12 MORE DAYS!

Normally I update on Wednesday.  Not this week.  There has been too much going on so the next best thing is to do it early Thursday morning.  Here I am with coffee in hand ready to go.  

Last time I updated there was a lot of material waiting to be made into project bags.  Ta-Da

Nineteen project bags completed.  I worked on these bad boys all day Sunday, all day Monday and finished them up on Tuesday morning.  The sewing takes no time at all. It is the ironing the seams, as I go, that takes the most time.  

This time I used some rope type 'ribbon' for the handle.

It was pretty easy to work with.  The handle has been sewn over about 4 times to make sure it does not come loose, no matter how heavy that bag gets.

Most of the bags are lined with a medium weight muslin.  There are a few that are lined with the same material as on the outside and a few that have a coordinating solid color cotton inside.  The snaps are the plastic snaps you find on baby clothes.  There is no interfacing used in these bags.  Having them soft and pliable is my goal so they can be folded easily when not in use and stored.  They are 100% washable and dryable too. 

I do not use zippers for closures.  The reason being is............I use this bag when I go places and the skein stays in there as I knit.  Zippers have a tendency to grab the yarn and then you are spending time getting the yarn off the zipper.  Same thing with velcro (only a much worse mess). You need to know, all the material used to make these bags were remnants or close out sale material.  Each bag costs under $5 to make.  I have seen them in yarn shops going for as much as $30!  The snaps are the only full priced item on the bag.  Even the handles were 'on sale' when I bought them.

I have 3 worsted weight skeins of yarn in this bag.  It still has room for more as well as for a notions box.  It measures 14.75" long, 10" tall and 5" wide on the bottom.  Making these is a lot of fun.  I just hope the Prayer Shawl ladies enjoy getting them today.

Yesterday, was a great day.  I went to WalMart to pick up a Christmas sweater.  I did not want an ugly one though.  I found a long sleeve t-shirt with a sweet saying on it that pleased me.  I also found another soft shirt to wear to the open houses we will be attending on Christmas eve.  After that little shopping trip, I got my nails done and then headed home to do some laundry and baking.

Here are the Scotch Treats I have been telling you about.  So easy to make.  Takes about 10 minutes to whip up a batch.  Here is the recipe:

butter a 13x9 pan
11 ounces butterscotch chips
1 cup creamy peanut butter
6 cups rice krispies (I used the store brand in the BIG bag)

Melt chips and peanut butter in a glass bowl in the microwave. (Do not use plastic as it will ruin the bowl, go ahead and ask me how I know) Mixture will be very hot so be careful.  In a large mixing bowl, mix together (by hand) the peanut butter mixture and rice krispies until well mixed.  Pour into the buttered pan and refrigerate to harden.  Cut into squares and enjoy.

I like mine a bit thicker than this makes so I put 2 batches into the same pan and that fills it to the top.  I melted my chips and PB on 50% power for 3.5 minutes.  You can also do it in a double boiler pan.  I, however, have never owned one, so use what is most comfortable for you.  The microwave is the quickest method though.  

I have no idea where this recipe came from.  I know it is old as the card it is on calls for 12 ounces of butterscotch chips.  They have not come in a 12 ounce bag in many years.  My mom made these, at Christmas time, for as long as I can remember.  That means this recipe had to be around for at least 50 years if not more.

See how easy that is?  I made 6 batches in just about an hour.  There is still more fudge that needs to be made but will save that for this weekend when my schedule is empty.

Today is the Prayer Shawl Christmas party.  Tomorrow is our local Grand Daughter's band concert.  Saturday is Mass.  Sunday is football for the hubby and when I will finish up my candy making for Christmas.  Then I will be getting all the goodies together to pass out to friends and family the next weekend.

Until next time...............happy crafting!