Blessings Store

I've been loving sewing and creating things lately, but unfortunately, my girls are getting to big for alot of it.
So i decided to start a store. I dont intend to make a business out of it, just cant have piles of bibs and things sitting around the house! :)
So, check out the link at the top of the page!
Its only bibs at this stage but will soon include cards (when i photograph them), canvases, and probably a few nore random things.

Preview - Bronte's Rainbow Party

I've just finished designing the invitations for Brontes 1st Birthday. Shes having a Rainbow Party!! 
So heres a preview...
Background Stock Image courtesy of Simply Backgrounds

A look at what I've been up to...

I've been doing a bit of sewing lately, which is why the lack of posts. So, here is a look at what I've been up to....

Bronte's Quiet Book for NZ.
I hand stitched all the pictures. Its more a soft book, since shes really too young for all the activities that are normally in Quiet books.

Bibs! I've been making these girl bibs with ties...

And boy bibs with appliques and velcro.
My nephew is the proud owner of one of the bibs, with an elephant applique.

This one is also headed his way.

Thinking Party Themes....

My baby is 10 months old today, and while you make think i'm crazy, i REALLY need to decide on a theme!

I love birthday themes. Not only because it creates a cake challenge for me but i love to make things pretty.

I've been googling away and trying to get an idea for a theme for little Bronte's birthday, and there are just too many good ideas.
See Elliott and Zoey were both "into" something when they turned one. (Elliott had Wiggles and the girls had a combined "In the night Garden" when Zo turned 1) But little Miss Bronte loves everything and nothing specific!!

I am loving the Rainbow themes i've found, but there are so so many others that i cant choose!
I've found Ladybugs, Cupcakes, Lollipops, Sweet shop, Bumble Bee's, and more!

As this is the last of the first birthdays, i really want to pick a great theme!

Ten Cupcakes You Need To Try

Here is the recipe for Number 3 in Ten Cupcakes you need to try!

I've heard of Red Velvet Cupcakes before but never tasted them today. I must admit, i glanced at the recipe and thought" chocolate with red dye??" But the vinegar and buttermilk make these cupcakes a little less sweet with a bit of a bite to them. I really liked them.
Also, the Cream Cheese Frosting! oh my! This might just be my new favourite icing!!

Heres the recipe I used, from Simply Recipes:

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups of sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter, room temperature
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 2 1/3 cups of cake flour
• 2 tablespoons of Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of buttermilk*
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon of distilled white vinegar

Frosting ingredients

• 1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), room temperature
• 8 oz of Philly cream cheese (1 package), room temperature
• 2 - 3 cups of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

*You can make your own buttermilk by adding a tablespoon of distilled white vinegar to milk and letting it stand for about 10 minutes.

Method

The cupcakes
1 Preheat the oven to 180°C. Beat the butter and sugar in an electric mixer for 3 minutes on medium speed until light and fluffy.
2 Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is fully incorporated. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
3 In a large bowl, sift together the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl whisk together the buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla extract, and red food coloring.
4 Add a fourth of the dry ingredients and mix, then add a third of the wet. Continue adding in a dry, wet, dry pattern, ending with the dry ingredients.
5 Scoop into cupcake papers, about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Rotate the pan after the first 15 minutes of baking to ensure even baking.
6 Allow to cool for one minute in the pan then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

**I found it only made 1 1/2 dozen cupcakes.**

The Frosting
1 Cream the butter and cream cheese together, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
2 Add the vanilla extract and mix.
3 Add the powdered sugar, continually taste to get to desired sweetness. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.

Playing Along - Stamping.

Today, We're playing along with Childhood 101 again. This time, I brought out a bucket of stamps that my mum passed to me a couple of months ago. We haven't gotten to using them before today, as we've been busy settling into our new house, and with Bronte's ear infections.
However, with all the rain thats been around, i didnt really feel like letting the girls outside in the mud.
So, stamping it was! 

Elliott even went a step further, and tried to colour in the pictures she had made.

What has everyone else been playing at this week?

Gran's Porridge Muffins, by request.

Here is the recipe for the Porridge Muffins that featured in the girls Muffin Tin morning tea yesterday:

Ingredients:
1 cup cooked porridge
2 cups Self Raising flour
3 tablespoons Sugar
1/2 cup Milk
2 eggs
3 tablespoons butter, melted. (or marg)


Mix it all together! (It will still be lumpy from the porridge)
Divide into greased or papered muffin trays.
Cook at 180 c, for 20-30 mins.

Makes at least 12! (or a heap of little ones!!)

Very yummy!