Baking Cake...

Today was centered around baking and decorating a fondant covered 4 tier birthday cake that was commissioned by a neighbor. I always have fun baking and I love decorating with fondant, even though it can be a bit nerve-wracking when baking for a paying customer. I've had my home bakery up and running for over 3 months now and I still get nervous about my finished results. I want everyone to love them as much as I do!

This cake was made up of layers of milk chocolate cake and white cake with filling layers of buttercream, raspberry filling, and milk chocolate ganache. Yum, yum, yum!

The next time I have an order like this one I will attempt another tutorial. I know that step-by-step tutorials have helped me become a better crafter and baker so I want to share what I've learned with all of you! Tomorrow morning I will be baking some Peanut Butter Cup - Cupcakes and I'll be sure to post some pics tomorrow.

Baking makes me tired, I'm going to bed now :o)

Pam

a.k.a. The Creative Momster

"Make it Your Own" Purse Project - Part 2

Welcome Back!

So now that you have your outside and inside pieces sewn together with the

pocket ready to go, we need to add the magnetic snap

(this is not totally necessary and you could always hand sew a button a

nd loop to the bag if you prefer).

You will need to make certain that you have reinforced the snap area with some fusible

interfacing and then you just need to mark and cut holes for your snaps. Insert the snaps and secure them by bending back the tabs.

After the snaps are complete you will want to place the exterior pieces right side together and sew from one side, around the bottom, and up the other side, leaving the mouth (top) of the purse open. Repeat for the two lining pieces, but leaving a 4 inch gap at the bottom (between the two corners/darts). You will use this hole to pull the purse right side out after stitching all the pieces together.

Next we will be sewing up the exterior and lining of the bag together. Before we do this you should notch the bottom corners of the purse to

allow some ease in the bottom of your bag. If you don't notch them, your bag will bunch up in the corners.

Ok, one last thing to put together, the STRAPS!!! Gotta have them or this is going to be one HUGE clutch! Haha!

Take your two "C" pieces that both have the fusible interfacing applied and fold them in half, right sides together. Sew a seam up the side of each one. Turn

them so the seam is in the middle and iron flat.

Turn them right side out and iron again. Then pin the straps to the exterior of the purse making sure to lay them at an angle approximately 2" from the edge of each side. Sew the straps on making sure to go over them several times for reinforced strength. Sew them slightly closer in then the regular seam allowance so that this basting stitch will not show when you turn the bag right side out at the end.

Your next step will be to place the exterior part of the bag

(right side out) with the lining (with the right side facing in). Match up the side seams and pin arou

nd the top edge of the purse making certain that the straps are inside. Sew around the top of the bag.

Turn the purse right side out by pulling the exterior through the hole in the bottom of the lining. Sew the hole closed in the bottom of the bag. Tuck the lining into the exterior of the bag and then pin and top stitch around the top and bottom of piece B. Voila, you are done!!!

Since this is my very first tutorial blog, please let me know (in a kind way), if I have left off anything or if a step needs some elaboration. I will be glad to help :o)

Enjoy your day and enjoy making this bag!!

"Make it Your Own" Purse Project

Hello Y'all,

I can't wait to share this project with you. I had a lot of fun putting this bag/purse together and I absolutely love the results. I hope you do to.

Remember, if you want one of these yourself, but you don't have the time to make one, this one will be listed at http://www.etsy

.com/listing/90339606/beautiful-floral-handmade-pleated . I will soon have many more up there to choose from and I can even custom make a bag just for you, using your choice of fabric and pattern!

So here goes the tutorial: Yesterday I posted the list of supplies which I do need to add one more item --- A sewing machine!! Haha, although you could sew this by hand it may

take you quite a bit of time to do so :o)

Step one: Prepare your pattern by cutting the following pieces out of paper (you may have to tape some paper together, like I did).

Pattern Piece A: 20" x 10 1/2"

Piece B: 16" x 4"

Piece C: 24" x 4 1/2"

Optional Pocket: 5" x 6"

Once you have these cut out, trim the corners on piece "A" by using a small bowl (cereal size) as a guide.

Place out your pattern pieces on the fabric you have selecte

d for the exterior. You will need to cut two of piece A, B, and the pocket. You should double up the fabric and cut both pieces at once if

possible.

Repeat with the lining material adding piece C, which you will also cut two of.

Repeat again with your fusible interfacing.

Iron on the interfacing to all pieces of the fabric, except the pocket. This interfacing is needed for all lighter-weight fabrics. It is not needed for heavy-weight fabrics such as twills and denims.

