Dreaming of an Embroidery Machine

I love embroidery, but it takes forever to do. So many patterns colors and ideas on how to use them, I get goose bumps! Sadly I can't afford a machine that hooks up to my computer. The designs I can add to cloaks and robes at an affordable price would be great! As well as any gowns! Oh to add beautiful needlework to one would be a great thing, not only for me but for you!

I have been trying to figure out how to obtain one, and the only thing I can come up with is by some miracle I sell everything. The other is just to keep dreaming. I did think about having a donation pool and at certain donation amounts have special items for them. But I wouldn't think it would be appropriate, or would it? I mean would it be okay to set up something like that. I see people do it all the time for new homes, starting there business, and so forth. Would it be appropriate to set up such a thing for myself? As of right now I am not sure, what are your thoughts?

For now I will keep dreaming and let them haunt me every second of the day until I can come up with something. I do want to here from you so please feel free to say something :)

Challenge Friday: Pear Butter

We finally got back to the challenge fridays, and yes its food but its preserving food and making a yummy spread. Our Pear tree was loaded with fruit, on the first day we picked over 20 lbs of pears, since then we have harvested over 80 lbs of pears and the tree is still loaded!

Willow stayed busy making Pear apple pies, and Pear Butter so here is her tips on Pear Butter!

Base recipe or version 1:

1lb of pears

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup-1 cup sugar

Core and peal pears into chunks and place int a crock pot add water and sugar, for the first 2 hours put on High, after that take a masher and mash the pears or stick blender you want a puree. Put on low slant lid to allow steam to ecsape. Stir every once in a while until it becomes thick enough to coat your spoon.

Another Version with spice:

6lbs of pears

3 cups apple juice

4 cinnamon sticks

2 slices of fresh ginger root (about 1 ounce)

12 whole allspice

8 whole cloves

3 cups sugar

Put spices and ginger into a tea bag, mesh bag or a coffee filter that tied closed. Place chopped pears and everything into a crock pot, place on high for about 2 hours or until pears are tender. Remove spice bag, and puree the pears. Slant lid and place on low cook until thick stirring occasionally. 

How to bottle: Use sterilized Hot Mason jars how I do it is buy putting the jars on the rinse cycle of the dish washer and let it go into the heat dry for about 5 minutes, dry with towel will be very hot, and fill with the hot mixture. Seal closed and let sit until room temp. You will here Popping sounds this is normal. This is part of the sealing stage.

these will last 1 year in the cabinet and after open about 4 months in the fridge.

Enjoy!

Great in pancake mix, on toast, in spice cake mix, in muffins and tons of other things you would use apple butter on.

Busy Busy

We have been very busy here, between trying to find a house, personal home problems and kids starting school, the last few weeks have been chaos for us.
I have been trying to keep up with her new ideas but life has been kicking me around too much. But here are a few sneaks into what I have been doing:

Pear Butter: Recipes on Fridays Challenge!

Wood Burned into oak branch witches runes.

Woodsman/Archer Hooded mantle get yours here

Fortunes Told Wooden Plaque woodburning

Tree of life altar tile wood burning.

Black Velvet Gypsy bag with gold and green embroidery work

Thats about it for now, there will be no newsletter this month I just hadnt had the time to make it happen but there will be one for September! Have a great thursday everyone :)

Custom Circlets

Made to fit most adult heads. Made to be adjustable either with ribbon or cording.
Made with artistic color wire and pewter charms.
Stirling Silver is available upon request and will cost $75.00 per circlet.
Gold Plated Available upon request and will cost $85.00 per circlet
To add gold or silver in with the color please ask for a qute it all depends on how much of the color you are wanting.
Charms Available in Pewter: Butterflys, Cresent Moons, Pentagrams, Star of David, Goddess,
To add Gemston Beads into the weaving please e-mail us for a quite it all dpends on the stone and how many one wants in the circlet.
Make Great Gifts, Great for Gatherings, LARPS, SCA, Ren Fairs.

Artistic Wire Colors: Silver, Gold, Brass, Black, Saphire Blue, Brown, Magenta, Red, Green, Purple

Please let us know your colors, Head size if known, and the charm you wish in an e-mail.

