Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes unadorned



Decorated cheesecake cupcake



Strawberry Cheesecake cupcakes book picture.

Cupcake #3 from Cupcakes Galore. I had a bit of difficulty making the frosting for these - I think it was because I didn't whip the whipping cream enough. My tip for this cupcake would be to only make a third of the frosting at a time. As the cupcakes are decorated when served and cream only lasts 3 days it's probably better to make it as needed.

I had just enough cake mix this time although I think I have about twice as much frosting as I need.

The knitting front is kinda slow at the moment - I'm busy making gauge squares for all the new yarn I've recently acquired. Jaywalkers have slowed as in Tuesday's SnB group I knitted past the start of the toe shaping by accident and have only been able to go backwards about 1 row before losing the will to live ...

Oh! and I got another fabby parcel from my secret pal. I will post pics later :)

Brownie Cupcakes

Above - the book pic.


Left-over frosting mix - about half - my tip: make half as much as the recipe states. Although the boy is very happy with the bowl of frosting in the fridge that he keeps nibbling at.


Arty sunshine shot


My latest Cupcakes Galore venture - Brownie Cupcakes for the boy's birthday. They are utterly delicious. They have a walnut caramel frosting, and instead of adding walnuts to the cake mixture, I added raspberries instead. mmmm-mmm!

Wednesday 12th July

Fun with the ball winder!

I concede defeat on the Knitty World Cup! This is as far as my Jaywalkers have come. What with my f-t job, SP8, Woolfest, Etsy and my upcoming stall ...
just too many commitments & not enough time!

And another SP gift!! It's a knitting mystery with beautifully handcrafted bookmark charm thing - that is a great idea I haven't seen before :) A police notebook in case anyone tries to steal my stash! And another fabby knitting-related card! I can see knitting related cards and postie cards becoming a collectible with me! Thank you so much SP! My apologies for not yet sending you a thank you email - its absolute chaos this end - my flat looks like a crafters studio has exploded - the poor boy! For anyone interested I'm having another stall at the Miso Funky Craft Fair this upcoming Saturday 15th July at Hillhead Library, Byres Road, Glasgow - 10am- 5pm.

As if I wasn't spoiled enough recently, what with Woolfest and Barcelana ... a yarn parcel arrived from my Secret Pal!! Containing this beautiful Kaalund Classic 2-ply in a stunning colourway! It came in a bag headed Norfolk Yarn, although it is Australian Yarn!

It came with a feather and fan pattern, which I love and seems to be THE pattern at my Stitch n Bitch group at the moment, however is also my nemisis! So I'm thinking of what to knit with it at the moment.

The postcard is too fab - it has knitters on it - I may start collecting postcards with knitters on them as I also got one [further down] from Heathrow about knitting in war.

I love it! Thank you so much Secret Pal - you have been a fab spoiler!

Better go back to the day job - have blogged my ass oft today.

The stash!

1000g pure wool variagated pale purple & browns £18 [!!]
2 x 100g skeins Colinette 5 point peach melba £10 [!]
3 x 50g balls of DK Socka & a DK sock pattern
Ball winder £23.00
2 x 100g Finnish merino sock yarn - machine washable £3 [!!] - to be Kool-Aid dyed
2 x 50g Regia sock yarn
Knitscene - Fall 2006
Knit-in sock elastic
2 giant buttons
iron-on paws to put on the soles of socks for Lilith
Pattern for gloves using sock yarn
... and that's me!

I will definately be going back next year! Fabulous!

My Sponsers

A big thank you to my sponsers for funding my Woolfest experience:
My mum for £30 birthday money
My Granny for £20 birthday money
The boy for hiding the cutest alpaca card under my dinner plate that I didn't see until I was clearing everything away that contained £40.

I didn't have all that much trouble spending it - infact I don't think I had even a penny left by the end of the day!

The day!

I think the photos speak far better than I ever could about Woolfest ... I was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed! As we drove towards Cockermouth [from our B&B in Keswick] a huge pastel green aircraft hanger-sized building came into view; "wouldn't it be funny if that was Woolfest?" joked the boy ... as the the Woolfest sign made it apparent that this was indeed Woolfest. Woohooo! And I came though the door to the view you see above.

