It was my friend Jenny's birthday recently and I was able to make her cake. She is way into scuba diving so I wanted the cake to have some kind of underwater theme.

I made the starfish from fondant - much easier than I expected - by shaping each arm separately and then joining them in the middle. I used a template of a starfish shape under baking paper so that I could get the proportions right. I piped the hairs on with buttercream using my 'grass' piping tip.

What a fun cake to make! I hope Jenny liked it.

Our kitchen renos are finally complete and photo worthy! I'd like to say we'd been planning to do this for a long time, but really it was more like a few weeks. I'd like to say I chose the bench top and tiles but actually it was all Ben... 

We really hated the old yellow bench which absorbed stains like a sponge. The servery just gathered clutter and sticky kitchen dust. The old tiles were a bit ugly, but bearable. We wanted to freshen it all up a bit without changing the layout of the cabinetry (as that would have messed with the floor tiles which would have been a whole other kettle of fish...) and subdue the urge to just go out and buy a house.

We cut off the servery, put down a new bench top, retiled the backsplash area and replaced the bakelite door knobs. Thankfully the bench top change was enough to make the laminate colour look good and we didn't feel the need to paint it.

We did it all ourselves (with a whole very appreciated weekend of labour from handyman-Matt) and are stoked at how well it turned out.

Jason's birthday was back in february so I guess this photo is a little behind the times, but better late than never.

The plane and the flowers are made from fondant icing. The sky and clouds are vienna cream (buttercream icing) and so is the grass, piped using the 'grass' piping tip I bought in the US last year. I've been waiting to find a use for it and this was the perfect thing!

A few months ago Katy and I decided to tackle this gathered clutch tutorial. I made one with interior pockets that I've been using as a purse and always get compliments when I pull it out at the counter. I like that it's lined with hidden seams, and you can use some great contrasting colours and patterns. I love the ones shown on the tutorial page, go and check them out!

Here's another one I made with some Japanese patterned fabric, just for practice.

This year's Easter craft - paper mache eggs. I used some foam eggs from Spotlight, paper from the French novel I bought from a flea market in Switzerland (purely for crafty purposes), modpodge and water. Then once fully dried, arranged in a bowl with some grassy stuff. Very easy project but you need some patience tearing up the paper, soaking and arranging (and waiting for it to dry!). The paper was already that lovely yellowed colour. Next year I might try adding some other colours to the mix with paint or dye.

Since sewing seems to be my new addiction, I just had to make a pin cushion for those extra cute quilting pins. This was what I made at our first monthly-ish sewing day. I followed this tutorial but came up with the idea to add the very adorable measuring tape ribbon (purchased at Typo) myself.

Sewing day was great fun! Many thanks to Katy, Catherine and Miranda for taking part! And mum for looking after Jazzy.

Shortbread button cookies! Yum!