From Humble Ingredients

OK, I'm going to stop beginning every post with "sorry I haven't been around much lately," because well, it is what it is.  I don't have a heck of a lot I can show you these days, but I'm hoping to fit in a little just for fun making, so I'll get back to ya.  This also is not my favorite time of year, with the gloomy gray skies.  It's hard for me to believe that places like Portland and Seattle could actually be gloomier than Michigan.  I don't know if I could take it.  Maybe I should get one of those lamps with the full spectrum light.  Ugh.

I started my crochet class this week and I am super excited.  I have to pick out an easy first project, but I want it to be something I like as well, so I checked Kid's Crochet from my library today, and now have my first four projects planned.  It's a really cute book, I highly recommend it.  The author, Kelli Ronci, is a former crafts editor at MSL, so the book has a similar aesthetic to MSKids.  And it's illustrated by Lena Corwin which is a huge bonus.  There is also great crochet inspiration on the Martha Stewart website, just do a quick search and you'll turn up some great stuff.

Speaking of Martha's website, I made some of her ribbon belts this week and they're super easy and cute.  Would be great Valentine's gifts.  You can also make bracelets with thinner ribbon.  Have you all seen Living Crafts?  We felted a heart today, check out Honeyflake, she shows the process beautifully.  It was fun and the results were pretty.  Of course, Elliot didn't have the attention span to finish it, so I sat there poking it with chopsticks until it was done.

We're expecting a boatload of snow, so we have been baking-- this zucchini bread (actually as muffins).  I froze a whole lot of zucchini last summer when we picked up some HUGE yellow zukes at the farmer's market.  It was sort of embarrassing actually, I saw the sign said 75 cents and I assumed that was per pound so I hogged up the biggest ones only to find out they were 75 cents each.  Oops.  People in line behind be probably thought I was a little greedy.   

I grew up in Indiana where you can hardly give zucchinis away (or "bimintis" as my great-grandfather called them, and green peppers were "mangos").  I'm always so shocked when people have never had zucchini bread or think they won't like it because it has a vegetable in it.  Hello, it's cake.  Anyway, this recipe is good, although I'd love to find a yummy one with less sugar if you all have one.  We use King Arthur's White Whole Wheat in almost everything.  You seriously can't tell it's whole grain.

The bear in the photo above is mine from childhood.  I used to collect them, but only have this one and a few tiny mohair (steiff and something else) ones left.  I love this bear, and of course the colors are very appropriate for this time of year, but what I really love is that it is made from just muslin.  No fancy prints here.  There are pretty pink buttons for eyes, a pink grosgrain ribbon tie, and little hearts stamped a few key places.  So simple, so pretty.  This is great inspiration this time of year when maybe you spent a little too much money in December.  You can still make something beautiful with even the humblest materials.  Those are my favorite, really.

Comments

[Lori Bailey]

I just taught myself how to make a granny square with directions I printed off from the MSL website! Had to call in a little backup from a YouTube tutorial when I got stuck. So fun to learn something completely new!

And I can relate to MI winters - I grew up there and they are brutal. Now we live in Texas, where our idea of freezing cold is 50s during the day and 30s at night. Bundle up!

[TD wool design]

good luck with the crocheting. would love to see a finished project. perhaps i'll be inspired to begin. keeping things simple is often the best. enjoy your muffins, the weekend and the natural beauty of your childhood treasure! :)

[kirsten]

Zucchini bread is the second best. The best? My mom's chocolate & zucchini cake that she makes each year for my birthday. I'm in Indiana, though the recipe is originally from Montana, so I grew up and continue to thrive on summer-long zucchini. We can't help but sprinkle in the zuc's in the winter, either. (What is up with that "mango" thing out here?)

[terri mac]

Actually, mid-Michigan is supposed to be MORE gray than either Seattle or Portland. At least, that's what I cling to. I got one of those lights this year, and it's making a big difference.
How do you freeze your zucs? Do you grate first?

[Mama Urchin]

Certainly humble materials can showcase the skills of an artisan. I'm wishing you some sun!

[JoAnna]

really, how do you find the time for all of theis? Truly inspirational! And, I haven't tried it yet, but apparently you can replace sugar with Stevia? Perhaps that might be an alternative?

[JoAnna]

Courtney, somehow I had your window open and thought it was Amy's (how embarassing!). I was totally confused about the Michigan references.....sigh, I am still completely impressed by all that you do!

[katietait]

I live up in the Yukon Territory, which is beside located next door to Alaska. During the deep winter, our minutes/hours of sunshine are quite limited.
Last year I bought the full spectrum light that you speak of. Each morning I sit in front of it while I eat my breakfast - 20 minutes max.
It feels good! Hard to explain, but I really think the effects are worth the investment.

[emily]

i always cut the sugar in my zucchini bread. by a lot. i feel as though i'm forever cutting it. more and more each time. i'm afraid that one day i'll go too far.

sweet bear.

[sarah]

I absolutely love zucchini bread. Unfortunately my zucchini crop was attacked by some sort of bug this summer so I didn't get as much as I wanted- and wasn't able to freeze any (boo hoo). It's cold and icy here in upstate NY...I am so looking forward to the warm months again and my garden!!!

[Melissa]

I love your little bear. Aren't you glad you kept it after all these years!

[Melissa]

we get livingcrafts mag as well and have been making felt hearts like crazy around here!

[Shannon]

I'm living in Portland now but was born in Ann Arbor, MI. The nice thing about the Northwest is that you have a lot of evergreens to help keep things colorful. I went back to MI several years ago in the winter for my grandfather's funeral and was surprised at how grey everything was. So I sympathize with you on the gloomy-ness! I will try to send green, beautiful thoughts your way.

[Kim]

that talk of zucchini bread - making my stomach growl!

[denice]

Oooo, I LOVE zucchini bread! My husband grew up in Indiana, but I had to convince him of zucchini bread... hmmm...

Have fun with your crochet class. I've crocheted since I was a girl, but, amazingly, I am just now finishing up my FIRST EVER FINISHED OBJECT in crochet! Woot! Can't wait to blog it, and I hope you have as much fun as I had! :)

[kristin]

thanks for the felt heart mention. :)

i love that you are using your farmstand zucchini's in february. enjoy your muffins and crochet class!