I love presents!

Today, my co-worker, Tana, dropped this on my desk.  Someone had left it in her box in a different part of the building:

The photo isn't the highest quality (took it with my camera), but it's a piece of yellow legal pad paper that someone wrapped around something to make an envelope.  On it, it says:

Tana - 

Would You

Please give to Carissa Bonham -?  from a friend

:-)

Inside, I found this:

How freaking cool is that?  On several levels:

1) LOVE the packaging.  The cardboard looks like a cupcake and the dental floss container is pink with a cupcake on it.  Fun stuff.

2) It's cupcake flavored.  Admittedly, that part is a little strange but I love the idea still.

So if you're out there - thank you mystery-cupcake-dental-floss-gift-giver!

Fun New Cupcake Stuff

I have recently acquired some fun cupcakey things.  Let me share the love with you.  :-)

Fun cupcake thing #1: 

Cupcake "insulBUFF" from Fabulous Fabric Essentials on etsy.

I bought it because I hate when I buy a coffee at Starbucks and the last quarter of it is cold and I end up throwing it out.  Yuck!  I frequently get my coffee double-cupped to provide some additional insulation but I feel bad about the extra waste.  My new cup cozy keeps the contents either warm or cold and gives you a more temperature neutral place to put your hand.

Fun cupcake thing #2: 

"Cupcake dreams key fob" Wristlet Keychain  from Jimmy Pickles on Etsy.

One thing about me that only a few people know is that I loathe to take multiple trips from my car and into the house / work / etc.  I will totally overload myself with 3 trips worth of things just to avoid having to come back.  Beacause I do this, however, I have the unfortunate tendency of dropping my keys just as I'm trying to put them in my lock.  Which is a real bummer when your hands are full of stuff because then you have to put all your stuff down, pick up the keys, open the door, and get all your stuff inside.  This key fob is nice because I can loop the keys around my wrist so I can't drop them.  See?

Fun cupcake thing #3: 

"Buttercream Cupcake" flavored shower smoothie (combo shampoo, shower gel, bubble bath).  I bought it at Ulta yesterday with my sister.  Right now they are having a "buy 2 get 2 free" sale as well, so hurry in for yummy flavored shower stuffs.  If you don't have an Ulta near you, you can buy it online here.

Cool like Cupcakes

The Death socks are coming along nicely (I'm done with one and 80% done with the other) so in the name of taking a break lest me fingers fall off, check out this sweet cupcake gear:

Ceramic Strawberry Pink Cupcake Cookie Jar Container W/ Cherry On top (as seen on Etsy)
I think this is pretty cool. The only two things keeping me from getting it are the price (reasonable considering someone made this by hand but still out of my budget for a knick knack) and not really having any space for it. Pampered Chef is coming out with some pretty sweet pink products in May, though, so we may do a cupcake theme in the kitchen or bathroom this Spring.



Cupcake Print Rainboots (as seen on Target.com)
Love them! In fact, I have a pair. They make me happy. :-)




Cupcake Bling (I found these on emitations.com)






Cupcake Undies (sold by Nordstrom)

The latter comes wrapped up looking like this:

*Sigh* If only cupcakes had become the thing BEFORE I got married. We could have had a cupcake themed bridal shower with cupcake-themed undies. Nice.




Alrighty, I best be off to bed. As I go, I will leave you with this thought: www.cupcakeclothing.net sells NOT ONE ITEM with a frigging cupcake on it. Not a one. I feel like protesting.


Find more cool cupcake gear at Target, Nordstom, Johnny Cupcakes, CafePress and Amazon. Cheers!

Cupycakes Knit Apron Pattern

UPDATE!
This pattern is now available as a free PDF download on Ravlery.
As I mentioned back in a post from September, I submitted an original pattern to Knitty for consideration. And while I wish I could be telling you that Amy Singer e-mailed me today to tell me that she loved my apron, she didn't. Instead, she let me know that Knitty won't be publishing this pattern (she was very nice about it, though).

Perhaps I am the only person in the world who would like to own a retro-style skirt apron with cupcake pockets. However, in the event that I'm not, I'd like to share it with my knitting, cupcake-loving blog public. This is in a different format than most of my patterns appear as this in the form in which I sent it to Knitty. So without further ado....

Cupycakes

by Carissa Marie Bonham

Piquant

Inspired by retro-style skirt aprons, I decided to combine my two favorite obsessions: knitting and cupcakes. With skirt aprons, knitting and cupcakes each making a strong (not to mention sexy) comeback, this would be the perfect apron to wear while you unleash your inner domestic goddess in the kitchen this holiday season. Make it for yourself or as a gift for your favorite cupcake connoisseur.

