"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Easy ruffle dress

 This is my niece Johnna, she turned six in February.  I wanted to make her an easy dress for her birthday and decided to make her a ruffle dress.  I've been waiting to share this tutorial until my sister sent me a picture of her wearing the dress, but I've decided that might not happen!  It is almost April after all!
 First I bought a cheap t-shirt from Wal-Mart.  I took an old t-shirt and cut a piece of it to make a "slip" to sew the ruffles onto, making it almost the length I wanted her dress to be. The last ruffle will make it a few inches longer.   I just sewed the strip of material onto the bottom of the t-shirt.

I cut five strips of material six inches wide, twice the length of the width of the t-shirt.

 Turn the hems under twice, I use the width of the tip of my finger as a guide.  I turn it twice as I iron it, I believe this is easier than pinning it.  I did a stay stitch on the bottom and ruffled the top.  Of course I could not find my ruffle foot until AFTER I finished the dress.  The hems make the ruffles about five inches wide.  I didn't measure them.
 The t-shirt had cap sleeves, so I put smaller ruffles on the sleeves, these were folded in half with the edges folded in to the wrong side just once.
 Make sure the open side is on top so you won't have to hem the bottom.


See the hair thingy below?  I use them on my bobbins to keep them from unwinding.
This is the new sewing machine I gave my friend.  I had to test it out!
 My ruffles are kind of crooked, next time I will draw a straight line around the t-shirt using a ruler as a sewing guide for myself.  Each ruffle needs to be about a half inch under the previous ruffle.  I would mark each ruffle.
I put a yo-yo on the top to the side of the ruffle.  I had a crooked spot to hide, I was going to put it up on the chest.
 I just love these colors!  Wasn't that easy, I want to make some more!  I wonder how this would look for an adult?  I hate getting old!
Don't forget to enter the apron giveaway here:  http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2012/03/apron-giveaway.html  I'll announce the winner on Tuesday, the first day of spring!
Missy

Adoption

My friend Angie is trying to raise money to adopt a baby.  It is very expensive to adopt.  She has a blog about "green" living and wrote a post today about why she wants to adopt.  Please consider helping her out and reading her blog post here:  http://pr4ctic411ygr33n.blogspot.com/p/our-road-to-adoption.html?spref=fb

Don't forget to enter my giveaway here:  http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2012/03/apron-giveaway.html  You only have until Monday, March 19 to enter the giveaway.

Missy

Friday, March 16, 2012

Apron Giveaway

I think we need to celebrate!  Not only is the quilt finished, but through linky, GFC and networked blogs I have 115 followers, and those are only the ones I know about!  When I started this blog I thought the only ones who would ever read it were my friends and family but non of them "follow" my blog (I send them the links).  I started this blog because I like to talk and love to teach.  I had to stop teaching full-time because of my asthma and only get to teach my midweek child's bible study class now.  I really do not have much "head knowledge" on this stuff, but love to share what I learn.  I was not trained to be a homemaker growing up, my mom was a single mother who worked.  I couldn't even cook very well when I got married.  (Thank you cooking videos, cook books and older friends who were willing to help!)  Now that I am a full-time homemaker I am learning how to cook from scratch, sew, quilt and other things I never had time for before.  (Did I mention that I am busier now than when I worked?)  If I could only get the housecleaning under control - but I'm working on it!  This is why we decided that I needed to be a keeper of the home.
Titus 2:5  "To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed"
This verse is a hard verse to live and one that I am always striving to emulate.  I've only been home for four years and love having a hot, healthy meal ready for my husband when he gets home.   I love being able to sew my own clothes (although I am still slow at it), learning to quilt is a blast, and being able to see something I can't afford and saying "I can make that!"  Is it perfect?  No, but that's okay because I'm having fun!  I'm not stressed and my asthma is under control.  I am still waiting for children to adopt but it is all in the Lord's time (even though I do get antsy about it).
Okay, so enough talking and on to the giveaway!
Thank you Joeann for being my model!  I am giving away one of my "napkin" aprons.  The giveaway will be open through Monday and I will announce the winner on Tuesday.

To win the apron, leave me a comment telling me how you follow and any homemaking tips you have.  I just might do a blog post sharing them!  There are several ways to follow me, through email, blogger, Google Friend Connect and Linky.  There is also Networked Blogs, but I miss a lot of posts of the blogs I follow through that because they don't always show up on FB - so it is not reliable.  Just look to the left of my blog to join!
For an extra entry, share this giveaway, either through facebook or any way you want.  Just leave me another comment telling me how you shared.  This giveaway is for my followers only, so you must follow me to be entered in the giveaway.  There are a couple of blogs hosting blog hops for giveaways, but did not join because I decided this would be a way to reward my faithful followers.

