I got the idea in my head that I need to make some Regency Era dresses for next year and various events. Why would anyone want to do that you say? Well I am  sorta hobby crazed sometimes and I like to always add a lil something new to my hobby line up. And besides, I am a member of the Puget Sound Jane Austen Association of North America, which has events that members dress up in attire from that Era. Also, I am dreaming of attending the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, United Kingdom next year in September and well I need dresses!

I ordered a few patterns to begin this journey. However, when I opened up the patterns I was like Oh Boy, I think I better start sewing something a lil easier before I attempt this dress/costume project.

Trying to think of ideas, I finally decided on one. For a couple of years now I have been admiring these vintage and dress like aprons thinking one day I will get one. They are super adorable and well I NEED one.

My Mom got a new machine and I thought how hard can it be? So, I went down to the fabric store to find a pattern, fabric and sewing accessories. I picked out material for myself and had my Mom pick out one for herself. I mean hey, it was her machine she should get something out it, right?

Here is the pattern:

Mom’s material:

The material was this orange sort of paisley with gold outline. I am not a bright colors type person but the pattern on the material was very pretty. I am thinking this would be a fun design for a cake!

I started on Sunday afternoon studying the pattern and realizing I really am out of my element here with this sewing business. I remember thinking I probably need to take a class before I start. But alas, I have everything so why not just try it. Worse case scenario I ruin material/thread and have to buy a new set.

After a movie (Singing in the Rain), a Lil bit of the Food Network, Oh  and studying the pattern, Sunday about 6pm, I managed to get set-up as I had thought the pattern required. My Mom walked in from work and saw me. She came over and first thing she said was you have to pin the pattern pieces (wrong side down) to material. I asked, well more like  impatiently snapped where does it say that? The pattern did not say anything about that. Sure enough the pattern did allude to that but did not spell it out. So learning tip number 1, read the entire damn pattern first and make sure you read the pattern pieces as well and while you’re at it make sure you know your sewing terms. I realized this was going to take way more than a day if this was how it was starting out. So after re pinning correctly, I cut out pieces and got everything ready to sew. I should mention that I was not making the apron style exactly as laid out so that would be another learning tip. Learning tip number 2, try not deviate from the plan until you know what you’re doing. I mean it works in baking why not sewing? Hmm.  At any rate, I completed the set-up portion and was now on to the sewing portion. Did I mention I had not touched a machine in 24 years?  Ummm yeah, definitely not going to be a half day or anything. I had to take a crash course on how to work the machine, threading the machine, the bobbin madness and general machine workings. An hour later, I started to sew the pieces together. I really had no patience with the pattern instructions as they were confusing so I did it my own way. Note to self and learning tip number 3, get some patience.

By 10 pm I was 60% complete, tired so decided to turn in. This 60% progress included me ripping seams and pieces that I felt were crooked or the thread bunched up somehow and a few other learning trials.  I was a lil disappointed that I wasn’t finished by bedtime but that was just my insane desire to conquer the apron project.

By Monday afternoon, I was excited to finish the project. On the way home, I was mentally chanting, I will conquer the APRON! I came home and got to work. I did have some issues with uneven pockets, thread bunching up on the back side of the materials and wondering how to turn fabric outside in that you has sewn on the reverse side (think belt/strap). The answer to the last one (inside out fabric issue) was with various kitchen tools, the spatula, swizzle stick etc. I knew my kitchen gadgets would come in handy for other projects!

At last the finished project. It took me a few hours but I am pleased with the results of a Fall themed apron for Mom.

The finished apron:

I am pretty pleased about my first adventure in sewing, after some years! I am definitely looking forward to sewing my apron now that I have an idea of what to do and what not to do.

After another apron or two I may be ready for the Regency Day and Ball gowns. Wish me luck!

-Tara

-Tara

I had a gathering of friends and family over and I, of course, had to make a cake.  It was one layer of Vanilla butter cake & one layer of Devil’s Food cake. The icing was an Almond/Vanilla buttercream. The decorating was done in a couple shades of purple, my favorite color. The darker color resembles a plum/eggplant. The cake was sooooo good!

I can’t wait to see what my next cake will be!

-tara

Happy Birthday Tom! Glad you loved your cake!

Kell loves yellow cake with chocolate frosting so I made the traditional Buddie Bday cake for her. You so can’t go wrong with the combination of the two!

Last year,  I made a Twilight cake for her before I knew what the heck it was. That was a fun cake to make! You can view it here… Buddie’s Twi Cake.

-tara

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

-tara

-Tara

I love LOVE desserts, who doesnt, so I was excited to come up with kewl Halloween treats.

After searching through a ton of magazines I came up with my top 3 ideas.

The cake has been chosen.  She would like a Haunted House on a hill.   I changed colors and some of the items but  used the below as a base for creativity.

The inspiration for this cake…

I am very pleased with how it came out and the Birthday girl and party loved it!

-tara

For my first attempt, I am pleased with the results. It came out great!

-tara

So a friend of mine wanted to meet up for a cake tasting with her and her daughters for her daughters upcoming birthday in October.  The theme would be Halloween and so the journey begins to find a very kewl design for a 10 year old girl.

After searching through a ton of magazines I came up with my top 3 ideas. Interested to see which she chooses.

This week I sent a note on to her asking what types of cake flavors the daughter was interested in.  Surprisingly she asked for the Butter cake, Red Velvet, Devils Food/Chocolate Cake and Spice cake. I thought this was a great selection to choose from.

I decided  for the tasting, to make 4 – 4inch torted cakes for the tasting. The spice cake had vanilla butter cream, the butter cake had raspberry filling and the chocolate and red velvet cakes I actually ended up making 4 inch rectangle loaf style cakes with no filling.

The cake tasting was scheduled for Sunday at 3pm.

I started baking at 9:30am on Sunday. For some reason I can never get the timing down for baking. Something always is delayed or goes not according to plan.

My plan was to make 2- 8 inch or 6 inch cakes for each type of cake and 1 mini 4 inch cake for each flavor of cake.  I would freeze the larger cakes for next time use.

As I was baking so may cakes and trying to get as many in the oven as I could the baking times were off just a bit. The end result some of the cakes were a lil browner than I would have liked and others took forever!

Lesson learned here… bake the damn cakes the day before to allow for inconsistent bake times and whatever else should occur.

The final cakes came out of the oven at 2pm, which left me just 1 hour to decorate 4 mini cakes and quickly. Talk about the fastest icing job ever!

Literally, they were walking up as I was just bringing out the last cake to set on display. Talk about perfect timing.

Here are a few photos of the mini cakes:

The cake has been narrowed down.  She would like a Haunted House on a hill.  She chose from one of my Wilton Catalogs. I would change colors and some of the items but will use this as a base for creativity and try and duplicate as best I can.

I am very much looking forward to working on this cake.

More to come when things are finalized.

-tara