I have become obsessed by pumpkin shaped cake pans. I want one, but I know I won't use it enough to be worth storing. But I want one. Williams-Sonoma has this nicely plump number, the great pumpkin cake pan (view the resulting cake). The Baker's Catalogue has a cast aluminum pumpkin cake pan one which has a bit more rustic style to it (see the cake). I suspect this is the same one the Martha Stewart site had a few years back. And they mention a kicker for me - "bake a big loaf of bread, perfect for hollowing and filling with dip." I wonder if I could do pumpkin shaped pumpernickle? There is always the two-bundt-cakes trick, and the Kraft Foods website has this nicely decorated number which is cutely squat and uses a regular bundt pan.

The Baker's Catalogue also has the Twinkies like snack cake pan, which I note because the current issue of Chow Magazine has a recipes for making your own snack cakes and they use a similar pan which they mention they found at Williams-Sonoma but which I know is not there any longer.

One more baking thing - I recently purchased one of those tapered French rolling pins and Scott noted that the manufacturer, Vic Firth, started out making drumsticks.

I have put up a new thing to make - a pointy little hat using hand painted Inca Cotton yarn called Cotton Candy from Woodstock Wool Company. Oooh, yummy colorful cotton yarn.

Pumpkins are appearing outside of the grocery stores and my mind turns to thoughts of Extreme Pumpkins. Along with the crazy carved pumpkins the site has instructions on carving, cleaning, stenciling, lighting and preserving your pumpkin, as well as a recipe for pumpkin seeds. Also check out the page on candy traps.

I knew some people didn't use a top sheet if they had a duvet cover, but I didn't realize it was somewhat of a cultural thing. Me? I'm a sheets and duvet cover person.

I'm having one of my I Wish I Lived In New York moments, Rena Tom has opened up a retail shop in South Park Slope, Brooklyn -- Rare Device. Congratulations Rena!

Where to find upholstery leather, from Apartment Therapy.

L.L. Bean Ice Cream Ball, when you just have to have freshly made ice cream while camping. You can do the same thing using two different sized coffee cans, also see how to make ice cream in a bag.

Flickrcraft - Megpi shows how to make a laptop sleeve out of an old sweater. Very nice.