OK so progress since last time...
As far as things I made, I made this great meal for my boyfriend the first night he flew in. Photos to follow, but we had a strawberry salad with homemade chocolate vinagerette, followed by orzo with roast vegetables, and the main dish was rosemary steak. I spent the most time on the roast veggies in the orzo -- peppers over the flame, eggplant and onions and MOAR PEPPERS in the oven. It looked so full going in the oven but after 40 minutes, I got a lot of vegetable fluid and a tiny thing of vegetables. I ended up making enough for DAYS. So good.
My pride and joy was the chocolate vinagerette though. It took about three seconds to make, melting chocolate in some vinegar and sugar, right before I flew out the door to pick up my boyfriend, but it ended up pretty badass. However, if you left it out, it'd solidify. Small problems.
As far as the meat went...oh boy, it was my first time ever making meat. I mean, I made meat dishes as in meat mixed with vegetables, but meat by itself like a steak? No way. I just remember when my mother made steak and had failure because she overcooked it and it was all...tough. My brother had described it akin to chewing a leather belt. So of course, naturally, I'm paranoid and ended up under cooking. Luckily, Alex and our handy dandy silicone spatula was there to save the day with a little extra time in the frying pan.
Last but not least, mixed berries. Mmmm.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Returned Camera
So it's a week before my spring concert. As one can imagine, I'm enormously busy and sort of want to cry every day of my life when I eat, sleep, and breathe how the concert is going.
Between late March till now, I managed to leave my camera in another state and just recently had it returned (woo!). Some photos for you all:
These are my first Amigurumi animals! Kim taught me to crochet and originally I was going to make something for my boyfriend's parents' birthdays. These two are Mama and Papa bear. Originally, there were three little son bears too with their two accompanying girlfriend beards. Long story short, the tiny bears got on my nerves. Now I have lots of random bear parts sitting around and it's just annoying.
Sadly, my second set of Amigurumi Goods disappeared into the Vienna Teng Trio hands while I didn't have my camera. In this collection was the Mouse Elephant (an elephant that had its ears attached too high), the Retarded Blowfish and Jimmy the Jellyfish. Jimmy the Jellyfish proved for great times at a diner...
Clucky the Chicken and the Penguin are my newest Yarn Sacrifice to the boys of the VT trio. They've certainly improved and look way less craptastic. AND they're proportional! Sitting at home is a Cthulu that has yet to be put together.
And why is Mr. Penguin wearing a hat? Did I make that hat? Oh yes I did. For a girl who didn't know how to crochet a few months ago, making a hat is pretty big! It's made out of Provence, an Egyptian mercernerized cotton. The texture is maybe less soft but has such a sheen. I made the hat from this pattern here and am thinking the cotton makes it a little too drapey. Ends up looking like a beret rather than a slouchy hat. Most likely off to Knit a Bit after work again today to find a nice olive green that's less drapey. Granted, I have one made of scrap yarn sitting at home... 
And there she is with the hat! Yay Vienna! Being a rockstar means you get cool yarn swag!
Between late March till now, I managed to leave my camera in another state and just recently had it returned (woo!). Some photos for you all:
These are my first Amigurumi animals! Kim taught me to crochet and originally I was going to make something for my boyfriend's parents' birthdays. These two are Mama and Papa bear. Originally, there were three little son bears too with their two accompanying girlfriend beards. Long story short, the tiny bears got on my nerves. Now I have lots of random bear parts sitting around and it's just annoying.Sadly, my second set of Amigurumi Goods disappeared into the Vienna Teng Trio hands while I didn't have my camera. In this collection was the Mouse Elephant (an elephant that had its ears attached too high), the Retarded Blowfish and Jimmy the Jellyfish. Jimmy the Jellyfish proved for great times at a diner...
Clucky the Chicken and the Penguin are my newest Yarn Sacrifice to the boys of the VT trio. They've certainly improved and look way less craptastic. AND they're proportional! Sitting at home is a Cthulu that has yet to be put together.
