A Chronicle of Procrastination

Saturday, September 19, 2009

February Lady

My February Lady Sweater is coming along!!! Looks like I'm still on
track for enjoying it this fall :)

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Been a while...

I've definitely been neglecting this blog! Our life has been full of home renovations lately, including those that have rendered my craft area unusable. I am going to try to get to those "She's All That" cards like I promised, especially because I need one for a baby shower this weekend!

However, my knitting guru, Laura P., was in town this weekend, so I thought it would be an opportune time to cast on my February Lady Sweater. I am using Brooks Farm Solana that I purchased last May at MDSW. It's difficult to describe how much I love this yarn and how lovely it's knitting up. Just scrumptious!!! I'm trying to get this finished by the end of the month so I can wear it as the weather cools off.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Ice Cream Sandwiches

This past Sunday, I really had an itch to try out a new cookie recipe. What I did not have an itch for, was going to the grocery store. So, I raided my box of baking goodies, and came out with a bag of Andes Candies baking pieces. I also had cocoa powder on hand, so I tried to find a recipe for chocolate cookies that would ultimately lead to chocolately-minty goodness. Thankfully, I came across this recipe.

They came out so nice and flat, that I immediately thought they would make the perfect outer components to an ice cream sandwich. I love it when I'm right.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

I Have a Problem

Hi. My name is BigR, and I am a rubber stamp-o-holic.

Yikes! After several weeks of procrastinating, I finally got our office/craft room organized this weekend. It was a task that involved a big mess and a lot of filing, so I had been putting it off by claiming that other areas of the house were much higher priorities. However, this weekend, I really didn't want to go in to work, so organizing the office became a much higher priority. Obviously. (You will start to note that this post is a true Chronicle of Procrastination.)

In the midst of organizing, I started to notice how many Stampin' Up rubber stamp sets I have that have been neither used or mounted! I lost track of how many sets that actually was. I am happy to say that all of my stamps are now ready for immediate use, as I got all of the newbies mounted while watching season 4 of Weeds.

It's been difficult to make going to work after hours a priority, when I have such an urgent need for thank you, birthday, and graduation cards. For that reason, I spent a few hours last night getting reacquainted with my paper supplies and making the following cards:

Since I realized how many stamps I have that I never actually use, I've decided to challenge myself to use all of them. I think this will reintroduce me to what I have already purchased, and get my creative juices flowing for Christmas card design. Stay tuned for the results from my first personal challenge, Stampin' Up! set "She's All That."

Alright. Back to work. Really.

Tiramasu Cupcakes

I'm not sure I can really describe how thrilled I have been with Martha's new cupcake book. I'm so anxious to try every recipe in there!

This past weekend, we were guests at our friends' Italian feast. This was an opportunity to try out a new recipe from the cookbook. I decided to take a stab at Martha's Tiramsu Cupcakes.
The cake part was a dense sponge cake, which to me, sort of seems like an oxymoron. Since the cupcakes are drenched with a syrup made of espresso and Marsala, the cupcakes need to be able to stand up to a bunch of liquid. However, for me, the balance wasn't quite right and I think they need a bit more liquid to more closely resemble tiramsu.
The icing was scrumptious! Whipped cream, marscarpone, and powdered sugar. No problems there at all.

Overall, I think the cupcakes were enjoyed, and I'll try this recipe again.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Course 3 Graduation

After a total of 12 cake decorating sessions at Michaels (Courses 1, 2, and 3 combined), I think I can honestly call myself a cake decorator. I'm sure this falls in the novice to amateur category. The best thing about getting to Course 3 was realizing how easy fondant is to do, and what a finished look you give your cakes.


Here is my final cake from last night. I think it turned out pretty cute, and it sort of looks like a festive Fourth of July hat. The cake is currently sitting on my desk at work until I'm satisfied with the number of compliments I've received. Then I'll take it to the break room so my colleagues can devour it.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Harry Potter Cupcakes!

We had a marathon showing of all the Harry Potter films at our house
this weekend. These cupcakes (chocolate malt cupcakes from MSC) were
tasty, but the Gryffindor vs Slytherin color scheme ended up being a
little Easterish... Tasty though.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

I Heart Royal Icing

This week was the third lesson in Wilton Course 3. The entire class was flowers, mostly using royal icing and the lily nail. I'm already a big fan of royal icing. It doesn't taste great, but you can do beautiful flowers that you can take to the grave with you. One could probably make all the royal icing flowers needed for life in a weekend (that is if your hands don't cramp out on you!). In class, we learned the poinsettia (pink), petunia (yellow), morning glory (blue and white), and the Easter lilly (white). These may be making an appearence on my final cake for next week...
We also learned how to do a fondant rose. I can't say that my first attempt at the fondant rose was really outstanding, but I have no pictures to show because the ones I made in class fell on the way home. (Don't feel bad, it was for their own good.) I'm hoping to practice some more of those this week and possibly include them on my final cake.



Monday, June 15, 2009

The Return of Cake Class

Tonight, Laura D. and I are officially halfway through Wilton Course 3 at Michaels. Last week we learned some additional buttercream techniques like lacy fill-ins and the ruffle border (not really a fan).

