Strawberry Cheese Cake

This is my first blog in 2009, my first time baking a Strawberry Cheese Cake, my first time understanding what is a Steam-Bake method, and my first time using a Cake Emulsifier.

80gm of plain flour for Sponge Cake base of the Strawberry cheese cake.

Sift plain flour is as easy as ABC.

Look at these small hands, whisking the sponge cake ingredients at a high spped until fuffy. A very old fashioned type of hand mixer handed down from my mum.

Baking is always a family-get-together kind of activites for us. I need strong hands to stir and mix the cream cheese with the strawberry mixture well while double-boiling and at the same time taking note of the fire and the only person who can do well in this task is my dear hubby.

The sponge cake base freshly-baked from the oven.

This is the Stream-Baking method that i learned while baking my first cheese cake.

Strawberry Cheese Cake anyone ?

Multi-purpose scarf from Jayne

It was -3deg C in Korea, very cold, and these scarfs came in handy. It was a scarf, neck warmer and as a ski mask covering our nose and mouth against the strong wind.

All thanks to Jayne for knitting these 3 scarfs for us, they were such a comfort to wear.

It was her idea and her own pattern, using the Sidar Spree Cotton Rich Chunky 100g yarn which were laying in my stash box for quite a while since i bought them. With a 6.5mm circular needle, she knitted these mindlessly fast. As there wasnt any blue tone (her daddy's favourite colour) found in the Sirdar Spree, she choose the Patons Powder Puff 100% Nylon(very soft, very cuddling).

The O.K. gloves

I am OK , are you ?

with the open tip on the thumb and index finger, makes it easier for me to text and use the keypads.

Jayne calls these are The Robot's hand.

I did it - my first pair of glove - i can't believe it !! It is always in my mind to knit a pair of gloves with "fingers" but never had the courage to start, mainly because i m so afraid of the structions on the "fingers" parts.

And also gloves is not a necessity in Singapore, not like socks (OK socks is also not a must to wear for keeping warm in such hot and humid weather) but i do, in an air-con bedroom, of course on the expenses of the high electricity bill.

Is this an excuse to knit socks ? Yes, to me, but such a lousy one !!

I can easily buy a pair of machine-made socks at S$2 or spend a slightly more for a better pair of branded socks. A hank of sock yarn costs more than that and not forgetting of the moment of grr ....and ....the frogging....and....the awaiting for yarn to arrive after the online spree.

Ok let come back to my glove story - what makes me want to knit gloves now ?? Simple - we are going to a Wonderland Snow Ski in Korea. Korea is cold now, and will be much colder in the later part of the year. Gloves and hats are a MUST there.

Thank you Kerri, she made the Cigar gloves for her husband who "I really only need three fingers to smoke, why should my other fingers have to suffer?". O how romantic !

I modified it to become a full-fingered gloves to keep my hands warm at the same time with the opening slip on the thumb and index finger, allowing me to use them freely.

Pattern : Cigar (free download pattern from Ravelry)

Yarn : Moda Dea Silk'n Wool Blend, color 4232 Wasabi

Needle : 5" dpns - size 4mm and 5mm

Size : Small

Ski hats

Another holiday project - a knitted ski hat for DH. A simple, easy and quick to finish, takes me only 2 days. You can't really see the pattern from this photo. It is a very beautiful pattern here, so much so that Jayne asks for one too.

These 2 hats are of different brim and different type of yarn. I will show more photots of them wearing their hats in Korea ski restort after our holiday.

The Bumpy Bee Girl

I am so proud of Jayne for sewing up this bumpy bee girl (that's what she calls her) all by herself, from matching the colours, find the correct size beads for the eyes, cutting out the felt, sewing the pieces up, crocheting a plait for her tiny doll (6cm) and a scarf, and her eyes onto the face and take photos too !!

orange and blue and red and grey

This is my purse using 2 strands of acrylic yarn, hold together and knit, with a bright red zipper.

Do you think.....

While SMSings with a friend, my hands were not totally holding onto the mobile phone. I was playing with a crochet hook and yarn at the same time. In no time at all, this came out. I think it looks like a heart-shaped FO, do you think so ??.......hmm let see what i can make this into ??

I am a bag girl....

I will never complain of too many bags, big or small, it always fun to make these little knit-knot from my stash basket. A 4.5" by 3.5" coin purse need not use up a lot of stash yarn, with a handsewn 5" zip, no linning needed as single crochet is used throughout.

Material - stash yarn, 3mm clover crochet hook, a 5" zip.

Finger puppets

Say Hi to these little guys. They are my lastest creation.

Using 5" (3mm) double point needles to knit these less than 1.5" finger puppets is a challenge task for me but i am glad that i did it as it brings SMILE on Jayne's face and to the other kids in her class.

My crochet hooks has a new bag

A crocheted bag for the Clover soft rubber grip hooks. I have divided into 1' individual pockets and hand sewn a 13" X 6" linen fabric onto the crocheted base as i am not good in handling a sewing machine. Sewn a pearl-like button for closure.

See ...... I even cross stitched my initial onto it.

A tiny Angel

A no-seam Angel pattern that requires small amount of stash yarn, the height of this knitted angel is 2.5", The pattern can be found here. This is going to be one of the Christmas ornament this year.

A Simple Meal

A bowl of porridge, stir-fried shredded carrot and french beans, a slice pan-fried red snapper in light soya sauce and a few drops of sesame oil - a simple meal always make us happy !

Knitted round dishcloth

A fun project to knit, and each time when a scalloped edge along the perimeter appears, i feel very excited about it. Silly me !!
See what i mean - it grows !!
Although it is a dishcloth, it might just be too pretty to use in the kitchen.
How about in the bathroom ? The cotton texture makes it good as a scrubbies.
A great gift, manageable project that help me become familiar with the process and rhythm of knitting and give me a sense of accomplishment.

Mid-Autumn Festival's Night Out

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the Chinese calendar . Eating Mooncakes and carrying lit Lanterns are a joy for the children.
We spent the Sunday together, with lovely footwears.

She picks seashells at the seashore

Going to the Beach, picking seashells and bring them back is becoming part of our Sunday family activites lately. We love it very much, especially Jayne. These are her lastest collections.

Barbie doll's knitwear

While playing dress up for the Barbie Dolls, Jayne and I decided to add more clothes for them, we knitted these few pieces. This is Barbie wearing the Beach Wear knitted by me.

Since now that Jayne knows how to knit, she was super excited with the idea of knitting for her dolls, she designed and knitted a Headband and a Wrap for them too. You may read more in her blog

Spring Forward

I am very happy to be in the 2008 Beijing Olympic. No, i am not in any of the sport events.

I am taking part in the Ravelrympics 2008, in the Team Sock Put, a challenge that is to start and finish a project during the 2008 Olympic Summer Games.

I choose Spring Forward, a lace sock pattern with twist and turn design.

Material :

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight (100% Superwash Merino), Colour : Footzey-Foo, Addi Turbo 32", 3mm circular needle.

Method :

Turkish Cast On, 2-at-1-time Toe-Up socks, Short Row Heels, Sewn Cast Off.

I really love knitting in this yarn, and the colorway is beautiful, wonderful feel and is the perfect colour for me - Green

One for you and one for me

Jayne's 10th birthday cake at Sakae Sushi @ Parkway Parade last night.

No kiddie theme arragement party, nothing special, but a well-spent-family-dinner together.