And why is Mr. Penguin wearing a hat? Did I make that hat? Oh yes I did. For a girl who didn't know how to crochet a few months ago, making a hat is pretty big! It's made out of Provence, an Egyptian mercernerized cotton. The texture is maybe less soft but has such a sheen. I made the hat from this pattern here and am thinking the cotton makes it a little too drapey. Ends up looking like a beret rather than a slouchy hat. Most likely off to Knit a Bit after work again today to find a nice olive green that's less drapey. Granted, I have one made of scrap yarn sitting at home... 
And there she is with the hat! Yay Vienna! Being a rockstar means you get cool yarn swag!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Quick NonPhoto Update
It's been a month since anyone's posted. Although I have photos, I also have little time, so I'm going to post a quick summary of my crafty life at the moment and post pictures after lesson plans and bills. Ahhh real life.
Scarves - those pretty ruffle scarves have taken over my life. The first four were RIDICULOUSLY fun to make, by the fifth, I think I want to die a little. There was the bamboo one in blue, a pretty pink-dusty purple one, sunset-reds and one in what Kim referred to as mermaid green. The green one was for a friend and I gots to make money off of it! The ones on the needles right now are made of Filatura Della Crossa mohair, and it's black, shimmery and a little rainbow-sy, and I owe another teacher one. Yay things I'm being paid for. But like all things I'm being paid for, it's getting a little overwhelming.
Needles -- ADDIS. ADDIS ADDIS ADDIS. THEY TOOK OVER MY LIFE. THEY ARE CRACK. THAT IS ALL.
Sweaters -- Yes, sweaters! I have this awesome pattern on Knitty that I'm following, nice simple ribbed sweater. I'm making it out of Skacel Divine which is such a beautiful and soft yarn. However, with multiple projects going, it's sorta slow. On Monday or Tuesday I have to go pick up some more Berrocco Ultra Alpaca because eventually I'm starting Alex's man-sweater, which is the Wallaby sweater, a knit hoodie!
Food -- We just had a pie party in which there were NINE PIES. Okay, two of them were rice krispie pies but hey. SO MUCH FOOD. I also made lots of Korean food (funny since I'm not Korean) and apparently, really good eggplant. Pictures of the pies are definitely in order.
Books -- Bought Twinkle's Big City Knits. LOVING it, although putting another project on the needles would most likely kill me right now. Will review later. :D
Lesson plans and bills -- still not done!
Scarves - those pretty ruffle scarves have taken over my life. The first four were RIDICULOUSLY fun to make, by the fifth, I think I want to die a little. There was the bamboo one in blue, a pretty pink-dusty purple one, sunset-reds and one in what Kim referred to as mermaid green. The green one was for a friend and I gots to make money off of it! The ones on the needles right now are made of Filatura Della Crossa mohair, and it's black, shimmery and a little rainbow-sy, and I owe another teacher one. Yay things I'm being paid for. But like all things I'm being paid for, it's getting a little overwhelming.
Needles -- ADDIS. ADDIS ADDIS ADDIS. THEY TOOK OVER MY LIFE. THEY ARE CRACK. THAT IS ALL.
Sweaters -- Yes, sweaters! I have this awesome pattern on Knitty that I'm following, nice simple ribbed sweater. I'm making it out of Skacel Divine which is such a beautiful and soft yarn. However, with multiple projects going, it's sorta slow. On Monday or Tuesday I have to go pick up some more Berrocco Ultra Alpaca because eventually I'm starting Alex's man-sweater, which is the Wallaby sweater, a knit hoodie!
Food -- We just had a pie party in which there were NINE PIES. Okay, two of them were rice krispie pies but hey. SO MUCH FOOD. I also made lots of Korean food (funny since I'm not Korean) and apparently, really good eggplant. Pictures of the pies are definitely in order.
