Muskogee Ren Fair Fun - Picture Heavy

We finally got to go to a Renaissance Fair. Muskogee Oklahoma is only 2 1/2 hours away from us so we were able to make that festival. It was worth the ride in the car with five kids and the fee to get in. We were able to go on Memorial day because we only get National holidays off. Lucky for us it was a Monday too. We had so much fun and decided that this would be our Memorial Day gig for a while.

Here are the obligatory Family photos.

Sorry you say cheese and these boys start hamming it up!

Sting gave him courage!

They had a children's land where it was totally kid oriented. They kids loved it!

They had a pony ride that the girls and bubby just loved.

Just look at that face. He was in little boy heaven. I wish I could have heard what he was thinking. His eyes were so big all day with all the knights, pirates, and real armor everywhere.

The archery booth was a big hit too.

Man I wish my corset fit like that! She also had pretty good aim. I was impressed.

The bow string was so tight he couldn't pull it back so bubby decided to just chuck his arrow over the barrier at the target.

There were three times Joe lost his cool guy face; at the archery booth, at the armor shop, and at the knife shop. It was so funny watching him battling being 13 and being in such a groovy place.

Isn't that a total Lucy Pevensie face?!? She was dangerous though because she would get distracted by us and turn to look and accidental let arrows fly in our direction. SCARY!

Bubby picked these up right after we got there. Everywhere we went he had to have them in his hands and would hold them up every time we passed a knight just to show he was one of them. It was so fun to watch his face. One of the shop owners just about died laughing watching him eye a knight's sword. His eyes were so big and his mouth was wide open. He had only seen things like this in movies. He was so thrilled to find out they were "REAL". Oh to be three again!

The place was covered with beautiful ladies!

Even their dad got in on the fun. He actually enjoyed the "Nerd" Fest. Hmmmm.... Somehow going to Ren Fest wasn't as dump as someone had once thought. hee hee hee

I had a lot of fun too but lucky for us all I was behind the camera. It was bad enough that we saw pound of giggly flesh there that day. Mine was not necessary to see. :o)

I do have to give a plug for the best corset shop ever. Our friends Michelle and Jill were there all month with the Damsel in this Dress corset shop. Check them out. Their stuff is fabulous.

Pirate Pants Tutorial (a.k.a. bandana Pants)

Here is a quick and dirty tutorial for making summer pants for your kids. Once you have be basic concept you can make these for just about anyone and just about any size. I will give some info on that at the end of the Tute.

My kids love these pants and wear them all summer. I have found that they fit about a large 3T to about a size 10 or so. My 11 (almost 12) year old can still wear hers but she is super skinny.

Materials

2 large bandanas (smaller ones would make pants for a toddler)
Thread.


Construction

1. Place two bandanas right sides together.

2. Fold them in half and just out a J shaped piece from one outside corner. The J size I use for most children is about 3" by 9". I came up with that number by measuring their crotch from the top of their bum to their belly button and then dividing that number in half and added a couple of inches. I placed the measuring tape on the fabric in a J shape and evened it up and decided that was my J shape. (sorry not very scientific but it works for me).

I had a little pirate waiting for the pants. Tutorials take oh so long when you are 6 and are waiting for some hot new pants to run around in.

3. Take each leg piece now and fold it in half with right sides together and sew up the inside seams. Since the bandanas are already hemmed you just need to make sure you keep that edge even.

4. Turn one leg right side out and slip it "inside" the other leg. Stitch the crotch seam.



5. Turn down the waist about 1 1/2" and press. Sew a casing 1" from the outside edge. Leave an opening to run the elastic in. Sew another casing 1/2" from top edge leaving a hole for the elastic in the same place as the first. Run two pieces of elastic through and secure them and finish off the seam. (measure around the waist and cut the elastic to fit. You can "test the elastic first around them and see how snug you want it.)



You are done!!! One Happy Pirate. These shorts will fit from mid calf to the knee depending on how tall your child is. They are long pants for my 3 year old and shorts for my 11 year old.

