HELLO my name is Heather

  • |

    Batty for Birthdays

    ByHeather Bailey

    BatCupcake2
    Here’s what I ended up with for Charlotte’s ‘spooky’ birthday cupcakes.  I used an Oreo Cakester for the body, two chocolate-covered sunflower seeds for the eyes and black scrapbook paper for the wings.

    SpookyCupcakes2 For easier assembly, I cut the wing and ear for each side as one piece. I used a paper punch from Martha Stewart to give the wings a more girly personality.  Though the sinister Cakester-frosting smile was entirely unplanned, it was a welcome surprise.

    After I prepped the wings and things, Isaac put the cupcakes together while I stitched up dragon tails.  All together (not including baking), the cupcakes and tails took us a bit longer than one run of the original True Grit on AMC. (I think Isaac made two trips to the store in there too.)  Who says bats are for Halloween alone? 

    It’s true, Charlotte, you ARE your own self.


  • Legendary

    ByHeather Bailey

    Pinata

    What a party!  We must have had forty people there — mostly little kids, including a ninja, a pirate, a wizard, a knight, and several princesses.

    Pinata_Kill_Shot Isaac's pinata was a hit.  He spent two hours the night before making a "legendary" dragon out of a common dinosaur.  With an impromptu blindfold made out of tinfoil, we had to keep the turns quick as it was a warm, sunny day.  (January!?)

    Isaac let each kid decide if he was to fight a fierce dragon or a friendly one. Choose fierce and the dragon roars and moans as he swings around.  Choose friendly and he says things like, "Why are you hitting me?  I thought we were friends.  Ouch.  That wasn't very nice."  This kept all of the kids in giggles, and happy to wait in that long ol' batting line.

    Dragon Tag was a soup of at least twenty kids running in an arena, pulling tails.  It's a miracle we didn't have any major crashes.  We handed out 24 tails to the "dragons" and all remaining kids became the "knights."  The knights chased the dragons, and as each dragon's tail was pulled, he joined the knights on their hunt.  The last dragon standing was the winner.  It was hilarious.  I believe we wore them all out. 

    We definitely wore ourselves out.  Happy 6th Birthday, Charlotte!

    DragonTag

  • |

    Birthday Prep – Funfetti & Dragon Tag

    ByHeather Bailey

    FunfettiCakeMixT Today I'm wrapping up a Valentine's Day newsletter and a few lingering  projects, then I'm moving on to Charlotte's birthday cupcakes!  She's going for funfetti cake mix with vanilla pudding (Easy Gourmet Cupcakes recipe).  She wants the frosting to be "black and spooky," but tells me that a bat on top of each might do the trick.  I'll figure something out.  I can't go too goth.  The girl is only 6.

    Oh, and Dragon Tag.  I have some quick "tails" to put together.  I say this with quotes, as I may only have time to tear strips of fabric.  We'll see.  Busy day!

  • Tray Jolie

    ByHeather Bailey

    CupcakeDecorating

    How about a new free pattern?  An early Valentine’s Day present.

    Here’s a sweet little project that goes together quickly — a bow-tied box for treats or trinkets.  Perfect for displaying tasty truffles and candies for your Valentine or hip paperclips and doo-dads for your desk.  The pattern and instructions below are for one 3″ x 3″ x 1 1/4″ tray.  However, once you have the hang of it, you can scale the design up or down as needed. Imagine tasty trays for sewing supplies, post-it notes, business cards, candies, jewelry, buttons, keys, coasters…

    TreatBox4

    Treat_trinket_tray

    TreatTrayPattern2MATERIALS LIST (one 3″ x 3″ x 1 1/4″ tray) 

    7” x 7” fabric*
    7” x 7” lining fabric*
    3/4 yd narrow piping
    1 1/3 yd ribbon, 1/8” wide
    8” x 10” stiff, thin cardboard
    Thread 

    HELPFUL TOOLS
    Pins, scissors, needle, liquid seam sealant (such a s Fray Check™)

    * Suitable fabrics include laminated cotton, quilting-weight cotton, light-weight decorator fabric, and other light to medium-weight woven fabrics

     

    INSTRUCTIONS (click on illustrations to enlarge)

    A. Cut Out Fabric & Cardboard – Click here to download pattern pieces. Using pattern, cut one 5 7/8” square of fabric and one 5 7/8” square of lining fabric. Round corners per pattern & clip at circles to mark ribbon placement. Of cardboard, cut one 3” square, and cut four 1” x 3” rectangles.  If cardboard is flimsy, cut two sets & glue corresponding pieces together to stiffen.

    Tray_01_02_03b B. Baste Piping to Tray Exterior – Baste piping to tray exterior. Join piping at one black circle by overlapping piping neatly. Trim.