Books -- Bought Twinkle's Big City Knits. LOVING it, although putting another project on the needles would most likely kill me right now. Will review later. :D
Lesson plans and bills -- still not done!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
I am not obsessed.
Okay, my title lies. I'm a little obsessed. I've always found knitting to be decidedly theraputic and instead of finishing lesson plans like I should've, I've finished another small project! It's a lace ruffle scarf, and probably one of the more useless items I've created.
The yarn itself is quite gorgeous -- bamboo tape. I thought I had enough with 100 grams of blue. The same proved itself with my slightly less than 50 grams of brown. Hence I had to cast off with pink, but all in all, I can't say it turned out poorly. Knit on size 11 bamboo circulars, by the time I got to 800 stitches I wanted to die. It sort of felt never ending. The laceyness is really quite attractive though.
It's probably going to go to my boyfriend's mom in Texas, where it's warm enough to never need a useful scarf...but meanwhile, Oreo Cheesecake the Stuffed Two Foot Penguin will model!
The yarn itself is quite gorgeous -- bamboo tape. I thought I had enough with 100 grams of blue. The same proved itself with my slightly less than 50 grams of brown. Hence I had to cast off with pink, but all in all, I can't say it turned out poorly. Knit on size 11 bamboo circulars, by the time I got to 800 stitches I wanted to die. It sort of felt never ending. The laceyness is really quite attractive though.
It's probably going to go to my boyfriend's mom in Texas, where it's warm enough to never need a useful scarf...but meanwhile, Oreo Cheesecake the Stuffed Two Foot Penguin will model!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Synesthesia
Yesterday I briefly mentioned Alex Wong, a wonderful musician and friend who is part of a few great ensembles (Vienna Teng, The Paper Raincoat, Deadbeat Darling) that all play wonderful music. Aside from multitasking like crazy, he has a wild assortment of instruments that include a waterphone, melodica, and cajon (THE ELVES). Wiki it, you'll be there a while.
He also has this wild thing called synesthesia, where letters, words and pitches are colors to him. I once made a cross stitch that said "Glockenspiel Hero" on it and made the word "glockenspiel" out of the colors he saw. When I first started stalking/hanging out with Wong, he just got these new tattoos on his hands, I think they said "music" and "air"? I could be wrong. I feel like "water" might have been one of them but I have no idea. I'll have to ask him again. See tattoos that need to be re-inked!
Now, over Christmas, I gave Vienna a Christmas present but didn't give Alex one. Naturally, like any good fangirl, I felt bad, and ended up making these. I began these on the train Sunday afternoon, and just finished the stitching of the boxes just now. My fingerless mitties are getting better and better! I think the only thing that might annoy me is that white yarn? Dude, it was light blue on the spool. Thank you light and contrast. I tried!
He also has this wild thing called synesthesia, where letters, words and pitches are colors to him. I once made a cross stitch that said "Glockenspiel Hero" on it and made the word "glockenspiel" out of the colors he saw. When I first started stalking/hanging out with Wong, he just got these new tattoos on his hands, I think they said "music" and "air"? I could be wrong. I feel like "water" might have been one of them but I have no idea. I'll have to ask him again. See tattoos that need to be re-inked!
Now, over Christmas, I gave Vienna a Christmas present but didn't give Alex one. Naturally, like any good fangirl, I felt bad, and ended up making these. I began these on the train Sunday afternoon, and just finished the stitching of the boxes just now. My fingerless mitties are getting better and better! I think the only thing that might annoy me is that white yarn? Dude, it was light blue on the spool. Thank you light and contrast. I tried!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
A Seriously Long Post
Ever notice how blogging goes so much faster than work/writing you have to do for your job? Blech!
So really, I've been intensely behind on updating on my created goods, because there's been a lot! I guess I should start with this great yarn store in the town I work in. The place is called Knit-a-Bit, and according to my boyfriend, you would never know there was a yarn store in this cute little downtown area. If their photos on their site are any indication, this is yarn heaven. I've become such a fiber snob because of them! On top of that, they had this great Superbowl Sale, where yarns were anywhere from 20%-50% off. Really, I should've bought more, but...alas! No monies! Here I ended up with this yarn stash.
