It's A a Happy Birthday

I usually have trouble buying gifts. I change my mind a million times trying to come up with the perfect gift that the receiver will love. I make myself crazy. It's just not intuitive for me. EXCEPT, for my DIL. She has so many interests and is so passionate about many of them. She is Martha Stewart mixed with Carter Oosterhouse (from HGTV) mixed with Bear Grylls!

She built this table and benches using discarded wood from a store.

I found this very funny tote bag on a weekend trip to NYC from this wonderful store called West Elm. I couldn't resist.

And I just loved those Wecks canning jars. She made apple butter and a bunch of other canned items last year.

And then to appeal to her handy woman side, I found a great tool apron. A little embroidery made it special for her. Can you see the Shop Fox label?

I had to do a bit of a repair job myself. I sewed over the belt on the back side when I was doing the embroidery. Oops! I hope she doesn't notice.

Happy Birthday Loren!

 

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Wednesday's Wanderings #38 - Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!!

It's my birthday this week and I thought I would make myself the cake of my dreams!

I do LOVE cake. 

I have a couple of friends that are as crazy about cake as I am. 

When the topic of cake comes up,  all of our eyes light up as if we won the lottery.

I quilted the background with a stitch I learned from my friend Christine.  I loved this stitch and even though it has been years since the first time I saw it, this is the first time I used it.  It reminds me of confetti and that's why I thought it was perfect for the birthday block.

I used a bunch of different embellishing on the different layers. 

I decorated the bottom layer with "pearls" hanging from triangle jewels.

I separated the layers with a piece of pearl trim.

The middle layer was embellished with star sequins and beads.  I really like using a polka dot fabric.  They're lots of fun to use as the basis for embellishments.

I beaded the top layer with a variety of beads. 

You may be wondering why there are 2 candles on the top of the cake. 

 There is a very simple reason.  It's because a very special person shares this birthday with me. 

It's my husband!  An amazing coincidence.

He tells people that he had to search high and low to find someone to marry with the same birth date.

To finish the creation of the cake of my dreams, I must choose the flavors of the 3 different layers.  I have seen this on those dream wedding TV shows, so why can't I have a cake with 3 different flavors?

#1 - Vanilla cake with coconut frosting

#2 - Hazelnut cake with milk chocolate frosting

#3 -  Chocolate cake with mocha filling

(I hope one of my DILs reads this.  They are both terrific bakers.  HINT.  HINT.)

And here's The Giveaway:

I want someone to celebrate my birthday with me.  I have made a second birthday block that is finished like a mini quilt.  Leave a comment and become a follower of my blog to be eligible to win it. The best birthday present would be for me to get to 300 members. (A girl can dream.) If you're a blogger, please share the love and feel free to post my giveaway on your blog - pretty please.

 I will pick a name and reveal it on my next Wednesday's Wanderings. 

 YOU NEED TO COME BACK NEXT WEDNESDAY TO SEE IF YOU HAVE WON.

(I will name the winner at the end of next week's WW.)