    C. Attach Ribbon Ties – Cut eight pieces of ribbon, each 6” long. With a small stitch-length, sew one ribbon to tray at each black circle, on top of piping; stitch back & forth across ribbon to secure well.

    D. Sew Lining to Exterior – With right-sides-together, pin lining to exterior. Sew around tray, leaving one side open between black circles. Notch curve at each corner. Turn tray right-side-out through opening in seam.

    E. Insert Cardboard & Stitch Around Sides – Insert one rectangular cardboard piece into tray;  butt cardboard up to stitching at side of tray opposite from opening, beneath the seam allowance on exterior side of tray. Secure cardboard in place by stitching 1 1/8” away from fabric edge (not piping edge) along stitching line shown on tray pattern, beginning & ending at black circles. See illustration. Be sure stitching runs alongside cardboard & does not go through it & ribbons are not caught in seam. Insert another cardboard rectangle at one adjacent side & stitch as before. Repeat at opposite side of tray. Slide cardboard square into place at center of tray & stitch along last stitching line, parallel to opening. Insert last cardboard rectangle into opening. Fold tray lining edge under 1/4” & ladder-stitch to close opening in seam.

    Tray_04_05_06_07
    F. Tie Corner Bows & Trim – Fold sides up & hold corners together with a pin. Tie two ribbons at each corner into a bow. Once tied, trim ribbons to desired lengths. Finish ribbon ends with liquid seam sealant to prevent fraying.

    ENJOY!


  • Easy Gourmet Cupcakes – Recipe

    ByHeather Bailey

    ChocolateCupcakeRecipe

    Easy Gourmet Cupcakes
    1 box cake mix  – any flavor
    1 small box pudding mix
    4 eggs
    1 C. sour cream
    1/2 C. water
    1/2 C. oil

    Choose a cake mix and a pudding mix with compatible flavors.  Mix this stuff all together and bake as instructed — till toothpick comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack, then add frosting.  Easy peasy.

    Spread the frosting.  Spread the word.  Spread the love.

    ChocolateCupcakes

    Shall we move on from Christmas? 

    Perhaps.

    I swear, you’ll never hear from me much at the new year, regardless of my well-meaning resolutions.  I not only have Christmas and New Year’s to recover from, but my wedding anniversary and both of my children’s birthdays are mixed in there as well.  Elijah’s LAN party was a week ago and Charlotte’s party is this weekend.  Her requested theme: Legendary.  She wants to have a “Legendary” party. 

    Who doesn’t, right? 

    So, Legendary, it is.  Sounds like a tall order.  I guess that’s what you get from a kindergartener with a crazy vocabulary.  However, I do believe her 5–year-old imagination is conjuring dragons and elves, not preeminent perfection.  Thank goodness for that.  Have I ever mentioned that her first word was “dignity“?  No joke!  She was only nine-months-old.

    Gooey chocolate cupcakes were a big success at Elijah’s party — truly, the easiest way to serve birthday cake.  So, I’m going for cupcakes again for Charlotte.  Above is my easy solution for exquisite cupcakes.  Isaac’s sister, Evie, shared this trick when she visited a while back.  Always a big hit.  The cupcakes, and Evie.


  • Merry Good Cheer & Happy Christmas!

    ByHeather Bailey

    There are kids and cousins buzzing all around and Chopsticks is clanking on the piano in one continuous, clackity loop.  I am determined, however, to harvest enough focus from my buzzy brain to post a Hello and a Merry Christmas.

    Hello!  Merry Christmas!

    60sSanta_HB

    Today I learned that Lindor Truffles are an entirely different texture in cold climates than they are in the Arizona heat.  Did you know this?  It's a different candy.  Better.

    …and that my SIL, Maureen, loves kid-made ornaments and decorations as much as I do.  Her kids' hand-tlered reindeer drawings and construction-paper santas are framed though, and hung throughout the house.  Isaac, be warned, I'm into it.  There will be frames.

    This is the first Christmas we have spent with the Bailey bunch in quite a while.  Our niece, Izzy, is getting married on Tuesday — the first wedding amongst the kiddos.  With folks flying in all weekend, It's one big prolonged party this year.  Serious feasting too.  I'm hoping a good walk each day is enough to combat the bacon, cookies, chocolate, and chips layed out for every meal.  If not, I may need a new dress for the wedding.  This is caloric craziness.

    Case in point: last night's hot cocoa.  It was made with — not water, not milk — but cream.  Have mercy!  Mercy Christmas.

  • |

    A Fetching Pail

    ByHeather Bailey

    LunchBagPattern1

    With Charlotte in Kindergarten this year, and half of my own week days spent at our new business location, my family's need for a fantastic lunch bag pattern has increased in urgency.  So I have hunkered right down and put together a new mini pattern — meeting my need, and hopefully yours as well.