The green, red, and black are Berroco Comfort (Worsted Weight), the pink is Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton, and for the life of me, I can't remember what the brown is. Frack! I know it's nice wool though. I also picked up a great self striping yarn from Lang called Milli Fiori (I think). That's not in the photo since it got turned into MITTENS! Two photos, one with flash. Both are pretty accurate representations of the beautiful colors.
Still have yet to master DPN's (somehow I feel very Old-Dog-New-Trick with DPN's) so I got a great two needle pattern here that I felt pretty good about. I made a thumb gusset for the first time and was so proud! I could do this again with a thicker yarn -- these are a little airy for me.
Like any good pianist, I'm fond of my handwear and so are my musician friends after seeing my eighth note fingerles-mitts (See other post). I'm a close stalker of a wonderful artist named Vienna Teng, whose fourth album, Inland Territory was just released in Germany and will be released here in April. (Buy it, she's amazing) I was just at Caffe Vivaldi (oh man, I feel like I could link forever) for a benefit that her and her percussionist, the indominitable Alex Wong were playing and like any good stalker, I offered knit goods. A few days later, I churn out these things and were able to offer them as fangirl and friend sacrifice.
The grey is just Lion Brand Wool, while the purple is Cascaade Heathers, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool (Oh god, Fiber Snob!). They look really great from the front, but I was ridiculously ashamed of taking a picture of the seam. My boyfriend was helping me seam but between the two of us, it got sorta lumpy and awful. I blame the color changes.
More things on the way...especially after receiving yarn for Valentine's Day!
So really, I've been intensely behind on updating on my created goods, because there's been a lot! I guess I should start with this great yarn store in the town I work in. The place is called Knit-a-Bit, and according to my boyfriend, you would never know there was a yarn store in this cute little downtown area. If their photos on their site are any indication, this is yarn heaven. I've become such a fiber snob because of them! On top of that, they had this great Superbowl Sale, where yarns were anywhere from 20%-50% off. Really, I should've bought more, but...alas! No monies! Here I ended up with this yarn stash.
The green, red, and black are Berroco Comfort (Worsted Weight), the pink is Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton, and for the life of me, I can't remember what the brown is. Frack! I know it's nice wool though. I also picked up a great self striping yarn from Lang called Milli Fiori (I think). That's not in the photo since it got turned into MITTENS! Two photos, one with flash. Both are pretty accurate representations of the beautiful colors.
Still have yet to master DPN's (somehow I feel very Old-Dog-New-Trick with DPN's) so I got a great two needle pattern here that I felt pretty good about. I made a thumb gusset for the first time and was so proud! I could do this again with a thicker yarn -- these are a little airy for me.
Like any good pianist, I'm fond of my handwear and so are my musician friends after seeing my eighth note fingerles-mitts (See other post). I'm a close stalker of a wonderful artist named Vienna Teng, whose fourth album, Inland Territory was just released in Germany and will be released here in April. (Buy it, she's amazing) I was just at Caffe Vivaldi (oh man, I feel like I could link forever) for a benefit that her and her percussionist, the indominitable Alex Wong were playing and like any good stalker, I offered knit goods. A few days later, I churn out these things and were able to offer them as fangirl and friend sacrifice.
The grey is just Lion Brand Wool, while the purple is Cascaade Heathers, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool (Oh god, Fiber Snob!). They look really great from the front, but I was ridiculously ashamed of taking a picture of the seam. My boyfriend was helping me seam but between the two of us, it got sorta lumpy and awful. I blame the color changes.
More things on the way...especially after receiving yarn for Valentine's Day!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Coasters...not just for grandma!
