Happy 2016 Update

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Mine was very nice – boys home, family for dinner, all healthy, and a new MacBook Pro which I’m finding difficult to transition to from two decades of using a PC.  I’m selling more images through Getty Images and wanted some better resolution than what I was working on. I don’t even know the name of the screen I had on my old laptop but the screen looks different at every angle. Color balance and exposure was always a challenge for me. It’s going to take me awhile to adjust but eventually I’ll get the hang of it.

I did lots of baking for friends over the holidays – from big, glistening snowflake cookies –

snowflake cookies

… to formally attired gingerbread men…

formal attired gingerbread men

… and, uh, not so formally attired gingerbread men…

50 Shades of Grey cookies

Funny, both attired gents were invited to the same party by my wonderful friend Trevor Kensey at SisBoomBlog! who wanted “naughty” and “nice” cookies and let me tell you, designing 6 different “outfits” was not easy! After all, how many ways can you make a harness?!? In case you’re wondering, the leather was all made with black fondant. I guess you could call these 50 Shades of Gingerbread or Folsom Street Fair cookies. The Folsom Fair apparently kicks off Leather Week in SF. If you look it up, be warned these cookies are the G-rated edition!

So difficult to put all the holiday baking cookie cutters away, take all the pretty decorations down, say good-bye at the airport and gather the linens. I’m going to take a little new year blogging break as my lovely MIL fell down on Sunday night, broke her hip and is already recovering from surgery. She did great. Nothing slows down this 93 year-young lady.

The cast iron (or lead) “toys” below are from when my MIL was little. It’s part of an elaborate set that includes farm animals, buildings, trees, bridges and a train. It’s close to 100 years old. I think it’s so cool!

Enjoy the first week of 2016!  Wishing you a very happy new year!

vintage skaters

 

 

 

Get The Party Started with Shutterfly– Perfectly Personal™ Holiday Card Collection

Are you thinking yet about the December holidays and sitting on the fence whether to entertain and host a fun party?  With the temps in the high 80’s here in Southern California it doesn’t exactly feel like the holiday party planning season is here but it is!  Thanks to Shutterfly, I was able to find my holiday spirit while working on a project for them. I’m very pleased to feature a party invitation that I chose, and I think you’ll… [Read More]

Snowflake Fondant Cutters Give-Away Ends Tonight

How will your cupcakes and cookies sparkle this holiday season? The give-away for a set of three fondant cutters end tonight!  They are so much fun to use and really kick up adding those special touches with ease and speed in this busy baking time of year. Hurry and enter HERE. The winner will be announced on Monday. Happy Saturday!  xoxo

Decorated Snowflake Cookies!

‘Tis the season for making a flurry of snowflake cookies. Sugar cookie recipe and tutorial. Roll, cut and bake. Royal Icing Recipe and Tutorial. Outline. #2 tip. Fill in. Lightly sprinkle with rainbow Disco Dust. Sunlight refracted through the chandelier. Individuality. Shiny silver dragees. Finishing touches. Snow drift. Flurries. Mini Snowflake Tutorial. Bearing gifts. To all my readers, new friends I have made along the way, and to the loves of my life, all unique and beautiful … … Wishing… [Read More]

Mini Snowflake Cookies

Good things do come in small packages.   Especially in bite sized ones.After icing the cookies with thinned icing and letting them dry, I brushed them with aqua colored luster powder for a soft blush of color. I then piped the details on the cookie and finished with a single silver dragee in the center. For the presentation I used paper loaf pans that I never got around to using for baking cranberry bread for Thanksgiving. Another small package and… [Read More]