Pirate Party

September 19th is International "Talk Like a Pirate Day" -
it was also my DD's Birthday.
This milestone birthday was always going to be Pirate Themed.

So... Why was I so disorganised that I had to throw together her Cake at the last minute?

Perhaps getting sidetracked learning how to make and decorate Sugar Cookies may have had a bit to do with it . . .

I need a LOT more practice so, these prototypes didn't make it to the party.

I won't go into details, but sufficient to say I had the sort of day that was not conducive to Cake decorating.

Just as well, the Cake was supposed to be a Shipwreck !

And, fortunately, it looked Pretty Impressive by candle-light.

BTW - not all Shipwrecks end up at the bottom of the Ocean - this one was beached.

Just so I could use my awesome little Pirate Crew that I have kept for years - specifically for this cake!

Even more impressive was the look on the youngest guest's face  - 

(unfortunately, I didn't get a photo). . . 

when we cut the cake apart to reveal the "Treasure" in the hold.

The official name for a cake like this is a Pinata Cake.
Not being content to just have treasure - it had a surprise for the adult guests as well.
It was also filled with a White Chocolate Mousse / Black Forest filling !


Maybe next time I should just stick to the recipe . . .
and then I won't run out of time . . .
Maybe. . .
;-)

Everyone loves a Challenge . . . .

I am at the moment up to my eyebrows in another Wedding Cake.  The design has been decided and I have made a start on the elegant small bouquet of flowers the Bride had asked for.

It needs to sit on a Cake Stand.

There are many lovely cake stands around at the moment.
This is one of my Cake stands ...

This is the Cake Stand the Mother of the Groom presented to the Bride.

It was very expensive.

Standing 10.5 inches high

and 21 inches across

 it is

Very

Big!

I think I am going to need more cake - and more flowers - a lot more flowers!

Oh "PIGS"

Projects In Grocery Sacks.
It would seem that at the moment ALL my projects fit into this category!

In my last post I wrote that my DD & her DH had received the keys to their new home and for the last month we have been packing up almost 30 years of 'trash and treasures' and moving it all to her place!
What an interesting time capsule was enclosed in her room (It actually included a 'Time Capsule' shoebox she and her brothers put together many years ago!).

Then there is my fabric/sewing room - originally located in the Bungalow at the bottom of the garden
 - it was packed up and moved into the house (See post) last December. The bookshelves had to be returned to the Bungalow which is now a dedicated Storeroom and my entire stash is once again stuffed into shopping bags and boxes just waiting for a new home.

On top of all of this .... I have another Wedding Cake to make! No not DS#2.  This one is for my D-DIL's sister.
AND a 30th Birthday Cake with a special theme.
Looks like I had better stop getting distracted and get baking!

Happy Homeowners

After 4 months and just one delay

the keys are finally in their hands

which just left one thing to do ...

and just so their family would be complete

enter 500 grams of  Pure Trouble!

of course this is the PURFECT place to take a nap 

while 'Mum & Dad' are trying to move furniture!

Cookies ....

Not totally sure what happened on Friday.
One minute I was happily sitting at my sewing machine and the next I was baking cookies!
Perhaps it went something like this..

"Good that is that part of the Quilt done - time to have a Cuppa and a Cookie - yes I'd like a cookie with that cuppa tea".
No cookies in the jar only crumbs of broken shop bought biscuits.

While the Kettle was boiling I found myself flipping through the pages of the old recipe book.

About 2 hours later I found myself taking the 12th tray  of cookies (Yes, you read right TWELVE) out of the oven.
The thing that amazed me the most was, not that I baked 12 trays of cookies but - I discovered  I actually own 11 cookie trays, and by using every single one of them, I was able to create an assembly line which involved wiping down and putting away the cold trays while there were still cookies baking.

I ended up taking the last batch out of the oven just as DH walked through the door - into a CLEAN kitchen!

HE put the Kettle on
and I FINALLY
got that Cuppa ...
and a Cookie!

Shattered...

Anyone who has ever gone beyond this page of my blog and wandered around the static pages would have read the story entitled "A Quilt with No Name".  

April 22nd, 2010 was the defining moment in this quilt's design. 

It was the day our world 'hit a brick wall' and shattered, irreparably - forever.

I felt this quilt had a powerful message to tell 

- so I entered in it Quilt Showcase.

It is dedicated in Memory of my Nephew Mark (26)

and to every family who have lost loved ones
as the result of a workplace accident.

Quilt Showcase 2014

April 6, 2011

.... if this is your first attempt at appliqué I’m looking forward to seeing your appliqué quilts in shows in a few years time....

Little did I realise when the above comment was left on my Yahoo photo album that I would be writing this post.  
"A few years time" - that's a long way down the track and a lot of learning, maybe one or two more applique quilts into the future. 

The power of encouragement is AWESOME! 
Without it I would not have finished the quilt and without it I would not have entered it into a quilt show.

But here it is ... 

Quilt Showcase 2014 

(Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre) 

Heart's Desire 
(My Heart is Blue)

Thank you to EVERYONE

PS: - That is a "Highly Commended" Ribbon attached to it !

A closer look at my ribbon (It is the first I have ever won for anything!)

Thank you to the Award Sponsor :- PK Fabrics NSW (Aust)

for the prize of two Moda Fabric packs.

Harvest Moon Kansas Troubles Quilters Layer Cake

and

Get a Clue with Nancy Drew 22 pce pack