Pretty Crocheted Roses

I have not crocheted anything since I was in fourth grade. This weekend I thought it would be fun to experience somthing new and I said to myself, "Hey, why don't I try to crochet something? Nothing difficult, just something small and pretty to begin with". And I did.
As I have mentioned several times by now Drops Designstudio has the most amazing website with free patterns in both knitting and crochet, and this time when I was browsing through their archive I found some pretty flowers I just had to try :) To make it even better and easier for us beginners, there is a "How to" video on the website of these flowers and you can find the video here and the pattern here. If you would like other languages for the pattern you can choose language in the menu to the left under the picture.

Classic Apple Sponge Cake with Cinnamon

Sometimes I get a huge need to bake, often I don't know what I want to bake - just something - and I end up browsing through my baking books to find out what it will be. A scenario like this took place yesterday and the lucky winner was.... Apple sponge cake!
When I found the recepie in the book I realized that I had forgotten about this kind of fruit cake and when I took the first bite and tasted the sweet/sour apple pieces together with the sponge cake and cinnamon I realized how much I missed it. Apple sponge cake is far too underestimated and I swore to myself that I will bake it again very soon. And then again and agian and again....
Oh and remember, you can replace the apples with whatever you like such as pears, rhubarb, blueberries and raspberries! 

Apple Sponge Cake with Cinnamon

Oven temperature: 175 Celsius

125 grams of margarine or butter
1 1/2 dl white sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 dl flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons milk

Garnish
3-4 apples
1-2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

How to...

1. Grease and cover the inside of a baking pan (with removable rim), about 24 cm in diameter.
2. Melt the margarine/butter and let it cool down.
3. Use a baking assistant machine or stir by hand the melted margarine/butter with the sugar until it gets light yellow and light in the consistency. 
4. Pour one egg at the time into the sugar mixture.
5. Use a spoon and evenly distribute the baking powder in the flour and then add the flour into the sugar mixture little by little. 
6. Add milk into the batter and stir until it gets smooth and even. 
7. Pour the batter into the baking pan and use a spoon to even the surface.
8. Peel the apples and cut them into thin wedges.
9. Insert the apple wedges into the batter close togheter.
10. Spread white sugar mixed with cinnamon over the cake.
11. Bake the cake in the lower part of the oven for about 30-40 minutes. 

Brown/Off White Knitted Baby Cardigan

Last winter I started knitting on this baby cardigan but for some reason I don't remember I forgot about it and it was left unfinished in my sewing box in a mess of fabrics and yarns. But a couple of months ago I found it (when I finally organized my messy, messy sewing box) and I decided to finish it.
When I started this blog I had several unfinished projects at home just waiting for me to take care of them, and one by one I have managed to finish them :) Yay!

The pattern for this cardigan comes from Drops Designstudio where you can find free patterns for any occation and severity. Click on this link to get to the pattern I used! If you would like another language for the pattern, just click on the menu at left under the picture and you can choose your language!

I used 100% cotton yarn for this cardigan and therefore it is very soft and light in the texture. Personally I like it better when the yarn is a bit more hairy because it makes the loops in the knitting more tighter together - when a yarn is a bit more hairy it fills up the little holes that the knitting texture natuarally comprises.

Overall I am pleased with the result and maybe in the future this cardigan will come to good use for someone, but for now it gets its own place in the "Finished Project Box" :)

Happy Sunday everyone!

Captain America Drawing

This Friday we took a movie night at home and watched Captain America - The First Avenger. I love all Marvel related movies and Captain America is not an exception. I felt inspired to make a drawing for this week's post and what could be better than use the first Avenger as a theme?!
This drawing took some time to make, I think approximately five hours.
I used pencil hardness F to do all contours at first and then I used 3B and 5B to make the shadows. To even the edges between the shadows I used a stump. Finally to make sharp contours I used an oridinary mechanical pencil.

I had forgotten what a joy drawing brings to me, I think I will do it more often from now on :)