Gratitude and Putting Things in Place

While I'm being thankful, I never said thank YOU for the wonderful words and support that you sent our way after our big announcement.  The hubby and I couldn't be any more excited - he comes with me to all of the doctor appointments, and we love hearing the little heartbeat every time.  Now that I'm almost 6 months along (wow, really??), I feel the baby moving and we've both felt a few kicks.  I'm desperately wanting to start nesting and organizing baby stuff, but I don't want to be too eager - so I keep a lot of it to Pinterest. ;)

As I mentioned before, work has been really busy.  We've had so much going on, and I think knowing that I'll be out for a little while on maternity leave, I want to make sure everything's buttoned-up before I go.  We're also trying to get the house in order.  Moving rooms around, consolidating, cleaning and purging... it's amazing how much you can accumulate!  A major area of focus has, of course, been my craft room.  I had been saving small scraps of fabric for unknown projects, hoarding patterns and all the while, not making a dent in anything by actually making anything.  So, I decided a deep cleaning is due.

The 'before' shot of my pattern storage (aka, everywhere) and some of the larger pieces of fabric.

After the cleanup. Patterns are now contained to just three bins. Fabric scraps have been incorporated to shelving (freeing up three tubs that were under my sewing table).

First things first, I went through all of my fabric and looked at what I would really use in the long run, what scraps could become something, and which just had to go.  I considered doing a giveaway for some things, but there wasn't really enough to amount to anything garment-wise.  I've actually decided to donate a lot to RAFT, a local organization that provides various resources to teachers.

All of my patterns, sorted by designer.

Then, the dreaded bins of patterns.  I started with two bins for patterns, which quickly became three, which then became any available spot I could find to tuck them into, random containers, squished between fabric bolts on shelves... you get the picture.  So I pulled them alllll out.  And sorted them by brand. And decided which could stay and which needed to go.  I even found some duplicates!  What does this mean for you? Well, I split the patterns into three piles, keep, sell, and... you guessed it... giveaways!  So watch out, because I'll have at least a couple coming your way, just in time for the holidays!

My stacks of vintage patterns that will probably be sold. Still need to assess the condition of them .

Now that I have done the cleaning, I just need to start sorting through the vintage patterns that I'm going to list on Etsy and get them ready to go, and I need to start on a few crafts that I've had sitting on the table for a while.  In particular, an advent calendar (that I'd love to complete before this Christmas!), an Amy Butler bag that has all components and is just waiting to be assembled, and my crochet blanket that I've been working on since last November.  It's almost done, but it's just so big that it's a little unwieldy to work with.

So I haven't been completely unproductive! And I've been trying to check in with my blog reader at least once a week.  So hopefully you'll start to see me commenting on posts again and also updating my blog a little more regularly.

Vacation and a Meetup

Ahhhh vacation. Just what you need to get your creative juices flowing again, right?  Well, I think so.  It helps when you get to meet up with a fellow blogger along the way.

The hubby, dog, and I took a road trip to Southern California.  We had good, quality time with friends, family, and Mickey Mouse.  We went to Disneyland, road all of the rides at the new Cars Land in California Adventure, and just had some quality rest and relaxation.



On the way home, we stopped by Santa Barbara for lunch with a girlfriend, and then a little past that, met up with the lovely Erin from Miss Crayola Creepy.  When I knew we would be driving the coastal route home, I sent Erin a note to see if she would be interested in meeting.  I was in the middle of my sewing rampage and had huge plans!  Well, by the time we met, I was such a bum and hadn't made anything in weeks.  But I still couldn't wait to meet.  If you remember, I featured her back in March and love reading along with her blog.



It was so great meeting up with her! We had some ice cream at this super-cute place called Doc Burnstein's, and chatted about sewing idols, blogging, meetups, and life in general.  Oh, and she brought me a sewing book that I've had my eye on for a while, Famous Frocks.  So sweet! (I was totally lame and not prepared, but I see something exciting for her in the near future. ;)) Time flew by and I was sad to leave, but we had to get back on the road to get home.

