Our precious baby girl recently had a birthday. My family celebrated her birth, by making a birthday cake together- complete with homemade vintage fondant. We took our birthday celebrations a step further by sewing a sweet nursery-rhyme inspired table runner, and by making a set of birthday bunting flags. Being ever so thrifty, we used a gifted curtain panel to create our birthday decorations.
Naturally, no post of mine would be complete without showcasing some of my favorite thrifted finds. It will come as no surprise to my regular readers that I am including a charming vintage jewelry box-which I will decorate and utilize in two ways.
So come along and join my homeschool crew and me for a beautiful birthday bash! Where we will dash and run to the sewing table and the kitchen.
~A Gifted Curtain Panel~
The fabric I used to make my table runner and bunting flags was lovingly given to me by my sister. It was first a curtain panel for her daughter (they moved homes, and the curtains were then too short).
While a perfectly lovely curtain panel, I was not able to use it as a curtain, but I knew I would find a good use for it eventually. So, I did what every crafter does- I folded the two panels up and placed them in the top of my daughter’s closet until the day would come that I would find a use for it.
This is that day. Carpe Diem!
~Top Tip~
Transforming a curtain panel into a table runner and bunting reminded me of a good thrifting tip that I can pass along to you. Always, look in the curtain section of a thrift store… even if you don’t want any decorative accents for your windows. If indeed you stumble across a lovely panel, in a fabric you like, buy it- and use it in your next sewing project.
For, a good quality fabric- with a pretty print- is always worth a dollar or two. Small sewing projects such as pillows, bunting flags, hanging hearts, table runners, etc. can be made using a curtain panel.
A thrifty person must not only look at items as they are intended, but also how those items can be transformed into something new.
~The Birthday Table Runner~
How lovely to use and repurpose something- instead of spending loads of money on a fancy fabric.
If memory serves me, this is my first table runner to sew. Therefore, I don’t rightly know if this was the proper way to make one, but it is the way I made mine. This nursery-rhyme inspired table runner would be perfect for a baby shower. Can’t you just see the sweet baby gifts piled on top of it?
Now that is an idea, maybe I will hold on to it for a future grandchild’s entrance into the world. You never know when something you create today, may become a family heirloom in the future. Perhaps a grand aspiration for my simple sewing, but a girl can dream.
~Birthday Bunting~
In England, wardrobes are often utilized in bedrooms for extra storage. Now some might argue that the tops of wardrobes are perfect for collecting dust bunnies (and this would not be a lie). However, I believe the tops of wardrobes are perfect for displaying beautiful things.
My husband and I bought this wardrobe in England-just before our first daughter was born. We had it shipped to America when we returned to live here. While this wardrobe is very useful for storage on the inside, it is also useful for displaying special things.
The quilted bears on the top were given to us by a kind neighbor- whose wife collected them over the years. Tan Steiff bears (that we brought over from England) also grace the room. As do the porcelain dolls- which were also a very special gift from a neighbor. She thought it would be fitting for our girls to have the dolls, as they were her daughters when she was their age. In my opinion, they perfectly compliment the vintage aesthetic of the girl’s bedroom.
I love when once cherished item can be passed along for someone else to care for and enjoy.
~The Birthday Cake~
As I have said in previous posts, I generally use a boxed cake mix for birthday cakes. Of course, I would always prefer a homemade cake, but because I also make the fondant and buttercream icing, I do often opt for a boxed cake to save time.
In my family, we like to keep birthdays simple. A favorite family meal and a sweet cake make the perfect celebration for us all.
~Top Tip~
The secret ingredient to the box cake mix is love. Love and a few tweaks. I added a good dollop of golden syrup (probably 1-2 tablespoons) to my cake batter (this imparts moisture and a faint richness). I also used melted, salted butter in leu of oil. And by adding a splash of vanilla, you can impart a homemade taste to a boxed cake.
Another tip that you all probably know is to butter the pan(s) before adding the parchment paper. This ensures that the paper sticks to the bottom of the pan without moving. Also, let cakes cool before trying to remove from the cake pan. This will help to minimize breakage.
~Vintage Fondant~
I have a previous post about homemade marshmallow fondant, so I didn’t want to mention that again, but for this cake, I tried a new/old fondant recipe.
One of my readers (and friends), very kindly gifted me an old cookbook-that she had bought from an estate sale in Tennessee. In this antique cookbook, there is a recipe for homemade fondant. I thought it was fitting to give this new/old recipe a try- for new recipes always teach lessons.
Note: this recipe does use raw egg whites, so this may not be the best choice for all. Using pasteurized eggs adds an extra layer of protection.
~A Vintage Box-Two Ways~
This week a trip to the thrift store proved fruitful as the children and I found this lovely, vintage jewelry box. It was made in Japan, and while some of the golden paint has been rubbed off, it still holds a certain charm.
Initially I was not sure what I would do with it, but I knew I would eventually find a sweet use. That is part of the thrifting game.
~Iteration Number One~
As I was working on some birthday sewing projects, I first thought- “Why not use some of the scrap pink fabric, leftover from the curtain panel, to make a little pin cushion pillow to fit inside the box?” And this is exactly what I did. I used the bottom of the box as my pattern and sewed a simple inside out pillow. Then I stuffed the mini pillow with some filling and put it back inside the box. While this may be a bit elaborate and ornate, it made a lovely new use for my thrifted piece.
~Iteration Number Two~
The second way I used my jewelry box was as a flower centerpiece for my daughter’s birthday-themed table scape. I was “chuffed to bits” (as they say in England) with both ideas, and I still cannot decide which iteration is my favorite. I suppose I don’t have to have a favorite.
If we think outside the box, we can often come up with a creative and useful end product. Things are not always as they first appear.
~The Birthday Celebration~
~Until Next Time~
It appears we have come to the end of another week and another post. I hope you all enjoyed reading along and that you walk away with some new ideas and inspirations. Always keep your eyes open for lovely, ordinary things – for they can be some of the most extraordinary treasures.
I hope you guys all return next Friday for a quintessentially English delight.
Until next week, same time, same place.
~Elizabeth~
I have a vintage army foot locker full of pink glass. Some of it was my Granny’s and I even have a cake plate of my great grandmothers. The rest is thrifted or from yard sales.
Wow, I love treasures that have been passed down and kept. What a fun collection!
What a beautiful birthday cake and table!
I love the use of the box as a flower centrepiece.
Thank you, Julia! 🙂 The box was a fun find.