Cotton Spice Blog

I must confess I’ve never been a fan of choc chip pancakes. I’ve seen them on the menu at breakfast places, they didn’t appeal to me. Too much like eating cookies for breakfast. Well, what the heck is wrong with eating cookies for breakfast ?!?!?!?!?!

I read a post on a BB about making Choc Chip Pancakes. They used a pancake mix and then sprinkled a few chips on the pancake before flipping it. Well, to me that looks like semi-burned chips on the bottom of my pancake.

So, I made my pancake batter extra thick with just a regular pancake mix and water. Then I gave my choc chips a rough chop before adding them to the batter. This was perfect! The batter was thick, so the chips didn’t sink to the bottom. The chips were various sizes - you could get a lovely chocolatey mouthful or just a little taste! Totally yummy.

Oh… did I mention we had them for dinner? Yup, we did. And I make a lot extra, because the leftover cold pancakes are Just Like Eating Cookies for Breakfast, except they’re pancakes so it’s totally allowed! How’s that for finding a loophole in Breakfast Law?

Ruby Magazine is holding the first of many contests! This contest will be: Create a slogan for Ruby! We need a good slogan to go after or below our name “Ruby”.

This contest is open to EVERYONE! You don’t have to be a subscriber, but we hope you’ll want to

The slogan should be succinct and capture the essence of Ruby. 12 words or less. The top 6 slogans will be chosen by the Editors of Ruby and then YOU will vote on the 6 slogans. The entry with the most votes will be our new Ruby slogan. AND!  You’ll win a free subscription to Ruby AND!!!!! (yes there’s more!) a Grand Prize Goodie Bag which has been created from top to bottom by the Editors of Ruby. We are all creative and crafty and many of us are making a fabulous ’something’ for the bag - which will be an original design by Amy Designs! And filled with things I know you’ll love. (There will be a picture soon)

If you’d like to enter a slogan into the contest, please email it to   Ruby Contest

All slogans should be submitted by Aug 15 and the winner will be announced in the September issue.

Ruby now has her own Twitter! @RUBYforWomen

We really have some exciting things coming up - the first thing coming is a contest open to EVERYONE who wants to enter! More details on that later. You’ll want to start following Ruby on Twitter AND our blog - Ruby Magazine -  so you don’t miss the details.

This is so much fun

Well, today we are off to visit Miss Babs! I recently ordered some yarn from her, and I have to say - it arrived almost before I clicked SUBMIT, and it is YUMMY!!!!!! I’m so impressed with this yarn, I fully intent to order more.

I ordered some lace wt, which in my opinion is heavier than regular lace wt, but I don’t care! It’s so beautiful, and the subtlety of hues is just plain awesome. Here is a square I made with it, and you can’t tell the beautiful colors and subtle hue shifts, but trust me! Click on my picture to go to Miss Babs “Yet” lace yarn page, and see for yourself

I also ordered some worsted wt, single ply for a sweater - and it is also just as wonderful. I love single ply yarn, don’t you? The stitch definition is fabulous and this also has some very lovely, soft color variations and the best news - it’s on sale! half off!!!! Yes, it is, get some for YOU!

Yes I know, I’m an enabler, I’m sorry, I can’t help myself.

I hope you’ve enjoyed our Sweet Summer Knitting Blog Tour. I’ve heard from several of you that you LOVE these shops and plan to visit again soon! I know all these ladies via the wonderful internet and have conducted business with just about all of them. They are top notch, and very professional in their business dealings - and just a lot of fun otherwise! Most of them have groups on Ravelry - join in the fun! There are KAL’s, show and tells, and some fun chatting going on.

Today we’re going over to visit with Sandra Singh! She has an awesome yarn shop - that’s where I buy my Malabrigo sock yarn Talk about yummy! Visit her blog HERE and then head on over to her shop (she’ll tell you where it is) to stock up on some sock yarn! She’s holding a drawing - someone who leaves a comment on her blog will win a pattern for some very pretty sock!

We’re going to celebrate the 4th with Desert Rose Design! The creation of Jean Clement, a yarn designer extraordinaire! I’m knitting some lace socks she designed, I’m about 2″ into the cuff and I have to say it’s SO easy! Even though I love to knit lace, somehow it seemed a little tricky knitting it in a sock.

So, you better head on over there, Jean has an awesome table runner for you to knit, and a YUMMY recipe to share. I’m not telling what it is - you have to go find it!

Have a wonderful (and safe) 4th!

Hello everyone! I trust you’ve found some great yarn shops so far! This could also be labeled “Karen’s Favorite Yarn Places”

Well, today we are heading over to Scarves for All Reasons owned by Karen Austin. All of the really creative people are named Karen, have you noticed that? Well, go on over and visit her blog - she’s got some awesome things going on!

Lucy, if you click on the last picture of the Flower Faire Shawl, it’ll take you to the page on Laura’s site where you can see it in really great detail

Today we’ll be going to Fiber Dreams Laura has an awesome shop and blog. Oops - Here is her blog link She has such a creative mind, and a real talent for writting patterns you can understand! I have a couple favorite lace designers and Laura is right up there at the top of my list. She just got a great distributor for her patterns and they’ll be showing up in yarn shops all over the country! Remember this name!!!

Here’s a picture of a one of her shawls that’s I’m knitting.

This is called Flower Faire and is presented in 3 widths - scarf, wide scarf and shawl. I’m doing the shawl version and I’m working on side 2 now - this picture was taken a few months ago.

Happy Knitting!

Karen

Correction on the $100 drawing: I got my wires crossed - what’s new? :/ The $100 drawing is on the Dodge Creations blog! 

It’s time for Sweet Summer Knitting! Our first stop on our Tour is Dodge Creations. The owner of this online shop is Debbie Dodge and she has a fantastic yarn shop! I’ve ordered some yarn and a kit from her, and even though she is in Canada and I’m in Missouri - it got here lickety-split and for only $5!

Debbie will be holding a drawing on her blog  You must leave a comment on her blog to be entered into the drawing.

At the end of the Blog Tour, we hold a drawing for a Grand Prize Goodie Bag worth $100! It contains goodies donate by all the participating shops. We will draw a name from ALL the blog commenter’s to determine a winner for that Goodie Bag.

So, be sure to comment here and on the different blogs - you’ll LOVE this Grand Prize!

Here is our itinerary!

Please be sure to visit the other online stores that are part of this tour. I know they have surprises in store for you!

July 2nd - Laura - Fiber Dreams
July 3rd -Karen - Scarves for all reasons
July 4th -Jean - Desert Rose Designs
July 5th -Sandrasingh - Knittingwithsandrasingh.sandrasingh.com
July 6th -Miss Babs - Miss Babs.com