Thai Peaches Jam

So last night I made some Peach Jalapeno Jam with Thai Chilies. Long story! Okay, no twisting my arm! I started out with 1 Jalapeno pepper. Before I added it I sampled it for both freshness (not that I doubted since it came from Debbie's garden) and heat. Sadly they only had a little heat so I busted out a Chili from the same garden and cleaned it up. Wow did that hurt! As soon as I touched a sliver to my tongue it lit my mouth on fire. That one I dropped in whole about half way through cooking it since the Jalapenos weren't heating things up any. Even after introducing the Thai chili I wasn't getting any heat. I'm not sure why either. Very disappointing that.

Anywho, I cooked it longer than I should have. It didn't mess with the flavor or burn at all but I did mess with my quantity. I was hoping on at least 4 half-pint jars but only got 3. Sigh! I blame it on attempting to get some heat in there. In the end I even kept the Thai Chili in the jam rather than pulling it out after I got it hot enough. I still possessed 2 of the jars for later consumption or as gifts and kept the 1 with the Thai Chili out for sampling at work.

I can say at least that the jam looks pretty. I left the skin on since the peaches are from Lynd's Fruit Farm only scrubbing the fuzz off. So there's bits of skin and mushy chunks of peaches. Then there's bits of green jalapeno. The red Thai Chili blends in with the jams color a bit.

I should have picked up some peaches from Reverend Larry's garden while in Virginia for my straight up peach jam!

I've also been working on knitting ... no surprise there! I've got a nice purple cable beanie I'm working on and I'm going to make a pair of matching let warmers. It's all newborn size so it'll work for photographers or people with newborns who want them.

Self photography!

I've worked out a deal with my sister on this as well. When her clients chose the prop they want she's going to offer them the prop if they wish to have it. Obviously they'll be purchasing it but it'll be cheaper then if they bought it from my website and had it shipped.

I also had a meeting for a fair coming up. The lady suggested I hit up Boho with my jewelry. She said that it would benefit us both (the boutique owner and myself). I was flattered when she told me "this is quality work." as she was browsing my jewelry collection and that if she ever needs a baby gift she knows were to go. Even if nothing else comes of this meeting I'll still be happy knowing she likes my work. However, I hope I can scrounge up some artists and get in this show!

Cabled Sack Hat

I've had this idea in my head for some time. I even sketched it out! Finally I got around to knitting it and I'm thinking it looked better in my head! I'm going to have to make a few changes and see if it looks any better.

It seems that since my uncle and great uncle are not doing well at the moment I've been occupying my mind with knitting. Crafts are my therapy! I went and visited with my great uncle Saturday morning early. After about an hour I encouraged him to take a nap since he looked tired. While he slept I knit; then a little after noon everyone else showed up.  He should be going home any day now! As for my uncle, I hope to visit him in Virginia this weekend if he's up to the company.

Smocked Cable Beanie

Well I finished the knit hat I had planned for Mallory. It was to go with the smocked dress I had given her for Christmas. However after about an inch along I realized it was too small. I kept knitting however, thinking perhaps it would stretch nicely. I mean it is ribbing after all. Now completed I find I was wrong. If I attempted to stretch it, it would look more like a fedora. My sister will be happy with it I'm sure since it's the perfect size for a newborn. What with her being a newborn photographer and all.

I'm attempting to write it all out at the moment. I probably should have done this while knitting it but I kept getting distracted by the knitting. So know I have to go in and try to find all those damn decreases:  they're hidden quite well if I do say so. So that is the point in which I find most challenging to write into pattern. Those damn decreases! Once done however I'm going to stick it up for sale. My figuring on this is that if the pattern is complex enough to charge $3.00 and thus create a competition for my selling the hats then I'll sell the pattern. If not then I'll just post the pattern for free use:  with credit on the design of course.

Irish Blanket

It's finally complete!

This lovely baby/lap blanket is modeled after the Irish flag and measures about 30"x36". As for the photography: that needs a wee bit more work. Ryan seemed to have known that I needed him for a 'photo shoot' because he actually took a nap for me! :3

Granted it took a car ride to knock him out. I actually thought he was still awake until I opened his door to get him out. It's funny but he didn't even wake up for all my struggles getting him unstrapped and out of the car then trying to get Mallory to come inside when she really didn't want to. She was having such fun playing in the rain: stomping in the puddles! Then laying him down in the crib: this is were he would normally wake up but luck was with me and he stayed out. Didn't even flinch when the shutter went off.

I tried for some artistic shots but without better light of a flash it just wasn't happening. I was very lucky to get what I got.

The blanket even grew on my sister. Initially she didn't like the transition between colors and how it made the purl stitch look funky but after it was all done and washed she's like "I like". Everyone who sees it likes it so I'm very happy about that. If it wasn't already sold I'd keep it!

Now I'm creating a fly veil for my horse. He'll look smashing in it when we go riding this summer. That is IF we go riding this summer. He would have to listen to and trust me for that to work out. Then you have the issue with his hock. (That's the joint on his back leg... the nobblie one) He's missing a lot of fur and his skin looks to be turning black along the edges. I'm a wee bit worried about it. Though Trouper doesn't seem to care at all. Touching it doesn't hurt him and it doesn't look angry or anything.

I'm debating on offering the pattern for sale since there doesn't seem to be more than one out there and I'm definitely going to add the veil to my list of projects I'm willing to make for people.

Right now it's a simple stitch pattern then I'm going to add a bit more. It will have a cloth ear cover ... or none at all (really depends on Trouper :3) with long fringe.

The one I'm working on now is a baby blue acrylic. It was either that or wool and I figure Trouper would have something terrible to say about me putting something so warm on him head in the heat of summer! :3 The reason for the options is due to flammability. Wool when knit puts itself out if it were to catch fire and acrylic's synthetic fibers have a fire retardant property added. I'm none too sure how to do the fringe with acrylic since it unravels.

Knitting

I went to a former co-workers house to learn to knit. She did an awesome job teaching me! So much so that I now can cable!

Now I'm knitting like crazy! I made a cute little headband for my niece with a rose on it. It was per my sister's request of course but I had fun making it. Images will come once my sister decides to take them. Or maybe I'll just take it home and take the images myself!

At this moment in time I'm working on a baby blanket for a little Irish boy. The blanket is turning out nicely considering I've only been knitting for about 3 weeks. :3 It's a basic design with checker board and cables running up the sides and changes colors to match one of the Irish flags. Again I don't have images but then the blanket isn't done. I'm so excited to finish it though! I love doing customs for people!