May 16/Julie
My nephew Lincoln turned one over the weekend! Can you believe it?! He celebrated with cupcakes, playing cars, smiling and continuing his reign as staring competition champion. Such a grown up already! Remember when he was this small?
True to form, Auntie Julie was late in getting him his handmade presents. We talked and he’s cool with it, though. So, Lincoln got an I.O.U for some tough guy pajamas in our new Skulls & Crossbones fabric. AND, I finally finished his Christmas present. A knit lobster!
I heart this lobster so much, probably because lobsters are unexpected stuffed friends to have. Which I think is funny and it makes me smile.
I used the Jacques Crusteau pattern from Petite Purls which you can find here. For yarn, I chose Berroco Vintage in Sour Cherry for the lobster’s body and Berroco Vintage in Mochi for the eyes. His pupiles are made of black felt and stitched on with embroidery floss. Another great yarn for this project would be Spud & Chloe Sweater. Mmmmm.
Finishing this lobster reminded me of how much fun knitting toys can be. It’s exciting to add those finishing touches like eyes and a mouth because that determines personality. Just like people, I’d say. I have my sights set on knitting this monkey next, a pattern that I just added to the Home Made shop. Will you give it a try???
And, guess who else had a birthday! Lincoln’s big brother, Finn, turned three just two weeks ago. Three!!!
Finn still rocks his rocket ship Sleepover Pajamas (I didn’t say anything to him, but they look like they might be getting just a teensy bit snug now). He also has an affinity for anything related to cars and takes bike safety very seriously. Do you?
You can find Berroco Vintage yarn, Spud & Chloe yarn, knitting needles and accessories, felt, embroidery floss, cotton stuffing, and all the supplies and encouragement you need for your next project at Home Made!
May 9/Julie
 {Photo of Mom + Me by Ocean Bleu Photography : www.oceanbleuphotography.com}
If you don’t know my Mom, meet Cindy. She’s that pretty lady up there on the left. Cindy is a Capricorn and has striking blue eyes that I clearly did not inherit. I did, however, inherit some of her craftiness and probably some of her stubbornness, too. Two things I know for sure about my Mom — she is ridiculously energetic like a hummingbird and never turns down a piece of chocolate. Hrm, could there be a correlation between those two things???
My mom taught me to sew, to paint like a pro, to mow the lawn, to cook, and to use power tools. She was also there to comfort me when, at age 11, I accidentally mowed over a whole nest of baby birds hidden in the grass and cried about it for hours. But, probably the biggest thing she taught me was how I could do anything I set my mind to do. That gender has nothing to do with your capacity to achieve what you want. She’s always had confidence in me that I’d figure it all out and has always been around to support me. Yep, she’s pretty great. And I’m pretty lucky.
So, to celebrate Mama Cindy, I’m going to make her a little special something like I normally do. But, it’s a surprise so I’m not telling you on here! We also have plans for a bike ride, picnic lunch and hanging with my nephews which leads me to my next announcement:
Home Made will be CLOSED on Sunday, May 12! We’ll reopen on Wednesday, May 15 with our usual business hours and will be ready for our The Sophia Cowl workshop. Are you joining?
How will you celebrate your mama?
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that a Home Made gift certificate makes a GREAT Mother’s Day gift. Packaged in a handmade felt envelope that she can use to store her hand stitching needles, this will totally make her day. Or, pick her up one of our just-arrived-to-the-shop-this-afternoon sweet smelling candles, a yarn bowl, or a fun Straight Stitch Society sewing pattern from the Home Made shop! I’ve got ideas so stop on in today, tomorrow or Saturday for the goods!
However you celebrate, I wish you all a Happy Mother’s Day and hope that all you important mother figures in our lives know how special and appreciated you are. xoxo
May 3/Julie
 {Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk Yarn in our favorite Colorblock Shawl Combinations: Oyster + Amethyst, Brick + Sapphire, and Peridot + Blue}
We’re continuing right along with our series of complimentary workshops to help get you started on your next knitting project. This series is designed for beginner knitters who are ready to tackle the next challenge. All you need to know is how to cast on, knit and purl! I’ll show you the rest. Seriously.
