Before

Outdated fireplace about to get made over

After

A couple of evenings later, the fireplace is completely different!

Let’s get started!

First of all, gather up your plastic bags! They can be any size or color, or a combination of colors.

The printing on the bags will make colorful speckles as you work your project!

Work your bag so it is flat. Fold the edges from the handle in so you have a nice rectangle.

I like to fold my bags in half lengthwise. Cut off the handles and the base (the part that forms the bottom of the bag).

Cut the bag into strips. I like to cut mine 1-1/2 inches wide. You can cut thicker strips if you’d like. I can get eight or nine strips per bag.

Open up your strips to reveal the loops. Lay one open loop over the other.

Pass the right side of the loop on the right through the left side of the same loop. You’ll form something like a slip knot over the loop on the left.

Sounds confusing but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be looping TONS of bag pieces together for your plarn.

Gently pull the two bag pieces away from one another to form your knot. When you work with the plarn, this bump will not be noticed.

As you loop your pieces together, roll them into a ball so it’s easy to use.

Now you are ready to work with your plarn ball! Use a large hook to crochet.

You can knit with it or use a loom, or just about anything else you can do with bulky yarn.

Once you have mastered the technique, you can stack multiple bags at once and cut them with a rotary cutter.

I generally cut about five bags at a time to create 40 or more loops in minutes.

Here’s my finished tote bag, alternating colors for a striped effect.

Don;t want to make your own? You can purchase this one at www.lisarowell.com

Under the Wearables, Totes and Bags tab, there are some new handcrafted hats (including the rainbow bearded hat), and some cute purses.

I’ve also included some polymer magnets under the For the Home tab and a cute little crocheted puppy pal under the Art Dolls and Toys tab.

Click to view slideshow.

Thanks to all for visiting the virtual shop and sharing it with your friends! It pleases me to no end to be able to make so many items and offer them for sale. May you have a blessed holiday season and a prosperous new year!

Easy to make appetizer. Serve warm or cold.

Back to CHOCOLATE.

My son recently asked me to make chocolate pudding. Although we had some of that instant stuff stashed in the pantry, I wanted to make some REAL pudding from scratch. There is nothing quite like homemade pudding, still slightly warm, with a dollop of fresh whipped cream on top. I just cannot seem to wait until the dessert completely cools to delve into its chocolate richness.

This recipe will fill five dessert cups quite nicely.

Homemade Chocolate Pudding

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Pinch of salt
• 2 cups milk
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 2 beaten egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Blend the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a saucepan. Add the milk and the chocolate. Cook over medium heat, stirring until it gets thick and bubbly. This takes a little patience to get it there! Once it thickens, continue cooking and stirring for a couple more minutes. Reduce heat to low.

Stir a little bit of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks and drop it all back into the pudding mixture. Cook and stir for a couple more minutes. Remove from heat and add the butter and vanilla. Mix it up and pour into dessert dishes.

Enjoy chilled or warm!