Since I had no cakes to make this week, I had more time for other fun projects like a new purse, this baby blanket, and potty training – but that is another story…

While on vacation in Canada, I spent time with a friend and her 6 month old daughter, Lyla. Lyla had this really cool blanket and I told myself I had to make one when I got home. Finally I had time to do it!

This is super easy and I’ll walk you through the steps so you can try one too!

Pick out a super cute fabric that is super soft like a thin fleece. Cut it into two squares any size you want. Mine was about 25 inches square. Put the right sides together and sew all 4 sides leaving a 3 or 4 inch hole. Invert fabric and press.  Top-stitch 1/4″ around the edges.

This is where the blankie gets its lovey-ness, if that’s a word: Starting from one corner, sew a diagonal line to the opposite corner. Moving out about an inch, sew another line parallel to this one. Continue to the end of the blankie. Flip and starting from the center again, stitch parallel lines on the other side of the blanket.

In between each of your stitched lines, cut  down the center of only one layer. Sharp scissors make this easy and successful. My favorite just happen to be these:

But I digress… When you finish cutting every line, toss the blankie into the washer and dryer.

When it comes out, the edges will have some fray and are easily grabbed by little baby hands!

It’s soft, cuddly, and simpler than a taggie blanket. Plus – it’s a little newer and original!

Have fun making your blankies! I have one more to make for a friend and then I can give these away! If you make one, let us know! We’d love to see it!

Triathalon cake and a kick boxing cake. All in one. Go.

The challenge took a lot of pondering. I decided to come up with a common thread for the top of the cake and decorate the sides with each more specifically. I really like how it turned out:

This is the top of the cake:

You can tell my chocolate buttercream frosting was a little flakey but I actually really liked the way it looked on the cake!

Here’s a close up of the triathalon side:

I think it turned out great and the bike gave it the final touch of amazingness

Here is the kick boxing ring:

Not as amazing but gets the point across.

Now I can take on any challenge! Do any design! Wait… no… I’m not these guys. Not yet at least

For a new home company in the neighborhood, making a good first impression is key. The housing market is still a little slow where we are and having a good relationship with local brokers is a good idea. A representative from Bryton Homes contacted me about making some cakes to use as advertising to some Realtors in town and I was excited to take on the task!

The whole job will be around 20 cakes but I started with 6. Each cake was a little different as I perfected the color scheme and design. Each home had the craftsman style windows and doors that come on each Bryton home. We added the stone to accent the style of the model home.

The text on each of the cakes was the same. It included the neighborhoods and the MLS #s for them as well as a little more important information for brokers to know as they consider telling clients about the community.

The six cakes were made of vanilla pound cake with raspberry filling. The houses are made from rice krispie treats in a house mold. My friend Heather was the Rice Krispie Treat Diva and she did an excellent job! Abby helped with the filling and decoratind the homes. She did amazing on the shingles and stones!

I should have a few more to do in the coming weeks. I hope to get business from other Realtors and staff who get to taste the wonderful cakes! Anyone else who needs a house cake – you know who to call!

Norah’s mom wanted a cake but wasn’t too sure what she wanted. She gave me the invitation for Norah’s First Birthday Party and I got to take creative control. I LOVE to make cakes from invites. There is something fun about taking someone else’s super creative stationary and making a cake form of it. Here is Norah’s cake:

I wasn’t super happy with the way the banner turned out but I loved the cake! I like the white flowers with different colored ones and dots. I love the pink and white. I love the fondant flowers (made a few days early and let harden on their picks).

Norah’s personal cake was made to match:

So girly. So fun. So one.

Chandler is out of town and can’t write her own post so I am posting for her. She made this AWESOME Whale cake for a one year old’s birthday last week:

Isn’t it the cutest? She made the whale out of a smaller cake and covered it in fondant. The fishies and bubbles are made of fondant as well and placed on a sugar icing cake. I’m not even sure what kind of cake she made but it looks adorable!

One thing we like to do for our one year old customers is a personalized cake with a less sugary cake recipe. Here is Blake’s own cake:

I think the number 1 coming out of the spout is my favorite! She did a great job! Way to go, Chandler!