You can also make these pants with just fabric if you don't have bandannas. Two fat quarters make pants for a little kid. You can also make these for larger people by using yardage. You want to measure around the widest part and divide that by 2 and add four or five inches. That is how wide each piece of fabric needs to be to go around the waist, hips and legs of a larger person.
Play with the measurements and see what you come up with. You will need to finish the top edge of the pants with a zig-zag or serger and will have to help the pants.

Have fun and please post your pictures in the " Sewing with Mama Byrd Tutorials" flickr group.

Neapolitan Skirt PDF Ready

It's Done!!! Can you tell I am excited?!

The PDF file pattern is finished and ready for sale at my Etsy Shop.

My Byrd Nest

I have also finished up some skirts that are for sale at the shop right now.

Let's Bake a Sunshine Cake

We have had an exceptionally wet spring this year here in MO.



We had almost 3 weeks of rainy weather and very little sunshine. So last week we decided to bake a Sunshine cake to encourage the sun to come out so we can work outside in the garden.
I occasionally go over to Aunt Ruthie's Sugar Pie Farmhouse. I enjoy her music play list. It features songs I heard on old movies growing up or songs my dad used to sing, play or listen to. One of the songs she plays is Sunshine Cake featuring Frank Sinatra with Paula Kelly. Well the words have been stuck in my head and I had to find out if there was a "Sunshine Cake" recipe. Well there is, or I should say are. I found hundreds from vintage cookbooks to Food Network.
A traditional Sunshine cake seems to be type of sponge cake. They all seem to involve Oranges and or lemons. So I searched around and came up with a version we wanted to try and here it is.


Mama Byrd's Sunshine Cake Recipe

6 eggs (farm fresh of course), room temperature
1/2 cup cold water
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon juice
1 1/2 Tbsp orange juice
2 Tbsp orange zest
2 tsp lemon zest
1 1/2 C cake flour, sifted **
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Pre-heat oven to 325* F.
Separate eggs, putting whites in a large mixing bowl and yolks in another large mixing bowl. Beat egg yolks until light and foamy. Slowly add the water. Gradually beat in the sugar, vanilla, lemon and orange juice and zests. Beat until pale and thick in texture (about 7 minutes). Sift flour again with the salt and baking powder. Return to sifter and fold the flour mixture into the egg yolk mixture, sifting in a little at a time.
Beat egg whites until foamy. Add a pinch of salt and the cream of tartar. Beat until they form glossy peaks.
Pour the egg yolk mixture in a thin stream over the entire surface of the egg whites, gently cutting and folding with a rubber spatula. Make sure you have them completely folded in.
Pour into a 10" round tube pan with a removable bottom (angel food cake pan). Be sure to remove air pockets.
Bake for 1 hour.
Invert on a rack and let cool in the pan for 1 1/2 hours.
Remove from pan and Ice.

This cake doesn't need much dressing but here is what we put on ours.

Orange Icing

Powdered sugar
orange juice
orange zest

Sorry I didn't measure this, I never do. I took about 2 cups of powdered sugar, poured a couple of Tbsp. of orange juice in and some finely chopped zest and stirred adding juice if needed until I hand a runny Icing. I drizzled that over the cake .



Enjoy!

** I don't have cake flour, never have and most likely never will. :o) However I do know how to make a good substitute. I mixed 1 1/3 C all purpose flour with 1/4 cup corn starch. It worked just fine.
I also discovered that my baking powder was missing that morning so I made a substitute with 1/2 tsp cream of tartar, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp corn starch. It works great too.

The morning after baking the cake my great nieces Gwenny and Renata and Julia came to spend the day. Jeddie has big sisters so he knows that when girls get together they have tea parties. He saw the cake in the kitchen and pointed to it and said that the girls needed a tea party. He helped me set it up and called them in for herbal tea, cucumber sandwiches, Sunshine cake and fresh fruit. I think they had some fun. They all helped fix up a plate to trot over to grandma's house next door.

