Success. After my last post whining about my cupcake failures, I finally made some pretty perfect cupcakes. I was starting to wonder if I didn't have the baking gene. I tried a few different recipes, without success, but I think I found one that I love. Billy's Vanilla cupcake recipe from Marta Stewart. I frosted them with a buttercream, which had no butter in it at all. Next I want to try a swiss meringue.

What's not to love about cute little cakes, in frilly papers! I have even bought piping bags and tip, I think this has become an obsession. I can't wait to get back in the kitchen, in my new apron. Up next red velvet! Now if only I had a kitchenaid mixer....

It is jelly bean season and I couldn't help but follow Jane's lead. The entire time I was knitting these socks, all I could think about was candy.  I wanted to take a trip to a fancy candy store and have some  sour watermelon and sour pink grapefruit, yum. I love those stores with the little bags and the tiny shovels for candy goodness.  

But of course, I took my sweet time with these again! I just wasn't really in the sock knitting mode. They were constantly being set aside for other projects. But now that my pattern is done, I think it might go back to all socks all the time. I wish I was more exciting, but hey that's life.

Sure I want to knit myself other things, but nothing thrills me like a pair of socks. The way the short row heel comes together amazes me every time, it is like magic. The rest of the sock just goes round and round, I think my new found love of stripes helps too.

Specs:

Yarn: Vintage Yarntini, from Pure Knits

Needles: 2mm Addis, next time  I think I will use a 2.5, these are super dense

Time: I first blogged about them September 12th, Finished March 13, 2007...

Again no pattern, or at least the same "pattern" I always use. I guess it is more of a formula than a pattern. I did knit these magic loop style, two at a time.  Otherwise my sock pairs would consist of one sock.

Amazing enough I didn't even plan this heel, I just happen. I am finally through my pile of projects that were semi forgotten. It feels nice to have them completed. Now of course I have visions of more socks dancing in my head, too bad its been 80 here, not really sock wearing weather.

off to eat some more  candy veggies.....

I hate starting out posts with, "sorry I haven't blogged in a while." Over a month to be exact. But I haven't been making time for it lately. I would like to think in the age of rss feeds that people are no longer clicking on your blog daily wondering where the heck you are. Instead I would like to think of myself as more of a pleasant surprise that pops up on their reader from time to time. But I will admit I have received more that a few where are you, are you ok emails.  I enjoy this space, stay with me.

So, sorry, I will try to be around more? Forgive me? Sure you do.

So socks, my constant companion. These socks took me a long while. Looks like I started them back in September or October. These sat around in the back burner, while I was working on other things. They traveled around in my purse for months. It isn't surprising that a project on 2mm needles takes a few months when you only knit on them at lunch.

Specs

Yarn: Yarn Pirate in Rosie

Time: oh my, started in September- March 07

Needles: started with 2mm inox circ, but the joins made me crazy, so I switched to a 24 inch 2mm addi. A little shorter than I normally use, but I liked it.

Pattern: cast on some stitches, toe up, knit, short row heel, knit some more, bind off. exact numbers I can't recall.

So at this point what else can I say about socks. I think that I have said all I can.  So instead help me out. I want to become a better baker. I love cupcakes but my last 3 attempts have failed. I have tried the magnolia cupcakes, the vanilla vegan ones form the vegan cupcake book, and the Amy Sedaris ones. All  had some issues. I am ready to go back to box baking. So give me you baking tips and favorite cupcake recipes.

Oh, and I recently got a small camera to carry around in my purse. To capture those random things I see each day. So if you like you can follow along on flickr.

See you sooner rather than later, I hope!