Pineapple Angel Food Cupcakes

I saw this really easy recipe for a Pineapple Angel Food Cake and had to try it for my friend's birthday. I ended up using the exact same ingredients as she did but I wanted to make mine into cupcakes.

This picture is from her blog.

Here are how mine came out.

I ate one hot, right out of the oven. The top was crunchy and sweet because of caramelization of the pineapple juices. It was ok, not too much pineapple flavor. So, I ate another one after they had cooled. It tasted a little better. But I wanted more flavor. Therefore, I had to eat a third one but with chocolate whipped frosting on it. hehe It was ok too.

After eating 3 of them, I have to be honest. I don't know if I like them. 

I did not read the side panel of the box or I would've known exactly how to cook them as cupcakes. Usually cupcake instructions are on the back along with the other instructions so I just thought that you shouldn't make them into cupcakes. Stupid me because I didn't cook them at the right temperature. I will have to try them again but cooking them at the right temperature and time according to the box instructions. What I did was cook them at 350 degrees and checked them after 15min. They were done but as soon as they left the oven, they deflated. :(

I tried 2 other cakes and now I know why they say don't spray the pan because Angel Food cake needs to climb to be nice and fluffy. As you can see, the one in the loaf pan with the parchment paper deflated horribly.

My mom likes it because she likes pineapple and she doesn't like anything too sweet. They are light too.

I might just stick to my pineapple whipcreme pie. :p But that's for another post. hehe

Tapestry Crochet Experiment

I saw something cool and decided to try it, Tapestry Crochet. This is where you change colors in the middle to form pictures. I wanted to see if I could make the pacifier pouch cuter. Here is what I came up with.

Used the 2-color fussier version of the pacifier pouches I have been making,  row 1 and 2. Then I just sc all the way around in the chart pattern below.

I worked this chart from the bottom up. And yes, this is a cross stitch chart.

I crochet in the round so I didn't have to worry about which way I was crocheting or looking at the chart. Because I carried the yarn to switch colors, the pouch turned out to be too small for a pacifier. It is also tight and not stretchy. I am going to use it as a change holder instead. I still have to add the button.

My Changes: To My changes

Flap closure instead of just a button and loop

Row 1: sc across, ch 1, turn

Row 2: slip stitch across in each sc, ch 1, turn

Row 3: sc across, ch 1, turn

(sc the sc from Row 1 and slp st on top from Row 2 together

aka going under sc from row 1 but over slp st from row 2)

Row 4: slp st across

Row 5: sc dec, sc across, sc dec

(Cannot use invisible dec)

Row 6: sc, hdc, dc, tc, tc, dc, hdc, sc

(space btw 2 tc becomes the button hole)

Row 7: reverse sc aka crab stitch across

Here is another chart you could use for something larger.

Panda's tip of the Day:
I found this great pic to help us all with the symbols on yarn labels. :) I hope this helps someone. :)

Add caption

Zip-Itself Triangle Coin Purse

Here is my newest experiment in sewing. I am still deciding if it was a fail or not. :)
Here is my zipper coin purse. I used this free pattern from Craft Passion.

It is cute but sadly it is not very triangle shaped. :)

I think I used the wrong zipper. The teeth seem too big to go around the tight curves so it is not really unzipping.

This one is staying with me but I think I could get some good use out of it. :)

Heart Mom feltie & Experiment went wrong

I made a "Heart Mom" feltie keychain with a pocket for a little note for my friend's yard sale. She is selling stuff to raise money for her church trip to El Salvador. They go out there to help build homes for the poor. It is an even more special trip because last year, on the same mission, she didn't know it but she met her now finance. They are getting married in November. :) I'm so happy for them. Since the yard sale is this Saturday, the day before Mother's Day, I thought a few themed items would be nice for last min gift buyers. :)

and this feltie experiment came out so wrong. :p

I was trying to make a dragon onigiri feltie but failed. As you can see, I did not finish it because I didn't like it. I don't know if it is the eyes or the "ears" but it just looks too strange. I do like the back though. It does look like a row of horns down his back or a mohawk. hehe

I like to share some of my failed experiments because when I see other people have tried and failed too, it doesn't make me feel so bad. :) I might try again but with a different design. :)

Good luck with your Mother's Day gift shopping!

