A Wilton cake story !!!

I have not been posting on my blogs as much as I would like, due to me being really busy working on some special events.  Grand daughter are the reason for my absence, One got married Saturday and I made her cakes, and the other grand daughter is Jewish and will be celebrating her Bat Mitzvah in Sept. and I have been making all kinds of wonderful decorations for her event, I will post more on  The Allison in Wonderland tea party next week.

This past week I was working on a wedding for Melanie's step daughter Nikki.  Mel was to provide the wedding cake and she came to me. Now normally her sister Jenny would be the cake maker, but Jenny was already committed to another wedding she was doing for the same day. Jenny makes cakes and her hubby photographs the wedding and then Jenny edits, they work well together.

Mel asked if I would make the cake, and she would help as she has never done fondant. Nikki sent photos of cakes she liked, which were beach themed.  So I planned, I made decorations and I baked tier after tier, Friday Mel came in and got a lesson on fondant. Poor Mel, she didn't know that kneading fondant was so much work.  Oh and did I mention that Nikki called Mel on Wednesday and told her she had cancelled the groom's cake which was to be a red fish, because it cost to much.  So she asked if I could make a groom's cake as well as the wedding cake. Lovely Nana that I am, I started planning the groom's cake too.  I had offered to make it months ago, but now I only had two days to come up with something, so A Tackle Box Cake with a small fish was my choice.
Here are the results,

The start of the cakes, some of my supplies, My poor kitchen is such a mess after the cake, I will be cleaning powder sugar off everything for a long time, that stuff goes everywhere.

The Groom's Cake

Chocolate cake tackle box and butter cake red fish with edible tackle

Mel and me with the Tackle box cake, Mel had so much fun making the tackle out of fondant. I know I look a fright, but I had ran in between raindrops, and just finished the assembly of the cakes. It is a lot of work putting together a big cake.  

The Beach Themed Wedding Cake, This is one big cake, The tiers were decorated with marshmallow fondant, butter cream details (dots), transported to the location and the cake was assembled on site, finished with butter cream icing borders and white chocolate sea shells and starfish. I think it is beautiful and I know Mel is proud of it because she helped decorate it. She did say so many people wanted to know the name of my cake shop, because they want to order cakes, The groom's cake was a really big hit to, do you think I watch to much of the food networks cake shows?  I am a big fan of the Ace of Cakes.

I do want to mention that The Wilton Company Web Site was a big part of my Cakes, I used the Wilton round cake pans, 16, 12, 9 and 6 for the wedding cake, I used Wilton tips and bags for decorating and I went to the Wilton web site and downloaded the recipes for  the Chocolate Cake, Butter Cake, Butter cream icing, Cream Cheese Icing, and the Marshmallow fondant. A big thank you to the folks at Wilton for their wonderful web site. If you are planning a cake, stop by Wilton.com and have a look around, there are recipes, tips and hints, instructions, and so many ideas.. Plus many great products, check out the new pillow cake pans, they will be my next Wilton purchase.  

I also want to Thank my wonderful husband for making the cake bases, driving so careful to deliver the cakes, bringing in the cakes and supplies and for helping by adding shells to the tackle box cake. You are the best.

disclosure: I did not receive any payment for my mention of the Wilton site, I just wanted to inform you of the site that I used for my recipes and my inspiration.  There are some blogs that are hosting Wilton giveaways but I don't know who or where they are.

what is it "A Moth ?"

I found this little creature hanging out in my screened in porch area this morning and I have no idea what it is.  I have lots of butterflies that visit and many moths, but I have never seen a moth that looked like this one. At least that is what I think it is, a moth of some kind, but I don't know.  Can someone help and identify this critter for me? It has stealth looking wings,  thick antenna and a upside down teardrop body and head. I took the best picture I could of it and here they are. It reminds me of a slug with wings....

