Welcome to Haute Kippy - crochet craft and more!

If you're looking for ready made accessories available for purchase now, please contact me via email, or facebook. A selection of items from my design cache can be purchased directly from me locally, at craft shows or via mail. I am also available to for custom design work or commission to construct any published pattern. I accept all major credit cards and PayPal and I always ship for free!

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Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Perfect Garlic Knots

I've missed some days not blogging lately. I've been chasing the dragon, trying to crochet the perfect sun hat for my upcoming vacation because I can't find one I like well enough to buy from any store. I pulled my old stash of hemp from college jewelry braiding days to try and crochet with. So far, so-so. When/if I achieve my feat, that'll be my next crocheting post!

back to baking...



I came up this recipe last week, and have been meaning to type it up. I'm really excited about these garlic knots, because not only are they totally scrumptious but it's truly easier-than-you-think baking! The inspiration for this recipe comes from basic pizza crust, which in and of itself is delicious! It's the only way my family eats pizza nowadays. So easy and delicious, I never buy frozen any more.

Garlic Knot Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon instant or active dry yeast
  • 1 1/2 cups warm water
  • 4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning mix
  • 1/3 cup olive oil

Garlic Butter Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic (I buy mine in a jar: fresh garlic = too much work!)
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes


Preparation:


Mix the yeast and water right in the measuring cup. Make sure the water is very warm. Stir to combine and leave it to sit for 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, in your mixer combine all remaining dry ingredients, using the paddle. Yes, it's dough, but we don't need the dough hook. It doesn't work-well trust me I've tried! This is going to be soft, delicate dough.

Once combined, drizzle in on low speed, the olive oil. Mix until well incorporated. When it's time, add the yeast water, stirring it once more before adding. Mix just until the ingredients are all combined and a soft, sticky dough forms.

Next spray a bowl with non-stick cooking spray, and coat your hands in a bit of olive oil. Take the dough, gently form a ball and rub it with more olive oil. Place in bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let it sit out on the counter for at least one hour. If you are making ahead, refrigerate it overnight. It should keep up two to three days but who can wait that long for delicious garlicy goodness?

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. When you're ready to make knots, divide the dough in half. I use a pizza cutter and parchment paper for this part, it works great! Lay out a sheet of parchment and working with the first half of the dough, mold with your oiled hands a rectangle roughly 1/2" thick, and 6" x 15". Sprinkle flour over the dough and then slice into 1" strips. Flip them individually and flour the other side as well.

...then tie some knots!


Take each strip and gently tie it in a knot. It doesn't have to be perfect, just have fun with the dough! Place on a baking sheet at least one inch apart. Bake for 12-14 minutes until just turning golden. While they're baking whip up the easy garlic butter. Then prep the other half of the dough in the same manner. Combine the garlic butter ingredients into a mini-blender, chopper or food processor and pulse until the garlic bits are very small and all is well mixed. I used my baby food maker (basically a glorified mini-blender) for this part. But I think any chopping appliance will do. If you don't have one, You could crush the garlic or even leave it minced as is. Brush onto warm rolls and then try to restrain yourself. Good luck! I ate two before serving to my family with dinner!

Recipe yields approximately 20 rolls. I hope you enjoy and use this recipe to try to incorporate more baking into your meal routines. I wish I had taken more pictures, but I created this recipe on the fly one afternoon just making a regular dinner and I wasn't even sure they'd be good! But they turned out so yummy I could not wait to make it again to share it! Be sure to leave a comment if you have any questions about this recipe.

Keep it Yummy! xo- Kip


What were the yummiest garlic knots you've eaten at a restaurant?

Now you can make them at home! Aren't you excited!?

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Crochet Tote Bag

I've just completed this totally adorable crochet tote bag! 



The pattern can be found for free on Naztazia.com. I love this lady, her work is so cute. I've made quite a few of her creations, and she writes great crochet patterns! She has wonderful video tutorials for beginner crocheters on her YouTube channel as well. I especially like her because she posted some left-handed crocheting tutorials which really helped me in the beginning.

Tote Deets:


The pattern calls for a solid color yarn or a neutral with planned stripes, using an H hook and crocheting holding two strands held together.

I thought it could look really neat to hold two different colored strands of yarn together. The result I got is amazing! It turned out to be a real stash-buster project for me, using old leftover balls and near-empty skeins. My pastel rainbow palette consisted of robin's egg blue, lavender, soft pink, light and dark heather grays, white, ecru, and one of my new favorites: Red Heart Super Saver in Monet. I had only a tiny bit of this left to use, and I ended up buying another skein of it just to finish this tote, and it complements the other colors very well! See a sweater for my daughter I made using lavender and Monet here.

Another way I personalized this pattern was to use a larger hook. The original pattern calls for size H hook. I thought this might be a little small of a hook to be using with two strands of worsted acrylic. After all, two strands of worsted = one strand of bulky/super bulky! Additionally, I wanted to make mine not a purse, but an all purpose tote. I chose to use size K hook, which is 3 sizes larger than recommended. As a result, my tote came out measuring 16.5" x 14.5" with a 34" x 3" strap. It's long enough to wear crossbody, or over the shoulder and the strap is wide for carrying comfort.


