Creative Prompt #184: Cake

Today is the Young Man’s birthday, thus the word is in celebration of his special day. Thanks for playing along.

sponge cake

Victoria Pastry, North Beach

beefcake

fruit cake

cheesecake

Definition:

Cake is a form of bread or bread-like food. In its modern forms, it is typically a sweet baked dessert. In its oldest forms, cakes were normally fried breads or cheesecakes, and normally had a disk shape. Determining whether a given food should be classified as bread, cake, or pastry can be difficult.

Modern cake, especially layer cakes, normally contain a combination of flour, sugar, eggs, and butter or oil, with some varieties also requiring liquid (typically milk or water) and leavening agents (such as yeast or baking powder). Flavorful ingredients like fruit purées, nuts, dried or candied fruit, or extracts are often added, and numerous substitutions for the primary ingredients are possible. Cakes are often filled with fruit preserves or dessert sauces (like pastry cream), iced with buttercream or other icings, and decorated with marzipan, piped borders or candied fruit.[1]

Cake is often the dessert of choice for meals at ceremonial occasions, particularly weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays. There are countless cake recipes; some are bread-like, some rich and elaborate, and many are centuries old. Cake making is no longer a complicated procedure; while at one time considerable labor went into cake making (particularly the whisking of egg foams), baking equipment and directions have been simplified so that even the most amateur cook may bake a cake.

Cake (band)

Gateaux

Kuchen

flourless cake

Cake Boss

birthday cake

sheet cake

cupcake

Take 5 minutes to do any kind of artistic response: poem, doodle, quilt, pastel, pencil. ANYTHING counts. No rules; just do it!

Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog.

The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to  post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.

bundt cake

Hostess cupcakes

Wedding cake

Layer cake

icing on the cake

Cake Wrecks

Climate Adaption Knowledge Exchange

Cake decorations

2005 movie

clot

slice of cake

Nursery Rhyme (Wikipedia):

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Roll it, Pat it and mark it with B,
Put it in the oven for baby and me.[1]
Patty cake, patty cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Roll it up, roll it up;
And throw it in a pan!
Patty cake, patty cake, baker’s man.[2][3]
Patty cake, patty cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Roll it up, roll it up;
Put it in a pan;
And toss it in the oven as fast as you can! (common modern versions)

A-B-C Challenge Back

A-B-C Challenge back
A-B-C Challenge back

Sunday, I worked on the A-B-C Challenge back. I finished the top on Saturday and got busy with the back on Sunday. It took forever. Well, it seemed like it took forever.

I think I was just tired. I took last week, mostly, off, but with one thing and another, I did a lot.

Another thought is that I have really high expectations of what I can accomplish in a given number of hours. I don’t usually count requests for my chauffeur service, laundry duties, lunch, etc.

For once, I was very careful about pressing the seams open, though Colleen never says anything about that. I am proud of myself.

I am also pleased that I could use another giant piece of Martha Negley fabric. I love her prints, just like I love Philip Jacobs prints. Putting the large flower on the back of the Flowering Snowball was such a great experience that I wanted to repeat it. This particular print has some odd colors, but they go well with the Empire gold that Pat Bravo loves and includes with her collections. Also the green goes well with that border fabric.

I am trying to use larger pieces and make simpler backs. They take less time. Can you tell how simple this back is compared to the Stepping Stones back? I wonder what I was thinking!

Donation Top

Stars & Stripes blocks
Stars & Stripes blocks

In looking for the Original Bullseye, I came across two other projects. One was additional blocks for the Spiderweb. Those are going straight to the Charity Girls at BAMQG. I am not working on anymore of those blocks. I also found several Stars and Stripes blocks.

This foundation pieced pattern was given to me by a guild – the San Francisco Quilt Guild, I believe – a long, long time ago. They were collecting blocks in blues with white centers for some kind of quilt around 1997. I had a tiny baby, a new house, a new job and a DH with a new job at the time so my memories are little foggy. I don’t remember and I don’t know if I took a photo. I remember making at least one block to donate, but I really became enamored with the design of this block. I began making it in pinks, oranges, reds and yellows.

