sock and glove freebies on marthastewart.com

Hey there, sock animal lovers. If you’ve wanted to try out Sock and Glove, but still haven’t bought the book, you are in for a treat today. Martha featured the book on today’s episode, Homemade Knitwear Day, and you can find the pattern and instructions for the glove dog and glove bunny free on her website. Yay!

If these freebies don’t inspire you to run out and buy the book, I’m not sure what will. Enjoy!

Photo from marthastewart.com

two crafts and a quick Q&A

It's Friday night and I just woke up from a 4 hour nap that started at 7:30 pm - whoo! I really know how to party. Anyway, I thought I'd post a few things I made a while ago and never got around to posting, and briefly address some reoccurring questions I've been receiving in the comments.

First, the crafts, since frankly, that's more fun:

This is the first of three mum scherenschittes I plan to cut. Lest I fool you into thinking I am artistic, the design is not my own. I'm copying it from some artwork I saw at Art.com.

Second, here's another pair of baby shoes - I hope these aren't getting too boring. I spiced this pair up with a working button in an attempt to 1) learn how to use my button hole foot on my sewing machine and 2) try to incorporate a few of my own ideas into the Stardust Shoes pattern, or in the words of my dawg, Randy Jackson, "make it my own." :) (sidenote: are there any good american idol contestants this season? I haven't been watching)

On to the Q&A - here are a few questions people have been asking in comments and emails:

Q: Will you post a tutorial for your sock animals?

A: I will not post tutorials for the animals I make from the book Sock and Glove (which is most of them) - they are copyrighted. If you like them and want to learn how to make them, I encourage you to buy the book! It is a great resource, and an addictive craft. Click on the link above to buy it on Amazon.com.

I've had a lot of requests specifically for a tutorial for the sock giraffe. This is one of those rare items that actually came from my own head, so I could probably do a tutorial for it. But since that will involve making another one, it might be a while before I get around to it. Plus, I kind of like that it's one of a kind. :)

Q: Do you sell your crafts?

A: Occasionally, but usually just to family and friends.

Q: Have you ever heard of Etsy? Why don't you open a shop?

A: Yes! I'm a huge fan of Etsy - it is a fantastic marketplace and I do plan to open a shop (someday). A few things have been holding me back:

1) I don't feel like I have enough time for it at the moment.

2) I don't love mass-producing things. With a few exceptions, I usually will make an item only once, and then move onto something new. I get bored easily. I'll need to overcome this to commit to a shop.

3) I am only going to sell products that are my own ideas. Most of the time I borrow ideas/copy other people from around the web. It would be pretty uncool to start selling things that I'm copying from someone else. So, I want to come up with a few solid ideas of my own first.

I think those are the questions that come up most! I really appreciate your comments, and all the encouragement to start and etsy shop makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Happy Friday!

birthday boy and the best ever chocolate cake

Jared turned 28 today. We almost feel like adults!


A favorite neighborhood treat is the Princess Cake from Crumbs Bakery. I did my best to recreate it.

success!

Best Ever Chocolate Cake (via www.kraftfoods.com)

1 pkg. (8 squares) Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, divided

1 pkg. (2-layer size) chocolate cake mix

1 pkg. (4-serving size) Jell-o instant chocolate pudding

4 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup water

1 tub (8 oz.) frozen Cool Whip

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch round baking pans. Chop 2 of the chocolate squares; set aside. Beat cake mix, dry pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, oil and water in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed just until moistened. Beat on medium speed 2 min. Stir in chopped chocolate. Spoon into prepared pans.

Bake 30 to 35 min. or until wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 min. Loosen cakes from sides of pans. Invert onto racks; gently remove pans. Cool cakes completely.

This is where I change the recipe. Make chocolate mousse using the recipe below. Chill in refrigerator for at least an hour.

Place frozen whipped topping and remaining 6 chocolate squares in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is smooth, stirring after 1 min. Let stand 15 min. to thicken. (First of all, the whole cool whip thing scared me because I think the stuff is gross. The frosting actually turns out to be quite good - a ganache-type consistancy. Second, I don't have a microwave, but a double boiler works just as well).

Place one cake layer on serving plate; top with chocolate mousse and second cake layer. Spread top and side with chocolate frosting.