    LunchBagPatternCover Introducing Jack & Jill, a fresh take on the classic lunch bag.  I've got the girls covered, and the boys too.  I worked the design into my mini pattern format to keep the price low, jamming some serious value into one little package.  Whether you have one lunch bag to supply or several, Jack & Jill bags go together quickly, so you're in good shape.

    This is also my first pattern highlighting my yummy Nicey Jane laminated cottons.  The laminates are light and supple and easy to work with.  For specifics on the care and make-up of these fabrics, click here;  I understand the laminate is about as food-safe JackandJillLunchBag as plastic can be.  Of course, you can make lunch bags from non-laminated cottons as well, or decorator fabric, light corduroy, denim, and so forth, like the green floral bag shown at right.

    Fun-fun!  Great for holiday presents too — a nice bag for a nice girl or boy — filled with a naughty amount of candy.

    While you're at it, whip up a coordinating napkin or two to boot (tutorial).

  • Dab, Dab

    ByHeather Bailey

    ClothNapkins

    Whether you are prepping for the holidays, or getting ready for a birthday or baby shower, cloth napkins are a great way to personalize your table decor.  Expand your decorating options by sewing the napkins yourself — from your favorite fabrics.

    They are super easy to make, so why not?

    Deck the halls!  Deck the tables!  Get started with this simple, illustrated tutorial.  Fancy-up and save some dollars at the same time.  Happy Holidays, everyone!


    Read More “Dab, Dab”

  • Autumn Napkin Ring Tutorial

    ByHeather Bailey

    Thanksgiving is coming right up. 

    To get into the autumn groove, try stitching up some fall decorations with our designer felt, glitzy thread from DMC, and few glass beads.  With a full table to set, these playful napkin rings pack a big bang for little buck.

    ThanksgivingNapkinRing
    Trimming up the acorns is my favorite part.  Aren’t they fun?  And Charlotte is always game to help embroider — she likes to the pull the needle through, then hand it back to me.  This is a much slower process, as you can imagine, but I love her.

    To share the fun, I’ve put together a tutorial and a free pattern download…



    Read More “Autumn Napkin Ring Tutorial”

  • Fire-Breathing Fancy

    ByHeather Bailey

    DragonCostume_HeatherBailey_1

    What do you do when your five-year-old's imagination is on fire?  On Fi-yah!

    You fan the flame.

    This year for Halloween, Charlotte ordered up a frightening feat; that is, a costume I had no hope of purchasing — and it was the week before Quilt Market.  Last year she dreamed up a Bat Fairy.  This year, she was intent on a fierce, fire-breathing Dragon. 

    DragonCostume_HeatherBailey_2 The day after Charlotte was born, my sister, Julia came to visit us in the hospital.  While holding Charlotte for the first time, Julia leaned over to me and whispered, "The baby just told me something.  She said, 'I am my own self.'" 

    I was puzzled and dismissive at first, "Yeah, whatever."  Then a tetch concerned (knowing Julia and her knack for such things).  "If that's the vibe my sweet little baby is putting off already, then I'm in for it," I thought, "especially once she's a teenager."

    So, how much stock can you put in the proclamations of a one-day-old baby?

    Perhaps, some.  Julia, with her freaky, awesome sixth sense, was right again. Charlotte could have been named Scarlet for all her fiesty, charming individuality.  She is her own self: uniquely creative, thoughtful, sweet, sassy, and notably interesting.  I was looking forward to what she would come up with this year.  A dragon, though a tall order, was no surprise.

    One bat of her eyelashes and a quick, sincere squeeze was all it took.  And I was off on her quest.

    DragonCostume_HeatherBailey_3

    At TJ Maxx, I found an oddly dragon-like mermaid dress to build upon — a huge blessing.  With this running start, I gathered up a smorgasbord of fabrics with the same flavor and set about designing the beast's head — no headdress, no dragon.

    The foam alligator hats I grabbed from Dollar Tree were a great help.  (Before photos here.)  I would have otherwise structured the headdress with Timtex, but that might have zapped me for time.  (I only had two days to complete the costume, wrap up some work, and pack for a 9-day trip.)  I stacked two or three hats & quickly stitched them together for strength, then extended the gumline by covering the foam teeth with bias tape.  I built the dragon you see here on top of this frankensteinian monkey business. 

    DragonCostume_HeatherBailey_4

    And it worked.  Thank heaven.  Furthermore, the hood turned out light-weight and comfortable, so Charlotte actually kept it on.  Bonus, right?

    As it turns out, Charlotte's I-am-my-own-self singularity is a complete delight.  Worthy of celebration, not dread.  Her obvious enchantment is worth every stitch, and then some.