Hello June!

Wisconsin has decided to skip over spring and head right into summer. It's hot and humid, folks! After a couple of wacky weather months, I'm thrilled to have a decent forecast for the weekend. I'm especially excited because this means nice weather for the Dane County Farmers' Market!

We are excited to be back at the market for our second season. This year we are happy to be sharing a booth with The Glitter Workshop!You can find us at the market every Saturday through October (weather permitting) and we will constantly be adding new products. You can follow Space Oddities on Facebook for more regular updates on new items and market specials!

This week I have been busy printing a few of my favorite designs on kids shirts and bibs. I even convinced my 4 year old to model for me! Here are some new shirts you can find at the market this weekend. These are also available in our etsy shop!

I adore this 'Raining in my heart' design. It's a little retro, a little moody, and a lot cute.

And here is Jette modeling 'My favorite robot.' which I think is perfect for girls or boys.

And this week Naomi has been busy making beatuful garden markers. They are just $8! Come early for the best selection!



We hope to see you out at the market this summer!

xo

Andrea

Life is good and busy, just how I like it. A quick update on what's up in CraftTherapyLand, yes? 

Jette had her first ballet recital last month and it was so adorable I can't even believe it.  Here's a photo of the kiddos together just after the recital.  

Spring. It's here. The kids are so happy to be able to play outside now that the weather has slowly started to get decent. They are as sweet and willful as ever and make my every day more special.

I have been keeping very busy between my day job, helping out at Glitter Workshop, the kiddos, the farmers' market (which I have not been to much yet...but there is a LOT of the season left!) and everything else that life throws at me. Unfortunately I have not made a lot of new products lately. I have a few new ideas that I have been wanting to try but I just haven't found the time to pull it together. 

I have been making more fun hair pins. 

And some other assorted goodies. But what I really want to do is get printing some new designs! And old designs. I have been itching to get the Gocco out. Hopefully my next post will be gocco related. And new design related. We shall see what time allows. 

Happy spring, friends!!

Literary Hair Pins!

Something new! Pretty little bobby pins made with itty bitty bits of text from classic and not so classic literature. Great one-of-a-kind gifts for bookish types. I started listing just a few pairs in my etsy shop and there will be many more coming soon!

I'm looking for suggestions on classic books that would make fun bobby pins. Something that you would recognize from just a tiny scrap of text or one word. If you have any suggestions, please do share!

xo

andrea

Red Velvet

Red velvet sounds as dreamy as it does delicious, doesn't it?

I decided to give red velvet cupcakes a try today. Would you believe me if I told you the recipe I decided on was on the back of the red food coloring I bought at Target? I had already found a couple of recipe possibilities but this one just seemed like it was the one.

I have never made them before and I have to say that they turned out just as red and lovely and yummy as I had hoped. It's really a pretty cupcake!

 And even prettier (and tastier!) with cream cheese frosting. The kids each ate one right away...after destroying it with sprinkles, that is. Here is Jette posing with me before the sprinkle attack.

Here is the recipe as found on the back of my Market Pantry red food coloring. I am really happy with it. The cake turned out very moist and flavorful!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup milk

2 tbsp red food coloring

1 tsp vanilla

1-1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup cocoa

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Heat oven to 350F.  Beat butter and sugar on medium speed until creamy. Beat in eggs until light and fluffy. Beat in sour cream, milk, food coloring and vanilla. Beat in flour, cocoa and soda on low speed just until blended. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups. Bake 20-25 minutes until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool completely and frost with your favorite cream cheese frosting..

And here is my favorite cream cheese frosting recipe from my no frills Betty Crocker cookbook!

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

2 tsp milk

4 cups confectioners sugar

Beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla and milk until blended and fluffy. Add sugar 1 cup at a time until smooth and spreadable. ***I usually use closer to 3 or 3-1/2 cups of sugar because I am not into super sweet frostings!

Enjoy!

I opened this giant bottle of vanilla last week. I had another large bottle that I thought would last forever but have been baking so much lately that it's going fast. I opened the bottle on March 12 and I am going to keep track and see how long it lasts this time! Once this one is gone I will be all out of my fancy, yummy vanilla from Mexico. Maybe when this runs out it'll be time for a vacation?

Iron Cupcake Madison: Marshmallow!

My sister-in-law and I baked for Sunday's Iron Cupcake challenge at the High Noon Saloon. The theme was marshmallow and we chose the mallo cup (one of my favorite treats!) as inspiration.

I was happy with our yummy creation. It's a chocolate cupcake with homemade marshmallow creme filling and topped with toasted coconut chocolate ganache. Total chocolate overload!

My camera was on the fritz so the above shot is by Jenny Sligh, one of the other bakers at the event who also happens to be a talented photographer. Thanks Jenny!

I have really been enjoying baking lately and just might take on the next iron cupcake challenge as well. The theme is so unique: children's books! Chad is actually considering being a part of this challenge as well. Although he is not interested in baking like I am, he is interested in the creative possibilities of this theme. We are currently thinking about using Coraline or The Wolves in the Walls, both favorites by Neil Gaiman, as inspiration. Luckily the next Challenge isn't until June so we have some time to think about it and lots of time to practice!

bracelet making & cupcake baking

I made these bracelets the at The Glitter Workshop's crafts & cupcakes night. The French text one is for me and the fairy bracelet is a gift for my 4 year old. I like how they turned out and had such a nice time making them. Glitter is planning to have more drop in craft & cupcake nights so you will have a chance to make your own if you're interested.  

I also provided the goodies at the event. Vegan cookies & cream cupcakes and Strawberry Pop Rocks cupcakes. I was happy with both but especially liked how the vegan cupcakes turned out. 

I am taking it easy this weekend. I had an unexpected physical wake-up call last night that resulted in me spending a very, very quiet day at home doing nothing today. After one day of nothing I am already tired of doing nothing. But I am going to keep it up for the weekend and get some real, much needed rest so I can get back to the grind on Monday. 

Have a fantastic weekend!

xo

andrea

Strawberry Pop Rocks Cupcakes

It's been a lazy Sunday filled with cupcake baking, catching up on housework and games and movies with the kiddos.

I have been wanting to try a Pop Rocks cupcake and finally made it happen today. The cupcake is made with strawberry soda pop and the frosting is a buttercream with more strawberry soda for flavor and color. I topped it with a sprinkling of Pop Rocks candy. I didn't take the time to fancy frost these but I think they still look pretty yummy (and turned out tasting pretty delish as well!) I love the literal pop of flavor. It's so fun!