Bunny , Bunny Easter Hutch Tour

The countdown is on. Tomorrow is Easter so today I will be hustling and bustling about in the kitchen. 

Welcome , Sweeties and Happy Saturday.

Mr. Pinker and I will be hosting the Easter celebration this year. Yesterday, we purchased all of the groceries so today I will be baking.

 Nanny's Bundt pan is all ready for the task .

My Nanny always made the most delectable cakes and this was one of her favorite pans. I will be making a carrot cake. 

When Mr. Pinker and I were in Quartzsite this winter, we had the most delicious carrot cake that reminded me of Nanny's so I have been waiting for the perfect occasion  to bake my own.

 

Night time view.

Since we are in the kitchen, how about a Country Clutter tour. 😀🐰🐇 

My hutch is filled to the brim with country bunnies, old plates , pottery, and lots of stitching.

Daytime view

This year's color theme was an aqua and white . So I pulled out lots of vintage pottery , plates , and glassware. 

The old Maxwell House tin fit in perfectly with the color theme.

 

Are you ready to take a closer look of the top shelf. ? Be forewarned , there is a lot of clutter. You may find a dust bunny or two. Hee! Hee! I hope not. 

Most of the items are thrifted including the large white bunny in the Pioneer Woman bowl.  A handful of jelly beans are spread below my  Spring  stitch which I shared a few years ago. 

Lizzie Kate's  Spring Season cross stitch sits on top of an egg cup. 

The 2nd shelf is just as full.

 1869 Bunny Hop is nestled in an old pitcher.  I bought the little white bunny last year. I think from Walmart. 

I have always had an affection for McCoy pottery. In the little McCoy planter, I placed A Basket of Spring. "Happy Bunny Bunny Day" by The Trilogy is still one of my Easter favorites. 

The bottom shelf has a modge podge of Easter goodness.

Miss Flopsy's Spring Harvest  and 

Beatrice Bunny's Carrot Haul Stamp are in one corner. Yum! There are more jelly beans. 

Miss Flopsy  is in the opposite corner with some ceramic bunnies and rooster. 

Little bunny trifles are sprinkled here and the including: Bunny & Tulip Trifle , Bunny Trifle and...

... another  Bunny Trifle. I draped  Granny's beaded necklace in the bunny mug. 

That's my Easter hutch in an egg shell. I have to admit that I enjoy it best at night with the soft glow of lights . 

Now let's get down to the nitty gritty! That is the Carrot cake recipe. 😋

Carrot Cake Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of salt

2 cups of all purpose flour

1 3/4 cup of sugar ( you can just use 1 1/2 cups)

2 teaspoons of baking soda

2 cups of shredded carrots

1 cup of flaked coconut

1 cup of chopped walnuts

3 eggs

 1 (8 oz) can of crushed pineapple with juice

1 cup of raisins

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

3/4 cups of vegetable oil

3/4 cup of buttermilk

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease and flour 8 x 12 baking pan. 

3. Sift flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon  in a large bowl. 

4. In another bowl , combine eggs, buttermilk, oil, sugar and vanilla. Mix.

5. Gradually , add  the flour mixture until combined.  

6. In a separate,  bowl combine carrots, coconut flakes, walnuts, pineapples and raisins.  Mix and stir into  the cake batter. 

7. Pour  batter into baking pan and bake for 1 hour. ( Your oven may vary on time). 

8. Allow to cool for 20 minutes.

I am cheating on the icing and using store bought cream cheese icing though homemade would be awful yummy! .  

Thank you for hopping by. I wish you the most beautiful day! 

As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"I still believe in  Santa , the Easter Bunny , the Tooth Fairy  and true love. Don't even try to tell me different. "- Dolly Parton

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my baby sister, Amy who always made the best Easter cupcakes.  Love and miss you, Amo. 

Carrots, Carrots and More Carrots

Happy Wednesday, Sugar Pies. Welcome. Come on in and grab ya' a cup of tea and some smack my lips , yummy to the tummy Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies. 

