baking and a little sewing

WHAT IS THIS???

Just a birthday cake gone wrong... but it tasted so good!  Tomorrow is super hubby's birthday and we had a little celebration for him tonight.  I tried to make a blueberry coffee cake look more festive by making it as a layer cake, but the food coloring and I had a minor fight.  It may look like a swamp monster, but like I said, it sure tasted good!

Here is the whole cake.  It is one of my favorite cake recipes. Usually I put it in a 9x13 pan.

Here is the recipe if you'd like to try it.  Please avoid using food coloring though!

Blueberry Coffee Cake

1/2 c shortening

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1 1/2 c sugar

4 c flour

4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

4 c blueberries (I use frozen)

Mix first four ingredients and then slowly mix in dry ingredients.  Add in blueberries.  The mixture will be very thick.  Spread mixture in a 9x13 in. pan.

TOPPING:

1 c brown sugar

2/3 c flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 c shortening or butter

Mix topping into crumbs and put on top of batter before baking.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Enjoy!

I also have a friend who has a birthday tomorrow, too.  I made her a cute little needle book.  She likes to sew, too.  I know that she will appreciate it.

Stitching Complete

Ollie Owl is complete... well almost.  What do you think?  A pillow or a wall hanging?

Friday Night Sew In small Results

Well, Friday came and went and I didn't accomplish nearly as much as I had hoped to.  But it was good, quality time with my boys.  We all sat and stitched for a while and it was fun.

I found a very wise looking owl pattern from Badbird's blog and with a little inspiration from the fat quarters that Bobbi sent me I decided to start making either a pillow or a wall hanging.  I can't wait to see how it looks when it's finished!  I saved the french knots for last.  I love doing those!

This is what my 6 year old did...

This is what my 8 year old worked on...

I designed both of those myself.  

FRIDAY! FRIDAY! It's here!

I am SO psyched for the Friday Night Sew In!  My boys are even going to be stitching along with us!  WHO'S READY???

I can't wait to post whatever I sew tonight!  

Happy Sewing!

New Etsy Shop!

Well, I took the plunge!  I opened my Etsy Shop tonight.  I've been contemplating it for a while, but kept putting it off because I don't have much to list yet.  But tonight I decided that there is no time like the present!  

You can visit my shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/modifiedmix .  As of now you will only find the card that I created at my class this week, but now I have a little more motivation to sew and fill my shop!

Guess who learned the JOY of paper piecing!

That would be me!!  Oh how fun!  

So I had already gotten a babysitter for last evening because I was going to go run.  Great intentions, right?  That is until I walked a block in the snow and wind the night before and wondered what in the world I was thinking.  There is no way I can run outside until spring arrives!

I hated to disappoint my sitter, so I got online to see what kind of class I could take.  Just my awesome luck!  A paper piecing greeting card class for just $10!!  It was FABULOUS!!!!  I've already signed up for the next class in March.  That one will be a Christmas tree card.  

I finished one card completely and made the block for the second one.  All I have to do is tape and glue it together and it will be ready to make a special friend's day!

A finished card!

The back...

The front...

Perfect Potholders

Thank you, Bobbi!  I LOVE them!

What an amazing way to end the workday!  My potholders from Bobbi  arrived this afternoon!  I am so excited!  They are perfect for my kitchen... brown, blue and coffee!  I don't know how she knew! 

And some super cute fat quarters!  I can't wait to sew them into something spectacular!  Maybe during the Friday Night Sew In.

I absolutely love the potholders! I'm also excited to have a new friend in Nevada! I am SO glad that we joined the potholder pass swap late so that we were partners!

And here are the potholders that I sent to Bobbi...

Like I said previously,the corners need a bit of help, but I'm learning.  I still think they are cute.  And she loves the owls!   I can't wait to start on the next swap!

Valentine's and Running???

Happy Valentine's Day to you all!  

What a wonderful day to celebrate those you love a little extra!  This morning I got three beautiful Valentine cards and this evening I got a wonderful dinner at Applebee's compliments of Super Hubby!  He also bought me some of my favorite yogurt!  Yummy!

Our very thoughtful neighbors baked giant cookies for the boys.  They are the nicest neighbors!

Now on to another topic... my running shoes!

They are looking a little too clean, aren't they??  I only walk/run at the YMCA when the weather is yucky, so they don't see the elements very often.

For those of you who don't know me in "real person" I lost 50 pounds between last February and the start of the school year.  Since school started, my activity decreased and I put 10 of those fabulous 50 pounds back on.  I like to call it "winter weight".  It seems to appear every winter and leave every summer.  There is a Running Revolution group starting up in town on Tuesday and I have been trying to decide if I should join or not.  

What do you think?  Should I keep my shoes clean or should I brave the elements (cold, ice and snow) and get fit outside?  Do any of you participate in Running Revolution?

I hope you all have a great start to your week!  I'll be posting my Birdie Tablerunner as soon as the binding is done.  I have to figure out those darn corners first!

Snow day and auction results!

Well, what a winter wonderland! No school today... what a welcomed event.  I was just thinking that I could use a day off.  The boys are happy, too.  They have been tired and sick, so it is a nice break for them. Just a relaxing day!

The Handmade for Haiti silent auction was a success!  We raised $274 and another $290 from student collections.  This is just a drop in the bucket in comparison to the destruction, but it was nice to see everyone pulling together to help.  Friday we are having Hats for Haiti.  This is a district wide effort and people will pay a dollar to wear a hat.

Anyway, I actually bought back my pillow and some other things.

A cute quilted Santa bag...

Some handmade cards...

And a pretty necklace...

project complete!

Hurray!  I have officially completed my pot holder pass project!  I can't wait for them to arrive at their new home in a much warmer climate.  

Here is a little sneak peak.  I'll be sure to post them when I'm sure that they have arrived.

I must say, after looking at all of the other potholders which have been posted, I hope that mine will live up to expectations!  I still have a lot to learn, in particular how to create a neat binding.  Any tips for corners??  Practice , practice, practice!  I'll have to sign up for round two!

Mama's stitchers

I thought I'd post some of the things that my boys have stitched.  They take classes at the public library in town.  We have some amazing women who volunteer their time to bring embriodery to the kids.  I think it is wonderful that they are willing to pass their talents on to a younger generation! (Especially that age group!)

My eight year old stitched this fish.  He has had lessons for four sessions.  This is one that he did during his second and third sessions.

My six year old stitched this when he was five.  He hadn't had lessons yet, but had to keep up with his older brother.  I helped him with his french knots, but he did the rest.  I was amazed at his talent.  I was also pretty impressed with myself for drawing the dog.  I didn't know I had that ability. =)

Hopefully the lessons will start again in the spring after the snow is gone.  (The ladies don't drive in the snow.)  I hope to get enough of their work to put into a quilt that I will be able to cherish forever!

Kicked-up Cauliflower!

Everyone loves cauliflower, right?  Well, perhaps everyone but my kids.  Here is a tasty snack that I love and it is lo-cal and so easy! 

First, wash and cut your cauliflower into bite-sized pieces and place it on a baking tray that you have sprayed with cooking spray.

Then season it with whatever spice you might like.  I used paprika and just a touch of salt for mine.  Next time I may try some chili powder.

Put it in a 425 degree oven for 10 -15 minutes, depending on how crunchy you want it to be.  Stir it half way through. And voila... you have roasted spicy cauliflower!

Enjoy!