Pets on a Quilt Contest

Darlene at SewCalGal blog has been hard at work again with yet another wonderful contest.  This one is Pets on a Quilt, you can enter your pets on a quilt or make a quilt with pets.  So without further ado here are my pets on my quilt. Enjoy.

We have pets, dogs to be exact, we have Maltese and  Pomeranian's. Our dogs are house dogs and they all love to share our bed and our quilts.

These are the Poms, our two adults and two puppies on my quilt. 

Of course the Maltese's needed their time on the quilt as well.

Just getting comfortable

Now for the babies, within the first hours of our puppies life they are laid on a soft scrap quilt of their own.

SOOOOO Soft,

 She kind of reminds me of the "Take me away Calgon commercials"

There is always a quilt to snuggle in

or to line the basket they are carried in, we grow so fast

and when they leave here, there is a scrap quilt made just for that puppy, if they are on hold for a new owner and we have been given their name, I will put it on their very own quilt. These tiny quilts are put in the bed with the puppy and her mother for a few days and then sent to her new home with her with the instructions not to wash the quilt for at least a week.  This way if the puppy gets a little homesick for her Mom and litter mates she has their scent on her quilt to calm her down.  Works every time.  See a quilt even comforts a puppy, this is Mitzi with her quilt the night before she left for her forever home.

New Puppy package

Hope you enjoyed my pets on a quilt.

Now is your chance, go to SewCalGal site and see all the wonderful pets on a quilt, and don't forget to vote for your favorite when the voting opens.  If you like my Pets on a quilt you can even vote for me. Best part you can win prizes just for voting.

Now I wouldn't want to influence you on your voting but don't forget the name SouthernStyle and vote (for me).

Nana Bonnie

EQ 7 and Cruise

Look what my wonderful Hubby bought me, Electric Quilt 7 software. I know I tried to win a version, I tried to have my blog chosen to host a giveaway, but no luck for any of those. I have been using the EQ Wizard to design the quilts I make for my charity group and I really liked it. EQ Wizard was a real help to me, making my job of designing and sewing these quilts go so smoothly. I just loved my EQ Wizard but I wanted more, I wanted to have all the whistles and bells there was, guess I am just a computer geek at heart. Now that I have the EQ 7, I need to get busy and learn how to use it, there are so many things this program can do. So I will be busy for quite some time with my eyes glued to this computer screen, learning my new software.

Now the reason for this post, EQ is planning a cruise, OH how I would love to be on that ship. Cruising is my favorite kind of vacation and a EQ Cruise well, lets just say that it will be simply fabulous. Here is the information if you are looking for THE VACATION of your dreams.

Register now for the EQ Cruise! If you're thinking of signing up for this late January cruise, now's the time. Really. The cruise is filling up, and we want to save room for you! Sign up now to join us on a 10 Day / 9 Night Caribbean Cruise - January 28-February 6, 2011. You'll have sun and EQ fun with top-notch teachers Barb Vlack & Mary Ellen Kranz. Come home knowing more about EQ7 and with small sewn projects featuring your own cruise photos. BONUS: You'll learn how easy it is to take better vacation (and quilt) photos with one of the quilt world's best photographers and teachers, Gregory Case. See more details about this first-ever EQ cruise.       http://www.electricquilt.com/

EQ site now has EQ7 Demo Videos too. Guess where I will be spending my time tonight.... watching informative videos, reading all I can and learning about my newest toy....

Made me smile

I was looking at some of my favorite cross stitch sites today and this designed jumped out at me. It made me smile, so I thought I would share with you.  I love this design, not for the looks so much but for the wording.  What do you think, cute????

If you want the pattern this is the site I found it on, http://www.crossstitchwonders.com/

In a few days I hope to be able to share with you the projects I have been working on, plus give you my review on the CSN item.  I know I have not posted here or on Nanbon's Corner for awhile but other things were keeping me busy..

