Wednesday, October 14, 2009

I never thought I'd see the day


that I'd get my daughter to use the sewing machine, but low and behold, we are making aprons! Do you know how long I've wanted to teach my daughter to sew? And how long she has resisited? Well, I don't think she's really that excited about it, but she was a bit shocked at how easy it is to use the sewing machine. And, she really is doing a good job.

As I mentioned a post or two before, we are taking a cake decorating class. Well, she decided that it would be good for us to have aprons. While we were at JoAnns getting something for our class, we went over to the quilting area and I let her pick out the fabrics for the aprons. I think she was expecting me to make them, but somehow I got her to cut hers out and even get on the sewing machine! She's a little more than half done on hers, and I just finished mine. I figured I better stay a few steps ahead of her so that I could head off any problems or confusion. I am not having her read the guidesheet at this point; I'm just telling her which step to do next. Also, I did the double turned hem since it is a curved seam. I want to make this as easy as possible for her so that she will want to do it again! Hopefully I'll have pictures to post tomorrow of her finished apron! Oh, BTW, this is from MCCalls 5825



On the kitchen side of things, we have been making cakes. A lot of cakes. I think I am sick of cake. Pretty soon my husband's office will be sick of eating cake. My daughter's work may even become sick of eating cake - but right now, everyone loves that we are taking this class, because we want everyone else to eat all the cake!





















WE are learning a lot about frosting. We are learning that it takes a LOT of powdered sugar and shortening to make frosting. We are scouring all the local stores for the best prices on powdered sugar and shortening! We are up to our elbows in powdered sugar and shortening.

We are also learning that the littlest amount of sunshine in your car can melt the frosting on the 10 minute drive home from JoAnns!








and, since I'm off work this week (our school district takes a week of in October. That's why we start back to school the first week in August!) I'm actually doing some cooking as well as baking. Made a great Spinach Vegetable Soup for dinner. I thought it was going to be spinach overload while I was making it, but it actually turned out pretty yummy. Now, if we could just get the fall weather to go with the soup. It rained all day yesterday, but today it was 75degress. I'm not complaining, it's definitely better than 95. :-)

16 comments:

redhotpepper said...

Yay! I've always made my kids halloween costumes but this year I decided my 9 year old could help. She cut out part of her costume today and will be sewing that part.

I am bound and determined to make sure I give my girls the gift of knowing how to sew!

Annie

Mary said...

Cute apron! Good for you for letting her find her own way around sewing the apron...the pattern instructions often stifle learning, don't they?

I am drooling over the cakes...we are on a wheat free regimen this month. sigh...

Lynn J said...

Have you seen when good cakes go bad?

CakeWrecks is a rather fun site;
http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

Maureen said...

I want the recipe for the spinach soup (just planted spinach) it sounds yummy!!!

And I want cake :)

Gail said...

Its never too late. I have one daughter who is very interested in sewing and another who is very interested in clothes. The sewer designs for the fashionista.

Elaray said...

It's great that you and your daughter are cooking and sewing together! Don't you just love the time you spend with her? I could never interest my daughter in sewing. And, my interest in cooking waxes and wanes, although your spinach soup sounds delicious. I'd love the recipe. (hint hint)

Mardel said...

How wonderful to be cooking and sewing with your daughter.

Jamie said...

Sounds like great fun! That is neat that your daughter is taking advantage of the opportunity to learn to sew from you. I have always deeply regretted not taking advantage of the mnay times that my mom and grandma wanted to teach me to sew when I was growing up.

Marji said...

Love the cakes. Looks like a lot of fun.

gwensews said...

That is just great--sharing sewing and cooking with your daughter.

Summerset said...

Super cute apron! Looks like you are having a marvelous time with the cakes.

mimi jackson said...

Congrats on getting your daughter to sew... and the cakes are lovely, but... as a soup FANATIC (and spinach lover), I wanna know more about that soup! Xare to share the recipe?

Meg said...

Yummy apron and cakes.

Nancy K said...

I certainly hope that you will make more than powdered sugar and shortening frosting! I used to make a lot of cakes (before dh was diagnosed with celiac) and my favorite frosting was French buttercream. It is the most delicious stuff you've ever had. Meringue buttercream holds up in the heat and is almost as good.

lakaribane said...

I'm another one who would like the soup recipe, pleeeease!

And I, too, have learned the incredible powdered sugar requirements for frostings, it's insane!!!

designdreamer said...

Hmmmmm, maybe there's hope to have my girls learn yet!!!
They're 22, 18 and 13, what'd ya think?

How old are your girls Gail?
(I'd say ALL of my girls are Fashionistas! But it's been very recent for the 13yo!)