Fiber Fool

In honor of Thanksgiving this week here in the US I thought I’d share a shot from making my favorite homemade cranberry sauce. It is so quick and simple to make I can’t believe I didn’t start making it myself until about 5 years ago. I make it fairly regularly when cranberries are available in the market as I love a dallop on top of some plain Greek yogurt. I only sweetened slightly with sugar and then use the juice and zest of an orange to do so naturally a bit. Sometimes I’ll add in a bit of grated ginger too for some extra zing.

Also, don’t forget to enter the giveaway for one of five free copies of my serialized e-book, Nourishing Knits: 24 Projects to Gift and Entertain (if you don’t have a Ravelry account, go to my designer page, scroll to the bottom and click on the cover for Nourishing Knits to view the info and pattern pics, for some reason the direct link doesn’t work for non-members, but going through my designer page does).

Crafty:

• Bookbinding: How to Bind Your Own e-Books - keep in mind that this may be against the license of some e-books
• Copy Cat: Copycat Crafts - a new crafty blog specifically for how-tos to copy designer items of all types. They even have categories specifically for Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, West Elm & more.
• Handspinning: Catena Expressions is sampling Shetland - fleeces and traditional lace stitch patterns. This is a fun project to look in on and watch the evolution!
• Holiday: Nature Wreaths
• Holiday: Round Up for DIY Wreaths
• Holiday: Free Printable Holiday Card Templates & Digital Paper Pack for Photoshop/Photoshop Elements
• Jewelry: This Felted Bead Necklace is much more my style than most I’ve seen. It links to a tutorial on how to make the felt beads if you are in need. A great project for with kids.
• Knitting: JL Yarnworks’ Gift Knitting Patterns Suggestions - I’m honored to be included!
• Knitting: Spud & Chloe has a great new mindless knitting pattern for an infinity scarf that can be worn many different ways. It requires just a little over 300 yds of worsted weight yarn knit loosely on US9 needles.
• Knitting: Ideas for a Knitting Themed Party
• Knitting: FREE Reference Card Printables for Knitters and Crocheters
• Upcycling: I’m loving these ornaments made from a window blind sample book. I wish I had one!

Yummy:

• Dessert: Chocolate Cake with Molten Peanut Butter Center is something I’m going to have to try make for DH
• Dessert: Chocolate Fudge Pomegranate Cookies - I would have never thought to put pomegranate arils in cookies, but it sounds wonderful!
• Dessert: Sugarless Date Squares
• Dessert: Apple Cranberry Pie from Cook’s Illustrated (membership may be required to view)
• Gifting: The Container Store’s Holiday Recipes for Gifting
• Health: Kitchen Comfort for Cold & Flu Sufferers
• Holiday: Virtual Holiday Recipe Swap Contest, includes a recipe for Pumpkin Sugar Cookie Bars
• Sides: Roasted Sweet Potato with Goat Cheese and Pecans from Smitten Kitchen
• Sides: Quinoa, Squash and Black Bean Salad with Walnuts from Poor Girl Gourmet
• Thanksgiving: Martha Stewart’s Thanksgiving Hotline Cookbook is a free download from Sirius radio.
• Vegetarian Main: Butternut Squash Lasagna (your mouth will water if you follow this link) from Poor Girl Gourmet

Photography:

• Composition: Use Your Zoom Lens as a Compositional Aid
• Gift Ideas for Photographers: 12 Camera Bag Essentials from Adorama - there are at least a couple things on that list that are going on my wishlist plus a few that I know are out of reach for me to be gifted
• Portraits: 5 Things to Know about Catchlights

Natural Living:

• Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is Nothing to Sniff At
• Gifting: Homemade Bath Salts for Holiday Giving - Pumpkin or Cinnamon & includes free printable tags for labeling!
• Insomnia: Fight Insomnia By Rescheduling Bed Time
• Laundry: Make Your Own Felt Fabric Softening Dryer Balls
• Moisturizing: The Magical Aloe Vera includes instruction on how to make your own aloe gel (a common base for DIY hand sanitizers)
• Moisturizing: How to Avoid Grainy Shea and Mango Butter
• Pain Relief: Exercises to Combat Tight Neck & Shoulders - most of these are more or less the same as my PT has prescribed in the past and I’ve found them quite effective when I do them
• Stress: American Stress Levels Prompts Health Warning
• Vinegar: 8 Uses for Vinegar Around the Home

I hope you all have a great week and for those with a short week due to the holiday I hope you get some quality relaxing in!