SANTA'S WORKSHOP

These are some of the presents we have been working on in the days before Christmas. 

I came up with the notion to make a Celtic knot trivet out of hard maple, but Fred wound up doing all the work to make it. 

 

I did do the painting of the adorable pup and made the Viking Chess Set (Hnefetafl). The pieces, except for the king who was made of polymer clay, are all flattened marbles that I got on ebay and work perfectly.

I spun this two ply yarn from Merino top and then dyed it with a 16 yard repeat by making tiny skein-lets as I wound it off the spinning wheel onto the winder.  It worked very well except that unwinding the skein-lets after they had been dyed was not much fun. The final result looks pretty though.

The party with our spinning, knitting and weaving friends was last Friday and I made this beet cake for them.  Friends brought many other delicious desserts besides – which is usually the case.  Bonnie says sometimes we have more desserts than participants, but … it’s a GOOD THING!

Anyway here is the recipe for the beet cake:

I C butter softened, 2 C sugar, 1 tbsp molasses, 1 tsp vanilla, ½ tsp orange flavoring if desired, ½ tsp salt, 3 eggs, 2 ½ C cooked mashed beets, 1 C raisins, 2 C flour, 1 ½ tbsp. baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp ginger, ½ tsp allspice, ¼ tsp cloves.

Add spices and baking soda to flour and mix together.  Mix together butter and sugar, then eggs, then beets, molasses, raisins, flavorings and salt.  Stir in dry ingredients. Pour into silicone bundt mold.  Set on cookie sheet and bake for about 45 minutes to one hour in preheated 350 degree oven.

We had way more beets in the garden this year than carrots so instead of making carrot cake, I used beets.

Anyway the party was wonderful and made every one of us feel all warm and fuzzy, just like spinning a great fleece!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!