Happy Birthday Miss A! Minecraft Pig Cake

Brought him (her?) over to A's house for birthday celebration. Note the pigs tail indicates her age!

Took the design from Ashlee Marie blog....thank you.  I know I didn't execute the fondant perfectly, but not much fondant experience on my end. Piglet and carrot on stick (from game) my idea, though carrot should be tilely....I put reality in here with rounded carrot. 

Giraffe Pancake

Because one can.  I remember the special feeling of pancakes being shaped for me as a kid. I was able to pass the tradition with my nieces this morning.  Pancake batter is fairly easy to deal on a hot griddle...it stays where placed if right temperature. And, it helps if your audience is a happy kid.

Conspicuous Consumption and a whole lot of Eyed Plastic

(My nieces' possessions, not mine!)

Auntie Camp

For the past month or so, each week have my nieces over for "Auntie Camp."  Print an agenda, with blocks of time and the "area of study" the particular niece will experience.  My sisters and Mom join in...piano, sewing (origins of....wrapping saris, etc to hand sewing, to machine..doll clothes to the bag below) , cooking (what's for dinner? how to think of feeding yourself/others...more than opening the refrigerator door), science (bubbles, gases), geography (map making), book making, math games,  word camp, poems, making a mermaid, 3D construction, etc.   Fun for all!

2014 Jumbo Gingerbread Boys who appear to be Girls

5 year old

8 year old

Tried to limit the frosting this year....to allow the gingerbread to have a chance at imparting its taste.

Again this year, the candy grab was evident when candies were added with bravado at the end.  A way the kids have access to candy is by putting them on their boy...and snitch off later. 

Doll and Monkey Quilts

Work in progress, but since it is a long project and I am running out of April for posting, putting it up here now. The inspiration is the two doll quilts Mrs. Trentacosta made for us as kids. My nieces each have a special "friend" who could use a blanket.  The squares are straight forward, with the "characters" on the certain squares being cut out of iron-on repair patches.  The edges are in progress..binding tape, hand stitched.  Mrs. Trentacosta was a far superior hand sewer than I...."patience" being attributed as a virtue surely had something to do with handwork. Gad. 

HB A! Snowflake Cake

She requested a snowflake party for her 5th birthday. Snow is generally more romantic when you don't need to work in it!  The dress she plans to wear is pink with white snowflakes, hence, the color scheme.

Reviving Creepy Crawler Bug Maker

Played with Susan's brother Creepy Crawler maker when I was a kid.  On Major Art TV show, after winning the bean bag toss, my sister went to the Treasure Chest to pick her prize, and later related that while she really wanted the Creepy Crawler set, it wasn't what girl was supposed to pick, so she picked a Skipper doll instead.  Anyhow, many many years later, I gave her a Creepy Crawler set for her adult birthday. Now, many years after that, the kids are using....kind of the pre-cursor to the 3D printing going on. 

Jumbo Gingers...2013

Was  thinking we might see more changes in the decorating approaches over the years, but it still seems that mounting on the candy becomes a priority near completion.  Ages 4 and 7...will see at ages 14 and 17....I should be so lucky to have them still doing it with me then!

I see more soul in the beginnings here pictured below...I guess it is how the eyes stand out. Perhaps a lesson....some can add so much goop, and things get a bit lost with it all.