Ugg Alternative

Read about them on the Patons Blog.

I haven’t been doing much non-Patons knitting lately, but I do have a Springtime Spectacular Sweater planned for my favorite niece.  And I just found a pattern suitable for the Majorly Manly Sweater that my pseudo-nephew’s lovely mother requested last summer.  So don’t forsake me just yet!

Sunday is for Baking

They used to always be for working (along with most Saturdays and 2-3 weeknights), but since I’m only working one job for the first time in over three years I’m afforded some much needed leisure.  I thought these Girl Scout cookie recipes would be good to try out today.  I decided on Samoas and Tagalongs, my favorites by far.

Both recipes start out with the same shortbread cookie base.  A fact I should have figured out, but didn’t, resulting in the mixing of two entirely separate batches of dough.   I even dug through my supplies from cake class to find a teeny round cutter to cut out the center of the Samoas.

Yes, I have a rolling case for all of the cake decorating crap equipment.  Doesn’t everyone? It is too big to fit in the overhead compartment.  And yet too small for all of the cake paraphernalia.   (Incidentally, following the four months of weekly cake classes I have baked exactly one cake).

It turns out this step was unnecessary, because it was too difficult to spread the caramel-coconut topping around the holes, and they got covered up.

As I’m sure you know, the Tagalongs have a peanut butter filling:

The Samoas got their little Samoa butts dipped in chocolate, while the Tagalongs were fully dunked.

Or they would have been if I hadn’t run out of wax paper.  Their little Tagalong butts are bare.  But I don’t care, I love them anyway.

These recipes make a whole mess of cookies.  You could probably just make one batch of dough and do half as Samoas and half as Tagalongs.  In any case, I will have a lot to share with the office (in spite of the fact that bringing baked goods to your coworkers is unlikely to gain you respect, according to the book “Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office”).

Tomorrow:  Monday is for Weeping Softly into Your Soy Latte

Morning

Canon Powershot SD 750   1/160   f/8.0   5.8mm

Contender for the Empty Frame

Lucy Ann, born January 16, 2010

Your move, Gracie the Westie.

Sometimes I Miss My Latte Bowls

Several months ago I moved and I’m now basically living in one room. Since I got rid of my desk in the move, I’ve been using my buffet as a desk/multimedia command center:

I started out just having the clipboards on the wall, but have gradually added other items. Now I like the idea of having a multi-faceted “art wall”

The only other thing hanging up in my room is this amazing calendar:

A Christmas gift from my sister. On the back of each page are oragami templates to turn the page into boxes, cards, etc. I lurve it.

I haven’t been knitting or crafting much at all since Christmas. Needed the detox, I suppose. I did, however, find the energy to make these sweet things for my niece:

Can’t leave the hospital without booties, it’s practically a rule. She’ll have to do without the scratch mitts for a while, since I ran out of yarn and……she’s going to be born tomorrow!!! Ok, maybe not actually tomorrow, but definitely in the next day or two!

Craft Hope

Have you heard of Craft Hope?  

“Craft Hope is a faith-based, love inspired project designed to share handmade crafts with those less fortunate.  It is our hope to combine our love for crafting and desire to help others into a project to make a difference around the world.”

Basically, they post different craft projects that will benefit particular charities and anyone who wants to participate makes an item and sends it in.  The current project is The Orphan Foundation of America’s Red Scarf Project.  Make a red scarf, send it in, the scarf will be included in Valentine’s care packages sent to foster care teens.  (Click on the link above for more info and instructions).  Deadline for completion is February 14.

So go ahead, make a red scarf.  What else are you doing?  Christmas knitting should really be done by now!

Merry Craftmas

That’s right.  I made that.

And Ashley made that.  (She was my secret santa in the craft exchange!)  Etched glass is v. impressive.

Meet Ella

This is Ella the Elephant.  She has crazy eyes and enjoys the writing of David Sedaris.  She will soon be going to live with her new pal Lucy.

Scaling Back

image courtesy Petite Paperie

This is the point in the holiday season when I scale back my grand plans to something more manageable.  Sometimes this involves cutting people from my gift list.  I know, I’m ruthless.  Don’t worry, it’s usually coworkers and aquaintances who I had planned to give perfectly delectable boxes of Christmas cookies and treats. 

I am still planning to make my own wrapping paper, though, so I don’t feel like a failure or anything (I know you were worried).  I bought the tags pictured above from Petite Paperie just yesterday.  It still counts as handmade even if someone else made it!

My Hands are Numb

done

done

done

will be done by tomorrow

making good progress (that’s my Christmas sweater!!!)

done

*warning – the fumes from this pen may make you vomit, or at least spend thirty minutes in the stock room breathing deeply and trying not to vomit

1/3 done (yes, this is what I read for fun, I was a history major, ok?)

I’m ready for a nap