Noro Ripple Pattern Scarf

I forgot to post about this...  This is one of my first proper Crochet projects.  I started way back before Christmas, then I  had my dreadful Crochet Injury and was forced to stop.   After following my strict physio regime I was able to start hooking again and got it finished in time for the cooler months.   It is made from Noro Taiyo Sock yarn using this  Noro Ripple Pattern.   It was very addictive, I struggled to put my hook down and felt completely lost when it was finished.

It turned out better than I had hoped and I love the colours.

Crafters Block

I've been pretty luck so far (touch wood) this winter, I haven't caught any really bad colds or flu's. However I have a niggling case of Crafters Block that just wont go away.   I am between projects, I have lots to start, I have everything I need but I just cant get excited enough to actually get started, why does that happen???

30 Little bags to sew up as part of a project for Brownies.

Heaps of yarn and hooks but I cant decide what to make,
 I have too many options.

Fabric for Miss S's Alice in Wonderland Book Week costume.

Gorgeous Chambray for a skirt with Liberty Hello Kitty fabric pockets (also for Miss S)

Chocolate Cake with Piped Ganache

Ms M has just had her 11th birthday.  As I have blogged about before, my kids have ridiculously high ideals for how their cakes should be.  They are difficult to fob off with something I would find easy to make and I don't always meet their expectations.  This year M wanted a Mud Cake like the one from Jocelyn's provisions.  Jocelyn's mud cakes are so fancy and gourmet that they cost $17.50 for a 12cm small bar cake.  I agree they are sublimely delicious but cost prohibitive for 12 children to eat.

Here is my go, its just a standard Mud cake recipe but I am most excited about the Ganache icing.  I have always been intimidated by Ganache (even spelling it freaks me out!)  We had a crazy couple of days before the party and there was just no time to think let alone master a Jocelyn cake.  I only had an hour and a half on friday morning to ice the cake and that was in between getting everyone ready for school.  I used half of the ganache just as it had cooled to join the two cakes and to do the top.  I whipped the other half to pipe the sides with.  The whipped Ganache was a disaster and wouldn't hold its shape and I couldn't get it to whip any further.  Before I knew it we were out of time and I just had to put the whole lot into the fridge and walk out the door.

When we got home later in the day (and 30 mins before the friends were due to arrive.)  I pulled it all out of the fridge to find it had set beautifully! It was just too warm  to whip properly in the morning.  Phew so I quickly troweled some around the sides and used up the rest with some slam bam piping.

I reckon with bit more time and a less crazy schedule
to work around I could do this cake properly.

It tasted pretty good to me. 

Afternoon Tea party snacks

Augusta Shawl - Love

I am a tad excited, I think this is my favourite thing I have made so far!!!  It is the fantastic Augusta Shawl by Andrea Mules   and the pattern is available for free via Ravelry, just click on the link.  Its really easy to make and great for a beginner.  I used my favourite Cascade Ultra Pima fine with a 3.5 hook.  I actually started off thinking I would just use the white grey and purple but I kept wanting it bigger and bigger,  I got greedy.    The colour scheme also evolved as I went along, I don't usually wear these colours but I love them together.   All up it used a total of 7 skiens which although a bit extravagant is well worth it to me.

I don't wear it like this but it shows how big it is.

Its a lovely pattern, each colour band is one skien.
The bands get thinner as the arrow point widens.