Rengawk's Ramblings

2012 Potential Recipe Roundup

2012-01-17T21:30:00.002-05:00

Time for another Recipe Roundup, as I keep saving these ideas for later in my Google Reader, but not quite to the point of printing them out! I actually had my Reader list down to nothing for the New Year, so I am trying to keep it manageable, and not lose any good ideas because they time-out (posts over a month[?] old get purges from your list automatically, else you would be perpetually reading until the beginning of time of your blogs)

Bite-Sized Baked Brie

Bierocks from Scratch

Toasted Coconut Clusters

Egg McMuffins for Home Skillets

Green Pea Pesto Ravioli

Previous Recipe Roundup links here

Something different for the shop

2011-12-17T00:07:00.000-05:00

Last night I posted something a little different in my Etsy shop, a Pear Critter!

I had made a pattern a few years back for a Pear Bird, and had made the parts for one quite a while ago. He sat as a sad Work-in-Progress (WIP) for a long time – which of course can cause silliness with the parts. I pinned them to his head, and liked the look! After sewing them on, he sat for even longer…

Then finally an outdoor photoshoot! Isn't he photogenic?

I like how somehow I am holding him in the exact same position he is sitting in the indoor shot…looks like that’s where his center of balance lies!

Oh and I have been posting the cupcakes as the are listed on my Facebook Page for Rengawk’s Unusual Wedge. This month has been awesome for sending them all over the world!

As for a little blog organization – I am going to remove the widget for my Google Reader recommendations – they discontinued the program, and now promote you to Share via Google+. Some links I share there, other’s on my personal Facebook page, some on my Etsy Facebook page. I feel like I need to focus – but where do I choose? Isn’t the internet grand. :)

Arm Warmer

2011-12-16T18:48:00.001-05:00

Arm Warmer
Originally uploaded by rengawk

Mmmm, not the best photo, but I wanted to show my project progress on Ravelry.

Why on earth didn't I think to wear it on my left arm and take the photo with my right hang for crying out loud?!

Fish pillow photo bomb!

No. 233

2011-12-06T22:08:00.001-05:00

No. 233
Originally uploaded by rengawk

Wow, we're up to 233 already?

[A rainbow of colors with Snow Shimmer edging over Swimming Pool Blues]

Featured today on The Cupcake Blog!

How do you organize your eyes?

2011-11-03T18:13:00.005-04:00

How do you organize your eyes?
Originally uploaded by rengawk

...and noses and bells and hearts? Oh my...

Case my sister was going to pitch it full of beads...I snatched it up! I dumped the plastic beads into a baggie... bet they will be useful for cupcakes and other crochet embellishments someday! :)

What happened to your CAL?!

2011-11-03T17:56:00.004-04:00

Remember by Crochet-a-long plans? The one by Megan of Crochet Every Day – with a theme of “sweet”? And how I was all like “Oh and I’ll add in another pattern from Gleeful Things”?

Yeah. I totally made stuff, but the sharing part? Didn’t quite happen before Halloween! Eep! We went away and somehow I thought I would be all slick and post from the hotel – yeah, uum well the internet that was available was not what I expected, so the time I spent on the laptop was for a work project and I didn’t get as far along as I thought I would.

Upon returning home, we had no power. BUT. But but but we did have the ability to use out hot water heater and stove – YAY NATURAL GAS. So warm showers by candlelight and many blankets at night. Went a few days like that, and the rest of the week has been a blur even with power back on. What the heck?

I had started out right away after my previous post, completing one of each pattern in the same night (or two, see what happens when you don’t at least start a blog post about a project while you work on it?) The candy corn on the left is from the Lion Brand pattern, with some changes to make it have a rounded base;

Rd 15 4sc, dec, repeat;
Rd 16 3sc, dec, repeat;
Rd 17 2sc, dec, repeat;
Rd 18, dec around;
FO - Fasten off

(I like how FO to me is like FINISH OFF – which doesn’t even make any sense, except when you grew up with Mortal Kombat and somehow it also associates to the voice saying FINISH HIM, except in this case it is candy corn. FINISH HIM! *quickly pulls yarn to cinch the last row*)

“Look at me!” “I have a crazy-but-cute smile!”

The pink candy corn uses Julie's pattern, and actually reflects my initial thoughts when looking at my yarn stash. I added 6mm safety eyes, and should have sewn on the smile before starting the decrease rows, would have been much easier.

Next up was another in a Harvest Candy Corn theme, again using the Lion Brand pattern, altered. Hard to tell in the picture, but I wanted more of a flat base, so I started color three one row sooner than pattern suggested, created base lip by crocheting in the back loop the row before the decrease…then sc 3, dec for a row, then went right to sc ,1 dec for two rows to make a flatter base. Then I realized that type of candy corn usually has orange in the center. Whoops.

Now what? GIANT CANDY CORN. Julie’s pattern with double strands of yarn, moved the color changes up one row for both colors. 12mm safety eyes. Then left him on the floor and cried about my candy corn being lonely on the floor. Hopefully you laugh, because I took like 12 pictures of the scene, trying to look like some far away scary sneaky thing since the whole ‘candy-on-the-floor’ thing wasn’t being conveyed in the photos. Candy Corn with Jaws music, slowly creeping across the room. That would make an awesome animated GIF. No? Then do what I did and call someone in to make them laugh.