Unsewn block
Unsewn block

Then something happened and I lost interest. Actually, I think “lost interest” is a nice way of saying that I made some bad design choices, and started to dislike foundation piecing. The combination became deadly.

This was about the time I started the Spiderweb. I loved the possibilities of foundation piecing at that time. I still like the possibilities; I am just less enamored with the foundation piecing part. I couldn’t fix the design issues without redoing a lot and I abandoned the project. I have decided that it will stay abandoned. Not the pattern, because the pattern is cool, but this particular rendition of the pattern.

I know that this will make a really bright and cheerful donation quilt, so I don’t mind giving it away.

Much.

Sewn Block
Sewn Block

I always have a pang of regret every time I decide to abandon something. I feel bad that I don’t want to finish something, but frankly, I feel like I can’t finish everything, especially the projects that are so old I barely remember starting them. I can move through projects, even complex projects, much faster now, so there is less figuring and testing.

Once I get through the 26 Projects List, I don’t intend to let projects linger or put them away for ‘later.’ Famous last words. Stay tuned to see if I live up to my intentions!

 

#BFSI in Review

Yesterday I detailed all the BFSI comments you wrote (keep ’em coming!) and the prizes I gave away. I actually did get sewing done, which was great. I don’t feel like I got as much sewing done as I would have liked, but I got enough done. I guess.

As an aside: Is it ever really possible to get enough sewing done? I don’t know what enough sewing is, so I can’t say. I would like to try to figure it out, though.

Enough of that.

I know that there were a number of people who had to work, Kati had problems with her laptop, so could only follow along and others had family obligations, so I feel lucky to have gotten done what I did get done.

I started out the day by getting up a bit on the late side…for me. I got up around 7am and since we had 24 people over to eat the night before, I got the first load of non-china dishes going in the dishwasher while my tea steeped. There were also some things that needed to be soaked, so I put them in hot water as well. I could hear the call of Twitter, though, throughout the chores, so I didn’t stay away for much longer.. My phone has been acting up, so I gave it a good talking to, which encouraged it to work. I was able to use it during the day as well.

I kind of think that I did some #BFSI warm-ups earlier in the week with the cat beds and the donation blocks. Who doesn’t need a good warm up?

I promised to make two pincushions for the BAMQG raffle basket, so I decided to get busy on those. The meeting is next week, after all, so I didn’t have much time.

I used a charm pack from Sandy Gervaise called Objects of Desire and the Petit Gateau pattern from Fig Tree quilts. This is the pattern I used before and I liked it.

In general, I like Sandy Gervaise’s fabric designs. They are fun, generally cheerful or have a bit of humor. She also usually includes dots, which I love. I have found, thoughn that her color choices are usually a bit too beige for me. She often has a really good and fun print on the front of the charm pack, but as I pick through the fabrics (which is one reason charm packs are great!), I find many of the fabrics to be ‘Meh.’ I don’t hate them by any stretch, but they aren’t my favorites.

Pincushions in progress
Pincushions in progress

Why choose ‘meh’ fabrics for pincushions, you ask? In small doses they are a relatively cheerful and a nice combination of fabrics for a pincushion. It took me some time to get them together, but once I made the half square triangles, they went pretty quickly. I sewed a couple of charms together to make the gusset piece. I thought about digging around in my fabric closet, but have plenty of charms, so that worked for me.

I have a lot of charms from the pack left so might make a couple more pincushions as gifts. They are fun and cute.

I have some hand stitching to finish, buttons to attach, but I am pleased with the way they look. They are cheerful and I like the different scales of fabric.

I also worked on the A-B-C Challenge. I know I talked about it before, but in order to get to the stage of FINISHED top, I worked on the border on Saturday as well. I spent most of the time that I worked on this piece on the grey inner border.

Patchwork Wheel #7 & 8
Patchwork Wheel #7 & 8

I also always need leaders and enders. That is mostly how I am getting the Patchwork Wheel blocks done. I doubt I will get a quilt top from them finished by the meeting next Saturday, but I can finish it by January.

