A Triceratops, Cake & A Bear With A Sore Head

It's a bit late to say "Happy New Year" but this is my first post of the year, so I hope your January has been a good one so far and that you have all been enjoying a bit of snow (if you are in the UK).
I've been quiet because my focus has turned to the wedding, so far this month we have booked hair and make-up, a car, ordered rings, booked a suit appointment, abandoned the idea of custard doughnuts and put a deposit down on a cake, and then I turned my attention to toppers for the cake.
It might seem a bit early to think about a cake topper, it's another 9 months until they are needed, but I also wanted to make a little figurine for my friend as she is emigrating, so I decided to get them all done in one weekend. 

The initial creatures (a bear, a triceratops, and a fox for my friend) were made from polymer clay, completely free-hand. The Triceratops proved slightly challenging but I'm quite pleased with how she turned out. 

They were all painted gold, as the idea was to then paint them white and sand them back to make them look distressed. 

The fox stayed distressed, but before I began sanding the bear I decided that I would really like him to remain white, so I had a change of heart and repainted the triceratops white again.

Before I finished the toppers off, cake samples arrived from Couture Cakes. This has to be the most exciting things ever, it isn't just getting cake in the post, this is getting several different flavours of cake in the post.

The pieces on the plate look a little small, but I had cut each flavour in half so Rob could have some... the vanilla at the back looks really small, that's because I had begun it eat before I thought of taking a photo. The flavours we tried were vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut praline, raspberry and amaretto, and toffee and pecan. It was possibly the moistest, tastiest cake I've ever eaten, and I can't wait to try the finished cake... bit of a wait though. 

The finished toppers. In the end we kept them white with just small details. Oh and in case you are wondering, the bear - rubbing his sore head - represents Rob, and the baby dinosaur represents me, can't imagine why, I'm very dainty on my feet! 

This Week... Birthdays, Blogs, Books & Bracelets

Today's blog post is brought to you with the letter 'B'. How was that for alliteration? It wasn't planned either, I have only just noticed as I typed it in! 
I thought it would be nice to do a weekly round up, I haven't decided if it will be an ongoing thing yet, ask me next week ;)
This week has been pretty quiet, other half has been getting over his cold, and we are trying to sort out our wedding catering. 

Birthday! - We went out for a meal, to celebrate a friend's birthday. That is him there with one of his presents. 

 

Blog Post - I was lucky to be interviewed and featured in the Sue Bulmer blog this week, that was very exciting. It was odd seeing my drawings somewhere other than my own blog. It was lovely that Sue was interested in my drawing project, I never expect anyone to want to read anything I say, even on here I always think I am chattering away to myself, the stats say otherwise though  - *waves at readers*... unless they are just trying to humour me ;)

Product Photos - I imagine you will be seeing more of these. I have an endless amount of product photos to take, but had to stop all of last week, due to a bulb situation. We now have two bright matching LED bulbs, no more filament breakage for me, no siree!

Finished - I am loving these books. Sorry to say, that like a lot of people, I didn't pick them up until the first one was put on television, but who cares, I am reading, and appreciating them now right? This one was so full of drama, but I won't divulge, I wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone. I raced through it, but unfortunately I can't read the next one until my fella has finished reading it... I did buy them for him for Christmas after all. :)


Look out for another update on The Doodle Olympics, it will be coming at ya very soon! 

Hello 30s - Day 313 - 330

Day 313:

A pretty little tin of vintage style stamps. These little pretties belong to the lovely Anna. She let me borrow them, so I was able to start experimenting more with texture, in polymer clay, rather than just making canes. 


Day 314:

I started off using the stamps, on a small handful of pieces of Cernit, and quickly became addicted.


Day 315:

These are the baked Cernit pieces, inked up, and drying.


Day 316:

We finally framed the paintings of the chickens. I haven't actually framed any of my work before, so there was a lot of traveling, to and from, Hobbycraft, taking measurements, buying one mount, to check it was the right size, going back for a second, then getting frames to match. I am really pleased though, everything looks so much better in a frame, I hadn't realised. It means that I am now itching to frame everything in sight!


Day 317:

The Cernit pieces finally sanded, and lightly glossed, just enough to give them a slight sheen. I love the rustic look that they have, completely the opposite to my cane work, but probably much more suited to me - yes I am that scruffy little urchin sitting at the back!


Day 318:

So pleased was I, with those initial pieces, that I just had to make more! I was feeling really inspired, so rather than just use the stamps, I decided to make some beads, and doodle on them freehand. 


Day 319:

The finished polymer pieces from day 318. I only have brown, red and green inks at the moment, but I think they look so effective! 