Paracord Butterfly

Hi Ya'll!! I was trying to tie this big celtic heart knot from TIAT but the hearts didn't look right. Then, I noticed that the video tutorial asked for 5 feet of paracord but you only need like 2 feet so I slid the first heart I tied down and tied a second one on the same string to see if I could make a better looking one and to not waste cording but I failed. Looking at these two "heart" shaped knots, I put them side by side and it looked like wings. So, I decided to make it into a butterfly. Below, is what came out but I didn't finish it off because I still don't know if I like it yet.

What do you guys think?

Very Very Last Min Gift and wrapping, + an experiement

So, a very down to the wire, simple yet elegant Christmas present for my Aunt. I literally finished it with 10 min to put on a little makeup before we left to meet up with her and her friends for Dim Sum.

Silver Bells Bracelet

In the center is a cute cluster of jingle bells. She wore it during the meal so I am glad to say, it doesn't constantly jingle and drive you crazy. You only hear it during big or sharp hand gestures. I strung an interesting combination of Swarovski crystals in different finishes (Matt vs AB) and sizes (3mm, 4mm, 6mm). I added a few silver ball beads to add a little more sparkle and so I could use my crimp bead covers at the back and to tie in the silver bells. The pattern is a simple cluster of A-B-A. I think to make something so simple, interesting especially since it is monochromatic, is to vary the finishes and sizes. It's just like interior decorating, you want to vary texture. I finished it by adding an 1 inch extender chain and a few more crystals at the end of that.

My mom really liked it so she made me teach her how to make it. I gave her the beads in the order of the pattern and she strung it on. I tried to show her how to add the clasp and finish it but she got a phone call so I finished it for her. :P She was going to give it away but decided that she wanted to wear it to her work Christmas Buffet. :)

The perfect quick last min gift for an unexpected female guest. :P

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While she was out, I was tasked with wrapping 2 cute bento boxes she got for her friends' sons.

One was this cute frog and the other was a cute smiling raccoon. Due to the rounded edges, I had to figure out a way to wrap these without a box to put them in and no gift bags (I ran out). I decided to make my own gift bags from wrapping paper.

Simple and cute for little boys to tear into. :)

Box 1 was made with a leftover piece of wrapping paper. It was long and just wide enough. 

I folded the base first to fit the bento boxes.

Then I folded the corners in and taped up the sides.

I folded down the top like a brown paper lunch bag...speaking of which, I should always have some on hand to decorate for last minute gift bags. :p

Box 2 was made in using the envelop method. There are tutorials all over the web on how to make an envelope into a bag. I first taped a piece of wrapping paper into a tube.

Then I made the creases for the 4 sides.

I folded the bottom like I would when I wrap an actual box and are finishing the ends.

Folded down the top and added curling ribbon. Done. :)

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I had a great idea for a bracelet for my Aunt the night before that turned out to be not so great as a bracelet.

I thought I could jazz up the beaded tennis bracelet design. Luckily I made a sample for myself and hated it for a bracelet. I got to this (above pic) and stopped. Now, what do I do with this? It would be a cute hair clip but then I thought maybe I could make it into a brooch.

I added loops to the top and sides. Then fringe to the bottom. I will never make this again because I used nylon and that was a pain to get through the seed beads. And the fringe won't stay right.

Just got to add the pin back. What do you think? I might go back to it being a hair clip, I don't know.... :p

Christmas Eve Day is Tomorrow!!! Good luck everyone!!!
And Happy Holiday to you and your loved ones! :)

Elegant Starlight

So, one of my friend's Christmas gift is lost in the postal system. Therefore, I had to come up with something  as a replacement. I had made this Yellow bracelet and earring set for my friend in Thailand a few months ago. Then I saw this "Hint of Spring" necklace and it was perfect for her. The design is from Crystal Brilliance book called "Starlight".

I didn't know what colors to use so I experimented first with different variations of black and white.

The outside 4mm beads are White Alabaster on your left and White Opal on your right. The inside 3mm bicones are Jet. I used grey seed beads.

The one on your left has outside bicones of White Alabaster and inside of Jet, but this time I used black seed beads. The right one was 3 experiments in one. I tried to see if I could make the motif bigger with an extra bead on the outside and inside. I also wanted to see how Jet would look on the outside with White Alabaster on the inside. Lastly, I wanted to see which I liked better, grey or black. Below is what I decided on.

I made 3 sizes of the motif. From left to right, I used 5 bicones inside and out, 6 bicones, 5 bicones, 7 bicones, 5 bicones, 6 bicones, and then 5 bicones. The "Hint of Spring" necklace used 5-5-7-5-5 pattern.

I added chain, more bicones, and an extender in the back in case she wants to wear it a little bit longer.

