Last week Marion finished preschool!  Kindergarten here she comes!  So, I rushed around and made her 3 teachers quilted fabric frames.  You know that is my favorite gift to give, right?  I love how you can give it with a cute saying or special picture and then the recipient can then hang it as is, OR put their own saying or picture in there.  Thus, the perfect gift for your favorite teacher! Alas, in my rushing, NO PICTURES!  but I did make new...

This is one cute chicken!  I don’t know about you, but tons of my neighbors and friends have chickens now.  It may be that I live in a rural area that is still pretty close to Pittsburgh and lots of people around here love the whole hobby farm thing, but I know that chickens are super popular all over the country, right? So, just in time for those hens to start laying again (and for my sweet neighbors to give me some fresh eggs!), I...

I am far from an embroidery expert but this time of year I feel the calling to make something slow.  It is so pleasant to create something stitch by stitch.  To me, that is the fun of embroidery!  It’s not a race but a commitment to crafting and I love that concept. We have made the journey out to Breckenridge, Colorado again!  This time just for one month.  In fact, we have been here almost 4 weeks already and now only have a few days...

Frankly, I am not all that organized but I do have some tips for you people who struggle with this aspect of sewing.  Being even moderately organized makes sewing more enjoyable and that is what Gingercake is all about!  Making sewing more fun for everyone (including myself!) So, listed in no particular order of importance, I will tell you my TIPS! 1.  SCRAPS!  Yes, they are so great and fun to have around,  YES, they will take over your sewing...

Thanks for all the interest and comments on my Booth tips last week.  I decided to follow up with some talk about pricing!  A much debated topic but I hope I can help you by sharing my thoughts and ideas. The first thing to understand about pricing handmade items to sell is that your time and effort are THE biggest factor in the process when you are sewing.  YES, material costs are something to think about but they really only add pennies...

Last week I participated in a pop up craft show in downtown Pittsburgh.  Although the show was not well attended and I felt silly for not having researched it properly (the location and glamour of who was running it fooled me!) I did create a nice, simple table that I thought would be great to share.  This table would be really easy for anyone to recreate on a budget but still look professional.  For more detailed info on starting a sewing...

I am so happy and thrilled to be a stop today on the Frolic Fabric Collection Tour!  I love all fabrics by Tamara Kate and this one is no exception.  I had a hard time choosing just one fabric to work with so I chose a few that matched my favorite one- the flower hedgehog of course:) . Those hedgehogs are too cute for words.I had lots of different thoughts about what I wanted to make and then, last week, I was asked for the millionth time...

Over on my Youtube channel today I shared a new tutorial to make this cute and fun Picnic Quilt!  I have had a great time collaborating with Organic Cotton Plus to make a few videos and I love how this one turned out!  Scroll down to get the PDF map of the quilt and print if you are here from Youtube This was an easy and fun quilt to make.  I loved ripping the FQs and then using their size to determine the size of the quilt.  It really made it...

You know how I keep blathering on about how much I like giving quilted fabric frames as gifts.  Well, here I go again!  I made a new frame and a set of mother’s day quotes to share . Above is the one I am sending my mom.  But I made 2 more for you to choose from!  These will make great mother’s day gifts for you too!  If you don’t want to sew the frame, you could buy a 5” x 7” frame and still use the printables...

I was asked to make another round of Katie Birds for Blend Fabrics!  These fabrics, called Flutter & Float, are perfect for bird pillow!   Very pretty and whimsical The Katie Bird pattern is fun for showing off pretty prints since it is simple and not too busy.  But is also adds some character that a simple square pillow can’t possible offer!  I  hope you will try it out sometime When you use nice high quality fabrics like these from...

The classic bowling bag look great with pockets on the end!  Here are instructions to show you how to add end pockets  and make them look really nice. First, take a piece of fabric, in the same direction as your end piece, that measures 8” wide by 12” long.  Pay attention to fabric direction.Fold in half with wrong sides together so the piece is now 8” wide by 6” high.  Cut a piece of stabilizer (I am using non fusible...

Well,  isn’t this just super cute?  I love giving handmade valentine gifts but I love giving something that will bring joy all year long even better!  This bag features a simple patchwork (with a fun trick to make it quick and easy!), a button closure, simple lining, and a whimsical new way to add a handle.  Let’s get started! First gather 4 scrap fabrics that are 2.5” x 7.5”.  Coordinate as much as you would like! You...

The is the last week of the sewing series and I have another fantastic giveaway for you.  Drum roll… First we have we a really cool set of sewing tools from Dritz!  These tools were chosen by the folks over at dritz as the best and newest must haves for us sewers!  I would really like to try these out!  Click on the titles below to learn more about each one.  Thanks so much Dritz! 202 LED Needle Threader 803 Needle Storage Tube 204-M Soft...

Last weeks winner was Serina from Stuart FLA.  Congratulations Serina!  This week I have another fantastic giveaway coming your way!  Have you ever shopped at Bloomerie Fabrics?  It is a beautiful online fabric shop that sells quilting cottons, patterns, organic fabrics, home decor and gorgeous fabric bundles too!  People often ask me where I get my fabrics, and Bloomerie is one of my favorite shops!  I bought all the solids I used to make this...

Do you all see the Penguins made by Amanda of Jedi Craft Girl last friday?  Love them!   Thank you so much to Amanda for participating in the Gingercake Holiday Gifts Sewing Series.  You can read more about her cute penguin pair by visiting the Jedi Craft Girl Blog.  She made these gifts using the very popular Annie’s Penguin Pillow Pattern. I have never tried to use minky before at the belly but it looks so soft!  She used a basting...

I hope you are enjoying the Holiday Gifts Sewing Series as much as me!  This week we have a fabulous and exciting giveaway that I am so excited to share with you.  You have heard of Stash Box Builder, right?  It is a monthly subscription service geared specifically toward quilters and sewers building their stash.  Stash building is a never ending adventure, and this is like giving yourself the perfect gift every month! Ready to open up the...

Sara Soares of Made by Sara is a talented sewer and makes the most beautiful children’s clothes!  She just had her 4th baby (a little boy!) and wanted to make his first made by mama gift.  She chose the Lucky the Elephant pattern. Sara made him at 75% size (better for little hands!), added a rattle while stuffing and made a grabby t-shirt tail (you have to visit her blog to see it!). Less than 24 hours are left to enter the Week 1...

It has taken years for me to find my halloween decor groove.  My kids want to see our house get festive for the holidays and I remember loving halloween stuff when I was a kid too.  But the retail stuff available  can be kinda ugly, right?  And creepy too.  So, here is my compromise!  Still festive and a little spooky, but not over the top. First is my new wreath!  I made this by recovering my spring wreath from this video tutorial.  I simply...

When you make the Lulu Llama sewing pattern, I recommend buying a 1/2 yard cut of faux fur.  (if you go to JoAnn’s you can save more by purchasing only 14” instead of 18!).  Fur is usually 60” wide!  This means your Llama only used HALF of the fur you purchase!  What to do with that other half?  Well, first, you can just make another llama.  But there are also lots of simple and fun project out there for sewing with faux fur....

My 2nd daughter Anne likes things BRIGHT and FUN and LOUD!  She saw these birds (again from Belnd fabrics!) and knew right away that she wanted her binder to be covered in this fun fabric. Anne is going into 5th grade this year.  She is ready to rule the school!  Her last year of elementary is going to be her best for sure (according to my positive and bright middle child!) Go ahead and get your your pattern on sale to make your own Binder...