Amish Cheese Ball Recipe

Cheese Ball
1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese
8 oz. cream cheese
1 jar Old English Cheese spread
1/2 Tbsp. garlic powder
1/2 Tbsp. onion powder
1 Tbsp. horseradish
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Let cheeses stand at room temperature for several hours to soften.

Mix all ingredients together and chill several hours before serving.

Store in covered container.

http://www.cottagecraftworks.com

Amish Cinnamon Roll Recipe

Cinnamon Rolls
2c. Lukewarm water
1tsp. salt
1/2c. white sugar
2pkg. yeast
1/4c. vegetable oil
2 eggs
5-1/2-6c. flour
cinnamon
white sugar
butter

Mix water, salt 1/2c. white sugar, and yeast with wire whip. Stir in vegetable oil. Beat eggs in separate container and add to the mixture. Stir in flour. Dough should still be bit sticky. Let rise 5-10 minutes. Mix together cinnamon, and remaining sugar. Melt butter. Roll out dough, rub with butter, and sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture. Roll up into log, and lay slices in pan. Bake 325 degrees for 15 minutes.

http://www.cottagecraftworks.com features Amish made vintage style aprons

Amish Chicken Barbeque Sauce Recipe

This is very similar to the chicken barbecue sauce recipe used at the annual church festival when I was growing up in Northern Ohio. It is different than the traditional tomato based sauces. Really makes chicken taste good. Liz http://www.cottagecraftworks.com

Chicken Barbecue Sauce
1c butter- melted
1c cider vinegar
2c water
2tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1tbsp. Salt
1 tsp. pepper

Mix together and heat. Soak chicken in sauce before grilling. Baste chicken with sauce as it cooks.

Government Bans Handmade Toys for Christmas

Folks amongst all this talk about stimulus plans, and getting people back to work, our government is causing massive small business owners and not-for-profit groups to stop making generations of handmade toys. No one can afford the lab testing and label requirements set out in this new regulation. It's all about the lead scare from 2008 on China imported toys. The Act is known as the New requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) I won't go into a bunch of new information as the Internet is buzzing over this topic. It is confusing and it has people scared to death to make and sell almost anything, as it includes children up to the age of 12. Even libraries are concerned with the new requirements. There is some language that says parts of the requirements are postponed until 2010, but frankly I have taken all my hand crafted toys off my online store because it is so confusing. I'm afraid I could be fined or even go to prison. This is such of a ridiculous requirement, lead paint has been banned in the US for years. Many of my friends are Amish crafts people who depend on these products for their lively hood.

I want to bring your attention to this issue and the need to put a stop to it. Please join the cause, Face Book has a group just on this topic, Help Save Handmade Toys from the CPSIA. Below are all the sites working on this issue. Please take the time to join these groups.

Thanks

Liz

Sign our Petition
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/handmadetoys/

Show your Support: Become a Fan of the HTA
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Handmade-Toy-Alliance/43825506737

Join the discussion on change.org and contribute your ideas to our National Campaign geared toward fixing the CPSIA
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

Write to your United States Congress Person and Senator to request changes in the CPSIA to save handmade toys. Use our sample letter or write your own-
http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/how-you-can-help

Toymakers & Toy-related Businesses:
Join the Handmade Toy Alliance
http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org

Everyone:
Join the CPSIA information group
http://cpsia-central.ning.com/

Donatations For Hunting Groups

I’m pleased to report we were able to donate several of our Amish crafted hunting calls to several not-for-profit groups and state chapters for annual banquets and fund raising projects. The Meade Natural Heritage Association (MNHA), NWTF and Indiana Whitetails Unlimited, Southwestern Pennsylvania Hunting Retriever Club, and Western New York Retriever Club, Inc., (WNYRC) we hope to make more donations next year based on our sales. Please join us in supporting these and all the great hunting groups.

Thanks,
Liz

http://www.cottagecraftworks.com

GO GREEN, Build A Solid Outdoors Clothes Line.

It’s taken us many years of moving and installing clothes lines, before we finally figured out the secrets of building and installing substantial clothes line post. We have helped a few friends do theirs as well. Here is what we have discovered along the way.

First check your deed restrictions if you live in a deed restricted community. Clothes lines were not very popular before the Green Movement, and some HOA, still views them as rather trashy.

Second, it takes substantial material, we prefer 4” steel pipe. Used pipe will be cheaper and if you don’t have a welder in the family, you may want to contract a professional welder. The main upright post will have to be notched to fit around the cross T for a solid weld. Once these are in the ground, they won’t be easy to repair if the weld breaks. Wood post just won’t last over time. We have tried a smaller size pipe and actually bent it at the ground level.

We weld a 5’ cross T out of 4” pipe on an 9’- 2” upright. This allows for 3’ in the ground and 6’-2” above the ground. For us, this is a perfect finished height for a comfortable reach and to keep long items off the ground, measure according to your needs. It is easier to drill the holes in the cross T before the welding process. A 3/8” hole spaced no less than 10” will allow for 6 lines. Drill the holes all the way through and be sure to keep them all in line. During this process decide if it is economical to have caps welded on the ends, or to later cut wood plugs to plug the ends of the cross T. You will want to plug these ends or birds will build nest, and then spend time on the clothes line dropping poop on your clean clothes. Paint the post, we like using a good metal primer, and then aluminum color paint as it seems to hold up longer. Any good outside enamel paint will work. If the pipe is used, it may need a power wire brushing.