I tried to be all artistic and create a little diorama of the ones that matched (poor pinky corn looked out of place) but I think now it just looks like a haphazard picture. Oh and when I realized the Harvest Corn was the wrong color, I also realized the Pink Corn was color-silly, and I should have made the bottom red for Valentine Corn. Doh!

So TADAAAAaaa I wrote a post – which is something I really want to do more often. I have been reading lately about managing one’s time and reviewing where your time goes and so on, and while I have myself down to one game on Facebook, I think that is a real time sucker for me. OH BUT WAIT I did make a Facebook Page for my Etsy shop, so that's something positive to do with my Facebook time.
Thanks for the reminder to write this post Megan! See I literally got right on it! At least one thing I wanted to do this past week got done, now back to cleaning. Hooray for electricity! :)

no. 197 - 199

2011-10-24T18:23:00.001-04:00

The newest to be listed on Etsy!

197 - My frosting top is made with a deep mix of colors look like shades of berries, and my cake base is a mint green.

198 - My frosting top is made with a mix of a light mint with streams of purple, while, and yellow, with lighter edging, and a bright yellow cake base.

199 - My frosting top is made with a mix of cream and a shimmery raspberry, with that same pink edging, and my cake base is a chocolate brown. Instead on a cherry, I sport a raspberry as my topper in the same shade as the pink as my frosting, just without the sparklies.

Sharpies

2011-10-23T18:46:00.001-04:00

Sharpies
Originally uploaded by rengawk

Found a use for the coffee decanter I've been saving for years that no plant would ever fit in...I told the other half to not let me buy any more Sharpies.

Sweet Crochet Along

2011-10-14T22:57:00.001-04:00

Hooray for my next Crochet-a-long! This is another CAL hosted by Megan of Crochet Every Day – with a theme of “sweet”!

I am going lazy and using my stock yarn shelf photo, focusing on the pinks…

I plan to make pink candy corn! Cute idea, right? Maybe purple too ;)

Now I didn’t take a new photo (wow this one is almost a year old!) because my yarn shelf is looking a little sad – but it is okay, it means I am using the yarn! I bought a yarn ball winder on eBay (because I am wayyyyy too cheap to spend what retailers are asking) and I hope to have it here next week. Why? I want pretty little yarn cakes! It will sound silly if you are not a crafty person, but when the above skeins start to get about half-way used up, they get flat, sad, and potentially turn into one giant know. Plus it is hard to take one of those blobs from the shelf nicely, and returning it? No way.

Looking at my Flickr pics of the shelf, maybe tying on some variegated yarns will be nice too? I may also incorporate some of Julie’s pattern for a more 3d amigurumi style, check out her pattern here!

Next time? Planning to share the sweet results, and share a pic of my lovely prize from Megan for joining in last time, an adorable handmade coffee cozy!

no. 192 - 196

2011-10-12T17:59:00.003-04:00

no. 192 - 196
Originally uploaded by rengawk

192 - My frosting top is made with a rainbow of colors (orange, yellow, mint, medium blue, purple) with magenta edging, and my base is a crisp white with a touch of shimmery iridescent thread (Snow Shimmer)!

193 - My frosting top is made with a mint green colored yarn with shimmery white edging (Snow Shimmer), and my cake base is a light pink. I also sport a tiny pink-colored heart button sewn on with pink thread.

194 - My frosting top is made with a deep purple with a purple, pink, and blues mix (BonBonPrint) for my edging, and my cake base is a bright magenta (Shocking Pink). I also sport a cute little magenta heart button sewn on with black thread.

195 - My frosting top is made with a dark orange, and my cake base is a warm brown. I have three heathered-green tendrils than hang down from my top. along with a 4" loop so I can hang out and pretend to be a pumpkin! I also have a cute silver-toned leaf charm purchased from the wonderful seller Nichole de Briun.

196 - I am a little special, and am not currently available for sale! I'm sure we will share when I am and where ;)

no. 186 - 190

2011-08-21T21:59:00.001-04:00

no. 186 - 190
Originally uploaded by rengawk

The latest cupcakes in the Etsy shop!

186 - My frosting top is made with a mix of a blues, purples, and pinks (BonBon Print), and my base is a crisp white with a touch of shimmery iridescent thread (Snow Shimmer)!

187 - My frosting top is made with a few different shades of pink (magenta, pink chenille, light pink) with edging of crisp white with a touch of shimmery iridescent thread (Snow Shimmer), and my base is a mint green!

188 - My frosting top is made with a shiny pink (Caron Simply Soft) yarn mixed with a yarn of rainbow pastels, with edging of that same rainbow and a shiny frilly white, and my base is a light pink!

189 - My frosting top is made with a shiny red yarn mixed with a shiny white, and my and my base is a crisp white with a touch of shimmery iridescent thread (Snow Shimmer)! Do I look read for the holidays?

190 - My frosting top is made with a grey heather yarn, and my cake base is a bright pink. I have a sweet little embellishment of pink buttons sewn to my top with a glass bead for some extra pizazz!

Lidwig WIP

2011-08-14T23:35:00.005-04:00

IMG_3290
Originally uploaded by rengawk

Ludwig is coming together for this CAL on Ravelry. :)

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/mygurumi-yourgurumi/1779257/

[My project so far]

Two works in progress

2011-08-11T22:52:00.004-04:00

Two works in progress
Originally uploaded by rengawk

Trying to get into using Ravelry again for my crochet projects. While I find it easier to post my pictures and add notes on Flickr, I really enjoy browsing through what people have created on Ravelry! If I enjoy it so much, then why not contribute so more people can find inspiration?

no. 181-185

2011-08-07T23:25:00.004-04:00

no. 181-185
Originally uploaded by rengawk

181 - I was made just for a giveaway on Gleeful Things! My top is made with BonBon Print, edging a dark sparkly blue, and a base of tan.

