Football Cakes

Today, we are having an end of season get-together for Z's flag football team.  I offered to make the cake.  I was just going to have one but we had trouble finding the football shaped cake pan (Hobby Lobby isn't exactly a neighborhood store for us) and I found the stadium cake pan at our local Wal-Mart.   When we looked at the cake pans and thought out how much just our family would eat, we decided we probably needed to do two (we did find the football pan finally).  So, I did......

Cake number 1: Football cake: Funfetti cake with buttercream and cocoa buttercream icing. 

Cake number 2: A football stadium: vanilla cake with buttercream and cocoa buttercream icing.  The "people" are sprinkles and I put fall sprinkles on the top because football is a fall sport.  I made the flags out of scrapbook paper and lollipop sticks.  I taped the paper to the sticks.  The "Wolverines" is the name of Z's team.  

Very cool cakes!!  And just so you know that I haven't gone too crazy and it really is for a flag football team -   "Gig'Em Aggies"  - #12 in the BCS polls!  "Whoop!!!"

World of Cake Decorating

Last year, the local library offered a cake decorating class.  Since we have at least 7 opportunities for cakes, I thought it would be a good idea to attend.  Here's some of the cakes I've made....

Eye of Sauron (Lord of the Rings)

 

Red, White, and Blue for Wonder Woman

 

Dora Rainbow Star cake

 

Rocket for Buck Rodgers

Hello Kitty

Piano with roses for a piano recital

 

The music for violin piece played at recital

 

Baseball birthday

 

Last cake made for class - we were learning flowers with royal icing

 

Royal Icing flowers

 

Cake class creating while learning how to use fondant and our cutters

 

First cake from cake class - learning to use buttercream icing

ABC Baby Blankets

#1: Hand appliqued, hand quilted, machine pieced - 2001

#2: Hand appliqued, hand quilted, machine pieced - 2003

#3: Hand appliqued, hand quilted, machine signed, machine pieced - 2005

#4: Hand appliqued, hand quilted, machine pieced, machine embroidered - 2007

#5: Hand appliqued, hand quilted, machine pieced, machine embroidered - 2009

#6: Hand appliqued, hand quilted, machine pieced, machine embroidered - 2011

Lots of projects getting done.

Cradle for our new little one.  The cradle was made by my dad 11 years ago for my oldest and each baby since has used it.  The Clifford is a contribution by Z toward making his brother feel welcome.  The blanket, I made for the baby with fabric selected by Z  and a double row of crochet - my 1st attempt.

Other things we've worked on in the last month or so..... baskets and pillows.

So what's up next?  Dresses for the girls and a vest for the boy.  Also a diaper bag, an ABC quilt, and a carry bag for A's violin support.  It's going to be a busy few weeks.  My goal is to have everything, except all 4 dresses finished by Thanksgiving.  The dresses, I think, will be a good last week project.

The fabric selected for dresses and a vest.

Projects for the week......

1st is a serger project.  It's a basket with serged edges, a homemade bow - using the serger and inserting wire into the serged edge, and homemade napkins. 

2nd project is a crochet edged baby blanket for a little boy.

3rd is a crochet belt.

Crayon Holders

The youngest girl, H, LOVES to tear apart crayon boxes.  So, in the middle of worship services, while the others are coloring or listening, she is tearing up the brand new, beautiful box of crayons.  This year, I decided to try and out smart her.

I made a crayon holder out of fabric.  The directions I found listed cutting sizes for 16 crayons.  Well, the size that always on sale for back to school is 24, so I adjusted.

Supplies:  backing piece 25"x5"
                 inside lining piece 25"x5"
                 pocket piece 25"x6"
                 8 to 9" piece of elastic
                 lace/rick-rack to go around

(I later learned that the fabric I picked had the color strips at just over 1".  So, for later ones, I've adjusted for this particular pocket fabric to 25 1/2")

1) Fold the pocket fabric in 1/2 lengthwise.  Then mark 1" intervals leaving 1 1/2" at each end, for seam allowances.

2) Pin the pocket to the inside lining fabric matching bottom and side edges.

3) Sew 1/2 seam around the sides and bottom.  Then, sew the "pockets" at the 1" intervals.

4) Pin and the sew any rick-rack or lace or edging you wish.  I added lace for the girls and left the boys "plain".

5) Attach a piece of cording to make ties or elastic to made a closure.  I chose elastic because it's easier to get around than to tie for little fingers.

6)  Align the backing and pocket assembly together, front sides matching.  Sew with a 1/2" seam, leaving a few inches for turning.  I embroidered names on the backing before attaching them.  I put the names on one side and positioned the elastic on the same side.  This way, the girls can tell them apart.

7) Turn to the right side and top stitch.

8) Fill with crayons and let the fun begin!

Crochet Dresses

While going through and organizing my grandmother's kitchen cabinets, my mother found 2 crochet dresses.  I don't remember my grandmother crocheting.  However, I do remember her mother, my Bobo, crocheting.  I'm guessing these 2 were probably made by her.

At home, we have several more than 2 dolls.  So, we've embarked on an adventure in crocheting doll dresses just like the ones my great-grandmother did.  Can you tell which ones she made and which one I did?

Did you figure it out?

I made the purple one.