Some new woolies ... fresh from the dye pots ...

Early Saturday morning ... I could have slept in, but didn't ... I could have turned on HGTV and sipped my coffee in full throttle recliner mode, but didn't ... I could have been outside on a GORGEOUS autumn day, but I wasn't ... instead, I set up the dye pots. It's been in my mind for weeks ... how desperately low I'm running on browns and greens ... blanket weight wools for some autumn penny rugs that are rolling around in my head ... yummy chocolates ... soft khakis ... winter sky blue/grays ... antique green/black ... and of course, that danged elusive "perfect" red ... I don't think I'll ever accomplish that "perfect" red, try as I might ...

A sweet lil' punkin mat measuring 6" x 8-1/2" ... made from a vintage brown heavyweight army blanket appliqued with Aunt Polly's hand dyed wools and a vintage green army blanket. The mat has been bound using heavy cotton floss. Perfect lil autumn tuckaway ... postage paid ... $22.95 ...


Created one at a time ... no pattern used ... just me and the scissors ... extra sweet lil autumn flower pinny made from a vintage army blanket and appliqued with Aunt Polly's hand dyed wools and embellished with some fancy stitchin' and glass seed beads. The stem is hand dyed, hand spun wool yarn that has been couch stitched. Pinny comes with a couple of Aunt Polly's make do pins, some shell buttons, and rusty safety pins. Pinny measures 2-1/1" x 7" and has been stuffed FULL of crushed walnut shells to keep your pins and needles extra sharp. Postage paid ... $21.95 ... I sure wish my picture taking skills would have captured how sweet, sweet, sweet this lil' pinny really is ...

Ahhhhhhhhhh, the CHUBBY one! LOL! I love how this pinny turned out! No pattern used ... just the scissors and me ... It's been stuffed wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy full with crushed walnut shells and she's a chubby one ... lol. Made from blanket weight antique white wool with some fancy 'broidery stitchin', glass beads, and hand dyed wools ... This one will hold TONS of needles and pins! Postage paid ... $24.95 ...

A quick update to let you know that ol' chubby has been purchased.

Banana Bars Recipe ...

I was asked to post the recipe I used for making my banana bars recently. Here you go, Kim ... straight off my favorite recipe site, http://www.tasteofhome.com/ ... YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!! I have three bananas sitting in a bowl getting riper by the minute ... I think it's time to bake up another batch!! Except that my hubby has gone on a three week fishing trip ... and I sure don't need to be gobbling up a whole pan of these! Maybe I'll be a nice gal and bake them up and take them to work tomorrow. Hmmmmmmmmmm ... or maybe I'll bake up a batch and eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the next week!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Dash salt
FROSTING:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions: In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, bananas and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into creamed mixture just until blended. Transfer to a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack. For frosting, in a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Frost bars. Yield: 3 dozen.