Look what I found in my mailbox yesterday! My sweet young friend Falicia sent this to me. Falicia has a very full life these days with nursing school, work, and family. But she took time out to do this for me. Thank you, sweet friend. I will treasure this ornament for the rest of my life.
After much discussion and advice (lots from you all, thanks), I decided to take my monster patterns to Kinkos and have them enlarged. The nice young man who served me said he could enlarge them by 50% as I had asked, but it would cost more than elarging them by only 25% because he'dhave to use a different machine. Does that make sense to anyone? Not me. But I didn't argue, just asked him how much. I got all my monsters enlarged to the size I wanted for $1.50 per page. That's still a lot cheaper than the $5.95 per pattern it would cost to order the applique version of this pattern. I don't think I broke any copyright laws by enlarging them and using them for myself. I'm sure I'll hear about it if I did.
Of course, one change leads to another. I found that with the larger size monsters, I don't have enough of the black and white swirly fabric to make all the backgrounds, so I changed to the white-on-white star fabric. I think it looks pretty good. And I'll use the other fabric maybe for sashing or borders or somehow. I'll think about that later.
I got the one monster cut out. I think this size will be a lot more manageable for hand applique.
Probably won't get much stitching done today. I have baking to do this morning--brownies for book club this afternoon and a rum cake for a neighborhood party tomorrow night.
Some of you have asked for the rum cake recipe and I'm posting it here. Just be advised that I have not yet used this recipe. My friend Barbara has though, and she says it's delish. You can also find it online.
Bacardi Rum Cake
1 cup chopped pecans
1 box yellow cake mix (w.o. pudding)
1 (3 3/4 oz) pkg Jello Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup dark rum (doesn't have to be Bacardi)
Grease 10 inch tube or 12 cup Bundt pan or spray with baking spray. Sprinkle nuts over bottom of pan. Mix all cake ingredients together. Pour batter over nuts. Bake 1 hour at 325. Cool 15 minutes and invert on rack. Cool completely. Prick top of cake and spoon or brush glaze evenly over top and sides. Allow glaze to absorb and repeat until glaze is used up.
Glaze
1/4 lb butter
1/4 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
l/2 cup rum
Melt butter in saucepan and stir in water and sugar. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in rum.
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On 12/10/2009, Kerrie said ...
Gosh, I just love the heart rememberance from your friend! What a sweet thing to do! I love your Monster blocks-they make me smile! Have a good one, Kerrie
On 12/10/2009, Wendy said ...
Always nice to read your news and activities. Thanks for rum cake recipe. Sounds like a winner.
On 12/10/2009, Debra said ...
That's a very special ornament & I doubt it will be packed up with the others at the end of the season either.
Now those monsters look manageable!
On 12/10/2009, Joyce said ...
Oh, that is so sweet of your friend. I know you will cherish that ornament. It's gorgeous!
On 12/10/2009, Carol said ...
What a wonderful, wonderful ornament...what a sweet, sweet friend.
On 12/10/2009, Pam said ...
What a wonderful friend to have made that ornament for you. It must have been hard when you opened that package and found such a beautiful tribute to Vann.
Hugs and warm wishes for you during this Christmas season.
On 12/10/2009, Barbara Anne said ...
I also love the ornament celebrating the love you and Vann share and his wonderful smile. Falicia must have a new star in her crown!
Love the new monster and his background fabric. Good choice!
Thanks for the Rum cake recipe!!
Hugs!
On 12/10/2009, Ruth Landon said ...
An ornament to treasure, what a lovely gift. Love your Monster.Can't help wondering with tongue in cheek, if this quilt is for the nursery of your church! I know that you mentioned that they had asked you to make one.
Ruth
On 12/10/2009, Kai said ...
SMACK! That's a SMOOCH to Falicia from me (Kai) for doing such a beautiful thing! A perfect picture of that sweet Vann and a reminder that he IS smiling on our Susan! Now! I LOOOOVE the monster! Who'd ever have thought I could fall for a lil' monster? That is going to be one FUN and lively quilt! And you know, if you eat enough rum cake, or maybe taste enough rum (just to be SURE it's GOOD - LOL!) you won't NEED anymore squiggly fabric because all you will SEEEEE will be squiggles. Bwahahahaha ... thank you for the recipe, sweet girl!
On 12/10/2009, Jan said ...
What a thoughtful ornament from your friend! I'm sure it made your day!
I've been baking Bacardi Rum Cake for 30+ years and it's delicious! When you're making the glaze you can decide whether you want the 'kick' from the rum or just the flavor...add it to the other glaze ingredients while they're boiling to remove the alcohol but keep the flavor-or not! Yummy, either way! Enjoy! Jan
On 12/10/2009, Donna said ...
What a precious friend to give you such a memorable ornament. I have been to Daisy Cottage and read Becky's story. I was the blogger she mentioned asking her how she was going to "handle" Christmas this year. We have been in contact several times and I follow her blog. She and I are so much alike. I know her pain this Christmas and although I don't know the pain of losing a husband, I think of you every day.
I have a couple of Santa cards and know I have more..can't remember where I put them! LOL I will be mailing you what I have found and will send the others when I find them :) Thank you for being such a wonderful blog friend. Living so close we will have to meet one day.
Blessings and Hugs,
Donna
Oh and the cake looks yummy and quilt will be so cute!
On 12/11/2009, Lisa D. said ...
What a beautiful ornament with Vann's sweet picture. I'm sure you will treasure that.
On 12/11/2009, Rian said ...
What a wonderful gift. I like the new background on your monster blocks. I liked the other one, but this one is better. I have made that Bacardi cake before--it's way good.
On 12/11/2009, Alathia said ...
What a sweet ornament.
Ooohh! That Rum cake recipe is exactly the same as my Grandmother's Wine Cake recipe, with the exception of using rum instead of chablis. I double the glaze. One batch wasn't was quite enough. ;o) I'll have to try it with the rum. It's super yummy with the chablis.
Alathia
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