Neapolitan Skirt

Thanks to a bug my friend Michelle put in my head a few days ago, I came up with a nifty thrifty, easy peasy skirt pattern to make multi sized, double sided skirts for my girls. The pattern makes skirts from size 6 mos to girls size 14 or larger if you wanted.

Here are the first three I made.


Side 1


Side 2

I am working up the instructions this weekend with illustrations and am seeking out some handy dandy pattern testers to see if someone else can follow my instructions.
It really is so simple to make, just 3 or 4 steps and you have a lovey, sturdy, double sided skirt with no hem. I really hate sewing hems and gathering.

I would love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment.


*** Edited*****
The Neapolitan Skirt Pattern is for sale in my Etsy Shops Here and Here.

Tessa Bloomers and Matching Bag Giveaway!!!

The lovely ladies at Marie-Madeline Studios are giving away a pair of their new Tessa Bloomers and a matching bag.

You just have to go to their blog and follow their directions to leave a post and get counted. (be sure to mention that you came from here and that Lucy sent you so I can get an extra point.) :o)
You can also buy this pattern at their Etsy Shop.

Busy Bee Club Apron Swap

I will not be running a new swap here until June. If you are looking for another swap to join you can BUZZ on over to the Sassy/Flirty Apron Swap Blog and join Lucy and Shawnee in the Busy Bee Club Garden Apron Swap Club.

Green - Jeans Apron - Tutorial

Yes I have another jeans apron tutorial. This one is by request of my 13 year old son. He wanted a new apron. It had to be durable and boy friendly. So here is yet another Jeans Apron tutorial. Yes I know that make 4 of them now.
I very much believe in the Depression Era adage of -
"Use it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
And Do without."
My mother had this hanging on the wall of our home when I was growing up. I love writing tutorial for re purposing found objects.
Well on to the tutorial.

Materials List

1 pair of old Jeans.
Straps - can be heavy twill tape, wide ribbon, fabric sewn, or even left over strips from the jeans.
Snaps, buttons, or something to make it it adjustable.
Thread


Sewing Instructions

Take the jeans and cut them off at the top of the leg. (just below all the pockets. Save the pockets for the pockets on your apron.

Cut the leg of the pants open along the outside seam or the one that is not the flat fell seam. What is that? Here is a picture of the flat fell seam. DON"T CUT THAT ONE.


Lay this leg out flat on your cutting surface. The cuff or bottom of the pant leg will be the top of your apron. For an adult or large child size apron, you will want to use as much of the length of the leg as possible. For a child's apron you can measure down from the hem of the leg how far you want the apron to be long.

You will notice if you are using the whole pant leg that the middle seam of the leg will not lie flat. Where the seam meets the crotch of the pants it is tapered and usually I just cut above it so I don't have to deal with it. Well this time I wanted a little more length to the apron and since they are short legged jeans, I had to use that bit of the pants. So I cut the seam a few inches up until it would lie flat.

Be sure to cut the side that goes under the seam.

Then slide one cut side under the seam so that the piece of fabric will lay flat. pin in place.


Stitch it in place, following the stitching lines of the jeans' seam.

I use gray or light blue thread when sewing on jeans because it becomes invisible. That way you can stitch right over existing seams and it doesn't show at all.

Trim the extra fabric.

Now you will want to trim up the apron.

You will find that one side of the pant leg is wider than the other. I try to even them up.

Next you will want to add an arm curve to the bib of the apron.

I cut my "J" shape at about 2 inches by about 8 inches. For yourself you can hold it up to yourself and see where you want it to hit you.

You could stop here but we wanted an apron that wrapped farther around. So we took the other leg of the jeans and cut it open on both seams giving me two pieces. I cut two equal pieces to fit the side of the apron front. The length and width were determined by the front I had already prepared and the width of the pant leg I was using.


