Thursday, December 29, 2011

Hello..Long time

Hey still here, sorry for the long break.  Oh and Merry Christmas.. The New Year is just around the corner.

I wanted to share a cake with you that my Teacher did with a friend of hers, for my friend.


She is Russian and her Fiancé is from Wales, she wanted the doll and the dragon together.


I love all the little details on the doll and Dragon.


The bride was very happy with the cake and her partner was very surprised, he wasn't told what the cake would look like.


I made the cupcakes to go on the tower, I haven't received the photos yet. So it maybe another post.

Monica and Jin do classes in Auckland.




Sunday, December 18, 2011

Knit a Snail.

He is finished!


A few things that need fixing up, like the grafting and I don't think I would add the pink and purple. But it is still cute.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Knitted Bunny

How cute am I? This little bunny is so cute, A great easy knit from Ravelry. It is the little bridesmaids pattern.


It was a very easy pattern to follow.


It was a quick knit with very little yarn needed. I think I used less then 30g of yarn for the bunny.


I love how I attached on the head looking up at you (by accident), it is like she is looking at the stars.


The cute little roses and dress, in my opinion is what makes this pattern.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Amigurumi Knits

This book and it's knit are amazing. See it Here


I have made the earth worm, The cat had a play with it this morning.


The beginning of the snail, so cute and it has been quick and simple to knit so far.


When you stuff the curl in the shell it comes to life.  I had to stop here until I can go to a wool store. I need a golden colour for the body. I did buy a cream, and it didn't really suit.
I also knitted a bunny, Tomorrow's post.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Did I Say.. Gingerbread houses?


It started with a big ball of gingerbread dough.


It ended up like this, I love to do window displays and I can't wait for every year when I can do the store christmas window. Last year my boss had a different idea, so this had to wait until this year.


I had a ball looking for the lollies to decorate these beauties.


Santa, Frosty and the tree were all lollipops that I pulled the sticks off.


I used hundreds and thousands for the roof tiles, can you believe it was a whole packet?


I made four mini houses too.


It was great to hear all walks of life from outside going, WOW, Look at that and How clever. It just makes it all worth the effort.


Because all our ovens are double ovens it makes great use of the space and people can see how big the ovens actually are.



Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Jam with a hole

We had a friend came over for dinner, his wife is away for a couple of weeks and is not so keen to cook for himself. I know he likes to eat a little baking, so I put together some cookies and cupcakes as I lunch box care package. (Also for Michael)


I used a sugar cookie, and spread one with plum jam, tops brushed with sugar syrup and dipped in castor (fine) sugar.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Final Rose

Here it is, i think it is pretty awesome myself. I'm I allowed to say that?


A couple of rough edges, but it is amazing only after 10 or 15 tries.


Same flower, just a slightly different angle.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

More practice

Okay so many minutes watching you tube and I am getting better. 


I think they are starting to look pretty good myself. I just have to keep making them until they are. 


There always seems to one that is the one to keep out of so many made.


I will keep going until they are all keepers.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Rose Practice

Okay so I decided I can do anything, yes that is right anything. A friend asked me if I would do her wedding cake. Wedding cakes freak me out!  Because it is a big day, and everything needs to be perfect. A simple cake was requested so I said 'YES',  I can do simple. That is before I knew it was roses, okay I have been taught how to make them. That is the first part done, it looks so simple on you tube, But.. I did it


It is fantastic when you have a plan and it starts to work out, I intend to practice until the big day, or week. 


I brought two lots of cutters, as the first cutter I brought were the petal cutters as singles, as I couldn't find the 5 petal easy rose cutters. Which is okay as now I can make single rose petals to scatter in a few places around the cake.

 
My cones in all different sizes, that needs a little work.


I also tired to use the pasta roller for thin petals but it kept breaking so back to the old rolling pin, also it is pretty warm inside at the moment and they are getting hard fast.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Knitting baby Mila a christmas gift.

How a love a little persons clothes, and knitting them is fun too. One, they are quick to knit and two, they look so cute in them.


I decided on a Debbie Bliss pattern called matinee coat.


In a gorgeous pink of course. The wool is by Filatura Di Crosa baby and is called Principessa it is a extra-fine merino. Colour 375. (I think it is a 5 ply) 


I am half way thru the right front and then will be on to the sleeves. 



Sunday, November 6, 2011

Not A Pie Maker

Here it is, my first pastry made from scratch.


I have tried pastry before, as I love to eat it. Never before have they worked out.


So I had some time off work a few weeks ago and thought I would give it another go.


Lucky I did too, it worked out. I did have faith in the recipe. Armed with apples, I sautéed them in a little butter until soft. At the time I was drinking a pomegranate and blueberry juice, so I added a little of that and reduced it down.


I added a little crumble mix on top.


I forgot to photograph it after I cooked it and before we ate it. The end result was I golden crunchy top and a crisp semi-sweet pastry topped with vanilla ice cream of course.  (you will have to take my word for it.
I had leftover pastry that I took to work and made mini chocolate ganache tarts. They were good, as I ate 2.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Vanilla Extract

You just have to love it when things go as planned. I had this thought when I realised vanilla pods only came in two pod packets for heaps, that my cheap home-made gifts weren't going to be Cheap.


 Lucky I do not rest until I have find another option. Along came vanilla masters they were really helpful and vanilla for extract was really reasonable.


So many beans, I am no bean pod expert, but from previous pods these were really full.


Vodka, need I say more.


This is just after I have filled the bottles, I ended up topping them with a sugar syrup. 


In the cupboard for the long wait, two whole months.


A shake up once a day, the colour is really starting to darken.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Finished Kitty Cake

Here he is, in his garden ready to play or to be eaten.


I am sure Ella loved him in her secret 2 year old way.


You wouldn't know it, after countless times that I moved him, when I went to move him on the cake his front leg fell off. 


It was fun to make and I may possibly make another one (but not soon).


He ended up with no two front paws, one ear, one eye. Ella kept saying lollie, lollie, it was very cute.


The big Blowing out of the 2 candles, I wish I only had a few candles to blow out next year.


The tree animals were a small hit, Poor Ella was woken from her sleep. Overall a great day with my little nieces, If only they lived closer, I would love to see more often.