Zakka Style Sewalong #2 Pencil Case

My second project from the Zakka Style Book.
{My first is here.}
This pencil case was a tad  more difficult than the pincushion and if you made it from the book would qualify as an advanced beginner sewing project. Of course, I saw Kerry's horse-themed case and immediately got in gear to make an airplane-themed case.
Here's where the directions in the book bogged me down. The whole case is one long strip, folded up with the other end folded down to become the flap. There were no measurements for where those folds might be. Adding embellishments not knowing where the fold would be is a guessing game the first time around. You will see where one of mine got hidden under the band.
I am usually good with visualizing but I had  some trouble envisioning the end result at being only 2 1/2" wide.

My cute striped embellishment got hidden when the
flap was tucked into the band.

I would have liked the stripe on the flap better up an inch.

There were stars on that tan bit under the airplane line drawing.
Until I forgot when I ironed them onto my iron.
They melted.

I added some star 'rivets' to my twill tape band.

Picking out the fabrics et al takes up most of your time. The sewing - 3" seams! takes up hardly any time at all.
I used linen this time too. Do airplanes get to be called Zakka?


Once the case was made up and the colored pencils found, I found it to be the perfect size.

Zakka Style Sewalong 1

A sewing book called Zakka Style has been going the rounds with a  Sewalong. Written by the talented Rashida Coleman, it contains 24 projects from her favorite Zakka sew-ers. Zakka being a Japanese esthetic word for cute & hand-sewn with details.
I had previously made one of Rashida's Snappy Coin Purses and wanted to play around with linen more.

The first project I did from the book was the pincushion. Pictured in neutral off-white linen with a cotton print next to it. Turn it over to see this gorgeous salmon pink linen for the backing.
Of course I immediately go into fabric panic. The only linens I have are white or off-white. Where do you get pink linen? Did she dye it? Where did she find it? on & on until I thought my head would implode.
Sorting through my fabrics, I eventually came across this damask tablecloth in watered blue (a bleach incident in another life) and got over myself, changed gears and did NOT use linen at all.
Does this disqualify my pincushion from being Zakka?

I also played with stamping Stearman's on twill tape. This project - in the book - specifically called for a stamped twill tape embellishment and I was ready to follow instructions exactly. {don't be rolling in the aisles - that's my job}.

I have had this little ironing board print in my stash for too long but because it was kelly green (and I have the yellow colorway as well) it sat waiting for the right project.

See what I put on the backside - another print in the green colorway:

Bunnies flying airplanes

This turned out darn cute. However, I really couldn't get into the pincushion thing so I filled it with lavender and stuffing. Whoever gets it can decide if they want a sweet smelling lavender sachet or an airplane pincushion.

Instructions were spot on, easy to read, short & fast.
I found the button ONLY AFTER I sewed the pincushion.

Gluten Free White Birthday Cake

Bakery Girl's Gluten Free White Cake

1 cup Butter
1 Cup Sugar
4 Eggs & 1 Yolk
3/4 tsp Hazelnut Extract
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/3 Cup Millet Flour
2/3 Cup Sorghum Flour
1/3 Cup Tapioca or Potato Starch
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp  Salt

Preheat oven to 350'.
Grease & Flour cake pans. I used 2x 8" pans.

Mix all flours, bak. pwd. & salt. Set aside.

Beat butter with electric mixer until light & fluffy.

Add sugar, beat again for several minutes until light & fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating 2 minutes after each egg.

Add extracts.

Fold flour mixture carefully so as to not lose the light softness that you spent several minutes mixing in.

Pour into/ fold into  prepared cake pans and smooth surface as best as you can.

Bake until the top is golden brown and a toothpick comes out shiny but not sticky - around 18 - 20 minutes. (I needed 22 minutes -- 8" pans?)

Remove from pans after about 10 minutes and let cool.

Because of the double extracts, this smells devine out of the oven. Mmm.
Be sure to beat and beat some more. Goal is to incorporate lots of air into this batter.

When queried, the birthday girl requested chocolate frosting. I made a simple buttercream.
Loose measurements are:

1/3 cup softened butter beaten with mixer.
Add two cups of Powdered sugar and beat so butter sticks to sugar.
Add about 1 capful from the jug of milk (~ tbsp)
Add 1 -2 squares of unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled a bit.
Add several Tbsps of powdered cocoa.
Add 1 capful of milk again until it starts looking like frosting.
Add up to two cups more of powdered sugar
Maybe another capful of milk

To spreading consistency. Finger licking is necessary.

