Book Review: Tilda's Winter Ideas by Tone Finnanger

Tilda's Winter Ideas is a delightful book that contains simple sewing projects and papercraft ideas with Tilda fabrics and embellishments.  The book contains many project ideas for gifts, decorations, cards, and soft toys, angels,and stockings. Many of the projects are suitable for Christmas crafting and decorating, but some can be used throughout the year.

All of the projects are beautifully styled and photographed, and are very inspiring with lots of decorating ideas. I love the turquoise, blue, pink and red colours that are used throughout - so fresh and pretty. All the pattern templates are available in the back of the book and are shown in the actual size so that it is easy to scan or photocopy them.

Some of my favourite projects include:

Mini Angel

Santa Claus

Details:

Publisher:         David and Charles

ISBN:              1446302059

Format:           Paperback, 48 Pages

In Australia, the book is available from  Booktopia, Fishpond, and Can Do Books.

I was excited to see that Quilt Fabric Delights (Australia) will soon be stocking Tilda fabrics, papers, ribbons and kits.

Disclaimer: Please note that we are not paid to write book reviews but we do receive a review copy of the book from distributors/publishers. We are affiliates of Booktopia and Fishpond.

Bon Voyage!

There is much excitement in the Sugar household this week, as Sarah heads to France on Friday as part of a school French tour. She will be undertaking an intensive French language course, as well as experiencing all the highlights of Paris. It is such a fabulous opportunity and we are all so excited for her.

We had an afternoon tea today to celebrate. I made up some little French inspired cupcake flags, by wrapping some Japanese washi tape around some toothpicks.

We also spent some time looking through a family photo album from the year we lived in Paris. Sarah was only two back then so doesn't really remember seeing all the attractions. I am sure she will have lots of stories to tell when she gets back.

Monet's Garden, Giverny

Arc de Triomphe

Bon Voyage Sarah!

Tutorial: Emergency Zippered Pouch

Thanks for all the lovely comments on our Emergency Zippered Pouch. We had a number of requests for a tutorial so you can make your own. They really are a handy size and perfect to put a few first aid supplies in your handbag.

Best of all, they only take an hour to make! They would make a nice gift with a gift card, cash or some other emergency supply inside!

Finished pouch is: 2 3/4 x 4 1/2 inches (7 x 11.5 cm)

Materials:

• 4 charm squares (5 x 5 inches), two each for pouch outer and lining
• small piece of flannel for wadding
• scrap of white linen
• scrap of red homespun
• scrap of ribbon
• split ring
• 4 inch zipper

Materials

Cut fabrics:


White Linen - cut four squares, 1 x 1 inch
Red Homespun - cut 2 squares, 1 x 1 inch; cut rectangle 1 x 2 inch.
Outer fabric - cut 2 rectangles, 5 x 3 inches.
Lining fabric - cut 2 rectangles, 5 x 3 inches
Flannel - cut 2 rectangles, 5 x 3 inches
Ribbon - cut one piece, 2 inches in length.


Sew Red Cross Patch:

Red Cross Patch Pieces

Referring to the photograph for placement, stitch a white square onto opposite sides of a red square. Press seams towards the red square.

Stitch a red/white unit to either side of the red rectangle. Press.

Cut a piece of cardboard that is 1 1/2 inches square. Lightly spray the red cross patch with spray starch. Place the patch wrong side up on your ironing board. Centre the cardboard square on the patch. Using the cardboard as a guide, press the seams inwards. Allow to cool, and them remove the piece of cardboard. Your patch is now ready to stitch onto the pouch.

Press under seams

Install Zipper

Layer a piece of the outside fabric onto a piece of flannel. Layer the zip on top with the right sides together and the long edge aligned, and stitch in place. Press, and then top stitch. Repeat for other side of the zip.

Pin the red cross to the middle of the pouch front and stitch in place. Fold the ribbon over the split ring and baste in place - referring to the photograph for placement.

I wanted a rounded bottom to my pouch so marked in some curved corners with a water erasable pen (I used a cotton reel as a template). With the zip open, and the wrong side of the pouch facing, pin in half. Stitch along sides and bottom of the pouch. Trim and clip corners. 

With the right sides of the lining piece facing, pin together and mark the rounded corners. Stitch the lining sides and bottom together. Trim and clip corners. Press under 1/4 inch along the top edge.

Turn the pouch out the right way and press. Position the lining inside the pouch and attach in place by hand using a slip stitch. (For smaller pouches, I find hand stitching the lining gives a better result).

For more photographs of the Emergency Pouch - check out What's Your Emergency?

You can find more of our free tutorials here, and we also have a range of  pdf sewing and quilting patterns in our etsy store.

All Around The Town Baby Quilt

Baby Quilts are my favourite type of quilt to make. Nothing beats a home made gift to welcome a new baby and their size makes them quick and easy to quilt on your home sewing machine. I love all the fun, colourful prints available. My latest quilt design, All Around the Town, is perfect for featuring a bright multi-coloured print.