Now, I'm feeling refreshed and ready to get back into my sewing space.  I haven't had time just yet as I'm prepping for a baby shower that I'm throwing this weekend, but I can definitely see some sewing taking place immediately afterwards.

Checking In

Sorry for the lack of posts. So much has been going on... between house guests, work, dance, life, etc... I haven't had much time for sewing and have been so pre-occupied physically and mentally.  I have made a dent in two needlecraft projects.  One baby blanket for a wonderful friends' baby shower in a couple of weeks, and my other crochet blanket that I've been working on since the dawn of time (or last November).  I hope to finish the baby blanket this week, and well... I hope to finish the other blanket before its one year anniversary of casting on, but I really can't promise anything.

We're going away for a few days for a little R&R.  I will hopefully get this time to mentally get back in the sewing game, and maybe even meet up with a fellow blogger.  I'll keep you posted, and I promise I won't be gone for too much longer.  And of course, keep looking for the regular Sweet Treats posts. Those are still coming to you every Saturday!

Featured Friend: Madalynne

I'm so excited to share this Featured Friend with you!  The month of May is very special indeed. This month, the lovely Madalynne reached out to me to tell me what she enjoyed my blog.  The sweetest gesture ever but even more coincidental because I had just stumbled across hers in recent weeks and was swooning over her gorgeous photos and wonderful writing style.  Don't you love when you find new blogs that quickly become your favorite?

In putting together this month's feature, Maddie and I swapped quite a few emails finding we have quite a bit in common.  I love to shop for vintage-inspired clothing (or at least drool over the unattainable), and she works at corporate for the store that is number one in my Pinterest/drool-worthy list.  Seriously, my husband knows when I say 'Mecca' that we could only be shopping at one store.  She went to SCAD, one of my little brother's is getting ready to graduate from there and half of my family lives in Savannah (it's where the hubby and I got married). So I definitely have a love for that area.  Ok, well maybe it's not stuff that's totally in common, but we definitely had so much to chat about!

And after reading her interview, I was so excited to learn more about her upcoming projects.  I hope you will be too, because it can only mean more sewing projects for the independent pattern-maker obsessed.  So please, read on, and check out her links at the bottom.

Happy Friday everyone!




What inspires you?


It’s not about what inspires me because everything sparks my mind into imagining and creating. It’s more about when I’m inspired. I find that there are certain times when my mind is creative beyond imagination and there are certain times when my mind is blocked from dreaming up anything. 

I’m most inspired in the morning. Way before the majority of the world wakes up, I can create and create and create forever and once forever is over, I could create some more. Thoughts come from every which way and each grow off each other. I think about my current projects, future projects, what I can do better, what I have done wrong, etc. You name it, I think of it. Although I carry a notebook with me almost every place I go, I make sure to keep it with me in the morning so I can record all my thoughts, even if that means bringing it to the gym.

I find that I am least inspired midday. My antsy and nervous side comes out around 10:00 a.m. when I realize what I have to accomplish for the day and usually subsides around 5:00 p.m. when I wrap up my daily workload and have about 1 thing left on my to-do list. During this window of time, I couldn't create for the life of me. My mind is focused on too many other chores and tasks and I'm not dreaming up my next creation. 

What is your craft space like?

I’d like to say that I have a room dedicated to sewing, where all my supplies are stored and where all my projects are completed, but I don’t. Sewing has taken over my entire apartment and I like it that way. I live in a one bedroom apartment in Philadelphia, so space is tight. My main piece in my "craft space" is a book shelf in my living room with loads upon loads of books stuffed and crammed into the shelves. The World of Fashion, The Complete Guide to Sewing, 9 Heads, The Spec Manual, Modern Art, Hamlet, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Great American Cars, A Little Book of Western Verse, The Creative Habit, Longfellow, as well as so many other books here fill each and every cubicle. Although I love my book shelf for its obvious purpose of storing books, it’s the table that extends out from it that really makes me love this piece. On most days, my computer sits on the table but when I start crafting, sewing, or pattern making, I usually remove it and use the for laying out my patterns, measuring garments, or hand sewing.  It’s longer than most tables which makes it the perfect crafting accessory, actually the perfect crafting necessity.

