HERE

I was sorting through some needlework bins today and came across a few old projects that are finished, but not quite finished. Here's what I found:

A Mary Engelbreit counted cross stitch design. Love the colors. I think I made this back in 1992. It needs to be made into a pillow or picture or something.

This is a small counted cross stitch hatbox - maybe 3" square. This needs to be made into something too - I was thinking a pin cushion.

How about this redwork girl in a bonnet that I did in pink - the stitching is all done. Maybe she would make a nice pillow.

Here's an embroidered square that has been stitched and quilted - but that's as far as it got. Look at those tiny quilting stitches! All by hand - no machine here!

And last, but not least, one of my first quilts. That's me holding up the quilt. :) I must have made this one in the early 1980's. The quilting fabric selection was not very good at that time. All of these dresden plates were stitched and appliqued by hand. I even stitched all the squares together by hand. Take a close at the back.

Not bad, if I do say so myself. I love hand sewing - it's so much more relaxing.

This is the design I had planned to quilt on the blank squares. I know why I never finished this quilt - Y-U-K!

S.W.A.K.

STICKY FINGERS

Top row from left to right: Yellow Cake/Chocolate Buttercream - Chocolate Cake/Peanut Butter Fluff Filling*/Peanut Butter Buttercream* - Cookies & Cream Cake*/Cookies & Cream Buttercream*. Middle row: Squiggles - Chocolate Cake/Buttercream. *My own creations.

Yep, that's what I've got, after making dozens of these. And I'll bet you thought you had it rough.

This Reeses Miniature Peanut Butter Cupcake is sitting on the base of a cordial glass - that's how tiny it is. I stole, I mean borrowed, this idea from Confessions Of A Cookbook Queen. You can steal, I mean borrow it too.

S.W.A.K.

MY LITTLE GRASS SHACK

I was asked to make cupcakes for a birthday luau and here's what I came up with: Deep dark chocolate cake with a pink and white buttercream Hawaiian flower nestled in a grass skirt cupcake holder.

The cupcake holders are super easy to make. I used a roll of green crepe paper streamer with matching thread and gathered 1/4" from one edge with a basting stitch and a tight tension using the sewing machine. (One roll will make about 15 cupcake holders.) Next, I hot glued the now ruffled streamer two times around the edge of a paper party/nut cup (I like the fullness). Then I cut vertical snips (all the way up to the glue line and all the way around) each layer of crepe paper. Finally, I tied a piece of raffia around what would be the waistline of the skirt. Here's a little tip, I cut a 1" diameter opening in the bottom of each party/nut cup so that you can gently push out your cupcake without getting your fingers in the frosting (unless, of course, you like doing that).

Here's what a bakery box full of these cupcakes looks like and here's a great video tutorial if you want to learn how to make these flowers yourself - really easy too - if I can do it, so can you!

S.W.A.K.

BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL

Well, it's that time of year again. Yesterday, Frannie began 4th Grade. Do you remember these photos from last year?

Well, I have some sad news to report. After four years, we are saying Goodbye to Hello Kitty. Sniff. Sniff.

This year it is Vera Bradley.

Frannie has chosen the "Very Berry" pattern for her messenger style tote and "Loves Me" as her lunch bag. Yes, it is very nice and stylish, but I miss Hello Kitty already.

That isn't the only change. We have gone from this very cute girlish braid...

...To this very sophisticated French braid:

I guess my little girl isn't so little anymore. (At least she still wears the hair buttons I made for her.)

S.W.A.K.