Sew the side pieces in place. I finished this seam off on the serger so it wouldn't ravel. I do recommend at least finishing it with a zigzag stitch.


For the pocket of the apron I cut off one of the hip pockets of the jeans I used. I cut around the outside edge of the pockets and then cut off the inside fabric as well but left the pocket seams intact. I placed the pocket where I wanted it and stitched it in place with gray thread. I followed the stitching on the pocket seam. Again my stitching was invisible.

Now you will want to finish off the seams of this apron. Because this is for my son and he wants to wear it out in the woods while digging around and exploring the pond I chose not to spend too much time fussing about the outside edge. I stitched around the whole edge of the apron with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. I then clipped all but the top seam with my scissors.

Then I washed and dried the apron to "rag" the edge.
You could also finish of the edges with bias binding tape that you purchase from the store or make yourself. You can also fold the edges under but be warned that this gets very bulky with jeans.
For the ties I stitched two lengths of heavy twill tape at the shoulder and crossed them over the back.

Because this apron is for my growing boy I figured I had better make it adjustable. So I put snaps at the back corners of the apron and on the bottom edges of the straps.


If you are making this apron for yourself or someone that is not likely to grown anymore, you can just stitch the straps in place. I chose this style of straps because there is no tying and you can just slip it over your head and are ready to go.
If you don't have snaps you can sew a button hole in the apron and sew buttons on the straps.
If you prefer traditional ties you can sew ties at the neck and the corners of the apron sides and tie the traditionally. This IS your apron so make it the way you like.

Here is my finished apron.

You can doll the apron up with some rick-rack or a ruffle of fabulous fabric or a colorful patch to cover some hole in the jeans. :o) I can't wait to see what varriations you come up with.

Suzi Homemaker Apron Giveaway

The fabulous ladies at Suzi Homeaker AU are sponsoring a Hostess Apron Giveaway at Sassy Apron Swap.

You get entries by leaving comments and it is open to Everyone. So go check it out. You have till Tuesday, April 21.



They create very HOT vintage Aprons.

Happy Easters

Happy Easter

To all my peeps.

From my little peeps.

Marilyn's Oatmeal Cake - Birthday Post

My oldest boy turned 13 this week. I have to say the thing I love most about my boy is his simplicity. He loves simple things. He didn't ask for anything for his birthday. He got some money and wanted to go to the flea market to find some old treasures. He had a ball just looking at old junk and finding "the groovy" in it. When I pressed him for something he wanted he said that a jar of pickles all to himself would be about the coolest thing ever. (he has 4 younger siblings and the thought of possession of food only for himself was pretty tempting). So his sisters got him a jar of pickles and promises not to snitch them, and a jar of Nutella all to himself. He thought that was a real treat.
That is what I mean the boy loves the simple life. Nothing makes him happier that free time out in the woods in our backyard. We asked him what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday and all he said was that he wanted an apple pie. So his little sister made him one. We did get out of him that he does like the oatmeal cake recipe I got from my mom. So we made that. Here is the fabulous cake recipe. It has to date back to at least the 1950's if not before. It is pretty fabulous.

Marilyn's Oatmeal Cake


(You know when you find an old recipe that looks like this, you have found a real treasure. Recipes only look that beat up when they have been made about 1000 times.)


Pour 1 1/2 cup boiling water over
1 cup oatmeal
Let stand

Cream and add to cooled oatmeal
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs

Mix well.
Blend in:
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon

Pour into a greased pan and bake at 375 deg. F for 35 minutes.

Frosting:
Mix:
6 Tbsp Butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup canned milk (any milk will do, even cream)
1/2 tsp vanilla
Cook till thick (10 minutes) and add 1/2 cup coconut and 1/2 cup nuts. Beat until it can be spread.

(I followed those directions and it separated on me and the butter came out, so I added about 3/4 cup powdered sugar and it fluffed up into the yummiest frosting ever. )

(I also increased the amount of the nuts and coconut to 1 cup each)