Winter Wonderland Cake

Happy Christmas everyone!

December has seen me decorating quite a few cakes. This cake was for auction at a black tie Christmas party event in aid of a local children's charity. The event was on the 14th Dec.What a great night, lots of music and comedy acts and items been donated to raffle and auction including my cake. The event was held at Blackpool Pleasure Beach!

I thought I would share a few photos of the Winter Wonderland Cake..

The reindeer is made by hand from sugarpaste and hand painted. This cake was a joy to make! I themed the decorations on old vintage Christmas cards. The sleigh was made piece by piece and painted too. Everything is edible and hand made. It took many weeks to make the decorations but I had fun and it went to a fantastic cause!

The snowflakes are made from royal icing.... the cake is a sponge cake with jam and butter cream and on the night 'Donnas Dream House ' charity went home with the cake! So I was very happy it went to the cause I was auctioning it for.

This cake let me go wild with advancing and trying new cake decorating skills. I painted this edible Santa plaque using food colours. His beard sparkled in the light as I used sparkle dust!!

A letter to Santa.....

The letter to Santa address reads:

Santa Claus

Candy Cane Lane

North Pole.....

A wonderful night was had by all and we raised 3,000 !!! I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos of the cake.

Wishing you all a magical Christmas and a Happy New Year 2011!!

Priscilla x

Another Year Older! Feeling Festive..

Hi Everyone,

It was my Birthday yesterday! 32 where did the time go??? lol. I had a lovely day and celebrated a few days before with a Christmas meal with the drama group. A good time was had by all... I am the one in the festive red top! I am also wearing one of the Christmas pudding pendants from the previous post!

On the 27 th November we had the Christmas church fayre. I always make a cake to raise funds for the church and all the drama group helps out. this year we raised £26, so we were happy! Joan and I sat taking the guesses for the 'Guess The Weight Of The Cake' at the fayre.

I put the decorations up early this year. Usually they go up the 8th so they are up for my birthday on the 10th,but this year I felt extra festive and put the tree up on the 1st!!

Hope you are all ready for Christmas See you again soon

xx Priscilla

Christmas Pudding Pendant

Hi Everyone. Well here I am again, I have been busy creating more charms from Fimo clay. I love working with Fimo and since Christmas is on its way I made myself this....I have also added The Christmas Pudding to my Etsy shop! I hope you like it...

I have also just completed my first orders for these Pendants and Charms!!!

A Bakewell tart

Christmas Pudding

A Carrot Cake Cupcake

http://www.etsy.com/people/PriscillasCottage

Please feel free to check out my Etsy Shop !!

So thats what I have been up too as well as decorating a cake for the Christmas fayre this year, for 'guess the weight of the cake' I am going with a Gingerbread theme this year! I will Post photos soon....

Have a good week everyone xx Priscilla

Polymer Clay Cake Pendants!

Hello Everyone,

Sorry I have been away so long, I have been keeping busy crafting with Polymer clay and completing cake orders! Last week I made some Christmas Cupcakes....... These were a trial run for me and my family. Strawberry Frosting and Filling with Fondant decorations. I think they look like some of the Shabby Chic decorations! So I named them 'Retro Christmas' lol

I have also been making these! Polymer Clay cake pendants. I made these for myself a few month ago and I am adding more to Etsy which I have recently set up also selling cake decorations! I will be adding Christmas Pudding Pendants for Christmas let me know what you think.....this is a new project for me. I hope to be making more designs in the coming month.

Bakewell Tarts and Danish Pastry Pendants Each pendant is made by hand, no molds are used. The danish is glazed to look sticky and yum! I have enjoyed wearing these and I just love them......

If you would like to see what I am up too over on Etsy visit me here:
http://www.etsy.com/people/PriscillasCottage

I am feeling very Christmassy I know it's only November but I am playing the Christmas songs and Making Christmas cake decorations so christmas has come early to my home........ How is everybody set for christmas have you got your decorations up yet. I have a friend who has!

See you all again soon

Priscilla x

Happy Halloween!!!

Hello,

Just popping in to wish you all a happy halloween....... I am still visiting your blogs, just not had a chance to post myself. Have agreat Halloween whatever you are up too!!

This is a Pumpkin I carved way back in 2005!!

Happy Halloween

Priscilla xx

Snow White Cake

'Grumpy 'Sugar figure

Hi Everyone...

Here I am again with another cake decorating post. I have been very fortunate to have the same friend order 5 cakes in the last few month so she has been keeping me busy! And has ordered another for November....Yippeee. I am trying to get the business off the ground so it can become full time, so as many orders as I can get is a good thing....I hope she has many friends..lol

She told me about her daughters 4th Birthday party back in July and told me the date. Over the last few month I had a lot on my mind with my dads health I was sure the cake was needed for late Sept so was not too worried. I contacted my friend to see if she still wanted the cake and she said yes for next week!!!! I only had a week to decorate a two tier sponge cake and make all the decorations OMG PANIC!!!!

