Exploring Tangents

So even though I have a million things to do, I can always make room for a completely random side project. In this case, it’s a Rav-based Crochet-Along in my new favorite group, Obscuriosity. The premise is that there are tens of thousands of awesome patterns out there that haven’t necessarily had their fifteen minutes of fame. We share the hidden gems and spread the obscure-pattern love through Crochet and Knit Alongs in the group, and in general it’s just a good time. I’m in the large item crochet-along, which this round is for Doris Chan’s ‘Tall Latte.’ It’s been a challenge.

This thing is the debil.

I’m using Wool-Ease, which is a perfectly fine yarn, but it’s not a perfect substitution for DK weight. I’m using a larger hook, too, so I’ve had to do a lot of math. Add to that a poor initial size choice and a reading comprehension FAIL, and I’ve actually crocheted all of the yarn in this twice – usually four or five rows at a time. I’ve gotten below the arms, though, and it should be smooth sailing down to the hem. (I’ll let you know how the sleeves go.)

Speaking of sailing (and tangents), I made an orca for Max’s bedroom today.

Orca on the wall and I wanna touch it!

Because I am just that awesome.

(Eight sheets of black construction paper, two sheets of white, a lot of tape, some glue, and a marker. It was fun. Max is into marine creatures right now.)

Nice day today.

Sorry for the long breaks, guys, but I’m preparing multiple design submissions for end-of-the-month deadlines. That includes one I got two days ago…you’d think they’d want to give designers more than two weeks to generate a quality submission, no? Apparently not. As a result I haven’t been throwing as many party favors for Inner Child Crochet‘s second birthday as I’d intended.

Anyway, to make it up to you, I’m having a SALE!

What? A sale? I’ve never had a sale before. That’s right, because I just now (this very day) figured out how to create discount codes with my cart system. I’ve got it now, though, and as a result when you order more than $10.00 of merchandise you can save 25% on your total order by using the coupon code:

HAPPYBDAY

(Please let me know if you try to use the coupon and it does not work, but I checked it out myself, and it should.) So go! Take a peek and see if you want anything, because this code will expire on January 22nd, at 11:59 pm. (Although I’m not sure which timezone that stamp will go by.)

 Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of work to do!

Time for Something Sweet

Every now and then you just want something sweet. Tonight I wanted cake – but obviously, not an entire cake. So what did I do? I fiddled around with the one pan fudge cake recipe I posted here to make something more like one serving and microwaved it.

The result?

It's cake!

Cake! (I know you want the recipe, so here it is.)

Microwaved Bowl ‘o Cake

  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp baking cocoa
  • 1/8 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • dash salt
  • 1/8 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1/8 tsp vinegar

Put all ingredients in microwave safe bowl, stir. Microwave on high for 45 seconds to 1 minute 30 seconds until only small wet patches remain on the surface. (Microwave ovens vary, and so will the time it takes to cook it!)

In almost no time at all you have a nice, warm bowl of chocolate cake! You can eat it plain (it has a very nice cakey texture, not microwave rubber) or top with frosting, chocolate sauce, or do what I do – slice a banana over it and eat it with ice cream. Yum!

This entry was posted in Recipes.