Tonight, we entered the world of fondant. I love it. Love it, love it, love it. I'm so impressed with the finished look the cake gets. Maybe if I were better at icing with buttercream, I would feel differently, but, fondant is awesome! I was feeling a little cheap this week, so instead of buying the premade fondant at Michaels, I used a recipe for homemade marshamllow fondant.
Here is the square cake, freshly covered with fondant:
The beginnings of the bow....

Finished product!!! (My bow wasn't finished, so there is paper towel in it to help it keep it's shape.) The rest of the cake is decorated with cut-out fondant dots and flowers.
Here is Laura's cake....she made a really pretty Carolina blue cake with dots and a white bow. Pretty!!!

Monday, June 8, 2009

Snickerdoodle Cupcake

Last Thursday, I got my brand, spankin' new copy of Martha Stewart's Cupcakes! Although I was pressed for time yesterday, I really wanted to try out one of the recipes. I went for the one that I had the most ingredients for, but didn't involve messing around with chocolate. So I tried the Snickerdoodle Cupcakes, which are topped with Seven Minute Frosting and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.

When I made my Seven Minute Frosting, I was hoping to make it in a way that would completely cook the egg whites. In Seven Minute Frosting, you boil sugar, water, and some corn syrup to 230 degrees, and then pour it slowly into heavily beaten egg whites, and let it beat for.....yes, seven minutes. According to some egg association website, adding the boiling liquid to the eggs only brings the temperature up to about 120 degrees--not a completely safe temperature for all populations. So, if you want to get your eggs to 150-160 degrees before using them for frosting, you can cook the eggs in a double-boiler (I use my Kitchen Aid mixer bowl over a pan of water) while whisking them. I learned (the hard way), that the way to keep egg whites from becoming scrambled eggs over simmering hot water is to add some of the sugar from the recipe. Oops. Now I know for next time.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Miscellanea

Sometimes I feel a bit unaccomplished when I post knitting projects that aren't finished, but I figured it was time for a progress report nonetheless.

I recently cast on this Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. I'm using the two skeins of Socks that Rock mill ends that I purchased last month at MDSW. This stuff is a lot of fun to knit with, and I'm really liking how this is turning out. I think it will work with my mostly jewel-toned fall wardrobe.
My other knitting project is a pair of socks for my husband. I'm nearly finished with the first one (below). The k3p1 ribbing is getting a bit tiresome, which I why I had to go ahead and start the above scarf. I'm trying to make these socks the official knitting project of "Riding in the Car." I bought the yarn for these before I became a complete fiber snob, but I think they will still feel nice and be toasty warm for my hubby. I didn't even realize this yarn was self-striping when I bought it (Berocco Comfort Sock).
In the meantime, I've tried not to neglect my other favorite medium: paper. I made my friend Laura P. some thank you cards for her birthday utilizing my new Big Shot and some embossing plates. This card took about 5 minutes to make, and is one of my favorites, ever....

Sorry the pics in this post are so dark. My flash wasn't cooperating with me, and it turned out the details could be seen a bit better without it. Someday I will get that DSLR!
There should be more interesting posts to come. I'm really trying to ramp up the knitting right now. Also, Laura D. and I are taking Wilton Cake Decorating Course 3 this month, so surely there will be lots of posts just from that.
On a related note, I'm super excited for tomorrow's release of Martha Stewart's Cupcakes. Mine is pre-ordered from Barnes and Noble. I can't wait to try some new recipes this week!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival!

This blog post is several weeks late, but I wanted to put out the full report from my recent trip to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I met up with my friend Laura from Alexandria, and together we headed to the Howard County Fairgrounds for two days of fibery goodness. It's a good thing I was going with a previous festival attendee, or else I would have been completely lost. There's a lot to do and see, and you really need to know where to go.

We really sort of lucked out with the weather. On Saturday, it was threatening rain most of the day, which I think made the festival a little less crowded. When we got there around 2:00, we had no problems getting parking, walking around, or approaching the Koigu mill ends! Sunday was nasty and rainy, which wasn't a whole lot of fun, but again I think cut down on the crowds. All in all, it was a really fun festival and I have already started saving for next year!

Here's one of the furry guys that we met in the barns.

This was a picture of some sheep butt at a showing. Actually, a lot of sheep butt.
One of the highlights of the festival is appreciating the animal and what it can provide not only in fiber, but in sustenance. We did enjoy lamb sausage with peppers and onions (and it was from Gettysburg, too!).
Below are Saturday's purchases. From left to right: three skeins of Brooks Farm Solana for a February Lady Sweater, two skeins of Dancing Leaf Farms Bee Bop for some fingerless mitts, two skeins of Claudia handpainted for socks, one skein of dark blue for socks, the orange guy is more sock yarn (will update when I remember what they are), and four Koigu mill ends (each of which should be enough for a pair of baby booties).
Of course, I went back for more on Sunday. From left to right: Carolina blue Zen fiber arts sock yarn for some NCAA tourney sock knitting, Brooks Farm DK weight, most likely for baby hats or a baby sweater, two skeins of Socks that Rock mill ends that are currently being knitted into a Chevron scarf, two skeins of brown Socks that Rock for my husband's next pair of socks, and finally, one skein of Socks that Rock Silkie that will be a lovely Lace Ribbon Scarf for me!
After all this, I decided I needed a ball winder. I ordered one from Knitpicks. Let's just say that without a swift, the yarn winding has led to special quality time with my husband. I think he's ready to buy me a swift now ;0








Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Catching Up

Well, it's been a while since my last post. Work has been busy, we've been visiting with family, and life has just been kind of tiring lately!

