Butterick B5613

This is the pattern I have listed on "The Cutting Edge" and I have to say it was very simple to cut, mark, pleat and sew together. It only took me a couple of hours to do the whole thing. The instructions are very simple and there is one front panel with pleats and two back panels with pleats. It called for a 7 inch zipper, but I had a 9 inch and that worked fine. I was surprised that there was no interfacing used in the yoke. I did topstitch along the edge to hopefully help it keep its shape. The only thing a little odd about it is the 4 pleats in the back. Both of my girls are blessed (cursed) with ample backsides although they are both very thin (0-2 in RTW) and I think another pleat on both back panels would make it lay and look better. It sort of separates over their bums. I will have to take a picture because I know this probably doesn't make a lot of sense. The only thing I have left to do is hem. This matches the little fabric necklace I made earlier this week-CUTE! I will make more of these skirts. I might try view D which is a bubble skirt. My oldest wants one in bubblegum pink. Very fun for summer. Now on to the next project once I finish the hem.

Embroidery Book #2 by Aimee Ray

My youngest daughter is taking a needlework class through 4H and they have some beautiful crewel embroidery sampler pillows in the works. She and I have also been working on some "Doodle Stitching" from Aimee Ray's first book by the same title at home. It is an excellent book! I have loaned it to a sweet girl at church for now. So in its place is the new Aimee Ray embroidery book. It has some equally cute projects in it and all the patterns come on a cd, so you don't have to trace or scan out of the book. She has made it very user friendly this time around. The instructions are clear and she gives helpful hints, like the color numbers of the threads she used in the project. This would make an excellent Christmas gift for young girls just getting started or Grandmas who like to do personalized gifts for grandchildren. I have a plan for some of the small sweet designs in this sequel! I did finish my little bird design from the first book.

Aloha-Yummy!

I made some Aloha bread this morning. I found a basic recipe in one of my cook books, but I added/changed several things to jazz up this bread. It is moist and scrumptious! Now if only I were eating it in Hawaii.

Combine 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour, 1 tsp soda and 1/2 tsp salt in medium bowl. Set aside.

Cream 1/2 cup butter. Gradually add 1 cup granulated sugar, creaming well. Add 2 eggs-one at a time. Add 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas. (I used 5 of the small ones). Add 1/8 cup half and half, 1 tsp vanilla and just a smidge of rum extract. (You could also use almond). Add 1 cup shredded coconut, 3/4 cup chopped pecans and one small can of crushed pineapple drained. Then gradually add your flour mixture. Combine well and then pour into loaf pans. I love my Martha Stewart mini loaf pan! They cook in 30 minutes and they are the perfect size. You could also use ramekins-like the one in the picture. (I had a little leftover batter). I think this would make one large loaf or 2 smaller ones in regular bread pans. Bake at 350. Regular loaf pans for 60-70 minutes.

A little thrifting

My husband had to work in Cincinnati yesterday and he invited me to go along. We enjoyed the 2 1/2 hour drive and listened to economics lectures (we are geeks). I dropped him off and then with GPS in hand set off to find a few thrift stores. I managed to make it to the St. Vincent De Paul location and they had tons of stuff. I managed to pick up the vintage sheets and pillowcases which will probably become skirts/aprons etc. I also found 3 vintage full slips for 1.99 a piece. I picked up patterns as well. I had to do some digging at this place, but it was fun. I have a few other goodies I'll post about later.

My own little fabric necklace

I tried the tutorial today that I posted on my blog about a week ago from Tilly and the Buttons. I also spent a little time looking at a few other tutorials, but hers was by far the easiest. Many wanted you to make inividual circles that you run a gathering stitch around and pull once you put the styrofoam ball in. Another had you make long bias strips. This is pretty simple. I made my strip 3 3/4 inches wide just like Tilly because I used the 1 inch foam. I measured where I wanted the necklace to hit and that was 24 inches. I doubled to 48 and added 4 more inches just like she said. I pressed it in half with right sides together and stitched about 1/2 inch in. Then I tied the knot about 3-4 inches from the end and started pushing the foam in-(this is the hardest part in my opinion). I tied knots after every ball and then finally knotted the material. I decided to tie a ribbon where I ended the necklace. This was easy and fast and will be fun for spring and summer outfits. For less than $2.50 you can't beat it!

Tile Quilt Pillow

Photo from anthropologie

Happy Monday morning to you! Although my weekend was a bit busy, I managed to get my Vogue blouse sewn up. The shoulders are too wide, but I am going to try to fix that this week. It was an incredibly quick sew. I used my twin needle for the first time to do the hem. Love it! I'll post some pictures later today. This morning though as I was eating & drinking my tea, I came across Adventures in Dressmaking and the post she had on home decor from Anthropologie. This quilted pillow caught my eye because I own a book, Tile Quilt Revival, that has many patterns for things like this. It is basically quilting that leaves a background border around each piece. It is all lovely. Maybe I need to take this pillow project with me on my retreat!

Brownie Bites and Kissie Cups

Have been doing a little baking today for a wedding. This couple is having a cookie table at their reception and I did brownie bites with bright pink and yellow icing to match the Gerber daisies they are using. I placed one Wilton sugar pearl in the center of each. I also made peanut butter cup cookies with Hershey hugs as the centers. Yummy and cute to boot!