There’s something about spindle spinning that always feels like coming home.
In the middle of December, the days are short. The calendar is full, and the world seems a little louder than usual. I find myself reaching for my spindle. Not because I have to. But because I want to. It reminds me to slow down, to breathe, and to let my hands do something quiet and good.
If you’re new to spindle spinning, you are doing better than you think. Even if you’ve tried it once or twice and felt unsure, know this right from the start. You’re doing better than you think.
Beginning Where You Are
One of the first things I share in today’s video is how I make a leader. Sometimes I use a bit of pre-spun yarn. Sometimes I make one right from the fiber itself. Both ways are just fine. There’s no rule book here—only gentle guidance and curiosity.
Spindle spinning isn’t about perfection. It’s about learning how the fiber responds, how the twist travels, and how your hands naturally move. Every spindle has its own rhythm, and every spinner does too.
Wrapping, Spinning, and Letting Go
I also show how I wrap the fiber around the spindle to get started. This simple step can feel intimidating at first, but once you’ve done it a few times, it becomes second nature. A wrap, a twist, a pause. Over and over again.
In the video, I’m using one of my favorite 3D-printed spindle—this one doesn’t even have a hook! And yes, that can feel a bit tricky at first. But with a secure wrap and a little patience, it spins beautifully. It’s a good reminder that tools don’t have to be fancy or traditional to be useful. They just have to work for you.
An Invitation to Experiment
If there’s one thing I hope you take away from this, it’s permission.
Permission to experiment. Permission to try different methods. Permission to set the spindle down and come back later.
Spinning has been part of human life for thousands of years. No two people have ever done it exactly the same way. Your spinning doesn’t need to look like mine—or anyone else’s—to be right.
A Quiet Practice for Busy Seasons
During Advent and Vlogmas, spindle spinning has become a small daily ritual for me. Just a few minutes at a time. A way to ground myself, to pray without words, and to remember that slow things still matter.
If you’re spinning along with me this season, I’m so glad you’re here. And if you’re just watching and learning, that’s just as lovely.
🧶 May your fiber be forgiving, your spindle steady, and your heart at ease.
by Grannie Doll, living the 100-Mile Life one gentle stitch at a time
Life gets loud, doesn’t it? The news hums. The to-do list grows. The phone pings. Suddenly, the whole day feels like it’s rushing past with no place to sit and breathe. But inside all that noise are tiny pockets of stillness. These are the soft places we create with our own hands.
For me, those quiet places almost always begin with wool.
Fibre arts aren’t just hobbies. They’re anchors. They’re soft rebellions against the rush. They’re the ways we gather ourselves back up when the world has scattered us thin.
🧶 Spinning: Stillness in Motion
There’s something almost holy about the whir of a spindle or wheel. Drafting fibre is like drafting breath — long, slow, intentional. As twist travels down the strand, my mind unwinds alongside it.
Spinning teaches me to come back to the present moment, one gentle pull at a time. It gives my busy thoughts a place to rest and my heart a place to settle. It doesn’t demand anything fancy or perfect. It just invites me to show up.
🧵 Knitting: Rhythm for a Restless Mind
Knitting is patterned peace. Stitch after stitch, the world slows. Even on the heaviest days, a few rows remind me that I’m still here. I’m still breathing. I’m still creating warmth in cold seasons.
Sometimes I knit complex patterns when my brain needs a puzzle. Other days, I return to the comfort of garter or stockinette. These are the simple rhythms that ground me. They help when chaos tries to take over.
🧺 The Fibre Basket: A Soft Sanctuary
Maybe it’s the colours. Maybe it’s the textures. Maybe it’s the connection to local farms and shepherds and the land itself. But opening my wool basket feels like opening a tiny sanctuary.
These fibres are dyed with food colouring and carded by hand. They are gathered from neighbours or small mills. They remind me that peace is found close to home. It is found in simple things. It is found in simple moments.
✨ 5 Ways to Find Peace in the Chaos with Fibre Arts
1. Slow Your Breathing With Repetitive Motion
Let the steady rhythm of knitting or spinning calm your nervous system. Hands first, heart follows.
2. Choose Colours That Soothe Your Spirit
Reach for rose, lilac, lavender, soft blues — the colours that whisper calm into your bones.
