Back in January, I added a new (to me) sewing machine to my collection.  Ok, well, not much of a collection… I only had a Kenmore sewing machine and a White serger… but this baby is by far the coolest.  It’s a Singer 15-91 and was made in the 50’s.

I finally found a place for it in the studio… but I have actually moved it from this spot since I took the picture.  It was in good shape when I got it, but it needed a good cleaning, oiling and greasing.   The lady I got it from seemed surprised that I was actually going to sew with it.  I mean, that’s what you do with a sewing machine, isn’t it?

The beermaking adventure is complete (for now)!  I gave Chris a homebrew kit for Christmas and when enough bottles were collected, we got started brewing.  This past weekend they were ready for drinking, so we cracked open our wheat beers we dubbed The Railsplitter.

We started making the beer on Lincoln’s birthday, hence the name The Railsplitter.  The text below the image states: ‘Please Enjoy This Tall Sucker – Brewed and Bottled at C+B Ranch.’  Back in the Lincoln days, a person from Illinois was referred to as a sucker… not really what it means today!

The very first step in the process was to boil the malt extract (and hops).  I gotta say, it stunk up the whole house! About a week later, we bottled and capped the suckers, then they sat for a month.

Now it’s beer!

This past weekend was chocked full of making…..baking, cooking and the next steps of our beermaking project (will post about that later).  Since Saturday was Valentines Day, I decided to make dinner and some sweets.  Let’s just say, I was in the kitchen all day and my feet were hurtin’! 

I made a batch of red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.  Yeah, I know cream cheese is not the traditional frosting for red velvet, but I just had to break the rules.

My cupcake army…

I also made  heart shaped sugar cookies….most were iced, but left some to be topped with the cream cheese frosting.

Some homemade pizza followed…and I was exhausted.  I think it will be quiet in the kitchen next weekend…but I make no guarantees.

If you live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area or will be visiting this weekend, then you HAVE to stop by No Coast Craft-o-Rama!  I’ll be selling along with a ton of awesome vendors…check out the website…

No Coast Craft-o-Rama
@ Midtown Global Market
2901 Chicago Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN
Dec. 5th  3pm – 8pm
Dec. 6th  9am – 5pm

See yas!

Join us tomorrow for Art vs. Craft!  Get all your holiday shopping done at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Milwaukee, WI.  Check out super fabulous vendors from Milwaukee, Chicago and beyond!

Art vs. Craft
Scottish Rite Masonic Center
Milwaukee, WI
November 29th
10am-7pm
$3 admission
kids under 13 are free!

See you there…

Annie Mohaupt, founder and designer of Mohop shoes is up for a $10,000 prize from Ideal Bite.  Mohop makes the best eco-friendly handmade shoes right in Chicago.  This will give her the opportunity to buy new machines and tools… and to just grow her fabulous business!

Here’s a little info from the DIY folks:

Hopefully you’re just as excited for the DIY Trunk Show (Pulaski Park
Fieldhouse: 1419 W Blackhawk) as we are. The Chicago Craft Mafia has
worked incredibly hard this year to put together yet another amazing
show. This is the sixth DIY Trunk Show! Can you believe it? 6 years of
showing off the amazing hand-makers of fine and functional goods to
people who care about quality, like shopping locally, and love knowing
exactly who made the scarf that keeps them warm when the cold Chicago
wind blows.

It is isn’t already on your calendar, make sure that November 22nd is
free from any other events or plans. The doors open at 10am and stay
open to shoppers until 5pm. There are more than 100 (100!!!) fine,
fine local people selling the best they have at affordable rates so
bring your holiday shopping list (and some rolling luggage would help
hold your booty) and be prepared to make a lot of people in your life
very happy.

And lest you think that this is like those craft shows full of
needlepointed tissue cozies, rest assured that this show is far more
adventurous. Want some stones that have been turned into coaster?
glass bottles that have been turned into some swank drinking glasses?
a kick-ass sweater made from several other sweaters? baby gear that
will make you the belle of the next baby shower? oh, and don’t get us
started on the jewelry, accessories, t-shirts, posters, soaps, and so
much more! And the best part is that it is all handmade by the person
who hand it to you and that person isn’t too far from where you live.

And if all that shopping sound exhausting, you’d be right. Which is
why we’re delighted to be joined by Celestial Kitchens and Cafe
LeBaron who will be making up some tasty vittles to keep us all
powered up and sailing through the day. It’s a lot easier to find the
energy to shop after you eaten some delicious vegan sandwiches, some
chocolate chip bacon cookies, or sipped a delicious cup of coffee to
keep you awake.

And if you’re worried that you might run out of money, rest assured
that we’ll have an ATM truck parked directly out front. Which will
make it easy to also make a donation to one of our non-profit vendors
on the stage in the Auditorium. Handmade Nation will be joining us, as
will local nonprofits that sell crafts made by the people they serve:
WomanCraft and FriedmanPlace.org.

So if you’re even slightly excited, head on over to peruse our
Participants page (http://www.diytrunkshow.com/participants) and start
getting an idea about who you can’t wait to meet and whose work you’re
excited to see and touch.

See you on the 22nd!
Chicago Craft Mafia

Yeah, that’s right.   Guinness cupcakes with a simple buttercream frosting.  I love making beer bread, so why not add a bottle to some cupcakes?  I think I am defintely going to experiment with other beers, flavors, etc… maybe do something beer-y with the frosting…

oh, cupcake, you are my friend…

I had a great time at the Detroit Urban Craft Fair yesterday, but I’m glad to be back home.  Traveling for shows is fun, but tiring!  Anyways, the show was in a new venue this year (and in Nov. instead of Aug.), and it proved to be a wonderful – there was a steady stream of customers all day in the fabulous Fillmore Theater.  I had a nice vegan lunch, sold some stuff, won a raffle, chatted with some friendly mitten state folks and bought a couple more postcards to add to my Rar Par Press collection (love ‘em).

Fancy Fillmore Theater.

Some of my woven-bottom bags.

For a buck you can stick your hand in one of it’s holes (ok, that sounds weird) and get a prize.

Hope to be back again next year!

Woooooo Hoooooo!