Meet Emily from Candy Couture

One of my lovely customers is Emily from Candy Couture in Perth.  Emily puts together some of the most gorgeous candy and dessert tables for her customers so I thought I would ask her a few questions about how she got started and where she finds her inspiration.  Pictures of her most recent party are included so sit back and meet Emily from Candy Couture

How did your business get started?

A friend of mine introduced me to the concept of styled dessert tables / lolly buffets; I fell in love with it straight away. Who couldn’t love something that looks that gorgeous and tastes that yummy?
I love design and styling and have an insatiable sweet tooth as well, it seemed to be right up my alley.
I created my first table for my daughters ‘fairy princess’ 1st Birthday party, complete with cupcake tower, floral arrangements, stationary, backdrop…the works. It was just going to be a one off for her special day, but I got so much enjoyment out of putting it all together and seeing the end result that I decided this was something I would really love to do.
I had been searching for ideas of something that I could do work wise that wouldn’t impose too much on my duties as a mother of 2 children under the age of 3. This was perfect, something I can do primarily from home and at my own pace, and a way to be creative and expressive in my work.
My business ‘Amani Candy Couture’ (Candy Couture) specialising in creating, one-of-a-kind, beautiful, custom designed dessert table and candy buffets for special occasions, I like to incorporate a cake or cupcake tower, delicious sweets, chocolates and candy. I want the table to capture the essence of a particular event, be it a theme such as my ‘Casino’ themed party I did recently or a vintage style for a gorgeous vintage / shabby-chic wedding.
The best thing about having my own business is being in control of how little or how much work I do, having my own business allows me to put my family first if need be. It has also been so amazing to put in the hard work and gain recognition for everything I am doing for my business, I have become incredibly passionate about it and have high hopes for it to grow and expand into the future.

What do you draw on for inspiration?

I draw inspiration from a range of things,
: Different seasons, gorgeous bright flowers and coloured candy for summer or icy blues and whites for winter wonderland ideas in winter
: A gorgeous piece such as a bird cage or a beautiful backdrop can inspire the rest of the table
I like to follow along the gorgeous blogs of very talented ladies working both in Australia and the United States. I love looking at etsy to see all the different; on off things they have which can be incorporated into dessert tables.
I like to be involved with my clients and use their own personality for inspiration by asking questions about different styles and colours that they love to see what I can come up with.

One of my most recent favourite tables I created was for a ‘Burlesque’ themed 30th. This style was right up my alley; I had so much fun designing it. I went for a sexy, demure look: Black lace, pink satin ribbon. Crystal candle sticks and tea lights gave it a gorgeous dimmed lighting effect. A manikin wearing a lace up corset as a backdrop and a custom made black ruffle table cloth set the scene.
All candy was pink and black displayed in gorgeous lolly jars from Sweet Style.


How do you like to relax when you are not working?

When I am away from work there is nothing better than spending time with my family, in summer we take our boat out and spend as much time as we can at the beach and have bbq’s and picnics.
 I also say on occasion you can’t beat putting the kids to bed, getting a babysitter and going out for a nice dinner and a few drinks just my husband and I. 

You can see more of Emily's beautiful work on her website here
or find her on Facebook here
Corset Chocolates by Gorgeous Gourmet
Corset Sugar Cookies by Sweet Cheeks Gifts and Treats

Leanne

Felted Mice

Felted Mice

This week on Flickr Faves Sunday, I bring you the adorable intricate needle felting work of Felted Mice by Barby Anderson. I adore the toadstool house with the pretty pink shutters, delicate lace windowsill and embroidered flowers.

Some beautiful shots from my Flickr favourites (clockwise from top left):
Have a sweet day !

The blogging cycle



You head on out, leisurely. It's all downhill and easy and the sight-seeing is ah-maaaaaazing.

You pick up pace, you're all over the road because you can't stop looking at the scenery. On and on and on you ride, sight after sight, you are mesmerised and you don't notice the bike starting to wobble.

The road gains momentum, the bike flips and veers, you're in danger of falling off. The street lights have been on for an eon, you were due home ages ago, yet still you ride on, faster and faster. Zipping along the road like a missile on a mission, you're a blur of wheels and colour and thoughts and...

You crash, of course you do. The wheels fall off. The bike is in pieces, you've hurt your head and you're kicking yourself that you didn't see it coming. No one can ride forever and now your family is surely furious because you didn't leave a note, didn't call, just didn't show up when you said you would.

You limp back home, the bike squealing in protest, head down, bottom lip quivering. Your family melts at the abandoned sight of you.

You take a break. Slowly the bike gets put back together, wounds heal, you start to miss riding, but you've learned from your mistakes. You set yourself a riding schedule. You can go out on these days, but not these. You can go for this long, but you have to take the kids with you; you're not allowed to leave them behind.

You all ride out for a little test outing. The path is still blissfully easy, the road no less beautiful; but you're more careful about what you look at and you've got the kids to consider so you don't ride as far. You manage to get home before the street lights are on.

You congratulate yourself. Maybe you can do this. Just ride and enjoy and not crash. You miss seeing lot s of those wonderful sights you used to get to see, but you know you'll ride on by and visit them whenever you can. Ride right on over: carefully, gently, just marvelling at the wonder of it all.

Happy biking, everyone!