Day 320:

Putting together another zombie cat illustration. Weirdly, I find it so much easier to create an image from lots of pieces, rather than creating it all in one go. 


Day 321:

Taking a photo of the final illustration, to promote it being in my Society6 shop, on my blog. 


Day 322:

Introducing my little vintage button stash. I bought these when we were chicken sitting, in Suffolk. A small cup full, for a £1, which I think is the cheapest deal I have found yet. It was only a small cup, but unlike a lot of places, where I have seen buttons pre-selected in bags, I was able to rummage, and choose the ones that I liked :)


Day 323:

My boyfriend apologises for the state of the plate, he hadn't realised that I intended to show it off. The important thing to realise here, is that is tastes amazing! Spanish chicken with chorizo, and fried potatoes! We shall not talk about how unhealthy it is, ssshhhh! 


Day 324:

Boyfriend and I, drove down to the New Forest for the day. We got up quite early (for us), and were convinced we should go home by 4pm, because it felt like it should have been about 7pm. We had great weather, and stopped first in Lyndhurst, for a spot of brunch, then went on to Burley. Not only did we go for a walk, but we also visited the New Forest Cider shop, (and bought a ridiculous amount of cider), and the Burley Fudge shop. 


Day 325:

I was supposed to be going to a UK handmade meet up, but I was in bed, feeling rough and sulking... as you do. Anyway, as I rolled over in a huff, the sun was coming in through the window, and running through my glass, and it caught my eye. It wasn't anything exciting, but for a split second, rather than feeling sorry for myself, I thought 'huh, that's cool'. 


Day 326:

Playing with threads... that is all. 


Day 327:

I had been having a bit of a clear out, and decided to get rid of a whole stash of old magazines. I wondered if there was anything creative that I could do with them, so I began rolling. 


Day 328:

... and rolling. This is bunch of pages, with glued cocktail sticks, in the corners, drying. Oh and just so you know, at the point of writing this, I still haven't made anything with them. 


Day 329:

Look how big the basil has grown. I'm a proud mamma, I'm not great with plants, but the basil just keeps going. 


Day 330:

Spiced roasted chickpeas. I decided to make these after seeing a recipe on Pinterest. It seemed like a good idea, for a healthy snack, especially as we had a tin gathering dust in the cupboard. They were pretty tasty. There is also a sweet version that I want to try :)

This Week on Folksy

It has been a while since I have actually made a post, that isn't part of the Hello 30s project. I thought it was time to just throw something else out there. Here is what has been going on in my Folksy shop this week.

These little cuties have also sold :)

Hello 30s - Day 230 - 238

This week has been a busy one, there has been doctors and dentists, but most of all lots and lots of making, which makes a nice change, oh but there was still plenty of room for cake ;)

Day 230:

Making! Various necklace bits and pieces. Keep your eyes peeled, there are many more bits and pieces to come :)

Day 231:Dear, oh dear, oh dear! I did debate not showing this, but it was the only photo I have from day 231. We don't normally dress like this - honestly! We were off to an 80s fancy dress party, to celebrate Sam's 30th. We had a wonderful time, possibly the best barbeque I have ever been to, I might even have called it a gourmet barbeque :) So here I am with Lyds, ready to set off for the evening, back combed hair and everything :)

Day 232:

Dragon Boat racing in Gloucester. No, not me, boyfriend. He had accidently volunteered to take part, but seems it was for charity, went along to be part of his work's team. He was hitting the drum. They didn't win, but they didn't do too badly, for a team that hadn't been in a dragon boat before, I think 11th out of about 14 is pretty good. :)

Day 233:
Having a walk. I remembered to take my camera along this time, but then I had to try and remember, to keep my eye out for something, to take a picture of, instead of just getting lost in my own thoughts.

Day 234:More necklace components!

Day 235:Earrings!

Day 236:
More necklace bits and pieces! You see, I told you there were lots of bits and pieces :)

Day 237:
Could this possibly be the most boring photo of the Hello 30s project? Yes I was at the bus stop. I spent a fair bit of time there this week, having had to go to the dentist twice. The bus that takes me home only runs once an hour, so there was lots of hanging around, and checking to see how long the bus was going to be.

Day 238:Lots more earrings! Followed by...

... Cake! What weekend, or blog post, wouldn't be complete without some cupcakes. Boyfriend treated us to some cupcakes, from the new cupcake cafe, that has just opened up on our doorstep (and there was me, considering moving house??!!!). We thought it only polite to check them out. They have some really interesting icing flavours. There was strawberry milkshake, that does indeed taste like milkshake, not just strawberry flavour. Then there was chocolate cake with gingerbread icing, chocolate and caramel icing, and coffee and caramel - yummo!