'Snow White' hand painted plaque

Snow White was the theme. I knew the little girl loves Grumpy and Dopey and we agreed to have two 3d figures and I would paint snow white in food colour. The figures are all edible, and based on the movie. She even lent me a book of her daughters for inspiration! luckily I managed to complete the cake in time but boy... I missed my usual prep time!!
' Dopey' sugar figure

Here is Dopey.. made from sugar paste. He is edible. Although he is supported with a cocktail stick. Which has to be removed first..

I took the cake to to my friend on the 4th Sept. She had hired a cute little chalet on our local peach promenade, it was small yet contained a kitchen, sink and a small table. I set up the cake and made use of the kitchen to add a few details on the cake. It was a beautiful hot day... I am pleased after such a shaky start the cake all worked out eventually!

Before all the details were added

I hope you enjoyed hearing about my recent cake decorating adventures! lol..

See you again soon

Priscilla x

Reading..

Hi Everyone.

I am sorry for my absence. I have had a very,very upsetting couple of week regarding my dads health I don't want to go in it it too much but I am happy to say he is feeling a lot better.
I would like to talk about the books I have been reading recently. As you know I bake and decorate cakes and what is better than reading a book that contains a tv cake competition! That is the theme of the book I have just finished reading.. called Death Takes The Cake ...

Synopsis from GoodReads: "To help boot ratings on her show Della Carmichael agrees to enter a televised cake competition sponsored by Reggi-Mixx, even though the company's owner, Regina Davis is an old college nemesis. When she finds someone drowned in a mixing bowl of batter, Della realizes solving this murder will be no cakewalk."

I enjoyed reading this book, the connection to baking is why I enjoyed reading. I would of liked a bit more in regards to the mystery itself. The theme reminded me a lot of the 'Food Network Cake Challenge' , that is on the Food Network channel. Not so many twists and not a lot in action or suspense but an enjoyable cozy all the same.

I also read and really enjoyed "Mama Does Time"

This is one of the better cozies I have read recently, great characters! and I also really loved 'Heaven Preserve us'
This author writes in a style that does not annoy you as you read. Some amateur sleuth's find themselves in silly situations with no regard for their safety and with no real reason for pushing their nose in... BUT this author deals with that problem with style, the plot is believable and she treats the characters and reader with respect...

I have read quite a few cozies and I am still waiting to read one that has it all, great character and a good plot and twists. When I find a great one I'll let you know!

Currently Reading. I can feel Autumn on its way here in the uk, it has been windy and raining and I have been in the mood for a autumn feel read. I enjoy reading fiction set at the time of the Witch Trials and I found this book at the library. Although not set in Salem it is so far a very gripping emotional read...set in Germany 1507.

Back of Book " When a visiting friar suggests that witchcraft is to blame for their failing crops, irmeltrud sees and opportunity to get rid of her burdensome mother-in-law, Gude. Frustrated with having to feed the old woman who brings nothing to the table,she is quick to point the dreaded finger of suspicion. Gude has three days to clear her name, or be led to the stake"....

I hope you are all well and I will be visiting your blogs and catching up... Bye for now

Priscilla x

Reading, Nature and the moon!

Hi Everyone.

I have once again been taking photos with the new camera and thought I would share some of the pics. I have never taken a photo of the moon before and it was such a beautiful night so very clear. I am now on the hunt for tripod!

I love the details the camera managed to pick up! 12 x optical zoom... I would love to take a shot with a tripod when dark.

Remember those Ducks In one of my last posts? Look who came to visit again and brought little fuzzy fur balls with her!

These little guys hung around my place for a long time, in the back garden, then they moved to the front and had a little drink. there were 9 chicks!

Aww so cute!

After a day of playing with the camera and my new friends, I settled down with a good book, my trip to the library had me spoilt for choice! Here's what I picked up..

Books on making miniature food ( a new project for me).Photography, Some YA fiction. And cozy mystery books.

I finished Heaven Preserve Us by Cricket McRae . I enjoyed this cozy.

I am currently reading Burning Issy a YA book with a tale set around the Pendle Witches in Lancashire uk.. Good so far.

I will say bye for now see you all soon

Prisiclla x

Cake Decorating - And A New Venture!!

Hi Everyone,

This week I have been decorating a cake for a friend I havn't seen since school. We met on a social network site and she asked me to make a cake for her partners birthday. He likes to play the guitar and his favourite artist is Neil Young. She said it is a surprise from her and her daughters! I delivered the cake today... It was nice to see her after all this time.

