Christmas edition!

Things I made: Christmas edition!

Some of these things aren't super exciting or extravagant, but I've had a good time being festive this season!

 

Reindeer bells - mini clay pots, google eyes, pom poms, pipe cleaner, ribbon

 

Advent calendar - this was a long time in coming! Made of a plywood board, clothespins, ribbon, paint. Numbers transfered on with graphite and finished with a Sharpie.

 

Our Christmas tree!

 

Christmas charm bracelet - silver chain and charms, lightbulb buttons. I made a gold version for my mom as well!

 

And finally, the ever waited on Lebkuchen. Sorry friends, family recipe! But by far the most labour intensive baking I have ever done - these babies took me over 3 1/2 hours to make!

 

I will be sure to post another catch-up edition in the new year. Until then...

 

Happy Holidays!

31 October 2012 - Happy Halloween!

In honour of one of my favourite holidays!

 

Things I made: Halloween sugar cookies and pumpkin orange muffins

 

Ghosties, pumpkins, bats and cats, oh my!

My Halloween celebration tonight will be with the wonderful cast of Kuts & Dawgs - I'm bringing the treats

 

Trick or treat!

 

Pumpkin muffins - with orange, raisins, walnuts and spices.

 

Happy Haunting!

1 October 2012

Things I made: bracelets and rings

October has been a fairly crazy month for me. Lots of employment but little time for play! Here are a few things I've squeezed in some time to make...

 

 

Chocolate brown leather double wrap bracelet for Tam. Czech crystal beads, brown leather, and shell button.

 

Silver spacers in brown leather double wrap bracelet. Silve flower button closure. (also for Tam!)

Another turquoise wire wrapped ring (silver). These have apparently been popular! One for Sydney and one up for grabs...

 

Pink irridescent square bead with silver wire wrapped ring. The photos just don't do the colour justice but I think this is really pretty! I also experimented here with thinner wire (22 guage vs 20) and it did give a more delicate finish despite being a bit finnicky to work with!

4 September 2012

Things I made: necklace, bracelet, anklet

 

August has been hectic but I finally had some downtime to craft today. I have a few things on the go still for the next few days as well, including some jewelry ordered by my lovely cousin Tam!

 

I am slowly creating a more functional Etsy website and have signed up for PayPal so I can hopefully start taking orders through this blog/email as well.

 

 

Necklace with mauve coloured pearls and sterling silver chain 

 

Anklet (for Robyn - congratulations on your wedding!)

Lime green Czech crystal with white accent on tan leather with wooden button closure

 

Blue-green Czech crystal double leather wrap bracelet with metal button closure

22 August 2012

Thing I made: Cheesecake

 

I love cheesecake. In case no one has yet noticed, I have a large sweet tooth. But I've always been hesitant to make it without occasion/someone to help me eat it, because otherwise I'll end up eating the whole thing and that can never end well. So I finally had a reason to make a cheesecake...

 

 

Cheesecake with fresh strawberries (happy birthday Joel!)

 

This was pretty experimental for me. I don't have a spring-form pan (one where the sides come off - ideal for cheesecake making), so I used a pie plate instead. It looks a little funny, but it tasted fine (ok, it tasted more than fine, if I do say so myself...)

 

It was also one of the easiest things I've made! I used the recipe here (though I had only bought two bricks of cream cheese, so I tried to adjust the recipe to 2/3 - actually probably perfect for a pie plate). It was basically mixing together the crust, and then throwing all the ingredients into a food processor for a few minutes before baking. Heaven.

 

The batter tasted like cream cheese icing (amazing) and the finished product was pretty yummy. The only thing I still don't understand is the finishing with the sour cream/sugar mixture...seems a little redundant and looks less than delicious - I would probably leave this out next time.

 

I may now have to invest in a spring-form pan...and find other uses for it too, of course! But I would definitely make this again (if someone wants to help me eat it...)

20 August 2012 - gift catch-ups

Things I made: earrings and bracelets as gifts! I can finally post these since they've all been received by now (maybe - Erin, if you haven't gotten yours, don't look yet!)

See also - new business cards! (the backs are animal print!!)

Leaf earrings for Robyn (happy bachelorette!) 

Dark green shimmer leaf beads, clear accent bead on sterling silver

Double leather wrap bracelet for Manori (happy birthday!)

Red shimmer glass beads, dark brown leather, silver closure button

Pearl earrings for Erin (happy birthday!!)

Dark blue pearls, pewter bead covers and silver stud posts

 

Chain dangle earrings for Kat (happy birthday!)

Black teardrop shimmer bead, red glass shimmer bead, white Czech crystal bead with silver chain

31 July 2012

Thing I made: Zucchini banana bread with chocolate chips and toasted walnuts

I think this is literally one of the best things I have ever baked!

I used the recipe found here, but I made a few adjustments and it has turned out wonderfully:

I halved, yes HALVED, the oil, egg, and sugar.

1. Instead of 2/3 cup of oil, I used just over 1/3

2. Instead of two eggs, I used one

3. Instead of 1 cup of sugar, I used 1/2 cup of brown sugar

4. I also used only a handful of mini chocolate chips - I like having the bits of chocolate in there, but I find chocolate chips can be very overpowering. I probably used between 1/8 and 1/4 cup of mini chips and I think that's plenty, though chocolate lovers out there might want to add the full 1/2 cup!

The result is still beautifully moist and delicious - I honestly can't imagine it being any more moist with the extra egg and oil, it's quite lovely as is. This could be easily adapted for use as a cake or cupcakes with a glaze or cream cheese icing - it is THAT good!

Happy baking!

19 July 2012

Things I made: 2 bracelets, 3 earrings

I was called in to work today. After work I promptly went to the bead store and spent my entire day's pay on jewelry supplies!

 

Black opaque shimmer drop beads with silver spacers and purple on silver (the second gives you a better idea of how the black looks in the light)

Pink glass cube bead with sterling silver chain link on sterling silver ear wires

"Play" bracelet and earring set - on silver chain links with yellow cat's eye bead and periwinkle blue accents

 

Leather wrapped bracelet - double wrap. Coral colour Czech crystal beads with silver spacers on brown leather with shell button closure (for Tam!)

17 July 2012

Once upon a time my friend Alana came over to make things. This is what happened!

Earrings by me with copper chain links, wire, and coloured pearl

Matching bracelet - Copper chain links, wire, and coloured pearls. Clasp made by hand. (Yes, that is my social work textbook I've used as a background).

 

Bell flower earrings by Alana. This is her first ever attempt at making jewelry!

 Brass, copper, and silver basket flowers with matching wire findings and Jasper beads.

15 July 2012

Things I made: earrings, ring, and bracelet (okay I made the bracelet a while ago but never posted it at the time).

Leather wrapped bracelet - white Czech crystal beads with purple leather and decorated button

Earrings with gold wire, Czech crystal beads, and brass spacers 

Turqouise wire-wrapped ring in silver (for Tam)

Turquoise earrings (for Tam)

 

Earrings with coloured glass beads and silver wire