Sandy talked about her BFSI experience on her blog. Sarah detailed her progress and she had to go to work! Pam did a lot of sewing work, but admitted to finishing the Star Wars quilt during the Black Friday Sew-in. Katie made major progress on her Orca Bay quilt. She was being good and trying to finish it before Easy Street started.

Did you join in? What did you work on?

#BFSI Follow-up

Black Friday Sew-in prizes
Black Friday Sew-in prizes

Unless you were absolutely not paying attention, or just discovered this blog yesterday, you will know that I participated in the Black Friday Sew-in. I was pleased to get some prizes from Lark Crafts (thanks, Shannon & Ray) to giveaway. I also had a few bits and bobs to round out the gifts.

I posted questions to which I was really interested in hearing the answers. You did not disappoint. Thanks for all of your thoughtful and complete answers. Except for Q2, of course, which was a blatant attempt to get people to use fabric gift bags instead of wrapping paper for Christmas. 😉 I don’t think I succeeded this year, but I hope springs eternal that I put a bug in people’s ear for next year.

Here are the awesome stats:

Q1: 17 comments

Q2: 5 comments

Q3: 16 comments

Q4: 14 comments

I really appreciate everyone commenting, especially those who read and have never commented before.

Q1 Winners: Becky in PA, Mary Ann, SandyH

Q2 Winners: Glen, Quiltin’ Jenny

Q3 Winners: Pam, Susan, Lori Kay, EngrSandi

Q4 Winners: Torie, Sarah, Amy

I am going to have to send the books off a little at a time during the week as I don’t drive to work and can’t carry them all at once. Never fear! You’ll get your prizes. If you don’t like your prize or are mad that you didn’t win, blame my DH, he picked all the numbers. 😉 I won’t tell you where he lives, because I like him and would like to keep him in one piece. Thanks for playing along.

I hope you will write about the Black Friday Sew-in, your thoughts and ideas on your blog or on Big Tent (anyone, practically, can join) or somewhere, so those of us who organized the event and the giveaways hear what you thought.

I also hope you will go back and read the comments. People did a GREAT job answering and I was pleased to go back and read. If I haven’t responded, don’t worry, I will. It might take me a few days, but I will respond. I have read every comment!

I also have to say how wonderful everyone was when I emailed them about the giveaway. Everyone had such kind things to say about my blog and my writing. It gave me a real boost. Thanks!

 

 

 

A-B-C Challenge Top Finished

A-B-C Challenge Top Finished
A-B-C Challenge Top Finished

I know I should wait until after the BAMQG meeting to crow, but I can’t! I just finished this top yesterday and am THRILLED with the way it came out. The border is much simpler than I originally thought I would make, but I think it brings out all the piecing in the individual blocks. So far, I am in love.

I am planning to work on the back today. I have a large piece of the Martha Negley Mum Toss print (lower right hand corner of photo, below) to put on the back. The main color is the same as the very outer border of the front. Also, that weird gold is included in the Martha Negley print. I have to do a label and a binding, but I think I can do both tomorrow.
New Pieces, October 2012

FOTY 2012 – Late November

FOTY 2012 Late November
FOTY 2012 Late November

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Yesterday was fun, but I am ready to get back to normal blogging. It was exhausting trying to keep up with the questions and the comments. Look for winners and more tomorrow.

I have been cutting and pressing fabric a little at a time. I realized that I needed to get my act together if I am going to work on this quilt at Retreat at the end of January. I do enjoy looking at the patches on my design wall and thinking about where I bought the fabric, what project I was working on when I cut the smaller squares and future projects I am planning.

I did find that this process was good for putting fabrics together that I might not thought of putting together. I got a Chicopee solids pack (Thanks, Temptress Adrianne!). While those fabrics were waiting to be pressed, they were on top of a large floral by Philip Jacobs and I noticed they all went really well together. There was another dot fabric that was perfect, too. Not sure what I will make, but something.