This apron is knit in 100% acrylic yarn instead of cotton to keep it both washable and from getting too heavy. Superwash wool would be an appropriate substitute, although may be rather warm to wear in a hot kitchen.

Photo credit [model: Carissa Marie Bonham/photographer: Joe Bonham]

SIZE
One size fits S to XL

FINISHED MEASUREMENTSWaist band (before adding ribbon): 16.5 inches

Length: 18 inches

MATERIALS[MC] Caron Perfect Match [100% Acrylic; 335 yd/325 m per 198 g skein]; color: Bright White; 1 skein

[CC1] Caron Perfect Match [100% Acrylic; 335 yd/325 m per 198 g skein]; color: Lilac; 1 skein

[CC2] Caron Perfect Match [100% Acrylic; 335 yd/325 m per 198 g skein]; color: Cream; 1 skein

3 US #6/4mm straight needles

2 29 or 32 inch US #7/4.5mm circular needles

Notions
Waste yarn (for provisional cast on)
Size H Crochet hook
Tapestry Needle
3 yards of 1.5 inch-wide grosgrain ribbon in a color matching one of the contrasting colors of yarn

GAUGE
18 sts/25 rows = 4” in Stockinette stitch on larger needles
16 sts/25 rows = 4" in seed bump pattern on larger needles (see pattern notes)

PATTERN NOTES
The main body of the skirt is worked back and forth on one circular needle using Seed Bump Pattern (see below). Due to the large quantity of stitches picked up later, the garter stitch ruffle is worked on two circular needles.

Seed Bump Pattern:
Row 1: K1 *P1, K3*
Row 2: P all sts
Row 3: K3 *P1, K3*
Row 4: P all sts

For the CO sts in the skirt shaping section, I recommend using a cable cast on to make it easier to pick up the stitches for the ruffle later in the pattern

PATTERN

Apron: Skirt
Using one of the circular needles, CO 37 sts in MC.

Foundation rows:
WS: P all sts
RS: K all sts
WS: P all sts

Lower Skirt Shaping:
Row 1: CO 8, K1 *P1, K3*
Row 2: CO 8, P to end
Row 3: CO 8, K3 *P1, K3* to last 2 sts, P1, K1
Row 4: CO 8, P to end

Repeat these 4 shaping rows once more as-is.
Repeat one more time without CO sts.

Increase Rows:
Row 1: kfb *P1, K3* to last st, kfb
Row 2: pfb, P to last st, pfb
Row 3: K1 *P1, K3*
Row 4: P all
Row 5: kfb, K2, *P1, K3* to last 2 sts, P1, kfb
Row 6: pfb, P to last st, pfb
Row 7: K 3, *P1, K3* to last 2 st, P1, K1
Row 8: P all
Repeat all 8 increase rows 3 more times (you will have 133 sts)

Continue working in Seed Bump Pattern until skirt measures 15 inches from CO edge. End on a WS row.

Waist Band:
RS: *K1, k2tog, K1* to last st, K1
WS: P all
RS: K3tog to last st, K1
WS: P all
RS: *K1, P1*
WS: *P1, K1*

Repeat last two rows 4 more times

Loosely BO all sts in pattern.

Apron: Ruffle

Ruffle is worked using two circular needles. Begin with one and add second needle when necessary.

Using CC1, pick up 6 sts on side of waist band, pm, pick up 230-250 sts around perimeter of skirt to the bottom of waist band, pm, pick up 6 sts along side of waist band.

WS: P6, sm, *kfb* until marker, sm, P6
RS: K all
Repeat these two rows once more.

WS: P6, sm, K to marker, sm, P6
RS: BO all sts loosely

Cupcake Pockets (make 2)

Cupcake pockets are worked back and forth on sz 6 straight needles.

Cupcake bottom:

Using CC2, CO 23 sts

RS: *K3, P1* 5 times, K3

WS: P3 *K1, P3* to end

Repeat these two rows 6 more times

Leave sts on needle, break yarn and set aside

Cupcake Frosting:
Using scrap yarn and crochet hook, CO 23 sts using provisional CO method
Connect CC1 to provisional CO and work as follows:

Rows 1 and 2: K all
Row 3: K2, ssk, k to last 4, K2tog, K2
Rows 4 and 5: K all

Repeat rows 3-5, 3 more times

Next row: ssk, ssk, K to last 4, k2tog, k2tog
Next row: K all
Repeat these two rows once more

Next row: ssk, K3, k2 tog
Next row: ssk, K1, k2tog
BO all stitches

Joining Cupcake pieces:
Turn Frosting piece over and use knitting needle to pick up CC1 stitches from back of provisional CO (count to make sure you have 23 sts!). Unzip provisional CO and set aside.