Also in my craft space is the usual - a Juki DDL 5500 and a mannequin. All of my sewing supplies and tools are stored in my closet, in my kitchen cabinets (who needs food?), and sometimes, in my oven (along with my shoes).

My other craft space is my bedroom. I use it as sort of a photo-op area. It’s where I take all the pretty pictures of my pretty garments.

Let us in on your stash... what is coming, what's in progress, what are you stumped with?

I’m a planner so I have a lot of projects in the works. First up is a matching top and short ensemble. I was inspired by woman's outfitting during the 1950s, particularly how women looked Jackie-O on a daily basis. Dresses, skirts, boleros, and tops matched and were only made with the finest cottons, tweeds, and brocades. So I decided to do a modern take on this with a simple top and a high-waisted short. This project is extra exciting because after I make the pattern, which will be drafted/draped using my mannequin, I plan to grade the pattern to all sizes and sell it online so that others can create the look too (yay!). But there’s more to this project. After I make and grade the pattern for this top, I will manipulate it to create another top that ties in the front or the back into a bow. This top can be sleeved or sleeveless – the sleeve pattern can be sewn onto the first top or the second top. All three pieces - the first and second top and the short - were designed to go with each other. 

What is your favorite craft to work with?

I have many crafts and each provides me a break from the other and each prevents me from getting burned out with one craft. Of course, sewing is my favorite craft but pattern making, blogging, and scrapbooking are my other crafts. Even though I could waste an entire day, usually Sunday, sewing, I couldn’t do it seven days a week. So when I get tired of sewing, I pattern make, and when I get tired of pattern making, I blog, and when I get tired of blogging, I scrapbook. Jumping from one craft refreshes my mind so that when I go back to one particular craft, I’m ready and excited to get back to it.

What is your favorite thing that you've created so far?

My most priced sewing creation is nothing special, it wasn’t even an intricate piece to sew. It’s what I like to call a dress-up everyday piece. It’s a circle skirt with pleated ruffle exposed at the bottom. The skirt was made of a very lightweight wool and the pleated ruffles were a silk twill (the pleated ruffles were attached to a silk lining). It hits right above the knee, not too short or too long, and can be worn with a tank top, cami, blouse, sweater, heels, or flats. I made it four years ago and I’m still head over heels in love with it.

Where can I read more? 

I have an Etsy shop but until I finish the project I just described, nothing is being sold yet. Not to worry though, you can find me on Facebook! If you “like” me, I can pest you with all my status updates, only good ones of course.

Blog: www.madalynne.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/maddiemadalynne

Looking back at 2011...

Before I look to 2012, I want to take a peek at what I did in 2011 and check in on the New Year's resolutions I set back then.   A condensed refresher:

1. A minimum of one garment per month.
2. Try more advanced sewing techniques.
3. Work on my yarn stash.
4. Finish off some cross stitch patterns.
5. Make some cross stitch patterns.

Now, did I meet them?

In 2011, I made:
* 16 dresses
* 5 skirts
* 6 tops
* 3 jackets
* 2 pairs of pants (one was pajama pants)
* 2 Halloween costumes
* 1 comforter

I didn't complete any sewing projects in the months of November or May.  In November, I was pretty busy prepping for my dance competition and undergoing surgery, and in May we travelled a little bit and I had just completed the Spring challenge - so I think I was a little done with the sewing machine for a while.  But I did average far more than the one item per month, so I'm going to consider that 'checked' off.    More details on my 2012 goals later, but I do hope not to take any whole months off from completing garments this time.

