Carmel Corn Day

Today was caramel corn day here at Pam's magical workshop. I had my helper Magpie, close at hand ready to assist with any baking emergency. She waited patiently each time I would go outside to shovel, or stir the pan. She's been following me around and just sitting next to me where ever I am, crafting, cooking, reading and sleeping. Such a great help.

I made five batches of carmel corn. It's a favorite of the family but couldn't get done without my favorite pan. This belonged to my grandmother and it the best candy pan around. I tried to think how long I've been making the corn and I think it's about 15 - 20 years. I know the kids were little when it began. I've got the recipe down to a science and it always get's done on a day about a week prior to christmas. Yummy, fresh and bagged up it's a great present. (recipe comes from the back of the karo syrup bottle but mine has no peanuts)

I had to just knit something fun this week and for a 'me' knitting project picked a 'barbar' the elephant from a Jean Greenhowe book. He is just adobrable and six inches tall he's a perfect playmate for a little child (or big kid) Jean's patterns are easy to follow and all I did in adaptations was to put a chenille stem in his trunk so he can be posed.

Sackboy, the newest Alan Dart creation is going to become a playmate for my son and his girlfriend. The pattern arrived on Tuesday, yarn was selected and the parts knitted and on the way home from work on Thursday I got some more brown chenille for his armiture. Last nite in between shoveling his little fingers got 'bones and he is almost finished. Sackboy needs some eyes and a mouth and perhaps a little decorative stitching. This is a very anticipated addition to the knitted universe. His zipper does open but beware as he might lose his stuffing.

These is a tiny project just 2 inches wide. Can you guess what it is? No, it's an emery holder. You sharpen your needles in it and can also store a needle under the decorative cover. Fun to stitch, it's a present for my mom.

Mom likes to have fancy needlework tools to use and show at her meetings. I just love making stuff. It's a good matchup.

Here is the backside of the promised gingerbread hand toy and fingerpuppet. One puts his/her fingers down the back of the big guys legs and he just walks all around the table. The fingerpuppet is good for tiny fingers or a pencil.

Their fronts feature friendly embroidery that looks like real raisins and frosting. I can't wait to read ' the gingerbread boy' with a real boy to play with at the same time.

What's next in the magical workshop. Another storm is brewing and I have some items to wrap. The cards got written but await a trip to the post office. I decided to create a gingerbread cookie tree so that's on the baking list for tomorrow. My daughter is looking forward to helping me decorate it when she comes to stay. I've learned to my peril that when you make these cookie trees you should really let them dry and cool for a day prior to assembly. They can droop otherwise and you get a leaning tower of cookie.