I’ve just put the shop and Etsy on holiday mode. Just going on a vacation for some must needed R&R. Will be back soon!
I’ve been teaching myself crochet and finally getting these little hats right. I’m using Sugar n Cream cotton and just love it!
Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year!
As Indy’s 2nd birthday approached, I tossed and turned between buying this year’s cake and making it. Having spent all of the beginning of the year dairy-free, it was a bit daunting to jump right back into baking. But I decided if I was only going to make one thing for the party, the cake would be it. We did consider an Indiana Jones theme … but let’s face it, that would have been for us and not for her. Then I thought Spot. Though as April drew nearer, the cake theme became obvious: Indy is obsessed with Dora. The only way I can get her out of Dora pyjamas is to put her into a Dora top. So this year’s cake was Boots.
The cake itself is quite simple … a 9 x 13″ slab of Devil’s Food Cake (or any recipe you like, doubled) covered in tinted Vanilla Buttercream. A smarter person would have learnt to pipe icing by now, but I just did it all manually. The eyes are chocolate melts and the black lines are licorice. Then the hair is made using shaped musk sticks dipped into the icing. I’m pretty happy with the result! If you wish to try it yourself, below is the template I made.
Shiny complexion and original hair
I have decided I am going to call my Blythe doll Piper. It’s been a bit of an obsession for me, this Blythe doll. I am not even sure buying it was a good thing as I now I find myself constantly perusing Ebay for other dolls. I very almost bought a custom doll, but just couldn’t bear to part with several hundred dollars over this. I even considered buying a cheaper model and customising her myself – but then I remember the last thing I need is another expensive hobby! At over $100 each just for the doll, making custom Blythes is an expensive exercise – and one I couldn’t afford to stuff up.
I have however spray-matted Piper to make her much easier to photograph. These photos are taken with a shiny new Canon 60D.
Shiny Piper
Matte Piper
I don’t think Piper’s original hair will make too many appearances because these wigs are just too much fun!
Piper wearing Chelsea Hair Flower
I have shamelessly stolen this post title from my husband. After our 3rd frantic visit to the hospital from yet another bleed, we were advised the best thing to do would be to have a c-section now whilst both of us were healthy rather than risk another, bigger bleed.
So, we welcomed baby Harrison (see, we didn’t call him Ninja or Batman) into the family on Friday morning at 10.47am. He’s only a tiny 2.8kg because he’s a bit early but doing very well.
The placenta was apparently smack-bang on top of the cervix, despite all those costly untrasounds, so we made the right decision to have him now rather than waiting for another inevitable bleed.
Baby Harrison
Everyone says he looks like Indy, but very much like a boy at the same time. Personally, I think he looks like Daddy Kevin … but they change so quickly, you can never really tell.
I’ve ended up closing my stores a little earlier than expected. Looks like this little one isn’t going to stay in for much longer! I apologise for having to close with no notice again but this placenta previa thing is unpredictable! At least this time in hospital, I arrived in time for the meal.
Watch this space for updates!
