Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Candy Cane Chocolate Whoopie Pies!

Ya know those Inspired recipe magazines at Sobeys? They're pretty awesome. The holiday themed one that's out now is filled with tons of easy and delicious recipes, like this one!





CANDY CANE CHOCOLATE WHOOPIE PIES 
PREP TIME: 15 min. TOTAL TIME: 45 min. MAKES: approx. 20

You will need:


- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp milk, divided
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, divided
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/4 tsp pure mint extract
- 2 cups icing sugar
- 3/4 cup crushed candy canes
 

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a measuring cup, stir together 3/4 cup milk and vanilla. Set aside.

2. Using an electric mixer, cream together 1/4 cup butter and the brown sugar until pale and fluffy, then add egg. Alternately add portions of the dry ingredients and milk mixture, finishing with dry ingredients. Beat until smooth batter forms.

3. Using a table spoon, portion out level spoonfuls of batter and place mounds, spaced about 1.5 inches apart, on 2 parchment lined baking sheets. Bake for 11 minutes, rotating half way through. Let pies cool completely.

4. Meanwhile, make the filling. Using the mixer, whip remaining butter until fluffy, then add mint extract and remaining milk. Gradually add icing sugar. Beat until fluffy, cover and set aside. 

5. Fold crushed candy canes into filling. Sand which level tablespoons of filling between two pies.

Serve immediately, or refrigerate for later! :)




























I found the filling to be verrrry sweet. Too sweet for me. So if you're not big on things being super sweet I'd suggest using cool whip and adding the mint extract and candy canes.
 
This batch is for a cookie party I'm attending tomorrow with the girls from my class, so hopefully they won't mind the sugar!



lol. This apron was actually a part of my Raggedy-Anne Halloween costume that my Nan made me when I was 12. I've been using it as an apron ever since. :)

Hope you enjoy the recipe! There's sure to be more as we get closer to Christmas
11 DAYS!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Eggnog Smoothie Recipe!


- 2 cups of frozen yogurt
- 1 cup eggnog
- 1 banana
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 2 oz spiced rum

*serves two

Pure Perfection.
Enjoy.


 






Thursday, December 8, 2011

Tattooine Neckpiece


Title: Tattooine

Materials
- naturally hand-dyed habotai silk with madder, safflower, pomegranate, logwood, cochineal and indigo.
- repurposed leather
- goldwork: Grecian Twist (0.5% gold) , Pearl Purl


About two weeks ago I wrote asking for your help deciding which design(s) to make. At that point in time I had intended to make two of my four designs. I didn't anticipate that these would take forever to make, so I only ended up with one complete neckpiece....for now. 

Click here to read about my inspiration and to view my other three designs.







I'm pleased with the outcome. Can't wait to make another to get it absolutely perfect.




What do you think? Is this something you would wear? I'm curious to know how people feel about bold-textile-art jewellery and accessories....

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Anya Caliendo!

After a few stressful and hectic days a beacon of light as shone my way! I finally received my package from Anya Caliendo which includes my proof of registration! It's really happening...I'm going to millinery school in New York!!!!!





























YAYAYAYAYAYYYYYYY!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Christmas Paper Globes How-to:


So here's a little tutorial for ya! It's been a while since I've done one so I figured you deserved it, and I deserved a break from my school work. :P

These paper globes make great Christmas tree ornaments but also look great piled into a glass bowl and used as a centrepiece. 

You will need:
- strips of decorative paper cut into even lengths and widths. 
- 2 paper fasteners
- large needle 




Step #1Pierce the end of each piece with a large needle (I use a felting needle).




Step #2. Push the paper fasteners through each hole, starting with one strip and adding the rest one at a time.



 Step #3. When they are all on split open the fasteners and fan into a globe shape.





If you'd like to hang your globe attach some thread, or fishing line.



                         



Hope you're all getting psyched for Christmas! I sure am!!!







Monday, November 28, 2011

O Christmas tree, such pleasure do you bring me



This is my second Christmas in this apartment, my second time using my Canadian Tire tree, and my second time stringing popcorn. I had forgotten how long it takes! I probably spent way too much time doing this over the weekend, especially since the semester is coming to an end, but it was definitely worth it. Nothing beats stringing popcorn for garland! Nothing.














http://contest.youllneverforgetit.com/spotlight/186/
http://contest.youllneverforgetit.com/spotlight/186/






I made my rag-doll angel in the winter of 2008 at a doll making workshop with Susan Furneaux.  

I love her. so much. 








Sunday, November 27, 2011

Tattooine Designs

For my Design class I had to develop a design based on an event that happened within in the last year. I chose the discovery of a planet with two suns! Kind of a big deal! The planet was discovered by NASA's Kepler mission and was nicknamed Tattooine after the fictional home of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, which was also a planet with two suns. You can read more about the discovery here.








SO! I developed a few designs for a neckpiece using leather, naturally dyed silk and goldwork.

Since I do not have the time to make all four of my designs, I need to chose only two....and I'm having a lot of trouble doing this!! So PLEASE let me know which design is your favourite, or even your two most favourite. I'd really appreciate it!

Here they are...I've lettered them to make it easier for voting.


A




B




C




D



Thank youuuuuuuuu :)


Monday, November 7, 2011

Kit Cakes!


























These sweet cupcakes are not meant for eating but for containing your sewing supplies! The top (icing) is felted and serves as a pincushion with the "sprinkles" being stick pins! The cake portion is knitted and starched. The cupcakes open up to hold needles, scissors and thimble and thread! Perfect for anyone who loves to sew!

They're made by Anna Clarke and will be for sale at CNA's Textile Student Booth at The Christmas Craft Fair. :)

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Heart of Town T-Shirts!


Downtown St. John's will always have a place in your heart.






The maker of these awesome shirts is Miss Chelsie Coles! She loves the sights and sounds of downtown St. John's and created this design using the streets of downtown to represent an anatomical heart.....to show her love! These Heart of Town T-Shirts are screen printed and hand dyed on 100% cotton American Apparel short and long sleeve tees.

These make a great gift for anyone who has a loving relationship with downtown St. John's. Think about your friends and family who are away for the holidays this year. It would be so nice to give them a piece of home :)

Chelsie will be selling these shirts at CNA's Textile Student Booth at The Christmas Craft Fair. Come check it out!!! :D

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Sarah Slean @ the Majestic! December 3rd!

Anyone who knows me well, knows that Sarah Slean is one of my all-time favourite musicians!

I'll be seeing her for the FOURTH time at The Majestic on December 3rd!!! She's touring her latest album Land & Sea. Tickets for the solo show are available at sonicconerts.com!

Miss Slean was kind enough to give Billy and I tickets to the concert in exchange for postering!


Here is my poster...



and this is Billy's! 




On Friday after class we spent a few hours going around town putting up the posters.



















I'll leave you with her new music video for Set it Free... :D