As you (hopefully!) already know, we’re making The Sophia Cowl this month with the supersoft and bouncy Manos del Uruguay Maxima 100% merino wool yarn. With purchase of materials and an RSVP, you’re invited to come on over on Wednesday, May 15 from 6-8PM to get started! Read more about The Sophia Cowl Workshop here.
For June, we’re going to have fun knitting with Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk yarn, a 50% alpaca and 50% silk yarn blend that offers an elegant drape and sheen to your projects. I’ve picked out my favorite color combinations for making the Colorblock Shawl, a straight forward garter stitch shawl that’ll see you through Summer’s chilly nights. Or freezing air conditioned places, whether it’s your work place or the grocery store. Who says you can’t be the best dressed at Shop Rite?!
Which Alpaca Silk colors will you choose?
 {Photo and knitting pattern by Jennifer Pfeiffer of Knitwise, Purlwise: www.knitwisepurlwise.com }
The Colorblock Shawl is a terrific project to see the potential of circular needles. Contrary to The Sophia Cowl, we’ll be working our project flat on the same length circular needle instead of joining to work in the round. Plus, I’ll show you make one increases (from right and left), how to change colors or add new yarn to your project, and demonstrate a stretchy bind off. Good stuff, right?
 {Photo and knitting pattern by Jennifer Pfeiffer of Knitwise, Purlwise: www.knitwisepurlwise.com }
Sooooo, let’s make your own Colorblock Shawl! Join me on Wednesday, June 12 from 6-8PM. This workshop is complimentary with purchase of materials. Read more about this special workshop and what supplies you’ll need here. Or, call me at 609.536.2940 or stop in to find out more!
Blue Sky Alpaca Silk yarn, knitting needles and all the other tools, accessories, and encouragement you’ll need are available at Home Made!
Apr 25/Julie
I finished my quilt! This quilt that I started last year as part of my tax prep procrastination strategy.
As a gift to myself after filing my taxes this year, I buckled down to finish this thing already! I dragged this project out for an unnecessarily long time because I needed several hours-long, uninterrupted blocks of time to quilt this bad boy. And, something else that seemed more important than making myself a quilt always took priority. You know how easy that is to do. . .
You see, I wanted to quilt this lap blanket myself . . . → Read More
Apr 18/Julie
{Photo by AForestFrolic on Flickr}
One of my all-time favorite movies is You’ve Got Mail. Have you seen it? I’m happy to loan my VHS tape to you as long as you be kind and rewind. . .
You’ve Got Mail, starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, is about finding love online. And, in person. Because they met online and then met in person but didn’t realize they were corresponding online when they met so some stuff happened and they hated each other for a bit and then they fell in love. It’s complicated.
You see, Meg Ryan’s character Kathleen Kelly . . . → Read More
Apr 11/Julie
After what feels like a very long winter, I know I’m not the only one stoked for some sunny and warmer weather. The windows are open, the birds are chirping, the daffodils are blooming, and you all are so excited about Spring that it seems to have accelerated your driving on Route 9. Tsk, tsk. In case you haven’t visited, the Home Made house sits nearly atop Route 9 so we hear and feel the vibrations from you speedy drivers. Slow down and stop in for fabric and/or yarn! (:
Let’s talk about those daffodils. I love real ones. . . . → Read More
Apr 10/Julie
If you’ve stopped into the shop lately, you’ve probably heard me go on about the Log Cabin Quilt class I’m planning for this summer. Aside from the part of me being a shop owner where it’s my job to talk up the projects, I’m really stoked about this particular quilt project. Well, I’m usually excited about all the class projects because, well, I’m the one choosing them. . .
Well, today is the day I finally have some photos and the full scoop about this quilt class to share. (:
This summer, we’ll be holding two sections . . . → Read More
Apr 6/Julie
{Manos del Uruguay Maxima yarn in Fern, Oxygen, Agua, Ion, and Stratus}
Mmmmm. Some beautiful new Manos del Uruguay Maxima yarn in blues and greens just arrived to the shop. We just can’t get enough of this lofty, superfine merino wool in all it’s colorful glory over here.
