Or unwrap-up really … my favorite photo from the festive season:

Gardenias

Whilst browsing one of my friend’s photos, I noticed they had placed their Christmas tree inside a play pen. We didn’t do anything like that this year – Indy stayed away from the presents as she was far too interested in the Christmas ornaments. But I wonder what measures will be needed next year to guard the present stash? My neice, who is 3, asked for a pony for Christmas (!?!), so I can’t imagine what Indy will ask for as she will be that age next December.

One of the gifts I got this year was a sewing machine – thanks to those that made suggestions of a good beginner’s model. It is a Brother NS30 – so need suggestions on some good beginner’s projects now!

And since someone asked, here is what the Red Velvet Cake (from Southern Cakes: Sweet and Irresistable Recipes for Everyday Celebrations) I made for Christmas Eve looked like. These photos are actually from the last time I made the cake, but it looks exactly the same. I thought Red Velvet was only so-so before I tried this recipe – but I think it’s really the frosting that makes it.

Red Velvet Cake with Coconut-Pecan Frosting

Red & Festive

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Vinter Arden

Very Vicky

Nostalgic Pop

Punkaholic People

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You know you have a Blythe problem when you go into Pumpkin Patch and end up buying clothes for your doll and not your real children …

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Chocodoodles

It seems every Christmas, I come back to baking these chocodoodles. These small biscuits are really more like cakes made with cocoa, nutmeg and cinnamon – dense and very more-ish. And they make the house smell like doughnuts!

This recipe is from Nigella Lawson’s How to be a Domestic Goddess, and it is her variation on Snickerdoodles. However, it’s completely different to every other snickerdoodle recipe I’ve seen as those all make flat biscuits and these look nothing like that!

I’ve also made a chocolate-chilli variation by substituting the nutmeg for chilli powder.

Chocodoodles
adapted from Nigella Lawson’s How to be a Domestic Goddess

450g all-purpose flour
50g dutch cocoa
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1.5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
250g butter, at room temperature
200g caster sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
cinnamon sugar
2 baking sheets, lined

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Combine the flour, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt, and set aside. In a mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter with the sugar until light in texture and pale in color, then beat in the egg and vanilla. Now stir in the dry ingredients until you have a smooth mixture. Then roll pieces of the dough between your palms into walnut-sized balls. Roll each ball in cinnamon sugar and arrange on your baking sheets. I put these quite close together as they don’t spread very much.

Bake for about 12-15 minutes, and leave to rest for 1 minute before transferring to a wire rack to cool. I’d watch them closely when baking because they are quite easy to burn (the bottom of the biscuit especially) or overcook (they become like rocks). They take about 13 mins in my oven.

I get around 50 biscuits from this recipe.

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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

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My new Blythe!

She’s here! And what a lovely model for hair flowers she turns out to be! So my first welcome is to my new Blythe doll. Wonder what I should name her?

Next, I have to welcome Unique Boutique – our newest stockist!

I have been lax about blogging again … which has been mainly a time thing. I’m not sure those of you with 2 little ones at home manage to eat, let alone cook! Indy is still coming to terms with the new addition to our family and also approaching those terrible 2′s. Harry’s also had some more tests done due to the UTI he had a few weeks back but so far, it’s looking good. There may be more tests, but right now, it’s just wait and see. His weight gain so far has been great and he’s just hit 4Kg.

To be cut

I have lots of ideas buzzing around, just no time to make things happen. Just look at this stash of fabric next to my die-cutter that only needs a few hours (of undivided attention). I’m musing about a ironing press to see if that makes the ironing go quicker too (for this and clothes of course – hear it’s amazing for pants).

Blossoms

Also working on new blossom snap clip sets, which I haven’t made in a long time. I’m trying hard to grow this little stash of blossoms here – it’s just progressing rather slowly. Time to soldier on …

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Recently, my husband acquired himself a Betty Draper Barbie doll (he didn’t actually buy it, it was sent to him). And it got me thinking about Blythe again. I say again because this happens about twice a year. They may look like cute Barbies with giant heads but these things are collector’s items and fetch anywhere from US$100 -500+ on Ebay.

I have several pieces of merchandise already – heaps of tops and a few handbags – featuring the photography of Gina Garan, but no dolls. And I thought I am much to old for dolls!

This time, I decided I would actually get one. At first, I was really tempted by Very Vicky (there are only a limited number of styles I’d consider to be in my price range). I love love love the long hair and outfit (and that super cute beauty spot!), but I didn’t want a really pretty one that I’d have to worry about keeping in mint condition. I know there are heaps of people out there that customise their Blythes, going as far as sawing the heads off to re-root the hair and resanding the faces, but I’m not really prepared to go quite that far!

Very Vicky Blythe

So in the end I decided on Nicky Lad – I loved her eye colours and seeing as she has short hair, I’d be able to wig her. Gives me an excuse to go clothes shopping as I’m going to need some new dresses to go with Nicky’s new hair too! It makes me want to go to K-Mart and see if any of the Barbie or Bratz fashions are likely to fit!

Nicky Lad Blythe

I am much too excited about getting a doll!

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