I plan to use this when I take my girls around town to the pool or splash pad. I may even bring it to the beach as well. A benefit of using acrylic yarn, is it's totally washable, it even says so right on the label!

Sweet, stylish, washable, homemade? Fits all this mom's requirements!

Keep crocheting! xo- Kip


You can see other ways crocheters have interpreted this pattern through photos posted to Naztazia's facebook page.

What colors or hook size would you crochet this tote with?

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Take Your Vitamins


Foolproof method to get your baby or toddler to take their liquid vitamins without them even knowing it (or tasting it)! Read on...


For anyone who has children, especially a breastfeeding mother, I can take a wild guess you've been instructed by your pediatrician to give your babies vitamins. You must, then be familiar with this:

A pricey little vial of infant's liquid multi-vitamin. (With-iron version for breastfeeding babies of course!) It looks simple enough. It comes with a one mil. dropper and your child should have one dose a day with meals. Okay...

But have you ever tasted it? 


If not, then maybe you should! I have. I taste everything I've ever given my children including those nasty vitamins. If you have any experience with this you know the liquid is potent, strong smelling and very bitter to the tongue.

How can you expect your baby or toddler to actually take this thing!?


I bet, like me, you've tried mixing it into infant cereal or other foods. It doesn't mask the taste. It just makes the food yucky and brown. Maybe you've even held your kid's face still and just popped the little dropper in as quick as you can. I've tried that too. Maybe you've seen the same reaction to the taste, and maybe sometimes they've spit it out!

...And what about the mess it makes? The stains! Oh, the stains!


Those vitamin drops are diabolical for laundry. The brown liquid quickly stains anything it touches- from clothing, to counter tops, even skin! I thought for years, there has to be a better way! If you give it to your child straight, they spit and gag on the horrible taste. If you mix it into something you only ruin the flavor of what ever you're trying to mask it with. 

The Solution:


Fruit Pouches! 


As sort of a combination of the pop-it-in and mask-it methods, I use the genius of the children's fruit or applesauce pouch to help you get yucky tasting vitamins down!


When you open the fruit pouch, you'll notice there's a little bit of room at the top. Measure the vitamins and carefully drop them into the pouch right on top of the applesauce or fruit. Be careful not to squeeze or let your child squeeze. Just place the spout of the pouch in your child's mouth and let them begin sipping. 


The first mouthful they get will have the vitamins, and then be immediately chased with the sweet goodness of fruit! After the first sip you can let them hold the pouch. They'll gleefully enjoy the rest without having even known they've taken their vitamins! The trick is not letting them squeeze the pouch until the vitamins go down with the first sip. This can easily be a mess-free way to get the job done. 


Babies, toddlers and children need their vitamins. If you make this tip a part of your daily routine it'll become a beneficial habit. I serve my baby vitamin-laced fruit pouches at lunchtime daily. I hope this helps some of you moms and dads out there!

Take care! xo- Kip

Monday, June 1, 2015

Puffy Paint! Part Deux

For the most part, we use puffy paint to embellish every day objects to make them extra special, (As shown in my previous post). But what if you could use the paint... to create the object itself?

I've seen the techniques of painting on wax paper over top of printed out clip art objects like leaves and pumpkins. If you string yarn to it, it can be worn. That's cute and kitschy, but what about an upscale looking accessory that you can actually pair with an outfit that doesn't necessarily look like homemade puffy paint craft jewelry?

I'll show you how to make this golden glitter cuff bracelet, plus a bonus project: a girl's no-sew headband! 





Golden glitter cuff bracelet!


Materials: Gold glitter (or your choice of color) puffy paint, ribbon for tie closure, hot glue.

Here's how: I printed out an image of a lace ribbon pattern then overlaid wax paper on top of the image. I used gold glitter puffy paint to trace the lace pattern. The picture below is a less intricate version of the bracelet above. I think it photographs better and more fully illustrates the concept of tracing the lace pattern. 

Lace ribbon photo via

This must be left flat and allowed to dry completely and overnight. After drying, gently and carefully peel the wax paper from the paint. I used hot glue to secure a short silvery ribbon to either end. To wear, tie in a bow around the wrist! 

Shabby chic inspired little girl's no-sew headband!



Materials: Wide ribbon for headband, narrow ribbon as ties, puffy paint, fabric glue or hot glue.

To make: measure from behind one ear to behind the other ear and cut a length of ribbon. Lay the ribbon out on a protected surface. Trace, or free-hand designs onto the ribbon with puffy paint in desired colors. I used burlap lace and pink, white and gold paint. Allow paint to dry over night. Using hot glue or fabric glue, tack the ends of ribbons on to each end of the headband in the center. Fold the corners of the headband ribbon over and glue. Be sure to cut the tie ribbons long enough so that you're able to make a bow at the nape of the neck. Leave tie ribbons long or short depending on your desired look.


I hope you enjoy these creative ways to use puffy paint! 


Keep it crafty! xo- Kip




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