182 - My frosting top is made with a dark chocolate brown yarn, and my base is a yarn that is a mix of pinks, browns, and creams. Just to let you know, my creator only has a teeny bit of this yarn left, so I may be the last of my little group to be able to feature it!

183 - My frosting top is made with one of my creator's favorite yarns (called Swimming Pool Blues), and my base is a bright white with a bit of shimmery sparkle!

184 - My frosting top is made with one of my creator's favorite yarns (BonBon Print by Red Heart) and contains a variety of blues and pinks. My base is a simple tan, but my top is accented with a cute little puffy heart, isn't it adorable? Oh who am I kidding, I think I'm adorable!

185 - My frosting top is made with a mix of a shiny pink yarn and a mix of browns and white called Chocolate Ombre, and my base is a bright white with a bit of shimmery sparkle!

no. 176 - 180

2011-07-30T23:43:00.005-04:00

no. 176 - 180
Originally uploaded by rengawk

176: My frosting top is made with a mix of a medium blue and a rainbow of pastels, with white edging. My care base is made with another medium blue that has a bit of a teal-tint to it named Little Boy Blue. Blue and blue wouldn't be very helpful to say would it?

177: My frosting top is made with a variegated yarn called Primary, so I can say that I AM SUPER UNIQUE. Okay okay we all can say that, but even if I end up re-made, no one will have the precise same color pattern as me. How cool is that? I have a cake base made with a light tan, and a cute hand-cut and sewn embellishment of golden felt.

178: My frosting top is made of Candy Print, a fun mix of pinks and blues, and my cake base is a lovely magenta called Shocking Pink that matches the darkest pink in my top...wonder why the camera hates this great colored yarn? IT IS BECAUSE I AM THAT AWESOME! I even tried to look online to give you an great reference but my color is too shockingly awesome to be captured well by anyone. HA. Not really but everything was a big complicated link, and I hate complicated.

179: My frosting top is made of two types of shiny white yarns, and my base is made with a great mix of deep colors look like shades of berries! Like red grapes; the lovely wine-color that they produce when crushed, or the amazing hues that blackberries will leave on your finger tips when freshly picked.

180: My frosting top is made with a medium gray yarn, and my base is a bright hot pink! I even have a cute button embellishment that almost looks like a flower!

Foods I want to make

2011-07-08T23:19:00.001-04:00

aka ‘Potential Recipe Roundup’!

Food, I think I love you.

Yes I do really like food, and cooking, and making something AWESOME…but…

But I need practice.

You see there are times when it is easier to go out and get what I want from someone else’s hands – eating establishment, pre-made, frozen. I also have to contend with the understanding that my tastes do not always have the prefect alignment with my other half, which can leave me frustrated, and with too many servings!

Regardless, I keep getting my head full of ideas of recipes I want to try….and maybe having them in little posts will be easier than printing them and losing them in a folder in the kitchen.

Baked Potato Potato Salad

Make Your Own Ice Cream Cones

Homemade Ricotta

Coconut Cream Cheese Cookies

World’s Easiest Chocolate Pudding

YUM.

I seem to have lost my month…

2011-07-01T13:54:00.001-04:00

July already? Where did June go?!

I’ve decided Devil Dogs taste better frozen. Is it that my tastes have changes over the years, or the products have gotten cheaper? I bet YES is the answer to that one – but somehow freezing them doesn’t produce a rock to gnaw on, but something that takes a little longer to eat, and is less sweet.

I bought more yarn! What a shock, but I was being really good about it for a while. I had gotten a skein of Red Heart Shimmer in Snow the other month and while a fine (4-ply but thin) yarn, I love the iridescent thread in it. Last night I picked up skeins of the Shimmer line in Hot Pink, Royal, Purple, and Snow. I also picked up something new that I haven’t seen for a reasonable price before; Caron Simply Soft Paints in Oceana. No plans for it, but I love Simply Soft, and this is all my favorite colors rolled into one happy soft yarn.

Now, what about that CAL?

Glad you asked! (I know you didn’t but I did so there) I took some photos earlier in the week and didn’t like them, so here are my retakes for the Patriotic Crochet Along!

Rather than a set of matching stars, I made a few different styles. My favorites turned out to be the darker shades in what I consider to be “Craft Store Americana” - in that the Ben Franklin Crafts I used to work at would have HUGE sections of decorating stuff that was supposed to look like it was useful. For instance there were pre-weathered muffin tins that were for decoration only, and stated such all over the pan. Who wants a cast-iron looking pan they can’t use? I know I know, I’m just not the target for full-scale home decorating stuff, especially that gets changed by the season.

Even though the deep red-centered star was the first one I made, I purposely tried other color combinations because hey, what’s the point of a CAL if you don’t try something new? I had a ball of Peaches & Cream in red & white combo that I had gotten for the holidays for a candy-cane themed cupcake, and used it as the second round’s color – this star I had to get used to, as I liked the center round to be more prominent, and in this one it blended so well with the second round’s red. But now that I am blathering about it I see that I do like it much more than I started.

The two brightly colored stars stick out don’t they? I wanted to see in person what using what the pattern’s photo used, and the one with the tan center turned out to be too strange. I tried to add an outer round of white to make it large enough to be able to be sewn around a CD, but it looked tacky and like I made a boring hexagon-shaped crochet thing. I ripped off the extra row and then took the last group shot.

