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

  2. Pam says:

    I LOVE Moda precuts and I love YOU for being the creator of the Bakeshop goodies. And now, we will soon have a wonderful book of goodies. Can't wait. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

  5. Bayside Gal says:

    Thanks fo much for the towel and apron tute. As I am in a strict diet, so I will forgo the yummy looking (oh well, I can look can't I?) cupcakes. I have never had the chance to use a jelly roll. I normally use fat quarter bundles and charm packs. Looking forward to the new book as well. Have a great day, Jean
    Oh, my email is jcarpenter25@verizon.net

  7. Sandy says:

    What a great post. Thanks for sharing the tea towel/apron idea with us and I am going to try those cupcakes also! This book looks awesome…if I don't win one, I will be purchasing one for sure.

  8. Angie says:

    ADORABLE!!! Love that cupcake tea towel and apron—and fat-free too! 🙂 And yum, the recipe for the ones that will add to the width of my hips look so easy and scrumptious too. 🙂 Jelly rolls, edible and non-edible, and just delightful!

  11. Rachel says:

    Fun, Fun, FUN!!! Thank you for the pattern (too cute!) and for the cupcakes recipe (sounds delish!). 😀 My family doesn't stick with stereotypical roles either. Though I love all that homemaker stuff, I've also helped my dad change oil in a car, change parts under the car int eh middle of winter, worked on our house, etc. and my brothers both cook (though they *do* prefer the power tools still). 😉

    The only thing I can think of for Moda is just keep it up! I love every one of the patterns that've come up! You all are soo creative! I had an idea the other day though for a cupcake pre-cut. I just thought it would be cute and that way people could get a little "taste" of some fabrics (from the same or various collections from Moda) and it would be fun for mini projects! 😀

    ~Miss Rachel P.~

  12. ClareM says:

    Gorgeous apron. Thanks for the tutorial. I love Moda Bakeshop just the way it is and wouldn't change it. I like quilts and bags most of all but it's always nice to see something else pop up like the ipad sleeves or the french press sleeves. Oh, maybe I like sleeves! All very clever. Many congratulations on the book!

  13. Jill says:

    Today I am wanting to see more projects for baby, as I will be sewing for a baby for the next four months. I also love when there are big projects-I love to make bed sized quilts.

    Thanks!

  14. Tina H. says:

    You work for what seems to be a great company. When I started in quilting about one year ago I saw that many bloggers mentioned such and such fabric by Moda. Well, that was good enough for me, and I have not been disappointed. The book looks delicious as does your apron.

  15. Linda says:

    I really like Moda and the Bake Shop. It may sound silly, but one of the reasons I like the Bake Shop is because with one click I can save the pattern. Thanks for the chance to win!

  18. LeAnne says:

    Congrats on the book! What wonderful news for MBS!!! I am like you and can't pick one fav precut. Although if I had to pick it would be jelly rolls or layer cakes.

    Yummy…off to bake up some Moda goodness in my sewing room!

  19. Magicaldamselfly says:

    I'm so loving this dinner. I had no idea moda had toweling and I love this apron. Look out my friend I've just discovered all of your birthday presents for this year.
    I can't pic a favorite but right now I'm using up a couple honey buns making a baby quilt and a matching diaper bag.(yeap recipe's from the MBS) Can you hook me up with where I might find this toweling please.
    Congratulations on the book!

  22. Belinda says:

    Brilliant ideas (The Book & Moda Bake Shop & this intro/promo tour). Love your tea towel & apron tutorial. You do the cleverest things 🙂 I would love to see some cute/clever pillow case ideas. I'll be using your cup cake template to make a birthday one for my eldest.

  24. GE.LaBeau says:

    I love the Moda Bakeshop website, and all the creative projects using the precuts. I guess that I would like to see some minature quilts, and gifts for the new baby, featuring the precuts. Thanks for the pattern and recipe.

  27. Happy Cottage Quilter says:

    Wow great apron!!! The only pre-cuts I've used so far are Charm Packs. Love that they are so accurately cut into 5" squares. Thanks for the invitation. You have been on my blog roll for a while, but it is nice to get to know you (and the other MBS designers) better.

  28. Ladybug says:

    This has been a wonderful treat. I love how much Moda has focused on what their customers are interested in. Before the bake shop I had never used a precut as cutting was one of my favorite steps. Now I do so often for projects where I want a scrappy look or need to save time. I would love to see a post where you learn to make a bed sized quilt then make something to coordinate with the leftovers. Even a whole groups of post on left overs would be great. Something like if you have 10 charm squares and two jelly role strips left over make this…

  32. beth says:

    Thank you for the great apron pattern! I didn't know that Moda sold toweling! My favorite pre-cut would be fat quarters but since they get too expensive for me, I typically just buy charm packs! But, I also love them all. Most of all, congratulations on the book!

  36. Mama Spark says:

    I'm a middle child too!! Love all the Moda pre cuts. Any Moda love is great. Keep on bringing the new designers too. Love this "incoming freshman class" you currently have in the upcoming book.

  40. Nena says:

    Thanks for both cupcake recipes (the apron and the goodies). Your apron tutorial is awesome. I love all the Moda Bake Shop projects but I especially like the quick and easy ones that can be given as gifts–journal covers, small handbags, etc. I'd like to see more table toppers. Thanks!!!

  43. Mosbee says:

    I am having fun, learning to blog hop and seeing so many beautifull things, i sure like yelly rolls and all the other pre-cuts, i would love to win something, greatings from Belgium

  44. Bunny says:

    I too like jelly rolls. In fact, right now I'm doing the postage stamp quilt along with Rachel from P.S. I Quilt that uses two jelly rolls.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  45. Becky says:

    Love to be your guest and let the men do the grilling/cooking! That's how it works at my house. Thanks for hosting this fun blog hop! It's been neat discovering more about the designers. Take care!

  48. Jennifer O. says:

    My favorite quilt shop has a bakery section set up dedicated just for the Moda Bake Shop. At first I did not quite understand it at first but I get it now. Thank you Lissa for dreaming up such a wonderful concept! And congratulations on the book! BTW the apron is cute too!

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