Spring wrap-up

Hi!
With Brenda's birthday just around the corner, it's time to think about summer.  Her birthday is around when summer starts. Not too hot, not rainy... she will always have a beautiful day. Brenda is a lucky girl.
So, I will share some spring stuff that I had not posted before.
First, my birthday cake and my birthday flowers.

I made this rose cake using a bundt  chocolate cake mix and it was delicious!

The cake  pan I used is from Nordicware. The flowers were very pretty.
Another cake. It is our annual Easter bunny cake. Brenda has to make it every year.
It is a tradition.

You can find the recipe here .

Around Easter we had a tea party . We invited a couple of Brenda's friends and asked them to bring a doll.
The dolls had their own table.

Here are American Girl  Felicity and Laura Ingalls waiting for their guests.

They had  treats and the table was set with china and real flowers.
Brenda and her friends had a pretty table too. I made some Easter basket cupcakes.

Here is Brenda waiting for her guests. 

Another view of the table. Simple, but cute.
Before eating they watched a Strawberry Shortcake  tea party  manners movie.

They did their best to act like little ladies at the table. They had a fun time!
I forgot to take a picture of the party favors.  Easter candies, bubbles, and a  chocolate Peter Rabbit  inside a mini Easter basket.
We are having a good time this Spring, but it is almost over. School will be out at the 24th and start again in September. We are planning some fun stuff to do around here.
Keeping an only child occupied during summer is a bit of a challenge sometimes, but we do our best.
Have a good end of spring!

Thanks for stopping by!
Ana Paula.

Laura Ingalls Wilder doll

Hello!
Hope all of you had a great Christmas and New Year celebration.
We stayed home for Christmas and after opening the gifts Santa left, we went to Grandma's here in town to open more presents. For New Year's we went to San Diego.
Anyways, here is the last handmade gift I made this Christmas.
Brenda told me that she wanted a Laura doll.
I am a Laura fan. I read all her books in Portuguese in Brazil when I was a little girl.
Brenda has been getting the My First Little Books for Christmas and birthdays since she was three, and  just loves them.
So, I decided to make her Laura doll. After looking around a lot, that's what I came up with.
It was quite a challenge for me. My eyes are not the same they used to be.
I had never stitched over one thread. But, here she is.

Yes, she has no shoes. The pattern I used had no shoes. I could not find a pattern that fits her. Still working on it.
The cross stitch patterns for the doll's face is from Cross Stitch and Country Crafts March / April 1987.
The magazine only offers the cross stitch pattern. I used a pattern I got at Joann's for the doll's body and head..

The apron and bonnet pattern are from another source. The fabric for the dress is from Lakehouse Dry Goods.
I think her face is beautiful. I am very happy with the whole project. It was a work of love. I love Laura , and making this doll for Brenda was such a pleasure. My sweetie deserves it.

She was waiting Brenda under the tree on Christmas morning sitting on a little chair I got at Salvation Army.
My Christmas morning pictures did not came out very good. Many blurry ones.

This one is from Christmas Eve. Brenda loves dolls. She also wanted the Disney's Rapunzel doll. Santa took care of it.

Tonight I got this picture of Brenda on her Christmas Pjs.

Now, I can't wait to starting reading the "real" Laura books with my cutie. It will be so much fun!
Thanks for reading my blog.