Making two and sewing them together? Just too thick, but would be adorable as a ornament – you would even cut some cardboard and sneak it inside to keep it stiff if you were thinking of a mobile… hey wait, would that be cute, a mobile of these in solid colors? How about in the Red Heart Shimmer yarns I just got? See, always thinking around here.

Of course if you didn’t see the above photos are linked to Flickr, where you can see them in more detail if you would like! What project is next?

What?

2011-06-28T23:20:00.001-04:00

If you toast a marshmallow, and save it for later, does it still taste as awesome?

How to Make Toasted Campfire S’more Pops!

The above link prompted such a question. Pre-cooked marshmallow? Does it being room temperature ruin the effect of a s’more*? Would you be sad if I skipped the apostrophe? Smore smore smore. No, it looks like I can’t type if I skip it.

Besides there anything better than a fire-toasted marshmallow peep?

Oh, you didn’t know? I like peeps.

To eat, and in idea/imagery. That explains why the above link goes to their merchandising site, and not their candy site. You know how people like cows, but not real cows? It’s kinda like that, but I like real peeps too. Maybe not the sugar free ones though, because I don’t like sugar substitutes, but I would like to buy them just to use them as photo props because THEY ARE GIANT AND PEEPS and are single formed so they have no holes from ripping then apart.

I heard the Just Born factory tour in Easton…wait I went to give you a link and don’t they do factory tours anymore? I mean I thought it was like Chocolate World at Hershey where it has nothing to do with the actual factory floor but has a cute ride and crap…what the heck? I know Hershey’s added a bunch of little-one centered activities too, wait, I know, I’m thinking the wrong factory, I was talking about Crayola!

How many years later and I still freakin’ love this clip from Sesame Street, from the music to the colors to the smell of a box of crayons.

Getting’ old. That’s gonna be a new blog tag. Warning, this video smells like crayons. The good ones too.

*Oh I think I'd eat anything that was s’more themed, regardless of temperature.

Deep Thoughts

2011-06-26T16:59:00.001-04:00

Crap, can’t remember, was that from SNL?

So why is my deodorant made in Mexico? Oh well I had an argument about that but then when I went to type it I was like…”Oh, well, why not?”

I made these again (almond), and they still taste burnt. I guess I should try it next time in a pan like the recipe says, rather than a pot…hey I can’t be the only one who doesn’t want teeny tiny candy splatters everywhere! Wait, I looked at the original post and those don’t have skins, and both times my nuts had skins. Maybe that is what is burning. My nuts. Crap here comes the link. Thanks Vince. (and crap there were too many to choose from)

Still Thirsty.

Am I blogging? Like a normal blogger? With updates that aren’t months apart? I blame Regretsy. *waves and hollers* HI MY NEW FRIENDS!

Yes my blog readership has doubled. I blame Jackie. But if I typed Jackie-O, everyone else reading would assume I meant something totally different. And my blame I meant YAY.

I think this updates was inspired by The Blogess. She makes things awesome though, so it is all good.

WHY IS THERE NO FOOD IN FRONT OF ME. Well shit that one is my own fault, I forgot to do something other than take the lid off and leave it on the counter.

That was the hungry voice.

This was supposed to be left open and filled in throughout the day, but it kept flowing, so we’re going to go with it.

I feel simultaneously smart and idiotic. NO no, in this moment I mean, different than that feeling throughout the day. I just found that what blogger calls tags, LiveWriter calls Categories and THERE IS A BAR RIGHT IN THS FRAME for me to edit them. Fail in paying attention.

Water makes me thirsty

2011-06-25T19:36:00.002-04:00

Water is making me thirsty.
I am trying to jam a much as I can down my throat in order to feel better – because I AM SICK AND TIRED OF FEELING SICK AND TIRED.
And I was inspired by this post from Crunchy Betty:

Slip It In For Beautiful Skin: Drink Water When You Wake Up

So today is my second day of guzzling extra water, and I am freaking thirsty. Also I had tuna melts for lunch/dinner and water doesn’t fix the after taste. Not that I haven’t been trying to cut my sugar-drink consumption (other half switched to diet and I would rather drink city chlorinated water from the tap than that) anyway, but this has been water only. I may have to mix up some gatorade though, as just rambling about it is making me even more thirsty and I just had a big glass of water.
Yup, blogging about water. I will say it makes you thankful you can have such a thing to complain about, and such an outlet to do so it! So there’s something positive… yup one of those grumpy days around here.

