don't be cranky...

It's that time again. A new month and a new desktop calendar. And since tomorrow is October 1, hopefully some more new coming...

ace of cupcakes

Lately I've become addicted to the show Ace of Cakes. The cakes that Duff and crew make are, of course, amazing. But the interactions between everyone that works at Charm City Cakes is really my favorite. (Plus I think I may have a crush on Geoff...)

The thing is, watching all this cake making has made me want to bake and decorate more than I do. While considering ways to make this happen, I made these cupcakes. They are just regular yellow cake mix, which I added a bit of cinnamon into. Then once they were poured into the cupcake pan, or in this case, silicon liners on a sheet pan, I dropped slices of apple from a can of apple pie filling. Nothing fancy, but very yummm.

This was my first time using silicon liners (the silicon pans make me nervous, all floppy like), and I liked them. But bless my mom's heart for washing them. Not so easy, I'm told. Anyway, I will give them another try soon, because they worked well and came out easily. The final word will come after I've tried cleaning them myself.

As for more cake making, I'm still pondering...

to do...

1) Finish stitching up the new embroidery pattern. (the cookie outlines are done, but still need details and their plate)

2) Upload picture of yummy cupcakes.

3) Complete new Harvesters printable files for a Thanksgiving kit and stationery. (nearly there)

4) Decide best way to build email list to update folks about news and specials in the shop.

5) Wait excitedly for new aviator bunny pattern to come in the mail from Wee Wonderfuls. (she's only a few towns away, but the mail routes further away before finding its way here)

6) Get started on stitching coasters and napkins for Thanksgiving. (because 12 coaster and 12 napkins could take a while)

7) Figure out if this is possible to do before October 1 (wait, that's Wednesday!)

blending in...

Here's where I reveal my often cruel sense of humor. Some time ago, I discovered a website that gave me, and many others, a good laugh. Actually, I was sure that I had shared it here, but a quick search didn't turn it up. So it's time you were privy to this source of sometimes downright mean hilarity.

Dean and Nigel Blend In is the website of two blokes who use props, facial expressions and creativity to mimic people on the streets. And then they take pictures. And then they add captions. Yes, this is not always kind, but it is funny. Especially because they are just so good at it. They've recently updated their website to include a new look, new pictures, and new features (like adding your own blending in photos, or creating captions for theirs!).

Now, please forgive me for enjoying poking fun at someone...

sew up the turkey...

I really can't handle touching raw meat of any kind. It just freaks me out. So when Thanksgiving time rolls around and Martha Stewart shows you how to sew up the back end of a turkey before cooking, I pretty much have to turn away. Yes, I know I'm a little crazy.

But sewing up a Tired Turkey embroidery? That I can do! Tiffany suggested that I make the Harvesters into an embroidery pattern, and I figured that I would end up stitching at least a few of them myself, so...I went to town!

And I'll be busy with these for a while, because my mom saw the pattern and decided that I need to make Harvester napkins for Thanksgiving. And I really think they would make cute coasters, and maybe even hot pads. Plus I saw a very cute embroidered bookmark on Flickr, and I think that I'll need to make a Determined Acorn for me and a Fallen Leaf for my sister. I better go get stitching!.

the second day of fall...

When I was getting ready to graduate from college, it wasn't a big deal to me. I didn't want a party, I didn't go to graduation. It just didn't matter. Until right my last day or two of school. And then I started to feel sad that I had let it go without recognizing it. My mom wisely picked up on my regret and put together a small but sweet gathering.



Yesterday was the first day of my favorite season. I had decided to let it go, in favor of working on new things for Christmas. After all, that's the big upcoming holiday, and I want to be ready. But then I began to feel sad that I had not really created anything for the shop (or even just for fun) that would honor this excellent time of year. I mean, the weather is lovely, the colors are perfect, plus you get Halloween and Thanksgiving! My mom wisely picked on my regret and suggested that there was still plenty of time to get something together.

So I got to work, and came up with 12 illustration doodles (I cheated and used one from the calendar already made), and I love them all. I hope you will too. They are: Preoccupied Pumpkin, Yakkity Yam, Capricious Corn, Admirable Apple, Unwavering Cranberries, Prudent Pumpkin Pie, Tired Turkey, Sentimental Mashed Potatoes, Sad Sunflower, Determined Acorn, Fallen Leaf, and Sympathetic Scarecrow. The Harvesters. They are already recipe cards, and may just end up as other things as well.

Happy Harvest!

when your work space doesn't have a door...