Hey all! I am soo happy to be making my first post to the blog!!! This is Niki here and I am really excited to share crafts and other created good with Kim, Candace and the blog-world! My crafting skills are crocheting, making wire jewelery, and really anything else I can get my hands on.
And today we have....Coasters! We all need them....and don't pretend that you dont! Who likes funny rings on tables and drippy glasses? This project is suprisingly quick AND easy!
And today we have....Coasters! We all need them....and don't pretend that you dont! Who likes funny rings on tables and drippy glasses? This project is suprisingly quick AND easy!
Ring Coasters
This pattern came from the Crochet Today June 2007 issue! http://www.crochettoday.com/articlepage.aspx?articleid=143
And I just noticed too that you can buy the supplies on-line when you click the above link! I would actually reccomend doing this. Mostly because I had no clue were to find these different size rings and that the size of the rings I used are not true to the pattern so my coasters do not make perfect squares (but close enough) annnnnd you can buy the pattern, all for a reasonable price...
They came out really nice and were Kim's birthday present! The magazine also suggests you can make a bunch and sew them together to make table runner or place mat...nice additions for any apartment.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Bonnie sweater!!!
hello all! short and sweet, i made bonnie a doggie sweater! i got the pattern out of The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Crochet which is a pretty sweet book for learning to crochet, very easy to follow and explains lots of the basics.
i followed the large pattern (specifies number of stitches for small, medium and large) cause apparently bonnie is a little chub! she's pretty fluffy too, so the sweater kind of makes her butt look big, but she didn't care, she wore it anyway and didn't seem to mind. we never really put doggie clothes on her before, this is her first. its a little snug around her rib cage, so i would make it bigger next time, as well as longer. i added two extra rows to the pattern for her as is, hehe.
anyway, here's pictures!
please keep an eye out for the upcoming bunny post! ;)
i followed the large pattern (specifies number of stitches for small, medium and large) cause apparently bonnie is a little chub! she's pretty fluffy too, so the sweater kind of makes her butt look big, but she didn't care, she wore it anyway and didn't seem to mind. we never really put doggie clothes on her before, this is her first. its a little snug around her rib cage, so i would make it bigger next time, as well as longer. i added two extra rows to the pattern for her as is, hehe.
anyway, here's pictures!
please keep an eye out for the upcoming bunny post! ;)Friday, January 30, 2009
Pie Update
Candace here again.
Last night around 10:30, I'm wondering why my pie still looks pasty as my skin in wintertime. After consulting a friend, she makes me aware of my idiocy -- 175 was CELSIUS. Talk about embarassing. Anyway, threw it back in for about 20 more minutes at the correct temperature and turn out with a beautiful crust. Awesome.
Tried it this morning. I have to say, a lot of things went reasonably well with this pie. The crust was super good, the filling was excellent. However, those freakin' lemon slices are evil. The pith is still a bit bitter and with the sheer amont of lemon and lime pieces packed into this pie, it really could make you sick, or at least that's how I felt. My intensely citrus loving friends were all about it, but as of 8:29 AM, pie reception at the Teacher's Breakfast is not well right now. Hmm. Sadness.
Pictures to come this evening.
Last night around 10:30, I'm wondering why my pie still looks pasty as my skin in wintertime. After consulting a friend, she makes me aware of my idiocy -- 175 was CELSIUS. Talk about embarassing. Anyway, threw it back in for about 20 more minutes at the correct temperature and turn out with a beautiful crust. Awesome.
Tried it this morning. I have to say, a lot of things went reasonably well with this pie. The crust was super good, the filling was excellent. However, those freakin' lemon slices are evil. The pith is still a bit bitter and with the sheer amont of lemon and lime pieces packed into this pie, it really could make you sick, or at least that's how I felt. My intensely citrus loving friends were all about it, but as of 8:29 AM, pie reception at the Teacher's Breakfast is not well right now. Hmm. Sadness.
Pictures to come this evening.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
First Post!
Hello, Blogverse!