3. Keep a “Comfort Project” Ready
A simple, soft, no-pressure project can steady you on overwhelming days.
4. Create a Tiny Craft Sanctuary
A chair, a basket of wool, a candle. Let this small space become your quiet refuge.
5. Make Your Craft a Prayer or Meditation
Each draft and stitch can be a release. They can be a blessing. They can also be a grounding moment — a way to return to yourself.
🌸 Peace Not Perfection
Projects tangle. Yarn breaks. Needles go missing. Chaos creeps back into life and into our making. But somehow, the soft work keeps holding us.
Every imperfect skein reminds me: peace isn’t perfection. It’s the gentle choosing of calm, again and again, even when the day feels frayed.
🌼 A Cozy Ritual for the Hard Days
When life feels too loud, I make a little ritual of it:
A cup of tea. A soft lamp. My spindle or needles. A kitten who may or may not cooperate. And the colour that settles my heart fastest — usually lilac or rose.
In those moments, peace doesn’t arrive with trumpets. It arrives quietly, like wool slipping through fingers.
💬 Invitation to You
If the world feels overwhelming today, pick up something soft. Let your hands lead your spirit toward stillness. We’ll knit ourselves back together — one peaceful row at a time.
From my cozy chair to yours…
May your stitches be steady, your wool be soft, and your heart find a pocket of peace today.
Welcome back, dear friends, to another day of Vlogmas/Spindlemas! Today’s little adventure was all about choices… so many choices. If you’ve ever stood in front of your fiber stash and thought, “Well now, which woolly friend is calling my name today?” — oh goodness, I was right there with you.
Vlogmas Day 12 had me pulling out fibers like a kid digging through a treasure box. Every one of them whispered something different, and honestly? I just wanted to spin them all.
A Burst of Sunshine: The Yellow BFL Blend
First up was the happiest little braid of sunshine you’ve ever seen — a golden yellow Bluefaced Leicester blend. And here’s the fun part: it gets its gorgeous colour from gold food dye. Yes… food dye. Who knew something from the baking cupboard turns fiber into pure sunshine? This one feels lively and warm in the hands. The kind of spin that instantly lifts your mood.
Soft and Steady: The White-Gray Shetland
Next came a fiber that feels like home for me — a gentle white-gray Shetland I had carded and hand-batted. There’s something about Shetland that always feels right. Dependable. Cozy. Honest. This particular batch is destined for mittens, and I’m already imagining how soft and sturdy they’ll be once knit up. Truly a joy to spin.
A Luxurious Treat: Merino–Cashmere Blend
And then… a little luxury. A merino-cashmere blend that practically purrs when you touch it. I’m planning to spin just a bit of it. It’s not for a big project. I want to do it simply for the pleasure of changing pace. Like dessert spinning. Rich, decadent, and exactly what you need when your creative spirit wants to wander.
A Surprise Helper: The Kitten Cameo
And because no Vlogmas day in my house is finished without a little mischief, the kitten made an appearance. She hopped into the frame, ready to supervise, critique, or steal fiber — still not sure which. (I didn’t leave that in the video lol) But goodness, moments like that add such sweetness to the work. Life with wool and whiskers just feels right.
Closing Thoughts
Some days spinning is about a plan. Other days — like today — it’s about delight, surprise, colour, texture, and following whatever fiber feels like joy.
If you’re spinning along with me this Spindlemas, I hope today you choose something joyful. Let it be something that makes your heart do a little happy dance.
Thanks for coming by, dear friends. See you tomorrow for Vlogmas Day 13 — and may your fiber choices be just the right kind of overwhelming.
Advent always asks something of us, doesn’t it? It’s a season of preparation, of tending our spirits, of giving and sharing. A season where the heart gets stretched just a little wider — even when our calendars feel like they’re bursting.
Here in my little corner, it’s also Vlogmas and Spindlemas, which means I’ve been spinning every single day. Last time I chatted with you, I was working on that delicious red Shetland. I still can’t get the camera to capture it nicely. And yes, I can’t believe I said “y’all.” But here we are. I now have two sweet little cops of that red, and it’s sitting happily beside me.
