Erik HOMEMADE

Button Snowflake Ornament craft project

 

Make a flurry of these delightful little ornaments to tie onto holiday gifts or give to friends! The buttons can be all of the same, or raid your stash of orphaned buttons for a unique look. Let the kids help, but be certain to allow the glue to dry before continuing on to the next step! You'll have a beautiful snow drift before you know it!

For each ornament you will need

3 mini wooden craft sticks (2 1/2-inches long)
14 buttons (we used various sizes and colors)
6-inch length of cord, crochet cotton, or floss
tacky type craft glue, scissors

With the tacky type craft glue, glue three sticks together, stacking and staggering the sticks so that they are evenly spaced. Allow to completely dry.

Knit Sock Ornaments craft project

Take advantage of the fun novelty knit socks found this festive time of year at your local dollar store! Simply cut, stitch, gather, and stretch the knit part of these socks over a styrofoam ball! Add some trims and a bow...and you have a pretty ornament in no time! You can make 1 or 2 ornaments from one sock, depending on its size.

For each ornament you will need

1 sock with a novelty design*
1 styrofoam ball**
desired trim, yarn, cording, rick-rack, etc...
wide ribbon for bow
narrow ribbon for hanging
hand quilting thread/needle
straight pins
craft glue, scissors

Cut the sock just before the toe and straight across at the heel. Turn tube inside out. With a needle and quilting thread, run a gathering stitch, about 1/4-inch from the edge, all the way around the tube. Pull up to gather and knot thread. Turn right side out. Place styrofoam ball inside of tube and force to the bottom of the gathered end, evening out the gathers. When ball is down as far as possible, the sock/tube should be tight over the ball, but loose along the the un-gathered top. Roll ball gently on a hard surface, like a table top, to lightly crush the lump formed at the bottom into a lightly rounded

Lopsided Pumpkin quilt block

 

As you can see, not all pumpkins are round! Some grow in a field (under a great big leaf) and are lopsided! This little block is perfect for a potholder, the start of a bell pull or a runner! And there are NO seams to match! Look for an upcoming project using more of these lopsided pumpkins! For his block, Erik chose Fall Back in Time fabric by Sandy Gervais for Moda Fabrics.

This 8-inch finished block pattern was originally given out to everyone who rode Erik's bus on the Pumpkin Patch Run, a yearly quilt shop hop organized by the best quilt shops in Southeastern Michigan! Erik hosted the bus group of 42 ladies that left SEW WHAT! quilt shop on 17 October 2008...and he had a lot of fun! 

To get the instructions chick here;Download Lopsided Pumpkin Block

Turkey Feed Candy recipe

 

Packaged individually for your guests to take home after a big Thanksgiving meal, this candy is sure to spark conversation! We used a crunch type granola cereal with almonds already added and chocolate covered sunflower seeds for extra color, but feel free to experiment with your family's favorites...your turkeys are bound to gobble it up!

Ingredients

2 11.5oz bags chocolate chips
1 cup (twig shaped) bran cereal
   plus a little extra for topping
2 cups granola cluster cereal with nuts, crushed in a plastic 
   bag, plus a little extra for topping
chocolate covered sunflower seeds, for topping

Follow chocolate chip package directions for melting chocolate. Stir until chips are thoroughly melted. Place melted chocolate in a large bowl and add bran cereal: gently stir until completely covered in chocolate. Add crushed granola clusters and stir until completely covered in chocolate.

Gingher Rotary Cutter product review

 

 

It is hard to imagine making anything more than the greatest scissors in the world...and along comes the best rotary cutter we have ever used! The people at Gingher have done just that! The Gingher Rotary Cutter (the standard 45mm) whips through several layers of fabric with ease and accuracy. During testing we found that the blade is a breeze to change (with the turn of a screw) and ours has stayed very sharp cutting all kinds of fabrics and layers. When stowed in the safety postition, the blade is well protected and secure--all it takes is the click of a button!

Cranberry Applesauce Bars recipe

 

Although these bars delight in their seasonal appeal, they are hearty enough to serve for breakfast, yet rich enough to serve for dessert! Try them with a dollop of whipped cream, or better still, ice cream! Either way you will definately need a fork because these bars are sticky-good!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups applesauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tblspns all-purpose flour
1 tblspn lemon juice
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tspn cinnamon
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tspn salt
1 cup quick cooking rolled oats
2 cups seedless reaspberry jam
1 cup dried cranberries, chopped

Preheat oven to 375-degrees F. Lightly grease an 8 x 8-inch baking pan, set aside. In a small saucepan combine applesauce, brown sugar, and lemon juice; cook until bubbly and thickened. Cool completely. Cream butter (or margarine) with 1/2 cup brown sugar.

Paper Loop Thanksgiving Wreath craft project

 

Pretty scrapbook paper loops combine with floral garnishes to make this wreath extra special. Use heavy double-sided cardstock for a decoration you can display year after year! If you do not want to use cardstock, spray glue two sheets of scrapbook paper together...

For one wreath you will need

1 12-inch styrofoam half round wreath
approximately 11 yards of 1 1/2-inch grosgrain ribbon
9 sheets of coordinating double sided scrapbook cardstock
assorted Fall floral picks
sequin pins, or other short pins
4 long sewing pins to attach bow
finished bow (made from your favorite method) from 1 1/2-inch grosgrain ribbon above
craft glue
pencil, scissors, ruler

Wrap the styrofoam wreath with grosgrain ribbon over-lapping slightly and securing both ends with sequin pins and glue. Allow to dry thoroughly.

From each paper, cut 1, 5-inch strip. Cut into 1-inch wide and 1/2-inch widths; cut several of each so that you can place them where you need to when assembling the project. You will have plenty of paper to cut more if you need to, give yourself a good start. Since we recommend using double-sided cardstock (or two sheets of paper glued together) remember you can use the front and/or back of the papers, too. Gently match each width-end so that a loop is formed, taking care not to fold the loop in half. Secure with glue and allow to dry.

Underground Railroad - Patchwork Quilts and the Message Code- Rest Area, Wilton, Iowa

Somewhere near mile marker 270 off of I-80 Eastbound, not far from Wilton, Iowa, is a rest area devoted entirely to the idea of how quilts aided fugitve slaves in the Underground Railroad and whether or not you agree with the story, it makes for an interesting and unexpected foray into the world of quilting history, in a very unusual locale. These are my photos of a late October 2008 visit. Enjoy... (click any photo to enlarge)

 

The main building of the rest area designed by David B Dahlquist of Des Moines, Iowa, resembles an old train depot. There are quilt blocks along the front walls made of tile and are part of the Underground Railroad "code" used by Quakers and other abolishionists in Cedar County, Iowa to tell escaping slaves (since many could not read or write) which houses were "safe" or which direction to go...

The Web-Rings are Here!

We are pleased to announce that Erik Homemade(R) has joined two web-rings!  These on-line communities were created to link people to webpages of others with similar interests, making it easier to navigate from one site to another without logging out or changing browser addresses.

On the far left of our webpage, under the "Typepad Member Since" notation, you will see our web-ring membership badges. When you click on these notices, you will be redirected to another site that displays information about the web-ring's interests and membership list. Scroll through the list to find other member's websites; clicking on them will direct to their site. You should see Erik Homemade(R) somewhere on each list.

Each web-ring has its members updated on a continual basis so membership grows; be sure and check each webring site every so often. We hope you will enjoy this new feature and visit other's work along the way.