Sunday, February 22, 2015

Cakes and More

Lots of mini baking was happening this past week!

The mini Green Velvet cake samples are done for starters.

Along with some un-cut cakes.

But I also had a go at making some shamrock cookies,

put sticks in lollipops,

and punched paper doilies out of some papers and envelops I had laying around.

I'm quite pleased with how the cookies turned out. I will probably make more once I finish frosting the other sliced cake pieces that are waiting on me to make more "frosting." I did make some plain old round cookies too, but I forgot to get their picture. They aren't decorated yet, so you're not missing out. Hopefully I get back to them in the coming week.

That's all for now. I need to get back to some real world work around the house. See you next week!

Sunday, February 15, 2015

An Early Start

Not on the day, but for a workshop/project I'm teaching next month. The local mini group will be making 1:12 scale green velvet cakes for the March project. I spent time this past week getting a few things ready for them. [Oh and I hope everyone had a nice St. Valentine's Day!]

What took up most of my time was the cane of candy I designed for them to decorate the cake with. In fact I haven't even gotten the cake part started beyond deciding on colors and making notes for the handout.

But the cane is finished and I've gotten half of it rolled out and baked!


I still have about 3 inches of the unbaked cane to roll out and bake. I will probably try to come up with a few other things to do with it.

I've already made lollipops and stick candy.
And of course there are some teapots made from bits trimmed off the cane ends after stretching.
For fun, I tried out a cookie jar type thing with a chunk of cane end, just to see how it would look. The bit I used was at the first end I trimmed off when I started stretching the cane, so the shamrock design isn't quite all there, but I'm actually quite taken with it and will try doing another one or two.

I'm not going to have the mini group members actually make the cane at the meeting. It takes way too long. But they are getting the instructions and design in their handout in case they'd like to make more at a later date. They're also each getting a piece of finished cane to use for their project.

I'm also planning on putting the finished project instructions up on my Etsy page as a download for a couple of dollars at some point. There may be someone out there who would like the instructions.

That's all for this week. I need to get working on the little cakes so I can get pictures and finish writing up the handout.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Folding and Molding

I got into the mood to work on some bolts for the Patchwork Peach during the week. If I recall correctly, these bring the total up to 442 bolts of fabric. I've got fabric for another 20 or so and then I'm going to stop making bolts until I get my shelving sorted.


I also unearthed some mini fat quarter bundles that I made a few months ago. I'll be making more of each colorway at some point.

Yesterday I thought I'd get started on making a cane of candy decorations for a St. Patrick's Day themed cake. I got as far as mixing a brick of White with a brick of Translucent before my hands decided they'd had enough. It took the length of a movie on Netflix to mix. Hopefully the greens won't be as bad... I don't need as much of them.

The project is a sample for the mini group's March project. I thought I'd give myself plenty of time to make the sample and handout for them. They're getting the instruction for the cane in the handout, but I'm supplying the finished cane that evening. It will save on time and frustration all around.

Artie has taken to sleeping in the ancient cat condo in the dining room while I work. I managed to sneak a couple of pictures without disturbing him too much. This one is my favorite, despite the bit of fuzz on the lens when I took it. Gotta love the kitten toes!

Anyways, I'm going to go mix up some green clays and hopefully get going on the cane today. Otherwise I'll be another day behind. See you next week!

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Lazy, Snowy Sunday

As the title suggests, it's snowing here. 


 Pixel has been bored to sleep with the snow, even with the visiting birds.

I can't really show pictures of my class work for the computer drafting class, but that's what's been taking up my time this week. Hopefully next week I'll get to show something a little more miniature-oriented. Until then, stay safe and warm!