Deep breath....

Another deep breath ...

You know when you find a new and fabby yarn shop full of Colinette, Noro, Rowan, Debbie Bliss etc and simply don't know what to look at cos there so much? Every new yarn spied brings a flurry of knitted up items you could make with it, and a rush of adrenaline? Multiple that ... Alot!

Basically you have a hyperventilating Elaine and an inwardly groaning boy! His vision of Woolfest being rather like a Highland show with music and bales of hay to sit on is blown to pieces.

I have to say an enormous thank you!! to him for driving me there, staying with me all day despite the heat and intense boredom - esp. as I lost the ability to understand how all this yarn could be anything but amazing and started showing him it all whilst chattering away about how much I NEEDED it all...

Angora

I missed these guys - Cumbrian Angoras! How cute

[I only know what they are cos there's a sign in the photo!]

Woolfest animals

I never thought I'd be bothered by the livestock section of Woolfest [having a fear of sheep due to their evil eyes ... ] but I have to say I really enjoyed it. There were loads of cool sheep, alpacas, angora bunnies, little lambs and stuff.

There was a moment, during my hunt for India where I realised that sheep were being let out of the pen heading in the general direction of me. I turned to exit into an aisle and found all the gates had been shut and the sheep were galloping, taking up the entire width of the aisles. They were off to be sheared for us knitters to watch. I managed to leap into an aisle to safety, but keep a keen eye on closing gates signalling another potential stampede.

Aww - the pretty pretty alpacas having a wee sit down in the scorching heat of inside the Woolfest arena. The metal roof, fibres and thronging excited women turned Woolfest into a sauna. Not to be deterred I wore a vest and soldiered on!

I didn't take any pics of the Angora bunnies cos I thought the flash going off might give them a heart attack - they were so small and vulnerable looking. It was a bit too dark in their hutch to take a flashless photo.

Little lambling

Rasta sheep - poss. Wensledale? Until it's spun I don't have a clue! Stash haul news to follow :)

My First Crochet

I don't have the time at the moment to go into raptures about Woolfest so instead I am publishing a couple of photos of my first crochet attempts.

Very first attempt is the bottom photo [Blogger refuses to put them in the opposite order no matter how I list them!] and the second attempt is at the top. Both are [despite evidence to the contrary] rectangles...

I think I have cracked the basics - however, [as with the law of crafting] as soon as I get cocky with it stitches mysteriously disappear from rows!

Och well - more soon - things are getting rather hectic at work as I have just had a temporary promotion as my boss is on maternity leave. My brain - which knows my job inside and out therefore does not get exercised too much - has suddenly found itself having to do new tasks at designated parts of the day, whilst also ensuring that the tasks of another staff member [soon to be 2 staff members!] are fulfilled.

Cupcake-a-licious!

My latest cupcakes from Cupcakes Galore! Tarte Tatin Apple cupcakes - with caramalised apples and delicious vanilla glazing [which maybe should have been clear from the photo, but turned out a kinda pastel coffee colour ...]

This was a much more adventurous cupcake for me - not just mixing stuff and throwing in the oven - there were glazes to make and apples to caramalise.

My tips;
1. Make about a third of the glaze from the recipe - I threw loads away.
2. Only fill the muffin cases about 1/2 full to make room for the apples - the cupcakes rose muffin-stylee over the top of the cases, and it was quite hard to balance the apples on!
3. Slice the apples thin so they can 'drape' over the cupcake.
4. Where it says lay the apple slices out on the surface of a large pan and maybe do them in 2 batches - do this! Don't just throw them into a large vat of fizzing melting butter and hope it'll be OK - they more stew than turn a golden brown... [lesson learned!]

Why is it that my first thought when tackling new hobbies is too think 'there must be another/better/quicker/more logical way'.

Then I try my 'better' way and learn that the way written or shown by another is done that way for a reason - i.e. they have already made these mistakes and learned from them!

