Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes

Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes

                                          Orange Cream Pops Cupcakes by Food Snots

I found this (I think on pinterest) and had to try it.  This picture is from the food snots blog, it isn't mine.  I didn't take any pictures of what mine turned out like....but let's just say they didn't look like this!  :)  I didn't do a good job of getting the vanilla and orange frosting in the bag in the right amounts.  So some cupcakes had pretty much all orange frosting, some had almost all vanilla.  Oh, well.  They still turned out tasting great, and I really didn't have any of the problems with stickiness that they mentioned in the blog.  I'll be making these again, so I'll swap out my pitiful picture with hers at that point. 

I did add a few drops of water to the orange jello powder to help dissolve it before adding it to the frosting.  I also added about a tablespoon of Tang drink mix powder to the jello water because the orange flavor in the frosting wasn't quite strong enough for me.  With the Tang, it was about perfect!

To get the recipe, you'll have to click on the link and go to the Food Snots blog.  I highly recommend trying these.... the cupcakes are yummy!  :)  I'm thinking that it would also be good to try it using a chocolate cake mix and a streak of chocolate frosting instead of vanilla.  Kind of like those addicting chocolate orange jelly candy sticks.  Also- it would look perfect for Halloween!  :)

Lattice Tattered Flannel Blanket

Tattered flannel baby quilts

I wanted to try out a variation of the typical tattered flannel quilt made out of squares.  I love the lattice look when the squares are turned on the diagonal, so I tried it out with spacer sections forming the lattice.  I was a little worried about how it would turn out.  I didn't want the increased space of the seams to be too bulky when compared with the flat centers of the squares.  Using just two layers of flannel (no middle layer) and a small 3/8" seam allowance, it turned out just fine. 

After a lot of deliberation (if you know me, you know that I frequently feel like these kinds of decisions are life-or-death ones), I decided to cut off the cute square scalloping that was around the edges and I finished it in a straight line with binding all around.  I like that it's not the "usual" tattered quilt.  I think the lattice framework helped the pastel pinks and blues blend together a little better.  I think I want to try another one leaving the squared scallops on to see how that looks (although it would make the binding a pain to do).

 I am learning that I can branch out- and not just do the typical, usual square patchwork pattern on tattered quilts! 

Charm Clutch pattern by Amy Butler

This Amy Butler "the Charm Clutch" pattern makes a wide but short bag.  For its size, it is surprisingly roomy inside due to the extra panel in the bottom of the bag. I liked how this one turned out. It feels very durable and strong. I love that it has a zipper closure. I have to admit that the pattern is probably the most complicated bag pattern I have yet to use. I am a fairly experienced sewer, so that is saying a lot. It isn't hard- just hard to figure out. I think the instructions could be better. At one point in installing the zipper, the fabric is so tiny and the space so cramped that it felt like it would never work. But it did. Maybe it's just that it takes a lot of time to make. Still probably just a day- but it doesn't feel like it's going as fast as making a Bella Bag. I really don't know why I felt like it was so hard. I just know that when it was done, all I could think was, "Phew! I'm glad that one's finished!"   I will say that I feel like the overall finished look was more professional looking (it didn't have as much of a "homemade" look to it) than the other bags that I have done.  I consider that a good thing.  I will make it again- because the first time trying a pattern is always the hardest, and it does make a cute bag. I almost put on a little purple flower...

The Bella Bag pattern review

 My favorite pattern to use for a nice heavy duty bag is "The Bella Bag" by Heather Mulder Peterson of Anka's Treasures.  It takes about a day to make (depending on how many interruptions you have).   After your 7th one, you get much faster than that!   The pattern is clear, simple, and easy to understand.  I was worried that the grommets would be hard to put in, but they are easy.  This was my first time putting in a magnetic closure.  I was intimidated by the thought of figuring out how to put one in.  I was again pleasantly surprised by how simple and easy it was (I felt a little stupid for worrying about putting one in!).  I did add an extra inch and a half to two inches to the top opening of the bag so it would be wide enough to hold a 2" binder (packed full- I was thinking of church duties!)  I found the pattern at a cute little quilt shop in St. George, Utah just off the Boulevard.  I googled the pattern, and it is available online, too.  I added the large flower with a rhinestone button center to the bag because I always love extra bling!