Sunday Night Baking

Okay, I finished some more cookies. These are a little more girly than the other ones. I copied these off of the web, but not to worry - I am using these only for my personal learning curve. So if these look like your cookies - I am not marketing them.
I learned that the meringue powder definitely needs to be dissolved before using although I am still disappointed that the icing does not stay nice after I start using it. In the bowl it is so creamy looking, but before long it is shiny and losing its edge. Bah. I am happier with these regardless.

Sugar alert

Here are the flower cookies I iced yesterday. I am not happy with either of these glaze-type icings. The glossy one is still not dry this morning and the meringue powder royal icing shows too many flaws and I don't like the 'grit' I can feel in it - maybe it need to be run through a spice grinder or dissolved somehow.
I also played a wee bit with the gum paste. I tried to coy the cherry blossoms that were featured in last months Martha Stewart Living. Not too bad, still needs some work. Must try roses. My tongue is so scratchy today, I was lazy last night and sat on the couch watching Firefly and eating doritos. Can't do that again any time soon

new bracelet

I figured that before I give up any beads or tools, I should try to actually make some jewellery. So here is a bracelet for Spring. I did string a matching necklace, but as I photographed it, I realized that a bead was not working in the design. So here is the bracelet. I got some new cookie cutters today for spring. I will ice up some of the flowers I baked this week and should have some to show for tomorrow. I tried using meringue powder this time so that the icing doesn't have raw egg white, but I find it a bit gritty. I used hot water and everything but I wonder if you can dissolve it first. I also tried a corn syrup based glossy icing, but it takes *forever* to harden.

Blurry Photo Alert

I found my shoes for the wedding! Regular price: $165 +tx . What I paid? $39.99 +tx Woo Hoo - I love a deal. Maybe after the wedding I can have them dyed black.

Also - i have being playing with photoshop!

thinking outloud

I have been having this recurring daydream: selling all my jewellery making supplies. Having it all sit there and knowing how much it cost me over the last four years is a weight on my shoulders. just thinking outloud

Making connections

I had such a bizarre night last night - couldn't get to sleep with my head so full of a million things.
I had a great coffee with Kelly - she is going to make my wedding cake which is wonderful - although I had decided on something very simple, she is an artist- I told her to have some fun with it too. We also talked about business ideas which had been rolling around in my head, but there she is saying what I'm thinking! I forgot that she is very much a schemer like I am. We even talked about cupcakes.... sounds wierd but, around Christmas time I went into a candy store here in town becaue they had a sign outside advertising 'New York-style' cupcakes. What I found were less than impressive. So, here's Kelly opening up her mini portfolio and she's got these awesome cupcakes that are exactly what I imagined. We are getting together on Wednesday to play with gumpaste. Also to plot for selling Easter cookies at the market. I was up last night trying to come up with a name.
On the other hand, I finally called my sister last night..................she is having such a hard time with this man she's been with for about five years. I did my best to be supportive, but it was heartbreaking to listen to her talk. I felt awful bringing up the wedding amoungst her anguish, but she seemed buoyed by some good news. Now the trick is getting her here. Mum has a plan. My fingers are crossed.
I am tired now because I spent hours surfing the 'net for cookie cutters. oh I need help.

self portraits

I may have to use the close up for my profile pic. The text in the image are affirmations.

Lazy Sunday + New Necklace for spring

It is too cold to go outside just yet so we are relaxing and doing nothing. Well, we did cook a heart attack breakfast and I've got some turkey chili in the slowcooker. Trev sails tomorrow for almost three weeks so we have been ignoring the phone too.
The Sunday Edition with Michael Enright http://www.cbc.ca/thesundayedition was hilarious this morning. He read all these letters slagging his show and the jazz music he always plays and the rebuttal letters as well. What's amazing is how vehement some folks are in their hatred of jazz. It must take a lot of energy to summon up those feelings all the time. I am not a New Country fan, but I can't imagine my dislike of it taking up my thoughts like that.
For today: Necklace with Shiana silver and amazonite

Registering is Fun!

Yesterday was my day off. Started off badly for me as Mum called, in a state, and I had to run down and take care of things. I'm afraid I lost my temper with her. I felt badly about it, but after a talk with Trevor I felt better. I still don't really know what I am going to do........she will not wake up tomorrow and be healthy.
On the plus side, I may have found someone to make my wedding cake. First I have to find her! Kelly is a girl I used to work with at Crabtree and I have always missed her being there. Well, it turns out she works at the store where I went to buy some cake decorating supplies (how have I managed to always go in when she is off?) and saw a picture of a cake she made, having completed the three decorating courses. Now I just have to get in touch with her and hope she'll do it!

I myself got a little playing in. tada! rosebuds! these were made with royal icing (because it's what I had) and I think that they will be much easier with buttercream. To get a stiff enough consistancy in royal icing I had to add a lot of icing sugar and it was very hard to pipe - put a hole in the bag actually! must make up some buttercream.

And finally, last night we went and registered at the Bay. After only two tries! Trevor doesn't like being in the mall much and after a night of duty on ship I was so proud of him for lasting two and half hours. He got the gun. we picked out really practical stuff like towels and a really plain formal dinner set with a platinum rim that is actually less than our everyday ware. As much fun as it was, the concept of picking out gifts is very, very strange..........................

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is not just for sweethearts; it is for friends and family too. Here's hoping you all have a sweet day.

Winter Wonderland

We have snow, snow and more snow. There have been whiteout conditions all day. I guess we couldn't really avoid winter after all. So what better thing to do than make Valentine's cookies. Hearts and pink all over! My goal is to get them really even and professional looking. This batch is not so bad. A little uneven in spots and I still have to get control over blobbing, but the batch that are drying now will look better. Like everything it will just take practice. I just have to find people to eat all this stuff when I'm done or I'm going to get pudgy all over again.

-11... but I know it's colder

You know when the sun is shining that it is going to be really cold out there. BBBRRRRRRRR. The weather says winds are at 4km but they lie.

template

Okay - I tink I tried every template available here this weekend and I'm back to white.....if anyone knows how to customize colours, let me know. I love this layout - I just want it it baby blue!

Creative weekend

I got to paint this weekend and it was really nice to muck about and not really finish anything. I promise myself that I am going to try more of this. Some days it is hard to find the time to do everythin though....cook, clean, make jewellery, now paint and exercise? oh, and plan a wedding.
On the plus side Chase is home early and that makes me happy!

Colour

Cheery colours for a grey winter day

Getting ready for Valentines

I guess with Chase away I have a tendancy to get all sentimental. So this rainy afternoon I spent making him Valentine hearts. I already got him a t-shirt to wear when he goes to the states at the end of the month that says " Everybody loves a Canadian boy". I know I will probably make him something chocolately as well.
Here are some hearts - they cheered me up.

there is a reason

for this blog. For the time being I am going to use it as a 'wedding blog' as i don't have the inclination to start a web page. I am hoping that folks from out of town will be able to check this out for info such as: where to go - maps will be forthcoming! and perhaps some info on where to stay while in Halifax.
Preparations are underway - the dress is ordered, the reception hall is booked and the invites are being worked on nightly by yours truly. Trevor is at sea until the 8th but things will get going when he is back.
for now a promotional plug:
Masterworks Jewellery by Jonathan Corey
Our Wedding bands bought this past summer and waiting patiently............

testing 1- 2- 3

a photo: