Ammeliorer

A wrap for your sandwich

2009-08-31T21:49:00.009-05:00

I found this pattern for a reusable sandwich wrapper and it calls for polyurethane laminated fabric that they didn't carry at my Hancock Fabrics. Buying it online seemed like an additional expense that I didn't need to incur, just to make a reusable product. At the same time I had also been fusing plastic bags with an iron, for some strange reason, not really knowing what I would do with the fabric it creates.

It hit me while I was at the fabric store, sew the plastic "fabric" as the interior lining of the sandwich wrapper. I found that I had some scraps of fabric that I could use. It takes about 1/6 of a yard, but you may like them so much you need a new yard for 6 of them, like I apparently do.

You have to enlarge the pattern to 200% which is kind of hard to do, even on a commercial copier beacuse you need 11"x17" paper and then you have to line it up right, so I just cut and pasted some of the pieces together. Then there's the fusing. It is recommended you use the number 2 plastic bags and about 2 layers of a nice clear or plain white bag fused together is the right thickness. So it takes one big bag, not just a grocery bag, to cut all the pieces. My favorite was a large Macy's bag that I cut all the white parts from. Target bags would work well too, but I just don't like the patterns on the inside of my creation. Plus you have to fuse the bag inside out so the ink side fuses on itself, you don't want it touching your sandwich. Place the bag between two sheets of parchment paper, or just regular paper, set the iron on a medium setting (you will have to experiment to get it right though) and iron over the bag, moving the iron constantly.

Zig zag stitch the plastic to the fabric around the edges and continue to sew as the pattern describes. I actually have not tried it yet, but tomorrow it will be in the field.

Teacup Candles

2009-08-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

So a while ago I got obsessed with the idea of teacup candles, I must have seen them at a store or something. So I researched them on Etsy and decided I could make them myself. Isn't that always the way you get embroiled in some project, "I could make that, I'm not going to buy it." And then you end up spending tons of money to make like one thing. You should have just bought it for the $20 or whatever.

Well, I bought the supplies from this Etsy supplier, and practiced a little in an espresso cup, and then I poured two of these tea cups. My God mother gave me these small china tea cups and saucers several years ago and I never used them, so I thought they would make a good gift for someone. I'm actually not really into candles, there's a family history of big fires, so candles are a non-issue in my house.

In any case, you melt the wax in a pot measuring the temp with a candy thermometer, add the scent and color, if so desired, and pour into the cup with the wick that you have already coated in wax. The wick is held in place with a stabilizing base which is a small metal disk that you thread the wick through and then hot glue to the bottom of the cup. Then you have to stabilize the top of the wick by wrapping it around something like a kitchen skewer (that was the tricky part for me). The wax is soy wax that comes in flakes so it melts quickly, and cleans up with soap and water so you can actually re-use the cup. The wax burns slower and cleaner, it's the new thing in candles apparently. I am planning to give the candles as a hostess gift or something like that. I think it would be a really nice bridal shower favor too.

Best Raspberry Bars - ever

2009-08-17T10:00:00.001-05:00

At the recent Craft Social that we put on I made raspberry bars, thanks to attendee Tasha for prompting me to post this. I have been making these lately every time I have to bring something. It is simply the best recipe ever, from Cooks Illustrated, October 2005.

Recipe can be made in a standing mixer or food processor. Frozen raspberries can be substituted for frewsh, be sure to defrost before combining with raspberry jam, Bars best eaten they day they are made but will keep in airtight container for up to 3 days.

2 1/2 cups flour

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

16 tablespoons (2 sticks butter) plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 pieces softened to room temperature

1/4 packed brown sugar (light or dark)

1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

1 cup raspberry jam (Smucker's is the best, says Cooks Illustrated)

1/2 pint raspberries (about 1 cup)

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1) Pre-heat 350 degrees. Fold aluminum foil in half so it fits lenth-wise into a 13x9 inch pan, double up more foil to go width-wise in the pan. Spray with non-stick spray.

2) In mixer with flat beater, mix flour, sugar, salt, and 16 tablespoons butter, slowly, until mixture resembles damp sand.

3) Reserve 1 1/2 cups mixture in another bowl. Pat remaining mixture on the bottom of the pan with fingers to make crust layer. Bake 14 - 18 minutes.

