Ruffled Butt Sunsuit/Romper

front of romper

back of romper

 This cute little newborn romper or sun suit is made from a pdf pattern from http://www.tiedyedivapatterns.com/.  It comes in sizes from newborn to 24 months and was so much fun to do.  This one was for a new baby coming this month to a neighbor that happens to be a big Alabama fan.  It features directions for snap crotch using snap tape or plain snaps or no snaps.  Lots of fun to make and easy!

Christmas Blessings

 We were blessed again this Christmas.  Both kids were home with all the grandblessings and our future daughter-in-law with her three daughters.  I got all my Christmas sewing finished in time.  Made 6 personalized pillowcases for all grands except Ava, she got one earlier in the year, two pillows for gifts made from painters drop canvas with initials (loved them!), and 3 fleece throws embroidered for the 3 new grandblessings to be later next year.  I finally have a poncho sewed up for a great niece, just waiting to get the trims on it.....this is a "just because" gift so no hurry there.  Casey and Ava headed back home today so the house is empty except for me and Miz Peach.  I may lay back and take it easy for today or later I may sew some....catching up on some laundry and just being thankful for blessings beyond measure.  Say a prayer for Casey and Ava to arrive back home safely if you will!

Ava's Christmas Outfit

Finished a Christmas skirt and shirt for Ava.  Over three yards of the ball fringe on the bottom so you know it's very full for a near 3 year old!  The appliqued embroidery design on the shirt is from www.lynniepinnie.com and is so cute, offered in applique or fill stitch.  I spent a long time on it, near three hours, carefully trimming each letter as it was placed.  I don't like embroidering on shirts too well but she NEEDED, hahaha, the design to go with the skirt!  Heading to mail to Texas tomorrow hoping for pictures of her twirling and giggling in the new outfit!

Fun New Burp Cloths

Just finished making some cute burpcloths from prefolded diapers.  Quick and easy project for a baby gift.  I added ribbons to the bottom, you can never get diapers that have a nice clean edge, except for the one with cowboy boots.  I added jumbo red rickrack with a strip of denim under it that I clipped and left the edge raw so it would fray as it is washed.  Love doing

fun baby gifts!!!!!!

 The internet is loaded with cute things you can add to burp pads and then include a name if you can.

Happy Fall

Made little Miss Ava an October outfit....used a pumpkin applique on the embroidery machine that creates a "raggedy" look with no efforts hardly.  This is the bigger size of the one I used last year on the "boutique" overalls for her.   The applique came from www.embroideryboutique.com.  The skirt is made from cute little Halloween fabric found at JoAnn's, adding a pretty polka dotted edge to match the black shirt, purchased at Walmart.  I still have to open the sides on these small shirts to embroider!  Mailed them to Ava this week with some other goodies.

Yummy Chocolate Frosting

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

6 tbsp boiling water (boil extra just in case your frosting is too thick)

8 tbsp (1 stick) butter at room temperature

3 cups confectioners' sugar sifted (sift extra just in case your frosting is too thin)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

place the cocoa powder in a lg mixing bowl & pour boiling water over it, stir  until the cocoa comes together in a soft mass. Add butter and blend with a mixer on low until soft and well blended (about 30 secs.) Stop mixing and  add the sugar and vanilla on low until blended well, increase speed to med and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, add more boiling water a tsp at a time if frosting is too thick or sugar if to thin.

I find if I set this into the fridge for a few minutes after making it, it will thicken better to allow you to pipe onto cupcakes.  If spreading on a cake, it will likely do better too! 

BEST Chocolate Cake Ever

Cake Batter

1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
cream together
add 4 eggs (1 at a time mixing well)
1 cup self-rising flour
16 oz can chocolate syrup
Bake in a greased, floured 9x13 pan 30-40 minutes at 350

Frosting for Cake

1 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1/3 cup pet milk (you can use regular milk)
boil 3 minutes (start timing when it starts to boil)
stir while the mixture boils and remove from heat,
add 1/2 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet)
1 tsp vanilla, and 1 cup of chopped pecans.
Pour over warm cake

My neighbor made one of these cakes for Casey when she was on her R&R from deployment last fall.  I have to say it's possibly one of the easiest, yet best chocolate cakes I have ever eaten!  Dangerous to have around my house since I can't seem to walk by it without grabbing a bite!
Hope you will try it!