Strawberry Shortcake

It was Sunday, May 25th and we had bought some delicious strawberries at the store.

I decided to surprise Jerry and make some strawberry shortcake for dessert after dinner.

I had a little bit of Trader Joe's Buttermilk Baking Mix to use.  Found an easy recipe for the Shortcake
and substituted almond milk for the whole milk. 

 

 Decided to used cutter in shape of flour to cut the cakes after they were rolled.

 Fresh out of the oven.....toasty brown!!!!

They were so delicious that night after dinner with the fresh strawberries in them,

and the next night also:):)

Cookies!!!

Our wonderful neighbor Richard let me and Jerry use his van to go get a piece of plywood at Lowe's that I wanted to use for a small quilting table. 

Of course, I wanted to thank him and knowing he likes cookies......a great excuse to bake some chocolate chip cookies.

I recently purchased an official dough scooper and it was my second time to use it.  The cookies are so easy to put on the baking sheet using it!  Just scoop the dough and press on the back of the scooper and the dough comes out really even and rounded.

 The New Dough Scooper

 Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie

I was also going to visit a friend and her young children the next day, so made enough cookies for them also.  They always ask when I come over, "Did you bring cookies?":)

 Of course, other neighbors got deliveries also.

The kitchen smelled so good this day of giving.......

Jerry's New Hat

As I started to use up yarn, I was excited to try out a pattern created by my daughter Jessica who has the Crochet Nature Blog and Etsy Store. Jessica now only uses eco friendly yarn.  She sells her patterns using these wonderful yarns, and also shares other eco friendly ideas on Crochet Nature.  She also has Crochet Nature Facebook Page .

Objectively, I love her patterns....they are well thought out, easy to follow with beautiful results. Jessica introduced herself and her talents with her blog Sunny Stitching. 

Just found out this pattern is also available for sale on Jessica through Ravelry

There was some Simply Soft Caron yarn in the stash that I used to crochet Jerry a new hat using Jessica's Slouch Hat Pattern.

He was delighted!!!!!

 Side View

 Top View

I know you will like the Crochet Nature Patterns

Stars War Pillowcase for Canaan

During April, Jerry and I went to England to visit our daughter Jessica, her husband Chris, and their two precious children (aka our precious grandchildren).

Jessica has a wonderful blog Crochet Nature, dedicated to using eco friendly products for crocheting and other crafting.  She had made a wonderful quilt for Canaan from Star Wars fabric but guess what!!!!.....He wanted a Star Wars pillowcase.

When I got home, I went to our local Joann's and found some really wonderful Star Wars fabric for the pillowcase.  In fact, it was the last bit on the bolt!

I used a pattern from all people quilt.  I looked at several patterns but this was so easy to understand.

 Fabric

 Close Up of Fabric

Finished Pillowcase

It was fun! fun! making it and sending it off to England!

 Canaan loves it!

And I love Canaan!

Hats and Scarves for Pine RIdge

In March I started on a long standing goal to use up existing fabric, fabric scraps and yarn.

A bit of fleece was leftover from clothes I had made Canaan and Evie, my grandchildren in England.  So I started using it to make  hats and scarves to donate to a organization that ministers to childre.

Sew for Kids is the blog I found that organizes the needs for the Lakota children on the reservation.

It was a wonderful pleasure piecing together the hats and scarves.....I will continue to sew for this organization.  They are greatly supported by groups and accept sewn items, yarn items, etc.  There is a monthly project tab on their blog.

I used a great pattern for most of the hats (Simplicity 5317),  and another pattern (McCall's pattern M5772  for the Chili Pepper Hat, and the scarves.  I did double up the fleece for the hats as it is extremely cold on the Pine Ridge Reservation.  I also lined the pink scarf with a piece of flannel leftover from a nightgown for Evie.

 Pink Fleece Hat with Fleece Flower on hat is made from fleece leftover from hat and scarf I had sewed for Evie.  Pink Fleece Scarf is lined with flannel from a nightgown I sewed for Evie.

Brown Hats are, of course for the boys.  The blue one is for a girl...color or it is really a periwinkle blue so embroidered flower on it.  The brown fleece is leftover from a hat and scarf for Canaan.

Fleece Chili Pepper hat for older child.  The Chili Pepper fleece is leftover from a baby blanket made for my friend Liz to give to her granddaughter.  Liz picks out great fabric!  Fleece scarf is lined with leftover red flannel (see below)

 I completely forgot I made this darling jacket out of leftover fleece from a really cute jacket I made for Evie.  This jacket is really pieces together, but came out so cute and cheerful.

It has been lovely sharing these fleece items with you.....

Using up fabric is actually very creative,  relaxing and rewarding....

Very Cute Boy Doll Outfit

Canaan has a precious boy baby doll named Frederick.  I decided to make a tshirt and jeans for him.  I used McCalls M6779 for the pants pattern and used a wrap around newborn top I found here to create a tshirt pattern.  I did turn down the waist about two inches more than indicated as the pants looked huge!  The pants are from extra fabric leftover from backpacks I make the grandkids. 

 I love this knit fabric purchased from our local Joanns Fabric store, so colorful and bright!

I opened each shoulder seam so the front shoulder seam lapped over the back and used velcro to fasten. I added fabric to the front shoulder seam so it was longer and could lap over.  This will hopefully make it easier for Canaan to put the shirt over his doll's head.

Bright and Cheerful Outfit..............to be mailed next week..........shhhh, it is a surprise!

Delightful Sewing

Adorable Doll Outfit

I have not posted in for several months..  Now, this does not mean that I have not been busy creating.  Just the opposite!

I have been crocheting items for the etsy shop Sunshine Makings started by my daughter Jessica of SunnyStitching.  Jessica also participated in a couple of faires and sold a lot of our crocheted items there.  I tested some of the patterns that she also sells on the Sunshine Makings etsy store, click here to see them.  Our goal is to use organic yarn, bamboo yarn, recycled denim yarn, and other natural yarns on the items we sell.  We crochet with care many beautiful items for Sunshine Making.

   Besides crocheting for the etsy store, I also knitted several baby blankets using the Natures Choice Organic Yarn.  It is so soft and delightful to work with.
   Then there were the traditional summer and winter nightgowns for Evie, pjs for Henry and Canaan, and nightshirts for Corey.  I made pants for Canaan from men's pants that my husband and son give me, a darling flannel dress for Evie, flannel shirts for the boys.

So, Evie and Canaan asked me to make some doll clothes for their dolls.  This is my first time to sew doll clothes and it was so much fun!

Here is the cute outfit I made for Evie's doll using leftover fabric from a pillowcase dress made for a charity and part of a tshirt leftover from a ruffled onesie.
McCalls Crafts Pattern M6137 was the pattern used for this darling jumper outfit.

Small view of the velcro used a closure in back of top

Shhhhh.............Jumper to be mailed next week.......it is a surprise!

Go to Very Cute Boy Doll Outfit to see clothes made for Canaan's doll

I am hoping to make some more doll outfits.........

Sewing brings joy