Make Things

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BadgeGirl — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:18:13 +0000

Holiday Baking

BadgeGirl — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:13:59 +0000

I love baking for the holidays. Some years I start so early in November, that I end up having to do a second batch of everything, just to have goodies for the actual holiday.

Some favorites are made each year, only for the holiday; Cherry Chews, Naniamo Bars, McIntosh Marshmallows, shortbread, sugar cookies. Others are made year round, like Peanut Butter Squares. Over the years I have tried new recipes each year, some have stayed around, like snickerdoodles, Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies, macaroons, stain glass windows, and others are never to be make again (gingerbread anything).

This year has been so hectic, and since I am only now starting my holiday baking the assortment will be smaller than normal.

2009 Holiday Baking

Cherry Chew

Naniamo Bars

No-bake Peanut Butter Squares

Martha Stewart Snickerdoodles

Martha Stewart Macaroons

The linkes recipies for the Naniamo bars and the Peanut Butter Squares are similar to mine but not the same. Those and the Cherry Chew recipe are closely guarded secrets.

Happy Holidays!

Wool Wedding Dress

BadgeGirl — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:46:34 +0000

I was reading the new issue of knitty.com and some how ended up at an article for this woman who raises Lincoln Longwool Sheep, who made her wedding dress from the wool from one of her sheep.

I just had to share it. It is amazing.

A space to call my own

BadgeGirl — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:03:45 +0000

Still bogged down with life and work, but I did get some sewing done today. I finished two more sets of blankets and burp cloths, for a friend at work, whose wife is due in two weeks. It was nice to get back into something crafty, but it did reinforce how much I NEED A CRAFT ROOM.

Having to lug my sewing machine, fabric, cutting board, ironing board and ‘stuff’, up and down the stairs, and trying to work on the dining room table, is a huge pain. I can’t wait until I have a room where everything is together and permanently set up, and ready to go.

Everyone has their own idea of what makes a great craft room. I am constantly mentally designing mine. I have even picked the color. These are some of my favorites.

MIA

BadgeGirl — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:42:33 +0000

Work and life have been keeping me busy, and I have not been able to post very much, nor have I been able to make very much. Since I have nothing to inspire you with, here are my top three inspiration sites. Enjoy!

Make A Difference

BadgeGirl — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:30:35 +0000

I normally don’t do this, but since it is such a great cause I am making the exception.

My dear friend Michelle is doing a The Ride to Concur Cancer in Toronto. It is a 200 km bike ride from Toronto to Niagara Falls, done over two days. There are rides all over Canada, supporting local cancer research and treatment facilities.

I am not one to harp on about how more and more people are affected by cancer, and how there are more and more ways we can help make a difference, so instead here is the link to Michelle’s site, where if interested you can make donations.

Car Cake

BadgeGirl — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:19:33 +0000

It is hubbys birthday on Sunday. Last year I surprised him with a special cake. I used the William Sonoma Winter Wonderland Car Cake pan. I am not sure why it is called the winter wonderland pan when it is really just eight small cars. Last year I made the cars and a hilly road scene, so it looked like the cars were driving on a road.

Hubby's Birthday 2008

For the road I mixed jimmies and black sugar and lined it with chocolate covered raisins, which looked like rocks. To decorate the cars I used Wilton Gel Tubes and Wilton Mist Spray. The spray gave good coverage, but made a mess. If you spray too close it makes the cake really wet and almost makes holes. I found the icing did not dry as quickly as I would have liked, as it tended to slide. This was my first attempt at decorating, so I likely made some mistakes. Perhaps the care was not cool enough, or the icing was too warm. The wheels and lights were sour rings and fruit pieces.

Hubby asked for the car cake again this year but I wanted to try something different.

Hubby's Birthday 2009

I filled the golden layer cake with lemon curd, one of Hubby’s favorites. The cars are lemon cake. Since the cars don’t get much icing, I think they are better with a flavored cake. I tried chocolate, but the details on the cars do not come out as well as with a lighter cake. I found that the cars stuck ALOT this time, and were hard to get out of the pan. I am not sure if the car is too soft, or if I am not flouring the pan enough.

I think that the cars look better with less decorating. I used the sour candies again for the wheels, and I think it turned out well. The ‘rocks’ are candied ginger. Over all I think it turned out okay.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUBBY!!!

Bakers Market – Vancouver

BadgeGirl — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:15:15 +0000

This weekend is the first weekend of the Vancouver’s Bakers Market.

Not only will you be able to buy wonderful baked goods, artisan pastries, chocolates and special occasion cakes, but they are also holding a swap meet for baking tools and equipment.

Vancouver loves a good market, so hopefully this is a huge success and continues long enought for me to get my act together and get a table.

Pumpkin Crumble

BadgeGirl — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:49:14 +0000

Some call it Pumpkin Dump Cake, some Yellow Pumpkin Cake, some Pumpkin Pie Cake.

I call it Colleen’s Yummy Pumpkin Crumble. I got the recipe from a friend of mine, who is as much an avid baker as I am. Many of my favorite recipes are from Colleen, and this pumpkin dessert is one of them. It is one of the easiest recipes; Pumpkin Pie Filling, condensed milk, eggs, spices, butter and a box of Yellow Cake Mix. I have never found a recipe exactly the same as Colleens’, but the ones above are very close.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last long enough for me to get a good pre-eaten shot of it.

I never like pumpkin before I tried this dessert. Colleen turned me onto a few things that I never liked before trying her baking. I got a great cinnamon and rhubarb cake recipe from her as well, another of my favorites, and I don’t like rhubarb.

Colleen brought cookies to work every Friday. Iced Banana Cookies or Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip Cookies (which required a special smuggling operation to get the cinnamon chips, which were not available in Canada). there really should be a weekly baker in every office.

I am jealous of Colleens’ new colleagues.

Blanket and Burp Cloths

BadgeGirl — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:41:58 +0000

I was so excited about my first sale, so have been busy trying to get the rest of the blankets and burp cloths finished. When I first started this project, I went to the fabric store and picked out some coordinating fabrics, and got a meter of each. It turns out that with a meter of fabric, I can get one 32×32 blanket and three burp cloths. It works out great for creating the sets, which include one blanket and three coordinating burp cloths. I have a few left to sew up, but should be finished soon.

Once I get all the blankets and burp cloths finished, I want to try making one of these super cute dresses. There are piles of mens dress shirt refashions out there, but this is one of my favorites. Dana over at MADE does such a great job with her tutorials. They are really clear and easy to follow. Once I finish, I want to try her newest version, with the ‘smocking‘.

One project at a time, that’s the rule.