...you often find nasty surprises like this. A bent metal knitting needle and a favorite bamboo knitting needle that went in the pencil sharpener. (Forgive the bad picture!)



...you often find adorable surprises like this. Little people and an airplane lovingly placed inside your craft cupboard. They've been there a few days, but I can't bring myself to remove them!

done and done...

Projects finishing up. Above, a onesie that I've waited months to finish and give. Actually, it worked out that I didn't finish it until recently. The embroidery was all done, but it needed to be stitched onto the shirt. Well, I'm glad I waited, because by the time I was able to see little Lydia, I needed a bigger shirt!

Below, a detail of the family tree I made for my parents' anniversary. Watercolor like this isn't really something that I do, but I thought I'd give it a shot. Parts of it I like (such as the trunk with my parents' names "carved"), parts of it could use some work (the willow leaves weren't working, so I went much more impressionistic than I planned). I still had fun making it. And because all six of us are still just us without spouses (not surprising for the 3-year-old, more so for the 28-year-old), I opted to make this very non-traditional (but with room to add in names to go with those of us already there).

arrr, avast, yo ho, etc...

Every year I be determined not to miss it, and every year I do. But, shiver me timbers! Not today! Sure, I would have like to have remembered (or been reminded) earlier, but at least I have a few more hours to celebrate. What be I talking about? Why, International Talk Like a Pirate Day!



In honor of this day not meant for land lubbers, I bring you first, a picture from last year of a Pirate Peanut I made. Next be a book series recommendation, because if you like anything having to do with pirates, you must read Gideon Defoe's "The Pirates!" Hilarious stuff, that. I will say, I don't be recommendin it for the youngins...I'd be ratin it PG13.

Now, walk the plank...

embroidered quilts...

My sister and I stopped by a favorite resale shop today. I found some Converse for $8. Which I didn't get. We saw some really ugly stuff. Which we didn't get. And I found a fantastic embroidered quilt. Which I didn't get. (It was $200, after all.)

The quilt was likely 100-ish years old. The embroidery was all diamond-turned squares, each with a type of flower. When I first looked at it, the flowers looked similar. But I did notice, what? Initials by each flower? No...abbreviations. For each of the 50 states in our union. Wow. The stitches were not all perfect, but so very delicate. I really wish I had had a camera with me. Or $200.

This got me thinking though, because, first, I have a bunch of bird embroidery patterns from Martha Stewart. Birds aren't really my thing (I hate the real deal), but stitched into a quilt I could handle. And I love red work, but what if I changed it up and did them in a nice Martha Stewart blue? Or a mossy green? I like this idea.

the start of things to come...

My posts always feel so short, especially compared to some of the blogs I enjoy so much, but alas, my attention span is about as short as these posts. Here's a peek at the pencil stage of the new embroidery I'm working on. This plate of 12 cookies is for Santa, and the 12 varieties will most likely end up actually baked for Christmas. The pattern will be available in the shop, as well as recipe cards featuring these tasty treats.



In other super secret pencil stages, I'm working on making a family tree painting for my parents' anniversary. The only thing is, it needs to be done for Thursday. I best get going!

And because I must secretly like going crazy with things all at once, in addition to the "real work" I have going, I need to come up with a lovely little gift for my cousin's little girl's first birthday, and finish up a new baby gift...by Saturday.

what Ike resulted in...

I promise, I will no longer complain when our house floods. When we flood, we all take turns in one area of the house, vacuuming a steady stream of water that is generally controllable if we stay on top of it. When a friend of ours' house flooded, the front yard and street was knee deep in water.



And so, the Ike residue we got wasn't so bad. Plus, the cold front and stress inspired me to make cookies. These are Cowboy Cookies that I've been wanting to try for a while. They have oatmeal, chocolate chips, golden raisins and coconut in them. Very nice. And I think that if I removed the chocolate chips, and make the golden raisins regular raisins, they just might be perfect oatmeal raisin cookies. Will definitely have to try that...

save it for a rainy day...

Rain continues to fall, and it would be a great day to do some stitching. Alas, the family is still taking shifts bailing water here. But that doesn't mean that you can do some stitching! Just be sure to think of me when you embroider Aarain! He's the first Fair Weather Friend pattern, and Sunia, Windie, and Snowby will find their way in time. Just click on the image to download the JPG pattern.

you know it's going to be a rough day when...

...you wake up and the only sounds you hear are pouring rain and a shop-vac sucking up the water that is in the house. But that doesn't prepare you for the thought of unjamming a laser printer with a tweezer. And it's not even noon.

she knows me so well...