4) While crust is baking, add brown sugar, oats, and nuts to reserved flour mix; toss to combine. Work in remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Pinch mixture with fingers to create hazlenut-sized clumps, set aside.

5) Combine, jam, berries, and lemon juice. Mash with fork until combined, but some berry pieces remain.

6) Spread filling over hot crust, sprinkle streusel topping evenly over filling (do not press into filling). Return pan to oven and bake until topping is deep golden brown and filling is bubbling, 22 to 25 minutes. Cool to room temperature on a wire rack, 1-2 hours, maybe more. Remove from baking pan by lifting the aluminum foil extensions. Use knife to cut into squares.

Newest Sewing Project

2009-08-16T18:55:00.003-05:00

I started taking sewing lessons at the Singer store, 6 two-hour semi-private lessons for $60, fantastic! The Singer store is on Irving Park just west of Cicero/Milwaukee in Portage Park, Chicago. The teacher, Nancy, lets you do one of two projects and helps you along, and then you can do your own project for the second three weeks of class, with her help. My first project was these lounge/PJ pants from Simplicity. They look a little like clown pants in the photo but they're really madras plaid and super comfortable. I had to take them off to take this picture, I wear them all the time at home now. Off to finish my second proroject.

Glass Etching - Casserole Dishes

2009-08-12T22:39:00.000-05:00

As part of my newest gift idea, I have etched the new names of the brides to be on the side of a glass casserole dish. This is the practice one I made for myself.

It's super easy but looks very customized.

First you print the name or word you want etched on your computer, best to use sans serif fonts, less to cut around.

Tape the printout to the inside of the dish.

Apply clear contact paper on the outside of the dish.

Use craft knife to trace around word or image through the contact paper. Peel positive image off leaving the negative.

Apply Armour glass etching cream, available at craft stores, with a foam brush on top of cut out letters, careful not to get any on you, it's toxic.

Let sit for 5-10 minutes as directed.

Wash off in sink. Remove contact paper and taped paper.

Wash and rinse well and you're done!

Casserole Carriers

2009-08-11T22:23:00.008-05:00

My newest thing, or the thing I was into making last, was casserole carriers. If you're like me, someone asks you to bring some food item at least twice a month, and sometimes it can be difficult to hold or carry in the car. I looked around on the internet quite a bit for something very functional and cute, that I could make. I finally found a pattern and bought it.

It makes an oblong carrier like the ones I've made plus a round one for smaller dishes. The oblong carrier works best for smaller rectangular dishes like a 2 quart dish, a 3 quart dish is a squeeze, and you really can't be squeezing a hot dish into the carrier, not convenient. So I think I will modify the pattern to accommodate the larger dish with a lid, comfortably. If I figure out how to create a pdf of the pattern I'll post it, because I have modified a few other aspects, like handle length. I have also used upcycled bedsheets instead of fabric from the store, it makes the materials very reasonable and then the gift is in the labor of quilting and assembling.

Here is another one I did, tied with a buffet spoon, if was a big hit for bridal showers.

Gingerbread House

2008-12-31T13:00:00.003-06:00

Check out this cute after-Christmas gingerbread house I put together the other day. The kit included everything so all I had to do was assemble, now that's my kind of building. Plus I got the whole thing on sale for $5, and it was delicious when demolished.

Cabled Scarf

2008-12-28T13:23:00.003-06:00

My mom is modeling her new cabled scarf that I made her. Lately I have loved using Lion Brand's Wool Ease Thick & Quick yarn, especially in the Fig color. It's relatively cheap at $4 - $6.50 per skein depending on which sale you can catch at Michael's or Hobby Lobby and it does knit up quickly and is warm. It's 80% acrylic and 20% wool so it's not the best mix, but at least there's some wool in it. This pattern was also from the Lion Brand Yarn website. I made it about half as long as it called for, I used two skeins and it called for 2 each of two different colors, one color on each end. I thought that was a bit odd, so I modified it.

Christmas Pecan Pie

2008-12-25T14:01:00.007-06:00

This year I made my first pecan pie with a homemade crust. It turned out to be delicious if not a little rustic in it's finished look (because we did not have shortening for the pie crust it came out super flaky). Everything from the famed New Orleans' Commander's Palace restaurant cookbook is fantastic (The Commander's Palace New Orleans Cookbook, Clarkson N. Potter publishers, copyright 1984).