So begins the great expedition that is our craft blog -- "our" being Candace, Kim, and Niki, three people who create yarn goods, and are obsessed with yarn and crafts (naturally), bad reality TV and fluffy animals. We could theoretically add potatoes to that list, but it's actually me (Candace) with the weird potato fixation.
Obviously, Candace here. I'm sure everyone will get their turn to blog away later, but since I create, I get to go first! Kim and I decided that everything we create, whether it be food or a knitted tidbit gets to go on here, so luckily for me, I already have a number of things to share. The first is a knitty -- handwarmers! I adapted from this pattern, and actually ended up knitting flat, since I'm still struggling with DPN's. Crowning moment? When I figured out how to set aside stitches on either end of my flat surface (four stitches on either end) to make the thumb. Now I have friends that want some too!
This was my first time working with duplicate stitches so it turned out sort of ghetto, for real. Like the nerd that I am, I tried to work a treble clef and bass clef on my RH and LH, respectively. Let me also tell you about how that REALLY DIDN'T WORK. So instead, I have the LH note and RH note! Granted, you can't tell until you put them together because RH note is done with a little more skill.
Meanwhile, I have this great pie baking away in the oven (yes, at 9:36 in the evening. I am highly aware of my own insanity). Google Ohio Shaker Lemon Pie! Exciting. Anyway, I tweaked as usual. I have two lemons and two limes, 3 cups of sugar...this pie is really bad for the health nut! The sheer number of eggs and butter would have someone like my mother wincing. Anyway, after candying the limes and lemons for a whole day, this is what the innards of the pie look like.
Delightful? Oh yes. It's still in the oven, baking away at 175 degrees. That's so low my oven doesn't even have a marking for it. However, it's not really...going anywhere yet. The crust hasn't turned even slightly golden. Hrrr. I have to say, it's the best made pie crust ever (really, pate brisee) -- just from the texture! I'll have to update this weekend after the teacher breakfast to tell you how everyone liked it and how it ACTUALLY turned out!
So begins the great expedition that is our craft blog -- "our" being Candace, Kim, and Niki, three people who create yarn goods, and are obsessed with yarn and crafts (naturally), bad reality TV and fluffy animals. We could theoretically add potatoes to that list, but it's actually me (Candace) with the weird potato fixation.
Obviously, Candace here. I'm sure everyone will get their turn to blog away later, but since I create, I get to go first! Kim and I decided that everything we create, whether it be food or a knitted tidbit gets to go on here, so luckily for me, I already have a number of things to share. The first is a knitty -- handwarmers! I adapted from this pattern, and actually ended up knitting flat, since I'm still struggling with DPN's. Crowning moment? When I figured out how to set aside stitches on either end of my flat surface (four stitches on either end) to make the thumb. Now I have friends that want some too!
This was my first time working with duplicate stitches so it turned out sort of ghetto, for real. Like the nerd that I am, I tried to work a treble clef and bass clef on my RH and LH, respectively. Let me also tell you about how that REALLY DIDN'T WORK. So instead, I have the LH note and RH note! Granted, you can't tell until you put them together because RH note is done with a little more skill.
Meanwhile, I have this great pie baking away in the oven (yes, at 9:36 in the evening. I am highly aware of my own insanity). Google Ohio Shaker Lemon Pie! Exciting. Anyway, I tweaked as usual. I have two lemons and two limes, 3 cups of sugar...this pie is really bad for the health nut! The sheer number of eggs and butter would have someone like my mother wincing. Anyway, after candying the limes and lemons for a whole day, this is what the innards of the pie look like.
Delightful? Oh yes. It's still in the oven, baking away at 175 degrees. That's so low my oven doesn't even have a marking for it. However, it's not really...going anywhere yet. The crust hasn't turned even slightly golden. Hrrr. I have to say, it's the best made pie crust ever (really, pate brisee) -- just from the texture! I'll have to update this weekend after the teacher breakfast to tell you how everyone liked it and how it ACTUALLY turned out!
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