Sewing Projects

I just finished this apron and before I post it in my shop (HERE)

I thought I would give you a sneak peak.

I just love this fabric. 

 It is a premium cotton that is so cheerful and drapes nicely.

If I were going to keep this apron, 

I would surely wear it to collect eggs in the summer.

I'm sure that my hens would approve!

(But, I am not going to keep it... it is for sale.)

I also wanted to share another project with you...

one I think you'll want to try.

Fabric rosettes....

I made these four as practice.

You can tell the size of them by the mat beneath...

each square is one inch.

I saw this idea posted by my friend Steph, The Queen of Dreams.

Her post directed the reader to this website for a tutorial.

Check it out  HERE.

These would make great embellishments for a hat, a coat,

a purse, a sweater, a pillow....just about anything.

My advice is to watch the tutorial video a few times and then

again while you try your first rosette.  It took me a few tries

until I got the knack.

Have fun!!

Royal Icing

I wanted to name this post "Royal Icing....Made Easy",

but as you will see in my photos...

it's not always as easy as it looks working with royal icing.

I have mastered the "free form" and techniques like feathering

the icing.  However as you will see, there is still so much I need to work on.

First, the recipe.....

The basic recipe is as follows.

I increase the recipe as needed....

usually 4 times for a double batch of shortbread cookies.

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon meringue powder

1/4 tsp vanilla

pinch of cream of tartar

2 tablespoons warm water

gel icing colors...tiny amount

I mix the above with a whisk.

You will need two consistencies of batter.

The first like toothpaste...to outline your design.

The second much runnier to float a large area of icing

within the outlined area. 

You can adjust the thickness to obtain what you need by

either adding a tiny bit of water to thin,

or adding a bit of powdered sugar to thicken it.

I use plastic decorating bottles with various tips

to outline and float color, 

but you can use a pastry bag with tips, instead.

Today's project was buttons...

but as you can see I had a bit of difficulty with them.... 

I finished with what I am better at....

a little more free-form design....

Here are my favorite inspirational websites for cookie

decorating ideas....

http://sweetopia.net/

http://glorioustreats.blogspot.com/

http://bakeat350.blogspot.com/

http://sweetsugarbelle.blogspot.com/

Even if you don't plan on baking any cookies,

check out these ladies' designs...

they are truly cookie artists.

Valentine Treats For My Sweets!!

Yes, I've been baking cookies again.

This time for Valentine treats.

I just might be addicted to royal icing!

So, what's the next holiday???

Hmmmm.....green cookies, shamrocks, perhaps??

 

Each one individually wrapped in its own little treat bag.

Thanks, Karen, for the graphic!!

Tyler's Quilt

It's finished....

My grandson, Tyler's quilt.

This is called a "raggy" quilt,

and is made with a little different technique.

Each (flannel) square is made individually, and quilted,

before the squares are sewn together.

All edges are snipped.

Then, when it is washed and dried,

the snipped edges turn into a raggy fringe.

It is soft and warm and bright...

perfect for a little guy.

Adventures in Mixed Media

In the midst of another ice storm that hit us on Saturday, 

I decided to create a little Spring for myself.  

Through the use of mixed media, 

I created a scene on a canvas....

a garden...

Suddenly, flowers began to bloom. 

As those blossoms peeked above the picket fence,

 a young lady with curly brown hair 

and a song in her heart appeared in the yard. 

 

I heard her whistling a little tune.

I think she was going to pick a few flowers...

perhaps for a garden party.

She was certainly dressed in her party attire.

By the time I finished her,

my winter doldrums had passed,

and I found myself whistling a happy little tune.

Super Bowl Baking

Ice and snow kept us in today.

We made good use of the time, however.

My daughter Jenn and I decorated chocolate cut out cookies

for Super Bowl!

Can you tell which team this household is rooting for???

PS...Hubbs grew up in Pittsburgh, so there is no other team!

Go Steelers!