love season

If you actually follow this blog, you may have noticed that there haven't been a lot of posts lately. With all of the design projects that I am taking on, there just isn't a lot of personal crafting going on here.

I did just get a new computer, which means that I can edit video again and not worry about the health of my laptop. This weekend has been dedicated entirely to re-skinning, modifying, and prettifying my OS.

After making a custom screensaver in flash (that's an idea for a tutorial, hmm), I decided to post it up here and let everyone know that I am still alive.

It looks like this gif:

This is the download link for the file. It will run on Windows operating systems with Flash and doesn't have any malicious code in it. You can trust me - I am terrible at programming stuff.

Oh, and leave a comment if you want to see a gif to screensaver tutorial in the future.

Stained Glass Cookies

This is a recipe for the most magical and mysterious holiday cookies that you can make. This old family recipe is a little time consuming, but the results make such an impression that they are talked about every year.

I decided that I'd make them for the first time since getting rid of all our cookie cutters. these instructions include a downloadable template and instructions for fun shapes  which do not require nesting cookie cutters.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon double strength vanilla extract

2 bags of life savers
1 bag  jolly ranchers (for blue)

Simple Gifts Scarf

It is gift season and if you are a knitter, you are probably looking for some easy , fast last minute ideas.

Consider this simple brioche stitch scarf.

Fingerscarves Finally

Did you ever wonder what would happen if a pair of gloves and a scarf had a child? What would happen if you just reached into your scarf every time your fingers were cold?
Well this is the answer to those questions that you never actually asked.

It took only 2 years to put aside time to actually edit and publish this pattern, does anyone even remember it?

How could you forget a scarf that has fingers.

Carroll for Clotheshorse Magazine

I'm really excited to say that my first pattern made for a magazine is out. Clotheshorse magazine has published this color blocked sweater with set in sleeves and slimming side panels in a contrasting color.

Find it on Clotheshorse Mag

It's a style that is everywhere often seen on dresses, the color blocking creates the illusion of a slimmer waist. You can also see it in my prototype of the sweater, the dark sides definitely create an optical illusion.

I also did the trim in a different color and added a few short rows in the bust because I'm not a standard XS in the bust area. You can see the side stripe on the extra small is thinner, it's proportional to the size.