Pick up the bottom portion of the cupcake set aside earlier.

Join CC1 and knit across one row

Hold the bottom and frosting pieces, wrong sides together, with the needles pointing the same direction.

Use third knitting needle to knit the first stitch on each needle together

Continue across until all stitches have been knit onto the third needle. You will have 23 sts.

Frosting Ruffle:
This technique might be a little different than anything you’re used to but I think it provides the best “frosting” ruffle effect:

Hold the knitting needle with the live stitches in your left hand and the crochet hook in your right hand.

Using the crochet hook as if it were a knitting needle, knit the first stitch off of the needle.

You will now have 22 sts on your needle and 1 loop on your crochet hook.

Use crochet hook to SC three times into the base of the knit stitch.

Once again:*use crochet hook as a knitting needle to K the next st off the needle (there will be two loops on the crochet hook), wrap yarn from back to front on crochet hook and draw through two loops on crochet hook (there will now be one stitch on hook), work 2 SC into base of st*

Repeat directions between **’s until no more sts remain.

Break yarn and draw through

FINISHING

Weave in ends of cupcakes and apron.

Sew the cupcakes to the apron around their bottom portions to form pockets.

Center and sew the ribbon across the top of the waist band beginning in the center. Try on your completed apron and cut ribbon tails to a length that suits you.

I hope someone other than me enjoys this pattern. You can also find it on Ravelry here.

If you're looking for gift knitting ideas, I think this apron would make a cute "domestic goddess" gift set by pairing it with a cupcake dishcloth or two.

Cherry Cordial Cupcakes

Recipe is posted here on BakeSpace

Cupcake Dishcloth

UPDATE!
This pattern is now available as a free PDF download on Ravelry.

Anyone who has been reading this blog for any period of time is not surprised that my knitting and cupcake addictions finally gave birth to a knitted cupcake. I present to you my knitted cupcake dishcloth and pattern:

Cupcake Dishcloth
Pattern by Carissa Bonham

***This pattern may only be used for personal, non-commercial use. Any other use of this pattern and the resulting cupcake including using the pattern for publishing or to sell patterns or finished products requires the specific written permission of the author***

Gauge = 17st = 4” stockinette (sz. 10 needles) although gauge doesn’t matter too much

Yarn = 1 ball Sugar’n Cream Brand cotton yarn in cream (color A)

& 1 ball Sugar’n Cream Brand cotton yarn in hot purple (color B)

Waste yarn in contrasting color from color A and B for provisional cast on

Notions: 3 size 10 knitting needles

Size H crochet hook

Blunt Needle

Bottom of cupcake

CO 24 stitches using long tail cast on in color A

Row 1 (RS): P1 *K3, P1* (5x), K2, P1
Row 2 (WS): P3 *K1, P3* (5x), P1

Repeat rows 1 and 2 six times more times. Set Aside

Frosting
Using crochet hook and waste yarn CO 24 stitches using provisional cast on

Using Color B, knit 2 rows of garter stitch (all K stitches)

Row 3: K2, SSK, K to last 4 stitches, K2TOG, K2
Row 4: K across
Row 5: K across

Repeat rows 3-5 twice more

*SSK, SSK, K to last 4 stitches, K2TOG, K2TOG
Next row: K across*

Repeat the two rows between the *’s once more

Next row: SSK, SSK, K2, K2TOG, K2TOG
Last row: SSK, K2TOG, K2TOG

BO remaining stitches

Joining the cupcake pieces

Turn frosting piece over and use knitting needle to pick up color B stitches from provisional CO
Count to make sure you have 24 stitches
Unzip provisional CO
Set aside

Pick up the bottom piece of the cupcake set aside earlier
Join color B and knit across one row

Hold the bottom and frosting pieces, wrong sides together, with the needles pointing the same direction.

Use third knitting needle to knit through the first stitch on each needle and drop off original needle

Continue across until all stitches have been knit onto the third needle

Frosting Ruffle
This might be a little different than anything you’re used to but I think it provides the best ruffle effect.