Here is the recipe for one 8" pie:

Pie Crust:
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tablespoon salt
Dash of sugar
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup shortening (Crisco - this part is extremely important, do not substitute with butter)
3 - 4 tablespoons ice water

Preheat oven to 375F. Sift flour salt and sugar into mixing bowl. Cut in butter and shortening with a pastry blender or two knives in scissor action, until mixture looks like coarse cornmeal. Add water one tablespoon at a time and mix with a fork until dough holds together. Shape into rough ball and chill for 30 minutes. Note that dough can be wrapped and refrigerated or frozen for several days before using. Roll out on a floured surface into a circle two inches larger in diameter than the pie plate and 1/8 inch thick. Transfer to pan by rolling dough onto rolling pin and unrolling over pan. ease gently into pan, trim edge, and flue edges. Prick bottom and sides with a fork and bake for 8 - 10 minutes until golden brown. Do not turn oven off. Some hints that my gandmother taught me, via my mom, about making a pie crust: roll the crust dough on a sheet of wax paper so it's easy to lift and turn into the pie plate upside down; butter the pie plate before turning the crust into it.

Filling:
1/3 cut butter softened
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

While crust is baking, cream together butter and brown sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in corn syrup, pecans, vanilla and salt. Fill baked pie shell and decorate top with pecan halves in concentric circles. Cover with aluminum foil for first half of baking time so as not to over-brown the edges and the pecan halves. Bake for 30 - 40 minutes or until the center of the filing is not wiggly when it's shaken a little on the oven shelf, a toothpick should come out clean, be careful not to over cook.

Customizing Fire Place Matches

2008-12-17T09:00:00.000-06:00

I must have seen this idea somewhere, and my best friend from middle school, Brynne, who incidently designs beautiful rooms at Bedrooms by Brynne, did this project for a TV spot at some point. I looked far and wide for fireplace matches, which would be easy to find this time of year, one would think, but no. Finally I found a square box, even though I was looking for a cylindrical box, at a hardware store in the suburbs.

I folded a piece of pretty scrapbooking paper around the box and made some creases. Next I sprayed the back side of the paper with spray adhesive and carefully placed it around the box of matches. For the folded lid I placed a small square of stickified paper on it and pressed firmly. Another inexpensive holiday gift, this one for one of my best friends from high school.

Another Afgan

2008-12-16T09:00:00.000-06:00

Here is the green afgan for my college friend's second baby. Off in the mail.

Handmade Beaded Oranaments

2008-12-15T14:32:00.006-06:00

I found this project on Better Homes and Gardens and decided that I had to make some for Christmas presents, since I am out of a job this year. I used about four or five different kinds of beads and corsage pins found at Hobby Lobby in the suburbs. I painted a small cork with white irridescent paint from a paint pen, and then beaded each of ten pearl tipped corsage pins and inserted in the cork, and tied a transulcent length of fishing wire on one of the pins. I placed each one in a cellophane bag and voila - an inexpensive small gift. However, it took about 30 minutes to complete each one and a few pricked fingers.

Cable Knit Afgan

2008-11-12T14:57:00.004-06:00

I first saw this afgan on Apartment Therapy's children's site Ohdeeoh. And when they said it was handmade I knew I was in luck, as opposed to all those who don't knit, I knew I could have it. The pattern comes from Lion Brand Yarn's website and it calls for 9 skeins of Wool Ease Thick & Quick yarn, but I found it takes about 10 skeins on size 13 needles (recommended in pattern). The pattern is fairly easy as soon as you get going and it is made of five cabled panels, with eight cables each and is 48" by 48". It took me about 15-20 hours (a rough estimate) all accomplished while I was at the hospital and at home with my mother in Texas. I will be giving it to my small group leaders for their second baby, a girl, due in March. I'm a little early but I knew I would need a big project when I went to visit my mom. I also found that I needed to start a green one for a college friend's second baby, so that's on the needles now.

First stand mixer batch of cookies!

2008-11-05T10:33:00.004-06:00

My much coveted Kitchenaid stand has arrived and I set it up right away and turned it on, before even unpacking after returning from a trip, Amazingly it works, and was not damaged in the shipping. Hooray for Ebay!