The multi-coloured focus print is combined with four coordinating fat quarters and some white homespun, in this geometric design.

It is easily quilted by machine in a grid pattern.

All Around The Town PDF Baby Quilt Pattern is now available in our Etsy Store.

Advertise on A Spoonful of Sugar in April

Just a quick note to let you know we have a couple of sponsor spots available on A Spoonful of Sugar in April. If you have a crafty business and want to promote your store before Mothers Day - now is a great time to advertise. A Spoonful of Sugar averages 105,000 to 115,000 page views per month so it is a great opportunity to promote your store to large readership. We also have a large following on facebook, google plus, and pinterest.

Our rates are really affordable and are a great way to gain extra exposure for your crafty business. Current sponsors are also eligible to sponsor a giveaway. For more details check out our Advertising page or email us at aspoonfullofsugargirls@gmail.com with your website address to request our Media Kit.

Thanks so much to our current sponsors:
Violette Fields Threads
Kimono Reincarnate
Handmade Heaven
Mimmis
Stitching Cow
Ladybug Quilt Shop
Antipodean Love
Ethos Design
Crafty Colleen and Cohort
Janellybelly Bags and Things
Suzy Hausfrau Yarn Store
Ribbons Galore
Bright Star Kids
We really appreciate your support! 

Book Review:Sew Serendipity Bags by Kay Whitt

Sew Serendipity Bags: Fabulous Bags to Make and Love by Kay Whitt is a gorgeous book of 12 bag designs that expand into 20 fresh and pretty projects. I have spent ages drooling over the lovely designs in this book - there are bags for all occasions - diaper/nappy bag, lunch bag, grocery bag, shopping bag, duffel bag, backpack and more. 


All the projects have been constructed from modern and colourful fabrics and they look so good, that you want to make them all! It is the cover bag, The Ruffle Hobo Bag, made from a Jelly Roll that has really caught my eye!

The book is hard cover and spiral bound (such a practical design), with full sized pattern pieces inside an envelope pocket on the back cover. The first section of the book gives helpful step by step instructions (with full colour photographs) to help you through all the main construction techniques used in the book (such as making gathers, installing double loop slider, installing grommets etc). 

The projects are divided into three sections - Simple Bags, Intermediate Bags,  and Challenging Bags, so there is something for every skill level. Each project includes comprehensive step by step instructions, with each step illustrated, and many helpful photographs to guide you on your way. 

Here are some of my favourite designs:

Quilted Duffel Bag

Intermediate Bags

It really is an attractive book, and would be a handy addition to your sewing library with so many versatile and practical bag patterns.

Details:

Publisher:         Krause Publications

ISBN:              1440214158

Format:            Hardcover, 144 pages.

In Australia, the book is available from Booktopia, Fishpond, and Can Do Books.

Disclaimer: Please note that we are not paid to write book reviews but we do receive a review copy of the book from distributors/publishers. We are affiliates of Booktopia and Fishpond.

What's Your Emergency?

There are lots of "Emergency" supplies needed when you travel -  emergency money, emergency credit card, emergency chocolate, emergency make-up, and emergency first aid supplies.

I made up a small emergency zippered pouch for Sarah to take on her travels. It is perfectly sized to fit in her handbag/day pack to hold some travel essentials.

With it's patchwork red cross, it is perfect for any emergency supply.

I love how it turned out - I think I will make up one for myself.

Details:
Fabric: Washi by Rashida Coleman-Hale (from Pink Chalk Studios)
Ribbon: Red and White Striped Grosgrain, (from Ribbons Galore).
Size: 2 3/4 x 4 1/2 inches.

You can find the tutorial here:
http://www.aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com/2012/03/tutorial-emergency-zippered-pouch.html

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Coconut Cake

This past weekend, Sarah baked some delicious coconut cake. She has made this recipe a few times now and it always gets the thumbs up! It uses coconut milk and sweetened coconut flakes in the batter which give it a lovely coconut flavour and makes for a nice moist cake. Best of all, the recipe is makes two loaf cakes, perfect for slicing up and including in the lunch boxes this week.

You could add a coconut flavoured glaze to the cake if you prefer, but it works equally well plain, and is the perfect accompaniment to a nice cup of tea.

Ingredients:

• 230 g butter (2 sticks) softened
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 cup milk
• 5 eggs
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups plain flour (all purpose)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup sweetened flake coconut

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160 deg C (325 F), and grease and line two loaf pans
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip the butter until light and fluffy. Slowly add the sugar to the butter and whip on high until light in colour and increased in volume. Whisk together the milks, eggs, vanilla. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour and liquid mixtures to the butter/sugar mixture, starting and ending with flour. Fold the coconut into the batter.
3. Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Bake at 160 C (325 F)  for 55-65 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

Recipe adapted from Life in Recipes. (They also have a version that includes fresh coconut - would love to try that one next!)