I have a big stack of fabric to press and cut and another big stack to wash, press and cut.  Not my favorite tasks, but not horrible either. Great for calming me down in stressful situations. Too bad they won’t give me the space to set up an ironing board, iron and cutting mat at work. 😉

Black Friday Sew-in Question #4

I have posted questions throughout the day. This is the last question that will enable you to be eligible to win prizes during the Black Friday Sew-in.  Some of the prizes will be awarded in a random drawing, but if I really like an answer, I might award that person a prize as well. My blog, my rules. If you object, don’t enter.

Question #4: What type of NON-QUILTMAKING books provide inspiration for your work?

I really like art books and books of plates of botanical prints, drawings and paintings. I also like John Singer Sargent’s work, so books of his works also provide inspiration. Glossy, expensive fashion magazines can provide excellent sources of inspiration.

I have a series of reviews for Lark Books that may provide some inspiration that might help answer this question.

I have the following books to giveaway:
Master’s Art Quilts v.1 (see review)
Master’s Art Quilts v.2 (see review)
Art Quilt Portfolio (see review )
Quilt it with Love: The Project Linus Story
Shape Workshop for Quilters

+ 3 older charm packs

Thanks to Shannon at Lark Crafts and to Ray Hemachandra for sending along the books and being supportive of the Black Friday Sew-in.

Fair warning: You will not win or be entered in the drawing if you do not answer the question, though you do get good karma points for good manners. 😉

Black Friday Sew-in Question #3

I will be posting a series of questions that will enable you to win prizes for the Black Friday Sew-in.  Some of the prizes will be awarded in a random drawing, but if I really like an answer, I might award that person a prize as well. My blog, my rules. If you object, don’t enter.

Question 3: Why do you tweet or not tweet? Do you follow along on Tweetchat. Do you have a blog (put a link below so I can take a look) and like to focus there?

Write it all out below. Optional bonus for posting a photo to Twitter or a link on Twitter to your blog where you post a photo.

Fair warning: You will not win or be entered in the drawing if you do not answer the question. If you say “please enter me in the drawing,” your manners do count for good karma. Thank you for saying please, but I will not enter you in the drawing. I want words, content and pictures!

I have the following books to giveaway:
Master’s Art Quilts v.1 (see review)
Master’s Art Quilts v.2 (see review)
Art Quilt Portfolio (see review )
Quilt it with Love: The Project Linus Story
Shape Workshop for Quilters

+ 3 older charm packs

Thanks to Shannon at Lark Crafts and to Ray Hemachandra for sending along the books and being supportive of the Black Friday Sew-in.

Black Friday Sew-in Giveaway Question #2

As I may have mentioned, I am posting questions throughout the day that will enable you to be eligible to win prizes during the Black Friday Sew-in.  Some of the prizes will be awarded in a random drawing, but if I really like an answer, I might award that person a prize as well. My blog, my rules. If you object, don’t enter.

Task 1 / Question #2: Make a gift bag. I have posted a link on my tutorial page for a few years that shows you how to make holiday gift bags. You do not have to make a Christmas gift bag (kind of silly, if you don’t celebrate Christmas!). You can make a bag to use for birthdays or general gift giving.

Reasons to make and use gift bags:

  1. Festive gift bags save time during gift giving times, because they are quick to use.
  2. Great use of all that festive fabric now that you have decided not to make a Christmas or ___fill in the holiday blank___ quilt.
  3. You are not using paper that will get ripped off and recycled in a month anyway.
  4. No tape.
  5. Easy to open and look in if the gift tag falls off.

Fair warning: You will can only win or be entered in the drawing if you make a gift bag and show a picture of it somewhere.

I have the following books to giveaway:
Master’s Art Quilts v.1 (see review)
Master’s Art Quilts v.2 (see review)
Art Quilt Portfolio (see review )
Quilt it with Love: The Project Linus Story
Shape Workshop for Quilters

+ 3 older charm packs

Thanks to Shannon at Lark Crafts and to Ray Hemachandra for sending along the books and being supportive of the Black Friday Sew-in.

Black Friday Sew-in Question #1

I will be posting a series of questions that will enable you to win prizes for the Black Friday Sew-in.  Some of the prizes will be awarded in a random drawing, but if I really like an answer, I might award that person a prize as well. My blog, my rules. If you object, don’t enter.

