Gingercake

Vintage Valentine Penguin Remake

I have a big cruch on those old vintage valentines that show up on Pinterest this time of year.  I wish I had a bundle of those pretties to send out to all my family and friends!  When I saw this one, it reminded me of a gingercake pattern.

That cute penguin looks a lot like our very own Annie's Penguin!  I decided that I had to make a Gingercake penguin to match...

It turned out so cute!  I love his scarf and hat so much.  And then the heart (made from using the cut out belly!) really makes him special.

The Valentine version of the Annie's penguin has a heart shaped belly, scraf, hat and is holding a cute little stuffed heart.  Do you want to make one too?  It is really easy.  If you already own the Annie's Penguin Pattern, simply use these FREE instructions to convert your Penguin into this Valentine version.

Download Valentine Penguin Instructions PDF

Download Valentine Penguin Pattern Pieces PDF

Good news to those of you who do not own this cutie ba tootie pattern already!  In honor of the Valentine Penguin version, I am going to make Annie's Penguin on sale for only $5 this week.

 So, head over to the shop and get your penguin pattern!  Send me an email or post on the Gingercake Facebook page if you make a Valentine version.  I would love to see it!  

Here are a couple of other Gingercake Valentinish things from past years...

Valentine Hoops

Monster Valentines

Card People Valentines

Valentine Party PreSchool Craft

 

 

 

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!

 

Holiday Gifts Sewing Series: Hungie Gungie Bunny!

What a treat I have for you today!  Have you ever visited Hungie Gungie?  I love the modern, hip aesthetic of their blog.  I say "their" because Hungie Gungie is a collaboration of 2 sisters.  I love collaborative blogs, don't you?  It really adds depth and interest.  Any who... Erin sewed up a Modern Folksy Bunny that is amazing!  Go over to Hungie Gungie and check out the details of her bunny AND leave a comment for your chance to win the pattern.  She even brought out matching pants for her beautiful daughter for her adorable photo shoot.  Thanks so much Erin!

Holiday Gifts Series: Mindfully Made sew a Darling Polar Penguin!

Our next sewer, Amy Frank of Mindfully Made Studios is close to my heart!  She is a very good personal friend and a big inspiration to me.  We are peas in a pod and have spent lots of time together sharing our love of creating while our kids play.  She is wonderful!  Amy has just started her blog, so make sure you go visit and leave a comment on her giveaway. 

Amy sewed up a cute Annie's penguin for neice who lives in Alaska.  You have to see the pocket on the back.  I love it!  Amy is also doing a giveaway of the Annie's Penguin pattern this week on her blog.

Beginning of the Gifts series! Featuring S is for Sewing...

This month I am doing something special here on the blog!  I have asked some lovely and talented sewers to sew up a gingercake pattern for someone they love in the spirit of holiday gift giving!  So, all month long, some very talented ladies will be sewing Gingercake patterns AND each will offer a pattern giveaway!  
 Today, we have out first guest.  Have you all ever visited Sofia over a S is for Sewing?  She is so talented!  I love her style and knew she would make something beautiful if I asked her to sew up a Gingercake Pattern.  Head over and see her adorable Lucky Elephants!

While you are over there, stay and visit for awhile and look at all her beautiful posts about kids clothes. So pretty!  And!  Ana Sofia is hosting a giveaway of Lucky on her blog so make sure and leave a comment.  

How Bunny got a Pocket

Since I am having the bunny sale this week, I was trying to think of a way to make more versions of the pattern.  In the past I made the bunny smaller by printing it at 65%.  You can read about those here.  Very cute!  I have gotten lots of emails by sewers saying they are excited to use the pattern to make bunnies for the easter basket.  I thought, why not make Bunny the easter basket?!

This was surprisingly easy and fun.  I thought it would be perfect for the baby this easter too since she is obviously not going to be eating chocolate or jelly beans!  I am thinking the easter bunny can fill the pocket with baby toys and onsies.

To make the pocket in the bunny, you have to just make a couple adjustments.  First, give yourself some extra width so the pillow will stand on its own.   Add about an inch to the base and backside when you are cutting out your pattern.  Like in this fuzzy camera picture below!

Follow the pattern instructions with interfacing, sewing the darts, making the ears, and all that other stuff.  Next cut out a rounded piece of fabric for the pocket.  I didn't take measurements here but from the picture below you can get the general idea of size...

Before you sew the 2 bunny sides together, attach the pocket pieces to each side of the bunny like in the photo above.  Then, flip up the pocket piece and layer the 2 bunny sides together and sew all the way around the bunny edges and, instead of going straight down the bunny back, sew your seam around the pocket edges.  Trim your seams and clip the corners around the pocket.

Turn it right sides out and push the pocket inside.  See?  works!  I then used a funnel and added about an inch layer of rice to the base before I stuffed the bunny with polyfil.  This gave it a nice weighted bottom so it stands up easily.

Stuffing the polyfil was a little extra work since you need to keep your hand in the pocket but it doesn't have to be perfect since the bow hides folds in the neck area and when you stuff your items in the pocket it fixes problems there too!

I stuffed it with the super simple bibs I made a couple weeks ago.  I went to a baby shower over the weekend and I thought this would have been a perfect gift!  The kids are loving trying to figure out what they can stuff into the pocket.  It would be fun to make one for a big kid that has velcro and is like a secret pocket, huh??  