Second the finished post will have to be set in substantial concrete at a depth of no less than 3’ deep. Just the tightening of the clothes lines themselves takes substantial stress on the post, not to mention a full load of clothes flapping in the wind. The side to side and back side of the hole is not as important as the front side, where the post will be pulled toward. We like to dig a hole at least 2’ wide 3’ deep. On the inside we like to dig a trench footing 2’ deep 12” wide out 3’ from the inside of each post. We drop the post center into the hole and add 6 rebar to both sides of the post out into the footing trench. The footing trench gives another underground leg to keep the post from pulling in towards each other. In setting the post we plumb it side to side but kick the post back about 1/8 bubble out of plumb. Even with all the concrete and footing the post will still pull in. Once it is all complete the post ends up being closer to actual plumb. Don’t skip on the concrete; it is very difficult to straighten up a post after the fact. Expect to pour 8-12 bags of concrete around each post. Keep the concrete about 3” from the surface so soil and grass can be planted to hide the trench. We like spacing the post right at 49’ or less. Most of the wire cable comes in 50’ or 100’ lengths. At 49’ this allows plenty of wire to connect to each post without having to splice. If you have a large family and need to have longer lines, consider placing a third post in the center. Also consider where the post will be placed, as they will be very permanent. It is not a good idea to place them under trees, or where birds will congregate. Think about where the tree branches might be in 15-30 years down the road. Also consider the wind patterns; you will want to be able to hang out pants so the wind blows them out like a wind sock for quick drying, sheets work best looped to two clothes lines.

Let the concrete set for at least 10 days. We like using galvanized stranded wire for the lines. It is available at almost any hardware store, Lowe’s, or Home Depot. Plastic coated lines just don’t hold up to the UV. Clean the lines with some vinegar water on a cloth before each use. We use ¼” eye bolts on each cross T, yes they work better in the 3/8” holes. Forget the turnbuckles; go to a good farm store, that sells electric fencing supplies, such as TSC, and Purchase the ratchet tightener used for electric wire fencing, you will need only one per line. We have found two types of these over the years, one has a nut on the side for a regular wrench, and the other needs a tool to tighten the ratchet. Obviously the tool will be needed for these and is usually sold next to the ratchets. Over time you will tighten these many times, much more than a few turns on a turnbuckle, so you will want to purchase the tool. The eye bolt on the ratchet side will have to be opened. Placing one side in a vise and using a pair of pliers to bend it to one side is sufficient enough to slide the ratchet housing into, and then bend the eye bolt back. On the other end, you can either wrap the wire around the eye bolt, or we prefer to use a cable sleeve and not leave the exposed ends of the stranded wire to be exposed. They tend to puncher hands during cleaning off the lines, these little strands really hurt. Be sure to use safety glasses as the wire can spring back quickly at eye level. Unroll the cable and not allow it to spool off the side of the roll, the cable will be nice and straight, less likely to kink. Fasten the fixed end and pull enough to make two complete rounds on the ratchet. Alternate from inside to out and back as you tighten the lines, if you tighten one side down first you will actually twist the post. The lines should have about a 1/2” pull down in the center once they are tightened to the correct tension. Over the first few weeks, they will need to be tightened further, again alternate the tightening.

We also like our all aluminum laundry basket cart to transport the laundry out to the clothes lines. It fits through a standard door, and is much easier on my back. Check my profile on Face Book or go directly to my site at http://www.cottagecraftworks.com

Good luck going green on this, it is a lot of work, but I can see the savings on the electric bill when I hang things outside. Liz

Seeking Cottage Craftsman

is not as easy today, even with the internet. no matter what the home based business person can dream up, it likely can already be found on the shelf of a discount store, much cheaper than what can be

Woodcarvings and Realistic Photo Gourd Art

Unique woodcarvings, photographed/wood burned gourds, and more! amazing works of art with life like stunning pictures created on garden gourds by this artisan. wood cravings and many more handcrafted items available at http://www.cottagecraftworks.com

Give the Mega Hunting Basket

The mega hunting call gift basket is full of amish crafted hunting and game calls. plus it comes with the best-b-que-sauce anywhere. if you want to surprise that special hunter, this gift basket is the one. sold on line at www.cottagecraftworks.com

Hand Crafted Cottage Industry

The cottage industry is made up of home based crafts people and artisans who still work in small work shops or other parts of their homes. Many trades and crafts have been handed down from many generations. These are the back bone of the American dream, making a quality hand made item and selling them from these home based shops. These talented people are hard to find many are in small towns or live deep in the back roads. Amish communities survive mostly on the cottage based industry concept. www.cottagecraftworks.com is a site dedicated to the cottage based industry.

Cottage Craft Works on line store

Cottage Craft Works .com provides a market place dedicated to the cottage craft industries. The products are selected based on quality and workmanship to provide heirloom products to pass from generation to generation. Products are from craftsmen who have perfected their trade, and artisans who produce outstanding works of art. Many of our products are made deep in the Amish communities while others are produced in the back roads of America. We feature a full line of hunting calls for wild game and water foul. We also provide unique products to use in the kitchen, home and office. Check out our new site at www.cottagecraftworks.com

If you are a crafter or artisan, click on our vendor page to submit products for review. We buy products at wholesale, thus we charge the vendors no fees.

Crafter and Artisian Market Place

Cottage Craft Works .com provides a new market place for the accomplished craftsmen and artisans. Dedicated to the cottage industries, we hand select products based on quality of workmanship, artistic features, and unique applications. Our mission is to provide a market for the cottage based businesses and to provide our customers with tomorrows heirlooms. We purchase selected products at wholesale prices, pay shipping and handling charges to ship to our customers. We do not charge fees or have other hidden cost. We are simply a new store on the world wide web to showcase talent and provide home based cottage craftsmen and artisans a different market place.

Click on the Vendor tab at www.cottagecraftworks.com for more information.