I made our Halloween costumes this year.  Little Bo Peep and her lost sheep.

I also tried quite a few more advanced sewing techniques and think that I definitely met my second goal.  For one thing, I now love buttons! I remember that task used to terrify me, and I refused to buy the beignet skirt from Colette because of it.  But making her Ceylon dress definitely encouraged me to learn buttons the right way and now button holes and attaching buttons are a breeze.  Though it also helps that I upgraded my sewing machine in 2011.  I went from el cheap-o to my fancy pants new machine (still affordable and not necessarily top of the line) and also took some classes that helped explain how to do the advanced techniques on it.  Oh and invisible zippers? Well if you haven't seen my Celebration dress yet, check it out, because I do think that qualifies as an awesome invisible zipper installation.

One of my favorite dresses from this year. I love Colette patterns! I made this during Self-Stitched September. My first time participating in this type of challenge.

I did a bit of knitting and crochet that made a small dent in my stash, but I don't always post those completed projects on here.  I did buy a little bit of yarn this year, but nothing that made an impact of my stash.  I just need to keep at it and not buy yarn until I have at least one bin empty (I have about 4 fabric bins of yarn).

I also finished off 3 cross stitch patterns and only have one or two of my larger old ones still in progress.  I've tried to keep those projects manageable and not start any new ones until I can complete the ones I already started.

I also tried other types of embroidery techniques.

I did make a few patterns for cross stitch but I haven't made them up yet.  I think this goal is just going to continue on through 2012.

Lastly, let's not forget about Sweet Treats Saturday.  I posted a recipe every Saturday in 2011!  I also created an Archive page so that you can easily browse the different treats by category.  I try to update it at least bi-weekly with the new posts that go up.  Hopefully that has been a helpful resource.

One of the most popular Sweet Treats recipes that I posted this year.   Coconut sheep cupcakes.

All in all, it was a good, crafty year!  I feel much more confident in my sewing skills and now look forward to trying new techniques and designs.  I'm excited for what 2012 has to offer!

So what about you? What was your biggest accomplishment for 2011?  Wishing you the best for the New Year!

Blogging Year in Review

I’m excited to announce that September is the one year anniversary of the What’s Up, Cupcake? blog.  It’s been a fun year of blogging! I learned a lot in this year:

I started sewing a lot of my own clothing, making 18 dresses, 2 skirts, 5 blouses, 4 jackets, an apron, my owl Halloween costume, 1 bag, 2 sewing notions and 1 duvet cover.

I branched out and knit more than just scarves, and made a total of 12 items.

I learned to crochet, and made 5 items.

I also started cross stitching, and completed 6 projects.

Not only the above, but I’ve made a lot of friends within the blogging/online crafting community.  My list of sewing ‘idols’ is constantly growing - I’m always amazed by what people are whipping up online.

Here’s a recap of some of the things that I’ve made:

Most satisfying creations?

MTL: Day After Day Dress

Colette Parfait

Most worn?

Colette Parfait

Summer Sails

On second thought...

Marie skirt. I might go back and tweak the fit. I’d like to adjust the bubble shape to make it less ‘puffy.’

Let’s do that again!

Basically every Colette pattern. They’re so great to work with.  I’m going to make another Ginger skirt and Sencha blouse right away, but I’d also like to make another Lady Grey jacket.

Hardest Projects?

Highland jacket

Vogue 1233

Monique dress

So to kick off my blogging anniversary, I have a few things in store for September.  First, I’ll be participating in Self-Stitched-September. This is the first time I’ve participated in a challenge like this, but I’m looking forward to it.  For the month of September, I will wear at least one item that I’ve made a day.  I’m going to try to keep this only to main garments with other items (knitting, crochet, etc) as accessories.