Once all the interfacing is applied you will need to prepare both the exterior and lining piece "A" with the bottom darts and side pleats. I made 1" darts in the very center of each bottom corner on the "A" pieces. I also placed my darts 6" over from each side . They are also 1" in width.

Prepare your sewing machine with the coordinating thread for y

our bag.

Match piece "A" with piece "B", right sides together at the top as seen in the picture and sew the pieces together. I used about a 3/8" seam on most of this purse, you could use 5/

8" if you are more comfortable w

ith that, the main thing is to stay consistent so that all the pieces will fit well together.

Repeat with both exterior and lining pieces until all four are complete.

If opting to include the pocket, now would be the time to sew and place it on the lining. You will need to sew both pocket pieces, right sides together, leaving a small two inch opening on one side. Clip the corners and turn inside out at the hole that you left. Iron flat and pin to right side of lining. Pin the pocket and make adjustments for what you want it to hold when complete. I made one additional stitch to separate my pocket into two sections, one for my iphone and one for a pen.

Part One complete - see my post tomorrow for Part Two!

Full moon, maybe that explains things...

Hello again,

I'm back!! Yeah me! Okay, enough with the self-congratulation! Although I must say that I am rather proud of myself because even though I only made a small dent in what I wanted to accomplish today here I am, blogging again, no thanks to that full moon! I was so super cranky all day and did not realize until this evening, when an absolutely beautiful full moon rose, that there was a reason that things just weren't seeming to go my way. For those of you non-believers in the effects of the moon cycles on our moods, get a retail job for a few months and you will see!

Anyway, my list of things to get done today included a bunch of cleaning (didn't happen), finish the purse project (only 1/2 way there), and go shopping (check!!!). Seriously true, didn't finish much, but I did manage to get my shopping done, both grocery and birthday shopping for my baby (who will be 12 tomorrow). I also managed to add some items to my list throughout the day, so tomorrow should be extra busy.

Because I did get the purse 1/2 way completed, I will go ahead and post the first 1/2 of the tutorial on the next blog. I have included a shopping list for supplies needed to complete this project. Trying to ensure that all the pictures are taken as I go along is a lot more time consuming than I originally thought it would be, but hopefully I have not missed any steps. By the way, if you like the purse but you do not want to actually make one yourself, I will be selling these on etsy.com. I will post the link tomorrow to my etsy store.

Hope y'all had a great day! Thanks for checking me out ;)

Pam

Supply List:

Pins

Scissors

Paper/Pattern (I'll show you how to make a super-easy pattern or you can buy one to use - your pick)

Fabric for exterior - 1/2 yard

Fabric for lining/strap - 2/3 yard

Fusible Interfacing - 1/2 yard of a Featherweight if you are using a quilt-weight cotton fabric.

Thread to match fabric

Optional:

Rotary Cutter

Cutting Mat

Magnetic Snap (can be found at JoAnn or Hobby Lobby)

First Blog! Let's GO!!!

Hello and welcome to anyone and everyone who tunes in to see what I'm up to! Thank you!

Let me first introduce myself, my name is Pamela Stewart and first and foremost I am mom to my six smart, funny and challenging children (five of which are girls, yikes). I have worked both in and out of the home, but currently I am focused on making sure that my children reach adult-hood and hopefully become nicer, kinder versions of their current selves (teenagers can be a bit surly). I do manage to catch the occasional moment to myself and when I do I am usually either baking some cupcakes for my small in-home bakery (Mad Batter's Bakery) or I am attempting some other crafty creative project.

Hopefully you will tune in to see my projects, get my recipes, or just have a quick laugh with me! Personally I am hoping that this blog will help keep me on track to get some things done as my ADHD tendencies keep me hopping from one thing to the next without necessarily finishing anything in particular. My daughters are constantly teasing me about all my unfinished treasures!

My first blog has been inspired by hanging my picture wall. I can't even say that it is completely finished as the frames are still full of the photos that came in them, but here it is. I forgot to take a before, but in the future I will be sure to post a before picture, I just love a good ol' before and after compare! If you want to imagine what it looked like before, just close your eyes and picture a plain white wall with two old-school, outdated collage frames. Yep, that was the extent of it, pretty blah. This is a big improvement.

Today I will be finishing up a purse/sac that I have been working on. Pictures (and a quick tutorial) will be posted with my next blog! Can't wait to share with y'all!

Thanks again for tuning in...

Pam
a.k.a. The Creative Momster!