Worry ring

On March 16, 2025 By CarynIn Craft

I’ve found I rather like a beaded ring as a fidget, especially one made of stone with an elastic cord. the smooth beads have a nice feel and the elastic allows me to switch it from finger to finger. I fiddle with the ring rather than worrying at my cuticles.

Photo description: clear quartz beaded ring, with elastic, knot cover, and bowl of beads

I make them with 4mm quartz crystal round beads, 0.8 mm clear elastic beading cord, and a 4mm silver plated brass knot cover. When making a knot in the elastic, use a surgeon’s knot and pull it slowly tight until the elastic is stretched thin in the knot. Trim the ends then cover the knot with the split metal bead and clamp it shut gently with needle nose pliers. I don’t glue my knots because hard glue makes the elastic brittle.

Apple pie

On March 15, 2025 By CarynIn Recipe

The apple peeler/slicer/corer is one of my favorite kitchen tools. I absolutely love the concept and design, so elegant and sturdy.

Photo description: apple peeler/corer/slicer set up on a kitchen counter midway through processing a large Granny Smith apple

I attempted a fancy double crust apple pie. The recipe is one from the red and white Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, but with The Spice House’s Apple Pie Spice. The crust is from The Gluten Free Gourmet Cooks Comfort Foods. I cut small maple leaves out of the top crust rather than try a lattice with the crumbly GF crust. Next time, I need to do an egg wash to keep the extra leaves stuck on. Next time I also want to lay the apples in neatly, rather than the lumpy bumpy higgelty piggelty way I did this time.

Photo description: double crust apple pie, first attempt

The pie tasted much better than it looked, and a slice also makes quite a nice breakfast.

Toe beans

On March 14, 2025 By CarynIn Cats

Today I present toe beans because it is Friday and it has been a long week. Happy Incoming Weekend everyone!

Throwback Thursday: glass hat

On March 13, 2025 By CarynIn Craft, throwback

In February 2013 I made a small glass baseball style cap from glass clay and painted it with pearlescent powder before firing it in my kiln. It is a very wee object, measuring at less than an inch in length.