Peppermint candy cakestand

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The quick and easy how to:

#1. Buy candy and unwrap (hardest part of the whole process!)

I used about 6 bags for 3 tiers (dollar store)

#2. line any oven friendly pan with parchment paper

#3. bake at 350' for about 10 minutes but throw out the timer and just watch
because if you over cook the colors run together and it starts bubbling, not such a pretty plate!

(this one is almost done, center is not quite melted)

#4. while the melted candy is still hot add the scallop, just push the candies in
and keep an eye on them for a couple of minutes to make sure they are standing up straight,
they tend to flop if the candy is too hot.
The plate hardens quickly so have the candies unwrapped and ready to go. 

#5. cool, then turn out of the pan, remove parchment

#6. stack on candle holders or whatever works

Just skip the scallop if you want  a flat plate, or place mats.
Fun projects for kids!
~

So I made these cupcakes because I thought they would look pretty on the stand.....

But.....this happened when I went to move the stand!

OIH!!

....and round two! Cupcakes long gone!

lesson here - hard candy is very fragile especially when you stack it!
..... glue?

Breast Cancer fundraiser

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I was asked by the marketing company SavvySkirts to design a "Ta  Ta Bra" for Christian Le Blanc (aka ~ Michael Baldwin from the Young and the Restless) 

to be auctioned off at the at the CIBC Celebration of Hope breast cancer fundraiser benefiting the Markham/Stouffville Hospital in Ontario, where he was the guest of Honor.

Here is the design

and the poem that helps to make sense of it!

You may be "Young and Restless"

Maybe a little old and frail

Wealthy, middle-class  or homeless

It's all to no avail

You may live in Markham, "Genoa City", or Rome

Be a "lawyer", teacher or a mom who stays home

……...The big "C" doesn't care

It can find anyone, anytime, anywhere!

I've lost family and friends to this.....as we all have. Kudo's to the Markham Stouville Hospital Foundation, CIBC Celebration of Hope, Christian LeBlanc and everyone involved for trying to make a difference!

Garden wedding

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The wedding gown, through the day!

The Ceremony                            The Reception                            The Honeymoon

For her backyard, garden wedding Michelle wanted a Bohemian style comfy dress. So much so

that when I tried the lining on her in the initial fitting she was mortified how fitted and

unyielding that was going to be! I scrapped that $60. a meter Moroccan silk and yes, went with a $5. a meter cotton/spandex lining, kind of like wearing a t-shirt! In the wedding gown world a comfortable wedding dress is an oxymoron!

I made the same dress, short, in black, for the honeymoon, to wear under the wedding dress top.

The "t-shirt" was slit but not the lace (her idea ~ brilliant!)

 Added little arm ruffles.

Beautiful bordered lace!

I used local dahlias, glads, roses and orchids for Michelle's bouquet
.......love the Fraser Valley!

 What I love about this sentimental couple is they do everything from their heart, not pinterest approved, trending, or to please anyone else.

Everything at the arch (that David built) is sentimental and meaningful to them.

Michelle painted the quotes on the backdrop. 

If anyone is interested in  making  one, just buy table cloth fabric (polyester) from a fabric store the length you want and finish the edges.

Its easy.

The romantics that they are they asked me to replicate this pic from a few years back, David painted it on the sub floor in the hair salon he built for her. 

They also created this cement table.

Painted it red and used it for  the signing table.

Here with their children and Tara

(I made those little Bohemian inspired flower girl dresses to match Michelle's and the garden)

and later it became the cake table 

The carrot cake wedding cake was inspired by their backyard! .... carrots from the garden, eggs from the chickens, butterflies everywhere...

 Now if they had a cow we could be making the cream cheese for the icing... ok too much!

and also from the garden I used a pumpkin...

.....to make a Cinderella carriage

I know ...what?
Long story....anyway here's how to make it, seeing as we are in the thick of pumpkin season!

First I painted it with blue acrylic paint , could be any color though... silver, white maybe.  Then I spray varnished it and sprinkled sparkle before the varnish dried.

Next bought stove element rings, which conveniently come in two sizes,  hot glued wooden skewers
into them for spokes.

Used picture frames for windows and door.
Sprayed it all silver to match.

 Found crystals in my endless treasure chest.... and by crystals I mean made in China plastic, I think they were Christmas garland decorations, anyway they were the perfect fit for the window.
I then carved the pumpkin out a bit to make the window flush and to my surprise the orange of the pumpkin shone through like light! Who knew?
I hot glued some tuelle behind the door frame for a little privacy!

Then adorned other treasures, the bottom half of the "crown" is the top of a curtain sash. The wire I just curled and tried to make it whimsical. The seats I made from a scrap of silver pleather.
So fun to create without boundries!

Found that flowery plastic garland trim in the treasure box too. Have no idea what that had been for but hot glued it everywhere I could!
And yes the steps are crooked but the bride has a thing about "perfect imperfections"  you
just have to go with it...

See those little glass slippers...  it's a pair!.... they are the grooms daughters which they were given when they were very young .....how fitting is that?

Anyway my Fairy God Mother days are over  but
can I say it was soooo fun!

 Congratulations David and Michelle!

~ Janet

Rehearsal dinner

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 Dahlias, candles and random china set the mood for Dianna and Ryan's wedding rehearsal evening

A sit down dinner for 23 on a gorgeous summer night!

Dahlias from  ~ (link)  Ferncliff Gardens - dahlia farm

The plate and candle holder collection were from my super
talented crazy mosaic friend Sharlene...... now think about
that inspiration to creation..... "look at this plate, wow if I
smash it I can glue the pieces to a milk can" .....now you
know why she is my friend.... check out the milk can!




anyway back to the party......

Floated a wreath in the pool with tea lights

took 4 of us to make it in 10 minutes, 5 minutes before the party started! 

was worth the scramble! 

Smoked salmon was one of the appetizers awaiting the arrival from the rehearsal along with
a rhubarb / orange punch!

First plated appy was fresh figs stuffed with goat cheese wrapped in bacon rolled in brown sugar
and broiled .....then plated with strawberry /fig balsamic reduction....personally love that flavor combo!

Next a mixed green salad with candied pecans, fresh blackberries, candy cane beets and an oil
 & vinegar dressing with ground papaya seeds & green onions

 the main course; filet mignon, grilled vegetables and little heart boiled ~ broiled ~ fried~ deep fried potatoes.... not kidding, the dinner was ready but the potatoes weren't!! it became a
mass group effort with the very entertaining "kitchen minions" as they liked to be called (lots of laughs there) ...to get them cooked!

Dessert brought some calm to the kitchen as we had a bit of time to prep it.

Lemon mousse in Meyer lemons, with mint sprig, meringue bites, strawberry cream drizzle, and blackberries 

 

The evening was aglow in candlelight.....

big thanks to the "kitchen minions" ~ Lara, Amanda, Kirsten, Alysha, Ruth and Barry!!

Congratulations Dianna and Ryan!