Jubilee bunting for Her Majesty

Now I am not exactly what you'd call a royalist. However I have much respect for her majesty. As we're now at the diamond Jubilee it stands to reason that my sons will see another monach fairly early in their lifetimes. Our country has been ruled for 60 years by the queen. Many living british citizens have never known any difference. She seems to add a real stability to us all and garners incredible respec
t. So we decided to have a children's jubilee party.
And what says Jubilee more than bunting? The bunting turned out to be surprisingly easy to make and I had 10 meters in no time.

How to make a fabric peacock

When looking for a new project I tend to ask myself what the biggest challenges are, and then try to overcome them. In fact I think that the majority of my enjoyment comes from problem solving. So after finishing the bird pattern, I asked myself "what is the most difficult bird to make". In my view, that seems to be a peacock.

So I searched online for fabric peacocks. I managed to find a couple with their tails down, but none with their tails up. A challenge was afoot!

Combining various techniques that I've developed from my flower making, this is the finished thing.

What do you think?

Now the real challenge is to get the peacocks seen. Searching google keywords, it turns out very few people are asking "how to make fabric peacocks?".

So I guess I'll have to try and promote it myself. Not quite sure how?

Pimp my walker/ zimmer frame

A friend asked me to make a nice bag for a zimmer frame/ walker. The owner needed to have somewhere to keep her purse, glasses and magazine. I had the measurements of the space and the metal tubes so I chose denim (which is more durable) and then added some different fabrics to freshen up the design. The buttons are covered in the lining fabric but the are purely decorative.

This is what I came up with:

The pieces that attach the bag to the frame are made using velcro as it gives a very strong hold and I felt it would be easier for older hands to use than fiddly buttons. If I'd had the zimmer/walker to fit it to I would've made it slightly smaller and rounded off the top corners but I didn't realise quite how it was going to fit.

I was informed that Winifred was very chuffed with her new bag, and the pockets do the required thing! It is nice to have something original to customise your wheels!

At first I wasn't sure how to make a walker bag/ zimmer bag. But it turned out to be very simple. But the person using it will probably want the bag to face the other way, so do be sure to make your pockets big enough to cope with being sloped slightly inward, or add a fastening.

New Year Approaching

The new year is almost upon us, and I for one, feel optimistic.

2011 has been a hard year for the Kent family. Lots of work and not many pennies. All the government's cuts have eventually pushed us into a place where we have less coming in than going out.

I think that this is probably a positive thing. For me if no one else. Time recently spent never quite focusing on making a living has now morphed into focus. As Thomas Edison said "Discontent is the first necessity of progress". Well I am discontented, so here's to progress.

During a boom time it seems that lucky people make a success of things. In England people who bought their own homes at the right time, have sat back laughing. Londoners who bought their homes before the ridiculous house price inflation were able to buy up our country homes, no mortgage, money to spare. But now? In a recession (whilst some people will always be lucky) it really becomes more about you and your talents. To see the situation and find a way through it.

And if I can start my business and make money in a recession? Well then that does bode well for the future. A recession is a perfect time to start a business. After all if I need to borrow money (hoping not to) then I will only be able to achieve that with excellent prospects and a thorough business plan. It's no revelation that money has been leant too profligately. If a bank lends me money, I want it to be a safe bet.

Also it is a the start of a business where the focus is on getting it just right. You need to hone your skills. When better to learn than during a recession?

And when you've got it just right? Then grow,grow with the economy. Because as night follows day and day follows night, so too will there be a boom. And when that comes I want to be ready with a healthy business.

So here's hoping that 2012 brings knowledge and success to all those willing to work for it. Bring on the recession and sort the wheat from the chaff. Lets just hope that the storm passes quickly.

Good luck to all my readers in 2012!

How to Make edible Glue

This is a quick post of how to make edible glue. I imagine that there might be more ways but this is the technique I use.

1) Take a small ball of sugarpaste and place in a small microwaveable container (ramekin, egg cup, small jar)
2) Splash a few drops of water onto it (less water than paste)
3)Pop it into the microwave for 15 to 40 seconds depending on your wattage etc. Keep checking, it is done when the suagarpaste has dissolved.
4)Stir and use.

Simple!Cheap!

Christmas cake design, trees and stars

This is my 2011 Christmas cake. Actually remembered to photograph it this year!

I usually find Christmas cake design a challenge. Difficult not to be too tacky. This year I decided to make painting the cake my theme. I LOVE painting cakes. It is actually a fairly quick way to get a striking design.

Initially I thought to do a black cake with gold stars but this design eventually came together.

The stars are made from 26 gauge wire and flower paste. I just rolled out a thin (but not too fine) piece of flower paste and used my new star cutters to cut out different size stars. Then I dipped the end of the wire in glue and posted through the star. Allow to dry, and paint. (I will add a separate post to tell you how to make homemade edible glue)

In order to be safe it isn't wise to stick wires directly into your Christmas cake. You really need a flower posy pick. They're very cheap and available from your local florist or ebay. They're designed for adding real flowers to wedding cakes. You simply plunge it all the way into your cake and it prevents contamination and also forms a seal with the sugarpaste- as it is the sugarpaste that preserves your cake.

Once your stars are dry, plug the top of your pick up with a ball of sugarpaste and then push the wires through. Carefully bend the wires outwards until you are happy.

Hope you like it.

Social Networking

I've finally joined Twitter. Seems that it is an essential way to promote your business. So follow me @RealRebeccaKent. ~Hoping against hope to get a camera for Xmas as finding it difficult to get any decent pics!