Hold the knitting needle with the live stitches in your left hand and hold the crochet hook in your right hand. Using the crochet hook as if it were a knitting needle, knit the first stitch off of the needle

You will now have 23 stitches on your needle and 1 loop on your crochet hook

Use crochet hook to SC three times into the base of the knit stitch

Once again, *use crochet hook as a knitting needle to knit the next stitch off the needle (there will now be two loops on the crochet hook), wrap yarn from back to front on crochet hook and draw through the two loops on crochet hook (there will now be one stitch on hook), work 2 SC into base of stitch*

Repeat directions between *’s until no more stitches remain on knitting needle.

Break yarn and draw through loop.

Finishing
Weave in ends

If anyone decides to knit this, please let me know! I'd love to see pictures.

To contact me regarding permission to use this pattern for anything other than personal, non-commercial use, please contact me by posting a comment in this post (being sure to fill out the e-mail address field).

Thanks!

Look what I made!

www.flickr.com

These are yummy, delicious, vanilla chai tea latte cupcakes. I can't post the recipe yet as I'm entering it in a contest and it can't be previously published (and some places count blogs as published). They are topped with creamcheese frosting and a dash of cinnamon. I'd like to try a lighter, fluffier topping more similar to the foam you get on a real latte....so stay tuned.

Experiments with socks

I'm blaming Shadkitty. From a very long way away, this woman has managed to infect me with her sockophilia. So instead of casting on for my second Hedera like a good knitter, I decided I had to try the Child's First Sock in Shell Pattern by Nancy Bush. I have 1 skein of self-striping sock yarn and since it won' t be enough to make 2 Carissa-sized socks, I thought maybe I'd make socks for my littlest sister who turns 10 in July.

So after playing around with gauge swatches for an hour so I could make them fit her wee little 9 year old feet, I then spent about an hour and a half just doing the ribing on the size 0 needles. But then I started the pattern. The pattern was fun and easy but you couldn't really see it through all the stripes:

I think maybe I'll frog it, get another skein and just make jaywalker socks or hiking socks for me to wear on our impending cross country move/camping trip. I guess I will just chalk this up to a "learning exercise." *sigh* Oh well. At least I'll get cool hiking socks out of the deal.

But let's talk about something happy. Did you notice the cool background upon which I shot the above picture? If not, here's a close-up:

It's a bandana with little punk rock cupcakes. How friggin' cool is that? I got it in the mail on Thursday from the very sweet and oh-so-thoughtful Shadkitty. Thank you Shadkitty!!! I totally love it. :-)

Local Cupcakery Part II

Ever since I first blogged about Cupcake Cafe & Bakery on Rantoul Street in Beverly (Massachusetts), I've been meaning to stop by and check it out. My plans have been complicated somewhat due to the fact that the only times I am usually on Rantoul Street are when I am bringing Husband to the train in the morning (and then I drive the opposite direction of Cupcake Cafe) to go to work or it's midnight and I'm getting my husband from the train. So today on my way home from my Pampered Chef show (where we sadly demo-ed Pizza and not cupcakes), I decided to stop by.

Even though the shop was "closed," the door was open because it looked like they were having a kids' cupcake party. So I walked in (this is before I knew they were closed) and the very nice ladies working there told me they were out of almost everything, but we got to chat a bit. They were super nice and super friendly. I told them about how quite a few people keep showing up at my blog looking for a cupcake cafe in Beverly and they should think about getting a website or a blog (they said they just hired a web person so should have something soon). I embarrassed myself a bit because I thought they were a brand-new store (they said they'd been there for 2 years...I guess that says a lot about my powers of observation). But they were great.

On my way out, I got a menu and a business card and was offered one of their few remaining cupcakes....a "chocolate chocolate"... just one of the 61 cupcake flavors (61!!!) they offer. Others from the menu that look interesting: Cappuccino, Caramel Apple, Turtle, Cannoli, Chunky Monkey, Berries and Cream, Fairy Cakes and Hummingbird (I have no idea what it is, but it sounds interesting!).

If you want to get ahold of them (since they don't have a website yet), their phone number is 978-922-9720 and their address is: 297 Rantoul Street, Beverly, MA (between Walgreens and the train station near Super Chicken)

Carissa's Creativity Space review of:
Cupcake Cafe & Bakery's "chocolate chocolate" cupcake

Reviewer #1 (Carissa)
As far as first impressions go, the cupcake is adorable! What a cute little flower. Second, the paper peeled off very nicely (you may be laughing but it's really annoying when the papers stick too much to the cupcakes).

