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! 

Felting Jumpers / sweaters

I am in love. In love with a new craft. Felting and upcycling old jumpers/ sweater. Tis the season to be shopping at jumble sales. I'd love to shop at charity shops (thrift stores) , but these days they are prohibitively expensive.

This week I have been mostly making children's booties and wristwarmers for a craft show this weekend.

For those of you new to felting old jumpers/ sweaters, here's a how to guide.

1. Get your hands on some old items, which must be more than 65% animal fibre (wool, cashmere, mohair).
2. Put them in you washing machine on a hot (60%) wash. Try to add other items to help agitate the wool, but don't forget that it is a)hot and b) the colours will run.
3. When you get them out, bundle them into the tumble dryer and wack them onto a hot programme. (I like to keep the lint and use to stuff other projects!)

NB People often say that you need to put the jumpers/ sweaters into pillowcases to prevent damage to the washing machine.

4. When you have removed the objects from the dryer check to see if you have felted them enough. A truly felted jumper/ sweater will not fray at all when cut. Incidentally I have never had a jumper felt in only one cycle, but then again I have a very modern machine.

 So that's it really. Remember that when you are making your object, if you iron the felted fabric, it will stretch  . So therefore iron it before you cut it out (but I prefer not to iron where possible because it makes it less fluffy)

Fabric Bird in Patchwork style, PDF tutorial

I've not been blogging for a while because I've been working hard on my new PDF tutorial which I am selling on Etsy and hopefully some other sites.

So if you are interested in making one of these then pop to my etsy shop. 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84121748/fabric-bird-tutorial-pdf

They made excellent table centre pieces for someone's wedding and proved to be so popular that they appeared in two magazines and a few blogs. 

I hope to say more later, selling well so far so we'll see.

Sugarcraft Wedding Cake

When downloading the new photos from the digital camera some strange photos were nestled amongst the new ones. Even though the card thought it was deleted, when I downloaded it onto lightroom some pictures from my brother's wedding appeared.

I was proud to be asked to make their wedding cake. Although in all honesty everyone else groaned, because sugarcraft can be quite a stressful occupation. It takes weeks to make all the flowers and leaves. Then when you've decided on an arrangement so many things can destroy it. Every cake I've ever made has had a series of disasters inherent within it. This one was no exception.  

As the big day arrived I had a team of people knocking out ivy. Normally I have complete creative control, but time was not on my side. I prayed that when they were all together the overall effect would be convincing. It was. This was the cake that made me realise I had to let go. That everything couldn't always be perfect and people rarely notice the tiny mistakes. 

The wedding was in a woods on a rainy day in October. 4 months of slaving away, sanding and moulding. Late nights -the occasional tantrum- and stress related insomnia. And I arrive on the site where obviously there's no electric, therefore no lighting. People could barely see the thing! I'd also failed to realise that the cake would essentially be kept outside. Anyone who sugarcrafts knows that unless it''s a sunny day, the damn thing will melt. 

I have to admit I felt extremely upset. I realised I had quite possible wasted a lot of my time. I watched on as the michaelmas daisies- each with two layers of intividually crafted petals- melted in front of my eyes. 

We quickly took the picture before it was too late!

In my brother's speech he had to tell everyone that the flowers were in fact made of sugar. I think the drooping daisies actually made it look more lifelike.

In the end, I was glad that I made the gesture for my brother and his wife. However, I learnt a valuable lesson. Don't invest your soul into a cake. It's not worth it. The harder I tried the more the flowers looked real, therefore why not just put real ones on it? I've made cakes since, but I know now that even if there's a crack in the central rose (always a crowd pleaser) people rarely even notice!