D.I.Y. - Car Pocket Pillow

My baby boy turned 3 months old 9 days ago.  I made him a pocket pillow in the shape of a car.  This is pure hand-sewn because I do not own a sewing machine yet.  The front wheel of the pillow is quite deformed maybe due to my sewing.  Nevertheless, the pillow is still cute.  =D  So here is how I did it...

Materials:

...and fiber fill.  I forgot to include it in the picture.


Procedure:

1. Draw and cut your pattern on a manila paper.  Download pattern here.

2. Trace your pattern at the back side of your patterned cloth.  ***If you are using the same cloth for the back of your pillow, make sure to invert your pattern before tracing it for the 2nd time.  If you will use a solid color cloth, like I did, you can trace your pattern either way.

3. Provide a 1/2 inch allowance from the line of your pattern when cutting the cloth.

4. Cut the windows of the car pattern.  These will serve as pocket openings.
5. Trace and cut these openings on your cloth for the front of the car.
6. Trace and cut the 'car doors' (red arrows) that will serve as your car pocket.  Trace and cut the wheels too, so your wheels will have a different color than your car body.
7. (The picture shows pieces of 2 cars, except the back.)  Now, you should have 5 pieces for 1 car.  a. front of the pillow; b. front wheel; c. back wheel; d. pocket; e. back of the pillow.

  
8. Start sewing your car windows.  Cut the allowance to easily sew the curves.

9. Start sewing the pieces together.  Start by connecting the wheels to the front body. The front wheel should be on the outside and only half of the back wheel should be showing.
10. Embroider the line separating the 2 doors on the front body.
11. Sew the pocket on the body.  The stitches should look like an embroidered outline of the 2 doors.
12. Embroider your desired design on the front body.
13. Attach / Sew the front and back body of the car together inside out.  Leave a small opening for you to insert the fiber fill.  Invert the pillow case through the small opening.
14.  Wash and iron the pillow case. (optional)
15.  Fill the case with fiber fill.
16.  Blanket stitch the opening.

And you're done! =D

Your child can hide toys in this pocket.  Or you can hide surprises for your child here too.

Look at how happy my little baby is with his new pillow. =D

Happiness! =D

Weekend Baking - Carrot Apple Muffin

Hello!

My Weekend Baking is a little bit early.  I had to bake last night for my hubby's party at school today.  This recipe is really delicious according to my dad, my number 1 food critic.  :D

Ingredients:

Batter:

2 2/3 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (I used Saigon Cinnamon. yum!)

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 1/2 cups grated carrots

2 medium apples, peeled, cored & chopped (I used Granny Smith) 

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional. I used Pili nuts again because I do not have walnuts in my pantry)

4 large eggs (I used 6 small straight-from-dad's-range-chicken eggs)

1 cup canola oil (You can use corn or any vegetable oil)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons calamansi or orange zest 

Cinnamon Sugar:

3 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Procedure:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease muffin tin or line with paper cups. Set aside.

2. In a bowl, sift together all dry ingredients - flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.  Add carrots, apples and 2/3 of nuts.

3. In another bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, vanilla, and calamansi or orange zest.  Stir liquid ingredients into dry ingredients.  Mixed just until combined.  Scoop into prepared muffin tins and top with the remaining nuts.

4. In a small bowl, mix together sugar and cinnamon.  Sprinkle over muffin batter.

5. Bake for 25 minutes or until done.  Cool completely before serving. 

Makes 36 muffins. 

The house was filled with cinnamon scent while I was preparing and baking this muffin. Yum!

Up next on Weekend Baking will be my first Apple Pie experiment.  :D

Modday - Picnic Dress Love

It's a beautiful time for picnics! The air is a bit cooler and the sun is not too hot to stay outdoors with your loved ones.  I have always wanted to go on a picnic with my dear hubby and my baby at the Japanese Garden in Caliraya.  If it will not rain this weekend, we will definitely go out and have some fun.

These are the dresses that I would love to wear on a picnic...

Sources: one, two, three, four, five, six

I still have the extra weight I gained during pregnancy.  I have yet to ask my doctor if I am now allowed to start an exercise routine.  Recovering from a C-Section delivery is not a simple matter.  For my Mom, I am not a 'complete person yet'.  I do not understand what it means but still I follow mom's advice on what I should and should not do while my wound is healing.  So for now,  all that I can do is visualize myself wearing these lovely dresses. bleh.

Weekend Baking - Apple & Pili Cake with Caramel Topping

Hello!

It's a rainy Saturday.  The weather made me want to curl up on the sofa with my sewing project and a cup of hot black tea.  But it was impossible because Perry's yaya took a leave today so I had to do her chores (e.g. laundry) while taking care of my baby.  Fortunately, in the afternoon, I got a chance to bake while my dear hubby is holding and playing with Perry.

I wanted to start a tradition of baking something special for my family every weekend.  For the month of October,  I chose to bake apples and cinnamon in celebration of autumn.  I know, we only have sunny and rainy days here in our country.  But I want my baby to grow knowing the four seasons and aware of the exciting surprises that each season brings.

For this weekend, I'm sharing with you Apple & Pili Cake with Caramel Topping.

Apple & Pili Cake:

2 medium sized Granny Smith apples
1/2 cup Pili nuts chopped

Dry Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Wet Ingredients:

2 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Caramel Topping:

1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons butter

Procedure:

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease pan.
2.Combine and mix together all dry ingredients in a bowl.
3. In another bowl, mix the eggs with a hand mixer until light and foamy.  Add oil and vanilla gradually as you continue beating the eggs.
4. Stir in the mixed dry ingredients with a spoon until the flour mixture disappears.
5. Add the apples and pili nuts and mix into the batter.
6. Scrape batter into the pan and bake for 40-45 minutes.
Prepare the caramel topping while waiting for the cake.
7. Combine all caramel ingredients in a saucepan.  Stir to dissolve sugar.  (I made a mistake here by not dissolving sugar before cooking over the fire, thus the sugary topping in the pictures)
8. Once the sugar is dissolved, cook over low heat, stirring continuously until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Cook for 3 - 5 minutes more.
9. Spoon the hot caramel over the still hot-from-the-oven cake.  Let the cake cool completely before serving.

My family enjoyed it despite the sugary topping.  We paired it with Twinings Apple, Cinnamon, & Raisin Flavored Black Tea.

Yummy! It is a perfect partner for your afternoon tea, specially on a cold and rainy day.  How do you spend your stormy days? What traditions are you practicing or starting with your family?

Share with us your take on my recipe through the comment box.  Be sure to mention your post's link too if you have a blog.  Have fun baking! =D

there and back again

Hello lovelies!

I am so sorry for taking a very looooong break from blogging. Being a new mom and working full time keep my hands so full.  But now, I am back and ready to share my new adventures with you. :D

I have given this blog a make-over and have also subscribed to Pinterest and Bloglovin'.   This is going to be much more interesting.  :D

How do you like my new layout? =D