But yesterday, I didn’t dig into my usual basket. To be honest, I know it won’t carry me all the way through December. Instead, I reached for something special. A bit of colour. A bit of chaos. A bit of joy.
I save tiny tufts of everything I spin throughout the year in a little jar. On Distaff Day in January, I card them all together into what I call my mystery batt.. That was the mystery I was spinning yesterday. It is a mix of fibres that probably shouldn’t work together. Somehow, they do. Perfect mitten yarn, I think. And I spun it on my tiny drop spindle, the one that feels like a friend.
Sock Knitting, Christmas Colours… and When Things Don’t Go as Planned
And then there are the socks. I’m knitting the Crazy Sock Lady’s Heel Toe Do-Si-Do pattern, marking each 12-row repeat. I’m on the final repeat now — foot nearly done, toe up next.
This yarn was supposed to be Christmas red, but it came out more pink-with-a-dash-of-green than holiday festive. You know how it goes… sometimes the dye pot has other plans.
So what do we do when things don’t turn out the way we pictured?
Do we fuss? Do we stomp our feet? Or do we pick up the needles and make something lovely anyway?
These socks not be Christmas socks — but the ones on my feet definitely are. My West Yorkshire Spinners Grinch Socks, knit last year, still make me grin. Warm, cozy, a little mischievous — everything December should be.
Grandsons, Slippers, and the Joy of Making
I also found out today that both my grandsons want slippers. One is a Kobe Bryant superfan — all basketball, all the time. The other is a Buffalo Bills devotee — blue and red.
So guess who’s knitting slippers? Granny is. I can make a pair in a day or two once I get these socks off the needles. And honestly? I love that they asked. There’s something special about knitters being capable of wrapping love around the feet of the ones they adore.
Advent, Expectations, and Embracing the Slow
We’re ten days into Advent now — nearly halfway — and I wonder if you’re feeling the tug too. The rush to “get there.” The impatience for the holiday to arrive already. Or maybe the wish for everything to slow down just a little.
But wishing won’t change the calendar. Christmas will come, and Christmas will go. The solstice will arrive — the longest night — and winter will settle itself in.
So what if… just for a moment… we leaned into the slowness?
What if we allowed ourselves to prepare gently, instead of scrambling for perfection?
What if the blessing is actually hidden inside the quiet?
These are big questions, I know. But maybe you’re feeling them too — the pressure of family, gifts, budgets, expectations. The worry that you won’t get it all done.
Let me offer you this little truth:
It is not necessary to run yourself ragged. It is not necessary to give beyond your limits. What is necessary is love — for your neighbour, for your family, and for yourself.
Smile at someone today. Give yourself grace. Let the cookies stay unbaked if that’s what your body needs. Let the gifts be simple. Let the joy be quiet.
Tonight I thought about filming a behind-the-scenes video for DollCanCreate and my 100 Mile Journey. Instead, I’m here with you — in the quiet. I’m grateful for warmth, for family, and for friends. I appreciate the little electric fireplace humming beside me. I’m thankful for the simple gift of being able to turn on the oven and make supper.
A Question for You, My Friend
On this 10th day of Vlogmas:
What are you doing for yourself? What can you let go of? And what might you gently pick up to bring joy into your life?
Hold those questions close as you settle into the evening.
And remember:
You are special. You are blessed. You are loved.
This is Grannie Doll, living the 100 Mile Life one day at a time. Happy Advent. God bless. Until next time. ✨
So welcome, dear friends. Day Seven of Vlogmas is here. Today I’m settling into my comfy rocking chair. I have that beautiful red wool you may have seen me pull from my basket. I’m working with my Dealgan—well, trying to. (Scottish Spindle) The camera didn’t want to cooperate, and the spindle certainly lived up to its name: drop spindle.
But that’s part of the charm, isn’t it? A bit of laughter, a bit of wool, and a whole lot of grace.
I picked up this spindle years ago at a fiber festival in Almonte, Ontario. I don’t use it often, but every once in a while it calls to me. Something about switching up tools brings a new rhythm to my hands and a freshness to the craft.
Today, I’m spinning a hand-dyed Shetland. I wish I could remember the dyer, but Shetland itself is one of my favourites—soft, lively, and full of character. I wind the leader through the cross at the bottom. Then, I bring it back up to the top. I give it a half-hitch and let the spindle go again.