Question 1: What do you keep near your sewing machine or on your worktable to provide inspiration? Do you have a tableau? Do you have a shrine? Photos of your beloved?

Write it all out below. Optional bonus for posting a photo to Twitter or a link on Twitter to your blog where you post a photo.

Fair warning: You will not win or be entered in the drawing if you do not answer the question. If you say “please enter me in the drawing,” your manners do count for good karma. I thank you for saying please, but I will not enter you in the drawing. I want words, content and pictures!

11/23/2012 3:55 pm Update: Comments closed. Winner is Becky Greene!

Oh Dear! #BFSI

I am hiding upstairs for a minute to breathe. I am Miss Popularity down in the dining room (she who brings food is popular) at the moment.

The Black Friday Sew in is on Friday (thus the name). Sandy organized all the things she wants to work on and I realized halfway through the main course that I had not thought about what I am going to work on tomorrow. Yes, I have to sort silver and put the china away, but I am talking about PROJECTS! Sewing projects!

Yikes!

The Spiderweb top is done and I am still ripping out paper, so I will start the back, etc after I finish the ripping. I don’t want to work on that, because I want to be at the machine and ripping out foundation paper is a good TV project. I have to put the borders the A-B-C Challenge, so I will definitely do that. BUT what else? I don’t know. I do hope something occurs to me before I waste a whole day staring at the machine.

  • T-shirt quilt, I think.
  • Patchwork Wheel blocks

Perhaps those two projects will keep me busy and I will get a lot of them done.

Black Friday Sew-in Giveaway Tomorrow!

I am giving away books as part of the Black Friday Sew-in organized by Sandy over at Quilting…for the Rest of Us.

I have received several books (some multiples and duplicates) from Lark Crafts for giveaways during the Black Friday Sew In. I am not keeping these books, so if nobody responds to the giveaway**, I will be sending them along to podcasters as thank yous for producing entertaining shows.

On Friday (e.g. NOT today), I will be posting questions to this blog, yes, in this space, which you will answer in order to be entered into the giveaway.

I will let you know via Twitter when the questions are posted. If you don’t already follow me, please do so at @artquiltmaker to see the giveaway posts.

I have the following books to giveaway:
Master’s Art Quilts v.1 (see review)
Master’s Art Quilts v.2 (see review)
Art Quilt Portfolio (see review )
Quilt it with Love: The Project Linus Story
Shape Workshop for Quilters

Thanks to Shannon at Lark Crafts and to Ray Hemachandra for sending along the books and being supportive of the Black Friday Sew-in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**I don’t like doing giveaways, because they are a lot of work, often a big pain and I get little-nothing out of them except that I spread a little joy. That is worth something, definitely. Pretty please, follow the directions and no complaints. Thanks.

Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving

  1. I am grateful everyone who reads this blog
  2. Thanks to my dear, darling fabulous husband who puts up all the time and space I need to sew and blog
  3. I am grateful for everyone who comments on posts
  4. Thanks to everyone participates and shares their projects for opening my eyes to new fabrics, blocks and possibilities
  5. I am grateful for my first quilting teacher, Kathy, who taught me great skills and has provided me with an ongoing sense of joy for these many years.
  6. I am grateful for the podcasters like Frances, Sandy, Tanesha, Pam and all the others who take the time out of their busy schedules to entertain us.
  7. I am grateful that I have fabric from which to choose
  8. I am grateful for CQFA and all of its members provide me with endless inspiration and continuing awe
  9. I am grateful for BAMQG and the energy and fun the people there bring to my life.
  10. I am grateful for the BAMQG Charity Girls who have provided me with a sense of contribution and joy this year through the donation program
  11. Thanks to all of my teachers who encouraged me to write, because it brings me such joy to write about quiltmaking
  12. Thanks to all the quilt book authors who take their time and energy to share their designs and ideas with me
  13. I am grateful to Lark Crafts for letting me one of their bloggers.
  14. Thanks to the authors, publishers and narrators who make audiobooks possible
  15. I am grateful to everyone who appreciates my quiltmaking efforts