Thank you all for listening to my rambles on my blog and have a great weekend!
Missy


Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Vintage Feet

 I got some old attachments for (I hope) my treadle   Some of them are Greist attachments.  It is a company that used to make attachments for sewing machines.  I don't know how old they are, but they look like some of the attachments in my manual for my treadle http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2012/01/treadle-sewing-machine-and-winner.html  The above picture on the left is my new ruffle foot attachment, the right is the old one.  Below is a close up view.  To think that I thought my ruffle foot attachment was something new!
 Here is another comparison.  On the left is my new screwdriver and quilter's guide (which I still need to learn how to use) and on the right are the old ones.
 Left are my new needles, the right are my old needles.
My friends from treadleon.com told me that this one is a zipper foot!
 The next two pictures are of the same foot, I wanted you to see the bottom of it.  It is to make a narrow hem.  I think that it does the whole hemming process for you? Or it could be:   This foot does felling, which I believe is the same as the hemmer according to my Franklin manual.  Flat felled seams are the seams you see on jeans, here is information on how to make one http://sewing.about.com/od/techniques/ss/flatfelled.htm  Did you notice they did not use a special foot?  I'm not sure which it is, or maybe it is the same thing?

These are called wide hemmers, I think.  I believe they are supposed to be used with the above foot.  That is nice not to have to worry about your hems and just let the foot do the work!
 I don't know what these are for either.
 I believe this is the under braider, used for sewing on braids, piping anything raised.
 The one below is a tuck marker.  This should make tucks and pleats easier!
 These are the new feet that came with my new sewing machine.
 These are miscellaneous parts, screw driver, quilt guide, needles, a screw and whatever that big, nut looking  thing is.
If you can help me out by identifying some of these feet I would appreciate it!  I won't be able to tell if I can use them on my machine until I get it fixed.  I have two more phone cases to make, what are you working on right now?
Happy sewing ya'll!
Missy

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Spice Cake


I love spice cake, it is one of my favorite kind of cakes.  I made a spice cake for Marie's birthday party and absolutely loved it!  I also found a new buttercream recipe, but I want to do a little tweaking with it before I share it.
Spice Cake
Grease two 10 inch round pans.  Preheat oven to 350°F.  Have all ingredients at room temperature.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat at high speed until light and fluffy:
2 sticks unsalted butter
2 cups sugar (I used palm sugar)

Add at medium speed and beat until well creamed:
4 eggs (I had egg yolks I needed to use up and used 5 egg yolks and 2 whole eggs, if your egg yolks are mixed together about a tablespoon is about the size of an egg yolk.)

In a bowl, sift together:
3 cups flour (I used 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour and 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour)
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon salt

(If you do not have a sifter you can blend with a whisk, but if you bake with wheat flour I highly suggest investing in a sifter!)


At low speed, add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternately with:
1 1/4 cups buttermilk

Do not over mix or your cake will be tough!

Pour the batter into the pans and bake 25 - 35 minutes depending on your oven.  Or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.  Cool the cakes on a wire rack for 15 - 20 minutes before turning them out of their pans.

If you are like me, I don't use a lot of buttermilk, so what I do is a buy a container, use what I need and then freeze the extra in jars one cup at a time,  then when I need buttermilk I just pull it out of the freezer.

I hope ya'll enjoy this cake as much as I do!
I haven't shared any cat pictures with ya'll lately, so thought I would today.
Happy baking!
Missy

This is Tiger, his older twin, sister from a previous litter is fixing to have babies.  I can't wait for my friend to post pictures because I think Tiger is a beautiful cat and since his sister looks just like him, I'm sure her kittens will be gorgeous.  Especially if Renee's long haired black cat is the daddy.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Virtual Yard Sale

I have decided I need to clean out my cake pans and cake books.  I have so many that years will go by without using some stuff.  Since I am moving to Missouri at the end of the year I wanted to get started on decluttering.  I will include the price of the shipping in each item and if you want to combine shipping on multiple items I will figure in the cost of shipping for you.  I will give the item to the first person who asks for it.  I am afraid I need to do US only please.  You can pay paypal or check.  I will ship when I get the money.  I'm only doing the pans today, I'll do the books next week.

The only ones not for sale are the doll, cat, rabbit, ark and bear with block.   All pans are $11, $5 for the pan and $6 for shipping.  You can leave a comment or email me directly at missysaprons@gmail.com
If you have a specific pan or Wilton book you are looking for I will check my "stash" for you.
Please leave me your email address so I can reply back to you, if you are local and want to pick up the pan you don't have to pay shipping and I am willing to combine shipping for more than one item.
Thank you!
Missy

Friday, March 9, 2012

Cell Phone Holder


.  

