Peace ~ Love ~ Joy

Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas!

Christmas Countdown

Eek 5 days left and due to being a busy baker I have not finished Christmas shopping. I've added this cheesy Christmas countdown widget to my blog for my kids of course. Click on the link under the widget to go to their site. There's some others to choose from and instructions how to add it yours - if you so desire!


I always have a moment that I yearn for a white Christmas. No chance of that in humid Durban. I don't long for the freezing temperatures. But the dreaminess of the snow and the whimsy it brings to Christmastime. Click on images for their sources.

Love this

Massive trees laden with snow

Snow Angel

Little snowmen in protest apparently

Caribou ~ otherwise known as reindeer

Christmas Gift Boxes

I have been working on these gift boxes for Christmas. The box is hard to photograph ~ it is ivory with an elegant scroll design. It holds two packets of Tin Bird home made biscuits, that are preservative free. I will only have a few left to sell at the market this Saturday.

Glitter stars & Santa's biscotti

Delicious treats in an ivory scroll box & tied with ribbon

The Naked and Famous - Young Blood

Yeah yeah yeah!

Last chance for i ♥ Market shopping!

This saturday is the last i ♥ Market for 2011. There isn't going to be one in January, the next one will be first sat in Feb. If you still have stockings to fill with gorgeous hand made treasures, then the market is the place to be: Moses Mabhida Stadium, 9 am - 2 pm.

Tin Bird table of treats

Shoppers and stalls under the main tent

I'm in Gianduia Heaven

My all time favourite Italian chocolate is Gianduia. The brand that I first tried is Perugira; I love their Pegasus logo. This cioccolatto is the most indescribable melt-in-your-mouth little pieces of heaven. I can't gush enough they are so good!


I nearly did the dance of joy when I saw the Gianduiotti sitting on a Dis-chem shelf, of all places a few weeks ago. Its the brown bag on the right with hazelnuts. The hazelnut flavour is sublime. My in-laws recently went to a family wedding in Italy and thoughtfully brought us back a whole tub of the plain chocolate. My husband may have to fight me for them! Please click on images for their links.

My precious stash of Gianduia (notice mine - no sharing)

Perugira Gianduiotti

Love this packaging in the Italian colours

Oh heaven ~ a Gianduia Christmas tree

Simple but elegant packaging.

Parisian Party

There's been a lack of posting, this is always when I'm busy baking in the kitchen. I've had a lot of orders recently; so blessed to have all this support. A friend commissioned me to do some baking for her daughters birthday party. It had a parisian theme with her little girl's silhouette as a feature. Her mom had 'a vision' for the party and I was thrilled to be a part of this special girls big day.


I made large eiffel tower cookies that were iced in deep pink and lilacs with a white piping decoration. I also made 3 tier cupcakes. There was some planning involved. The colours of the cupcake liners; the layers of fondant colours and what decorations to use and also their colours. It all came together with gold, mother-of-pearl and dusky pink balls set in the piping. Layers of white and pink fondant and finally a good dusting of edible gold glitter. 


Mom had some terrific ideas for the theme and all the little touches really made it special. The children played pass the parcel and other games. The biggest hit with the girls, (besides the cake) was a make-up station. I took a few photos to give you an idea how a simple silhouette added here and there can carry a theme. It was a lovely day and beautiful family memories were made.

Party table

Bubbles for children to take home

Bouquet of lollipops in a garden urn

3 tier cupcakes and pink paper
cups with silhouette decorations.

Silhouette bunting.
The pink & lilac pegs are so cute

Little Eiffel cookies

Eiffel Towers adorn some cupcakes

Simple but pretty decorations
with a garland of flower lights & ribbon

Close-up of 3 tier cupcakes

3 tier cupcakes placed in gold crown liners

Pastel vintage china.
Love the pink sugar crystals added to the sugar bowl

Found this charming pillow in birthday girls room

Vanilla sponge cake topped with
fresh cream & strawberries

So clever ~ cheesecake on a heart-shaped doily.
An ornate chocolate frame captures
birthday girls chocolate cocoa silhouette

Macaron tower on top of pink cake
with moulded choc silhouettes.

Birthday cake halfway through destruction