I made an innaugural batch of cookies to test it out. I used my favorite recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies from the Joy of Cooking, First Scribner Edition, 1995, page 708. Below is the recipe:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Egg
1 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
1 cup uncooked quick oats
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Cream sugar and butter together, add wet ingredients. Add flour and baking soda and powder and salt and combine well. Add oats and combine well. Add optional items if deisred. I have added the cinnamon to the recipe and everyone seems to enjoy it, especially when there are fresh pecans in the mix too.

Halloween Week - Pumpkin Decorating

2008-10-30T10:00:00.000-05:00

This week at work we decorated pumpkins to go out to our sites where the seniors we serve could enjoy them. Of course I was super enthusiastic again, because this was a sanctioned work crafting moment. So I downloaded several templates from Better Homes and Gardens (via Jess at How About Orange). I carefully cut them out with the exacto knife I brought from home (I don't know how an office can survive without one but we didn't have one). The office manager had brought in lots of acrylic paints so we were off and running. All I wanted to do were silhouettes, but a few others joined me and we created the pumpkins above. Overall a very nice way to waste about 2 hours at work.

Halloween Week - Hats of to Honeycrisp Apples

2008-10-29T10:00:00.000-05:00

I just learned about Honeycrisp apples this season and I am in love, I never want to eat another variety of apple again! They are very crisp and do have a slight honey taste, as named. Last night I made an impromptu apple crumble with the remaining apples I had as I have to go out of town this week and they would've gone bad - what a waste!

From P.L. Elliott's New Kid on the Block:

Richard Weidman, of the University of Wisconsin Experimental Station, claims the Honeycrisp apple is a "Midwest success story." In an industryincreasingly dominated by recent imports - the Gala from New Zealand, the Fuji from Japan - the Honeycrisp is making surprising inroads. These apples certainly live up to their trademarked "Explosively Crisp" moniker. "It snaps. The piece of apple almost pops off into your mouth," says University of Minnesota Horticulture Professor Jim Luby, one of the new apple's developmental godfathers.

A winning all-purpose apple, the Honeycrisp offers a pleasingly crisp sweet-tart bite, but they are not limited to out-of-hand eating. These apples also star in the kitchen- any recipe in which apples are featured will be improved when using the HoneycrispIn the history of the apple industry, the Honeycrisp variety is a "new kid" on the block. Developed by the University of Minnesota from a Macoun and Honeygold cross (the Honeygold itself a cross between the Golden Delicious and Haralson), the new apple variety was introduced in 1991. Luby believes the Honeycrisp to be "the best, most exciting apple we've ever introduced." Weidman wholeheartedly agrees.

Introduction to Honeycrisps and the quote via Dave Sandell.

Halloween Week - Pumpkin Pie Bakeoff

2008-10-27T11:58:00.002-05:00

Half of my light pumpkin pie

Last week at my office we had a pumpkin pie bakeoff. I was super excited about it and decided to make 2 different pies, both light. I thought I would definitely place in the contest and then post the recipes here but alas, my pies turned out to be stinkers. I even had to throw out half of one of my small pieces because it was too sour and spiced all at the same time. That was the recipe that I had not tried before. The other recipe, shown here, which was more traditional was not awful, but not nearly as good as the winning pie with a traditional recipe and home made crust. I should have made the WIlliams-Sonoma pumpkin cheesecake. Oh well, there's always next year.

Halloween Week - Pumkin Soup Kick Off

2008-10-27T11:43:00.004-05:00

My friend Megan made this wonderful pumpkin soup recipe for me recently and has graciously given me the recipe. I don't know its origins but it's simple to make and delicious!

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 onion chopped (1 c.)

2 carrots chopped (1 c.)

2 cloves garlic minced

2 14 oz. cans chicken broth

2 15 oz. cans pumpkin

1 14 oz. can coconut milk

1/8 tsp. ground red pepper

1 1/4 tsp. salt

Saute onion and carrot in oil for 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds more. Add 1 can broth and simmer 10 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. Blend in blender until smooth. Return to pot and add pumpkin, coconut milk and rest of broth. Bring to a simmer. Stir in salt and pepper. Serve with lime juice (optional).

