Current Project

I know I've been gone for a while but life has had a lot of changes in the last year. Hubby got a new job. We moved. I broke my leg. I'm still looking for full-time work. So yeah, A LOT has happened in only 8 months!!

Whew! I just get tired and overwhelmed thinking about it. That's where my creative side has been my sanctuary :) I'm still baking cupcakes (though not quite as often) but I've really been pouring myself into my knitting because let's face it, baking cupcakes was really challenging with a broken leg. The leg is fine now, but I've got knitting momentum and I'm just gonna "run" with it.

Right now, I'm working on this project...

... using this yarn!

More pictures to follow soon :)

By the way, I also have a graduation party coming up soon for which I've been asked to bake cupcakes, so of course I'll be posting pictures of them as well. Keep checking back!!

Cupcake Mishaps

This past weekend was a life manifestation of the quote "to make an omelet, sometimes you have to break a few eggs..."

This is what happens when marshmallows expand and melt right out of the cake batter

I call it eXpLoDiNg cUpCaKeS!

I'm not going to show you the picture of the inside of my oven. 
So glad for the self-cleaning feature.

I also learned that when you substitute caramel bits for toffee bits
(I'm allergic to almonds so toffee and I don't get along so well) but add the caramel bits too soon to the batter and then add fresh brewed coffee (instead of letting it chill to room temperature), that the caramel bits melt and the batter gets kinda watery and sticky.  In an effort to salvage the batter, I went ahead and baked up the cupcakes just to see what would happen.  2 rotations later (approx. 50 min.) the cupcakes looked beautiful IN the oven, but as soon as I took them OUT of the oven, they would collapse.

As Drew put it, they have a souffle complex.

My ever encouraging husband willingly taste-tested the collapsing souffle-like caramel coffee "cupcakes" and said it was delicious, even if they didn't look the way I wanted.  Note to self:  keep him!  :)

Luckily, I was able to break my losing streak with a home run
(sorry for the sports references):

Death by Oreo Cupcakes

An oreo cookie in the bottom of each cupcake, oreo bits mixed in with devil's food chocolate cake batter, finely chopped oreo crumbs mixed in with cream cheese flavored frosting, and a mini oreo topping.  I made these for a surprise bridal shower and they were a big hit, especially with the bride!  My efforts were redeemed :)

For the Love of Royalty

Ok, this just made me smile:



Patterns available in paperback or electronic download

Knit Your Own Royal Wedding by Fiona Goble

Now I really don't think I'll be taking the time to knit an entire royal wedding scene, but if someone else does then more power to you and I really want to know! :)  With pictures, please send me pictures!

And if someone out there wants to get really creative and make a video with your knitted royal wedding participants, go for it!  Don't forget to post it on YouTube, it might go viral.

Support Local Yarn Shops

So sorry for taking a whole 10 days off from blogging.  Life really got in the way, I had to travel 9 hours to Virginia for a family emergency, and well... I really just didn't want to blog about anything going on in my life at that time.  But now that I'm back, I can reflect on this positive experience!  During one of my breaks from hospital hiatus, I found this really great local yarn shop:  Coordinated Colors Yarn Shoppe

I picked out a couple hanks of yarn (there was so much to choose from) and the owner graciously wound them for me.  The store started out as an online-only business, so if I need to add to my supply at any point in the future, I can simply call/email in an order, and it will ship to me at no additional handling cost.  How fabulous is that?!  Here is the project I started during my long intervals of waiting:



Lion Brand Curtain Call Shrug, Pattern #60368A

The yarn I'm using is a lighter weight than what the pattern calls for; therefore, I made a gauge swatch, upped the needle size, made another gauge swatch, and hopefully this will work out.  Otherwise I'll either be frogging the whole thing or giving it as a gift to someone much smaller than me.  Either way, I needed something to keep me busy and help me feel productive.

Gotta Be There

I have to head out of town tomorrow morning for an undetermined amount of time.  At this point, definitely not longer than a week, and maybe only through Wednesday, but I'm really not sure.  So as much as I like to be organized and have everything planned out ahead of time, I'm not being afforded that luxury.  I have to pack in the worst way... just pick a bunch of articles of clothing that I like to wear often, have pieces that I can layer in case it's warm, cool, cold, rainy, sunny, etc. and make sure I have the essentials (shoes, undergarments, toiletries, and the like).

Not quite my suitcase, but really close

I'm taking the same approach with my knitting.  I might have quite the significant amount of down time, either passing the time at someone's house or growing affixed to a waiting room chair.  Either way, I will go crazy if I have to make small talk the entire time.  Enter in the sampling of my yarn stash, my circular knitting needle set, stitch markers, sewing needles, a crochet hook, and maybe a set of dpn just for good measure.  I'm not sure if I'll take any patterns with me or just wing it by falling back on some faithful favorites.



Yarn Stash Pic from Healing Hillary's Blog

I just know that in times past, my knitting has been my 2nd therapy, immediately following prayer and the study of God's Word.  I know my Lord is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  He has created everything and is completely sovereign to control all that is His.  Who am I?