Paper Penny Rug

Carrot Salad with a Zing

2011-03-28T15:25:00.000-07:00

Today it was all about the lemon and ginger... not sure why, since it is still freezing out & I would think that craving lemons would be more of a summer-heat related craving... this is an easy and refreshing side dish or snack...

Grate about 4-5 carrots (depends on how hungry you are or how many people you are feeding)
Grate a small piece of fresh ginger (for me it was about a teaspoon of grated ginger)
Scoop it all up into a bowl and mix it up a bit
Add some (1/4 teaspoon) of Sea salt (I like sea salt, but you can use table salt -why not? might have a stronger salty taste though)
Add a half of a lemon-sqeeze it over the mixture and mix it up

That's it! And it is SO refreshingly delicious...
(these are my cravings, foods that I put together as I go along, but I realize that some of my ideas might already be out there - of course!!!) ;)

Potato Fritterlicious

2011-03-27T09:38:00.001-07:00

It really is simple and easier on your wallet to whip up something yummy and healthy rather than popping something into the micro-wave - so this is whipping versus waving - Might not be low-cal, but it is better than eating a factory processed meal - and it is kid approved and a favorite for this pregnant mom! :)

I was craving something with potatoes I and needed it fast! So I peeled some potatoes and began shredding them as I said to myself, I'll figure out what to do with these as I go along, but this baby is craving potatoes... and it came to me, I thought oooh, I can fritter them up, in the same way I make zucchini fritters in the summer.

So here's how easy it is to make:

Grab a cutting board and your shredder...
Shred 4 peeled potatoes ( you can leave the skins on if you want them faster)
Shred 1/2 of an onion
Crack one egg in a bowl and stir it up with a fork
Toss in the shredded potatoes and onion
Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt
Add 1/4 to 1/2 (your tastes) of paprika
Grate some fresh pepper over the mixture
Add 1/2 teaspoon tarragon(I did this with half the batch, so I had two types, both were equally delicious - actually I like the batch with he tarragon best ;)
Mix it all up together

Now get your saute pan ready... two tablespoons of olive oil and one table spoon of butter on high heat then reduce a bit once nice and hot.

By the spoonful, drop a large spoonful of your potato mixture into the the saute pan (Ok, yes you are frying) so fry them up... a few minutes on each side and you are done. I know when they are ready when they are lightly golden brown, I flip and fry the other side to a golden brown.

You can eat them as is, or add a spoonful of sour cream on top. YUM!!!

This really was my way of satisfying my pregnancy-craving for high fat food - but I'm not really sure how much fat is really in it. I think they are a nice fried "healthy" alternative to those store bought processed hash browns - you will love them! Did I mention healthy? In my opinion, this is healthy! Yep, you can have your fast food and be healthy too.

by the way... in the amount of time it took me to start this blog post... I fed my kids - they loved the potatoes... there day was started with fruit salad and a high fiber cereal... so some home-made fried potato fritters is a win-win for today, for us all.

Oh and when I put the cereal on the table (the kids usually ask for maple syrup on top)... I made a fresh fruit salad of melon, bananas, apples & a sliced orange on the side. I mentioned that we were out of maple syrup-no cries! It was an awesome little moment of healthiness as my son loaded the cereal with banana slices and everyone enjoyed their breakfast. Children really like to "make" their own food and have control... so giving them a fruit salad on the side to dress up their cereal with whatever fruit gave them a little bit of a feeling of making it themselves - its like their own little tea party, but real.

This was a good recipe as a result of a craving...

...much better than my absolutely crazy pregnancy craving: Pancakes with broccoli & maple syrup on top - not a family favorite (although at the time I loved it)!

Time again for Fingerless Gloves

2009-09-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

Click here for the craft tip

Featured Paper Penny Rug

2009-06-21T06:37:00.000-07:00

Here I Hand Hook A Wool Circle

2009-04-20T06:10:00.001-07:00

Hi! Here I am showing my technique for hand-hooking with crochet for wool circles (wordy, huh?) ...you'll have to view it from the bottom of the page & up... sorry... didn't have the time to create the tutorial in full yet... but I think you'll get the idea! Have fun with your metal hook and wool circle!

Here is it finished... no you'll have to scroll up to catch a glimpse of the process involved here...

Big Belly Blue Bird

2009-04-08T08:58:00.000-07:00

This little bird has filled her belly and is ready to rest on a hall table with a few flowers in a vase atop it. I used a felted sweater (OK, I laugh out loud here because another wool sweater in the wash... oops...) Then I feel bad though for wasting a sweater?! Well, it's not wasted, but - to avoid wasting any of it anyway, I'll use as much of it as I can and then showcase the extra birds online - I guess on ebay or etsy. I LOL again because I do not usually 'sell' online; however, I do showcase on those sites ;)... I'd love to use ebay for the missionfish.com connection, which easily allows for donating a % to a cause...

This bird is basically a big canvas waiting to be embroidered and decorated...

Natural Wool Single Egg Holder Tutorial

2009-04-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

Tutorial on creating a Wool Display Single Egg Holder.

This tutorial is a really great craft tip because the end result can be used for so many things - egg holder, little display, napkin holders...

My favorite it to use the eggs as table settings/placements... you can write each guest's name right on the egg... It really seems more of a craft tip than tutorial to me, because it is really so easy and fun! Enjoy!