And then - because I don't stock birthday candles or other decorations anymore, be creative for the decorations.
I had little valentine colored sprinkles that made the chocolate pop. Cute.
You could also utilize some flag toothpicks by glueing a triangle of paper to the tips as a flag.

And here was the best deal: Gluten-free baking (whatever your reasons) is done well by the combination of select & certain flours. Of which you buy the entire bag from Bob's Red Mill and because you infrequently bake (my health problems go beyond gluten), you are stuck with the remainder - all these bags piled into the fruit drawer of your fridge. I asked for and got nicely, the precise amount of flours direct from bakery girl. Beyond helpful to me.

A moist, light cake.

Technically, the extracts are in an alcohol (grain) base. Feel free to substitute but be mindful of the liquid replacement value.
Those specialty bags of flour store longer in the fridge.
Since the butter has salt in it, I added just a sprinkle.
I had minimal problems eating this cake. Two slices over two days.

It Became A Really Good Day.

Friday.
The day of the garage sales. Work too - but we don't count that as part of really good.
This morning after finishing my am shift, I headed over to the next town to do a little garage saling. Along the way, I passed the field with the little lambs out frolicking - but as usual - no camera with me.
At the sale, I found 3 painted dressers that would be perfect for Lavender Hill Cottage , my creative friend's shop. Frantic texting back & forth - neither one of us owns a smart phone yet - produced an offer which was accepted. Before I even saw the dressers, I found a metal bathroom shelf which when queried, was only a dollar. Good vibes. No prices on anything but the prices continued to be fantastic.
My car would only hold two of the dressers so I will have to come back this afternoon to pick up the third dresser prior to going back to work.
What did I buy? A leather valise in great condition - perfect for storing some of my fabric - one of the smaller collections. I also got as a bonus, fabrics in the lower two drawers of one of the dressers which I split with creative friend.
Feeling smug about my good deal, I dropped off the dressers and headed home to bake a gluten-free white cake that bakery girl dreamed up. That's for my daughter's birthday cake.
I had time to check my etsy order page and pack up an order when I noticed an email from Best buy.
GIVING me a $125 coupon towards anything. Which means I am getting the IPAD for my birthday. Apparently part of my laptop deal from last fall.
Skip around the house. giggle.
I starting laying out the ingredients for the cake when I heard the unmistakable rumble of trucks outside. Running out to see  -- this--.

And this.

{{the shack}} wing parts

And this.

more wing parts

I picked up dog poop so no one would step in any but someone still managed to do so while pushing the fuselage back towards the hangar.
Then I ran back into the house to get that cake going so it would have time to cool and get it out of the pans before I needed to leave.

Meanwhile the guys unloaded all this.

Someday, it will turn out to look something like this.

One final pic.
Wait - I want you to know, bakery girl - your gluten-free cake recipe turned out stunning.
Out of the oven and it smells de-lish.
I'll post the recipe another time cause this day ain't over yet.

I get dibs on being PAT.

Visting Portland

If you were to visit Portland, I would show you everything in this video.


Finding Portland from Uncage the Soul Productions on Vimeo.

Plucky Maidens

Lavender Hill Cottage
oregon city, oregon

This last weekend of April showcases several fun venues to buy plants and vintage re-purposed goods.
My friends from Lavender Hill Cottage in Oregon City will be at the Plucky Maiden's Junk Fest along with 75 - 100 other vendors in Portland.  It's at the Columbia Conference Center on 85th and NE Columbia by the Portland Airport. Lots of fun items to look through Friday & Saturday.

During the week is the Canby High School's Plant Sale where you can score big deals on your garden plants. Often only 50 cents to a dollar per plant, I will stock up on Tomato starts as well as geranium, fuchsia & other flowers. Hanging Baskets available too (think Mother's Day?). The CHS students provide and plant the big baskets around town.


Also this weekend is the RiteAid Distribution Center Plant Sale with proceeds going to Doernbecher's Children Hospital. Fundraiser held on Friday and Saturday with plants donated by 60 area nurseries. Apparently Miss Oregon will be signing autographs on Friday afternoon. Best prices are Saturday afternoon when things start winding down.

Just When I Think My Life Has Too much Drama

A friend shared this video on the facebook:


Sometimes I want the giant red Emergency OFF button.