It's amazing. My mom knows me better than is probably sane. Like the other day when I walked into the room, and instantly she knew that I had something on my mind. And here I thought I was concealing it. Anyway, there are times that this can be disconcerting, but then there are times when it works out so, so well. Like when my mom found this book for me that is beyond perfect.

All Year Round is filled with all kinds of crafts and activities for, yes, all year round. A hare to knit. Pinecone gnomes. Snowflake stars. Valentine bird biscuits. And it all has the classic, sweet feeling of the items that Hearthsong sells. Wonderful. I'm' sure my mom knew that I would want to make and do everything in the book.



As a side note, here's a quick shot of my sister exploring the shelves in my office. She didn't do much harm, but wait until I show you a picture of what some brothers of mine did to knitting needles...

new...

Ahh...new supplies. I picked up this fabric and new colors of thread today and now just can't wait to start stitching. There's something so exciting about choosing colors of floss. I sat right down in the aisle as I made my decisions. The girl who worked at JoAnn's must have thought I was crazy. Perhaps I am.

These are for the Christmas designs that I've been working on. (Think cookies!) And I've found a perfect double use for this: Christmas gift for my mom, and LOTS of time embroidering for me! Does it get any better? I can't wait to show some sneak peeks, but that will have to wait a bit.



And fairly newly finished are the Cinema Snackers in embroidery form. They are on sale in the shop!

dull pencil toppers...

So, a third of the month is gone, and I've finally gotten around to getting this month's printable done. Anyway, you know you'll want all of your pencils to be sporting these fantastic printable pencil toppers. Download the file and you'll get five pencil toppers to print out: Dull Pencil (seen above), and four phrase pencils, "This is Dull" (perfect for using in meetings), "Stay Sharp", "Never #2", and "I'm a Pen" (Hey, there's no reason for the old ballpoint to feel left out...)

Enjoy!

i just have to say...

I don't like the fall weather. Fall is wonderful. It may even be my favorite season. But I'm not ready to let go of summer yet. You know, because my declaring this will change the weather...

once upon a time...

...I had a favorite recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies.

It is gone, and I have searched just about everywhere in the cookbook collection. And online. I don't remember too much about it, except that it used applesauce in place of half of the butter. But it did have butter, because I also remember cutting the butter into the applesauce with a pastry blender. But that's it.

So now I've been trying to find a new favorite oatmeal raisin cookie recipe. I found a lovely vegan version, which is good, and I like it as its own thing, but not as a traditional oatmeal raisin cookie. Today I tried this recipe from Quaker Oats. It's good, and I'll keep it. But I'm still hunting. Any suggestions?

baking cookies...

It's a cold, rainy day today. The perfect day for spending in the kitchen, baking all kinds of goodies. Bread, cake, cookies. Instead, I've been making cookies on my computer. This is a glimpse at some illustrations in the works. Around the edges you may spot some more Christmas-y treats. I feel more than a little behind when it comes to things for illustration doodles and items for Christmas, but the cool weather was just the thing I needed to get things going. After all, according to Christmas-Cookies.com, there are only 112 days until Christmas. Now, on to more "baking".

cinema snackers in a stitch...

Maybe I'm crazy, but I really like the Cinema Snackers. Petrified Popcorn. Gritty Gumdrops. Stuck-up Soda. Personality traits or what happens when you're found on a movie theater floor? You decide. But these theater treats just don't get the love that I feel they deserve (is that being full of myself?), so I've started stitching them to give them a new way to show off their wonderfulness (I'm really only thinking of them...).

One row of sprockets are finished, and I have one more to go, and then...these cuties will be displayed in all their cinematic glory.

serendipitous cake...

My very skinny sister isn't one for desserts. Perhaps why she's so skinny. But seriously, ever since she was young she hasn't favored sweets, especially chocolate. So when we discover a tasty treat that she likes, believe me, I hold on to the recipe. (It's part of my secret plan to fatten her up to normal size!)

Her birthday cake of choice lately has been a Pineapple Lei cake. The recipe is from Sweet Serendipity, the cookbook from the folks at Serendipity 3 in NYC. I've made a number of the sweets from the book, but this one has stuck out as a favorite. Making it in a pie plate instead of a pan is my addition and it works well. We just serve it up like pie and it is so yummy. And all gone.

a dull desktop...

September. It's funny how we often think of September as back to school, but most kids I know start school in August. And the supplies needed for school were likely purchased earlier than that, in July. But that means that by now, that first, freshly sharpened pencil has grown a little dull.

If your computer's desktop is looking for some freshening up, try making it dull with the September Dull Pencil desktop wallpaper.