Friday, October 29, 2010

Doo-Dads

Introducing the Contemporary Pluss Creations line of...knit flowers!

Flowers are all the rage now, so why not add one to a hat, scarf, bag or shirt?  Make a plain outfit more unique with a handmade flower.  Here are some of the first prototypes: 




Modeled by Yours Truly
Photos by Mr. P

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Announcing...

...the new logo for Contemporary Pluss Creations! 







Look for a newly updated blog soon, which will incorporate the logo. 


I'm on my way to becoming official!!!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Some old knits



This is some knitting I completed back in April.  They were quick and fun and went to a cute little boy!  

Monday, October 25, 2010

Fingerless Gloves

This is the pattern that I used

I just finished these up last week.  They were super fun to make and have already been put to good use.  I was so excited that we had some cooler weather and I was able to wear them.  This week we are back to 60s and 70s!!  I can envision wearing these in the cold winter months when my hands are absolutely freezing INSIDE!  Mmm...I love the snuggly part of winter.

Lets talk about fall, though.  I am making all things apple tonight.  I just realized that I have a stockpile of apples on the back porch from our apple picking in September that I should get to using!  I had already made one batch of apple sauce, so tonight I am making another round.  Plus and Apple Bundt cake which smells absolutely delicious.  Can't wait for it to be done cooking...an hour and a half?  Come on folks, that is just too long. 

What I love about the apple treats I'm cooking up:
1. The apple sauce is oh-so-good for you.  We're talking apples, water and a bit-o-cinnamon.  Can't get better than that! 
2. Preparing the apples is so fun when you use a combination apple peeler, corer, slicer.  Do you have one of these gadgets?  If not, you MUST purchase one at your earliest convenience. 
3. The smell of cinnamon, sugar, and apples.  The cake has LAYERS of apples (covered in cinn/sug) alternating with the layers of cake (with extra vanilla!). 

Monday, October 18, 2010

What to do with those green tomatoes...

This might be a little late for some of you, but I had to share. 

My tomato plants were still producing until this past week when the weather got chilly!  However, the fruit was not turning red.  I had lots of big, green tomatoes on the vine and felt wasteful just chucking them out.  And I figured that they would take forever to ripen in the window sill.  So, I found this recipe, tried it out and it's great!   What a fantastic way to use up that end of the season produce. 

Try it; you won't regret it!

Click HERE for the recipe.

Image via pdphoto.org

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Fall Door Decoration

When it came time to hang up my fall wreath this year, I decided that I was not into the Halloween feeling yet.  I was craving something more pumpkin-y and foliage-ish.  So, when I read my cousin Erin's blog and saw that she had made this, I knew I had to follow suit! 

I got all of my supplies at Jo-Ann Fabrics where, suprisingly, all fall decor was 50% off on September 30 because they had to make room for Christmas!  Ai-yai-yai!

Materials:
Grapevine wreath    $3.99
Fall Garland     $7.99 (normally 14.99)
Orange Ribbon     $.99 (normally 1.99)

The Result:

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Inspiration

View of Lake Champlain from the plane on our way to Basin Harbor, VT
While I was in Vermont this weekend visiting Mr. P's parents, I went to some craft fairs & shops with my MIL.  It was great inspiration for how to set up my booth at the craft fair.  I got a new idea of how to display my hats, so now Mr. P has a new woodworking project!  In addition, I now have a new product that I am going to sell at the fair.  Lets just say it has something to do with photographs.  Details to follow.... 

On Sunday we took a little day trip to Basin Harbor Resort for lunch.   Mr. P takes his father on an annual "Foliage Trip" in the airplane and this was the destination for 2010.  Despite some bumpiness, it was a fun excursion with a delicious lunch.  I love checking out new places!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Cuffed Hat

 Finished this hat over the weekend upon request from younger brother:



Details:
Pattern-A Charity Guide for Knitters, Debbie Macomber:  "Cuffed Hat"
Yarn-Encore Worsted Weight, Olive (I think)
Machine Washable

I'm glad that this turned out as it did, since I altered it a bit.  The pattern called for this to be knit on straight needles and then to be sewn up at the end...no thank you!  I knit it in the round instead, but there were some tricky spots as I started to decrease.  But, it was a good challenge, and I guess that's part of why I love to knit! 

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Knit Fruit Hats

As I mentioned in a previous post, my first craft fair is coming up at the end of November.  I am super excited, but also working like a mad woman to get hats knit up!  In the midst of all of this, I have been contemplating my Etsy shop that I hope to set up after the fair.  Last weekend was beautiful so I took the opportunity to get some shots out in the sunlight and play with props a bit.  Here are a few I took.  Let me know what you like!  

Question:  If you could buy one of the fruit hats, which would it be and why?  Who would you purchase it for? 

**By the way, the hats ARE for sale and you can buy them!  I just don't have the shop set up yet...

Strawberry


Pumpkin


Pear

Apple


Raspberry








Eggplant

Watermelon

Friday, October 8, 2010

Just because...

...I couldn't resist...and because it's fall...I thought I'd post this picture I snapped the other weekend while apple picking....

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Baby Shower--The Food

Menu:
Shower Sandwiches (both the ham and red pepper versions)
Green Bean Salad
Coleslaw
Fresh tomatoes & mozzarella
Fresh fruit

Dessert:
Chocolate covered pretzels
Meringue cookies
Cake (of course!)

Beverages:
Cucumber Limeade
Coffee
Tea
Water





Marta's Cucumber Limeade...which was declared "spicy" by one young attendee :)

My MIL's homegrown tomatoes!





Miranda's Shower Sandwiches

Chocolate covered pretzels--so easy

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Faaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllll...You are here!

My porch has been mumpkin-fied...


Don't mind my dirty stairs--I just transplanted these babies




 
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