When I'm explaining how to research law and government publications at work I am frequently asked about the quicker / better ways;
"surely I can just get a list of every Dept. of Health publication from the dawn of time until today?", "surely there is an easier way to find a case?"

... and I think "listen to me! I know best - there isn't an easier way OK! This is the most logical / quickest way, trust me." I can't understand why they don't trust me but yet I do exactly the same thing and have to make my own mistakes rather than just listen to those that know better.

Wednesday 21st June

Phew! After leaving it far too late I have just managed to find a double room in Keswick for me and the boy for Woolfest. It was such a struggle that I'm beginning to worry that I won't be able to squeeze into Woolfest itself for the sheer volume of people!

Got some more dpns for the Jaywalker [still plural at this stage] and have started knitting it again, although I have moved onto working with 6 dpns as I find it easier.

I have been listening to more podcasts - I have found It's a Purl, Man to be a hoot - a blog "about a guy in Boston with yarn issues". And also Knitcast is terrific. I have only listened to one episode of each, but am definately subscribing to both.

I have another 8 or 9 more episodes from other knitting podcasts to listen to and then I can create a 'Most listened' list in the sidebar.

You may notice that [or maybe not - probably not that interesting really!] that despite announcing in my last post that I was off to update my works in the queue list, there have been no updates.

I have been racking my brains for an efficient method of cataloguing the patterns I want to make [all sitting in mags, books etc with yarn label markers sticking out] and the yarn stash. The main problem is that a list of pattern names, yarn, gauges etc will mean nothing to me in a yarn shop without accompanying pictures. Scanning and printing takes a million years on my [1st generation] iMac, colour copying is too expensive, and tearing pics is utterly out of the question.

I tried to use my Stitch n Bitch journal, but I filled the pages already and only a quarter of the patterns are covered. Plus I have yarn in my stash that is 'assigned', yarn looking for inspiration.

I'm thinking that a book divided up into yarn weights is the way to go. With subsections in each section for patterns and yarn stash available. That way I can best utilise my stash - which is beginning to take over my craft room!

To anyone still reading please remember that I'm a library assistant - you may think that this is anal, but orgnisation is the key to happiness ... [I'm going to die in a library aren't I?]

Jo Sharp vest

A FO!! I finally got around to adding the i-cord vest straps to this - it didn't even take me that long since I have the magic i-cord maker. I have no idea why I proscrastinated for so long.

It was made from a free Jo Sharp pattern booklet brought back from Melbourne by a friend. [Although it mentions that the pattern is also available in "Contemporary Knitting 2"]
The yarn was Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Kid Mohair [3 x 25g balls]

If I made it again I would def. knit it in the round - mohair and seaming are a bitch - although sewing the straps on was made easier by the fact that my messy technique was hidden in all the fuzz.

I've had a productive day - also finishing Bella, the baby blanket and my grey/orange diagonal striped scarf. My weaving in needle has gone walkabouts though and so I am denied the opportunity of completing these. But as soon as I do I'll blog it.

I'm off to update the list of works "in the queue" for my sidebar - since I just noticed that it only has 3 in it, and I have about 100 ... and continue with Branching Out in Kid Silk Haze.

Barcelona necklace

Whilst being dragged around a nerdy comic shop in Barcelona by the boy I found this on a very short piece of cord. I added a couple of jump rings and a chain to turn it into a necklace.

I'm not sure whether it's a collectable thing, or a swap thing but I immediately thought it would be cool as a necklace.

Saturday 18th June

My Secret Pal gift! - So cool! Thank you so much - I love these cakes - they are really different. I immediately went to buy ingredients for one of the recipies.

How it should be...


My attempts ... Nigela Lawson I ain't but these taste delicious! The recipie states to take them out, add marshmallows and place under the grill for a few seconds to toast the marshmallows.

My tip would be: If you have a combi oven don't put the marshmallows on whilst waiting for the oven grill to heat up. The heat of the cakes caused slippy marshmallows leaving trails as they made bids down the edge of the cakes - By the time I toasted them, they were marshmallow puddles.


Thanks again my secret pal - I had great fun with these, and will post photos of the other recipies I try.