             

I have some more carrot pickin' finishes to share with you. 

First off my mini Carrot quilt. On a whim, I whipped this little baby up . 

              

I think it would look cute draped off the side of the hutch or even in a basket.

If you are interested I have included the applique pattern below. I needle turned mine, but applique' yours using your favorite method. 

Click here for the Carrot Applique pattern 

 Some of you know I have been on a carrot kick lately. 

If you missed my Carrot Pickin Country Hutch tour, click here. You will see all kinds of carrot decor. 

But wait I did not stop with the hutch , my foyer hosts a little carrot tree. And.......

       

A carrot quilt  is  in the mix of the Spring quilts which are draped over thrifted shutters. 

 

And.....

A carrot quilt is  on one of the doors.  

        

Oh boy, how many carrot quilts does one need? Hmmm I think 152 would be a  nice round number. LOL. 😂😄🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕

Last week, I shared some clothes pin carrots that I made. Click here to visit this post.  You will also find my Carrot Cake Cookie recipe there. 

I also can not forget Beatrice the Bunny Stamp. I finished her last week . And what did she have in her cute little paws? You guessed it ! CARROTS . No descent bunny would be caught without their favorite healthy snack. 

I can not mention Beatrice without talking about Buford too. You may have seen him in A Basket of Spring. He has a little carrot too.  Lol I told you I was on a carrot kick.

 

Today I would like to share  a Carrot Trifle  or sometimes I call them cookies . I finish mine in round ornaments that look like cookies.  

I have a whole series of trifles. They all measure about the same - around   1 3/8 " on 14 count aida. Click here to visit my tutorial on finishing. 

Click here for the Carrot Trifle.

The trifles are just quick stitches . Great to tuck into tiered trays , finish as an ornament , use as scissor fobs, or give as gifts. 

Can you imagine this one stitched up as a gift , including your favorite carrot recipe. 

Speaking of recipes, I wanted to share my Carrot Cake  Oatmeal Cookie Recipe. 

CARROT CAKE OATMEAL COOKIES

YIELDS : 48 cookies

INGREDIENTS: 

3/4 cup of melted butter

3/4 cup of brown sugar

3/4 cup of white sugar

1 egg

1 cup of shredded carrots

1/4 cup of water

2 Tablespoons of grated orange zest

2 cups of rolled oats

2 cups of all purpose flour

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of  ground nutmeg

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease baking sheets. 

2. In a large bowl place, add butter, brown sugar, white sugar and egg. Mix. Then add carrots, water, and orange zest. Mix. 

3. Add oats, flour, baking soda, salt , nutmeg and cinnamon. Mix . 

4. Drop by teaspoonful onto baking sheets about 2 inches apart. 

5. Bake in preheated oven until edges are set and golden, about 8-10 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

6. As an extra you might want to drizzle cream cheese over the top of the cookies. 

I feel so blessed that you stopped by for a visit today and thank you for tolerating my newest obsession🥕🥕🥕 Hmmm! Now what can I become obsessed with next. 🤔😃 We both know it will be something. Lol.  I hope you have the best day. As always....

Happy quilting and stitching, 

Melisa

He who plants a garden, plants happiness! - Chinese proverb

Life is a garden ! Dig it ! - Joe Dirt

Hugs and Stitches!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy who always fed my newest obsessions. Love and miss you , Amo. 

I am joining these lovely ladies' link parties. I hope you check them out; they always have so many wonderful projects going on and provide the opportunity for other needleworkers to meet. 

Pat at  Life in  the Scrapatch for Stitch , Sew and Show- Wednesday

Jennifer at Inquiring Quilter for Wednesday  Wait Loss- Wednesday

Denise at For the Love of Geese for Put Your Foot Down- Thursday

Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday- Thursday

Got Carrots?

 Good morning, dear friends. Welcome. 

