Cake Stands and Gifts

Cake stands look great with Christmas baubles arranged on them.

 

Don't hide your lovely cake stands away when you are not using them for cakes - use them for lots of things.  I usually have little soaps arranged on this one - you know the kind that actually look like cakes.  So, for the festive season, I've added a bit of colour and sparkle!

 

I got the most amazing gift through the post last week.  The lovely Bombay Jules in India sent me this lovely  fabric bag - and inside -

 

 

wonderful squares of cotton in the most amazing colours and patterns.  They are from the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing and you can read Julia's very interesting post about it here.

 

Love the paisley prints and look at these elephants!

 

Looks like I've a new year project lined up - think they will look lovely as a throw or perhaps some bags.

 

Thank you so much, Julia! 

Love, Liz

Gold and White China

My Mum wasn't the sort of person to keep "things"!  If something had outlived its usefulness, then it was given away or thrown out.  I have very few items which belonged to her or my Granny.  But I do have these!

Not sure whose they were.  Mum liked "modern" things, so I think these must have been hidden away in a cupboard somewhere.  I think they are beautiful.  They must have meant something to her, otherwise she would never have kept them. 

Don't think its her wedding china - a bit too old-fashioned for her taste.  Perhaps they were given to her by someone - I'll never know now.

They are by James Kent Ltd and the pattern is Balmoral.  I only have these two pieces.

Thought they looked nice with my gold and white cake stand.

Added a few more vintage bits and pieces.

They are all by different makers, but just look so pretty when grouped together.

Love, Liz

Strawberries and Cream

Its a lovely day for strawberries and cream! 

What better way to show off my latest cake stand. 

I've used contemporary china from Homebase.

I put a bowl on top - just right for strawberries!

Some little madeira cake shapes with cream and strawberries.

I suppose these could be described as Eton - without the mess!  Just meringue bases with cream and a strawberry on top and a little grated chocolate.

Now I'm going to sit back and enjoy a cuppa and one of these little goodies, and indulge in my two favourite magazines - Mollies Makes and Homes and Antiques.

Hope you had a lovely day.

Love, Liz

Absolute Bargain Cake Stand!

Had a wee rummage around B & M today and spotted this absolute bargain!

A two tier cake stand for just £1 ..... you read it right .....just £1!  An absolute bargain!

Now, I was not attracted to the cheesy picture of the lovely young couple, rather the thingymibob in the middle – the handle.  I doubt if you could find one for that price anywhere!

It means you can make your own cake stand for next to nothing!  Just find two plates – and drill holes in the centre - probably best to practice on an old plate first! 

Draw a paper template of the round part of the underside of the plate – this means that you can easily find the centre and mark it on your plate.  Use a tile/glass drill bit.

I’m off to get some more to make vintage stands – what a bargain!

So, get down to B & M pronto and see if your branch has any of these in stock! 

What on earth am I going to do with the original W&K plates?!?!

Love, Liz

Cakes and Exercise!

Here's a fun to do with cake stand handles - make a vinyl stand from old LPs, 78s and singles!  Great for a party!

I used the ordinary plain ones for this cake stand, but I think picture LPs would also look great.  This is a picture LP by Blondie - didn't they sing "Sundae Girl" (or perhaps that was Sunday Girl)!

Tried to find some that fitted with the food theme -

Breakaway by Gallagher and Lyle - well, there are Breakaway chocolate biccies!

And there's always Jack Jones singing "Bread Winners" - ideal for the sandwiches!

After all those goodies we might need some exercise, so I found this 78 - a selection of Scottish Country Dances - in strict tempo!

But my best find was this Arlene Philips exercise record!   Can't remember, but it must have been difficult doing all that exercise without the record player needle jumping!

So - here's a challenge - what LPs or singles would you have on your cake stand?

♫♫♪♪ Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles ♫♫♪♪

♫♫♪♪ American Pie - Don McLean ♫♫♪♪

Love, Liz

Let them eat - ... soap?!

When you are trying hard not to eat cake, it really is necessary to find something else to put on a cake stand to pretty it up.  So I found these little soapy bath thingies and don’t they look cute?  The pretty floral boxed soaps are from Marks & Spencer.

The cake stand was made from the bits and pieces of a tea set that I found in a charity shop.  Its a lovely gold and lemon pattern – very pretty and delicate.  Hubby helped again.

Made in England by Balfour.

I still have two cups and saucers, so can invite a friend to tea.

I’ll have real cakes, though!  Don’t think there are as many calories in them when you buy them for friends – are there?

Time to get the kettle on!

Love, Liz

 

I’m linking up with -

Martha at Martha’s Favourites

Terri at Artful Affirmations

Wanda Lee at Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Red and White Cakestand

Made another cake stand to give to a friend for her birthday.  Hope she likes it!

Well, ….. when I say made ….. I actually mean that hubby did the drilling!  But the artistic input was mine (well, I've got to have some responsibility, haven't I?)!!!

The plates are from Tesco, but I thought they looked quite striking when put together.

Might make another for myself!

Love, Liz