My First Asparagus

Asparagus take patience, and in the word of Inigo Montoya “i hate waiting”.

I planted asparagus because its a perennial ( comes back every year) that lives and produces for 16 years! The catch is the asparagus plant isn't ready to eat until it's three years old. Last year I planted a 2 year squid looking bulb like root. They make like a tall spindly bamboo like bush the first two years. This February I got my surprise! 2 thick shoots sticking out of the ground!

If you want to plant a veggie that will produce for 16 years. You can get an asparagus root at most garden stores. The variety jersey knight is recommended for Georgia. The root is places tentacles down. Then 1 year later, you will have your First Asparagus. 

12 Days od Craftmas # 11 The Cape

 For my darling Brittany, i made a Cape. It is reversible with green velvet on one side and a patterned faux suede velvet on the other, with the intent that it could be bother regal or taken for a hike. This is about a 1.5 hour project, so if you can get some velvet or other fabrics on sale, its a great present, one of a kind!

12 Days of Craftmas #10 The Quilt

So, for my mom I waned to do something special and practical. My parent have a cabin in the mountains so I thought maybe something for that, then I thought of a quilt. It is a very non-traditional quilt. I used microfiber just because it was SO soft and ended up being cheaper than buying fabric from a fabric store! I just bought a king sized blanket from wal-mart and cut it up, attached it to the quilt portion and WALLAH!

My mom loved it! So much in fact she for a while refused to take it to the mountain cabin.

FYI: Microfiber is not kind to mistakes, you cannot rip seams out of it without tearing a whole in the fabric! About $25 and 5 hours of work.

12 Days of Craftmas # 9: The Apron

My sister is the picture of domesticity. She loves baking and now that she stays home, she started a cake business. She's awesome, she make cake pops, banana bread, coconut cake and a lot more! They are all wonderful!

So anyways, i wanted to make her an Apron she could wear to events she caters for her business. So i made her a reversible Apron with a plastic sleeve she can put her business cards in. This way it makes a her logo on her apron, but also a pocket so she can give out more business cards. For some Yummy Cakes by Tonya, see http://www.facebook.com/YummyCakesByTonya

12 Days of Craftmas # 8: Frisbee Golf Bag

So brothers are difficult when it comes to crafting presents. My brother plays Frisbee golf and usually takes  a lunch box to carry his extra freebees. So I had an old messenger bag from middle school that had a few holes and an ink stain. So i cut it to pieces and made a Frisbee Golf Bag, I got the design from a company funnily enough called the nut sac- i added a pocket for a water bottle. I liked the way it turned out. www.nutsacbags.com

12 Days of Craftmas # 6 & #7- Cooking

Cooking your presents is just a good idea. Its cheap and thoughtful, so for my large extended family I decided to do Banana Bread for my dad's family and Hot Pepper Jelly for my mom's family.


Basic Recipe- we always have brown bananas in our freezer. Just defrost them...

• 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 350 degrees for an hour. 

I got the Christmas towels at the dollar store Cost: $1.00  Time: 1.5 hours for 4 loaves

 
Hot Pepper Jelly is a southern thing, this was a little ambitious but also fun. You have to have a hot water bath caner and jars. It is cool to see your pepper flecks in the amber liquid.

I used red Serrano and Green Jalapeno Peppers from my garden. 

Cost: jars 30 cents each 

Time: 2 hours for 7 jars   

http://www.pickyourown.org/pepper_jelly.htm

12 Days of Craftmas: #5: Monster Jacket

For my little monster nephew, Ezekiel, I made a monster Jacket. It was generally the same idea and pattern as Soren's Jacket. Nice plaid fabric on one  side and soft and silly on the other.

Cost: $10.00

Time: 2 Hours