Jul 08 2009
Fire It Up
I have really enjoyed the transition into the new themes for Project 
Spectrum SOUTH direction. It seems like there are just so many opportunities, and I can’t help but see Project Spectrum inspiration everywhere and in so many things I do. It is amazing how this little idea that started 4 years ago has grown in to a way of life. Sure, it is nothing revolutionary – but it is about paying attention to the things around you, seeing beauty and function, and expressing creativity. It gives a new meaning to so many activities. For those of you who have participated in Project Spectrum, have you experienced anything like that?
Each year, people have described Project Spectrum as another knitalong, and I always like to remind people that it can be so much more than that ~ for me, Project Spectrum is often a way to experiment with some new techniques or a new creation all together. I hope it can be this way for you too – whether that includes yarn and needles or some other medium entirely. This month has started with a steady stream of two other hobbies that I totally enjoy and that fit into the theme of PS South very nicely: baking and photography.
Behold! the vegan cupcake experiment! Armed with my new cookbook (Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World: 75 Dairy-Free Recipes for Cupcakes that Rule
This is the vanilla agave cupcake with “buttercream” frosting and freshly-picked berries on top. According to some of my Flickr peeps, the frosting recipe is a little off as printed in the book – I should have used less soy milk to make it fluffier… so, I guess I will have to try another batch! I did use less than half of the sugar called for in the frosting, and it was delicious. The major difference that I noticed about the vegan cupcakes versus the regular cake batter variety was the absolute moistness. The texture was slightly different – not in a bad way at all! – but perfectly suited for a yummy dessert. With 74 other recipes in the book to try, I have plenty of ideas!
I enjoyed pulling out the aluminum METAL muffin tin, baking in a FIERY oven, and putting a RED berry right on top on a warm SUMMER day! If that isn’t PS South perfect, I don’t know what is! 
On the drive home from my parents’ house after Independence Day celebrations, I was hoping to capture some firework photos in the night sky… unfortunately no such luck. So, I decided to experiment with some photographic techniques I saw on Flickr: light photography in the dark night. On my DSLR, I slowed the shutter speed considerably and focused my lens on the lights around me – traffic lights, vehicle tail lights, and street lamps. I loved the results – they look like a laser show. So, in the absence of fireworks, I made my own!
The light trails are so much fun to play with – you can get crazier trails if you move the camera during the long exposure, or more of a flare if you keep the camera fixated on one image (like I did with this red light). The photos can be a bit “trippy” too – I loved the orange red glow of this one:
Plenty of other Project Spectrum-related materials in mind that I will share soon – in the meantime, I would love to hear about what you are planning for the RED HOT SOUTH theme!
As always, you can check out the wonderful inspirations on the Flickr group or over on the Ravelry PS group!
…and I just might surprise you with a knitting post soon enough
Hey Lolly~ O/T, but wanted to say we’ve checked out Great Sage… I’m in LOVE! Great food, not all “fake meat” and even my carnivore husband liked it! Great little shopping plaza, too.
~Pia
Pretty cupcakes. I’ve had this book a while too but haven’t tried any of the recipes.
Very clever of you to use this for the current Project Spectrum. You’ve inspired me to pull out the baking equipment.
BTW too little sugar for the volume of liquid will make your frosting runny. It’s a ratio thing. I usually start with the amount of sugar I want to use and then slowly mix in the milk a little at a time until I get the consistency I want.
I’m really excited for this next phase of PS, too. I looked at my stash and realized I have pretty much no red yarn, but I’m excited to try out some sewing, and perhaps some photography as well.
There is nothing like fresh fruit on a dessert!
My friend gave me that cookbook a few years ago and I love it! I do feel like I end up with a ton of frosting left over (or maybe I’m not frosting my cupcakes enough), but overall the recipes are great. The only change I’ve made is using applesauce instead of oil and it’s worked out really well.
Beautiful photos!
Hmm, this is just what I needed to finish that red scarf on the loom right now.
Lolly, this is my first time participating in Project Spectrum and I am loving it. Having a theme helps to focus my eye on the really simple and beautiful things that surround us everyday.
I also really enjoy participating in the PS community, it is great to connect with people and so inspiring to see all the ideas unfold, sometimes in the most unexpected ways.
Thank you for facilitating that
Great pictures! It must have been fun to experiment with this technique!
I must get that cookbook! Though I’m more of a cookie kind of girl, so I really can’t wait for the upcoming Vegan Cookies Take Over Your Cookie Jar… but still… mmm, cupcakes!
My fireworks photos ended up looking a lot like yours (I really need to get a tripod one of these days). I do think the crazy dancing trails are more interesting to look at than traditional firework pictures.
By the way, I always reduce the amount of sugar in a cake recipe, usually to 1/4th of whatever the recipe called for. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get around that when making buttercream. I’ve read that you can substitute cornstarch for some of the powdered sugar, but that grosses me out too.
Wish I had learned to knit or crochet rather.. I did try a little many years ago. I become frustrated easily. Its something that I haven’t forgotten that I wanted to learn and look forward to it someday. I’ll likely never learn on my own. Its all a bit sad. At least some arts are still alive with you folks gathering together electronically to share in all. Maybe I will, when I’ve the mind, soon buy a skein and try at least. I’ll probably just crochet that one long braid and then be confused. Anyhow, its fun reading and seeing creations like that. Don’t give it up.
I love your light trails! How inspiring. I think this third phase of PS is my favorite thus far, but I’ve really enjoyed being a part of it, and I agree that it has made me look at my crafting in a new light.
I’m so glad you got that cookbook! I had great luck with the Red Velvet and the Maple Walnut recipes. The latter was a particular hit, even with non-vegans! You absolutely MUST check out those authors’ other cookbooks. They’re amazing!
I’m actually knitting something red now, yay PS!
I LOVE that cookbook! I make a batch of cupcakes from it every couple of weeks through the summer, although I usually don’t make the frosting. You definitely have to use a mixer and let it run for a loooooong time to get the buttecream type frostings fluffy enough. My favorite is the chocolate oreo (Newman-O!) variation with the orea cream frosting. Perfect even for grown up birthday parties!
[...] now, Project Spectrum is focusing on reds, which is absolutely perfect for what I want to make. Unfortunately, I haven’t found any yarn I [...]