Today I made wild grape jelly. My grandchildren and their PaPa picked the grapes for me, but I just didn't have time to make the jelly right then. I froze the grapes to save for when I had more time. I use the same recipe for Wild Grapes as I do for elderberry, with the exception of reducing the lemon juice to 3 Tablespoons. You could even prob. reduce it to 2 T. Wild Grape Jelly is a tart jelly.....but very good !

I've also made homemade loaf bread today. It turned out just pretty good !

Wheat Potato Bread

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour ( I used some that had been fresh ground on a home mill grinder)

3 cups all purpose flour, approx.( more if needed to handle)

1 egg

1 cup cooked mashed potatoes

2 teaspoon salt

6 Tablespoon shortening

6 Tablespoon sugar

1 pkg. yeast

1 cup milk

1 cup water

Scald 1 cup milk, pour into large mixing bowl. Pour in 1 cup water. Check temp. when it is lukewarm , not too hot, sprinkle package yeast and let set a little while. Add salt, shortening, sugar, and 1 egg. Beat on low speed with mixture. Add potatoes. Add flour 1 cup at a time with mixer still going. Turn off mixer and if you need to add any more flour to work with dough, stir in with spoon at this time. Turn out on floured surface, knead. Grease large bowl to place dough in. Rub a little oil on top of dough . Cover with dishtowel and leave until double in size. Pour out onto floured surface again. Knead. Divide in two loafs, Place in greased loaf pans. Cover and let rise until about double in size. Cook at 350 until brown as you like. Butter top if desired.

ELDERBERRY JELLY

ELDERBERRY season has now come and gone. We picked these in August. This is the first time we had made elderberry jelly. It was some job ! The berries grow on cluster stems that reminds you of Queen Anne's Lace. The berries are about the size of a BB. So it does take alot of them.I met someone in the groc. store that told me where they were growing wild. My husband picked them for me. You do not want to pick the red berries , as these are toxic. They will be a dark burgandy color, almost purple when ripe.

Notice the pile of stems after stripping the berries off. Some say strip them off with a fork, but I found it worked better just using my fingers. This is a tiresome job, but the jelly is worth it !! Very Good!!! Reminds me of blackberry jelly .

After cooking the berries this is how I strained mine. I used Bridal Netting, which is very fine. I used cotton twine and hung them from my cabinet door to drain in bowl. You can use cheesecloth also

Here is the recipe I used:

ELDERBERRY JELLY

3 cups elderberry juice( that has been strained)

4 Tablespoon lemon juice

1 pkg. fruit pectin

4 1/2 cups sugar

Whisk in pectin and make sure it is fully dissolved. Bring to boil before adding sugar. Boil 1 min.

Measure sugar in a bowl where it can be added all at one time.

Pour sugar and lemon juice in and bring to boil and boil 1 min. stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim off foam. Ladle into hot sterilized jelly jars. Put on lids tight and turn upside down on cabinet that has been covered with a towel.. The jars will seal like this, or some prefer to do a hot water bath for 10 min.

This makes about 6 - 1/2 pt. jars

Enjoy !

New PURSE DESIGN!!!!!
This is our new purse pattern.(copyright) You have a base purse, Large and Med. The outside of purse is a seperate panel that can be taken off and exchanged for another one. The one shown is a " Scrapbook Design" LinMari purse.

Purse Pattern will be ready to purchase soon. Email me if you would like to be informed when this pattern is ready to ship. These will sell for $10.00 +2.00 shipping and handling.
Purses have a total of 8 pockets. One is a zippered pocket.

Front of Purse

Back of Purse

Back of purse

If you would like to purchase the purse, these sell for $50.00. + shipping and handling. This includes one outside front and back panel. We can custom design a scrapbook design using your photos, or we handpaint, machine embroidery designs also. Keep checking back as we will be adding more designs as we make them.

Rainy and cold today, but I've been painting quilt blocks for a baby quilt. I am now working on my Turtle & Cherry Quilt.

Here is my Poodle baby quilt. I drew the design myself. (copyright). I have three baby quilts going right now. I am making one to be entered in a quilt contest. All the quilts entered will be donated to the children's hospital in Little Rock for Christmas Gifts for the baby's.

Jumpin Frog quilt. Blocks have all been handpainted. This is an original design by me also.
Don't have picture of my turtle quilt yet.

I can't decide which one to enter .

Dress and More Purses

Little Classy zebra. A smaller purse . Trimmed with fringe on outside. Lined with inside pockets.
This one can be purchased. $ 35.00 Closer view of the zebra . ( Purse below) This purse can be purchased. One of a Kind. $ 40.00

Oh, SO CLASSY ! Made from designer fabric, Zebra is machine embroidery, Trim outlined zebra panel. Magnetic snap closure, bead on the end on fastner. Lined with inside pockets.

This purse has machine embroidery added to it. Made from canvas type fabric. Inside is lined with pockets. This one is for sale . One of a kind. $ 35.00

Dress and purse to match. I drew the design, then appliqued and painted.

Keep checking back !! We have more purses to be added.

I am working on some purse patterns that will be available soon for those of you who would like to try your luck at making your own handbags.

Craft Idea : Mitten Bookmarker

Here is a very cute idea for a book marker. You could make these to sell or even the kids could make these as a rainy day project.

Cut 4 pieces of felt ( can use wool felt also) in the shape of a mitten, about 1 x 1 1/2 ". Blanket stitch 2 pieces together for palm and back and insert one side of hair clip. Do other side in same manner and insert other side of clip. Use wide clips. Gather approx. 8 "of lace and sew around end of mittens to cover clip head and make a lacy wristband. Use these to clip on top of book pages to hold your place.
If your feeling really crafty you can embroider or paint designs on your mittens before sewing them together. Hey, or even glue beads or sequins on this.

Have Fun !

Recipes

PUMPKIN COOKIES
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon soda
2 cups sifted flour
1 cup cooked pumpkin
1 cup seedless raisins
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Cream sugar and shortening. Beat in egg. Sift dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture with pumpkin. Blend thoroughly. Fold in raisins and nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto greased baking sheet.
Bake 350 for 12 to 15 min. or until done.
Makes 3 dz. cookies


HONEY _PECAN PUMPKIN PIE

2 cups canned pumpkin
1 cup honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ginger
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. nutmeg
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup milk
1 1/4 cups evaporated milk
2- 9 in. pastry shells
Pecans, chopped

Mix together pumpkin, honey, sugar, salt and spices. Add eggs, milk and cream. Mix thoroughly. Pour into pastry shells. Sprinkle generously with nuts.
Bake 450 for 10 min. then at 325 for 45 min.
Makes 2 pies

Hello!

I am just starting this blog, so I will tell you a little bit about what you will find here.

I love doing crafts of all kinds and plan to have a web site where you can purchase some of the items we make at Blackberry Ridge Primitives.

Look at the picture of the handbag I designed for my daughter. Of course that is my granddaughter's profile on here. I design all sorts of bags. Some of the bags may be handpainted, or machine embroidery. There is a special bag we call our " Scrapbook Design". We use different fabrics, photos and embellishments. These can be custom designed just for you ! We also design diaper bags ! Make ironing board covers !!! Etc. Etc.

We will be posting recipes, special craft ideas, or maybe even garden idea's !!!! Keep watch!!!! Have a blessed Day !!