Tie The Knot Carnival

Last Sunday I spent the day at the Tie The Knot Wedding Carnival. I took a box of cake dummies and a box of cake samples and spent the day chatting to some fabulous couples and meeting some amazing wedding suppliers. Here are some photos of my stand.

All photography by Binky Nixon

Shower the people you love with love

One of the best aspects of participating in a wedding fair is being able to create a design that I have been wanting to make for a long time. There is a long list of designs in my head waiting to be brought to life and my life could never be long enough to make them all!

I will be at the Tie the Knot Eclectic Wedding Carnival on Sunday 11th May at Hexton Manor. So I decided it was time to free this one thought from my overcrowded brain and make a cake!

It was inspired by the James Taylor song 'Shower The People You Love With Love'

I love James Taylor!

There is something (in the way he moves) about his voice, lyrics, music that fills me with happiness.

And this version of the song especially can move me to tears.
xxx

No-sew Easter table runner (from Pin to win!)

I have close to 4,000 pins on my many Pinterest boards. Most of them I have pinned with the hope that one day I will bake, make or recreate them.... but that day never arrives! Until now!

I pinned this table runner (which I love) a good while ago and today I decided to make it!  I wanted to give it my own spin (but you can get the original instructions here). So I made it with pretty spring-like floral fabrics, I am not going to pretend this a tutorial, it's more like vague descriptions and pretty photos, but hopefully it is clear enough to help you recreate it , if you want, and why not add your own spin. 

As it is no sew, I didn't hem the runner, just tell people that it is 'rustic'. My runner is 40cm x 190cm, I made it long enough so that there is a slight hang over each end of the table.

Begin by making the pom-pom tails. Trace the pom-pom maker template onto very thick card and cut out. Wrap wool around the ears. 

Tie a length of wool around the middle, take the pom-pom off the bunny ears and cut the edges. You may need to trim the pom-pom.

Choose your fabrics for the bunnies and iron them flat. I used bonda-web to attach the bunnies to the runner, it is also called wonder-web, but it may be called something different in other countries. It basically fuses two fabrics together. 

Trace the bunny template onto the bonda-web, I had six bunnies on my runner, but you could have more, or less. Roughly cut out around the design then iron the bonda-web onto the fabric. Peel off the backing and then iron the bunny onto the runner.

Finally use the glue gun to attach the fluffy tails.

You can right click on the image above to download the template as a jpeg, or download a pdf here.

Then add some flowers, fluffy chickens and gorgeous props and voila! a very pretty Easter table.

xxx

ps You can follow me on Pinterest here.

Simnel cake printables

Now that you have made your fabulous and delicious simnel cake it's time to add the finishing touches.

I have created a cake cuff which is suitable for any size cake, just add a ribbon to tie it around the cake.

There is also a sign for the top of the cake. I used these straws from Baker and Maker, but you could use plain ones or even lollipop sticks. I used my glue gun to attach the sign.

You can download your printables here, then just print them out onto card, cut out and add to your cake. 

Then stand back and wait for the appreciative noises that your family will make.

Happy Easter!

xxx