Winter Pillows

For Christmas I received a cute reindeer pillow.  I looked at Joann's for matching fabric but wound up buying a wool jacket at the thrift store and felting it.   I cut sweater up to create the snow. Then I created the embroidery on stabilizer and hand sewed it onto the background, adding snowflake button and blue bells in the corner.

The pillow on the right is my Christmas present; the pillow on the left is what I created to match.

Chenille Sweater

This is a sweater I made several years ago. The pattern was designed for sweatshirts but applied just as easily to a pullover sweater.

Silk Dress

My husband and I with our son

The finished product-- or at least the top half

Buying the silk in Shanghai

Our oldest son got engaged shortly before we left for China, so I bought some silk to make a dress for the wedding.    I didn't know exactly how much fabric I needed, so the lady at the store measured me and told me how much I needed for the simple sheath dress with short sleeves I had in mind.  I added a half meter just in case and was very thankful I did since I later changed the pattern to include a asymmetrical flounce which I drafted myself with the help of a friend.  I embroidered matching lace (design from John Deer) for the top of each cap sleeve and for the top of the flounce.    The beauty of the dress is in the fabric more than the sewing of it although I was pleased with how it turned out.  Ironically it matched the bridesmaids' dresses almost perfectly, and the mother of the bride also bought a dress in a very similar color, so we all matched.

lace at the top of the flounce

Lace on sleeve cap

Baby Shower

Once again my friend Robin did much of the artistry, all of the baby cantaloupe and much of the cake.  I decorated with baby outfits hung on a clothesline over the windows and on a clothesline outside.   I hadn't done a buttercream cake for a long time, so I had forgotten that I needed to make a crumb coating, but other than that I was pleased with the buttercream recipe I used. with coffee creamer suggestion in comments. (might try this one next time)  The bubbles are gelatin with powder dust.  (tutorial here) 

Waterfall Trifle Cake

For Bryan's graduation cake in May of 2011, Robin and I made this waterfall cake.  It has a base of Rice Krispie Treats covered with fondant.  Bryan made the trees while Robin did most of the other art work.  I provided the idea and the trifle.

Duckie Cake

This was one of the practice cakes I did in my cake class.

90th Birthday Cake

This is the cake I made for my father-in-law's 90th birthday. It's the same concept as the previous cake (the Chinese New Year cake.) Inside is chocolate cake with cherries and stabilized whipping cream covered by chocolate ganache. The sides are individual panels of royal icing. The top is a replica of his ham radio tower made from skewers and toothpicks. The base is a granite tile which I have adopted as my newest cake platter.