This is my quiet joy on Day Seven.
Yesterday’s spin was different: a soft Barbie-pink Merino, a little two-ply that turned out beautifully. It will join the other colours in my blanket jar—my slow-growing rainbow of December.
What Are You Spinning? What Are You Creating?
I would love to know. Are you spinning along for Vlogmas? Knitting something soft and comforting? Trying a new craft that keeps your hands and heart grounded?
Leave a comment below and let me know what’s on your needles, hooks, or spindle this week.
Spinning as a Practice of Hope
At church this weekend, I spoke about hope. I reflected on Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones. Those bones rose to life when God breathed upon them.
I keep thinking about how our craft mirrors that story.
Every time we spin a rolag, knit a row, or weave a few inches, we are quietly hoping:
hoping the yarn will be strong,
hoping the project will come together,
hoping we are learning even when we make mistakes,
hoping that the small work of our hands somehow leads to beauty.
Our craft is a form of hope. A hope for the future. A hope that even tired hands can create something meaningful.
And all the while, we sit in our cozy corners. Rocking chairs comfort us, with cats nearby and tea cooling on the side table. We think about the future in gentle, manageable ways.
Because out there, in the world of news headlines and endless commentary, it can feel like everything is coming undone. Some days, it is hard. Grief is real. December can stir up memories we weren’t expecting, or emotions we thought we’d tucked away.
So I return to what grounds me:
“Whatever is true, whatever is lovely, whatever is pure, whatever is of good report…”
These are the things I choose to think on. These are the things we craft toward.
And one of those lovely things is you. Thank you for being here with me.
If You’re Enjoying These Vlogmas Moments…
Please don’t forget to:
Like the video
Subscribe to the channel
Share with a friend who needs a little December calm
I’m aiming for a video every single day for Vlogmas—my goal and my little offering of joy this Advent season.
We’ve just entered Week Two of Advent, and next week we move into Joy. How wonderful is that?
From My Home to Yours
Hi, I’m Granny Doll—also known as Doll from DollCanCreate, living the 100 Mile Life and enjoying every moment I can. I’m creating whether I’m in my rocking chair spinning wool with my kitty beside me. I’m creating while stirring a pot in the kitchen. I’m also creating when I write quietly on my blog. And I believe with all my heart that you can create too.
So tell me:
What are you working on right now?
Are you still deep in holiday gift-making?
Or are you turning toward something just for you? (A little self-care crafting never hurt anyone!)
Let’s talk about what our hands and hearts are connected to this Advent season.
For now, dear ones, this is Granny Doll signing off. I care for you. I’m thinking of you. And I pray God blesses you with peace, comfort, and creativity.
Welcome back, dear friends. It’s Grannie Doll here. I’m settling in with a cup of something warm. I’m living my 100-Mile Life one peaceful, wool-filled moment at a time.
This week, as part of Spindlemas, I found myself drawn back to a question many beginning spinners ask:
“How many kinds of spindles are out there—and how many does a spinner really need?”
Well… pull up a chair. Today I’m opening up my own spindle basket. I will share stories from the past twenty-one years of spinning joy. I will talk about learning curves and the quiet magic of handmade tools.
My First Spindle: Where It All Began
Every maker has that one tool that started it all. Mine is a sturdy little drop spindle from 2004. It is hand-painted and well-loved. The paint is now gently wearing away after decades of use.
When I hold it, I remember those early days—fumbling fingers, lumpy yarn, and that unmistakable spark of Oh! I can make this myself.
That spark has carried me a long way.
Black Spruce and Alaskan Memories
Not long after, my husband Nick carved me a lightweight spindle from Black Spruce in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The bark has thinned over time, the wood mellowed, but it still spins fast and true. I can almost hear the quiet of the Alaskan woods every time the whirl turns.
These tools hold memories as much as they hold wool.
Spindle Exchange Surprises
Some treasures arrive by mail.
Years ago, during a spindle exchange, I received a sweet little hand-painted spindle. It was light as air. It was clearly fashioned from a drawer pull. Creative, whimsical, and full of charm.
Another exchange brought me a brightly colored whorl. It still spins beautifully. It is a little chipped from life, but so am I. Aren’t we all?
