karen gray design

dawn til dusk + fabric give away

dawn til dusk is what was posted on the sign at the pool of our vacation destination... well, now that i've returned to reality - dawn til dusk is how long i've been working at getting the laundry under control and my orders packed. Wow! I couldn't be more grateful for all the fantastic orders. I do apologize to those who placed orders while I was away and have been patiently awaiting for the goods to arrive. All orders have gone out and I hope everyone will be happy.

As promised, I have a stack of treasured Amy Butler Ginger Bliss fabric that I want to send off into the universe. It's time I let go and released this fabulous fabric to one of you. Now, it's important to me that this fabric goes to a good home and I expect that whomever adopts the fabric will care & love it as I have. Yes, I'm a little wacky - especially when it comes to fabric. So, if you'd like to have and to hold this Ginger Bliss bundle of joy, just post a comment and I will make a random drawing on Friday.

Have a wonderful day.
love,
karen
ox...

girls weekend

I got together with my nieces, Kelley and Charlotte and did what girls do - bake, sew, chat, sing, watch gilmore girls, eat cake, snuggle... it was 24 hours of pure fun. I introduced them to my close friends Bernina and Rowenta and they were immediately infatuated. Makes me wonder why they don't have Home Ec in school anymore - I loved that class. The girls made some pretty impressive pillows and cool patches for their blue jeans. They were sure that they would be the envy in school.... and they were. I have some pretty amazing nieces. Lucky me.
Back to the cake..... We baked a Chocolate Chip Cake - this cake is so good, no frosting required. I'm not kidding. Kelley and Charlotte were a little skeptical about the no frosting part, but one bite of this delicious cake made believers out of them. I've given this cake as a gift to so many friends & neighbors. I always attach the recipe and receive rave reviews - you must try it.

Chocolate Chip Cake Recipe

Ingredients:
1 package (18.5 ounces) Duncan Hines butter recipe golden cake mix

1/3 cup granulated sugar

8 ounces sour cream - DO NOT use low-fat or nonfat

2/3 cup vegetable oil

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 package (12 ounces) mini semisweet chocolate chips

Follow these directions exactly and you'll achieve cake success:

Preheat the oven to 325˚.

Grease and flour a 12-cup Bundt pan.
In a large mixing bowl with a mixer, blend the cake mix, sugar, sour cream, and oil on low speed for 1 minute.
Add the eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 4 minutes. Add the vanilla extract. Fold the chocolate chips into the batter by hand and stir gently until they are well distributed.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the midle of the cake comes out clean.
Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan. Invert the cake onto a plate and enjoy!

This cake will make your entire house smell like heaven. Try it and let me know how much you love it.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
karen
ox

bunny farm

After my last post about the cute stuffed bunny tutorial, it got me thinking about my daughter's quest to get a bunny. the story itself is not that interesting, but the pics are good. So, the story goes....
Not to long ago my driving daughter alex and her friends decided after watching a whole season of The OC on DVD, they MUST have a bunny. After a swift google search, a bunny farm was located that had the bunny variety of desire... only a short 2 hour drive. seems logical.

"Mom, I need to borrow your car. We are going to the bunny farm to visit the sweet little bunnies."

"that's fine alex , but please DO NOT bring home a new furry friend"

"Why?".... loud whiney tone

"Because I said so"

Alex is in college and does not live at home. SO, the whole idea of getting a bunny and bringing it home for me to care for was of no interest to me. The pleading begins with the sweet sad eyes and baby voice -

"please mommy, i love you. Daniel (her 9 year old brother) will take care of the bunny while i am away. In fact, Daniel can come with us and Ashley too (her 6 year old cousin). You and Dad can have the whole day to yourselves - do whatever you want."

My children are manipulation masters - quite skilled really. Although, in the end, no bunny was purchased. When the crew finally returned home after being gone for close to 7 hours, they were not amused to find a new stuffed bunny waiting for them.
Here are a couple of photos they took at the bunny farm, which i have to admit are adorable.