Butter Mochi Cake Failure

Failed First Try

 Since I had access to a full size oven today, I tried a new recipe for butter mochi cake. It requires a full 9X13 pan so my table top oven wouldn't work. My go to Japanese store was out of Mochiko (rice flour) last month so that also delayed my testing. First big mistake I made was using wax paper instead of parchment paper. Would have been better to use nothing at all to line the pan. Yes, it was bad but that was totally my fault. Second mistake I made was not reading the comments. It was a little weird that you had to strain the batter when pouring it into the pan. Not sure why I didn't think that was a little odd for a cake. It was impossible to blend the butter and coconut milk. You have to use an immersion blender or cream the sugar and butter together before adding to the dry ingredients. This was the very first comment made about the recipe five years ago. When I got home, I peeled off the wax paper and baked it again. It didn't look like it was cooked all the way through so didn't have anything to lose baking it again. This recipe is way too sweet, even for me. So going to continue my search for a good recipe. I was planning on making it for Thanksgiving but now I'm not so sure. 

Second Bake Didn't Help

Using What You Have - Holiday Cards

This was one of the stamps I unearthed during my purge of my wood mounted stamps. It was with the bird stamp a made cards with last week. I think it's a Stampendous stamp.  

Used very cheap Crayola pencils and lots of Stickles. How I ended up with so many half used bottles of Stickles is one of those paper crafters mystery. I also have a huge bottle of Gamsol that I have had for several year. Finally opened it to blend the color pencils. I do own the really $$$ color pencils and you can really feel the difference but until I get my technique down don't want to use them.  Still deciding if I even like working with color pencils. They will sit in their tins looking pretty. I also found several of my beaded projects. This Christmas tree I made for a failed ATC swap. I totally got the theme wrong it was so embarrassing after see what everyone else did. Just whipped up four cards with the parts I had left over. 

 

Lawn Fawn Ginger Bread Die Set

Lawn Fawn Die

Yes, another crafting project on my very messy desk. This is a Lawn Fawn die set that came in the buy out is did earlier this year. I did keep some the stamps and dies to play with before selling them off. Thought it would be fun to make some personalized Christmas ornaments for the boys and all the other little ones I know. I've been sourcing felt from FabMo every month for this project. Now the tough decision, do I stitch with white or brown thread?

 

Pinterest Hack

Remember when Pinterest was a creative space to share ideas? I was recently asked by a employee why I don't visit the site anymore. Living in Silicon Valley, that's not an usual question with all the high tech companies running around. My answer was all the ads and that most of the links now go to Amazon or stores I'm boycotting - Target, WallMart or Hobby Lobby. Add to that all the AI junk with no real person behind it. :(

I came across a YouTuber (sorry didn't write down her name) about how to reduce AI and ads on the site. Didn't think it would really work but thought it was worth a try. 

1) Go to your Pinterest settings and to "refine your recommendations" tab.

2) Turn off "show AI content"

3) Then here's the kicker - when you search for something add your favorite cuss word (f**k works well) and it will stop most ads. You do have to spell out the whole word for it to work. I did tried some tame cuss words but those didn't work. You have to use the really bad words. :)

It does work but I'm sure at some point their software people will figure out how to get around it. Give it a try.

Cold Weather Cooking - California Style

The heater rarely goes on at my place. My last place had a big gas heater that didn't vent outside so it wasn't really safe to use IMO. Here with Posey, my front door is always open during the day. It allows her to come and go from the main house to my place when ever she wants. It doesn't really get cold enough for me to have the heater on most of the time. So it's a little weird to hear the strange sound when the heater does kick in early in the morning. 

I'm getting into fall cooking making country hash browns with bacon. I'm also switch to making more tea. I make a big pot and can't get through all of it when it's hot. I get all fancy and pour the leftover tea into a wine glass. In my inventory at the store, I have a lot of Waterford wine glasses. Thinking I'll bring some home for the season, as they don't sell well at all in my booth. 

Blueberry & Honey

Making a mess that sparkles

Posey

Posey really doesn't like the time change. She has her meals at 4:00 am & pm. We have been prepping her for the past week making her meal times later and later.  A big food focus dog who also has a big dog bark. She can make the walls shake when she goes full volume. This is the look I get when she comes over telling me it's dinner time. Best I can do is give her a carrot (she doesn't appreciate that at all) to keep her sort of calm. At least I don't have the morning shift. :)

Inspired by one of  Tim Holtz's videos (love the long videos) to just play with what you have. Making parts that may or may not be for something specific. I broke out my Accu-Cut snowflake die since I had my machine out. My twinkling H2O (very old school) are still on my desk from my bird cards. The snowflakes needed a little more sparkle, so I added some Stickles. No idea what I will do with them once they dry but having fun making a mess!