                

As the days get warmer, my heart begins to sing. Do you have the same feeling? 

 I have been in the crafty mood. Over the weekend, I found the cutest carrots popping up on the internet, and I had to jump on the bandwagon. 

They are clothespin carrots. All you need is clothespins, hot glue, orange paint , paintbrush and twine , yarn or whatever you want to use for the carrot tops. If you google clothespin carrots, you will find different versions whether the crafter uses 1, 2 or 3 clothespins. I chose to use 3 for a chunkier carrot. 

 Let me show you what I did. I gathered 3 clothespins and   took off the metal holders .

 I then painted the clothespins . I used Apple Barrel Pumpkin paint from Walmart ; it was the only orange I had in the house. 

Then glue the segments together in pairs. 

Next glue 2 clothespins side by side and one on top.  

Other crafters used a variety of things for the greens, like twine, fabric, and floral sprigs. 

I had some yarn. I cut a green piece of yarn the length of my arm and wrapped it around 4 fingers to make loops. I then glued the yarn to the top of the carrot.

 I took another green yarn and wrapped around the top for a more finished look and added a twine bow. I think they turned out pretty darn cute if I say so myself.  

On a "carrot high" , I bunny hopped to the quilt nest in hopes of making a small carrot quilt.

 Eyeing some crumb fabrics that I had originally pieced for a snowman quilt, I decided to trim it and use for a background fabric.  Look at all those fabrics sewn willy nilly. 

I added a 2 1/2" border  and Wahlah , it was ready for applique. 

            

I drew a simple carrot shape and appliqued it in two shakes of a lamb's tale. 

            

Now all I have to do is some embroidery work which I hope to work on today. 

Since this is a carrot post, I thought I would leave you with a carrot recipe. 

CARROT CAKE COOKIES

YIELD : 2 1/2 dozen 

BAKE TIME: 25 minutes 

INGREDIENTS:

* 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

*1/2 cup granulated sugar

* 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

* 1 large egg

* 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, divided

* 2 cups all purpose flour

* 1 teaspoon baking powder 

*1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

* 1/2 teaspoon salt

* 1 1/2 cups shredded carrots ( about 3 medium carrots)

* 3/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts

* 1  1/2 cup of powdered sugar

* 3 Tablespoons of milk  

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375°F with rack positioned in upper third of oven. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add egg and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla; beat on medium until combined, about 30 seconds.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating on low speed until just combined after each addition, about 20 seconds (dough will be slightly crumbly). Fold in carrots and walnuts until combined.

Scoop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet, placing cookies 2 inches apart. Bake cookies in batches in preheated oven until bottoms of cookies are golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from oven; let cool on baking sheet 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack, and let cool completely, about 20 minutes.

Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in a small bowl. Drizzle glaze over cooled cookies, and serve.

• Well I am off to make more carrots. But before you leave, let me tell you my goals for the week. 
• 1. Work on Blackbird Designs Antique Sampler 
• 2. Work on my Easter Quilt
• 3. Start a new jar cross stitch
• 4. Post a Spring cross stitch. 
• 5. Get into some crafting/ quilting mischief. 
• I think I can handle that list . Don't you? Lol. Have a blessed day, and I hope you get into a lot of crafting mischief yourself. 
• Thank you for  popping in for a visit. As always...
• Happy crafting and quilting, 
  
• Melisa
• Believe in yourself and you will be unstoppable. 
• Hugs and Stitches!!!

I am joining these lovely ladies' link parties. I hope you check them out; they always have so many wonderful projects going on and provide the opportunity for other needle workers to meet.  

Beth at Love Laugh Quilt  for Monday Making

Judy at Small Quilts Doll Quilts for Design Wall Monday

Lynette at What a Hoot!  for BOMs Away Monday

Linda at Texas Quilt Gal for To Do List Tuesday - Tuesday

•                  
• Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. Wish you was here to craft with me. Love ya.