Tuesday 31 May 2016

Cake and birthday gift

May 20th was this year's Cake Bake for the MS Society. I always host a coffee and cake day at home and bake large cakes to order. I bake up to three cakes a day as that's manageable with lots of sitting down whilst each one bakes.

This year my cakes to order were:

  • Victoria Sponge with jam and buttercream
  • Coffee and Walnut with buttercream topping
  • Chocolate Guinness Cake
  • Carrot Cake with cream cheese topping
  • Ginger Cake


I'm not sure which was my favourite to eat, maybe the ginger as it was a new recipe and turned out so moist and very moreish.

Thanks to my lovely friends and family who ordered cake and came on the day for a coffee, piece of cake and a chat. The total raised this year was £250 - thank you :) 

Coffee and Cake Day table 
I managed to blow up and tie the balloons - haha
Schokogugelhopf - the prize on the black out game 
It was a lovely day - it's always nice when friends pop round for a cuppa so it was even nicer when many friends all came at the same time.

My stitching has been quite slow lately, my hands are not holding things so well and they are at times beginning to be quite painful in my bones. I see my specialist in August and there are a few things I need to ask about as over the last year I have noticed certain symptoms becoming worse. I do push myself - Clare's Challenge 50 is certainly becoming quite difficult - but I'm not one to stop doing things .... I'm sure he is going to tell me I should :( 

Anyway I have very few finishes lately and am way way behind with SALs and Challenges. I have however managed to stitch and make up a gift for my Mum who's birthday it is today. Mum is an avid crafter, her current main hobbies are quilting and machine embroidery but she has done lacemaking, applique, tatting, knitting, crochet, beading, and many many more. 

I saw this project is the February issue of Cross Stitch Collection. I don't buy magazines usually but as I was featured in this issue I did buy a copy hee hee. It was good to see a chart to use too. 

I was very slow stitching it and I found it quite tricky to finish but I'm pleased with how it turned out, and Mum loved it. 

Mum's birthday gift 
A friend at the club asked me to stitch a coaster for her, it was quite simple and didn't take too long. It's a chart I've used many times for various gifts. 

Coaster for a friend
We had some very exciting news yesterday, our oldest neice and her boyfriend got engaged. They are actually in the air flying to the UK from their home in USA as I type this, with Hubby's sister, her husband and their other daughter. The five of them are spending a few days in London before all Hubby's family meet up on Sunday for a meal to celebrate his Mum's 80th and now our neice's engagement too - quite a celebration. 

We are off on holiday most of June so I doubt I'll be posting much, although you won't miss me as I have been a very slow poster of late hee hee. I have my stitching to take and I really really hope I can get quite a lot done - thanks for calling by to red my news :) 

13 comments:

  1. What a fantastic gift you made your mother Clare.
    Have a lovely June!

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  2. Looks like your Cake Bake for MS was very successful, Clare! They all sound delicious, but I'm sure I would have gone with the Chocolate Guinness :) Congratulations on raising so much money for MS...

    Lovely gift for your mom--I can see why she loved it!

    Hope you enjoy a relaxing holiday--you deserve it :)

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  3. Well done with the cake sales and the stitching, the piece you made for your mum is lovely :-)

    Take care xx

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  4. Well done on the cake bake, it sounds like a huge success.
    The sewing machine is very impressive.

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  5. I remember you posting about the cake bake last year - looks like it was a success.....and that sewing machine pin cushion looks fabulous, as does the coaster. Well done.
    xxx

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  6. I love what you made for your Mun Clare.

    Congratulations on the cake bake.

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  7. Well done with your fund raising baking. The sewing machine is so sweet. Love the coaster too!
    Hope you have a wonderful holiday and that you manage to get some stitching done!

    Best wishes,
    Barbara xx

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  8. Hello Clare,

    Happy June, what a lovely post, congratulations on your bake sale, so much money raised and a good time had by you and your friends. I am so in love with the gift you made for your Mum, so cute too. Have a lovely time this month.

    Happy days.
    Bev.

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  9. The pictures of your cake bake event always make my mouth water, lol. Such a lot of money that you raised with it.
    That gift you made for your Mom is absolutely stunning. Great finishing job!

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  10. I love the sweet gift for your Mum- it's gorgeous! Congratulations on your successful cake sale and to your niece and nephew-to-be. Hope you have a nice break and enjoy some time with your family.

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  11. Well done on the cake bake, lots raised this year
    Mums gift is so sweet, perfect for her.
    Enjoy your holiday away
    xxx

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  12. Congratulations on the successful cake bake for MS! You get a lot done, despite your hands not working well. LOVE the sewing machine that you stitched for your Mum--it is awesome! Enjoy your holiday! Hugs!

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  13. Well done on your morning tea/cake baking!! The cakes all sound scrummy! Great fund raising total :)
    I just love the sewing machine you made... What a great finish ;)
    Hope you have wonderful holiday!
    Hugs xx

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