Chocolate tablescape

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Everything Chocolate!

Tootsie rolls, twisted for napkin rings 

Malteser chandelier! I've sewn many things.... but sewing chocolate was a first! Although candy chandeliers would not be..... hmmm

Skor chocolate bars for place cards held up in Kitkat bars...used a little dark melted 

chocolate to secure them in. Wrote the names in white chocolate.... could use some calligraphy lessons!... do you think they teach any in chocolate? ....again  hmmm

Maltesers strung on thread around each charger....options between courses! 

Fun table! 

Abbotsford Hospice Gala

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Annual gala, raising funds for the Abbotsford Hospice Society and Holmberg House

Welcome!

Hope Takes Flight with a

butterfly theme

........ hope taking flight 

                                                                    carnation topiaries 

entrance to the ball room 

                                                  wheat grass  table centers .....so easy to grow!

Michelle (gala chairman) & Phil Holmberg

Congratulations to Michelle and her committee for raising $80,000. at this gala!

                                                                    Photo booth wall

photo credits to ~ link  Dale Klippenstein

Twigs

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The Grinch Christmas party

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The annual Mission Police Christmas Party food and festivities!

A tower of profiteroles dipped in Callebaut chocolate, wrapped in spun sugar
Some guests decide to play Jenga with it! You know the game.... pull one out here and there and see how long the tower will stand?! I must have used a lot of chocolate because it hung in there for the most part!

 Mini Bocconcini & pesto stuffed grape tomato topiary

Lemon mousse in Meyer lemons

(photos by Dale Klippenstien )

Beet, date, goat cheese bites 

Veggies in cabbage added Whoville color!

The  polka dotted jelly rolled also played on the Grinch theme. To make: add dots of colored dough to the pan, flash bake to set and then pour the rest of the batter on top and keep baking ... who knew?!

Individual roasted veggies with balsamic dressing

~
Made a really big Grinch stocking

Filled it with bags of carmel popcorn. Fun door prize raffle!

The photo booth idea was a big hit!

The Grinch stole Christmas but the MPD caught him!

 Nobody steals on their watch! The Chief himself Ted Dejager with his wife Dionne taking in the Grinch!

Made it out of plywood and Ted added the flashing blue and red light as a finishing touch!
The sign post was quick and easy to make with duct tape.

The take home gift was apples with carmel sauce.

Merry Christmas Mission Police Dept.! 

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!