I see a pattern

Dear Like Clochework fans, I have a special announcement to make! I've had quite a few requests over the past months for patterns of my hats, scarves, and other accessories, so over the weekend I officially launched the LC Pattern Shop on Etsy! I have three of my patterns up, with more to come in the next few weeks, so if you are a crocheter and want to make your very own Like Clochework hat, keep watching the new shop. Happy hatmaking!

It's a wash

Well, if you haven't heard yet, Crafty By Nature is cancelled this month due to weather. I'm pretty bummed because I was all psyched to showcase my new products. So instead - and for this week only* - I'm offering a discount on my bracelets and headbands in my Etsy shop: $1 off each bracelet and $5 off each headband! Just include the code "CBNdiscount" in the note to seller box at checkout and I'll refund you through PayPal.


*August 1-7, 2010

NEW for August!

Welcome to what's become my "monthly newsletter"! Got a little kick in the pants from Alex at Hello Bluebird today (chatting about blogging more often), so I'm really going to try harder with this.

On a happier note, I'm excited to announce two new products! First up are my crocheted bangle bracelets, which are made from cotton crochet thread and are really fun to wear (I didn't take mine off for almost a week). You can purchase them singly, but I recommend getting three because it just looks nice :-)

Next is my "Rachel" headband, which features three Irish crochet roses, again in cotton. I had a lot of fun choosing buttons to accent my initial four creations. The pictures don't do these justice; I'm hoping to get better ones tomorrow at Crafty By Nature, where I can talk friends into modeling.

Speaking of Crafty By Nature, I hope to see some of you there! Weather permitting, I'll be out at Shupp's Grove from 9-4:00 tomorrow along with my friend Spotted Hill Farm. I'll be offering a little discount on my bracelets and headbands, too, so stop by and take advantage of that!

The joy of pickles

One of my favorite little foodie "extras" is pickles. Cucumbers, chow-chow, American, Japanese - doesn't matter, I love them all. Pickles can be anything: your traditional cucumbers, cauliflower, broccoli, radishes, peppers, beans (and if you mix them all together you get the aforementioned chow-chow).

Thanks to the abundance of my wonderful friend Donna's garden, I had the veggies I needed to do some pickling this weekend. I tried canning once and decided it's not really for me, so I like to make quick and easy refrigerator pickles instead. Anyone can throw these tasty treats together in 10 minutes or less, and you can throw in any veggies you want. They're great on their own, with a burger, over chicken salad, or thrown into the food processor and turned into relish.

Carrie's Sweet and Sour Pickles

INGREDIENTS
- 2 medium cucumbers, washed and sliced lengthwise
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 cup vinegar*
- 1 cup water
- 1 T sea salt
- 1 T sugar
- 1/8 cup black peppercorns
- 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
- several springs of fresh herbs such as dill, lemon thyme, bay leaves, etc.

DIRECTIONS
Pack vegetables, spices, and herbs loosely into jars or a an airtight container. Mix liquids, sugar, and salt in a seperate bowl and stir until sugar and salt dissolve. Pour over vegetables, seal containers, and allow to refrigerate for at least two (2) hours. Enjoy within two weeks (they won't last that long!).

*I used a mix of herbed white wine, cider, and distilled white vinegars. You can use whatever you like.