[Image found here]

Winter Wonderland bird house

Winter Wonderland bird house
I love decorating mini wooden bird houses, from chocolate nest filled ones and butterfly-adorned ones at Easter, to candy covered gingerbread, advent ones and pretty, patterned ones as key hooks. So when my Mum kindly gave me one from a recent trip to Michaels that she bought on her vacation to visit her best friend from High School. I was delighted! I painted it in colours from my Winter Wonderland colour palette, gave it a glittery coating and hung it from pretty pink ribbon. Perfect for my Winter Wonderland themed Christmas tree. Thanks Mum!

Winter Wonderland bird house
Tools and Materials


Pretty wooden bird, How-to step by step
Winter Wonderland birdhouse steps 1-4
After removing the rope loop from the top of the house, paint the entire house white and leave to dry. Then, carefully paint the roof in pink and leave to dry. Turn upside down and paint base of house in aqua colour, leave paint to dry. With a small paint brush, paint white paint on to peak of roof to give it a snowy look. Once the entire house is painted and dry it is now time to glitter. Brush PVA glue onto the pink paint so you have a nice even coat, then immediately sprinkle with pink glitter before the glue starts to dry. Tap house lightly to remove excess glitter and leave to dry. Repeat PVA glue glittering technique with each coloured section of the house, until entire house is glittered. I used a coarse white glitter for the "snow" on the roof. Leave to dry.


Winter Wonderland birdhouse steps 5-8
Make the ribbon into a loop and thread ends of loop through top of house and out the star hole. Placing a pencil, or similar, through the top of the loop so you don't accidentally pull the ribbon out. Thread a pink bead onto the ends of the ribbon and then knot off the ends so the bead is secured. Pull the top of the ribbon loop up so the bead disappears into the house. Carefully cut a small circle of tissue paper so that it is a little bigger than the star hole. Brush PVA glue around the inside edge of the star. Carefully push tissue paper into star hole and, using a skewer, through the hole in the roof, placing tissue paper in position. Remove skewer and brush PVA glue into the hole in the roof to secure the ribbon in place. Leave to dry.


Handmade Christmas tree decorations

Can't wait to decorate my Christmas tree!

Have a sweet day!

grateful for

sharing melbourne cup day with friends
enjoying freshly laid eggs from the chickens who belong to the cup day friends
sunshine bursting through puffy white clouds & being able to share many laughs this week. it's good for the soul.

what are you grateful for?

Hand made felt birds for Christmas

Hand made felt birds for Christmas by Torie Jayne
Hand made felt birds for my Christmas tree

I want to hang pretty glittered birds on my Christmas tree this year to fit in with my Winter Wonderland theme. So, I designed a glittery winged felt bird to match my other Christmas birds. I have now made sixteen of them in white with pink glitter, antique pink, pale aqua and teal. Now I can't wait to hang them on my tree later next month!

Felt Bird
Tools and Materials


Felt bird pattern by Torie Jayne


Felt birds, How-to step by step
Hand made felt birds for Christmas, steps 1-4
Start by printing off the bird pattern at 100% and cut out the pattern pieces. Place pattern pieces on felt and, using your water soluble pen, trace around outside edges so you have one body piece and two wings. Using a sharp pair of scissors, cut out felt pieces. Then pin cut out felt pieces to another piece of felt.


Hand made felt birds for Christmas, steps 5-8
Carefully cut around felt birds. You will now have two bird body pieces and two sets of wings. Now, with a damp cloth, blot pen lines until they disappear. With your bird pattern pieces still pinned together, join them together by whip stitching around outside edges with embroidery thread, leaving a gap of about 15mm unstitched so you can stuff the birds.


Hand made felt birds for Christmas, steps 9-12
Begin to stuff the birds by gradually pushing small bits of stuffing through the unstitched hole using a small stick. Make sure to push stuffing into the tip of the tail and beak. Continue adding stuffing to the bird so that the bird feels firm to the grasp and holds its shape well, then whip stitch the hole close. Now with a needle threaded with white embroidery thread stitch a jump ring to the top of the bird along the seam.


Hand made felt birds for Christmas, steps 13-16
With your wing felt pieces still pinned together, join the pieces together by whip stitching around outside edges with embroidery thread leaving a gap of about 15mm unstitched so you can stuff the wings as you did the bird's body. Again whip stitch the hole closed and repeat with other set of wing pieces.

Now position your wings on the body and pin in place to secure while you stitch the underside of the wings to the bird body. Then thread your ribbon through the jump ring that is attached to your bird and knot the ends together. Doing this at this stage allows you to hang your bird for the next step of PVA gluing your birds.


Hand made felt birds for Christmas, steps 17-20
Using a small paint brush, apply a coat of PVA glue to the areas on the bird you wish to glitter in pink. Then immediately sprinkle with glitter, lightly tap the bird to remove excess glitter and hang up to dry. Once the glue holding the pink glitter is dry apply a small coating of PVA glue to the beak and sprinkle with gold glitter, tap to remove excess glitter, and leave to dry. Sew gold beads to face of bird using a beading needle threaded with sewing thread, so you have an 'eye' both sides.


Pale aqua hand made felt bird
Antique pink hand made felt bird

Have a sweet day!

yesterday i



i am now working through all the images & once I have shared them with the 140 ladies who enjoyed the fun filled day I will give you a glimpse into the fabulous event that was held, on the Mornington Peninsula by the sea, sand & thank fully under a sunny sky!
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