Is it Dessert yet?

It  is day 6th of the

Welcome to my new guests. I am supposed to tell you a little bit about myself but I can’t do that without first telling you about the company I work for, Moda fabrics. Moda fabrics is a family owned company that sells only to independent retailers, or what is called “mom and pops.” You will never find our products in places like Walmart, Joann’s etc. The owner’s passion of supporting the independents carries through to what we do on a day to day basis. When I first went to him with the Moda bake shop concept, he said, “Sure, let’s give it a try.” now 2 years later we are celebrating Fresh Fabric Treats.  (pretty creative- that I did not have to talk about myself!)

Jan 2009 the first post was by Angela Yosten featuring a travel mug. Now 2 years later we are traveling (digitally) to some of the Moda bake shop chefs homes. Today’s post I share with
Rachel Griffith. She was one of the first chefs to share her talent and enthuasium so I am honored to share the day with her.

Welcome,Welcome, Welcome.

In true bake shop form my recipe is for something non edible,

cupcake tea towels and apron.

Most likely if you were coming to my home, we would all gather around the sewing machine and create some yummy projects while the men whipped up something on the grill. My parents taught all us kids to be comfortable in the kitchen or with a set of power tools, so there are no stereotypical roles in my household either. My son is cooking wings as I type this post.
SUPPLIES:
Toweling, charm squares, soft and stable fuse, buttons, and trims.
Moda’s toweling is available on a roll, hemmed along the sides. For each towel, cut toweling 28″. Apron- 1 1/4 yd. (26 for apron, 19″ for ties and pocket)

Choosing what to use is just like choosing what to add to cupcakes. There are so many choices.
TOWELS:

Trace the template pieces on the fusible interfacing. Iron them to the wrong side of the fabrics. Cut the shapes out. Please them on tea towel and iron in place. Click here for cupcake templates.
Hem top and bottom of toweling 1″. Press edge .5″, fold up again, press and stitch to create the 1″ hem.
Additional options:
(many of you know I am a middle child. I don’t know if I can’t make up my mind or I like to make
everyone happy. Here are additional options to create your own cupcake.)


 BUTTONS:
Use a red button for the cherry on top.
 -OR-
Make covered buttons using the I-top button making tool.
(my favorite crafty tool as of late. If you did not get one for Christmas, ask for one for valentines. It is so much fun.)

If you do not have a button that is the color you are looking for, combine a fabric yo yo and a button to make a covered button that can be sewn through the button holes. (thank you Susan Fuquay for this idea)

TRIMS:

There are so many fun trims available in quilt and
specially stores that I had to add a few of them to
my tea towels. Ric rac, pom poms, crocheted trim,
and ribbons add that hand made touch. On my tea
towels I used the French general ribbons as a loop
to hang the towels. (see below) Determine how big of loop you want and add it as you hem to top section of your towel.

 To add an edging to the bottom you your towel, sew it right sides facing to the top of the towel. turn the edging down as  you hem the bottom of the towel. This works on the crochet trim and ric rac. Some of the trims can be sewn directly to the top of the towel.

APRON:
The toweling can also be used to make a cute half apron. Determine how wide you want the apron to be. Add apron ties as listed below. Trims  can also be added to the hem on the aprons. I  added ric rac as I sewed the pocket onto the apron.
Determine how wide you want your apron to be (approx 26″ is  a nice size) Ties were cut approx 4 1/2″ wide by 19″ long)

 You will need to buy double this amount. The additional yardage will be used to make apron ties. Cut the stripe from the toweling for apron ties. Hem and add to the sides of the toweling. Using the additional fabric, cut pocket square. Add a cupcke to the pcoket placing it along the top of the pocket. Add a ribbon loop when sewing the pocket in place. Sew a button on the apron and use the ribbon loop as a button closure.

Now that I have a cute apron to wear I had to put it to use in the kitchen.
CHOCOLATE CHIP CUPCAKES
1 box yellow cake mix, 1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1 cup sour cream, 3 eggs
1 cup oil,  1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans, 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup mini choc chips
Preheat oven 350 degrees.
Combine all above ingredients. Mix together approx 2 minutes. Fill cupcake holders 3/4 full. Bake approx 10 minutes. Cool and frost. I made mini cupcakes because these are sinfully rich and delicious.
If making as a cake, grease 9 x 13 pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
1 8 oz. Cream cheese, 1/2 cup margarine
1 tsp. Vanilla, 4 cups powered sugar
Soften cream cheese and margarine. Blend until creamy. Add vanilla and powered sugar. Use food coloring paste (not liquid) to add color to frosting. Decorate as desired.

Enjoy!!
Tomorrow visit Julie Herman and Sweet Water, then ….
The last stop on the progressive dinner is Jenny Garland and Angela Yosten. These are the two talented ladies that keep the Moda bake shop’s pantry full of projects for you to enjoy.

I am sure you have read about the giveaway on each of the other chefs posts. By now you should know that by memory. My favorite precuts IS ALL of them (another middle child trait) but I will choose jelly rolls. I like combining a print jelly roll and a Bella solid jelly roll for a bigger project and a different combination.
So you know the drill, leave a comment on my blog to win precuts of my choice and a Fresh Fabric Treats book. In the past moda bake shop has featured stores, projects and even recipes. If there is anything you want more of on the bake shop, please leave it as a comment. Follow me on twitter or stay tuned to my blog for insider Moda information as well as random ramblings from a middle child.
Leave a comment on all posts to be entered in the grand prize drawing.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure you have an e-mail address, so we can contact you if you are the lucky winner.