And yes… tucked among the collection is a tahkli spindle. It has a metal shaft and bead whorl. It is gorgeous and mysterious. It still whispers, “You’ll learn me someday.”
One day, little spindle. One day.
The Spindles I Reach for Most
Like many spinners, I have favourites that become old friends.
My Ashford Pair
A tiny light Ashford that spins like a dragonfly’s wing.
A larger Ashford that once met the wrong end of a dog’s teeth. A little tape, a lot of forgiveness, and she still spins beautifully.
My Beloved Unknown-Maker Spindle
Purchased somewhere near Owen Sound, this dark wooden beauty is my go-to for plying. The tip is finely crafted, the spin steady and long. She feels like poetry in the hand.
The Celtic Spindle
3D-printed, light, with a triskele design that feels rooted in ancient story. It spins like a dream—modern meets myth.
Moose-Mark Spindles
A pair from the Almonte Fiber Festival, each with a tiny moose on the underside. They’re balanced, strong, and perfect for plying.
My New Support Spindle
A recent adventure. Metal tip, beautifully made, still leaving me humble and hopeful. Support spindle spinning is on my “learn this well” list for 2026.
And then… the Turkish Treasure
This one is pure joy.
Made by Helen—whose motto is “Sawdust is my glitter.” Smooth, elegant, satisfying in the hands, and spinning as gracefully as a leaf falling through still air.
What I Spin With These Tools
A spindle is only half the story. The fiber tells the rest.
Right now in my basket:
A golden BFL dyed with Wilton’s food coloring
A soft pink Merino blend from last Distaff Day
A deep botanical-dyed BFL (onion skins + avocado = magic)
My Shetland mittens—white for one pair, and a beautifully varied Shropshire fiber for another
A cheerful pink hand-dyed skein working its way into a Heel Toe Do-Si-Do sock
And yes, sometimes my colors clash with my shirt. That’s part of the charm.
Where Wheel and Spindle Meet
You already know I spin my sweater yarn on the wheel. But what about the mittens, scarves, hats, and the bits that feel more intimate and slow? Those come from the spindle.
There’s something grounding about holding a tool that fits in the palm of your hand. You feel the twist travel through your fingers. You realize you are the engine.
Slow, steady, soulful.
A Peek Behind the Scenes
If you’ve watched my Spindlemas videos, you’ve probably seen:
The lavender vase beside my spindles
The Folgers tub blocking the cat from pressing random printer buttons
My plastic bowl full of tools—scissors, needles, bits and bobs every crafter keeps nearby
This is real life, Grannie-Core at its finest: cozy, functional, imperfect, and full of love.
A Question for You
What is your favourite sheep breed to spin or knit with? Mine, so far, is Shetland—lofty, springy, forgiving, and perfect for the slow-living rhythm I crave.
Tell me yours in the comments so we can start a lively woolly conversation.
A Closing Thought for Advent
Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, lighting Advent candles, or simply leaning into the hush of winter…
Let’s prepare our hearts for a world that is gentler, kinder, more hopeful.
Handwork teaches us that small things—twists of fiber, quiet moments, patient stitches—add up to something much bigger than we imagined.
From my home to yours, this is Grannie Doll living the 100-Mile Life.
Like, subscribe, share if this warmed your heart—and remember:
Week One: Fear of Change Theme Scripture: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” — Luke 1:30 When God interrupts our lives, it can feel unsettling. Yet, within every divine disruption lies the seed of something holy. This week, we’ll walk with Mary as she learns to trust God through unexpected change.
Day 1 — When God Steps Into the Ordinary Scripture: Luke 1:26–29 Reflection: Mary’s story began on an ordinary day in Nazareth. Then Gabriel appeared, and the world changed. God often enters our everyday moments with quiet surprise — a whisper, a nudge, a turn in the path. Change can feel like loss, but sometimes it’s God’s invitation to a larger story. Practice: Light a candle and pray, “Lord, make me ready to notice Your presence in my ordinary day.”
Day 2 — Holy Interruptions Scripture: Luke 1:30–31 Reflection: Mary’s plans for marriage, home, and family were suddenly interrupted. Divine interruptions rarely come at convenient times. Yet what feels like disruption may be grace in disguise. Practice: Write one interruption you’ve faced this week and ask, “What if this, too, holds God’s purpose?”
