Six-Month Recap & Liebster Award

Posted on March 15, 2014 by Victoria Vitale

Today marks Scissors & Sage’s six-month birthday! Time flies when you’re having fun. When I started this blog in September, I had many thoughts on what I wanted it to become, but I was not sure I had the time, energy, or creativity to build upon my ideas. Little did I know that Scissors & Sage would become one of my favorite self-care activities. This experience, so far, has surpassed all expectations. To date, Scissors & Sage has been viewed in 29 countries around the world and has over 3,500 views and 60+ followers.

This past January, Scissors & Sage was nominated for a Liebster Award, the purpose of which is to recognize up-and-coming blogs. Blogger Sarah Linda of Daisychains and Dreamers posted the following about my blog:

You all know I love a good DIY project and Vic has a bundle! From upcycling to knitting and baking, Victoria is a thrifty gal who’s right up my street!

Receiving this Liebster Award allowed me to make acquaintances many miles away. In Scissors & Sage’s brief but meaningful existence, I have been able to share my crafting hobby while also inviting others to join me in the process. Below is a recap of some of my posts over the last six months. Thank you all for reading this blog, and to those who have contributed your hard work and creativity!

Ode To Adrienne Rich

The City of Murals

Make Your Own Scrabble

Cowl Me Crazy

On The Farm With: Janet Kenealy

Mirror, Mirror

Thrifting With: Anne Kenealy

Lemon-Blueberry Yogurt Cake

Knitting A Pom-Pom Hat

Lemon Ricotta Cookies

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Victoria Vitale

Last month, Scissors & Sage hosted its very first comment contest. I am happy to announce that the winner of this Valentine’s themed mystery treat was Theresa of TheresaBuoy! This experience gave me an opportunity to meet a new blog friend across the country, and to expand my blogging horizons (literally). Thank you to all who participated. I look forward to future contests on this blog!

The mystery treat I baked for Theresa was a batch of lemon ricotta cookies. Perhaps you have never heard of these – I hadn’t until about a month ago. I was in Isgro Pasticceria with my family when I saw these little fellows in the display case. Now, I am Italian. Like Brooklyn Italian. But I had never heard of lemon ricotta cookies! I was embarrassed. I was confused. I knew I had to try and make these myself, so my uncle helped me track down Giada De Laurentiis’s well-regarded recipe.

Lemon Ricotta Cookies (adapted from Giada De Laurentiis)

Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Yields: 52 cookies

Cookies:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
15 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
3 tbs lemon juice
1 lemon, zested
Sprinkles (optional)

Glaze:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tbs lemon juice
1 lemon, zested

Preheat oven to 375 °F. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, combine the butter and sugar using an electric mixer until fluffy (3-4 minutes). Add the eggs and beat until fully incorporated. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Beat to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients.

Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Scoop 1 tbs of batter per cookie. Bake for 15 minutes or until slightly golden brown along the edges. Remove from oven. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack and let stand for 20 minutes.

Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a small bowl. Stir until smooth. Spoon the glaze onto each cooled cookie. Add sprinkles if desired. Let the glaze harden for 2+ hours. Package the cookies for up to two weeks.

From Scissors & Sage

I packaged these cookies up for Theresa in a decorative paper loaf pan. These cookies are the perfect springtime cookie. They are light and citrusy, and can be enjoyed in combination with this warming weather!

March is National Craft Month!

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Victoria Vitale

Did you know that crafting gets an entire national month to itself? I didn’t. According to the Craft & Hobby Association (which I also didn’t know existed), March is National Craft Month. This was the best news I heard all week! The CHA has a very handy downloadable calendar and tips sheet with ideas on how to participate in a creative month of crafting. Be sure to also check out the Do It Yourself section of Scissors & Sage!

Cre8time.org and #cre8time are ways in which you can become involved in National Craft Month. As stated in their slogan, “Reclaim your creativity,” #cre8time is all about taking time to work on projects that might be living at the bottom of every to-do list that you write. Maybe this means you will #cre8time for cooking more often, or hand-writing a letter to a friend. It could even mean taking time to grow a few indoor plants with the changing season.

For this project, I enlisted the help of fellow Creative Arts Therapy friends. As graduate students, we easily lose sight of the beauty in our artistic mediums (art, music, and dance/movement). My hope for this project was to spread awareness about the importance of establishing time for crafting and creating, especially for those who greatly value this practice. Exercising our creativity juices is what keeps our batteries (mostly) charged!

What will you #cre8time for this month?

Note: Click images to view in slideshow.

Knitting A Pom-Pom Hat

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Victoria Vitale

As much as I want to believe that spring is around the corner, it most certainly is not. Every year I think that post-Valentine’s Day = post-winter, and that the long days of hibernation are over. False. There are probably many more cold and snowy days to come (like this morning in Philly), and one must be extra ready for this blustering wind! (Okay, it isn’t actually blustering.) Anyway, here is a hat that I recently finished making. I’ve never knit a hat before (let alone anything on circular needles), so I was very excited to work on this project.

I picked up my knitting supplies for this hat at Rosie’s Yarn Cellar in Philadelphia. The woman working at Rosie’s was kind enough to educate and guide me through the process of starting my project. Later on, I decided to add a pom-pom for a more playful look, and I couldn’t be happier with the results!

The Materials:

1 skein of Manos del Uruguay merino wool
1 skein of a contrasting color for the pom-pom
Size 8 circular needles (16″)
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Note: I did not end up using the size 8 double pointed needles pictured below.

How-To:

Cast on 87 stitches (use this hat size chart to find your size)
Seed stitch for 1 1/2 inches
Stockinette stitch until the hat is a total of 7 inches tall
Begin decreasing on circular needles (learn how here)
Set aside the finished hat (!!!) to begin making the pom-pom
Use either the same yarn or a contrasting color to make the pom-pom (learn how here)
Secure the pom-pom to the top of the hat using a tapestry needle

While I do hope that winter sees itself out sooner rather than later, this hat is sure to keep me warm in the meantime. This pattern used about half the skein of Manos del Uruguay yarn, so I may use the other half for another project in the near future. I love the subtle striation in the color.

Remember that it is never too late to start knitting. I recently read an interesting article called “Don’t Stop Knitting! It Keeps You Healthy!” Take this late-winter opportunity to start something new. Peek into a local knitting store and see what they have to offer. As my psychotherapy teacher said today, “The way to change your future is to change your present.”

Note: Photos by Victoria Vitale & Anne Kenealy.

Valentine’s Day Playlist

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Victoria Vitale

Whether you are at home, traveling to and from work, or sipping wine over dinner, this mix is here to accompany you! There are old standbys from The Temptations, Joni Mitchell, and The Rolling Stones, as well as newer tracks from Wild Cub, Bruno Mars, and Lianne La Havas. Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

“You’re The Love of My Life (The Love of My Life)”