We stayed in town for Easter again this year, and once again my husband and I did the Martha Stewart Silk Tie Eggs. I tried to be prepared this year, and instead of using ties straight out of the closet, I picked a few up at the PTA Thrift store for $1 each. Not bad. If you haven't tried this craft before, it really is a lot of fun.

We had dinner at Ben and Jason's again this year. I insisted on brining dessert so I could make myself practice the cake decorating skills. I used Martha's recipe for Meyer Lemon Anniversary Cake. Clearly, it was not tiered, but it was soaked with lemon simple syrup and was filled with homemade lemon curd. The frosting is Swiss meringue buttercream, which apparently doesn't take coloring very well. What was supposed to be buttercup ended up being peach....oh well. The bunny is in color flow, and was a generous gift from Laura D. The daisies are in royal icing.

A notable element of Easter dinner was the striking table decor. I'm not really sure where Ben found the time (or patience!) to weave yards upon yards of brightly colored ribbon on the table. I was flabbergasted. I will definitely be stealing this idea at some point.

My most recent cake was a birthday cake for my mother-in-law who happened to be in town visiting on her birthday, although we waited until the weekend to celebrate with cake. I had purchased teal icing color from Michael's and I was anxious to try it. I made a bunch of purple daisies a while back, so I wanted them to really contrast on the icing color. I basket-weaved around the sides as well. My penmenship needs some work, but other than that, I was pleased with how it came out.






Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Socks: Check!

Well, my first pair of socks is officially done! The sewn bind off is
definitely the way to go for these guys! Jay's socks are next...

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Graduation Day

Today was the final class of Wilton Course II at Michael's. After 8 weeks of guidance from our instructor, I think that Laura D. and I can safely say that we are accomplished cake decorators. We're going to take a one month sabbatical before we go for Course III in May.

Here's Laura's lovely cake with juniper green basketweave, daisies, daffodils, and apple blossoms.

Here's my cake with white basketweave with mostly the same flowers, plus some pansies. I LOVED how the pansies came out. I'm thinking about doing some Gettysburg-themed orange and blue ones for something. Laura and I both decided that the 6" round is a good idea when doing basketweave...any more cake than that, and it's way too much energy!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Cake Recap

Well, I've been so enthralled with the concept of mobile blogging, I've convinced myself that taking pictures of my sock with my iPhone and posting it counts as a blog post. Not really. I realized that I haven't put up pictures from Wilton cake decorating since February, so here's what I have been up to in the medium of sugar and shortening.

Even though this isn't my work, I wanted to point out the AWESOME birthday cake that Laura D. made for me! Not only was a beautiful on the outside, it was filled with LOADS of peanut buttery goodness on the inside!

We had just learned drop flowers, so I decided to practice on some mini cupcakes that I baked for book club one weekend.

The grand finale of Wilton Course I at Michael's was learning how to do the rose. Apparently, there's a steep learning curve for this (at least for me!). I haven't had much chance to practice lately. Here's my cake with purple roses on top, and some sweet peas on the side: Here's Laura D.'s cake with pink roses:
At the first class of Course II, we learned a couple new things in buttercream, including the rose bud. I definitely didn't feel inspired to whip out a rose, so I "practiced" a lot of rosebuds on my cake. My work enjoyed eating it!
Aside from adventures in mini cupcakes, I felt like I haven't had any time recently to practice these new skills. My friend is participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer this spring, and their team was having a big yard sale/bake sale today, so I decided I could contribute some goodies while practicing the new royal icing flowers I have learned.
Here's the pink ribbon cake I made. The rose buds and drop flowers (on the side) are done in royal icing. This was a cute little 6-incher! What a great size! I used the Joy of Cooking white cake recipe, and used Wilton colors to die the inside pink, too!


I also needed to get some apple blossoms and primroses ready for my final cake next week, so I did some cupcakes and decorated the tops with some extras.





















Saturday, March 14, 2009

First sock almost finished!

I'm very proud of myself, as I have nearly completed the first sock of
my first pair of socks! I just have a little bit of the ribbing to do
at the top, but overall, I'm very pleased with how they came out. Now
I just need to make another one....

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Yay for socks!

Here's a little more progress on my sock! The foot is finished, and
I'm starting the heel!

Saturday, February 28, 2009

First Sock!

I finally (with the help of Laura P.) cast on these socks for our
Crazy Monkey Knit-a-long. The toe is done and I'm moving onto the lace
pattern!