A simple, sweet-savory winter side dish made with local goodness.
There are certain vegetables we grow into over time, aren’t there?
I grew up eating boiled cabbage, and let me tell you — I did not enjoy it one bit. Limp, pale, and overcooked…it left an impression.
But cabbage, when treated with a little more love, is a different thing entirely.
Add apples. Add the warm sweetness of maple. Add a skillet instead of a pot. Suddenly this humble winter vegetable becomes something comforting, fragrant, and downright delicious.
Cabbage is one of those gorgeous, versatile staples that carries us through the colder months — a true winter workhorse. Packed with nutrients, easy to store, and budget-friendly, it fits beautifully into a frugal, local, slow-living kitchen.
This simple dish brings out everything cabbage can be: tender, flavourful, slightly sweet, and deeply cozy.
🥬 Ingredients
1 small green cabbage, thinly sliced 1 large apple (local if you can), thinly sliced 1 medium onion, sliced 2 tbsp butter or local oil 1–2 tbsp maple syrup 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar Salt and pepper to taste Optional: pinch of caraway seeds or thyme
🔥 Instructions
Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in the sliced cabbage and cook until it begins to wilt, about 5 minutes. Add apple slices, maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar. Stir well. Continue cooking 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is tender and apples are soft. Season with salt, pepper, and herbs if using.
Serve alongside roasted meats, sausages, perogies, skillet dinners, or even with a simple baked potato.
🍏 A Note From My Kitchen
I grew up avoiding cabbage — it was always boiled and bland.
Cooking it this way, with apples and maple, feels like redemption for a childhood vegetable I never quite warmed up to.
Now it’s one of my favourite winter sides. Funny how that happens.
How do you enjoy this winter vegetable?
Do you have a childhood cabbage memory too — good or bad? Tell me in the comments!
🍁 100-Mile Life Notes
Cabbage is a winter staple that stores beautifully in a cold room or fridge. Apples, onions, and maple syrup are easy to source locally all year in many regions. This dish is frugal, nourishing, and firmly rooted in seasonal local eating.
If you make this recipe, tag me at #DollCanCreate — I love seeing your cozy kitchen creations.
And if you’re exploring your own 100-Mile Life journey, this is a beautiful place to begin.
DollCanCreate • Grannie-Core Living • Slow Wool • 100-Mile Life
Hello, dear friends — and happy December.
There is something sacred about turning the calendar to the final month of the year. The air feels softer and quieter. It is as if the world itself is settling under a quilt of frost. It whispers, “Slow down now. You’ve made it this far.”
This season, I’m choosing to start not with hustle, but with gentleness.
Not with rushing, but with roots.
Not with a to-do list, but with a warm mug between my hands.
Let’s step into December together the Grannie-Core way: slowly, creatively, and with gratitude.
🧶 This Week in the Wool Basket
Spindle spinning has become my Advent practice this year — a tiny daily rhythm that invites stillness.
I’m working with local DK wool (you know my heart!) and letting the colours of early winter guide me:
soft rose, lilac, winter sky blue, fawn, and natural white.
Current Projects:
Knitting mittens (warm hands, warm heart) Spindling a little each day — #SlowSpinAlong continues in my heart, a cozy shawl for these short December days Small handmade gifts… the quiet work of love
If you need a gentle pause today, pick up whatever is on your needles and breathe slowly.
You don’t have to finish it.
Just start.
🌾 100 Mile Life Notes
December can be overwhelming, but the 100-Mile Life keeps me grounded.
This week I’m sourcing:
Local eggs Winter vegetables from a nearby farm Dairy from 30 minutes away Fresh bread from our neighbourhood bakery
Little choices woven together make a life that feels like home.
If you’re walking this journey with me, here’s your reminder:
It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just intentional.
One local choice at a time.
☕ In the Cozy Kitchen
Winter kitchen rhythms are my favourite. This week I’m making:
A simple carrot–leek bisque A pot of cinnamon-apple oats Freshly roasted root vegetables A pan of quick-bread cinnamon buns (Grannie-Core approved)
There’s something grounding about stirring a pot while snow taps at the window.