Chocolate Mousse (via Alton Brown, Food Network)

1 3/4 cups whipping cream
12 ounces quality semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 ounces espresso or strong coffee
1 tablespoon dark rum
4 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon flavorless, granulated gelatinChill 1 1/2 cups whipping cream in refrigerator. Chill metal mixing bowl and mixer beaters in freezer.

In top of a double boiler, combine chocolate chips, coffee, rum and butter. Melt over barely simmering water, stirring constantly. Remove from heat while a couple of chunks are still visible. Cool, stirring occasionally to just above body temperature.

Pour remaining 1/4 cup whipping cream into a metal measuring cup and sprinkle in the gelatin. Allow gelatin to "bloom" for 10 minutes. Then carefully heat by swirling the measuring cup over a low gas flame or candle. Do not boil or gelatin will be damaged. Stir mixture into the cooled chocolate and set aside.

In the chilled mixing bowl, beat cream to medium peaks. Stir 1/4 of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Fold in the remaining whipped cream in two doses. There may be streaks of whipped cream in the chocolate and that is fine. Do not over work the mousse.

Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day

squirrel scherenschnitte valentine for jared ... template from Little Acorn

sockfest '08

We had an all-sock animal Saturday this weekend. I made a giraffe, Meg made a dog and a zebra, Kathryn made a monkey and Mitzi made a rat. Good times had by all.

Bib Tutorial

As promised ... here is a free tutorial for this baby bib. Make as many as you like, but please don't sell bibs made with this pattern! Thanks.

Note: To print the template in the correct size, right click on the image and save to your computer, then open to print as an 8 1/2 x 11 inch image. If you print from your internet browser, the template will be resized to smaller dimensions.

1. Cut out two pieces of fabric to the above dimensions. I like to use terrycloth for the back so the bib can double as a washcloth after dinner.

2. I added a strip of bias tape to the front for decoration, mainly to cover a flaw in the fabric. If you want to add any kind of decoration, appliqué or embroidery, now is probably the time to do it.

p.s. bias tape makers are awesome!!

3. Pin the RIGHT sides together. Top stitch around all the edges using a 1/4 inch seam, leaving about 1 1/2 to 2 inches open at the bottom of the bib (for turning). See below.

4. Trim the edges, especially in the small round corners. Pinking shears work well for this if you have them.

5. Turn the bib right side out and top stitch around all the edges again, using a 1/4 inch seam. This will give a nice finish to the seam and will close the opening at the bottom.

5. I use velcro for the closure. You can also use snaps or ties, although if you are sewing ties into the end, you will need to add them in step 3. The button on this bib is merely for decoration. I added it to cover up the poor sewing job I did attaching the velcro. :)


Enjoy!! This is a fast, easy project - great for beginning sewers.

baby bib

The project of this evening was this flowered baby bib. I'm a big fan of the fabric. The backside is terrycloth, so it can double as a washcloth after baby's dinner.

I'm working on a tutorial for it - hopefully I will post it tomorrow!

craft night

I am a lucky girl. Not only have I had the same fantastic best friend for the last 10 years, she recently moved here to New York! Megan and I have the best time together and even do a blog - Bee-Boppin' the Boroughs.

Tonight we got together for a crafting session and I taught her how to make a sock animal. Actually "taught" gives me too much credit - I loaned her my sewing machine and Sock and Glove book, and she went to town. And her pink argyle sock dog rocks.

So cute!
I tried to convince her to keep it for herself, but this little dog is being shipped off to a friend.

While Meg stitched away, I made fun greeting cards using a template from How About Orange. So easy, so cute. You simply print the template, and hot glue the buttons on. I could make 50 of these!

More craft nights to come...

seven-up cake

I had never heard of this cake before making it for a recent birthday celebration at work. It turned out to be delicious, so I thought I'd pass on the recipe. Seven-up cake is similar to a lemon pound cake, but gets increasingly moist towards the center.

Seven-Up Cake

3/4 lb butter, softened
3 cups sugar
5 eggs
3 cups flour
2 tablespoons lemon extract
3/4 cup 7-Up soda

Lemon glaze:
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice

1. Cream butter and sugar
   
2. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition.
3. Add flour and lemon extract.
4. Fold in 7-Up.
5. Pour into well-greased 12-cup Bundt pan or tube pan.
   
6. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
7. Make Lemon Glaze - mix powdered sugar and lemon juice together
8. When cake is cooled, dribble with Lemon Glaze.