Best of Lincoln Avenue - Part 1: Cho Sun Ok

2008-10-25T22:27:00.007-05:00

Every week I drive down Lincoln Avenue in Chicago all the way from the northern end at Howard in Skokie down to the Lakeview neighborhood and I have discovered the most amazing places and things that I want to share with you. So the first in my series, the "Best of Lincoln Avenue" is the Korean restaurant, Cho Sun Ok located at 4200 N. Lincoln Avenue.

My friend Esther recommended it and said it is the one of the oldest Korean restaurants in Chicago and her favorite. It's not a Korean BBQ restaurant just a regular Korean restaurant serving all types of Korean food. It's small inside and you actually have to go through the kitchen to get to the bathroom but that just makes it more cozy, plus you can see that the kitchen is run well and the meat is fresh. We were seated in a corner and apparently there are a lot of rules in this place, like you have to hang up your coat and put your umbrella in the vestibule and be careful of blocking the parking in the rear, they have a tv screen showing it inside the restaurant. Rules aside, the food was great and came with many typical side dishes. We forgot to take a picture of the food so here is a picture after we demolished our meals.

I had a vermicelli type dish with beef and it was delicious, I even managed to eat it with chopsticks and some slurping. So overall, I would say that Cho Sun Ok is my favorite Korean restuarant, outside of Korean BBQ which will be addressed in a later posting series on Chicago's Best Korean BBQ, which leaves you smelling smokey and like garlic for days and I love it!

For dessert we went across the street to the Red Eyes Coffee shop and Esther and Cathy split a piece of coconut cheescake which was well-portioned for them to share, and apparently very good. This corner of Lincoln and Berteau makes a lovely combination dinner and dessert option and will be tried again soon.

Plastic Bag Dryer DIY

2008-10-25T22:16:00.004-05:00

On Apartment Therapy I saw a plastic bag dryer, but it was $20, and I thought that was a great idea but I could spend my money on better things. Then they recomended this DIY version. Put rice or beans in a jar, insert bamboo skewers and voila! This one sits by my sink now and my bags dry faster. Thanks AT.

Newest Ebay Triumph

2008-10-23T23:02:00.008-05:00

I am the new proud purchaser of the much coveted Kitchenaid Artisan stand mixer. I have been following these for weeks on Ebay and keeping a spreadsheet of their progress and selling price. I did some analysis to determine the right price to pay for one of these, but as usually happens with Ebay I paid a few dollars more than I should have, but still saved about $40 from what I would have paid at Bed Bath and Beyond using a 20% off coupon. So, anyway, all this to say that after I have made four batches of specialty cookies (to be revealed in a later post about Halloween) and 3 pumpkin pies in the last 21 days, I will be receiving my mixer to use for the rest of the holiday season.

I will be reviewing the mixer when I use it for the first time and will tell you all the tips and caveats I learned from the authorized repair shop I called when doing my due diligence on these mixers.

I have to say it doesn't feel as exciting as I imagined to part with more than $200, but I thought that it would really make me happy to buy one, and would make my baking life easier, so I will finally have it. And I also decided that it would not make me an automatic old maid to buy one before I got married (I had the fear that I would jinx myself if I bought it myself). So hurray for me and my mixer, let's hope we have a long and happy life together!

Interested in Letterpress

2008-10-22T14:07:00.003-05:00

I don't even know exactly what the letterpress process involves, I just know it looks neat on cards and stationary. I ran across this store searching through Amber Favorite's site (that's her real name). The store is the Evanston Print & Paper Shop and they offer workshops, studio space, equipment, etc., all involved in printing and bookbinding. I feel a new obsession coming on...

Stainless Steel Chopsticks

2008-10-21T22:00:00.002-05:00

Are a really neat thing, and apparently common in the average Korean household. I thought they'd just be a cool gift for my friend, who happens to be Korean-American, you know like stainless steel appliances are supposedly better than regular ones. Another friend suggested Super H Mart, a huge Korean grocery store and mini-mall that happens to be on my way to and from work in Niles, on Waukegan Road between Howard and Oakton.

The store is so great! The produce section is large and cheap and leafy green plus a bunch of other stuff that I don't even know what it is. And the oil/sauce/vinegar aisle is actually three lengths long. I just went for Wishbone dressing because I didn't know what the rest of the labels said. Anyway, I found these chopsticks for $1 per pair at the housewares store inside the main store. I am going to wrap them in kraft paper and baker's twine, what else?