🕯 Gentle Advent Reflection
December 1 often lands near the start of Advent. This is the season of waiting and watching. It involves breathing hope into the world again.
The question I’m sitting with today:
Where is peace trying to find me?
Not where I should feel peaceful…
but where peace is already brushing up against my day:
the quiet corner of the couch,
the soft knitting in my hands,
the laughter of family,
the steady rhythm of prayer.
Let’s carry that with us as the month unfolds.
📹 Coming up on YouTube
This week on DollCanCreate:
Vlogmas/Spindlemas Day 1 — a gentle start, spindle spinning + cozy homemaking Handmade Peace: a quiet reflection on slowing down in December A local-living kitchen video
Make sure your tea is ready — December is going to be beautifully slow.
🎄 A Simple December Invitation
Before you dive into the bustle, ask yourself:
What do I want December to feel like?
Then choose one small habit that supports that feeling.
A five-minute tidy.
A cup of tea before screens.
A few rows of knitting before bed.
A blessing whispered over your day.
Small is enough.
Small is holy.
💌 From My Heart to Yours
Thank you for being here — for reading, crafting, spinning, praying, and living gently alongside me.
May your December begin with softness,
a warm shawl around your shoulders,
and the steady reassurance that
slow living is not falling behind — it’s catching up with your soul.
A cozy morning treat made with love, butter, and a little nostalgia
A Grannie Core Recipe
There are mornings when the kitchen feels like a refuge. The light comes softly through the curtains. The kettle hums. The world slows down just long enough to smell like cinnamon and butter. That’s the heart of GrannieCore. It involves simple comforts, humble ingredients, and the joy of making something warm with your own two hands.
These quick bread cinnamon buns don’t ask for much — no yeast, no waiting, no fuss. Just a bowl, a spoon, and a quiet moment before the day begins.
They come together in less than an hour. However, the memory they create will linger far longer. Imagine the smell of cinnamon filling the house. Feel the buttery sweetness on your fingertips. Hear the sound of a loved one saying, “These taste like home.”
✨ Ingredients
For the dough
2 cups locally milled flour (all-purpose or a blend with stone-ground whole wheat)
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
¾ cup local milk or buttermilk
¼ cup melted farm butter (plus extra for brushing)
1 tsp vanilla extract
For the filling
¼ cup melted butter
½ cup brown sugar + 1 tbsp local honey or maple syrup
1½ tsp cinnamon
Optional: ¼ cup finely chopped apples, walnuts, or raisins
For the glaze
2 tbsp melted butter
1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
¼ tsp cinnamon
🕰️ Directions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease an 8-inch round or square baking dish with butter.
Make the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in milk, melted butter, and vanilla until a soft dough forms.
Knead gently 4–5 times on a floured surface until smooth.
Roll out the dough into a rectangle (about 12×8 inches).
Spread the filling: Brush with melted butter, then sprinkle the brown sugar mixture evenly over top. Add apples or nuts if using.
Roll up tightly from the long side and slice into 1-inch pieces.
Arrange the rolls in your buttered pan, leaving a little space between each one. Brush the tops with a bit more butter.
Bake for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown and fragrant.
Glaze: While warm, drizzle with the honey-butter glaze or a simple icing made from powdered sugar and milk whisked in a teacup.
🌸 GrannieCore Serving Ideas
Serve on a vintage plate or enamel pan, lined with a crocheted doily.
Pair with a pot of tea or freshly brewed coffee in your favorite mug.
Wrap a few buns in parchment, tie with twine, and tuck in a sprig of rosemary for gifting.
Keep one on the counter for yourself. GrannieCore is as much about nurturing you as it is about others.
💭 A Note from the Kitchen
This morning, I used flour from a 100 mile mill and honey from our local apiary. The dough came together quickly, and the house filled with that familiar scent that seems to whisper, “All is well.”
That’s the heart of GrannieCore — not perfection, but presence. Not fancy, but faithful. The gentle rhythm of stirring, rolling, and baking your love right into the day.
🪶 Closing Thought
If you make these buns, take a photo before they disappear. Tag it #GrannieCoreBaking or #DollCanCreate. I’d love to see your cozy kitchens and cinnamon-swirled smiles.
Let’s keep these simple, handmade moments alive — one bun, one morning, one act of love at a time.
