Stitching with Elli

Previously in Part 1, The dolls baked a cake 

But once you bake a cake the work is only beginning….then you need to decorate it!

While the other dolls were looking at a book with beautifully decorated cakes to get ideas, Bonnie and Ruthie were in the kitchen making the frosting.

They didn’t have any shortening so they decided to just use butter….” No worries! it tasted better that way ” said Bonnie.

She and Ruthie added the butter and beat in the water and flavoring.

Then came the powdered sugar….Careful don’t spill any or it will be a terrible mess!

“Is that too much?” asked Ruthie…Bonnie pushed her head in close so she could see. “No just a tad bit more…There that is good, STOP!”

Now to let it beat for 10 minutes….Bonnie needed a break so sat down for a bit. Lifting bags of powdered sugar is hard for dolls!

It was such a struggle for them to get the cakes assembled that nobody took pictures of that. (Later I was told Jannette was the one taking pictures) But somehow or another they managed to get the cakes stacked.

The next thing was doing the crumb coat…Ruthie was voted in charge of frosting the cake while everyone else cheered her on.

“You missed a spot” said Ellen….. “Can I have some of the leftover pudding filling?” said Josefina.

“NO! …Ahhh” said Ruthie “oops!” (She had turned around to see Josefina so fast she accidentally got her hand in the frosting.)

“Never mind, I’ll get you a paper towel” Said Elizabeth helpfully.

While they were waiting for the crumb coat to set, they went to work coloring some of the other frosting.

“Is this enough color?” asked Felicity

“Mmm, not sure” Ruthie replied “lets add it and see what happens…better to have too little than too much”

(Personally I’m glad I wasn’t around at this part…Dolls in pretty dresses messing around with bottles of food color?!?! Eeek sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. They later assured me they were very careful and had their aprons on.)

The color was all mixed up into a pretty pink… the cake was frosted….Ruthie said it was time to start the decorating.

PLOP! She stuck a big blob of frosting in the middle of the cake.

“AHHH” yelled all the other dolls. “What are you doing!?!?” “That isn’t pretty!” “It is all messed up now!!”

“Don’t worry” said Ruthie ” There is a stencil underneath so when I peel it up there will be a pretty design”

The other dolls weren’t entirely convinced…but they held their breaths and waited….

“TA DA!” cried Ruthie…”Hurray!” yelled the other dolls….there it was..  pretty pink heart and purple butterfly right on the cake.

They were all very enthusiastic at the progress they were making. Bonnie said she hated to point it out but were were some crumbs in the sides they would have to fix.

And much to Felicity’s dismay, (She wanted to keep going with the decorating) Bonnie insisted on taking the time to wipe down the edges of the cake plate so it looked nice and neat. (Bonnie is a tad bit of a perfectionist and Felicity definitely isn’t!)

Lanie wanted to know what was the next thing to do. Ellen said they all had better wash their hands again to be on the safe side. And Bonnie said it was time to pull out the piping bags as soon as she finished wiping off the working area.

Nellie said something about eating the little extra cake because she was getting hungry….but wait a minute…what is Felicity doing?

Oh she is getting the piping bags ready…how helpful!

It was hard for one doll to manage, so Elizabeth came to help her. She held the bag while Felicity put the frosting in.

Bonnie stared at the cake, piping bag in hand…thinking before she started.

“Watch out! Bonnie is armed!” yelled Nellie grinning.”She has two of them actually” said Ellen drily….which sent the rest of the dolls into fits of giggles. Bonnie wrinkled her nose good humoredly  and grinned at them, then set to work.

All the dolls got very quiet watching her..first she piped a bottom border…and then cornelli lace on the top…and then drop strings (She had a hard time with those, the frosting was too soft and kept breaking)…and then a circle on the top and a top border.

Ruthie helped with piping little purple details on the top border and bottom.

“Ruthie, I think it is time for the roses now.” called Bonnie. “Can someone mix me up some more pink frosting?”

Elizabeth and Felicity mixed while Ellen helped them decide how much was enough food coloring.

“There I think it is done!” Said Bonnie as she piped the last rose.

All the other dolls agreed that it was just perfect.

This was the sight that greeted me as I came in the door….With all the dolls singing “HAPPPY BIRTHDAY!!!”

I think they did a pretty good job for having such small little hands.

They all signed a card for me as well….such creative little dolls.

It was the most unique birthday I have ever had 🙂

If you like the aprons you can enter to win the pink apron here.