This time of year finds me gathering up all the yarn, all the baking pans and all the sewing patterns! September awakens a renewed excitement to make. By October, I'm so far in that holiday gift making has taken over the work table, knitting projects dot couches and chairs, and delicious scents waft through the house - and I send out my silent wish: please let this be the year someone figures out how to squeeze in a few more hours into the day.
From the posts I've seen on Instagram, I'm not alone with this seasonal urge to get cozy and make. In that spirit, I'm sharing a few recipes and a project to help us get our Fall on! These chocolate chocolate chip cookies are scrumptious! I add 3 Tbsp. of brewed coffee to the wet ingredients. I also freeze at least half the recipe as pre-shaped balls so we can enjoy them on demand. Everything else is "on demand" these days, so why not cookies?
Those fingerless mitts you see are a FREE pattern by Tin Cat Knits called "Maize". Easy. Fast. Cute! A well-written pattern suitable for beginners.
Finally, I'm sharing a lip balm recipe that I recently made and thought you might like, too. The recipe is a knock off of a well known store-bought product. A long time user of the store-bought product, I honestly prefer this homemade version because it's softer on my lips (not as waxy) and I can control the essential oil(s) used. The homemade lip balm lasts a very long time, and you'll have plenty to give as gifts.
If you'd like to make your own, you'll find the recipe here, courtesy of Wellness Mama.
I doubled the recipe and filled twenty five 5 oz. jars, shown at left. I purchased the lidded jars on Amazon, the essential oils from stillpoint.com, (I used peppermint), and the other ingredients from bulkapothecary.com and amazon.
Before I sign off, I have to share a special fall ritual of mine: attending the Little York Fall Fiber Festival in Preble, NY. If you're in the area next weekend, October 14-15, you must stop by! The intimate, historic Little York Pavilion is where you'll find several excellent quality makers and products. In years past, I've come home with sheep skins, unusual and beautiful spinning fibers, exquisite yarns from local sheep and alpaca farms, and beautifully crafted (and now coveted) tools of the trade. The festival offers far more than that - come and see for yourself, and bring friends!