 

Second, I’m going to be doing some giveaways! It’s been a while, so to make up for it, I’ll be doing a giveaway each week for the month of September! Each week will be a new theme, starting with some vintage inspired jewelry.  Stay tuned as the first giveaway will launch on Saturday.  Other weeks will feature a vintage pattern, some yarn, and something crafty.  So if you’re not following What’s Up, Cupcake? now is the time to join in the fun and spread the word.

Thank you to my loyal followers for all of your support! I couldn’t keep this blog up without you.  I continue to challenge myself and learn new things and it’s great to be able to share it with my fellow crafty peers!

Something old, something new... and a trip to Disneyland

No, this is not a wedding post, but I did pick up a few things during my vacation weekend in Southern California.  First, my friend gifted me a book of her grandmothers'.  I never would have known to pick this book up on my own, but it turned out to be an amazing gift!  It's the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework.  It's a crafter's dream!  It has every type of needlework that I've ever wondered about, including some great information about the few that I do.  I can't wait to try out some of the techniques on lacework and needlepoint, but along the same lines, it taught me some new techniques for the crochet project that I was working on this weekend.  I was gushing about the book all weekend and can't wait to spend more time pouring through it.

In addition, while shopping in downtown Orange, California, I found a cute store called the Heavenly Hostess.  They had some great items, and while I was there I stumbled upon the book Blogging for Bliss: Crafting Your Own Online Journal.  I've been reading a lot of blog and blogging articles recently to continuously improve What's Up Cupcake, so I was really excited to find this book.  Even more so when I found some of the blogs I already frequent in there such as Posie Gets Cosie and Angry Chicken.  I've learned some fun things already and am looking forward to applying them to the blog.

In addition to reading, I cranked out a new scarf based off of the previous Tea Scarf pattern that I made back in December.  I had some great yarn from Three Irish Girls that had been waiting to be used, and I knew this pattern would be perfect.  I'll detail my adjustments to the pattern below, but definitely check out the original pattern here.  I'm calling my variation the Sherbert scarf.  The colors alone make me want a scoop of rainbow sherbert, but I thought this tweaked version needed it's own name.

Sherbert Scarf
Chunky, worsted weight yarn.  I also used size 8mm crochet hook because I didn't have a 7mm on hand

Row 1: CO (ch) 140
Row 2: Ch 3 for turning chain, then DC into each base chain
Row 3&4: Ch 3 for turning chain, SC, DC into turning chain, then *DC, ch 1, DC; repeat from *in each chain around the scarf, ending where you began
Row 5: Ch 3 for turning chain, then DC into each base chain
Row 6&7: Repeat pattern from rows 3&4
Row 8: Ch 3 for turning chain, then DC into each base chain
Row 9: Ch 2 for turning chain, then Ch into each base chain

Weave in the ends.

And finally, what trip to Southern California is complete without a stop by Disneyland? During my craft shopping, I picked up a new copy of Cross-Stitch & Needlework as it featured some lovely St. Patrick's Day items. While hanging out at Disneyland, I spotted a small green display in honor of my favorite holiday, so I had to pick up one of their St. Patrick's Day Mickey's.  Isn't he cute?

So now you tell me - what are you favorite craft books or magazines? Anything you couldn't live without or can't wait to own?

This post will be participating in the following Linky parties:

Making the World Cuter * Just Something I Whipped Up * Made by You Mondays * Sew Cute Tuesday * Talent Tuesday * I Made This * We Did It Wednesday * Hoo’s Got Talent * The Trendy Treehouse * Tatertots & Jello * Thrilling Thursday * It’s a Hodgepodge Friday

New Year, Blog Goals

I’m back to the blogging world! I needed to give myself a few days in the new year to get settled back into work and my regularly scheduled dance classes.  Work didn’t disappoint and I’ve been busier than ever!  However, I’ve had some time to think about the direction of the blog and my goals for the new year.

