For the Love of Vintage and Buttons and More

I completed eight of these dining room chair cushions. I had been wanting to make new ones for some time. My addiction of creating with buttons was finally the stimulus that led me to " get er done" !

I wanted a trim but did not want a ruffle or binding so this is what I came up with for a solution-

I used a vintage damask napkin for my center. I then added a doily on top of the napkin. I placed this double layer on top of a piece of muslin that was cut to be about four inches on each side larger than the napkin. This gave me a border of the muslin. Once the cushion was completed, I cut slits around the muslin border to make a shabby chic trim.

You will notice I have two pictures above, with no space in between. I still have issues with this picture thing. I did google it. I did discover there was a new posting option which I changed to on my blog. It allows one to upload many more than five pictures at a time. It also allows one to choose the order of uploading them, one at a time to the blog site. I do not, however, seem able to get any space placed between the above pictures. Oh Well, at least the two pictures are related. I am also not seeing a spell check feature. For me, this is not a good thing. Might be switching back to the Old Blogger. We will see. Thank you to those of you who left me comments about the picture issues.

Speaking of Pictures

Judy, of My Artistic Side, which you can click here and visit, asked me who the creations were for--

good question, Judy-

here is the deal that sparked my making them.

About a month ago, when I was blog hopping, I came across a Valentine Box swap. At the time, I had lots of irons in the fire with my "work" packaging and I was afraid I would not have time to do the swap justice. I have never participated in a swap and truthfully was a little intimidated. I decided to purchase some items, in the valley, before I headed out to Pinetop. In the swap I had seen there was a choice of white, pink or red themed boxes. Sooooo--- I decided to create one of each, so next year I would be ahead of the game, to participate in a swap. You see, I do not like working under pressure. I am not in any way shape or form a procrastinator - well, except in my college days when it came to writing papers---which I would still be putting off . So, anyway,once I got started, one thing led to another and I am still creating with buttons and vintage.

You will see in the photograph above, I have hung one of the white hearts inside a frame in our master bath. Fits in perfectly.

I think I have a space or two for the little button boxes as well.

Back to the original question-

At this point and time I can't tell you who will be getting some of the creations-

Next year I hope to do a Valentine's swap and/or a

Valentine's give away.

Maybe I should have a give away before next year!

I have never done this either and maybe it is time to stretch my wings-

Alright, seriously considering this!

Do you have a favorite?

White, Red or Pink?

Would love to hear---

Pound Cake

Another love-

sliced, spread with butter and toasted under the broiler for breakfast.

Yum-

Southerners tend to be passionate about their favorite pound cake recipe. For years I used the same one but then found a recipe, in Southern Living, of course, for one with cream cheese. You know how you get on kicks of making things? I had ignored pound cake baking for sometime but have made two in the past month. I used the same cream cheese recipe but I now know, the first one I baked at 350 degrees. The one above I baked at 325 degrees and oh my---mistake---It did not get done and it fell, fell, fell. I have been looking at several different recipes to see what degree oven is called for in each of them. I have found anywhere from 300 degrees ( can't imagine ) to 350 degrees. By the way, I did not throw out the gooey, doughy pound cake. I just had another slice this morning for breakfast. Anyway, for my oven I will be using 350 degrees for an hour and a half for baking temp and time from now on--

 That is for a large tube pan size cake.

Here is what I am thinking-

You know the movie, ( of course you do ) Julie and Julia---

I, not every day or week but every month this year- ( I know, I am behind a month-- I will make up for it! ) I want to try a different Pound Cake Recipe. Do you have a favorite? I would love for you to post your favorite or email it to me at Cecedreams@gmail.com.  I have a tradition of including a recipe of the year in my Christmas card each year. This year I would like to feature the Pound Cake recipe my family votes to be their favorite. I will post below, for you, the

Cream Cheese Pound Cake. 

I have had some people tell me they do not know how to comment. For you folks, here is how - I might not know how to move pictures around but I sure know how to comment on blogs! :)

 At the end of each post you will see the word comments, which follows the time of the post. Put your cursor over the word comments, and click. It will take you to the posting area. Write your comment or recipe in the comment box and then click publish.


Cream Cheese Pound Cake

3 cups sugar

3 sticks butter ( I use Butter-not margarine)

1 8oz. package cream cheese

6 eggs

3 cups flour

1 tablespoon vanilla flavoring

Soften butter and cream cheese. 

 In mixer cream butter and cream cheese with sugar.

Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each.

On stir setting on mixer, add flour and  vanilla. Do not overbeat.

Place batter in a 10 inch greased and floured tube pan.

Bake at 350 degrees from 1 hour 30 minutes. You may test for doneness after 1 hour and 15 minutes. An inserted knife or skewer should come out clean. 
Hey, a strand of spaghetti also works as a testing agent.
Hope you have a pound of happy things to do this weekend!