Patriotic Crochet Along

2011-06-22T22:19:00.002-04:00

CAL = Crochet Along, in case you didn’t know. :)
I got this idea from my fellow blogger Jenn of Jenn Likes Yarn…it is a Patriotic-themed CAL! Thanks Jenn!
So Megan of Crochet Every Day is hosting a Crochet Along for starry coasters in which “The goal of this little crochet along is to complete a set of four coasters by July 4, 2011” being broken up into an intro post, and a post showing off your creativity!
Welcome to my intro post! I’ve never done a CAL on my blog, but today installed Live Writer (Sound familiar? A few posts down I was quite excited stating the same thing…but this time we are broadcasting from a more permanent machine) and can share in the crochet fun!
My colors are based on the classic US flag colors of red white and blue, and include Red Heart Super Saver, Vanna’s Choice, and some stash yarns. My first idea is to use the dark red, heathered white, and navy (which is super soft!) for a country look, and then use the brighter colors on another star and see which I like more. I also may try the dark colors with a beige in place of white just for something different, but I didn’t think of it when I took the photo! Oops, I even have a red and white cotton yarn that completely skipped my mind – I may sneak that in too!
Now I will admit, between taking the picture and sitting down to type, I did make one already, and they stitch up quite quickly! I may make them double-sided, or add a row and use my “CROCHET OVER TRASH CDs” obsession as of late to make a different type of coaster than the flower pattern I have been using. (hint hint to me, that needs a post of its own).
Oh and welcome Summer! I am not a fan of being warm but this weekend for Father’s Day I took a drive to see my dad and got burned on my driving arm for trying to be frugal and not run the air and enjoy the breeze. Luckily I gave it enough care that it seems to have healed into a tan that may even not peel!
So the plan is to be back showing my finished stars, but first, I’m going over to Crochet Every Day to post my link. Do you crochet? You should join!

Bored Swiffer

2011-06-22T21:18:00.003-04:00

(wow this was written a few months ago, so but Swiffer photos taken today)

Bored Swiffer?!
Yes well you would be bored too if you had to languish in the laundry room for a few years.
Anthropomorphizing the Swiffer isn't working for me though, how about you?
So I had a crochet project in mind for a while now, probably when this post (ohhh, fancy new window opening link!) first was linked from Craft last year. I kept thinking I would make one; then got too lazy to bother. I even browsed Etsy multiple times for a handmade Swiffer cover, but never made a purchase. You know the old I CAN DO IT MYSELF kept getting in the way. Plus I’m cheap when it comes to something made with yarn where there is HOW MUCH YARN around here.

Yeah, that is only the pretty-packaged-looking skeins on a shelf too. The shelf below has a container with the smaller amounts hand wound – you know how unruly a skein gets after it is about half-way gone – as well as another container full of novelty yarns that I am such a sucker to get for a good deal.
ANYWAY – I’m not sure why, but insomnia crocheting hit me last night as a good idea. I decided that if I made a cover already, then maybe I would stop bitching about the floors being dusty, and I could figure out if making a cover was dumb as heck when I could fight with cutting socks apart and make a reusable cover that way. Crochet seemed like a much better idea, PLUS I loved the colors the pattern used. Yes, that is indeed comparable to liking a car based on color alone. OH PRETTY I WANT TO TRY.
I decided to use stash yarn seeing as the point was to not spend money to help me achieve my objectives; try the pattern, decide if a handmade cover was a good idea, clean the floors better than my current routine. I chose a cotton yarn with the hopes that it would wash well, as well as hold up while being used wet. Now whether there is basis behind cotton being better for those needs or not, I will admit coming to that conclusion based on the fact that knit/crochet dishcloths were traditionally made of cotton yarn (kitchen cotton anyone?) than something to mop the floors should be as well!
From the start I should have read the post more thoroughly before plowing ahead. The link above goes to the site I used for this project, but which I have discovered was not the version I had seen printed previously. DOH. This single-page instruction style would have helped me much better as I had trouble getting the separate pages of the other site to load – which I have no patience for, we have FiOS!
I picked a cotton yarn that I didn’t think I would use for another project (because you know, that whole WHAT IF of a yarn stash!) Whatever right? I think I picked the one that has been here the longest and wasn’t the neat candy-cane color that I used a WHOPPING TIME OF ONCE for a custom project. (See what I mean about the considerations of what should be a simple task?) This skein turned out to be Peaches & Cream (because Sugar ‘n Cream was too cool for Walmart at one point, but not currently? Whatever) in Lilac Ombre, which turns out that spell check thinks is not a word even though I am reading it right off the label I retrieved from the trash. Ombre. Ombre. Ombre.
After some late night crocheting of the main portion (too tired and too cheap to consider the two-tone effect that made the original so appealing to me) and some time during a Law & Order disk from Netflix, I finished the center section. On to the part in the round, I made faces and fretted about stitch count and corners – you know, enough that I just fudged it and started decreasing at the corners as I saw fit. Had I read the pattern better from either source, I’d have realized THAT WAS THE POINT. I also should have gone with my first choice of a G-hook rather than the H since for some reason my stitches were pretty loose, as opposed to my norm with making plush. Oops. Also when a pattern mentions measuring to something you are trying to cover? You should do that front the start, because I would have noticed my chain being too open. As it was my oversight, I may need to add another row of decreases, which is simple following the pattern’s, well pattern in the same manner.
When it came time to try the cover on, it was a bit too loose. Better than too snug to fit? I tried it out anyway, with the loops side out (which I imagine would have been fine with a chain of three per loop if you are trying to conserve yarn, wait, why are you using it it make a mop cover??) It did a great job in the kitchen, seeing as our vacuum is like UUM NO I HATE YOU AND WILL SPIT THIS BACK AT YOU when it comes to bare floors. Now for the real test – the bathroom. We seem to have a dust problem in the bathrooms. Like the toilet area is a dust magnet. The toilet is not a place I want to be on my hands and knees trying to get at DUST. So it lingers. To a point that it bugs me. This silly cotton cover got it all, even what was stuck the the molding! (I tried typing moulding, and spellcheck hates it – so I looked it up – turns out molding is appropriate as the US spelling, even thought to me it looks like the process of mold growing, ick.)
Next step was to wash it, maybe see if it shrunk down to a better fit? Maybe because it had been near the toilet? Maybe because it was really gross? Lets just leave it as part of the testing process shall we? Washed nicely without shrinkage, became even softer (you know, in case you have nice floors and not rental linoleum) and still fit the Swiffer.
The whole project gets a thumbs up for being useful, free of cost, eco-friendly (no more mop pads in the trash, or the containers they come in), and money savings (no need to even consider looking to get more of the replacement pads), as well as being a good gift idea. Especially if you have four-pawed family members who don’t help with household chores, which I am confident we will someday. (Sorry it is dirty on the loopy-side, it gets used often!)

