Coffee Flavored Honey

On a recent trip to Costa Rica I went to visit a coffee plantation. My friends cousin Eduardo, the plantation manager very kindly spent the afternoon showing us how the coffee plants were grown, how the beans were harvested, dried and packed ready to be shipped to the coffee roasters. It was a very enjoyable and interesting day and it made me appreciate more my morning cup of coffee after seeing how much effort and hard work went into picking the beans. These pics are of the smallest beehive I have ever seen, fixed near the door of the plantation office. The bees, only about an eighth of an inch long and sting less, entered the hive through that little round hole. Eduardo removed a part of the roof and pulled out a handful of honey, it was sweeter than normal honey but most surprisingly, it tasted like coffee. Costa Rica is a beautiful country, with wonderful people and hospitality second to none. I can't wait to return.

By John Neary

Handmade For Lewis

I made this for my grandson Lewis. He really liked and loved the button nose and eyes. When asked what name he wanted to give it he said Buttons!

By Michael Hayman

I'm A Mummy!

Meet Maximus and Lola my two new babies, I received the lovely wee turtles from my friend Michelle. She very kindly bought them for me when she went to China Town, she said she had turtles when she lived in Malaysia, she said they make great pets. I feed them every second day, they grow very slowly which is lucky for me as I don't need giant turtles running around my apartment! One wee thing though, she got me a male and a female (I hope they are brother and sister haha), hopefully they won't breed. Babies For Sale! (maybe).

By Christine Neary

A Blue And White Beanie

By Christine Neary

Stylish Beanie

This is another beanie, but the difference is I knitted one half and crocheted the other just to give it a bit of style. Again it knits up easily. The wool is from Peru, the colour is called tintada, it is 40% wool, 40% acrylic and 20% alpaca. The hat pattern is under "The Red Slippers".

By Christine Neary

Fun Beanies

These two hats (which are really called beanies) that Logan is modeling for me were knitted with spare wool I had left. They knit up very quickly and just fun to wear. From the same pattern already on The Craft Basket under "The Red Slippers". The blue hat is made from Lion Brand Yarn in cobalt, it is machine washable and dryer safe, made of polyester and acrylic. The multicoloured hat is made from what I call my "freaky" wool. The brand is Moda Dea Yarns using Jai Alia yarn in damsen. It is 100% polyester. This is a fun hat for fun things!

By Christine Neary

Spoons With Many Tales

My wee Mum collected spoons, I'm not sure when she started but she loved her spoons and the collection grew and grew. A lot of them were given to her by family and friends, when someone went to another country they always remembered to buy Mum a spoon. Here are some countries they came from. South Africa (she had a friend who lived there), Canada (I think I bought her one from there), Greece (from my sister Kathleen), Spain, New York (quite a few came from there as a few family members came to visit New York and I live in New York so I sent her a few too), Portugal, Gran canaria, Athens, Ireland, Cornwall Devon and many more countries. Sadly when she passed away Kathleen kept the spoons, some were dispersed among family but Kathleen keeps the others and I hope she keeps them forever and not get rid of them as they were a big reminder of our lovely wee Mum.

By Christine Neary

Another Good Crop Of Onions

It was another good year for onions. I would pick them on a dry day, clean the soil off the roots and lay them out on the greenhouse floor to dry. A week or so later, the leaves would be dry enough to braid, French style, and then to hang in a cool dark place, providing delicious onions right into the cold winter.

By John Neary

Interview Of The Month

This months interview is with the craft maven Betty McCreadie from Basingstoke, England.

Question 1. Tell us a little bit about your craft history.

"I love knitting and crochet, in fact I love all kinds of craft. I started knitting when I was 13 years old with two sticks and a ball of wool my Mum gave me. We did not have the money to buy needles but I made myself a scarf. At 17 I bought my first sewing machine, I saved up every penny I earned to buy it. I made my two young sisters dresses. Then when I had my own three daughters I made their clothes as well. Forty five years later I still have that very machine and still going strong. I also love paper craft, cross stitch, paper mache and I make my own cards. Every day you will find me doing something as I love all kinds of craft."

Question 2. If you were stranded on a desert island what would you bring and why?