First things first: craftiness!  I really want to focus on all crafty activities this year.  I have a tendency to dive deep into one type at a time, leaving the rest to collect dust.  I need to work on this!  So here are my crafty blogging goals for 2011:

1.  A minimum of one garment per month. I was averaging a bit more by the end of 2010, but because of this my other crafts suffered. I definitely want to continue making clothes, but I’d also love to sew some other things (such as a new quilt or coverlet for our bed).

One of my quickly multiplying vintage patterns. 
They're like gremlins in water...

2.  Continue to develop my sewing skills by trying more advanced techniques.  Not only do I want to continue making garments, but I need to work on some more advanced projects.  I’d like to start the Ceylon dress by Colette patterns, and some more vintage patterns in more complicated designs.  I’m ready to take on the challenge!

3.  Work on my yarn stash and utilize some of the amazing patterns at my fingertips.  I have some great patterns saved on Ravelry, and some would be really quick, de-stashing projects.  I would like to work on both knitting and crocheting with things like more cowls, fingerless gloves, maybe another pair of legwarmers, and yes, that first sweater!

4.  Count off my completed cross stitch patterns! I have about three patterns that I’m working on simultaneously right now.  I’d like to finish at least two of them before starting another.  I did order some great kits and patterns, so I’ll be set for a while but I won’t finish any of them if I just keep starting new cross stitch patterns.

A project that I would love to start on...

5.  Last, I'd love to make some cross stitch patterns.  In my hunt for dancing patterns, I've found a big shortage in the Irish and Scottish category.  I'm hoping to try my hand at cross stitch patterns in some dance designs.

One of the few Highland dance pattern collections I've found.

I think these are pretty manageable goals.  I hope to still participate in other blogs, such as Sew Retro (when relevant), but I don’t want to stretch myself too thin.  I’m working on some other personal goals and want to make sure things are reachable.  Regardless, I’m excited for what 2011 brings!

Unfinished projects challenge

With all of the crafting that I set my sights on, a lot can tend to fall by the wayside.  I learned to knit last year and went on a rampage... until the weather started to warm up.  This has left me with quite a few knitting projects.  One in particular has been nagging me: a scarf for my husband. 

He likes to wander around the house saying 'woe is me' to all of the projects I'm putting together for myself, my dancing or others, yet aside for some fingerless gloves, he isn't the recipient of many.  I promised him that I would make him a scarf... last November... as it has now been a year since I started, I think it's time to finish it.  Maybe in time for his birthday at the end of the month?  We'll see. Just in time, Fia Lotta Jansson blog has come to the rescue!  Sofie has posted a blog challenge to finish your knitting projects.  I have a few I'd like to enlist, but for now, I'm going to stick with his scarf. 

Here's a picture of the scarf in progress. 

I'd say I'm currently about 20% done (it's now a bit longer than the picture, but still a ways away).  It's a super easy knit, and a pattern I've done before, but if you get distracted it can be easy to do a weird repeat in the pattern, thus making you tink back to your mistake.  I will not let this scarf get the best of me!

I accept this challenge and will start working on this pattern again! Just as soon as I finish a couple of additional projects I was already working on....

Featured Friend Friday! Just My Type Blogger: Jess

My first Featured Friend Friday!  About once a month, I hope to feature a friend or fellow crafty blogger on What's Up, Cupcake? For my first feature, I thought it would be fitting to interview Jess, as she has encouraged and inspired me to do many of the crafts that I'm now doing.  We met through the Scottish Highland dance community and discovered we both love crafty things.  She got me into knitting, cross stitching, and even back into sewing again!  

Jess and I after a long, but successful day of competing!

Enough with the love fest, read on and you can learn more about the awesome crafts Jess does.


Jess blogs at Just My Type. More details on how to see more of her crafty projects at the bottom of this interview.

What inspires you?

That's kind of hard question to answer, in that there is no specific thing. I tend to have weird taste in a lot of things. I am constantly looking for either beauty, weirdness, or both in the world around me. (I think my flickr favorites is a good place to see that combination in action.) I get very inspired by being able to combine two (or more) of the things I love in life.