Live Writer?!

2011-03-20T01:01:00.002-04:00

A test post, using Windows Live Writer software. I think it is a good first step, because this software will allow me to take down my thoughts a wee bit better. Sorry Blogger, but I hate your online posting interface. It makes me scream and pull at my hair and otherwise not blog over something as silly as wanting WYSIWYG!
Now, on to getting pictures to work…

Oh, wow it won’t take my Flickr links, but it will upload the images? Where pray tell are you saving them little program?

Steps

2011-03-19T23:52:00.002-04:00

So the intent is to share, right?

Then why do I find it so hard to do so? I keep finding ideas, wishing I would take a moment to jot them down.

What is stopping me?

Is it frustration with creating posts?

That gives me an idea... how about for every hurdle I find, I take a step to the solution. Right now, that means setting up and testing a blogging software. Let's try it!

Fly, fly fly!

2010-09-08T23:51:00.002-04:00

September is a good as month as any to do my best to send some of my creations off into this world, right?

This owl has been hanging around here for quite a while now, and had shared his many faces over on Flickr...

He is now available for adoption in my Etsy shop! He even saved up to help cover the cost of his flight, but would need a little extra if he is traveling outside the US.

What color Owl would you love to adopt?

Hi!

2010-09-08T17:09:00.003-04:00

Hi!
Originally uploaded by rengawk

A custom request for a fuzzy brown owl! Bernat's Boa seems to no longer be available in most stores, so I was one step away from ordering online when I found a skein at the Flower & Craft Warehouse in Blue Ball.

I've been using this particular yarn since back when I worked at Ben Franklin Crafts, so I was surprised to have trouble finding it! WalMart (a few locations, some with the expanded craft section that includes fabric), Michael's, AC Moore, Jo-Ann Fabrics...no luck. I hope to see it back in stores again, as it makes an awesome owl! I do have some unfinished projects that used it and some similar yarns, I may frog them to make more of these! What do you think?

Update: looks like Bernat is re-releasing Boa in new colors as the above link shows - good to see! I don't really want to buy yarn online....I want to see the colors in person! Although next time I get a custom order and can't find the yarn in stores, I will use the internet to expedite the process and just order online after all!

Toothpaste and the toilet

2010-09-03T23:31:00.000-04:00

I've been reading a few different blogs lately that have been inspirational.

Yup, sappy, but true.

I had filled my Google Reader with crafts and candy and cooking and other fun stuff - but lately I have found some reading topics that have made me feel good on a more personal level. No this isn't about religion (well not to me anyway!) but simplicity.

Simple? huh?

So my use of the internet has brought me some new categories and fun words to share. Words like frugality. Minimalism. Simplicity.

Sounds a little intense and frightening, almost like I've gone off the deep end?

Nope. Nothing drastic. Just me, but better. Happier.

Small changes in my life are beginning to bring to me a piece of mind, and what I see as a healthy thought process in gaining insight to my relationship with my stuff.

So maybe take a few moments and check out some of the blogs I have been reading (in no particular order) and a little blurb about each from their own pages...or scroll down and read about what the heck the above title means!

The Simple Dollar

"The Simple Dollar is a blog for those of us who need both cents and sense: people fighting debt and bad spending habits while building a financially secure future and still affording a latte or two. Our busy lives are crazy enough without having to compare five hundred mutual funds – we just want simple ways to manage our finances and save a little money."

Unclutterer

"Unclutterer is the website for home and office organization. It’s not just for the helplessly disorganized who would lose their heads if they weren’t attached, and pack rats looking to put their stashes on a diet, but also for obsessive compulsive neat freaks looking to squeeze even more order into their lives. We hope we can make getting and staying organized fun and informative."

The Simple Rabbit Society

"The Simple Rabbit Society is a society for simple rabbits. And damn cute.

We share articles, advice, hacks, and tips for achieving an awesome life through minimalism."

Simpler Living

"Welcome to Simpler Living! I launched this blog in 2008 to motivate myself to downsize and find new homes for my unwanted things by giving them to my readers, friends, family and charity. I lost more than 100 pounds of clutter, learned to let go of sentimental stuff and got more organized."

Rowdy Kittens

"Somewhere along the way we start thinking we need more and more stuff to be happy. But is that really true? Do we need a bigger house, a better car, or a large salary to find happiness?

Imagine what the world would look like if we pursued our dreams rather than more stuff.

And that’s where this blog comes in handy…"

The Non-Consumer Advocate

"My journey to live well on less and to not buy new is far from over. I am constantly learning new ways to support my goals. I look forward to sharing my insights and foibles with you. I also look forward to hearing ideas and inspiration from my readers."

