Christmas in June

I'm getting started on some handmade Christmas gifts. With two kids, if I want to gift handmade stuff I have to get going. Time is scarce and the holidays always seem to creep up quickly. Can you believe its almost June already?

Stay tuned to see what funky gift I make for my super cool Aunt with this fabric:

Alexander Henry "All I Want For Christmas"

My Baby Girl's Bohemian Quilt

I've always loved quilts. Especially the old-fashioned ones that are quilted by hand with yarn instead of machine quilted. I think quilting is a fabric art form.

I'm just getting started on my first quilt. I'm very excited to make a simple quilt for my little girl. Although she is a baby,  I didn't want the quilt fabrics to be too juvenile. I plan on taking my time making the quilt because I want it to be something heirloom than can grow with her. I don't plan on making any intricate blocks, I do plan on appliqueing her name on one of the blocks. I've been watching tons of instructional videos on youtube on quilting and binding but feel free to leave me a comment with any quilting tips or advice. I'm cutting my blocks 4 1/2 inches.

Here are the fabrics that I picked:


Tula Pink Parisville Eye Drops Dusk by Free Spirit
City Blooms Damask Chocolate by Benartex
Twilight Pond by Art Gallery/Pat Bravo
City Blooms Damask Lime/Pink by Benartex
Damask in Plum by Free Spirit/Joel Dewberry
Light Chic Paper by Art Gallery/Pat Bravo
Full Moon Dot in Lime by Amy Butler
Sari Blooms in Moss by Amy Butler

Tie Shirts for Toddlers and BEYOND

There are so many blogs with tutorials for cute little girl clothes, but not a whole lot for boys. When I came across the idea of an applique tie when my ginger boy was little (he's a giant, non-stop talking 4 year-old now), I had to make one.  He looked so darn cute and my little man loved it! I also made him one last Christmas and used Christmas fabric.

I don't think you have to stop at toddler shirts, I also made one for my Uncle (obviously in a WAAAAYYYY bigger size) to wear while he plays poker with his friends :)

"Get off my Property!"

Very Strawberry Cupcakes

I tried this recipe of Paula Dean's and was not disappointed.

This cake recipe was so delicious unlike the strawberry flavored cake mix that you can buy at the grocery store - who wants dried flecks of fake strawberry when you can have the real thing? The cake itself is pretty sweet so I used a homemade cream cheese frosting with less sugar than the recipe called for. The cupcakes were super moist and tasted even better a few days after baking. It's a really sturdy cupcake too - no crumbling. One of my favorites!




Recipe: by Paula Dean. Makes 24 regular-sized cupcakes

Strawberry Cake

1 box white cake mix
15 ounces of frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed
1 box strawberry flavored jello (3 ounce box)
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil (I used Canola)
1/2 cup water

Bring everything to room temperate - including eggs. Mix eggs, oil, water and strawberry puree until well blended and no egg strands remain. Sift in cake mix and jello and mix just until combined. Bake at 360 for about 17 minutes.

Cream Cheese Icing:

1 stick unsalted butter (room temperature)
6 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
2 & 3/4 cup of confection sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
drop of red food coloring (optional)

This recipe makes enough icing for about 20 cupcakes. I leave a few un-iced for my little guy. Cream together butter, cream cheese and vanilla until no lumps exist then slowly add the sugar and whip until fluffy.