Materials Needed:
cotton thread, 5 one-inch wool circles,
embroidery or sewing needle (large eye needles are great)
a pair of scissors

Step 1:
Thread the needle with 3 feet of thread (or an arm length). Use one single piece of thread doubled - tied at the end (it looks like you have two strands of thread).
Poke the needle through the side, going through the diameter of the circle. Leave at least 5 inches of thread out of this first circle (you will be using this again in the final step).
The wool is thick enough to hide the thread as you go throughout the diameter, so be mindful that you are pulling the thread through the wool to hide the thread within the wool. Thread through all five circles.

Step 2:

When you've threaded through the diameter of all five wool circles. It will look like a garland. Bring the last sewn circle to the first sewn circle, and tie a knot.

Step 3:

Re-thread through each diameter back to the beginning. And then Snip the end closely to the wool to hide and fringe.
(Remember, you've already tied a knot, so your work will not unravel).

Step 4:

Thread the loose thread from the first circle though the diameter of each circle to hide that extra bit of thread. (see below picture)

Step 5:
Squeeze each wool circle in half to help mold the wool giving the egg a little more support.

Now you are finished with your little single egg holder!!! For Jumbo eggs, use 6 one-inch circles ~ and have fun! Your circles can be embellished before or after you've completed this, using beads, embroidery thread... limitless possibilities...

http://www.PaperPennyRug.com
Tutorial by L. Mitchell, 2009 all rights reserved
Have fun making these!!!

I bought the wool circles for this project from a wonderful etsy seller ragamuffin2006.etsy.com
& they were nicely packaged with a little extra surprise too! I love the butter yellow color!

Mixed Media Paper Penny Rug GREETINGS!

2009-03-29T06:26:00.000-07:00

New line emerging & defining a new way of corresponding! Back to basics, really ~ your pen on paper for a personal message to your friend. Send a handmade mixed media greeting ensemble. These are made with cardboard squares, wool, crochet and hand hooked cotton on wool circles...

Just enough paper to write a little note & send the whole ensemble.

Single Egg Cup Paper Crochet Holder

2009-03-22T19:55:00.001-07:00

Tutorial Coming Soon...

Fingerless Gloves Craft Tip

2008-12-31T09:31:00.001-08:00

Made from an upcycled sweater, these fingerless gloves are almost finished! I can left them black, but I am going to decorate these with wool circles. so far this sweater has provided me with wrist cuffs and now these! Oh and the main sweater now has short sleeves, and which was once a woman's medium, fits a 4 year old! How cute?!

First you'll begin with your wool sweater - wash it, dry it, basically shrink it (felt it).Next grab your sharpest scissors for a nice clean cut.

This is what you'll have to cut.

Then cut a circle in the side about one inch down - this is for your thumb.

Now these are ready to decorate. I am going to add wool circles, like the ones I added to the felted sweater and to my wrist cuffs. So you can leave them as is, or add to them! I'll post the finished product later!

Yay for Craftstylish dot com

2008-12-30T20:04:00.000-08:00

I posted this how-to make upcycled wrist warmers on craftstylish.com. I love that website because you can post your own creations, give tips (if you desire), basically promote your crafts/art and have fun interacting with other crafters... It is really good advertising for your crafts too! I say "yay" to craftstylish for their welcoming website and friendly craftmosphere.

Here is a great tip for making wrist cuffs or wrist warmers:
Intentionally or accidently wash a beautiful merino wool sweater (or other wool) and dry it in your dryer, then use your nicely shrunk (felted) sweater to repurpose. Use the sleeves by cutting them to your desired length, then decorate, embroider, add circles, and you have cool cuffs! Wow - so fun and easy too!!!!!!

Wool on glass & linen

2008-12-27T12:24:00.001-08:00

I am sharing a project that I am working on which includes wool, glass and linen.
Here are some samples. I love the ease of the threads through the wool and linen. This piece was backed with cotton batting, which isn't as easy to thread, but just as enjoyable and natural to feel.

Speaking of Circles

2008-12-09T14:23:00.001-08:00

I must be way into circles lately because I am baking brown bread, cut into circles... mmmm..... smells good, and making lots more Paper Penny Rugs & Paper Pockets for unique handmade greeting and... here are a few in progress

Wool Pennies

2008-12-09T14:16:00.000-08:00

I just can't wait to start my next project (most likely a simultaneous project) using these wool pennies (circles) - I bought these from a great etsy seller ragamuffin2006.etsy.com

The Brass Collection

2008-11-26T06:24:00.001-08:00

I created this mini tote & business card holder with brass mesh and stainless steel & brass washers, I used Coats & Clark red metallic thread, and wire. My process for achieving this includes threading metallic thread though the mesh and washers. The tote was sewed together with a very fine gauge stainless steel wire.

2008-10-02T05:59:00.000-07:00

Autumn has fallen...

2008-09-23T20:29:00.000-07:00

I am sharing my Harvest Moons Paper Penny Rug with you to kick off the season.

Paper Penny Rugs

2008-07-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

Moon Bird Paper Penny Rug, handstitched paper pocket stationary.

Below is Brown Bird Paper Penny Rug, handmade Mini Greeting Card