1,086 comments

  1. Grams says:

    My granddaughters love to help in the kitchen. I've been wanting to make them each an apron and your cupcake apron is just what I've been looking for. Can't wait to get started. Congrats on being included in the book. Looking forward to some more great projects.

    vail in TN

  2. Shelley says:

    Cupcakes are the cutest, thanks for sharing! Can't wait to see this book, it's looking more irresistible with each stop! Thanks so much!
    shelpowl(at)telus(dot)net

  3. d says:

    Thanks so much for supporting local stores. I'm a knitter-trying-to-be-a-quilter, and I frequent local yarn stores in the same effort! Thank you all for your generosity.

  4. Cindy says:

    I'll take a chocolate chip cupcake with a hot cup of coffee please. I can taste it already.

    Scrumptious – just like Moda precuts – never a calorie to be had.

    Any jelly roll that is calorie free is right up my alley.

    I have not seen the Moda Toweling for sale but would love to know a source where to purchase it….especially since I am known to be an "Apron-holic".

  5. Jan Hatchett says:

    Oh yes! Now that is MY kind of cooking! Love the apron. It definitely would be cute to wear while making cupcakes.

    I also love jelly rolls. They are the first precut that I ever tried and I am constantly amazed at all the creativity that can come from one.

  6. Cindy says:

    Thanks for sharing the tutorial- the apron is adorable!!:) I too love the pre-cuts and also MODA!!! Congrats on the book and can't wait to see it! I'm fairly new to quilting and came across the ModaBakeShop one day and felt like I hit the jackpot! I just LOVE it!! When someone compliments me on something I've made from there, I don't hesitate to tell them about ModaBakeShop!! Thanks!

  7. Tiffany says:

    That apron is darling! And thanks for the intro to Moda! That "moms and pops" bit was new to me. No wonder I can't find Moda fabric anywhere else. Not that I'm complaining – I know plenty of people who will sell it to me! 🙂

  8. MarjavdN says:

    I love Moda and I love cupcakes. So I enjoyed your post very much. Haven't seen the Moda toweling here in the Netherlands, but will surf the internet to explore this. The book looks so yummy, i hardly can't wait till May! Let's hope I win one… Hugs!

  9. Tami says:

    Yum those cupcakes look so delicious! Grats on the book I can't wait to see it 🙂 I have just started quilting again after 10 years with no machine or fabric stash so I haven't had a chance to get any Moda treats yet but I can't wait to get some jelly rolls to play with! I would love to see more boy oriented projects since I have 4 boys 🙂

  10. Jewel says:

    Love the cupcake apron. When I started quilting again I appreciated Moda Bakeshop. It was nice to spend mymoney on fabric instead of patterns to start with.

  11. Karen says:

    I absolutely love this Progressive Dinner idea. Great PR work on Moda. I get to follow the various blogs and all while obtaining new ideas and recipes. THANKS for your posting and I look forward to seeing what you have in store in the future!

  12. Karen says:

    Thank you for inviting us into your house and serving up a delicious recipe for cupcakes and a cute pattern for an apron. And congratulations on your MBS book fame. Thanks!

  13. SewLindaAnn says:

    It was really cool to learn that it was you who suggested the BakeShop site. It has turned out to be a huge favorite out here in blog land, so congratulation on your success! Thanks for the apron and cupcake recipes, looks and sounds like your family is having fun!

  14. Heather says:

    Oh what a FUN post! I love your humor and the creativity of both projects! I love and appreciate that Moda does not sell to box stores, and that the focus is on the independent retailer. It makes me feel great to support an independent business owner! heather_ales@yahoo.com

  15. Sherry says:

    Love the apron! Thanks for the tutorial. The cupcakes look so yummy. I love all the Moda precuts too and can't seem to pick a favorite. (Also a middle child). LOL The progressive dinner has been so much fun. I appreciate all the inspiration shared at the Moda Bake Shop!

  16. Rachel says:

    Love the apron…but even more I'm so excited for the book. Congratulations on the first book! i haven't seen it and already hoping there's more in the future!

  17. VickiT says:

    What a cute apron tutorial. Thank you so much. I can't wait to see this book. It looks just wonderful. Thak you for the chance of winning these items.

    vburr at charter dot net

  18. bll1707 says:

    Congratulations on the book! I can't wait for it to come out, especially if it's anything like all the free projects at the bakeshop!

    bll1707(at)yahoo(dot)com

  19. Christine says:

    Those cupcakes look SOOO good! Congratulations on the book – I've followed your blog for awhile now and you have great patterns! My favorite pre-cut is the jelly roll too!! I hope I win.

  20. Marcia W. says:

    Thank you for the humorous post and the tutorial. Congratulations on becoming published. Moda does have great products and it comes through that you are proud to work for them. Please enter me into the giveaway! Know the chances are slim on winning – but after all it is Moda and a quilter has to try. mlwright29(at) hotmail(dot) com

  21. After two years, congratulations on Moda I love your products; congratulation on the new book too!!
    Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy … and a precut!! BTW-the Progressive Dinner is SO much FUN!!!

    Continued success . . .

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