Of Cakes and Piñatas

I love making birthday cakes for my children. Although I am a really terrible cake decorator, I am a fairly good baker...and so I am assuming the great taste overshadows the not so great appearance! For my daughter Missy's birthday yesterday (28th), I made something clean and simple using a tried and tested moist chocolate cake recipe with white mountain frosting.

(The inside view...after being served...)

Missy didn't really have a party, but after getting the idea from a magazine, she decided she wanted a piñata. She patiently worked on it herself for a few days prior to her birthday. (I helped out only a little bit...just to make sure it would turn out nice and sturdy.) And then yesterday, filled with lollies and some packs of chips, we hung the piñata from the basketball ring in our backyard. My two nieces came after school to join in some quick fun!

Now that Missy's 12, giving her a toy seemed no longer an option. My husband and I gave her a lovely Billabong wrist watch which we luckily found on sale. She loved it!

Before I head on to bed, here's the chocolate cake and frosting recipes. You might want to try them out. These are easy and guaranteed to please!

CHOCOLATE CAKE

1. Prepare two 9" round baking pans. Grease and line bottoms.

2. In a large bowl, combine:

2 1/2 cups plain flour

3 cups white sugar

1 1/2 cups cocoa powder

2 tsps baking soda

2 tsps baking powder

1 1/2 tsp salt

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups evaporated milk

3/4 cup corn oil

1 tbsp vanilla extract

3. Beat at medium speed for about 3 minutes, then at high speed for another 2 minutes.

4. Add 1 1/2 cups boiling water. Blend well.

5. Pour onto prepared pans, dividing mixture equally between pans. Bake at preheated 180 degree C oven for 45 to 50 minutes. Remove pans from oven and cool a little bit before inverting onto cake racks. Cool cakes completely.

WHITE MOUNTAIN FROSTING

2 egg whites, unbeaten

1 1/2 cups white sugar

5 tbsps cold water

1/8 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Over a double boiler, beat all ingredients (except vanilla extract) until mixture holds a peak (about 7 minutes). Remove from heat. Add vanilla extract, then beat until cool and thick enough to spread.

Spread frosting in between two cakes layers, on top and sides. Decorate as desired.

How long has it been?

I don't even have a decent excuse. Except for the two weeks recently that I was overseas (where I had very little internet access), I had been nothing else but just too lazy to blog. I am still as lazy as can be but I am back today just to let you know that I am still alive!

I have not done anything crafty lately, so unfortunately, there is no new stuff to share. I did pick up a few things during my trip which I am happy to show you.

Pretty handmade bag...not that I need it...but nevertheless, had the impulse to buy.

Absolutely gorgeous pouches/wristlets...the top one has two zippered compartments, perfect for mobile phone and accessories. The bottom one comes with a mirror inside.

Overflowing with cuteness Japanese stuff... from left to right: pencil sharpener, rolling eraser, flat head pins, and my favourite, an auto-rewind tape measure.

There was just too much nice things to buy so I am mighty proud of how I was able to resist the temptation!

That's about it for now...I promise I won't be away for too long. My daughter's birthday is coming up and I am definitely planning to create something for her. But first, I have to get out of this weary disposition. That hectic holiday with my family took all the energy out of me! Cross your fingers!

All things cute and functional

A lot of effort really goes into everything I create. Many times, I see someone else's work and then I think about how I can improve and/or make changes so it will be more appropriate for my needs...for instance, the iPhone case in my previous post.

The sewing is actually the easiest part of the process. I start by drawing my idea, then redrawing...then redrawing...before I actually visualize how the thing could be sewn up. Sometimes I get lucky with the first try, sometimes not.

I went through this thinking process with my latest project. The idea was something I saw from here a while back. I created something similar but the way I constructed it is entirely different and I have added a couple of new features.

Close-up of drawstring closure

View of inside

Circle bottom

For one, I made the strap adjustable. Secondly, I added a drawstring with cord lock to keep the bottle from accidentally falling out. It's insulated as well (yey!) just like Pink Chalk Studio's. A first time for me to work with Insul-Brite.

This took only a short time to assemble (and in between steps, I was even watching the NBA Finals on tv!). As I had expected, the only tricky part was sewing up the circle bottom.

Isn't cute, functional stuff great? I am so pleased with this I could kiss it!

I am going on a trip with my family very soon and this water bottle carrier is definitely coming with me...

iPhone case version 3.0

Before I go into talking about the iPhone case, let me tell you first about how I got the iPhone.

Well, my husband brought it home one day recently as a surprise for me. No, he did not make an outright purchase (we certainly do not buy expensive stuff like this!), but the phone came with those "0 upfront, 24-month mobile phone plans". Why he made the seemingly impulsive decision to change my perfectly good old phone and switch to a different post-paid plan, he only knows. I wouldn't say the generous gesture came as a surprise...rather, it was a shock. Honestly, I hardly get any presents even when there is an occasion...