From these and some other sources that I may have missed (I have a lot in my Reader!) I came up with a fun project today. You see, I like the idea of simplification of stuff, and I decided a nice place to start was the bathroom, where we have 5 different toothpastes in a cup. It bugs me that we only use one type (I've tried to go back to the others but I find the one our dentist gave us is my favorite by far!) I got it in my mind that I was going to throw out at least three of these 5...keeping the one we like and a specialty script fluoride treatment. Then the part of my brain that hates wasting anything chimed in - NO I said, these have been here for much too long... but wait. The toilet is dirty. I don't like to use caustic cleaners in the toilet. What would be wrong with squirting the last of this tube (the one in my hand that was going to the trash) into the toilet and using it with the brush as a cleaner?

Now your thought process is potentially going in two directions - "hey not bad" or "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Hopefully the first as from a logical standpoint, where is the true problem? Normally a product used to remove stains from enamel, why not stains from porcelain?

Or I just brushed the toilet with toothpaste. Weirdo.

Regardless, it worked well on a few levels. I got rid of something we weren't using, repurposed that same product to do another job, used up that product, got a fun topic for a blog post, and a clean minty-fresh toilet...or two, I can't imagine why I wouldn't have tried it on the other toilet too...

Or again, I'm the odd one squeezing toothpaste in the toilet when my other half comes in and asks..."Are you cleaning the toilet with toothpaste?!"

Sharing the opportunity!

2010-08-01T13:45:00.003-04:00

Do you have access to a professional media cutter?

I used to in a sense, when I worked at a craft store - as long as you bought the media in-store, you were able to use the die-cut machine free! For craft foam, fabric, felt, paper, vellum for scrapbooking or other crafty needs, you were able to choose a template (which came in the form of a wooden pad with the design in metal surrounded by thick rubber for safety) and use a table-top hand-roller to press out your design. (Similar to this product only not as, well, contemporary, this was a long time ago!)

I'm just here to break up all this text
and be cute ^^

Simple, complimentary, and, well, limited. You were stuck with the size of the exact die and its style, as well as access to the device.

Enter the computer age, where you are no longer restricted to costly kits and die storage – you can do this at home! Small personal machines have been on the market for years in differing input types (Sizzix, Cricut, Cuttlebug) and accessible from your favorite craft store to your local Wally World. While price is often an issue, many of these machines would make up for their price tag with the ability to create limitless projects at home!

What has always made me turn up my nose in consideration of such a device is the idea of having to purchase individual dies or cartridges. Where do you store them? Why are they so expensive? Why can’t the initial investment be more of a catch-all?

Now I will admit I haven’t done substantial research beyond window shopping all these years, I love the idea of something that is CNC from a system I can access. No mill that is heavier than me, no business-level investment. This idea is most appealing to me not only for storage, but also functionality. Want that image smaller? Sure! Need to change that font? No problem! Now what type of product will meet those needs…

Enter The Silhouette SD!

The Silhouette is a digital cutting tool for personal use. It connects to your computer just like a printer, but instead of printing designs it cuts them with a small blade. With the machine connected to your computer, you'll get access to all of the fonts on your PC plus the thousands of cuttable designs found on the Silhouette Online Store.

Click here for the giveaway link!

Humm Online Store, oh no not the upkeep again! Exploring the online catalog though does give me a sense that this really is an all-in-one device. Ohh and then they even have a comparison to the popular Cricut.

So I happen to be feeling pretty good about this machine – but now what, why am I sharing this with you? Well I want to tell you about the amazing giveaway over at Dollar Store Crafts! Stop on over through August 7th, 2010 to learn how you can win your own Silhouette SD package! There are also money-saving packages available to Dollar Store Craft readers, so if this sounds like the machine you've been looking for, utilize those promo codes!

Cupcake Plush no. 127-131

2010-07-13T23:27:00.004-04:00

Cupcake Plush no. 127-131
Originally uploaded by rengawk

July brings us more cupcakes to share!

127 - Pink Camo print over light pink,
128 - Melonberry over Warm Brown,
129 - Light Blue with White Frosting Edge over Baby Print,
130 - Light Purple (Mohair) and a pastel print of white, yellow, and green over Medium Purple, and
131 - Light Pink with White Frosting Edge over Pink Camo print.

I will be sharing these tonight in my Etsy shop - have you seen it yet? :)

CraftFail!

2010-06-30T23:33:00.002-04:00

I shared a little craft project over at CraftFail, stop on by and check it out, and please share your feedback! :)

no. 120-125

2010-06-22T22:40:00.009-04:00

Meet another new batch!

120 - Chocolate Brown over sage green mixed with grey and brown speckles (Green Aran Fleck),

121 - A mixture of pinks, browns, and cream (the last of this yarn I think?) with a Chocolate Brown edging, over Warm Brown,

122 - Pink Camo over Light Pink,

123 - not-so-traditional Rainbow (Dark Orange, Bright Yellow, Mint Green, Medium Blue, Amethyst) with Caron Simply Soft's Grape edging over White,

124 - Chocolate Brown over Bright Pink, and

125 - White with blue beads over Ocean!

Looking to adopt? Stop on by the Etsy Shop, Unusual Wedge!

I've shared this week's little collection as part of the I Made It Blog Party at Everything Etsy. This is a fun activity from the folks at Everything Etsy to share the lovely projects folks have created this week. Check out the links for more info - you should join in the fun!

No. 114-118

2010-06-16T10:49:00.004-04:00

No. 114-118
Originally uploaded by rengawk

The next batch of crochet cupcakes that are free to travel the world!

These five are just a few of the many that will be showcased this summer in my Etsy shop.

No. 114 is the cutie with the white felt heart hand sewn as an embellishment; No. 115 has a cake speckled base with frosting that is full of color - blue, yellow, green - all with a red cherry on top!