Heavy Weight Watercolor Paper

Old Stampendous Stamp

Part of the hobby of being a crafter is buying and organizing your supplies. I'm slowing going thru my wood mounted stamps and sell them off.  Over the pass 15 years I must have sold off thousands. I'm at the point in my life that it's time to let them go and free up some space. As I'm going through them, I pull out some that spark that creative joy and make several cards. That's the reason I can ship off 100 cards to Ohio and not make a dent in my card rack. :) 

I have no idea how old this image is from Stampendous, but it's been in my stash for a long long time!  There were many different techniques I wanted to try with it. Finally went with color pencils and twinkling H2O. The pencils resisted the water color so I could get a nice wash of  iridescent color for the background. 

Goodwill score - Viking quarter sheet pans

$3.10 each at Goodwill

If you follow my blog you know that I now live in a ADA unit that was originally designed to be a man cave. It has everything but an oven. They didn't think the guys would be doing a whole lot of cooking. :) The place is perfect for me and I couldn't be happier. There are a few times I wish I had an oven, so I got a table top model. The only thing I didn't have was cookie sheets that would fit. It's not mission critical for making cookies but would be nice to have = not going to paying full price. Yesterday I found a two new Viking quarter pans at Goodwill for $3.10 each. I'm guessing they came in a set with larger pans and it wasn't needed. SCORE!  I was more than thrilled finding them!
 

100 cards doantion

100 cards going to a new home

I don't make as many cards as I use to because I don't teach as many classes anymore. But I do have enough supplies to make thousands! In my efforts to use up what I have, my card rack is overflowing big time. 

A card making online friend I've known for over 15 years, has a card rack at her church. It's in memory of one of her friends that past away several years ago. The money from the sales of the cards goes to a volunteer support group. She lives in Ohio and with it being in the news, I thought of her. It's been awhile since I sent cards and I had a box. I don't shop on Amazon anymore so there's no big pile of boxes hanging around.  Sending 100 cards didn't even make a dent in my card rack. I was thinking of sending 200 but only 100 would fit in the box I had. 

I did break down buy card sleeves from Michael's. That was my choice as it will make it easier for Susan. All the card sleeves I use have my price tags on them and they won't come off.  

Going off in the mail today. 

 

Life of a Reseller - DGW Auction House - October 2026

I do check the all the local auction sites every morning. For me it's like reading the newspaper with my coffee. My way for doing comps. 

This cabinet is coming up for auction at DGW auction house in Sunnyvale. DGW is not really good at taking a lot of pictures or giving detailed descriptions. Very old school auction house when in person auctions were the norm. They expect buyers to come in and inspect everything, which you definitely have to do. This type of cabinet is what I love to find. Getting harder to find them but they do sell fast. The other thing is some have a very strong mold odor, which it very hard to get out. Going to check it out but I'm pretty sure it won't be coming home with me. :(

Lastest finds at GoodWill

I like to go thrifting on Tuesdays because of the senior discounts. Savers is 30% and Goodwill is only 10%. The stores are packed with old people, like myself, no surprise there. :)

Everything I got at Goodwill was something put out that day. Their price tags are easier to read the processing dates. Not sure what this brass tree cut was a part of but I think it will make a great stencil for the bleaching and sun printing. $3.45. When I saw this tiki glass I thought it was interesting. Haven't seen one before so I picked it up. $3.45. Got it home and found out that it was a vintage cocktail mug.  I'm planning on doing a Hawaiian theme display in my booth at some point so it was a great find.

 

Hero Arts Coloring Stencils & Distress Oxide Inks

$1.00 from FabMo

Being a night owl I did a quick card with my new to me Hero Arts Coloring Stencils. I picked it up at FabMo during this month's sale. From the packaging stickers, the pervious owner also brought it second hand too.

I switched it up and used Distress Oxide inks. I know I should be using something else but my blending brushes were all ready with the inks pads. I'm going to try and gather up different colors and inks later today. It's an OK stencil and it works for making a quick card in colors I would probably never put together. For just a $1.00 it was worth it but I would never pay eBay prices.