Crumb Cake

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Crumb Cake Recipe 

For the crumbs:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup light-brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted and cooled

powdered sugar to top with

Cake                                           

• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup sour cream           
• 5 Tbsp butter, softened

• 11/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
•                                 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 
  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking dish then lightly flour

For the crumbs:In a mixing bowl whisk together brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Pour in melted butter and stir to combine. Slowly add flour while mixing with a wooden spoon or spatula, and mix until no streaks of flour remain. 

For the cake: In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt for 20 seconds, set aside. Whip together sugar and butter, egg and vanilla.sour cream, milk.
Pour batter baking dish and spread evenly. Break crumb mixture into crumbs and drop over batter. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted into center comes out free of batter and cake doesn't sink when touched in center, about 32 - 35 minutes. 

Afghan Crochet Patterns: Getting It Together

Afghan Crochet Patterns: Getting It Together 

It is an exciting stage in sewing when you start to assemble the pieces, and then, the shape of the material begins to emerge. However, the gratification is not fully recognized not until the person, who tries to come up with a masterpiece, was able to claim that what he did was something that he did using his own hands.

In a particular aspect of sewing, crocheting, as one way of creating a work of art out of some pieces of threads in a yarn, is another form of strategy that enables an individual to make something out of a simple element. 

Through this process, one can create a special kind of baby dress, a hat, or any garment that one could use to create a fashion statement. With the combination of supple materials such as the yarn and the different fundamental “crochet stitches,” different items can also be made. 

One of the most popular products of crocheting is the afghan. From babies to old people, afghan had been used, reused, and was handed down from one generation to another as it remained fashionable and durable blanket after so many years had passed.

What is the reason? It is based on the way the material was made. This is because afghans are made through the remarkable methods of crocheting. With the meticulous combinations of different crochet stitches and the careful manipulation of the creator in order to come up with a good material, afghan crochets are, indeed, one of the best products this kind of pastime has ever made.

The history of afghan can be traced back to the time when “Afghan Oriental rugs” were still very popular. Most of the people contend that the popular rugs bear a resemblance to the afghan crochets. Hence, from that time on most of the people that time had started associating this kind of crochet to the oriental rug. Even if there were no solid validity as to whether the name “afghan” was derived from the popular rugs, the name just stuck as history unfolds itself.

It is interesting to note that people who are trying to learn the basic of crocheting considers the creation of an afghan as their initial full-size endeavor. The reason behind this particular preference is that the concept of making afghan crochet is absolutely simple, with no fuss and difficulty. Besides, the main component of making afghan crochets is more on the utilization of the fundamental crochet stitches along with the different afghan crochet patterns.

Along with the simplicity of the item is the pattern. In fact, crochet experts contend that, just like any sewing endeavor, crocheting would not be easy to deal with if there were no patterns available to serve as a guide.

Since its inception, there are many different afghan crochet patterns that were established in the market already. This is in connection to the demands of the “crochet fanatics” who requested for more patterns to use so that they could make results that are more varied.

However, even if there are more modernized afghan patterns made available in the industry today, still the basic and the most fundamental afghan crochet patterns are the best.

To know more about that, here is a list of some of the most common and most simple to use afghan crochet patterns:

1. Single crochet pattern

Using this pattern, one could make a simple yet very elegant afghan crochet. One good thing about this pattern is that it only uses either a pattern of stripes with varied colors or a dense and continuous color.

With its solidness, single crochet pattern for afghans are usually used when making a cover for a chair or on a bed.

2. Granny square afghan

This is one of the most popular patterns in making afghan crochets. Based on its name, this particular afghan crochet pattern entails the utilization of distinct shapes such as rounds or squares. These shapes are crocheted separately and then they are fastened together in various motifs and figures.

3. Chevron stripe

This particular type of afghan crochet pattern is very helpful for people who are just learning their way towards a crocheting. It is one good way of learning the basics of crochet as they try to create a masterpiece at once.

These are just a few of the many afghan crochet patterns that every person would be interested to use. Whatever afghan crochet patterns you will use, just keep in mind that the real beauty of the product is based on the reason that it was made by the hand.

Learn To Play The Electronic Guitar

Easily Learn to Play Electric Guitar

You can’t learn to play any musical instrument if you don’t own one especially in the case of an electric guitar. So if you want to easily learn to play an electric guitar, you should find the perfect guitar to suit your playing style. 

Once you find the electric guitar that you love, you can now learn to play it. As compared to an acoustic guitar, electric guitars are mush easier to play. It would also be best if you can purchase a pick and an amp. 

As you may have noticed, the electric guitar has several buttons or switches and you need to learn all of them. But before anything else, you should know the essentials in learning to play such a musical instrument.

Each kind of guitar has its own qualities. You have to familiarize yourself with the electric guitar’s qualities and features. Know all the guitar’s knobs or switches. You must know how to control them so that once you start playing the guitar you will know the right mixes of the knobs or switches.

If you can do this, you can expect the guitar’s sound to be at its best. Electric guitars are not simple instruments. Before you can effectively play this type of guitar, you would have to spend a huge portion of your time in learning to play it. Most especially, you need to learn to mix the tones and sounds together. 

Aside from the electric guitar, you also need to get an amp and that was already mentioned awhile ago. Guitar amps are available in many sizes and you need to get the appropriate guitar amp. Since you’re a beginner, you need to get an amp that you can use during practice sessions. Buy only the best quality amp and make sure that you try it out before paying for it. Some stores allow their customers to test the amps at its highest point. Also, remember to purchase an amp that already has a distortion box because this is very important when it comes to playing an electric guitar. 

There are many songs and guitar tracks using electric guitars. You need to be familiar with these said tracks so that learning to play such instrument will be a lot easier. If you’re a good listener to these guitar tracks and songs, you will learn fast. Try to reproduce the sounds you hear and if you can do it, then you can tell if you’re learning. 

You can find further techniques, information, and tips online if you’re determined to learn to play an electric guitar. Remember these three essentials in learning to play such guitar: have your own electric guitar, get other guitar accessories like a pick and amps, and listen to guitar tracks or songs. If you know these three essentials, you’re on your way to learning to play an electric guitar. 

So you see, you can easily learn to play an electric guitar by knowing the essentials. Now its time to pick out the method to use – whether you will hire a professional guitar instructor, buy a guitar instruction book, or learn through DVD programs and other internet guitar programs.

Be sure to choose the appropriate method to learn quickly. Your learning will depend greatly on your personality and attitude. If you’re patient, determined, and motivated, you can will not encounter many problems in learning to play the electric guitar. 

Fall is in the Air
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 Well it has been awhile since I have had anything fun to add, but with fall being here it is time to awake from my pottery hibernation and get things going. Lately I have been working on these cute little trinket dishes. They are so simple to make and great as small gifts.










first thing you want is to find cookie cutters in the shapes that you want to use for your dishes.

Then roll out a slab of clay about 1/8-1/4 inch thick

Cut out your shapes then you can stamp or make designs on them or leave them plain.

next you will take a piece of foam and use an object to press your cut out into a shape

I use smaller shaped pieces of wood or plastic like and egg shape or cube or hexagon etc to get the shaping of my dishes, then when they are hard enough I clean up the edges with a greenie or sponge.

Fire then Glaze/ Fire ...so simple yet fun and great thing to do with kids.