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Winner of Suzy Hausfrau Yarn Store Giveaway

Thanks so much to everyone who entered our giveaway to win a $100 Gift Voucher to spend at Suzy Hausfrau Yarn Store.

The lucky winner is Amy R.

We have sent you an email Amy. Enjoy selecting your yarn!

Don't forget that Suzy Hausfrau Yarn Store offers free delivery Australia wide. 

Free Easter E-Book

It is no secret that we enjoy sewing, crafting, and baking. The best part about blogging is being able to share our crafty ideas with others who really understand the fun and enjoyment you can get from being creative. There is really nothing better than making things as a gift for family and friends, or to add a special and unique touch to your home. We have the most wonderful community here @ A Spoonful of Sugar. We really appreciate all the sweet comments and emails we receive, the advertisers who support us, the sewers who purchase our patterns, and the lovely people who pin our photos and link to our work. Our readers really are the best!!

As a special thank you to our newsletter subscribers, we have an Easter eBook to share which includes 10 quick Easter projects to create a special Easter Table. If you haven't already signed up to our newsletter, you can do so here:

  Subscribe to our newsletter 

Thanks everyone for your support!

Craft Storage

Craft storage can be a challenge for your organisational skills! One of the problems of being addicted to so many types of craft is you end up with loads of different supplies/materials that need to be stored/organised so that when inspiration strikes, you can find just what you are looking for.

Over the past week or so my ribbon collection has been my focus. I used to have my ribbons sorted by colour into ziploc bags. However as I can never resist a pretty ribbon, the bags were overflowing and the ribbons getting tangled. I usually buy ribbons in short lengths (generally 1 metre) unless I have a particular project in mind. If they were on rolls it would be easier to store them.

I wrapped the ribbon around  floss bobbins (available from craft stores) and secured the ends with a pin. Would you believe I have more than 300 types of ribbon? I rediscovered some beauties so hopefully you will see some ribbon inspired project soon.

Much better!

For more ribbon storage ideas check out our Ribbon Storage Pinterest page. I buy most of my ribbons from Ribbons Galore.

Chocolate and Ginger Cookies

One of our family favourite cookie recipes, are these scrummy Chocolate Ginger Cookies that Sarah bakes for us. There is something about chocolate and ginger that works so well together. These cookies don't last long in our home and are especially good warm from the oven. If you have any left over, they do freeze well so you always have a sweet treat on hand.

Ingredients:

200 g (7 oz) dark chocolate (semisweet)

1 1/2 cups, plus 1 tablespoon plain (all purpose) flour

1 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon mixed spice

1 tablespoon Dutch cocoa

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unslated butter

1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger

1/2 cup dark brown sugar, well packed

1/4 cup golden syrup (molasses)

1 teaspoon bicarb soda (baking soda)

1/4 cup sugar (granulated)

Method:

1. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Chop chocolate into chunks, set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, ground ginger,cinnamon,  mixed spice, and cocoa.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and grated ginger until whitened, approx 4 minutes. Add brown sugar, beat until combined. Add golden syrup, beat until combined.
3. In a small bowl, dissolve bicarb soda in 1 1/2 teaspoons boiling water. Beat half of flour mixture into butter mixture. Beat in bicarb soda mixture, then remaining half of flour mixture. Mix in chocolate. Turn onto a piece of glad wrap (plastic wrap). Pat dough into a disc about 3 cm (1 inch) thick. Seal with wrap and refrigerate until firm - approx 2 hours.
4. Heat oven to 160 deg C (325 deg F). Roll dough into small balls (or use a small/mini ice-cream scoop) and place on baking sheets 6 cm (2 inches) apart. refrigerate for 20 minutes. Roll balls in sugar. Bake until surfaces crack slightly, approximately 10-12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart's Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies.

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Book Review: Everything Patchwork by Corinne Crasbercu

One of the loveliest books in my sewing library, is Everything Patchwork  by Corinne Crasbercu, which is part of the Made in France Series. The book contains 40 projects for classic quilts, bags, and accessories. The author is a designer and stylist for Marie Claire Idees, one of my favourite magazines for crafty inspiration.

All of the projects are styled and photographed beautifully. It is lovely fabric eye candy. The projects are suitable for a beginner to intermediate sewer, and most can be made in an afternoon. All of the projects are photographed at the front of the book, with the instructions and patterns in the back. All of the templates/pattern pieces are included, but many need to be enlarged.

Some of my favourite projects include:

Bordered Basket and Rosette

Bird Tea Cosy

Home Sweet Home Decoration

Mushroom Pincushion

Details:

• Publisher: Murdoch Books
• Published: 01 July 2011
• Format: Paperback 144 pages, paperback
• ISBN 13: 9781741969702 ISBN 10: 1741969700

The Book is available from Fishpond (free delivery Australia wide) and The Book Depository (free delivery worldwide).