LJ's bag- at long last!

This birthday present for Lovely LJ took me far too long- again with the fear of cutting the material and then ruining the whole project before it has even begun! I had never made a bag before in any shape or size, so to be honest, it was a guessing game the whole way!
I had an idea of the shape and style I wanted it to be, so started there. I also had the problem of deciding on a fastener for the bag... I was perplexed as to how I would put a zip on it properly, so I thought I'd cheat a little...
I put velcro on the inside and a big button on the front.

Okay, so you can clearly tell the button is just for decoration, but it was the best I could do!
I lined the bag with a black shirt I don't wear (don't worry LJ, it was freshly laundered!) and made a pretty sizable attempt at a gusset for the bag to give it some dimension.

making the strap for the bag

To me it was still too plain and needed something else, so I got some black felt for it and embroidered a rather stumpy looking bird.

By the way- embroidering on felt is very sore on the fingers. Beware!
But it looks cool. I added some buttons for 'food' for the bird, but also cos buttons look groovy.
I sewed three sides of the felt, so it serves as a phone pocket.
Or whatever LJ wants to put in it.

a headless Siob modelling the finished product

When I eventually got down to it and made the bag, it was relatively quick and easy to make!
Watch out you lot- it could be bags for everyone this Christmas.

Oh- and before I go, you may know my love of polar bears, so here is my new (still nameless) friend. He's been keeping me company:

And now I must retreat to my bed and read the Gary Lightbody interview in HotPress.
Sweet dreams!x

Choc Chip coooookies

Oh it's been a while...plus I'm meant to be doing dissertation work which obviously means I'm procrastinating. Today saw me do noooo work, but instead bake chocolate chip and nut cookies. I made some for my fabulously wonderful digs lady Fiona for her birthday and put them in a bell jar I had with a little birthday tag. Little idea there for when I, one day, have my tea room.
Some more were for the family then as they complained that I was once again not baking for them, and more for a little movie night happening tomorrow:)
Cookies for all! Cos cookies are amazing. Especially warmed up and eaten with tea and chats. Mmm.

Chocolate Supreme Birthday Cupcakes for Sarah!

It was super Sarah Kirk's birthday there at the weekend and so on Monday I brought in chocolate cupcakes for her. I know I said I'd do something Lady Gaga-esque, but due to a serious lack of writing icing in Cavan to enable me in my bows and lightning bolt decorating, I phoned Lady Gaga and she said her fave cupcakes are chocolate with loadsa icing, so I tried my best, so I guess that makes them somewhat linked to her Majesty Gaga.
I made incredibly chocolatey cupcakes for Sarah- chocolate cakes, a healthy dollop of chocolate butter cream, a dab of sprinkles and then melted chocolate sprinkled over the top for good measure.
Mouthfuls of sweet, glorious chocolate.
They went down very well in the canteen with copious amounts of tea and giggles. I made a birthday card then featuring Gaga herself, so there's that bit of Gaga incorporation... Love! <3

Jumper Cake for Oisin!

I meant to post this on Monday, but time has flown and I've been manically trying to keep on top of things! But anyhoodle!
You read right, I made a jumper cake a la Mrs. Doyle. To an extent. Cos you can't really bake a jumper in a cake, but you can add a jumper to a cake which is what I did for lovely Oisin. I'm not going to take all the credit for it- I told him I would bake him something for his birthday, a cake perhaps, and Cat leaned over to me with a mischievious grin and said "Put a jumper in it."
So this saw me plan how I would fit a jumper in cake. Off I toddled to Tesco and bought a baby jumper which would fold nicely into the cake. I made up the chocolate cake (same recipe as that monster chocolate cake from the summer), put buttercream on one layer, folded the jumper onto the other and sandwiched it all together. My family were bemused by this. Not only did it look odd, but rather gross.
A dodgily (I do English, we're allowed to make up words...sort of) covered cardboard box and a cupcake card later and I was off to college with texts of threats telling Oisin he better be in or the cake was gonna get it.
Monday after class he opened it and to his surprise, there was a jumper in his cake.


I don't know how many people would love a jumper cake, but it was a safe bet with Oisin. Then we all ate pieces of the cake in the canteen, being mindful of possible fleecy flecks. Well, I hope you get a kick out of this! Kirk's birthday is next and she wants something Lady Gaga-esque incorporated. Stay tuned!:D

Breakfast at Tiffany's birthday present

Here's a craft post for the blog- over the summer, my lovely and fabulous friend Mary turned 21. I introduced her to the equally fabulous Breakfast at Tiffany's quite a while ago during a tea and movie day and, having just finished college with a first class honours and it being her 21st, I wanted to get her something special. Putting the two together, I thought of something from Tiffany's. It's expensive, so I ventured online and managed to get her a fabulous necklace there:) The plan was a-go go!

A week before her party, I started giving her clues as to what the gift was. Needless to say clues like 'take away coffee cup', 'crocodile shoes' shed no light for her. But I guess that was a good thing! If you know the movie, you will know of the Cracker Jack box within the story. Soooo- I decided to put the gift within a Cracker Jack box, which I would make. I Googled the box and made some poor

attempt at it anyway and made an Audrey birthday card to accompany it. Just thought I'd add it here cos I was quite proud of putting it all together:)

Birthday cake fail!

Some cakes don't always go to plan and last January (which means another is due soon...*gulp*) I made my sister's birthday cake. To try and prevent heartache, I greased and floured the tins beforehand, but no, it was not meant to be. When I popped out the cakes (while still warm. Do not do this!), one broke in to 3 pieces. Knowing my super baker aunts were coming over and my Nana, I was putting myself under pressure to make a cool cake, so when it broke, I broke! However, after I calmed down a bit, I decorated it to the max and made sure my mom cut it so that the guests didn't get the broken side and were unaware:) Even if it is desperately wonky looking...

Note to all: use baking parchment for cakes. Best invention ever and guarantees a no tears baking experience!