New website

In case you are wondering why there has been a absence of posts over the past week, it is because I have been working on my new website (well, my web designer has been doing the hard work and I have been "advising").  

It is still very much a work in progress however please do pop over and have a look.  I'd love to know what you think.  All my blog posts are now on the new site at www.cakecardcloth.com

Hope to see you there!

Chocolate rose cupcakes

Mmmm chocolate.  There is something about the smell of chocolate that is just so delicious.  Today, whilst it was pouring rain outside, I spent my time in a warn kitchen making chocolate cupcakes. What a life! 

Chocolate and roses just seem to go together so I decorated  my cupcakes with glossy chocolate ganache (hint - always make extra to have with toast later - it is delicious!) and hand made fondant roses.  Usually I colour my own fondant however this time I used a ready coloured one from Renshaw called fuchsia pink.  Don't you think the strong colour looks great against the dark chocolate? 

If you haven't made ganache before you really should give it a try.  This is the recipe that I use and this amount should be enough to decorate 12 cupcakes.

100gm dark cooking chocolate

100ml of double cream

Break the chocolate into small pieces and put it in a heat proof bowl.

Heat the cream in a saucepan until small bubbles appear on the edges but don't let it boil.

Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let it stand for a couple of minutes.  

Stir the mixture until it is lovely and glossy.

Spread the ganache over your cupcakes using the back of spoon.

Any left over ganache can be stored in the fridge for your toast the next day.  Enjoy!

Whole cloth baby quilt

A new baby calls for something special.  In this mass market age, it is often difficult to find a gift that is individual and unique.  

A little whole cloth quilt such as this one fits the bill perfectly as it is relatively quick to make and can be made in any combination of colours or fabric patterns you choose.   What is a whole cloth quilt, you ask?  Good question.  A whole cloth quilt has the top layer made from a single large piece of fabric, without patchwork or appliqué.  Often they are very heavily quilted in intricate patterns.  In this example, less so.

I made this one in about two days following a Brighton Sewing Centre tutorial.  It is a mystery to me as to how they made their version in an afternoon.  Perhaps they meant they only worked on it in the afternoons.  Anyway, moving on.

The tutorial makes a lovely crib quilt, about 1 metre square.  I used a pretty aqua for the backing and a gorgeous grey floral print for the binding.  As per the tutorial, I quilted in lines following the gingham check.  The quilting is not that obvious on the gingham, however it shows up very effectively on the back as a series of unevenly spaced lines. 

I have washed this quilt to give it that lovely, crinkly vintage look.  And, as it is made from 100% cotton, it will be gentle on baby's soft skin.

So there you have it.  A lovely handmade gift to welcome a new arrival.  

Fashion cupcakes

The sun is shining.  Time to bring out some pretty summer dresses and co-ordinating shoes.  To me, these look like an LK Bennett shop window.  Pretty girly frocks, in beautiful soft pastels, with gorgeous shoes embellished with flowers and bows.

To make your own outfit, first choose a pretty dress... 

And then select some co-ordinating shoes.

The ladies at the Sewcial last night were choosing their favourites whilst whipping up their own gorgeous dresses and summery tops (and a few cushions and quilts, for good measure).  Well done!

Pot luck off-set coin quilt

It must be pretty obvious by now that I love, love, strip quilts.  I love the simplicity of them and how they really show off the fabrics.  My latest strip quilt is a variation of a design called chinese coins, or stacked coins.  

You can see where the pattern gets its name as the coloured fabric columns look like piles of money.  Often the fabric coins are stacked exactly on top of one another.  In this case, as the coins are off-set, they look as though they have been piled higgledy pigglegy.

A single jelly roll, from the Pot Luck collection by American Jane for Moda, was used to make the quilt coins.  I love the retro look of these designs and colours.  To me they seem very reminiscent of the 1950s.

For the back I used a fantastic giant text print called Nummer, from Ikea of all places.  Many quilters use it and this was the perfect project for me to try it for myself.  I think it is the perfect partner for the quilt top; the large writing works so well with the little numbers on the tape measures. 

The quilt was professionally long arm quilted with a design called feathers.  I chose it because of the tiny chicken fabric.  After washing, the quilt did shrink a bit but I don't care.  It is still a great size (about 60 inches square) and I love the textured look and feel that the quilting creates. 

Poppies for ANZAC day

Today is an important day for Australians as it marks the centenary of the ANZAC Gallipoli landing during WW1.  

Since 1921, the Flanders poppy has been used  as a symbol of remembrance for soldiers who have died in war.  Last year I wrote about the 5000 Poppies project, a community art project in Australia that started with a modest ambition for 120 poppies.  Since then, the organisers have been inundated with poppies. The poppies I contributed have joined over 250,000 handmade poppies to create a moving tribute of respect and remembrance for all those Australian servicemen and women who have served over the last 100 years.   

Poppies, whether knitted, sewn, felted or crocheted, were donated from around the world and have been made into a stunning field of handmade poppies now on display at Melbourne's Federation Square.  It is a beautiful and touching display in memory of those who served.  Lest we forget.  

Rae's quilt - a remake

Those loyal followers of Dashwood Studio will remember this lovely quilt, appropriately nicknamed the Stacked Books quilt.

The very talented Rae from Fabric HQ designed and made it to show case Dashwood's beautiful Retro Orchard fabric collection.   

This quilt has been admired by many and a number have asked for a pattern so that they can make their own version.  As it was made with no thought of making more, sadly there was no pattern.   So Rae asked me to draft one up from the original quilt.

Cue much measuring and many calculations,

Selecting and cutting fabrics for a test version, 

And finally piecing and machine quilting.

Here is the final test version, made up in Origami Oasis with Flurry in green used for the contrast strips and binding.

Even if I say so myself, I think this version looks just as pretty as the original.  Stacked Books is a terrific design that easily lends itself to other fabric combinations.  It is a great usable size too, being approximately 1.2 x 1 metre, and would make a fab throw or child's play mat.

If you'd like to create your own version, Fabric HQ will be running a class to make this quilt later in the year.  Keep an eye on their website or sign up for their mailing list to be notified of the class dates.