Featuring a new yarn that I haven't tried before, No. 116 has a pink camo top with a tan base, No. 100 features one of my favorite purples and a base called Melonberry, and No. 118 features stripes of white, rose, and a pink edging over a medium brown base.

A new project!

2009-10-02T19:29:00.002-04:00

This week I sent a new project off to its new and happy home; a custom dinosaur request!

Quite cute, eh? He's made from Red Heart's Ocean, one of my favorite variegated yarns, and a size E hook to make sure no stuffing escaped. RAWR!

Shown below displayed on our deck corner, I forgot to take measurements because I was so excited to share him with his new owner - but he had at least a foot foot-print, meaning he was longer when measured from head-to-tail, but sitting on my desk he covered my 12-inch measuring block comfortably.

We have Banana Bread!

2009-09-25T15:02:00.002-04:00

Sometimes plans around here don't fall into place; especially in the kitchen. I saved and shared a link to a Brown Sugar Banana Bread the other day through Google Reader - I have sad bananas in the 'fridge, I can make this! Wait until I have some time on Tuesday, it'll be great!

So I sat down and better inspected the recipe Tuesday morning (ahem, er, afternoon - hey what else are days off for??) and realized I didn't have a few of the ingredients listed, or had substitutions on hand... so off I went to find a better idea for the scary bananas that were dangerously close to being sent to the dumpster. They were getting ugh-lee. And, no you can't peel and freeze them - er well you kinda can, but you need to plan better, as the last time I made a container of banana mush, froze it, I forgot about it after putting it back into the 'fridge, and well, it got nasty.

First and final stop by to smitten kitchen, where I knew I had found a great recipe for apple muffins previously. I found her jacked-up banana bread as the first search result, and I had all the ingredients! Well, in theory anyway, things around our house always have some minor alterations when it comes to baking. Like old bananas that look terrible but turn out to still be hard because you didn't know you weren't supposed to store them in the fridge. Pfft, I like cold partially green bananas, so it seemed like a great idea. If you haven't experienced this before, the peels turn a nasty brown color long before the inside turns to mush under refrigeration.

Then there was the rest of the kitchen adventure; since this is a new blog you'll have to know that no matter what project I take on in the kitchen, it turned into an adventure - if I had a cooking show it would be called OH S*^# - in the kitchen because no matter the project, I say that at least once. Today was giving myself an impromptu manicure with a new knife (GINSU!) that I love, but keep trimming my nails. No there were no escaped parts that will be crunchy bites, eew. The other event was the minor spilling of the last ingredient on the counter, floor, and myself in a small amount - flour.

One-Bowl Banana & Apple Bread
(adapted from Smitten Kitchen's jacked-up banana bread)

3 to 4 ripe bananas, peeled and smashed
1 to 2 small apples, peeled, cored, and chopped in size to your liking (I like teeny, but that's me)
1/3 cup melted salted margarine/butter (I added a pinch of salt, mine was Fleishman's unsalted margarine so my bread would be lactose-free)
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg, beaten (I didn't pre-beat my egg, which made this a one-bowl mess)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 cup of flour

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
With a wooden spoon - or hand mixer in case your bananas aren't ready to be wooden spoon mixed - mix melted butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl.
Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla - then the spices.
Sprinkle the baking soda over the mixture and mix in.
Add the flour, and mix!
Pour mixture into a buttered (or sprayed, I found baking oil spray with flour worked great) 4×8 inch loaf pan - your call on material, I used one of those silicon ones because that's what we've got!
Bake for 50 minutes to one hour, or until a tester comes out clean. Cool on a rack or on top of the stove and marvel at how great the kitchen smells.
Remove from pan and slice to serve. Or stand over the stove and enjoy while still warm, dropping half a slice onto the counter - good thing you just cleaned it from spilling flour.

This also has potential for some great muffins too! I just happened to be too lazy to partition the batter into lined muffin tins today. I'd bake 'em for 25 minutes at the same temperature, and keep checking with the clean-poke-to-the-interior-with-a-sharp-object test. Ohh another great option? Sprinkle the top with extra brown or raw sugar for a little crunch on the crust before baking.

(Oops, this sat lonely in my LiveWriter since June, argg!)

Crochet cupcakes to share!

2009-06-29T16:11:00.002-04:00

Cupcakes 81-85
Originally uploaded by rengawk

Something crocheted to share - a new batch of cupcakes incorporating some new textured yarns, and a brainstorm of adding embellishments - I have a ton of reclaimed buttons and things saved from the trash at work, why hadn't I thought to share them with my cupcakes sooner?

On the worktable are another batch brewing (cooking? baking?) that includes some gifts - I'll be sure to share them when they are ready!

The ones pictures are all currently available (at the time of posting, no fair being sad if you stop by and see this in three months) in my Etsy shop for adoption!

Cupcakes, kitchen adventures, and something new!

2009-06-10T18:41:00.002-04:00

The piping bag...
Originally uploaded by rengawk

The piping bag, he and I are once again friends.

We didn't speak for a long time.

It was over a silly incident where I tried to pipe out deviled egg filling that included chopped black olives. Many swears were shared. The eggs eventually turned out tasting great, but were not too pretty.

These cupcakes were made in belated birthday celebration for saibotjr. I was so pleased with the ease and simplicity of piping the icing on, I had to share.

And welcome to my new blog! I hope to share all the fun projects that come together around here, hopefully even with pictures!