Gingercake

Christmas Cookie Party 2013

In the past few years, my friends start asking me about the cookie party in Septmeber.  "You are going to have the cookie party, right???"  I will admit that it is pretty fun and pretty wonderful to have a plate full of gorgeous cookies when you head home after.  If you are interested, here is some info about cookie parties of the past~

Cookie Party 2010- in this post, I talk about the invitations and the rules which you are free to "borrow" and in this post, you can see actual photos of the party for that year.

Cookie Party 2011- more photos of cookie and holiday decorating!

Cookie Party 2012- it did happen but I had just given birth!  My friends came over and cleaned house for me, brought all the party snacks, and even baked my cookie for me!  Haha.  That was wonderful!

Cookie Party 2013-  now we are caught up.  THis year I decided to rock the prize giving and make some plans to make and give the winners something fun.  Enter- my beloved Kelle Boyd of Ann Kelle fabrics!  

There was a snow storm occurring outside the entire time of the cookie party this year.  Did that deter the cookie makers from coming over?? Of course not.  Above are the winners, Erika, Joann and Michelle in their Jingle fabric aprons.  I love that adorable fabric line so much.

This year, I had FIVE categories to vote on.  We had best tasting cookie (Erika), Most Beautiful Cookie (Joann) and Best all around cookie (michelle AGAIN!).  I added kid's vote since I felt like they really stacked the voting last year and were not as unbiased as they could have been.  Plus, they loved having theit own category.  The last vote was for most festive/ obnoxious christmas outfit.  

Here are Michelle's beautiful and delicious winning cookies.  They were a cookie dough chocolate covered bomb.  Delicious!

And, the most festive dresser was... ME!  

I pretty much dominated that category!  A couple hours before the party, I was feeling lame for only wearing that red snowflake turtleneck so I took 5 of Kelle's Jingle FQs and made myself a very simple skirt.  I attached it to the turtle neck and added my big 80s belt.  I threatened to wear this out of the house to my 9 year old's school Christmas party and she almost had a total melt down.  HAHA!  I didn't even bother to hem the skirt (see that little bit of selvage??) since I want to still use this fabric for something else.  Hopefully next year the ladies will give me some competition since it was a little akward to win my own prize!  

I hope to share the apron pattern soon.  It was very easy and fun to make.  Thanks so much to Kelle for sharing her fantastic (always high quality and so bright and beautiful) Jingle fabric with me.  Happy Christmas everyone!

 

Postings and Plans

Yeah!  I just finished posting all my vintage linens in my gingercake shop.  That baby is sorely neglected since I love to thrift but don't really love to list.  I don't know why- etsy has made listing a LOT easier.  It's just all those dang tags!!!  Etsy shop ladies know what I am talking about- right??

These 2 awesome pillowcase sets sold quickly!

I just read this excellent post on thrifting if any of you are interested.  A great read and really good tips.  It is true that small town thrifting can be A LOT more successful especially for vintage sheets and retro finds.  Cute kid clothing?  Not so much.

Cal is a great companion at the thrift shop although I admit that my time is pretty short.  Another reason I rarely go into the clothing section- he just doesn't have the patience.  Once he has found his .50 cent truck/ army man/ sword/ tractor, he is ready to go!  But I have plenty of time to cruise through the sheets, crafts & knick knacks.

Here are 3 adorable 40s/ 50s apron patterns I found some months ago~

If only I looked that cute in an apron!  And here is some amazing fabric that I thinking about making an apron from.  I have 10 yards of this fabric!!

The fabric actually came from another vendor when Karen and I did the Fleatique last summer.  It was her mother's and although I wish I could use it myslef, it is just not going with my turquoise, yellow & red thing I have going on in my kitchen.  

I also regularly find bunches of rick rack, elastic, bias tape, and fabric that I use for trials and kids clothes.  What about you?  Are you visting your thrift store?  

My VERY BEST FIND EVER were these 2 chairs that I realize I never shared here...

Those are 2 original Charles Eames/ Herman Miller chairs.  I bought them for $2 each about a year ago.  I knew they were valuable but not until I got home and looked up their history did I actaully feel guilty for paying so little for them.  

Honestly, Cal and I usually find a whole lotta nothing at the thrift store but some days seem to be non stop treasure!!  Check out my shop if you are interested in any of these items (ahem- not the chairs though!).

Lastly, next week I am going to try the Kids Clothing Week Challenge again!  Who wants to join?  I need to make some PJ pants, shorts and simple dresses.  NOTHING fancy- just a couple of easy useful things that I have been putting off and need to be done!

 

Whipping it Up

Kathreen from Whip Up asked me to do a guest blog post for her this coming month.  I am so flattered!  My project is supposed to be sent to her on Monday.  Here is a sneak peek!  

We have had so much snow and ice this winter here in Western PA that the kids and I have been baking more since we can't really go anywhere and you can only play in the snow for so long before you start going crazy!  The baking has been a challenge with all the fighting and complaining but it is getting better now that I have set up some ground rules~

1. We take turns putting the stuff in the bowl and Mommy randomly chooses who starts.

2.  No complaining about your turn!  

3.  No fighting about who gets to crack the egg if it's not your turn.

4.  Only 2 spoonfuls of cookie dough each after we are done mixing and before we start spooning onto the cookie sheet.

4.  We must all wear cute aprons while we bake.

The kids have fun aprons that have been given to them, but I was wearing a vintage one that was making me feel pretty frumpy.  I LOVE my vintage aprons but with my 3 baby tummy, I needed something with some more structure.   This apron has a  wide band around the tummy that has interfacing and makes me feel all 50s cute even when I have worn my Pajama bottoms all day AGAIN!

To make this apron, you use your own measurements to make it fit you just right.  I am going to have it done on Monday the 7th and sent off to Kathreen.  I don't know when she will choose to post it this month though, so if you want me to send YOU the PDF tutorial when I am done, I will!  Leave a comment and make sure to include your email in the HIDDEN area when you fill out the comment form.