 

Preschool Valentine Craft

Here is the craft I am doing with Cal's preschool tomorrow morning.  I admit I was a bit of a grumpy baby coming up with this.  First, I waited until this morning to make my plan.  Second, I kept waffling about my plan.  Third, I had to haul Cal and the baby all the way to Micheals!  But now I am happy and think the kids will like making these boquets for their moms.  What do you think?  Are the craft mom for your kid's party?

It is just cupcake liners (3 per flower), pipe cleaners, shredded paper to hold them in, and take out containers (3 for $1!).  Pretty cute and I think the 4 year olds can handle it!

Beachy Tunic in Voile

Remember when I made this pretty golden tunic for Anne?  While I was at the beach a few weeks ago, I got some pictures of her wearing it.  I love the color on her and she looked so pretty with all her sun kissed freckles (you wouldn't believe the sunscreen we go though with her!)

We had a lovely time in South Carolina.  Lots of time in the pool and just exploring the beach.  We went into Charleston once during the week but it was the rainy day and I didn't get much time to explore.  The beach was much easier for the kids to play in than the Outer Banks, NC beaches we usually go to although not quite as pretty.

While on the beach we found some treasures...

How is your summer vacation?  Hard to believe it is half way over!!  Although I admit the adjustment to summer vacation is hard for me at first, at this point I love having all the kids home and just relaxing into our easy schedule.  The pregnancy is making me less productive but we all seem to like our slow pace!  

Beachy Days

We have had a busy last few weeks.  School is done, Elsie had her 8th birthday (for which I made a pretty dress but still haven't taken pictures!) and now we are at the beach.  Phew!

This guy is loving his new shovel and not sharing it with anyone...

My husband's youngest brother is here from San Francisco with his beautiful girlfriend and all the little girls are in love...

My husband is persistant in his attempts to catch bluefish in the surf...

and these 2 oldest cousins fight and makeup even better friends than they were before...

Piped Pot Holders Tutorial

We have some picnics to go to this weekend and although I may make box brownies as my contribution, I decided to make handmade cute pot holders to go with my dish to give to the hostess.  This may be my summer staple since I had fun making these and they look really cute!

I love a nice potholder.  But my issues with doing a nice binding keep getting in my way!  I don't want to take the time to hand sew it and I can't seem to get a nice machine stitched binding.  It may look great on the front but messy on the back.  

On the other hand, piping and I are great friends.  I realized maybe my pot holders just needed piping instead of that traditional binding.  They turned out great!

Here is how you can make one too~

~You need to find a 8.5" circle to trace.  I used an embroidery hoop but a plate or whatever will work too.  9" is fine too and 8" is OK but getting a little small.

~cut 2 pieces of 100% cotton fabric (i used quilting weight) and 2 pieces of insulbrite- all 4 pieces need to be 8.5" round.

~ 30" of piping rope.  Mine is about 1/4" thick (or sometimes I just cheat and cover a store bought binding if I don't have any rope but the store bought is a little skinny for this project.)

~32" strip of 1.5" cordinating fabric cut on the bias

~ 6" strip of 1.5" fabric that is the same fabric as the circles.  This will be your loop.  Fold this piece in binding and iron flat.  It can be on the bias or just with the grain of the fabric.

~You will also need a sewing machine, scissors. pins, cordinating thread, an iron and ironing board.

Fold the 32" fabric strip over the 30" of piping rope.  Pin every 6".   Sew down along the strip to enclose the rope and make piping.  See the photo above.

Next, take one of your fabric circles, and sew the piping around the edge of the circles.  Have your rope facing in toward the middle of the circle.  I don't use pins here since I find it easier to sew a little, adjust, sew a little, adjust, etc.  But you can do whatever feels comfortable.  Sew along the line you made to enclose the rope in the last step.

Once you sew all the way around the circle, overlap the piping and sew through the layers.  See the picture above.  Trim off the excess piping and set this piece aside.

Take that 6" piece of binding and sew it closed.  This will be your loop to hang your pot holder.  

Cross the loop over and pin it to the top of the circle without the piping on it.  Layer the 2 circles of insulbrite beneath the circle of fabric.  Sew the loop on and trim the extra binding off to match the edge of the circles.  6" will give you enough length to make the loop small or a little longer.  See the picture above as reference.

Now pin together the 2 sides- one with the loop and 2 layers of insulbrite and the other with the piping sewn on.  Right sides of the fabric should be facing each other.  The side with the piping should be facing up.  The line of stitches you made to attach the piping will guide you to sew the 2 sides together.  This way, your piping will be perfectly even all around your pot holder.  See the above picture as your guide for how your project should look at this point.  There needs to be an openning of about 3" to turn the pot holder right sides out.  Backstitch at both edges of the opening.

Now trim all your seams down a little smaller than 1/4" except at the opening.  See the picture above.

Turn your piece right sides out through the opening.  Iron nice and flat and fold under the opening to match your edges.  See picture above.

At this point you have lots of options to finish up your pot holder.  You can just sew a seam around the edge to close up the opening and flatten the edges or you can do a little quilting design like I did.  I did this by marking the center and 4 even sections with pins.  Then I just free quilted some loops that crossed over each other to close up the opening.

That is some wonky quilting but it was fun!  With some practice and planning, you could make this part really pretty!  I did loops, circles, and ups and downs.  Lots of possibilites to have fun with your quilting designs!

Hostess gifts for the weekend complete!  I plan on making more for myself too and finally throw out those old ugly ones!  I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.  Please do not sell pot holders you make from this tutorial.  Contact me if you want to do them for a fundraiser or something like that.  If you do make one, I would love to see it in my Gingercake Tutorials Flickr group.  Thanks!!  

Have a happy holiday weekend!