Buttercream and a Sewing Machine

Friday, January 20, 2012

Friday Night Treat: Frosting!

Everyone needs a good frosting recipe - and although this recipe doesn't take butter (to make it a true buttercream), it is a great frosting! I also don't have to worry about refrigerating the cake/cupcakes because of not having butter in it (does anyone else worry about that too?). The recipe is at the end of this post.

Want to see some things I've made with this frosting? I will be showing you a few of these techniques over the next couple of weeks (and I'll show you more if I have requests!).

Basic swirl on a cupcake

Large flower design on a cupcake

A combo of basic swirls and large flowers for a baby shower

(weird background - yeah, it was in our school library :) )

Ladybug cupcakes

Microphone cupcakes

Rocket ship birthday cake

(for my husband's 25th - yeah we're cool like that)

One of the first cakes I ever made

(for full disclosure)

An anniversary cake for my in-laws

(I used stiff consistency frosting to make the white roses)

Monster cupcakes - one of my all-time favorites!

I hope our little one wants a monster birthday party some day!

Are you getting some ideas of what you can make with some good frosting?

I hope so! So, here goes...

Cream together your shortening, flavoring, and water/milk.

It will look like this when it is all creamed together.

Add your powdered sugar and meringue powder. I recommend putting a towel over top of the mixer while this is happening (careful not to get it in the bowl!), so that way the powdered sugar doesn't go EVERYWHERE!

This will make a stiff consistency of frosting - which is best for making flowers (such as roses - like on the anniversary cake).
Add 1 teaspoon of water per cup of stiff consistency frosting (or 1 Tablespoon for the full recipe) to make it medium consistency - which is best for stars and borders.
Add 1 teaspoon of water per cup of medium consistency frosting (or 1 Tablespoon for the full recipe) to make it a thin consistency - which is best for writing and icing a cake.

Usually, I work somewhere between the thin and medium consistency. If you make it too thin, stick it in the fridge for a little while. If it is too stiff, just add a little more water until you get it to the consistency that you want. Does that make sense?

Then, you can leave it white or tint it to the color that you want. Not too bad, huh? Here's the recipe...

Buttercream Icing

(adapted from the Wilton Method of Cake Decorating)

Ingredients:

1 cup of solid white vegetable shortening
1 teaspoon of flavoring (vanilla, almond, or butter)

My note: I usually use 1/2 t vanilla, 1/2 t almond, and 1/4 t butter flavoring (if I double the recipe I don't double the flavoring).

2 T milk or water

My note: I use water (purified to keep the frosting as white as possible) because I don't want to worry about refrigeration.

1 lb. pure cane confectioners' sugar (about 4 C)
1 T meringue powder

My note: You can find this in in the Wilton aisle at Wal-Mart

a pinch of salt

Directions:

Cream shortening, flavoring and water.
Add dry ingredients and mix on medium speed until all ingredients have been thoroughly mixed together.
Blend an additional minute or so, until creamy.

My note: I usually make a double batch whenever I make this frosting because powdered sugar comes in a 2 pound bag. I either use it all or refrigerate or freeze the leftovers for a future use!

What are you going to frost?

What do you want to learn how to do?

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

My Red Wool Purse

Last March, I finished making this purse (I know that is a long time ago...). However, I didn't have a blog at the time to show you how it turned out. I still love it, and I have seen some conversations in the blog world lately about using wool. So, I thought I would share.

It is my 'winter' purse this year - so it has gotten a lot of use (hence, it is a little bit dirty and it is starting to pill). This is the Streetcar Bag by Indygo Junction, and you can find the pattern here.

I love the big buttons on the front flap. The bottom two corners are box corners. The strap is the perfect size to put over your shoulder or carry. I also like the shape of the bag; the narrow top is easy for me to get things in and out of but still keeps things in.

The flap is held on by a magnetic snap.

Under the flap is my favorite feature of the purse - pleats.

I just love how the fabric comes together there.

Inside is a zippered pocket (the first time I tried this style of pocket).

I believe it was optional piece in the pattern - but I always think taking the time to add a pocket is worth it. I always have something little I want to keep track of!

I am so happy with this purse! Overall, the wool was nice and easy to sew.

It was fun for me to explore a new type of fabric!

Has anyone else tried sewing with wool?

What was your experience like?

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Monday, January 16, 2012

Tutorial: Anthro-Inspired Headband with Bow

I saw this cute headband last spring at Anthropologie (I know...it's taken me awhile to reproduce it...).

I thought the bow was cute - but it cost $18!

So, I knew right then I was going to try to make one. I think that I hit it spot-on!

First, let's get our supplies ready.

You will need: a headband (mine was plastic and came in a 4-pack for about $2), a hot glue gun, fray check, two strips of fabric, and double-sided fusible interfacing.

For your fabric you will need two pieces -

1. the main fabric that wraps around the headband (I am using light blue)- cut 1/2" x 44" (you will use more or less based on how close you wrap it)

2. the fabric for the bow (I am using a small flower print) - 5/8" x 15"

Get these two fabric pieces ready by squirting a little bit of fray check all the way down each of the long sides.

This is the best time to also trim any loose threads that are along any of the edges.

Next,

*Trim two - 1" pieces from your main fabric.

*Put a dot of glue on the front and back side of each end of the headband, and wrap the little piece around. This makes sure each of the ends are thoroughly covered.

*Starting at one end, place a dot of glue on the inside of the headband.

*Wrap the fabric around the end one time, making sure to get your starter fabric tucked in.

*Now, start to wrap the fabric around the headband. I usually put a dot of glue on the inside of the headband and wrapped the fabric around two times (making sure to always overlap the fabric, leaving no gaps). Then, I would put another dot of glue and wrap the fabric two more times. I tried to wrap the main fabric slightly angled. I continued this until I got all the way around the headband.

*I finished by wrapping the fabric around the other end, put a dot of glue on the inside, and then trimmed the excess fabric.

If your fabric isn't long enough to make it all the way to the end of the headband...

*Then, glue the end of the fabric on the inside of the headband.

*With another piece of fabric, glue it on the inside of the headband and continue in the same way all the way to the end.

Now, let's get the bow ready.

*With your 5/8" x 15" piece of bow fabric, place a piece of two-sided fusible interfacing covering only half of the bow (lengthwise).

*After ironing, remove the paper and iron the bow in half, lengthwise.

*Using a VERY small seam allowance, sew next to the raw edges of the bow fabric (3 of the 4 edges are raw).

Our last step is to attach the bow to the headband.

*First, fold the bow in thirds (like you would a brochure). Use your fingers to press the two folds.

*Then, put a dot of glue on the center of the bottom of the bow, and wrap your leftover main fabric around one time.

*Put a dot of glue on top of the headband where you would the bow to be, and place the bow on top.

*Wrap the fabric around the headband and the bow one time. On the inside of the headband, put a dot of glue and trim off the excess fabric.

There you go. Super cute!

Enjoy sewing (and gluing)!

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