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. onlymehere says:

    Wow! So many ideas for the cupcake template. It's like going in a bakery and looking at all the different and beautifully decorated cupcakes…you just don't know which one you want most/first! I like the jelly rolls best too but it's probably bz I have patterns that use them. I've bought some charm packs and I guess I'll have to find some patterns that specifically use them bz I can't think of anything unique to use them for. I have some weddings coming up this spring so I'm definitely going to make some tea towels and maybe an apron or two! Thanks for the ideas and tutorials.

  2. Brenda says:

    Thanks for sharing your cute cupcake project. This has been so much fun to get to know some of the designers behind the Moda Bake Shop. I would love to win your jelly rolls and a copy of the book.

  3. I love the apron. Super cute. It would make a great present too. I'm just starting to learn about moda and I think I'll love them. Thanks for the contest.

    Heidi
    ahmotz at xplornet dot ca

  4. michelle says:

    Yummy!! I keep up with your blog (it's on my list of favs!!) as I am totally addicted to MODA EVERYTHING!!! I cannot remember if I found Rachel or MBS first, but one of them led me to the other and my addiction has only worsened!! Thank you so much for creating MBS–it is amazing!! I have to brace myself before each visit, as I know there will be something wonderful awaiting me!! Thanks for the cute, cute, cute apron tutorial (love the ties!!) and the recipe, as well…time to get into the kitchen!! You are fabulous!!! =)
    michelle

  5. Aggiequilter says:

    First, THANKS MUCHO for making MBS possible for all of us out here in Quilting Land !! I truly love ALL the Moda precuts but probably have used Jelly Rolls & Charms the most. Thanks for the recipe & cute apron idea. Congrats on the new book, can't wait to see it !!

  6. RhonniG says:

    This is so much fun! Who doesn't love Moda and I love to bake so this it truly the best of both worlds. 5 kids, Moda, designing, publishing, blogging, tweeting… whew, I'm exhausted just reading about it all. You are so energetic not to mention inspirering…if I had half the energy you must have, I wouldn't have all these ideas that I can't seem to get done or started!!!!! One last thing….Love your blog…very entertaining!!!

  7. Charliegirl says:

    I love the Moda Bake Shop concept. Thanks for your refreshing ideas and the easy cupcake recipe!

    My fvorite Moda cuts are charm packs be ause they are versatile for beginners like me 🙂

  8. Sara Richins says:

    I can't tell you excited I am for this book! I know it's going to be great!
    I would love to see more baby stuff. Maybe that's because I'm due with dude number 5 (don't worry, I have a girl aready). And I really want to make all the crib stuff, and maybe even some cloth diapers and plus a super cute quilt for him. I love all the tutorials on the bakeshop and I just know if one of the above mentioned was on there, I would make it in a hearbeat! Cuz, there just isn't anything as good as the bakeshop elsewhere online!

    Congrats on the book!

  9. Kristen says:

    Hi Lissa! Loved seeing a non-edible recipe. To be honest, that's what I thought they all would be. Just love the apron, so cute, but then i just adore everything you do.
    Congratulations on the book. It will be open on my craft table as soon as possible whether I win it or not 🙂

    Kristen Hess
    unrulyartclass@gmail.com

  10. Ann in NC says:

    Thanks for pitching the idea for MBS!! It is a wonderful site…I check it daily!! I really enjoy the variety of the projects. Keep coming up with great ideas for Moda! Fun apron project! agholland at triad dot rr dot com

  11. Christal says:

    I also have enjoyed Moda Bake Shop for a little over a year. I stumbled upon it doing a pattern search. It has been bookmarked and looked at just about everyday since! I love the fact that I can download the instructions and save them to my computer for later use. I have been exposed to such creative talent on the site. It truly is my favorite site. I would love to see a few more male themed quilts for the guys in my life. Thank you for all of your hard work and congrats on the book.

  12. Sarah says:

    Hi, I'm fairly new to quilting and the bakeshop has been an enormous help! As for whether there's anything i'd like to see at the bakeshop thats easy – MORE! Hope moda expands to more uk shops too. Please can I be enterend into the giveaways? Thank you!

  13. Tiffany says:

    I know Im one of 100's to say this but I LOVE Modabakeshop! I just started quilting in June when my mom bought me my first sewing machine for my MA Graduation. I hit the ground running and pre-cuts were the first thing I discovered and can't get enough of! The modabakeshop and other pre-cut books/tutorials have helped me made some gorgeous projects that are super easy for a beginner but look super fancy to everyone else 🙂 Thanks for this great giveaway and wonderful site!!

  14. Thanks for the cupcake recipe (yum!) and the tea towel tutorial – I have 3 yards of that fabric and now I know what I can do with it! As for Moda projects, I enjoy items like bags, dresses, kitchen items – keep up the good work, and thanks for the opportunity to win!
    lvitzthum@alaska.net

  15. Christine says:

    I love what you shared about Moda being a family owned company that sells only to independent retailers. That makes me love Moda even more!

    I'm looking forward to seeing the book!

  16. Beverly says:

    Such a cute apron and it looks good on you too! This has been so much fun. Having 'met' so many of you it will be fun reading and seeting what each of you has contributed.

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