The iPhone, as cool as it is, is not really something I need. I am rarely on the phone, I am not a text messaging addict, I only listen to music while I'm ironing clothes, and I have internet access from a desktop computer that's on nearly all day. I don't want to sound unappreciative, but yeah, the iPhone seems too much of a luxury for me.

But I must say, it is one magnificent phone...I am lucky to be the owner of one...and my kids are having fun with it as well.

And so, such magnificence only deserves the coolest of carry cases.

iPhone case version 3.0

That is what my son calls my carry case. I've spent countless hours figuring out how I was going to go about sewing up one that will meet all my requirements. It needed to be padded to give the phone extra protection. It had to have a secure and big enough storage space for the headset and stylus. I should be able to easily access the headset jack. And I should be able to carry it around hands-free. Plus, it needs to be pretty!

Three tries later, this is what I ended up with. (I showed the first version on my previous post.)

Front view (button loop closure, swivel hook attachment, detachable neck strap)

Padded interior ensures a safe and perfect fit

Pleated back pocket

Velcro pocket closure

Phone accessories stored securely

Open top with headset plugged in

It was quite difficult to sew up considering the small size and the thickness, but the case does meet my criteria. I am really happy with it. What do you think?

UPDATE (6/6/09): PDF Sewing Instructions for this iPhone Carry Case now available in my Etsy shop!

In a sewing slump again

I admit it...I am in a sewing slump. I have tried many times during the past weeks to think of something to make but failed to get even a bit of inspiration. I know that if I force myself just for the sake of it, I would only end up with something I am not happy with.

Such was the case with this carry case for my new mobile phone. I needed one and there was a free pattern in the same magazine as the market bag pattern.





Looks like a pretty decent job, doesn't it? It actually is. A few issues, however.

First, I had problems sewing together the lining/flap/loop/case outside together along the top because of the small opening. It was difficult to maneuver. I did figure out much later (after I had finished everything) that there was an easier way.

The phone fits nice and snug. However, my kids commented that if I was in a hurry to answer a call, the button closure made it a bit hard to get the phone out quickly. Such a small inconvenience but true...

I found the back pocket too tight for its intended purpose. It doesn't provide much security for the headset and stylus either.

The lanyard was my own addition as I wanted have an option of hanging the case around my neck rather than hooking it to my jeans.

As soon as I get my inspiration back, my first project would be a much improved version of this one. Hope that would come soon...in the meantime, I might just spend my time enjoying this coolest phone ever!

I made myself cry again...

You probably are getting tired of reading about this over and over...you don't really have to read on if you don't feel like it...

Yesterday, I gathered some of my photos with and of my mom. I don't really have much with me as most of my childhood photos are somewhere hidden in my dad's home. But with what I had on hand, I made this short video in memory of my mom and the life she shared with me.

I cried again, as expected. Don't worry, it's a good cry.

Getting back to normal

At least this is as normal as it can get at the moment.

Francis is still limping but went back to school this week. His ultrasound revealed that he had a ruptured ligament in his right ankle, more serious than the simple sprain that we originally thought he had. He is now wearing an ankle strap for support and can't play any sports for the next 4-5 weeks. I know he is disappointed (though he doesn't really show it) since this is his first year playing basketball for a club. For the last three years, he and his brother have been playing footy. I thought the switch to basketball meant less chance of getting an injury...but obviously I was wrong....

It was a tiring and stressful couple of weeks so I am just thankful that's over. The situation here did affect my desire to craft so I haven't really been sewing for a while. Well, actually, the last time I think was only a week ago...but that seems really long for me. Even my daughter noticed and asked me last night why I haven't been sewing.

This is the other market bag I made ages (actually, a week) ago...

(using 'Fig & Plum' from Moda, front and back views)

I have some new ideas in mind but can't quite get them together just yet. Been really uninspired. Later today, though, my sister in law and I are making a trip to the fabric shop! Hopefully, I will come home with some fresh fabric to bring my creativity back and get my ideas moving!

Before I end, though I know this is so late, let me just greet all my reader moms a belated 'Happy Mother's Day!'. Personally, it was more of a day to remember my own mom, rather than expecting my family to do something special for me. I bought some nice flowers early in the morning and placed them in a vase next to her framed photo in our living room. This is my first year without mom so it was kind of hard.

As for me, mother's day is just a day like any other day. All I can say is that having my kids make me so very blessed...every single day. Here are the loves of my life...in their newest school photos!

(Clockwise from top left: Francis, 15; Joseph, 13; Matthew, 7; Missy, 11)

(I realized I haven't uploaded a single photo of myself here yet. Hmmm...maybe one day soon...)