Magnificent Brownies and More Scarves

Hi friends and happy Sunday.  It is a happy Sunday because I have the next week off from school so I can spend glorious time in my craft room.  I am a happy camper!  I would love to experiment with my husband's Valentine gift to me but I don't know if I can but more on that later.  I know I will be making jewelry and doing a little sewing, maybe some knitting.

I know everyone is probably familiar with these ruffly scarves that are popular now.  I have made a few of them.  The one in the picture matches one I made my sister for her birthday a couple of weeks ago.  The Sashay yarn used to make them has another style that I really love.

I love these rope scarves made with the same yarn.  They couldn't be easier.  Just use an "N" crochet hook and chain the whole skein.  That's it.  I think they are really unusual.  The bottom one has metallic strands in it so it is a little dressier but I love the colors in the yellow,grey and green one.  I have a lot I can wear both scarves with.  I think I have gone scarf crazy!  I am going to try to create something that is not a scarf next week!

You may remember that I mentioned my oldest son turned 23 on February 8th.  I made him his favorite brownies as his birthday dessert and they went over BIG!

These rocky road brownies disappeared very fast and everyone loved them.  Just prepare a 20 oz.(give or take) brownie mix as the package directs.  Add 1 cup of chopped pecans and transfer batter to a greased 9 x 13 pan.  Bake in a 350 oven for 25 minutes.  As soon as you take the pan out of the oven, sprinkle 3 cups of miniature marshmallows on the brownies.  In a heavy saucepan over low heat, combine  2 oz unsweetened chocolate, 1/3 cup milk, and 1/2 cup butter.  Cook until everything is melted together and combined.  Take off the heat and add a 16 oz. package of powdered sugar and a splash of vanilla.  Stir until it is of a loose frosting consistency.  Spread over the marshmallow layer and cool completely.  They are pretty easy for something that tastes so good.

I have been complaining for some time now that I don't feel safe wearing either of my expensive charm bracelets because I am afraid of losing the charms.  Several people have advised me to get the charms soldered on at a jewelers to make the bracelet safe to wear.  I asked at a couple of jewelers and the prices were ridiculously high.  I kept thinking that soldering would be a useful skill to learn.  Now that I make jewelry, I occasionally run into a jump ring that won't stay closed so it would be nice to solder those types of things.  Well my husband knows the way to my heart is through my craft room!  He gave me this for Valentine's Day:

I love it!  I have been watching tutorials on soldering on YouTube and I realize I need a couple of things before I try it out:  a heat-proof mat, a holder would be nice and some flux.  I may not get everything to try it out this week but I will do it soon.  I can't wait.  They sell 14 karat gold soldering wire and even though it is naturally expensive, it will save me a ton compared to the jeweler's quotes.

I hope you all have a great week ahead.  Our temperatures are supposed to be going up this week so I plan on trying to get outside and take in some fresh air when that happens.  Take care.  Nancy