For example:

Highland dance and cross-stitch

Highland dance and knitting: (one day it'll be argyle knee socks. not quite yet!)

hardcore/punk music and tattoos: (not my photo!)

Irish-themed stuff and sewing

hardcore/punk and needlework

I also love things that make me laugh. Christine's Bedside Intruder cross-stitch is pretty high on that list right now. 

I'm also endlessly inspired by music. I listen to mostly hardcore and punk. I see bands I love every chance I get and had my dreams come true in getting to see the Cro-Mags earlier this year. I spend a lot of my weekends seeing bands in bars, garages, VFW halls, and wherever else I can. This doesn't come out as directly in my crafting as a lot of other things do. I'm hoping to change that, with the help of my cross-stitch pattern designing skills.

What is your craft space like? Where do you craft?

Complete and total chaos! I live with my parents, and thus have just my bedroom in which to craft. Which works for me. If it's not close and accessible when inspiration hits, I'll lose momentum or interest and projects will languish. I'm the kind where if I can't see it, it doesn't exist.

Let us in on your stash... what’s coming, what’s in progress, what are you stumped with?

Well, I've got three sweaters worth of yarn that is practically begging to be knit with! As someone who really isn't a stasher, that's a LOT of yarn! I'm working on an Emelie with the Knit Picks Palette in Mustard. I've got the Palette in Grass (which I am in LOVE with) that didn't work out as a fingering weight Featherweigh Cardi. I've had the Patons Classic Wool in Mercury for a while, and can't totally decide on a pattern. 

 

I've also got a ball of Indisch Rot Wollemeise in my stash. It was a gift (!) and is so gorgeous. I'm thinking knee socks! 

I'm totally and completely stumped by the mass of yellow lace weight I bought during summer. I LOVE it; don't get me wrong. Yellow is my favorite color. 

What is your favorite craft to work with? (Sewing, knitting, etc)

I consider myself more of a knitter than anything. I do knit, crochet, sew, cross-stitch, embroider, blackwork, dye, and needle felt the odd thing. Lately embroidery in general, and cross-stitch especially, has been in the front of my mind. I seem to do better with crafts that are more linear (i.e. knitting and cross-stitch) than stuff that is more free-form (i.e. crochet and regular embroidery). After saying that, it probably comes as no surprise that I am someone who likes rules and guidelines and finds comfort in rituals.

What is your favorite thing that you’ve created so far?

Over-all, I think it's these blackwork samplers. I lost the fall/autumn pattern before I could do it, and kick myself all the time for that. I know I found them online somewhere. Ten years ago! (And seriously, if anyone knows where I could find the other one, I would be forever indebted.) I like summer the best. 

I also really love working with shrinky dinks. I love the way some of the rings I've made have come out. They're really delicate, but so cute and fun to make.

Knitting wise, it's my Pomatomus socks.

For crochet, it's the pink octopus that I made for my dear friend Kelley. I was supposed to make 10 for an event, and I'm so glad I never had to. 

And sewing wise, it's definitely gotta be my Aboyne skirt and plaid. As a seriously horrible sewer, I'm super proud of it. I think a Jig dress is next for me. 

Where can I read more? 
 

Just My Type: Blog
Ravelry
flickr
etsy
tumblr
last.fm

What's Up Cupcake News!

It's official! I was finally able to login to my previous 'What's Up Cupcake' blog address. What does this mean? I'm transferring this blog to the web address:
http://whatsupcupcake.blogspot.com

Which can also be found by going to:
http://www.whatsupcupcakeblog.com

Yup, I decided to get my own domain name for the blog. It just makes things so much simpler!Either of the above links will take you to the blog.  I'm going to begin fading out my old blog address.

So, time to update your subscriptions and RSS Feeds... and please, spread the word about the What's Up Cupcake blog! I worked on a lot of crafty projects this past weekend which means that lots of fun posts are coming soon!