Sometimes I wonder...

So, I was working on a quilt block tonight. Feeling really good about myself that I was finally sitting at the machine, since its been a week or two since I've worked on the quilt. I was making half square triangles. Going through 8 squares to make 16 triangles. I just got to the end of the 8th square... I looked at it, it looked weird... I looked at the other 7... they also looked weird...

Then it hit me what I'd done. I looked at my needle. Yep, I forgot to thread that bad boy.

Sometimes I wonder... Have you ever done anything that makes you wonder if your brain is all there?

Last Minute Easter Decor

I was having guests over last night and realized that my entryway was still decorated for Valentine's (although, it was completely buried by mail so...). I needed to jazz it up for spring and so I pulled out my favorite grass pots. Then thinking Easter I put a pink and gingham baby blanket under those and some pewter candlesticks in between to balance.

It still needed some color, so I ran to the felt drawer in my craft room and quickly cut some egg shapes. And finally tied some bright tulle around the pots. I've had these pots for ages and never thought to tie something around them.

 

The eggs were plain when my guests arrived, but after they left I went to my sewing machine and in less than 10 minutes had added some fun decorative stitches to them.  I tried to arch the stitching lines to follow the curve of an egg, but was less than successful on some of the lines.   But I think they turned out great for how unbelievable easy they were.  And it was fun to use some of those stitches that I will probably only ever use on little projects like this!

Linking up at: Feeding Big and more and Skip to my Lou

Fun with Cake

I really enjoy making cake. Probably because I really like eating it. :) I also just love that its another creative outlet for me. I was asked to make a luau cake for a Relief Society event last week. This is what I came up with.

 

I made a coconut flavored cake, which I've never done before.  I thought it was tasty.  There were a few little things that made me giggle as I made it... First the surf board with the bite out of it and a little shark fin.  Beware!

And I really loved the way this Tiki turned out!  Nothing too terribly fancy, but fun and original.  I used modeling chocolate for the first time.  It was awesome!  So easy to make and so easy to use!  I followed Beth's, at Hungry Happenings, instructions and I am very happy with how it came together.  All the flowers and palm leaves are made from it too.  Much easier than (marshmallow) fondant and yummy to boot!  I will be using it again!

To make the pink, yellow, and purple flowers I just used a tiny heart cutter and put four of them together using a little paint brush handle to indent the center. The orange flowers are a middle size heart just rolled up like a calla lily. Super easy.

Ginormous Cinnamon Rolls

When I was growing up, I remember people making a huge deal about my mom's cinnamon rolls. Like, a really big deal. I guess I was spoiled because I never really understood just how magnificent these bad boys really were.

Since I've been married, I have tried lots of different recipes. I'm my own woman now, and I like to try new recipes just in case my mom's recipes isn't actually the best out there. And there are a few recipes that I have found work better for my family than her's... however, cinnamon rolls are all her's. Thanks mom for this awesome recipe! I don't think I need to search any further, I'm crying uncle, giving up... these rock!

Mom's Ginormous Cinnamon Rolls
For the bread:
1 1/2 cup warm water
2 Tbsp yeast
4 Tbsp sugar
10 cups flour
1/2 cup shortening
4 tsp baking powder
4 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups buttermilk

For the filling:
1/2 cup butter, softened, not melted
1 cup sugar
4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup approx. brown sugar

Place your warm water in a large bowl (I like one that is wide and shallow), sprinkle in the yeast.  Add sugar, 5 cups of flour, shortening, baking powder, salt, and buttermilk.  Mix with a hand mixer for about 4-5 minutes, until its really smooth.  Add remaining 5 cups of flour, and knead, by hand for 200 strokes.

Let dough rest for 20 minutes while you make up your white sugar and cinnamon.  Its a great time to clean some stuff up.

On a floured surface, roll dough to a 15"x24" rectangle.  Using your hand, smear that butter all over the rectangle.  Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon mixture over the butter.  I usually just take a handful of brown sugar and sprinkle it on top.

Now starting with the long side, roll it up, nice and tight, being sure to seal the edges.  Cut the roll into 14-15 rolls and place 12 of them on a cookie sheet, put the others on a smaller pan.  Cover with a dish towel and let rise for 1 hour.  Then pop them in a 375 degree oven and bake for about 30 minute.

You can top it with whatever is your preference... my mom always makes a really thin glaze with 3 Tbsp butter, 3 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, and hot water.  I prefer to use this cream cheese frosting.  Half a batch will cover all the cinnamon rolls for me.

I made mine with freshly ground hard white wheat and it didn't stop a single one of my kids from devouring them!

Linking up at: sew-licious home decor and buns in my oven

Subway Art Free Printable: Prioritize

Awhile back I began a search for quotes and scriptures I could turn into art. The reason for this was to surround myself with some things of beauty that would also inspire me to better. This was the first subway art I created. I love the way it looks and even more the message it inspires.

Feel free to save the image and print one for yourself. Just open up the saved image in a word document. I've created a black and white copy or a color copy. If you're interested in a specific color scheme, let me know. I'd be happy to try to create something custom for you!

Linking up:

Improv Block for BOW

I chose an improv block to add to my Sewing Loft sew along quilt.

I found these instructions and am really pleased with how it turned out! There are a couple spots that aren't quite as flat as they should be, but after its all quilted you'll never know. It was a freeing way to sew. And it used up lots of scraps! You really can use up lots of scraps in quilts... now I'll never throw anything away! Yikes, I better be careful how many more scrap techniques I learn. Linking up at:

Temple Thank You's

As a family service project we all went to the Temple and left goodies with this little note attached on cars of people who were in the Temple doing their own service. It was lots of fun (cold, but fun)!

Feel free to save the image and use my design to do your own happy notes at the Temple.

Additional Blocks for BOW

As I stated earlier, I am adding some blocks to Sewing Loft's sew along.  These are some that I've done using patterns from Craftsy's 2012 Block of the Month free class.  I am so in love with these blocks!  They are so cool!

I am kind of new to Craftsy, but I am really loving it! It is a really neat way to learn new things and improve skills. Linking up at:

Hexies for BOW

For the fourth week of the sew along at The Sewing Loft we learned Hexies.  I didn't really love the flower, so I opted to arrange mine in a more modern line.  My photo is off, like a mirror image of what feels right to me.

I didn't applique mine the way she does in the tutorial, either. I chose to follow +V & Co.'s instructions for easy applique and am glad I did. Its a nice short cut with the look of the real deal English paper piecing.