Midwinter sale at socksandmittens

 

Mid winter sale at socksandmittens on Etsy! Get 10% off on any item in my shop January 15- February 1, 2024. No coupon code needed! Stop by to see if you need anything at https://socksandmittens.etsy.com

 

Sweet Christmas / Joyeux Noel

 

A new addition to my shop: the sweet vintage framed calligraphy art picture that carries that lovely old fashioned cozy Christmas. 

 

It comes with a small easel which allows you to display your new piece of holiday decor where it would look best. Holly leaves and berries, Joyeux Noel sign, beautiful festive colors, all are here, in a great set of 2.

 

Available in my shop on Etsy - https://agardencottage.etsy.com

Link to the listing:  https://agardencottage.etsy.com/listing/1589795162

Stop the war in Ukraine

Tomorrow it will be a week since the war started in Ukraine. Someone is still calling it a military operation and I can't believe people can be so blind. People are dying in Ukraine, children are being born underground in subways or hospital basements, beautiful cities, people's houses and some historical landmarks are ruined. 

 

I spent last week glued to news and my phone saying goodbyes to my family and friends in Kiev as soon as bombing started. I cried a lot lately. I started to notice blue and yellow colors (Ukrainian flag colors) everywhere and feel the support. We went to an anti-war rally this Sunday and it made me feel little better but the fact is, the war still continued. The "brotherly nations" concept used in Soviet Union will never be applied anymore to Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. The horrific reality is here. That same people who claimed to remember the horrors of World War II are committing crimes against humanity right now. Shame on those who started it and for their supporters. I stand with Ukraine.

 

I am back :) happy Friday!

 Good morning everyone and happy Friday! I am back after a long break in posting, there was just too many things going on. Summer is almost here so I am preparing a new inventory for both shops for the coming holidays 2021.

Here is one of the new listings and a new addition to a vintage celestial jewelry collection in my shop, a Native American made sun and moon earrings. A very impressive design and a quality work! Marked with a Waletzko Sterling and a rising sun symbol. I only have 1 pair so please let me know if you are interested. 

 Listed at agardencottage on Etsy, please click HERE to go directly to the listing.

A Labor day sale, September 3 9PM - September 7 9PM, 2020

The summer is over and I am celebrating Fall (my favorite season!) by offering a Labor Day sale. From 9PM on September 3rd to 9PM on September 7th, 2020 you will be able to get 10% off when you spend $35, in both of my shops on Etsy. This is a great way to start your Holiday shopping early!

If you are looking for sweet vintage finds, unique jewelry and home decoration items please stop by www.agardencottage.etsy.com

If you are looking for great quality hand knit and crochet items please stop by www.socksandmittens.etsy.com

Hope you will find what you are looking for at my shops!

The end of summer: get ready for Fall!

The end of summer! It is maybe 114'F weather in Arizona today but it might be colder where you are at. Fall is almost here so it's time to get ready to warm up! Warm hands, warm heart, after all. 

These gloves are hand knit in simple rib pattern in soft alpaca and acrylic mix yarn. 

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Colors available: tan/ beige, black and military green. 

These gloves are listed at socksandmittens on etsy, see listing details in my shop (link to shop below).

Happy Fall!

SocksAndMittens on Etsy

Father's Day gift ideas June 2020

With Father's Day approaching, I've decided to combine some gift ideas I am offering in my shops.

So here is 1 handmade (knit fingerless gloves from www.socksandmittens.etsy.com) and 7 vintage items which I think would be fun to give and to get (listed at www.agardencottage.etsy.com). 

Those are not your everyday items! Please follow the links to purchase or visit my shops to see more

Wilton Armetale decorative plate "Health, Love and Wealth, And Time to enjoy them" USA

2 ingot cards 24 k gold, 1 grain each. Foremost Wine Society 1981

Rubber training knives USA set of 2

Foldable magnifier with a metal stand Germany

Individual mixing glass, perfect for a home bar mixology

Commemorative sterling silver medal coin George C Wallace Franklin Mint 1974 presidential candidate memorabilia 

Knit fingerless gloves. Available for a custom order in different size or color.

Vintage art glass globe paperweight Glass Eye 1992

Black Friday and Cyber week savings at agardencottage and socksandmittens shops on Etsy

It's that time of the year and I am having Black Friday/ Cyber week sales at both of my shops.

If you thought of getting some warm knits or crochet items this holiday season please hurry, the stock is limited. We will be glad to see you at socksandmittens.

 

For vintage goods and baking supplies please stop by agardencottage on Etsy

 

Now through December 3, 2019.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! We are grateful to all our customers who supports our small business.

A toast to all of you for a Happy Thanksgiving. Have a wonderful time with your families this Thursday!

Harvest cooking: layered apple cake

My friend gave me lots of apple (thank you, Carol!) so I baked a layered apple cake. Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe so here it is.

Layered apple cake

Ingredients:

 

Dry ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup farina cereal or semolina

1 cup sugar

1 table spoon baking powder

1/2 tea spoon cinnamon

a dash of salt

7 tart medium apples or 13-14 small ones / about 6 cups when shredded. If your apples are sweet you may want to reduce the amount of sugar.

1/4 tea spoon nutmeg

1 stick cold butter (has to be refrigerated until needed)

rectangular baking pan

cooking spray

wax paper or parchment paper

How to make an apple layered cake:

1. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, divide the mix into 3 parts.

2. Prepare your apples: remove core, seeds and peel. Shred them with vegetable shredder, mix with a nutmeg and divide to 2 parts.

 

3. Preheat your oven to 350"F degree. Prepare your baking pan: spray it a cooking spray, line with a sheet of either wax or parchment paper and spray the paper.

4. Arrange the layers in your baking pan: spread 1st part of dry ingredients, then add apples on top. Repeat one more time, then add the remaining dry ingredients as a last layer. We got 3 dry ingredients layers and 2 apple ones.

 

4. Take your butter out of refrigerator, quickly shred it on the same vegetable shredder and arrange on top of last layer.

5. Bake at 350'F for about 45 minutes until the cake will turn golden brown. Remove from the oven, cool it down, slice and serve. It will pair well with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Enjoy!

What can fit in our unlined crochet tote bag

I had a very reasonable question this morning regarding things which could fit in our unlined crochet tote bag: a beach towel, water bottle, wallet and a book at the same time and will still keep the bag cute.

So I did a little test for a customer and decided to share it with you. Here is the original listing of lightly filled bag (turquoise, 100% cotton yarn, no lining):

The photos below are of the same crochet bag filled with the 4 items that have a combined weight of 3lbs 6oz:

What's inside:

1. a thin beach towel 53" by 27",

2. a standard water bottle 16.9 fl oz/ 500ml,

3. a paperback book about 8"x5"1", 285 pages

4. a large wallet.

There is still room for some more.

The crochet tote pictured above is about 23 1/2" tall from the top of the handle to the bottom of the bag and the tote's body is about 13" tall and 13" wide (when it lays flat). 

This and other totes can be found at www.socksandmittens.etsy.com.

Roasted red pepper pasta

I first heard about this recipe while I was walking on a treadmill at our gym while watching an episode of Pioneer Women (oh, the irony of diet and exercise!). It seemed very easy to make so when I got home I pulled out the ingredients and made it for dinner. It was delicious. So, definitely a keeper for me. Try it and you will like it, too.

 You can find a recipe here. 

I made my version similar except I used a different brand roasted peppers, a different type of noodles, lighter cream (half and half), thai basil and water instead of chicken broth to make it lighter. Delicious and quick!

 

Pappardelle egg pasta

 Tassos Fire Roasted Florinas Peppers 

 

Thai basil