Then the first bite......the cake was SUPER moist and was my own little slice of chocolate heaven. The cupcake to frosting ratio was good. I give it 2 thumbs up!!

Reviewer #2 (Husband)
I didn't know cupcakes could be so moist. It wasn't heavy like a Starbucks pastry but it was massive. I felt like I was eating a slice of a much larger cake rather than simply a bite-sized cupcake. It was the kind of cupcake you bite into and say "wow."

Local Cupcakery

This morning after dropping Husband off at the train, I took an alternate route back to our house (for the locals: Rantoul street rather than Cabot) and do you know what I saw?!?! A Cupcake Cafe and Bakery! Oh yes.....on Rantoul Street.

They looked rather new since the sign was one of those vinyl banners instead of a "real" sign. I came home and googled them but the only thing I could find was a listing under "Beverly Main Street Businesses" that listed their address....no phone number, e-mail or other info.

Further investigation wil be neccesary....

It's a ladybug, it's a cupcake, it's a cupcake addict!

Update: Want to learn how to decorate cupcakes to look like ladybugs? Check out my tutorial here.

So the more I think about my cupcake addiction (which I totally don't have!), I was thinking that I think the thing I like most about cupcakes is the artictic, decorating aspect. I mean eating cupcakes is always amazing, but I think more than having cupcakes just to eat them, I like creating miniature works of edible art.

Exhibit A: Joe's valentine's day present (well, part of it):

Exhibit B: Close up of the red velvet cupcake pretending to be a ladybug:


Exhibit C: The rest of the cupcake tower. The ladybugs are red velvet, the non-ladybugs are french vanilla:

This is the red velvet cake recipe I used. It is amazing. I got from the What's Cooking board on the Nest:

Red Velvet Cake

1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 cups cake flour
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 ounce red food coloring
1 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp white vinegar

1) Preheat the over to 350 F and line your cupcake tins with paper

2) Cream shortening and sugar then beat in eggs one at a time

3) Sift flour, cocoa and salt together in a small bowl. Add dry ingredients to shortening mix a little at a time alternating with the buttermilk and food coloring

4) Dissolve baking soda into vinegar and fold into the batter.

5) Fill cupcake tins a little more than 1/2 full and bake for 22 minutes, checking for doneness with a toothpick.

6) After removing from oven, alow cakes to cool in the pan for 5 mintues then tranfer to a cooling rack.

7) Once cool, decorate to your creative little heart's content.

I'm not so bad...

Thank you all for your recent expressions of concern regarding my cupcake habit. I am happy to report that I have been cupcake-free for 4 days now (moslty because my husband ate all the cupcakes and there were no more left for me).

I would also like to put my obsession in context. I'm not nearly as bad as these other addicts:

The People who Knit Cupcakes

The Cupcake Knitting Needles Creator

The Cupcake Tattoo lady

The Cupcaker who created Tomato Soup Cupcakes

See? I'm not so bad. I just like them....a lot. But that's okay. I haven't gone totally cupcake mad (yet).

Confession Time: My Addiction

It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive

If you don't have it you're on the other side

I'm not an addict (maybe that's a lie)

From Not an Addict by Fiona Apple

So unlike some Christian writers who want to deny a song (which is really about drugs) is about drugs in order to illustrate a (non-drug) point, I will fully admit that this song is, indeed, about drugs. But this post? This post is not about drugs but an addiction of a completely different sort. My friends, I think I am addicted to cupcakes.

I know. I know what some of you are thinking. But really…it’s true. I am a cupcakeophile….a full-fledged cupcake addict. I come to work and my very not-cupcake-related job and think about cupcakes. I think about fun ways to decorate cupcakes, how I might mail a dozen cupcakes across the country without smashing their beautiful frosting, what kind of cupcakes I want to bake next, how I might convert a normal cupcake recipe into a low Weight Watchers points but still entirely delicious cupcake. I read cupcake blogs. I look at cupcake pictures. I write down ideas I have about different kinds of cupcakes I could make. I dream of beginning a book review feature on the Cupcakes Take the Cake blog, that I might head, just so I can get free copies of cupcake books.

My friends….it’s bad. I feel like Izzie from Grey’s Anatomy. A brunette, Italian, married, non-surgical Izzie. Yup. That’s me.

And tonight, after I go get my nails done a sadly more grown-up color than they are now, I’m going to go home to feed the addiction. While working on my “Great Felted Mitten Experiment” I shall devise a delicious, yet low-point cupcake alternative to rich, decadent, chocolaty cupcake goodness. I will keep you apprised of the results.