Pets on a Quilt Contest

Darlene at SewCalGal is hosting another fabulous contest. I know you have seen the button for her Pets on a Quilt Contest on the side bar of Nanbon's Corner and Southern Style blogs. Now she has listed what you need to do to be eligible to win some of the wonderful prizes. I will admit, I did not make a quilt with pets on it, There are some photos of my babies on my quilts, so maybe I can get my entry in too. Get your photos ready to enter, or take a look at the list, there are ways you can win by voting for your favorites too. I can't wait to see all the beautiful quilts with special babies on them... Here are some of the photos from SewCalGals site. Love the cat all stretched out and the dog looks so comfy and cozy under the quilt. Good Luck to you all and I will be looking for your entry...

http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2010/07/pets-of-quilts-show-categories-of.html is the place to go to learn more and sign up, Best of luck to everyone and I can't wait to see your Pets on a Quilt, wonder if anyone will have a horse or a elephant on a quilt, this should be fun.

Accquilt Giveaway posted and what's new

Vickie at Spun Sugar Quilt Blog is so lucky to be hosting a giveaway for the Accquilt Go! Fabric Cutter. You can follow this link to stop by her site and enter to win  http://www.spunsugarquilt.com/2010/07/go-giveaway.html'  I entered but at this point I am not holding my breath that I will win. I have entered so many of the contests for the Accquilt Go, offered to host a giveaway and I just don't have that kind of luck.

So sorry for not keeping up with this blog lately but I have been a little down in the dumps lately. Just not feeling the greatest and I have been bouncing from one doctor to another trying to get things straightened out. Tomorrow is yet another test, so hopefully we might get some answers.  It is also the 2nd anniversary of our Evelyn's passing and we all miss her. Then there is my dear cousin and her husband who are both having health problems. It is just one thing after another lately.

 Oh and of course I keep entering contests for the Accquilt Go Cutter and the EQ 7 software and my luck has changed for the worst and I am just not winning anything lately.  Then there is the problem with my sewing machine not working very well on my quilt frame, I really need a long arm sewing machine so instead of getting upset with mine not working I machine quilted the 6 lap robes for my Charity groups on my sewing machine in my sewing room. finished them and sent them to the nursing home with Melanie last weeknd.  There is a few shinning moments in my life other then the satisfaction of finishing my 14th quilt for my charity group. I think I have worked out a way to get a long arm sewing machine, it's not the one I really want, but it would be the one I could afford and anything is better then what I have. 

 My husband and I celebrated our Anniversary, We went to the place we were married and to me that was really special. We also went out to dinner, but being that it was a Friday night and there were no plans made we didn't get to go where we wanted to, that restaurant was packed.

 I have also been working on some projects for Allison's Bat Mitzvah, she had wanted puppies and kittens as a theme, I suggested a tea party with puppies and kitties, but now that the Alice in Wonderland movie is out, this is the theme she now wants. I have made the neatest Mad Hatter's Hat, Mushrooms that have a quilted type top and hold a beanie baby as a child's favor, I just finished the White Rabbit last night and he is so neat. I also have the Card Guards working  (hubby is cutting out  their feet or heart shoes) I guess I should say Hubby is doing most of the work on the card men.  They will be stationed near a basket of red and white Hershey Kisses Roses on the dessert table. I think Jen found the Cheshire Cat, now I wonder if they want the Queen of Hearts, White Queen or the Caterpillar? I also have the teapot hearts soaps to make and anything else that looks really cool...  Jen wants this to be special as it is not only Allison's Bat Mitzvah but it is also her birthday.  OH and I had the best luck, I found one of those store displays to advertise the movie and I asked for it and when they were finished with it they called me and I picked it up. It has Johnny Depp as the  Mad Hatter on one side, Alice, Cheshire Cat and White Rabbit on another and the third side has the White Queen and the Red Queen.  The table centerpiece's will be tea cups filled with sweetheart roses. I promise I will post pictures when I get some more of the items finished.