Bluey Baby Shower Day Of

I spent all afternoon in the kitchen the day before the shower. First, I prepared the fruit salad which consisted of watermelon, pineapple chunks, green grapes, blueberries, apples, and strawberries. 

Next came the homemade lasagna, I had followed this Delish YouTube tutorial. 

Then with the oven still hot, I made coconut cherry macaroon cookies, the devil's food sheet cake (cake mix with homemade frosting), and my fruitcakes for Christmas. One big change to the fruitcake, rather than wrap the sherry-soaked cheesecloth cakes in foil, I vacuum packed them. They will reside in the frig for the next 2 months. 

All went well with about 25 in attendance. Lots of disposable diapers received. 

The piece de resistance the baby heart quilt. She received lots of onesies and baby shirts. 

Baby clothes sewing to follow. Things seem to be coming together for the little girl's arrival.

One Week to Go to the Big Day

My daughter's wedding day is fast approaching. The lead-off image is one of the table arrangements. The second image is the arrangement for the buffet tables. 

Below the table vases are packed and ready to be filled with flowers. All were purchased at thrift for just a few dollars each.  

The rehearsal and dinner is on the Friday before. I will be bringing dessert to the event, a couple of fruit pies and an assortment of cookies, including chocolate chip. Bride's fruitcake will be packaged and labeled later in the week. 

Segueing to the subject of Baby Girl Malcolm - the baby shower is scheduled for October 25. The baby quilt was finally bound and ready for gifting. 

The backing on the baby girl quilt matches the baby girl jacket. 

That image I took before I trimmed down the sleeves and finished the hem. 

Next up for baby girl Malcolm is a dress from this Simplicity 2392 vintage 50s sewing pattern I pulled from my stock. My next post will include the fabric pull to audition fabric for the right look. 

Almost There to the Challenge

Signups have opened for the AtoZ April Challenge. I have landed in slot no. 18 on the participant spreadsheet. Link to participants. I have also re-opened comments for this event.

Because I had to fit in a couple of photoshoots for the letter days of AtoZ Official Apron (A) and the Simply Delightful Thrifted Ball Gown (S), it made for a busy March. 

Wedding update: My daughter has agreed to include Bride's Fruitcake in the gift bag given to guests. This is a tradition from year's past. A slice of cake is wrapped in floral print bags (modern update: with an ingredient list). The cake is soaked in sherry-drenched cheesecloth. 

Thrifting update: It is that time of year when there is a dearth of nothing at thrift. The weather has been warming and folks are enjoying outside activities. Summer will slow my eBay sales to a crawl. 

Spring break is over and college classes have resumed. My mid-term compositional sketches have been posted to the discussion board. Fall class offerings will post at the end of the month. Depending on what classes are available will determine whether I continue as an art history major or switch to an art major. 

Crafting, baking, and such

Moving right along in the crafting arena - the first poinsettia flower is finished on the hook rug tree skirt. 

Hoping to keep to my goal of completing this by the end of February. It is destined for entry in the 2025 Amador County Fair. I will not be entering anything in the California State Fair. 

I have been concentrating on this craft because it is too cold outside for gardening. 

I didn't make fruitcake for Christmas this past season. When the Mr. asked why we didn't have fruitcake, I thought no one wanted it. I so missed it that I made a batch to be ready for my birthday on June 25. 

After wrapping the loaves in sherry-soaked cheesecloth, it takes a few months for the dessert to be ready to eat.

My new laptop arrived - I am so happy to have a touchscreen back again. Worth the extra $.

I was also this many years old when I discovered I could send my iPhone images to One Drive rather than emailing them to myself.

This is the time of year when thrifting goes boring. There are the clothes that are discarded and cashmere sweaters that appear at thrift. For my type of stuff, it is a dry spell. 

Seller update: Another eBay milestone - my first $200 week in sales.🤑My usual hovers around $100 a week. I have over 2,700 active listings. My next listing session will be Girl/Boy Scout items. 

Fruity Tootie Fruitcake

Welcome to Day 2 to the Countdown to Christmas. Fruitcake is an annual tradition in my household. These fruitcake buddies were thrift shop finds back in October. A slew of these characters came through but I only purchased these two - a matched set.

Last year, I posed as the Fruitcake Lady in a christmas-candle-re-creation.

Here is the cheesecloth wrapping. 

And the finished product. 

What I am listening to

German Stollen and Fruitcake

What else can be said but "double yum" for German Stollen and Fruitcake?

What I'm listening to: