Macarons from lemonadestandnyc

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Photo from etsy/lemonadestandnyc

As you may or may not know, I have been on a quest to bake macarons, and I have failed in this quest several times. And now, it seems I'm failing at my quest to find a French bakery that sells macarons in Pittsburgh...but they can be purchased online: macarons from lemonadestandnyc on etsy

Escapism

Tuesday, November 24, 2009


I want to take a year off to travel around in a redecorated 12 foot trailer, like these folks. This trailer will do fine.

Let's buy a nice digital camera, and maybe a Holga toy camera or two.

Let's take a year off, and see the country.
Grand Canyon, by Al_HikesAZ
Preston, Idaho, by ryansharich
Valley of Fire State Park, NV by Dave Toussaint
Muir Woods, CA, by SollerPhoto

Found in Pittsburgh: Singer Sewing Machine

Monday, November 23, 2009


Walking home from the grocery store, I saw this 1971 Singer Custom Zig-Zag Sewing Machine (Model 737) with a "free" sign on it, along with a little bag of related accessories (manual, various feet & throats, bobbins, etc). After adjusting the pressure dial, it seemed to actually work!

Now I just have to find somewhere to put this beast...

Newly Designed Hardcover Penguin Classics

Sunday, November 22, 2009


Original photo from Design*Sponge

I am currently in love with these hardcover, fabric-bound Penguin Classics that have been recently released. They remind me of the old books we found in my parents' house when we moved in 22 years ago. Amazon.com currently stocks them.

Lino-Block-Printed Christmas Cards

Thursday, November 19, 2009


I decided to make paper Christmas cards this year. I need to use up my linoleum blocks before they expire, plus, people so rarely use paper invites these days (even though mine point you to a URL, haha).

That, and I needed an excuse to use my [awesome] gold sealing wax from here.

A New Granny Square

Friday, November 13, 2009


I saw a garland of cute granny squares somewhere on the Internet, and whipped up this pattern to put it together. There's basically three stages: the octagon motif, the square frame, and the thicker frame. You can stop at any of these stages, as needed, but for the garland I recommend all three. (Maybe for an afghan you wouldn't need the thicker frame)

Please do not redistribute this pattern without author permission.

[Crochet] Octagonal Granny Square

(Pattern also available as a .TXT file, here.)
(See this pattern on Ravelry, here.)

Difficulty: Easy
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver Worsted/Medium
Yardage: 17.5yds/16m total (12.5yds for the octagon motif, 5 yards for the thick frame)
Hook: G /4.25mm
Gauge: I recommend using this hook+yarn, but if the motif is too "ruffle-y" then go up a size hook and if it's too "bubble-y" go down a size hook.

Pattern:
R1. ch4 and join into a loop.
R2. 3ch, 15dc in ch4 sp, join in 3rd chain. {16dc}
R3. ch6, 1dc in same sp. *skip next dc. 1dc in next dc. ch3. 1dc in same sp* repeat between * until end. Join in 3rd ch.
R4. sl st into ch3 sp. *1sc, 1dc in same sp. ch3. 1dc, 1sc in same sp. skip next 2dc* repeat between * until end. Join in first sc.
The Square "Frame":
R5. sl st in next dc, sl st in next ch3 sp. ch 3. 1 dc in same sp, ch4, 2dc in same sp, ch4. *2sc in next ch3, ch4, 2dc in next ch3 sp, ch4, 2dc in same sp, ch4* repeat between * until end. Join in top of ch3.
Optional "Thick Frame":
R6. sc in next dc. 5sc in next ch4 sp. 1sc in next dc. 1sc in next dc. 4sc in next ch4 sp. *1sc in next sc. 1 sc in next sc. 4sc in next ch4 sp. 1sc in next dc. 1sc in next dc. 5sc iSn next ch4 sp* repeat between * until end. Join in next sc and bind off.

Key: I use the common crochet abbreviations here.
ch: chain the given number of chains
dc: double-crochet the given number
sp: space
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single-crochet
Enjoy!


How To: Make Your Own Starburst Mirror

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Starburst Mirror on Wall

I did this project awhile ago, but a post on Steeltown Anthem inspired me to finally post about the mirror here. I keep moving it around my apartment (and it gets beat up each time), but here the starburst mirror is, in its current condition. The instructions are fairly simple, enjoy.

Step 0: Materials
Bamboo wooden dowels (the kind you use for shish kebabs)
Circular mirrors of assorted sizes (one larger than the rest)
Silver spray paint
Hot glue gun and/or duct tape

Step 1: Spray paint the wooden dowels silver
Spray paint one side of the dowels, flip over, spray paint the other side, let dry.
Starburst Mirror Back

Step 2: Hot glue & duct tape dowels to the back of the large mirror
This step is sort of hodge-podge. Just use whatever you have at hand to ensure that the dowels stick to the back of the mirror. I used mostly hot glue, reinforced with duct tape.
Starburst Mirror Back Closeup

Step 3: Flip mirror over to the "right side" and attach smaller mirrors to dowels with hot glue
Starburst Mirror Front

Step 4: Hang your new starburst mirror on the wall, you're done!
I like to secure my mirror with some double-sided tape on the back, and a wire nail at the bottom of the mirror.
Dinette Wall (as of 2/13/10)

Third Most Romantic Spot in the Country

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Pittsburgh From the Duquesne Incline

According to MSDN, the Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh is the third most romantic spot in the country. As the clip says:
"So romance isn't the first word that pops into your head when you think of Pittsburgh? Then you need to take a ride on the Duquesne Incline cable car (in operation since 1877) to the observation deck with spectacular views of the Ohio and Allegheny River Valleys and downtown Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle."

I took these photos a month ago, when rainmelon was in town, and it's funny how close this top one resembles the shot from the article (unbeknownst to me).
From Duquesne Incline

Pain-free Crochet Edging

Thursday, November 5, 2009


While working on some decorative projects for my office, I needed a border for the projects. There's lots of picot-based edgings, but they can get annoying. Here's a really simple picot-free crochet edging for your projects.


[Crochet] Picot-Free Border Edging

(Pattern also available as a .TXT file, here.)
(See this pattern on Ravelry, here.)

Difficulty: Easy
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver Worsted/Medium
Yardage: Depends on dimensions of item you're attaching the edging to
Hook: G /4.25mm
Gauge: I recommend using this hook+yarn, but if the edging is too "ruffle-y" then go up a size hook (or space out your stitches more) and if it's too "bubble-y" go down a size hook (or put the stitches closer together).

Pattern
(You will need a completed project to put the edging on)
R1. Attach the yarn to your completed project with a sl st. *1sc in next st. 1dc in next st. ch3. 1dc in next st. 1sc in next st.* repeat from * until end. Join in first sc, and weave in ends.

Notes
Sometimes I have to space the stitches out more, like, giving each sc in its own stitch, but then putting the 2 dc (and 3ch) into the same st. Use whatever works for you and your project.

Key: I use the common crochet abbreviations here.
sl st: slip stitch
ch: chain the given number of chains
sc: single-crochet
dc: double-crochet the given number

Enjoy!


Design Concept for Power Outlet

Monday, November 2, 2009

Photo from Yanko Design found via Ubergizmo.

This is an interesting concept that looks prettier than the toggle switch I've seen on all the power outlets in the UK. It can prevent worry about electric shocks (both for expensive electronics and toddlers armed with forks), and make it easier to save electricity when devices are not in use.

It does, however, endlessly annoy me how 'design concept' innovations never make it to market. *sigh*