4th of July -- Sweet Stuff

For that family gathering I mentioned, I did the desserts! I made several varieties of cupcakes as well as some low sugar options and fruit!

Cowboy hat cupcakes! Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting topped with a cowboy hat!

Low sugar cheesecakes topped with fresh fruit!

Cherry chip cake with vanilla frosting. Yellow cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting topped with flags!

Fruit tray flag style! I layed out 2 rows of yogurt covered pretzels and then filled in the gaps with red fruits! The bowl in the corner is filled with blueberries!

Everything was a hit!

Chalkboard M

This July is my grandparents' 60th anniversary. We intended to have a family gathering around then to surprise them but due to some unforeseen circumstances they found out. 

I have been making decorations and things to have around and I am just so excited to see my cousins that I haven't seen in 10 years!

I made a sign with a cardboard monogram letter and chalkboard art! This might be used as a decoration but I am also gifting it! Love when things can serve multiple purposes!

 

I made the fabric scrappy heart on the monogram!

I made a fabric scrappy banner to use as a photo booth backdrop!

I also made a mane banner using paper doilies, jute rope, and diecut letters!

And, I died rice to use as weight in the vases for table center pieces! Who would have thought? I planned to purchase stones but I saw this idea on Pinterest and I though--I already have rice & food coloring--yes!

Tumbling charms

WTumbling charms! You have a 10" square, framed by 2x10 and 2x13.5 strips. Then I cut those 13.5" squares in 4 quadrants. After you do that, you flip them every which way to create a zig-zagy design. It takes some planning, and my poor kitchen table is NOT big enough! Wha, wha, wha...

Can you see the mistake?  Don't worry--I tore it out and fixed it. 

Here's the finished product! So pretty!

Backed with leapard print flannel!

Pieced by Christina Konrad

Quilted by Jennifer McCrea

Finished 2015

Plus Quilt

I collected "boy" fabrics over the past year and cut them I to 5" squares. Then I took a long, long, long time to arrange them in plus signs so that fabrics of the same color would not touch. Then I sewed them all together in strips and voila!

Here's the finished product! I love the quilting!

Pieced by Christina Konrad

Backed with pieces of leftover fabric

Quilted by Jennifer Mccrea 

Finished 2015

Pampered Chef!!!

I had a pampered chef party recently! It was such a hoot! I hadn't had one I over 10 years! I love all the handy, time-saving gadgets! I forgot how much fun cooking can be when you have the right tools to make your meal quick and easy! 

Here are my fruit cups! Used the fruit pizza recipe but made cups with the mini muffin pan! Delish!!!

Wonky Star Quilt--Done-ish...

I am exstatic about this quilt and how it's come together! It's been a long time coming!

I'm obsessed with how bright and happy it is!

2015 BOTM

2015 BLOCK OF THE MONTH

This year's block if the month is a paper piecing quilt! Ever paper pieced? It is definitely not difficult, as I assumed it would be. It is, however, super super duper time consuming! 

Here is the block for January...

The whole center medallion is made of 32 triangles. The whole block took about 14 hours! I love this and I love that my points actually worked and it's beautiful!

I don't think I'm going to finish the quilt though...each month is basically making 32 triangles that go into 16 squares which are sewn together into 4 larger blocks. I don't have 14 extra hours every month!

But, since I have the fabric for a whole quilt, I am planning on doing this pattern from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

The quatrefoil quilt!

http://youtu.be/V3A7ZWzAzRs

Stay tuned!!!