Here is what I came up with..
The cake is a sponge cake with butter-cream and strawberry jam... 8 inch round

I do enjoy getting the opportunity to try new cake toppers in sugar. The guitar was a fun challenge. How to do the strings??? He plays an eight string guitar... I new I wasn't fitting eight strings on, but not to worry they got there in one piece! Something I was worried about with such fine icing..Phew !! ha,ha
My friend told me one of Neil Young's well known songs is 'Harvest Moon'.. I thought music sheets with the album logo and music notes would be a good idea. The logo and music is hand painted (with a new fine paintbrush which is now my favourite thing!)
I finished the cake off with a few quirky music notes on the side.... I was working at 11.00pm at night doing the last touches... so its a good thing I had planned quirky twisty music than straight lines! ;)

NEWSFLASH... Coming Soon

I do enjoy making cake toppers in sugar, where people can keep them for a while which many people do... Although I always thought it a shame they eventually have to be eaten... and a lot of people have mentioned they would like the topper to keep forever.

SO I have been working with a new media POLYMER CLAY . Now I can create Cake Toppers for people to keep. At the moment this is in the early stages but this is something I am hoping to develop and offer for sale here on the blog or Etsy.

Where I can create Cake Toppers for sale and provide requests. This is an exciting new venture for me and I will keep you updated!

See you again soon

Priscilla x

Random..and books

Hi Everyone,

Reading and books... I love books! I just thought I would share this small but rather fun piece of info with you... I have always enjoyed reading but books seem to have become a large part of my life this year. Last year I volunteered at Cancer Research where I organise and sort through large amounts of all types of books, which I love! All those old dusty books, and often brand new ones!.. I also work at the library on Thursdays with a computer class but when quiet I browse the shelves for hours!

Oh and am I the only one who is addicted to amazon??? I have also found a great site called GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/ where you can share your love of books with others, more find books to read, and list the ones you have read... Its a great site.

So yeah, books are where I am at right now lol....

I thought I would share some of the ones I have read recently, I read all sorts as you can see

Godmother The Secret Cinderella Story . This was beautifully written, made me want to read. The story was unusual and took a few twists on the Cinderella tale, but I enjoyed it. Found at the library waiting for computer beginners!

The Book Of Tomorrow - Really enjoyed this one! Magical read... Found at the Charity shop, brand new hard back..gorgeous book.

A cozy.. Pretty Is As Pretty Dies- Found this a bit slow..I cant remember much about it actually! A old lady sleuth..

A Young Adult Book - The Secret Circle Not a bad read. Magic among young adults. I have just got the second and final part to read.

I am also going to read my first Nancy Drew ! Yes I have heard many good things here in blog land I know I am no longer a child but I do enjoy reading the Ya and children's are just wonderful too.

I am starting Jinx - Meg Cabot a YA book

of books ready to enjoy but will show them another time..

And here is a little birdy that I just adore! My parents gained him when my grandma went into a care home, he's called Beauty and is the most talkative little thing. He tells us he is beautiful, a good boy, come on beauty,asks us what we are doing, and even Wolf whistles every now and then!

Until next time Bye for now

Ps. Can someone tell me how to copy and paste now in blogger? It dosnt have the option any more. I wanted to put a synopsis of Jinx from Amazon..any help would be great xx Thanks

Priscilla x

Our Play: 'Spark In Judea'

Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying great weather? It has been so hot here today! Lets hope it keeps it up! I thought I would share a few photos of a production my theatre company put on for Easter! I know time has gone by since then, but there has been so much happening time just disappeared! My parents are wanting to sell their house so we have been on a huge clear out, we are still working on it!
This play followed Pontius Pilate and his wife and many others...(I played his wife) before and during the crucifixion of Jesus. The play was a success and we enjoyed taking part in it. It was a rather eventful play though, we were not sure everyone would remember their lines as it was a three act play, with some challenging long speeches! but we pulled it off within the last few rehearsals... Here are some photos of the night...we preformed one night in the church itself which was a great experience
Backstage.. The best thing about been in this play was getting to preform along side my good friends.. We are a small company but don't always get to work alongside our friends.. The lady with the long hair is called Helen , she played Mary Magdalene.

Here are my other good friends. Joan to the right of me (I am the one in the middle) ;) and Hazel behind. The costumes were amazing on this show! The costume lady spent a few month looking at costumes on the web, and the male costumes have layers of cotton!

I love the set too ! The fabric was just so rich and we had candles onstage... This is Claudia Procula and Aurelian the architect chatting over old times..

Pontius Pilate and Claudia Procula ( Dave and me) Dave and I enjoyed been in this play, it is the largest role I have played yet..!

Real fruit !

We are now looking at scripts for plays in October, .. If I am not cast in that play, we will all take part in the Pantomime in Feb next year

I hope you enjoyed looking at our photos from 'Spark In Judea' I have to return my costume yet, you can become quite attached to them ha,ha ...

have a great weekend everyone, Take care

Priscilla x