I didn't intend it but it matches the Curlicue Scarf I made for her. :)

Christmas is only 5 days away people!! :) Good luck!

Fall Floral Brooch in Progress

It is Fall. Since I miss the color from the dieing leaves, I am trying to make some beaded jewelry from the colors of Fall. This the first experiment with these colors. :)

My Fall color Inspiration

Finished Flower

I used the same pattern for the flower center as the one in my friend, Glee's red and green bracelet. I started with brown and yellow. Then I added the red. I wanted to add some orange bicones but it didn't allow the shape of the petals to come through. Sorry for the strings, I haven't attached all the parts together yet. As you can see, the center sticks up due to the Swarovski crystal cube in a crystal or clear color. I used a mixture of reds for the petals. I think it came out well but more Indian than Fall.

Finished Flower Top View

It looked kinda plain so I decided to add a leaf. I google searched for "Russian Leaf Instructions". I picked this easy version using the St. Petersburg stitch because the size was a better fit. Here is the link to the instructions if you guys would like to try it. I used bugle beads instead of seed beads in the middle.

Flower and Leaf Top View

I am currently questioning whether or not to add a second leaf to the other side. Any opinions on the matter?
 I do feel that if I do add a second leaf, I might have to change it from a brooch to a hair clip.

Angled View

Side View

Sadly, this brooch doesn't seem to fallish. Please let me know what you guys think of the colors and the second leaf matter. :) Your opinions matter. :)

On a more personal note. As I was trying to take a pic of this, I realized that the strings on the leaf had my needles still attached and that I was missing one needle. Ooops. That's what happens when it's hard to thread the needle so I just keep it on a project that I have not finished. :P After an exhaustive search I still have not found the missing needle. :( Hopefully my feet or someone else's feet do not find the missing needle. I will search again tomorrow.

Panda's Tip of the Day

If you are going to keep needles on the string on an unfinished project, stick the needle in place onto your beading mat or a pin cushion or needle holder so that as you pick up your piece, you realize that there is a needle still on there. hehe Or you could just take the needles off each time to be safe but I do not like stringing needles. :p hehe

Experiments

I just wanted to post this real quick to show that as a beader, you will make mistakes on your color choices. hehe So here are two experiments that have failed and one that I love. I really don't like experiments that fail because all that time would've been lost for the main part. But you can always learn. I am not big on experimenting with color but it is fun when it comes together beautifully.

The stitch I used for the pink and blue experiments is a variation of a variation of the spiral stitch. hehe I learned this stitch from my beading friend, Sylvia, 5 years ago. INMcrystal has a tutorial on the basic variation on their Aqua Purple Haze Bracelet page. I just took lengths of the basic variation and changed it so that it would be stitched sideways. I did this stitch years ago but the bracelet was all black and now lost so, I thought I would try it in color.

3 Pinks Bracelet

I think this bracelet is gorgeous!!! It is so sparkily from the silver lined seed beads. The color works really well too. Here I used 3 shades of pink: rose, light rose, and Rosaline 4mm Swarvoski Crystals. You have to use the same color seed bead throughout the bracelet so the crystal colors have to work with the seed bead color. I have not finished off the bracelet just yet but will post it when it's done, whenever that is. hehe

One unit of the 3 Blues variation

 Sorry for the fuzzy picture. I need to get a new digital camera too. :P

3 Blues variation of a variation of a variation of spiral stitch..hehe

I took units of the stitch used on the pink bracelet and put them on top of each other to try a different color combination. It was hard and I don't like how it turned out. Next time, I will shorten the units and zig zag the colors more structurally/not so randomly. I will also write out the color change so that I can take the stitch down the whole length of the bracelet and then back up so it would be easier to make. I had to redo the stitching 3 times to get it to connect correctly. :P I really hate redoing stitching.

Rainbow "Starlight" Bracelet

Here is an experiment that allowed me to experiment in color but on a smaller quicker scale. I made this because I wanted a bracelet with the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. I needed one more "star" so I added the neutral black and white. I don't like it very much. It is just a bit awkward. I also don't like how the "stars" are connected. Next time, I will try to use crystals to connect the units. I do like the orange, purple, and black "stars" though. I will probably do a bracelet with the black and white "stars" in the future. I think it would be cute but sophisticated at the same time. :)

So, the lesson for today, the moral of my story, is to experiment and have fun. :) Turn stitches sideways or put them together in a different way. You never know what you might learn or love. hehe  That is a good life lesson too... :)