I finally finished my cell phone holder!  Remember my last post?  http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2012/03/seam-rippers.html I was having all kinds of troubles!  My first one was too small!
I found a tutorial here:  http://erinerickson.com/2010/10/easy-iphone-sleeve-tutorial/  I looked at it, her measurements were for a different phone, got some ideas, and then did my own thing.  Be sure to check out her tutorial, it's great!  My first one would have turned out better if I had "listened".  I had pinned her tutorial and a FB friend saw it and asked me if I could make one for her, I said sure and wisely decided to make one for myself first, just in case!  I added a pocket and a wristlet strap.  I'll give you the tutorial and how I figured out my measurements.  I had left my camera at a friend's house and so I had to use my camera phone.  sorry the pictures aren't better.
First, measure your phone, then add one and half inches to two inches (see my measurements below).  The first one I only added a half inch for 1/4 inch seams, but I forgot that I would have two sets of seams, one when I sewed the two pieces together and another one when I sewed the folded part to form the case.
First thing I did was take the strips of batting I had leftover from the quilt and zig-zag stitched them together, side by side to avoid lumps.  I just hate to waste material!

You can use any kind of batting, old towels, fleece anything to give some padding to your case.
I am going to give you directions on how to make the case with a flap.  My case measures 4 inches by 7 1/4 inches.  My phone measures 3 inches by 5 inches today but when I measured it before I came up with 3 1/2 5 1/2 inches, I used a school ruler then and a tape measure today.  I thought I had added 1 1/2 inches, but I guess I added two inches.  I have an Android HTC sense and my friend has an IPhone 3GS and it fits both of our phones.  I cut two coordinating fabrics 15 inches (I added 4 inches for the flap) by 4 1/2 inches.
You then sew the batting onto the wrong side of the material that will be on the inside of your case.

My first case I added the pocket before I sewed the outside, pink and inside, brown together.  It looks better but is trickier as you can see by my crooked pocket in the smaller one.  You need to  fold your case in half and determine where you want the pocket then sew the pocket onto the outside of the material, pink side.
Next we put the tab for the keychain ring on.  Determine where you want it and tack it on, this is easier than trying to pin it.  Make sure the tab is next to the right side of the material facing in.  Also attach the wristlet in the same way and pin the wristlet down to insure that you don't accidently sew it.  I'll give you directions for the strap later.  The tab is just a piece of ribbon folded in half about two inches long.
Put your two pieces right sides together, I would recommend pinning them.  I sewed around them about a 1/4 of an inch, I just followed the outside of my foot.
For the flap, I drew a circle to make the flap end rounded.


I sewed where the tab was connected a couple of times to re-enforce it, it will get lots of tugging.  Turn it right side out.  Next sew across the top to close the hole, I left the straight side open for the turning since it would be covered by the flap.
Now, take your phone and see where you want it folded.  Notice how my tab is down low?  This is to allow room for my flap, you can always put it at the other end also and will end up in the same spot when you are done.  I used my disappearing ink fabric marker so I wouldn't have to wash it.  I folded it up and drew a line on the inside, I also pulled the flap down to see where I wanted it to go.
On this one I put the pocket on now, it's easier, but as not as polished, but the pocket is on straight!
I cut my pocket to the desired length and longer than the sides of the case so that I could fold it in, I used my pinking shears to help with the fraying.
I thought it looked better with some pink on the bottom showing.  I used heat and bond for the ribbon.  If your thread matches you can sew it on like I did with this one.
Of course you don't need a ribbon, I just liked the way it looked.  First I folded the top and and bottom then ironed it.  I then sewed the top and then added the ribbon.  Then I folded the sides of the pocket to the inside of the case and ironed again.   I used a glue stick to tack the pieces down until I could sew it.   I then sewed around the pocket.
It's hard to tell in the picture because they are both brown.

I folded the case back the way I want it to be when I sew it and pinned it half way up to leave room to sew on the velcro.  As you can tell I already sewed the velcro on, it doesn't matter if you do the velcro or pocket first.  You can leave the pocket off if you want, I just like the way it looks and can stick my drivers license in it if I go walking.  I decided where I wanted it to go on both sides of the case and marked one side heavily then pressed down to see where the mark landed on the other side.  Does that make sense?  I used the glue stick to tack down the velcro until I sewed it on.  You can't really see it in the picture I'm afraid.  I used velcro instead of a button or snap because I wanted to be able to get to my phone quickly.  Sew your velcro on with a pink thread that mtaches the outside of the case, I used a light color knowing I would be covering it with a yo-yo.  I used black once and it looked awful.


 






After sewing on my pocket and velcro I sewed about a 1/4 inch, using the inside of my foot as a guide to sew around the entire pocket.  Across the bottom up the side around the flap and back down again.  You want a small seam, it looks better.
I then made a small yo-yo and sewed it on with a green button in the middle.
I also added a key chain ring to it so I can attach it to my keys.
Here is my new phone case, I love it!  Now I need to make two more!
Update:  Last night I took the small case and seam ripped it apart and re-sewed it together.  It is now a little bigger and looks a lot better!

Have a great weekend ya'll, let me know if you have any questions!
Missy
"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him." Psalm 34:8



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