It was not really a very good crafty day yesterday - I started off by trying to make a sock bag for my secret pal - and promptly burnt myself on the hot steam from the iron. I thought it was OK, but it was a pain that just kept giving - putting a sharp end to my crafting.


After a few hours nursing frozen peas on my tender thumb I was able to continue - I seamed a sleeve on Bella and FINISHED the boring baby blanket!


Just the weaving and blocking to go and it is over! I will take photos later.

Friday 16th June [take 4]

Yesterday I didn't get any knitting done - not a stitch! Instead we went into town to get postal Pat things sent. Amongst my packages were these two hats - donated to the Dulaan Project. A project to help bring warmth to the people of Mongolia who endure extreme temperatures during the winter of between freezing during the day to -40 oF during the night.

To be warm enough means to get to work and to school. And so - via Brenda Dayne [whose's podacst Cast-On highlighted this charity to me] I sent these 2 hats. One of Kid Classic, and the other Noro Silk Garden.

This was not an entirely selfless act on my part - during mental pleadings with The Man Upstairs I did promise to donate to this charity upon the safe return of my suitcase full of Barcelona yarn.

I can't wait for the hat recipients to get their hats - I hope they love them, and more importantly that they bring warmth. I have a warm fuzzy feeling :)

[I have tried to post this 4 times, with image adding attempts numbering approx 23 *sigh*]

Fun with tshirt transfers

At a Stitch n' Bitch a few weeks ago one of the members brought in a ball of yarn with the funkiest little retro illustration on the ball band of a baby alpaca. Another member suggested that this would make a great tshirt. I brought it home, blew up the illustration and fixed it up with Photoshop.

Today I finally got round to buying transfer paper and doing my first tshirt transfer! I love it [and fellow SnBers I have a couple of transfers left - 1 for Anika, if anyone wants the other I'll bring it along on Tuesday]

Yipeee!!

Lookeee - it's my suitcase!

Cotton sock weight yarn with coloured slubby cotton bits and 2 big black buttons which go so well with the cotton - I'm thinking armwarmers would be cool.

A funky knitting postcard from Heathrow

All the beautiful yarn together with a birthday present from the boy - Happy Hooker

I'm so happy and have learned my lesson - no yarn on the hold, and always always an address label on my suitcase!!

More pics

Me at Parc Quell

View out of window at Sagrada Familia

Me on the roof terrace at La Pedrera

Knitting World Cup

Progress on the Jaywalkers has come to a halt due to a broken dpn. This is my first time knitting with birch dpns - I have only ever knitted one pair of socks previously and I knit them with metal dpns. But with air travel the way it is I had little choice if I wanted to gauge and cast on in time for the start of the Knitting World Cup.

I'm reluctant to change to other needles at this stage, and I know that Brittany are fantastic with customer service and will replace my broken needle. However I think I may change to metals anyway and hope that my gauge will not be affected too much.

I think the tension may be tight anyway as flying makes me v. v. tense, and I was knitting to take my mind off wings falling off, planes falling out of the sky etc etc.

But this aside I'm loving the pattern - it's easy to memorise, and this yarn brings out the best of the pattern and I can't wait to finish it.

Flying with knitting needles

As suspected - N from BBA Glasgow's breezy response that it will be "absolutely fine" to take knitting needles on board was total nonsense.

Upon arrival at Glasgow Airport I caught sight of knitting needles on the 'not allowed' lists plastered all over the place.

I decided to be super-honest through fear of confiscation and spoke to the checkin girl. She immediately said no, and so I begged her to first look at my 2.25mm Brittany birch dpns first. When she saw them she smiled and phoned someone - saying 'no - they're like cocktail sticks and they're wood'.

And so I was cleared for knitting - although I had to check my metal crochet hook, metal stitch holder, scissors [obviously!] and weaving-in needle.

So the concensus seems to be bamboo/birch dpns that are very thin are OK. Anything metal, any straights (wood or metal) are not. Sock knitting it is!

I never bothered to mention them to anyone again, and knitted in airport waiting lounges and on the flight without comment from anyone - one girl stood watching me open mouthed for a while but that was all :)