Our wee little cupcake

(in case you missed the hint, we're having a boy)

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.

Fun things from Etsy

I'm home sick today with the post-winter camp crud.  All the other youth leaders were sick leading up to camp or sick at camp.  I managed to hold off getting sick until after camp.  Good for camp.  Not as good for me.

So while I'm hanging out on the couch in my jammies, thought I'd share some fun cupcake finds from etsy....

Old English Cupcake Patch from Etsy Seller Liz Miera

Cupcake Wallet from Etsy Seller Majesty Inc

Felt Cupcake Favor bag (wouldn't this make a fun sock project bag, though?) from Etsy Seller Turtle Taylor

If you're doing any Valentines or "Just Because" shopping, be sure to check out etsy.  It supports independent artists.  You can also support your local economy by checking out the "Shop Local" feature, where you enter a location and it shows you all the shops based out of your area.  So go ahead.  Check it out.  You knwo you want to.

I likey!

I just found a site through (of all things!) advertising on Facebook and I really like it.  It's called Mod Cloth.  They feature indie designers and vintage pieces and for what they sell, their prices are reasonable.  I mean, it's not Target....but you can't get indie stuff at Target.

So as I perusing, I looked in their Apartment section and low and behold: Mini Cupcake Alarm Clock!  

Hello!  I need it.  It's going on the birthday list since we're on a spending freeze so that we can afford both the down payment for the house we're trying to buy AND the new fridge and washer/dryer that the house doesn't come with.

Look how wee it is:

Anyway: Mod Cloth.  Check it out!  They also have a blog that I'm totally adding to my blog roll now.

Cupcakes for Christmas

I realize this post is a little on the belated side, but somehow I thought I blogged it already (I realize now I only talked about it in a Ravelry forum I moderate for cupcake lovers: Knit Cakes.  There we go again....Ravelry getting in the way of my blog).

But look!  Cupcakes!  For Christmas!

 Cupcake ornament

  

Cupcake "Sugar Shaker" (though it's currently holding baking soda next to my sink)

 

Cupcake jammies (with optional jealous puppy getting in the way of taking pictures of jammies)

    

Cupcake plates...shaped like cupcakes!

And I also got a lifetime supply of cupcake papers (I just realized I don't have a picture of this, though).

I always think it's cool when I get amazing stuff like this from people when I didn't ask for it or even know it existed befor they gave it to me.  :-)

OH!  And my gift givers have now recieved international acclaim because the top cupcake blog, Cupcakes Take the Cake, saw my stuff in flickr and blogged about it, too.  How cool is that?

My first KAL

Not that I've participated in...but the first one a pattern of mine has been chosen for!

My Cupcake Dishcloth pattern was picked to be the pattern this week for the Dishcloth Weekly Knitalong group on Ravelry (sorry....that last link only works if you're already on Ravelry). So that's kind of exciting! People like my pattern enough to get a whole bunch of them together to knit it. Whee!

If you're on Ravelry, you can check out other's knitted dishcloths here.

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.

Hooray!

Knitty is here!

I must say that some of these patterns are rather, well, unique. One which I find very interesting is the scarf/hand warmers which are connected. It's one of those things that make you go "hmm." I think the model looks a bit like a friend of mine from grad school.



This Tunic is beautiful:
I really like the colors, too. I've got so much other stuff in the que that I'm not sure I'll actually knit it....but I do admire it.


These are also way too cute:
It's another thing I'm not sure I'll ever get around to knitting, but darn it, they're cute.



And for my final piece of Knitty news.....I've sent my pattern off for consideration this morning. I mentioned in the post about IKEA that I spent some of my time there working on it. This is a sneak peak from one of the photos I sent in with my pattern:

It's my french vanilla coconut cupcakes with creamy almond frosting. They served as a prop during our photo shoot. Sadly, I don't think I can share anymore details about what I made because Knitty rules strictly do not allow items which had previously debuted on a blog or flickr, etc. Hopefully come December I'll be able to share my pattern with you (especially hopefully because it will be on Knitty.com).

Happy knitting, all!

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!

Wordless Wednesday

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.

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 gonna be someone's birthday!!!

Since I know all of you out in blogland (or at least my sister and mom) are asking yourselves the big question: What should I get Carissa for her birthday? I decided to help you out with some ideas....

Knitting Books


Domiknitrix









Naughty Needles












Stitch 'N Bitch Nation







Stitch 'N Bitch: the knitter's handbook







Knitting Stuff

Retractable tape measure

An adjustable dress form

A row counter (preferably one I can put on a string with some amount of ease)

Fun stitch markers (Zephyr Style has cool ones....or I'm sure a crafty person could make some)

9 balls of Patons Classic Merino Wool in a pretty color
OR
10 balls of Lion Brand Wool Ease (the worsted kind) in a pretty color
so that I can make this


Cupcake and Baking Stuff



Crazy About Cupcakes









Pampered Chef Decorator Bottle Set

Pampered Chef mini muffin/cupcake pan

Pampered Chef small spreader

Other fun cupcake supplies (decorations, cupcake liners, cake decorating kits)


Other Fun things I'd dig

Funky cool or stylin' clothes

Funky cool or stylin' accesories

Superchic[k]'s new CD: Beauty From Pain 1.1

Republic of Tea Traveler's Tins

Republic of Tea Mango Ceylon Tea

Republic of Tea Pomegranate Green Tea

A ceramic tea pot (preferably of at least 22 oz. capacity...Republic of Tea has some cool ones)

(Heck I just like Republic of Tea)


So thanks for checking out my list. I know in some cultures making a similar list is considered rude. Please know that I have had at least 3 requests recently for this list so I figured this is the best way to share the info. If you are offended, here's a picture of a cute baby to cheer you up:

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).

Low Point Cupcakes

Going back on Weight Watchers has put a cramp in my cupcake style. For the plan I'm on, I have 35 "points" that I can play around with each week (an average of 5 a day) to eat whatever I want. Sadly, though, regular cupcakes are 5-8 points (and sometimes more if it's got fancy frosting)! Yikes! That leaves no room for things like, say, bread (it's hard to have a sandwich without bread).

Weight Watchers has a popular cake recipe where you mix a box of cake mix with a can of diet soda instead of the oil and eggs. Making cupcakes this way gets you surprisingly yummy cupcakes but they are 3 points each before frosting....and who wants to eat a cupcake without frosting?

So I set to work in my magical kitchen to whip up a low-point cupcake concoction of my very own. The results were a bit of a hybrid brownie-cupcake (it's a bit more dense than a regular cupcake) but Joe really liked them (and he's not on Weight Watchers) and overall, I think they're pretty good. And the best part is that after you add 1 Tablespoon of frosting, they come to just2 points. Just 2 points! That means I can have 2 if I want! Woo Hoo!

The recipe is here: on BakeSpace

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.

Cupycakes!

I spent this evening baking and doing laundry. Not a big fan of coconut myself, I decided that if I were to make cupcakes with coconut in them I would be less likely to eat them and more likely to do a better job pretending I'm still on Weight Watchers. That and my husband loves coconut so all the better for him.

I got the recipe from cupcake maven, Babette on BakeSpace. While I'm sure Babette's frosting is amazing, I had some in the cupboard (I know, I know....bad cupcaker!) and it was getting late. Half are frosted with Duncan Hines cream cheese frosting and the other half are frosted with Duncan Hines classic vanilla frosting which I stirred almond extract into. All were topped with toasted coconut.

So Joe got to have fun eating them and I got to have fun decorating them and having a cupcake porn photoshoot. Ooh la la!