Likely Story

First Wedding Cake

Well, here it is.  Our groups finished wedding cake.  We were going for simple but elegant.  The interior is not what I would've wanted, but as there was a strong chance that the cake was going to waste and NOT being served, we didn't want to waste money and supplies by being too fancy.  The interior is a brandy vanilla sponge cake with seedless raspberry preserves and vanilla buttercream.  The exterior is fondant and cascading white and blue delphiniums with white satin ribbon.  Thank God it's finished!

Wowie, Zowie!

This book makes me very happy....

So, here's the deal.  We all know that I am a knitter.  Yeah, yeah, I knit and make stuff.  Sure, who doesn't these days?  But my dirty little secret is that I am a LAZY KNITTER.  Oh Boy!  Am I a lazy knitter.  Sure I love the craft, and the process and the pretty colors but, as I learned at my first fiber fair this year, I have A LOT to learn. 

For example, I will make this admission.  I didn't know what WPI stood for, nor how many of them meant anything.  It's true.  I knew that Alpacas were expensive and that I like petting bunny rabbits, but I didn't really understand anything about the fiber itself.  I've heard patterns call for a "drapey" yarn, but to me that meant lighter weight (not necessarily true).  Clara Parkes wrote a book for me (and possibly you). 

In The Knitter's Book Of Yarn, Ms. Parkes explains all of the different weights and fibers while even providing sample patterns best suited to a specific yarn's weight/fiber content.  Parkes is so smart in her easy, straight forward yet entertaining narrative about fiber content; as she pairs fiber to patterns, she explains why.  It seems like a simple enough idea - give some background on yarn, offer a pattern in said yarn and then explain why that yarn is best suited to the pattern.  But no one ever does this.   Pattern just say, "use this yarn you can't possibly afford".  Now, thanks to Ms. Parkes, I can look at the patterns in IK and  actually make informed choices about yarn substitutions that fit my budget (I am not luxury knitter, If I am going to spend 150$ on a sweater, I had damn well better not have to knit it myself).  I can examine a yarn and figure out exactly what weight it is, despite what the producer might say (Brooks Farm's Acero, I'm talking to you, you non-fingering weight little bugger).

Ms. Parkes has relieved me of a sizable portion of my LAZY KNITTERS ignorance, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto

Thank you for being so patient.  I know, you were all waiting with baited breath thinking, "What in the heavens is that mad woman up to these days?  Its been ages since she has polluted teh internetz with her exploits and wisdom!  Has she forgotten us, her loyal readers?"  No, Mom and Dad, I haven't. 

I have however been slammin' busy with random projects.  I have one book in pre-press and I have just finished laying out another (ed. note:  for those people not related to me, I design/edit books and stuff).  I have the potential for a few website consultations which, time permitting, will spiral into full site builds (time, incidentally, will most likely not permit).  I am officially behind in writing book reviews for two titles now.  It looks like I am unofficially catering my friend's gallery opening next weekend.  I am frantically knitting/sewing  holiday presents (which means my SKC knitting is on hold).  Also, in class, this Saturday, I am building and decorating a 4 tier wedding cake. 

But finally, and I think we all know, most importantly, I have discovered an Apple IIgs emulator for my laptop.  Oh sweet Jesus YES!!!  Today I have just beaten (with the aid of a walkthrough, yes...) TASS TIMES IN TONE TOWN.  And it's only taken me, what, 21-22 years?  Thank Christ!  That has been bugging me.  That game was the bane of my existence (when I was 9).  My cousin can attest to this.  She used to spend summers with us and she, too, rotted away her brain one summer pounding her skull against the hefty weight of the IIgs running Tass Times.  But now, who's the loser, Tass Times?  Huh?  I win, TTiTT.  You lose.  All I have to say is this:  Suck it Tass Times, there is nothing sad about my wrath. 

Ooooh.  That felt good.

Dream Zone - You're next!

On that note, here is a grainy picture of a giraffe cake.  Bon Appetit!