Soooooo, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for us to try a group project. Solidarity, folks! Not too long ago, I shared The Sophia Cowl.
And, the more time I spend with this cowl, the more I’m convinced it’s a perfect project for those of you who a) have never . . . → Read More
Mar 28/Julie
I am movin’ and groovin’ on this Audrey sweater! The Audrey sweater I started here and last gave you an update about here.
I’m now two full skeins in with two more to go, though I’m not quite sure how much of that fourth skein I’ll use. In total, I’ve got 850 yards of knitting with SweetGeorgia Yarns’ ToughLove Sock yarn under my belt and I’m still smitten. I’m also still hoping to have this project finished by May.
As you can see, I’m just about finished the body of the sweater. Soon, I’ll pick up stitches for . . . → Read More
Mar 27/Julie
This was my breakfast on our snowy Monday morning. Mmmmmm, Easter Bread.
Baking Italian Easter Bread is one of my family’s traditions, though it’s probably more accurate to call this bread Italian Anise Easter Bread. Because you use a whole container of anise. YUM! And, when you’re in charge of the baking, you’ve gotta taste test. Who else is going to tend to those poor mangled pieces that don’t slide out of the pans???
I should also say that the shop will be CLOSED on Easter Sunday! I’ve got some important egg hunting business to attend to with these guys. But, we’ll be open this Friday and Saturday so come on by!
 Now, I’m going to share the recipe but I need to go over a few things first:
1) This recipe was passed down from my paternal grandmother. Who was not Italian. Our Easter Bread recipe likely originated from my Dad’s Italian grandmother Elizabetta, who immigrated from southern Italy; but, my parents only remember my non-Italian great-grandmother and grandmother continuing this Italian tradition. Hmrph. Note to self: Ask Aunt Pat what’s up with that.
2) In true grandmotherly form, Mommom’s recipe doesn’t have lots of detail. Like how you’re instructed to use between 4 and 5 lbs of flour. C’mon Mommom, that’s a whole pound difference! As infuriating as it may be (and as most family recipes require) you just gotta get a feel for it. You also gotta love Mommom, look forward to the deliciousness of this bread, embrace ambiguity, and/or see your uncertainty concerning the fate of this bread as consistent with the Christian holiday for which you’re baking–will it/He rise???
3) This recipe calls for margarine. Margarine. What?! Just because Fabio uses it doesn’t mean that all Italians should! I’m staunchly anti-margarine (and probably a little anti-Fabio) and always go for the real sweet cream, unsalted butter when baking. Therefore, I substituted the real stuff where Mommmom calls for margarine.
Now, please open up your Seaville Volunteer Fire Company’s Ladies Auxilliary Cookbook from 1970-something and open to page 45. You’ll find my grandmother’s recipe for Easter Bread in the “Bread, Rolls, Pies, Pastry” section directly between Angel Biscuits by Lynn Smith and French Bread by Betty Corson.
But, you might want to thumb through the book first. . .
Because the first third of the book are stock pages from the printing company that offer some helpful insight for those instances when you’re thinking to yourself, “How am I going to feed 100+ people?” or “What should I put in this sandwich, as I’m planning to eat outdoors today?” Good stuff.
You’ll also find an old ad for Bob & Jean’s Family market, my maternal grandparents’ business which I talk a bit about here. (:
Ready now? Let’s make some Easter Bread! Full recipe with some helpful notes after the jump.
Read More
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HOURS Sunday 12 PM - 4 PM**
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday CLOSED
Wednesday 10 AM - 6 PM
Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM
Friday 10 AM - 6 PM
Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM
** CLOSED on Sunday, May 12 for Mother's Day.
New summer hours effective Saturday, June 22. We'll be open 6 days, Sunday-Friday (Closed on Saturdays)! Details soon.
SEW CLUB April 13, May 18 + June 15 from 1 - 4 PM, $12
Click here for details.
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