Friday, February 19, 2010

Easter Fayre is coming......

It's nearly fayre time! Only 5 weeks until Berkhamsted Town Hall will again be full to the brim with exciting Easter goodies and gifts. 













Amongst all the goodies will be many NEW products ...... including delicious cakes and cookies for all from Nevie-Pie Cakes, beautifully handmade home wares for grown ups and children from Isla B Baby and Heartfelt Handmade, fabulous children's wear, toys and fun things from Stealing Candy and Rockabye Baby, gorgeous hand painted ceramics, cards and prints from illustrator Katy Leigh, expert photography from Richard Roscoe, treat yourself or someone dear to some glorious lotions and potions from Vie at Home, yummy handmade chocolates, including lots of Easter Eggs, from Coup de Chocolat, pretty personalised flannels and towels from Millsy and we will also have a Easter themed craft table for the children.......... look out for our posters and fliers coming very soon! 


We will also be spotlighting many of our sellers here on the blog in the run-up to our Easter Fayre and we are very excited to be offering you some new local sellers .......... keep checking back.







Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Feel the LOVE (HEARTS)


Are you stuck for a Valentine present for that special someone?  Look no further than this fabulous tutorial from Nevie-Pie Cakes who has very generously shared this wonderful project with us.  
Here is an easy way to make a sweet treat for your valentine.
Inspired of course by my Natasha's childrens' favourites, Love Hearts.

Ingredients
This recipe is taken from Pretty Party Cakes by Peggy Porschen
Mix together the butter and sugar until creamed.  Add the egg and then the flour. Mix and then knead slightly to make a firm dough.
  You can also add a teaspoon of vanilla essence if you wish or swap 50g of flour for cocoa powder to make chocolate cookies.

Then roll out the dough to about 1/4" thick and cut out your circles.

 
Chill again for 30 mins.
Then cook in a pre-heated oven 180 for 10-12 mins

Colour your fondant, I use SugarFlair paste colours.  Use a tooth pick and put a small prick of colour on your fondant, it is better to have to use more than put too much at the begining.
Cut out the fondant into circles and glue it to the cookie with brushed on boiled water or mix some gum trag with water.
 Mix some  pink lustre dust with water and brush it onto a heart cookie cutter.  I used the wrong side of the cutter (if you know what I mean) as it is thicker. Then press it into the fondant, if the line isn't quite strong enough you can always touch it up with a paint brush.

I then used a small clean stamping kit to stamp the words on.
 
Apparantly this year 'Love Hearts' have added a new phrase.  
Can you guess which one it is? (answer at the bottom) 

You could deliver your Valentine goodies wrapped in cellophane with a suitable label.
 
I downloaded these two free fonts, wm valentine and  love letters to make mine.  I cannot tell you enough how much I love free fonts, I bored friends and family for weeks when I discovered them.  You can then personalise your own label or click here and you can download my version. Thanks to Heartfelt Handmade for the technical advice and the felt heart.
 
Have a very sweet Valentines day!


Simply gorgeous, thank you Nevie-Pie Cakes. Read Natasha's blog at Amelies House, see photos of her magnificent creations on flickr or email her with any enquiries at nevie-pie@hotmail.co.uk.

Wishing you all a lovely Valentine's Weekend...............