Mother's and Father's Days are times that we can say 'Thanks!' to those big-hearted parents who have raised us, nurtured us, cared for us, turned a blind eye to our mistakes, and celebrated our accomplishments. Show your love and appreciation of mothers and fathers with these extra-special new designs! New Samplers: Say it with stitches! Embroidery and frame fond words and phrases, and give to mom and dad as a gift that will be treasured always. New sampler designs include tender sayings such as 'A Mother's Heart is a Patchwork of Love,' and 'God Made You my Mother, Love Made Us Friends.' Hunting and fishing themes are great for showing dad that you appreciate him! New Cards: Incorporate your message into a card for your loved ones. New card designs made for mom and dad can be sewn onto fabric and made into a treasured card. New Photo Frames: This favorite in-the-hoop project makes a great gift for any occasion - especially for mom and dad. Embroider the frame in the hoop, insert a photo, and present to your loved ones. Special Recipe: Four centuries ago Mother's Day was celebrated with a special cake called a Simnel Cake. We tracked the recipe down (via the BBC!), and provide it for you as a sweet little taste of history.
Free project instructions! Create an over-the-armchair remote control caddy!
Enjoy the new designs! And thanks to moms and dads everywhere for all you do!
Sprawling flowered vines and robins watching over a nest create an ornate frame for a classic sentiment that any mother will love. Create a wall hanging with this wonderful sampler, perfect as a Mother's Day gift.
Being a mother is the hardest job in the world, and everyone gets a little frazzled at one time or another. Embrace those 'joys' of parenting with this fun sampler design!
Create a hunting-inspired sampler for those Dads that love to tromp through the woods! Featuring hunting gear, tracks and a checkered border, this sampler is a great addition to any hunting lodge. Elements of the design feature duck hunting, and the blaze orange cap and deer tracks represents deer hunting.
Remember those lazy afternoons, fishing with your father? Commemorate the special bond of love, friendship and fishing with this wonderful sampler, featuring fishing tackle and a border of swimming fish.
This quilt-like sampler design reads "A mother's heart is a patchwork of love", and makes a wonderful gift, either as a framed piece or on a tote bag or pillow.
A father and child play together with accompanying text: No matter how tall I grow, I always look up to Dad. This sampler is cleverly framed with rulers.
Bookmarks are fantastic inserts to cards - or place one inside a gift book before wrapping. Free project instructions demonstrate this fun in-the-hoop project.
Flowers and butterflies add a delicate touch to this bookmark.
Hearty blossoms and vibrant colors make this an eye-catching bookmark.
Add a personal touch to Mother's and Father's Day cards, and create a keepsake that will be treasured always. Sew these card designs onto fabric for a card that adds your creativity to the message.
Create the World's Greatest shirt set, featuring a spring-like collection of flowers and butterflies spilling out and surrounding a fun watering can. Each set includes a button placket, two collar tips, a watering can scene, and a collection of World's Greatest pocket toppers reading Mom, Mum or Grandma! Each shirt set is just $6.97! All designs are also sold separately.
The World's Greatest Dad or Grandpa shirt set adds color and sentiment to any garment. Featuring a man and a boy and a baseball motif, this shirt set is perfect for the great dad or grandpa in your life. Each set includes a button placket, collar tips, baseball scene and both World's Greatest Dad and World's Greatest Grandpa pocket toppers. Each shirt set is just $6.97! All designs are also sold separately.
Create your very own brood with the matronly hen and her four chicks. Each pack also includes "Mom's Brood", "Mum's Brood" and "Grandma's Brood" designs. Each baby chick can be used many times, to create a brood of any size! Scatter your brood around a shirt, or create a scene for a blanket to share with the rest of your family.
Each pack is only $4.97, and contains five designs, also available separately.
"Children are angels whose wings grow shorter as their legs get longer." ~Anonymous
Create your very own pack of little angels with the Mom's Angels design pack. Each pack includes four cherubic angel designs, as well as the phrases "Mom's Angels", "Mum's Angels" and "Grandma's Angels".
Each pack is just $4.97! Individual designs are also available below.
Traditional Simnel Cake
Line an 18 cm / 7 inch round cake tin. Cream the butter and sugar together and beat in the eggs gradually. Sift the flour with the spices and fold in, followed by the fruit. Mix to a soft dropping consistency with a little milk. Put half the mixture into the tin and level it off. Divide the marzipan in 3 and roll out one-third on a sugared board into a round slightly smaller than the tin. Pinch the edges to prevent the paste cracking. Lay the marzipan round on top of the cake mixture, then cover with the rest of the mixture and level it off. Tie a band paper around the outside of the tin and 5 cm / 2 inches above it to protect the top of the cake during baking. Place it in a preheated moderate oven so that the top of the cake is in the centre of the oven and bake at 170�C/325�F, Gas Mark 3 for 1 hour. Reduce the heat to 150�C/300�F, Gas Mark 2 for a further 2 hours or until the cake is firm to the touch. Allow to cool in the tin before turning out on to a wire rack to cool. Leave on the lining paper, wrap the cake in foil and store for at least 2 weeks. When required, unwrap the cake. Heat the jam and sieve it if lumpy. Roll out one of the remaining pieces of marzipan into a round to put on the top of the cake. Brush the apricot glaze over the top of the cake and press on the marzipan round. With the forefinger of one hand and the finger and thumb of the other, pinch the edge of the marzipan into flutes. Flatten the remaining piece of marzipan and divide it into 11 equal parts. Roll the pieces into small balls. Brush the top and sides of the marzipan on the cake with beaten egg. Press on the balls in a ring round the edge of the cake and glaze them with beaten egg. Place on a baking sheet and bake near the top of a preheated hot oven at 230�C/450�F, Gas Mark 8 for 5 minutes or until nicely coloured. Alternatively brown under a hot grill. Cool the cake and serve.
Click here to see what was new for previous weeks!