See our Listing: http://www.thesacredoak.com/store/product.php?id_product=341

Snogg Goblins Have Comeback!

Yes they have! Many have been asking "When will those Snogg Goblins Come Back?" Well we had to wait until they matured enough to be able to be adopted out.

Arn't they adorable? We have discovered many more colors, they are not quite ready to be put up for adoption but soon!
You can adopt yours at our shop!
Wach one comes with a Certificate of Adoption, A story of how they came to be, And how to care for them.

Happy Adopting!

Challenge Friday: Coffee Pancakes

I know you all deserve a better challenge, I actually had something planed this week but due to personal issues I couldn't do it. Hopefully I will have things back to normal for next week and we can actually start with Fall/Halloween Challenges. The original recipe is on The Anti Craft.
They were actually far to sweet for me, talk about pancakes on hyperdrive sweet. I hadn't done a revision but I was actually thinking about instead of the condensed milk why not half and half with a little sugar. In my one cup of coffee I don't take much sugar in it, the condensed milk was super loaded more then I take in a cup of coffee.
A copy of there recipe and directions:

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup strong brewed coffee, cooled
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 cup  all purpose flour
1 Tbsp  baking powder
1 tsp salt

Directions:
Combine the sweetened condensed milk and the coffee in a large mixing bowl. Whisk well until there are no sticky globs of sweetened condensed milk left unblended. Add the beaten eggs and vegetable oil, and whisk smooth again.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients into the liquid ingredients, combine to a smooth batter.

Drop batter by the quarter cupful (about 60 ml) onto a hot ungreased griddle or skillet. When bubbles start to form and pop around the edges of the cakes, flip them over to brown for about 30 seconds on the other side.

Stack cooked Java Jacks on a platter between layers of clean tea towels and keep in a warm oven until ready to serve.






My Notes: I am working on a revised less sugar kind.

Challenge Friday: Cake Mix Donuts

So I was playing with the idea of old fashioned donuts and what I came up with was quite tasty! I had ran to the cabinet to gather my supplies to only discovered I had a tiny bit of flour left about a cup worth. So sitting and thinking I decided to grab one of my cake mixes that had been sitting in the cabinet waiting to be used.
The one I happened to grab was my Spice cake mix, mmmm me likes spice cake. It actually took me about 15 minuted to get the right constancy.

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 box cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup oil

Glaze: Use any that you like, I like the powder sugar.

Directions:
In a bowl combine all ingredients and mix, I used my hand mixer. The Mix will be thick this is good!
Using a tablespoon or 1/2 tablespoon (i used) you will scoop the mix into the hot oil to fry up.

If you never fried anything before get a frying/candy thermometer. You want your oil to be about 375, I use a 4 quart pot and fill it about half full of oil.

Drop by spoon full's into the hot oil brown on both side, This will take about a total 3 minutes per donut. I put 4 in at a time.  Do not crowd.

Place on paper towel, paper bag to help absorb the excess oil. After they have cooled down about an hour then you can glaze, put powder sugar on or enjoy plain. They are sweet enough without having to add extra glaze. Go great with coffee!

Sale of the week: Corsets

The Following Corsets are on sale!

Was $115.00 now $60.00 the cost of the materials. These Corsets need a good home.

Underbust Corset size 20: Red Tapestry fabric with white roses and pale green leaves
Trimmed in White Ribbon one layer corset. Has a busk in the front and laces in the back.
Size 20 fits these measurements:
Underbust: 36 inches
Waist: 34 inches
Hip: 44 inches

Underbust Corset size 36:
Underbust: 52 inches
Waist: 50 inches
Hip: 60 inches
Trimmed in White Ribbon one layer corset. Has a busk in the front and laces in the back. Red Tapestry fabric with white roses and pale green leaves










UpCycled Red Corset
Was $75.00 now $60.00
Size 10 fits these measurements best:
Bust: 32 1/2 inches
Waist: 25 inches
Hip: 34 1/2 inches
This corset has flat steel boning, Lacing bones, A busk opening in the front, black grommets, Black lining and black bias edging.
The pattern on the corset is Phoenix and Chinese Dragons.
Dry Clean only

Do not forget about our Auctions! Many are closing this Friday!