My Recent Ebay Find

2008-10-21T15:42:00.004-05:00

Somehow I recently started obsessing over vintage Pyrex bowls. I figured they weren't incredibly expensive and they were still readily available, and very useful. After discovering the site Pyrex Love I determined what I really wanted was a set of Autumn Harvest opalware Cinderella bowls. The Cinderella style refers to the handles/spouts on either side of the bowl and separates them from the completely round and straight sided mixing bowls. My mother had a set of blue opalware mixing bowls and I still have a set of 3 blue glass Pyrex mixing bowls (that I now need to get rid of). But with my new orange obsession I absolutely needed a new set of orange bowls. The set I ended up with was an original 4-bowl set that was used but in good condition.

The Autumn Harvest pattern was put into service in 1979 and made until 1986 when the rest of the opalware line of Pyrex was discontinued. Just a little useless trivia for you.

Neat little books

2008-10-21T13:59:00.005-05:00

I'm a little old fashioned and while I like everything to be online my solution is just to put passwords and account numbers in my Outlook Contacts. I also keep a backup at home. So if you're really old fashioned and into stationary and little books you might like this Password Log book I found at See Jane Work.

My New Orange Things

2008-10-21T12:02:00.002-05:00

My New Orange Things
Originally uploaded by amandagrace87

Clockwise from top left: Woody Nani Bird, Pie Boxes, New orange vinyl chair, one of four, 2 cup teapot. Made using Big Huge Labs Flickr Toys, how fun!

Orangey Goodness thrift store ice bucket

2008-10-21T11:28:00.001-05:00

Spray painted ice bucket
Originally uploaded by amandagrace87

I was inspired to re-do an ice bucket by Jess at How About Orange and I have always wanted one since working at Crate & Barrel eight years ago. It just seemed like a nice grown-up thing to have. And since I am an official grown up now, i.e. have a mortgage, retirement funds, life insurance, I thought I should have one. Still didn't have room for it but once I saw this wood grained one at the local thrift store I couldn't help myself.

I unscrewed the wooden handles to pull out the plastic insert, cleaned the rusty interior of the metal with CLR to the best of my ability. Spray painted the outside wood grain-looking metal and the interior with high gloss orange Rustoleum spray paint. Used olive oil to freshen up the wood bits (couldn't find anything else around the house, but the EVOO seemed to do the trick). Polished up the chrome lid and base and re-assembled. Voila - upcycled thrift store ice bucket for less than $8!

Nani Bird has landed

2008-10-20T21:56:00.004-05:00

I found "Woody" the Nani Bird on some creative person's blog (sorry, can't remember who mentioned it) and couldn't help downloading the first four of the set. Now there are tons of birds and mini birds. I am thinking I will let the refugee kids I hang out with do the rest, but maybe just the 15 year old, because it does involve an exacto knife.

Bakery Supplies Arrived Today!

2008-10-20T21:24:00.003-05:00

The Baker's Twine and wax paper sheets arrived tonight in a saw-dusty box but well intact. So excited to start using it for real.

I'm dying to make this recipe

2008-10-20T14:36:00.003-05:00

For pumpkin cheesecake from Williams Sonoma. I have all the ingredients but no one to make it for, and my Points allowance doesn't allow it to be one serving all for me. Maybe I'll make it as a second entry in the office pumpkin pie baking contest on Friday.

Koonji and Making Cookie Cutters

2008-10-20T12:56:00.002-05:00

I don't know how Koonji is different than WikkiHow, both I just learned about today, but this is kind of a cool way to make your own cookie cutters from these Koonji people. I can't imagine what cookie cutter shapes I need that I don't already have or can't buy, except maybe Dane Cook's Superfinger.

First Kind of Lame Post

2008-10-17T15:23:00.002-05:00

I'm starting this blog, at work actually, because work is really just not fulfilling and I am hoping that this can be a place where I round up all my creativity. When Twitter and Facebook, shopping online and bidding on ebay plus all sorts of personal email aren't enough to keep you busy at work it's time to make it better, ammeliorer, my favorite French verb. Mainly because it sounds funny, but mostly because it means to improve or make better.