Remember, remember....

Since having children my Mum has passed some of her cake decoration books down to me for ideas.  The holy grail of which was the Cadbury's Novelty Cookbook which annually my brother and I would peruse to choose our birthday cake.  I couldn't wait to make a farmyard cake with a tractor ploughing up the chocolate icing in the green dessicated coconut field for my son's 3rd birthday!  Though was slightly dismayed at the amount of butter which was required in the recipe!  A chocolate cake, with raisins in too which I'd not come across before either!

The other great thing to look through now, twenty or so years later, is all of the magazine pages which my Mum had torn out, with cake decorating instructions on.  I remember her creating this enormous teacup and saucer, with silver painted decoration on it which was for a magazine.  Only a vague memory, so I'm sure I've missed some of the details.  

One cake I do remember my Mum cooking for us was a version of the box of fireworks (something I plan to do for my family this year - shhhhh!)  Using sweets which look like packets of sparklers, rockets and catherine wheels, they explode out of your cake 'box'!

I think my Mum used chocolate buttercream to decorate the cake 'box', and possibly used something else for the lettering on the top.  My memory of this cake was that it was so thrilling!  That memory is probably mixed with the excitement of Bonfire Night itself, and my Mum's cakes were always better than the photos in the books or magazines.  I might try to adapt the idea somehow, but something draws me to making it just as it was described in the 80's.  I'm never sure when something is vintage or retro, but for me this cake is certainly nostalgic.

Christmas Cake Order Form Now Live!!

Love Autumn

Though we seem to be having nicer weather now that we're into October, than we did in July, there's no doubt that Autumn is here as there is definitely a nip in the air.

My thoughts are already well and truly into Christmas so it's nice to be starting to complete some of my 'Winter' projects ready for some fairs I'll be doing in York up to Christmas.

I've nearly finish a limited run of Love Autumn bunting, the first of which is pictured here.  There will only be three of these garlands made due to the limited amount of fabric I have.  I may be doing some others using the red and rose fabrics but sadly I have no more of the striped.  The woe (and joy!) of using found fabrics as once they're gone they're gone!  Though it does mean there are some more exclusive items to add to my collection.

Can't wait to showcase more craft items, but had better get on and finish some more first!

Nanny's Sherry Fruit Cake

Having set a competition question recently, for which the answer was 'my nan's sherry fruit cake' it's great to finally get round to using it again and filling the house with such wonderful Christmassy smells.  I love that this recipie has been passed down to me from my Mum, who inherited it from her Mum, my Nan.

My Nan was wonderful.  She could knit for Britain (a skill I'm hoping has been passed down to me, as I attempt to improve my own knitting), and her house was always warm and welcoming.  She lived in a small cottage in Newent, Gloucestershire, and I remember my Uncle and my Dad having to stoop to get through the doorways inside.  The kitchen (if memory serves me correctly) had a stone floor and always seemed dark, but always warm and with something delicious cooking on the stove.  I distinctly remember the ceramic chicken which housed the eggs too!

Though I don't remember my Nan cooking the recipe I do remember my Mum cooking it.  It would be a cold, dark Autumn evening and my brother and I would be sat watching Blue Peter or Willo the Wisp and the smells of mixed spice and sherry would waft through to the livingroom.  My Mum would always come in with the mixture to let us stir and make a wish; a tradition I have now continued with my eldest son.

Stirring the mixture today, I think of my Nan, I think of my Mum, and I think of my family.  Memories of the past and hopes for the future are stirred into the mix.  I always put twelve cherries in; one for each month of the year to come.  I look forward to the cakes I am making today becoming part of other people's Christmas', traditions and family memories.

Fantastic fabric

I've finally sorted out my fabric stash - well, when I say sorted, I suppose I mean got it all out and had a look through it then put it all back roughly where it was in the first place.  It's frightening how much I've accumulated.

It mainly comprised of two suitcase full of remnants of fabric which  inherited from my parents and various relatives along the way.  They are stuffed with old curtains, nets, scraps of cloth, half-made clothing and some fabrics which I've no idea what they could have been intended for!  There are bags of scraps too which are a treasure trove for things I'm making which have appliqué motifs on them.

I also buy things from charity shops - the worn duvet cover, the stained tablecloth, the lonely pillowcases.  I also love to re-purpose the clothing casualties!  Turning the singed checked shirt into an apron; or shirts with worn collars and ink stains into bunting flags.  I'm about to start a Memory Quilt for my son who starts school in January.  I want to keep hold of some of the t-shirts from his toddler years and make him something he can cherish for a while longer.

My approach to using fabric is 'waste-not-want-not'.  As I'm using rare vintage fabric or a fantastic unique pattern, I want to make sure I squeeze as much out of it as possible, as it's very unlikely that I'd find it again.  I make sure I cut my patterns out as economically as possible.  Any scraps are kept (even the tiny ones)!  The larger sized pieces are re-cut and used for appliqué motifs; the small, thin strips are made into rosettes, awkward scraps are made into Curiositea labels, and the rest is used as stuffing.  I love the fabrics I use and love creating things with them which can be enjoyed by others.

New £22 Curiositea Cake Range

I'm so excited to share images of the first two additions to a range of birthday cakes I'm developing, which will each cost just £22!

The first is a Giant Cupcake which is glittery and fun and can be decorated in whatever colour scheme you wish.  It is a vanilla sponge cake with strawberry jam and buttercream filling and decorated using pink buttercream, sugar decorations and edible glitter.

This cake would serve around 12 people and is just £22!

It comes boxed and on a small thin cake board.  Cake stand not included though can be hired if required.  Please enquire for more details.

This cake would be ideal for the little princess in the family.  If you wish you could also add to your order with some regular cupcakes, decorated accordingly.  Prices start from £9 for a dozen so feel free to enquire.

This would look great too on top of our 7-tier cake stand with a mountain of regular cupcakes beneath to make a fun alternative to a traditional wedding cake!  Icing and decorations can be made to coordinate perfectly with your colour scheme, and bespoke handmade edible toppers can also be added to your order.

The second cake is for the little monster in your house!  This cheeky Sweet Monster has devoured all the goodies, so he'd better get eaten up quick!

He is a vanilla sponge with buttercream filling covered with green fondant icing.  His mouth is filled with sweets but could be any kind of monster you like; a Chocolate Monster, a Cake Monster!  And colours can be altered as required.

Why not add to your party with some mini monsters made from cupcakes with handmade mini monster toppers.  You could even have a Trick Or Treat Monster or Ghostly Ghoul for a monstrous Halloween party!

It comes boxed on a thin cake board (plate not included).

This cake would serve around 12 people and is just £22!

More designs will be added to this range very soon including a Princess and a Pirate!  

Please contact me if you have any specific requirements as I'm more than happy to come up with designs and prices for you to choose from.  I've had so much fun making these and can't wait to do some more!

Look What I've Made

I am absolutely thrilled tonight as Look What Mum's Made, which is on Gillygate in York, have agreed to stock some of my bunting!  I'm so excited, and really hope that more items will be accepted soon.  This feels like such a big step for me, but something that definitely seems like the most appropriate one at the moment.


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Make sure you pop down to have a nosey at the other items there too, as there really do have some beautiful items.  I am so proud to have some of my work included there too.  Let me know what you think!