dies off after 1 pm in most places and this one went until 3 which made for a long couple of hours in the afternoon.
I have another fair tomorrow with much better hours, this one is 10-2 which will make for a less tired me at the end of the day. I should have pictures after this one, as mom is going to bring her camera.

That yarn is beautiful, I look forward to seeing a finished piece with it.

I really want to try spinning, but I probably shouldn't for a while. I have nowhere good to store fiber and would probably end up spinning hair into it all the time...

But I finished a couple of things I thought I would share!
That star wars scarf:

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And another scarf:

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Both are destined to be Christmas gifts. Now I need to make a wall hanging and finish my first knit top.

That Star Wars scarf is mind boggling to me when I think about the counting and color changes that went into it. That much dedication to a piece is amazing.
You have some lucky friends or family on your gift list this year.

[sara4cows]

Sorry for double posting, but it has been so long since the last post that I thought a new one was warranted.

I just completed my last craft fair of the season, and boy am I thankful that it is over. It was worth the work, and I've picked up a bunch of ideas to toss around in my head for next year, but I'm ready for a break.

I do have pictures of my table from the 2nd show. The glass pieces were made by a friend of mine, the ornaments were made by my husband and me. We had just enough ornaments left over to decorate our tree.
I'll try to get a picture of that to share once I get access to a camera again.

Link to google album

[Megadragoon]

Merry Xmas everyone!
I don't know if this is relevant but I would like to post my sister's home-made Christmas's village. She loves to bake stuff when it comes to holidays or special events.

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