"If I was left on a desert island this is what I would take with me. My sister Christine for company and we can knit together as like me she loves to knit. Lots and lots of wool, all size needles and crochet hooks, scissors, darning needle, as you can make things to help you survive. A big thick book that I can read in my hammock that I knitted. Couple of big packets of rice to eat with the fish that I catch with my knitted net. Sun cream as I will be sunbathing in my knitted bikini. I will knit or crochet blankets and a pillow case and stuff leaves into it to make a pillow. There is so much you can do with wool. I would also take a wok, wooden spoon, matches, we will drink water from the stream. And I must not forget my hair brush or I will look like Girl Friday by the time I leave the island!"

Betty's Clay Play

I was put on a course a couple of weeks ago, normally I hate courses but this one was right up my street. It was a craft course. The photo is the result of what I made. I have never done clay modeling before, this is my first time and it was great fun.

By Betty McCreadie

Betty's Creative Crochet

These are the three blankets and cushion I made just before Christmas.

By Betty McCreadie

My Lil Dumplin

It was one of those days...rainy and cold...time to throw everything into a crock pot and keep adding throughout the day (carrots and cauliflower finally got to see light). Everything was going well until my "Romantic Comedy" moment! I brought out two containers...cornstarch and baking powder. I wanted to thicken my sauce with cornstarch so I put some gravy in a little bowl, measured in some powder and POOF!!! A science experiment before my eyes. I thought "Okay maybe all that foaming just means it's really fresh". I poured it into the pot and turned to see I had used baking powder...ahhhhhhh! I felt embarrassed...all my hard work ruined. I still added some cornstarch and began the hunt for a dumpling recipe. I figured however funky the sauce was going to be at least there would be a dumpling to enjoy. I improvised on this recipe but it turned out to be so fluffy and delicious.

Dumplings:
1 Cup of flour (I used self rising flour)
1 Teaspoon of baking powder
1 Tablespoon of butter (cold)
Salt to taste
Cold water

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Cut in butter with a knife or pastry cutter, add cold water a tablespoon at a time until it forms a lumpy dough. Spoon a dumpling size of dough on top of your casserole or stew. When it's no longer gooey it's done.

Topsy Turvy

This is a teacup and saucer set my wee Mum gave me a few years ago, she knew my love of cups and saucers. On the bottom it says "Leonardo Collection" so I took it to be Leonardo De Vinci art work, I love it. Every time I pour tea into it I think it's going to topple over, it's a fun cup.

By Christine Neary

Christmas Door Hanging

I made this door hanging with bits and pieces and a branch off the Christmas tree. It didn't cost me a penny!

By Rose Ann Hayman

Holly Jolly Memories

For the holiday season I am asking my blog friends what is their favorite Christmas memory...this is Rose Ann's memory.

"I was 12 years old and my Dad had not long been dead. Christmas was looming and I suppose I never thought where the money was going to come from for presents. Maybe I hoped for once, Santa might be real! One day my Aunty Ellen turned up with masses of presents, one for each of us. She handed them all out and there I was sitting on the stairs the only one without a gift. I remember saying to myself, "don't cry, don't let them know it bothers me". Aunty Ellen came over to me and said, "we haven't forgotten about you, your present is not in the shop yet, it will be here soon!" True to her word, a couple of days later she arrived with a big box which was a post office set, and I just loved it! They couldn't (they being my Aunties and Uncles who clubbed together to help my poor widowed Mammy give her 10 children a decent Christmas) have picked a better or more wanted present. Knowing what I know now of relationships, I know that was a supreme act of love on their part. I will never forget that Christmas."

Purple Poncho With Matching Hat

Oh...my Aunties are so clever and creative! This is my chenille poncho and matching hat my Auntie Chris made for me as a Christmas present in 2005. She was not following any pattern so for them to fit without seeing me (I have a large noggin) was well done.

Robin

My Auntie Roseanne made me this beautiful doll about thirty years ago. Her name is Robin...she was so well made that she's in great condition after all these years. She is a large doll, about 25 inches tall, the perfect size to be clothed in pretty child's dresses.

Exceedingly Good

For all of you who know and adore the bakewell tart I hope your mouths are watering and that you will truly understand this dilemma. This is the last bakewell tart (one of many delicious goodies given to us by Kathleen and Andy) and there are three people in the house! Does the strongest get it, the nicest, the fastest? We could divide three ways and each get a heavenly mouthful (whole tart only 2 and a half inches wide). Or the one who is here alone doing giant piles of laundry all day deserves it? No...I think I will be nice and share when everyone is here together and keep this photo to drool over every once in a while.

New Year Message

"Happy New Year" to my bloggy friends around the world. I can't wait to see all of the creativity that will come out of 2010...so get to work everyone!