Everything Changes Part 4

Hey
 
This is the last post in my mini series of pieces that I am re-loving and up-cycling. I've been very busy lately with applications and interviews so it has taken a little longer than I expected. So this project started on a warm sunny day in October and was finished on a busy day in November.
 
I didn't have a picture when I first started my mini series but I was going to paint this telephone table that my mum bought me home from where she works as a project for me to do over the summer while I was job hunting (it was done a little later than was expecting).

As with all my projects I started by sugar soap washing the table, and as it was warm and sunny I was able to paint it that day after lunch.
 
Once it was dry, I taped off the areas of the table that I didn't want to get paint on - I only wanted the legs and bottom shelf painted. The draw knob was also going to be painted.

 
Again as I love blue (I going to end up with a blue house), I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Greek Blue. I'm still getting use to how chalk paint works, so the bottom shelf isn't as smooth as some people may be able to achieve but it doesn't affect is function.

I will say that the paint is easy to get off if you get small splashes where you don't want it - just get a damp cloth and give it scrub.

Almost a month later, when I finally got round to waxing it to project the wood and paint, I would again Annie Sloan clear wax. I just used a cloth to apply the wax and to buff it afterwards. The cloth doesn't need to be anything special mine was made from some clean old PJ's cut up. The wax can also be applied with a brush.

At the moment my telephone table is living in my bedroom. My sister has informed me is that I need to decorate it to make the seasons and to show off pretty shoes (or shiny ponies as my sister has taken to calling her favourites) on the bottom shelf.

My sister at the moment is working on dip dying a chair so make sure to pop over to her blog FiveMinuteStyle to check out the results once she has posted it.

xxx

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Hey

I know that it is only the start of November but I have already baked my Christmas cakes. Apparently Christmas cakes should be baked before Bonfire Night so that the flavours have time to develop and if you are using alcohol to feed the cake up.

I've had a couple of cake orders so I have 4 cakes in 3 different sizes to make.

I used a recipe that my mum has always used (modified from a BBC Food recipe as we couldn't find the original). Soak the mixed fruit, cherries, nuts and lemon zest over night in the alcohol/juice. We used a mixture of brandy and rum. Cointreau could also be used with orange zest instead depending on what flavours you like. Make sure that you don't use any metal bowls or spoons when using alcohol as it will cause a bad reaction and spoil the cake.

  
Mix together the rest of the ingredients - flour, sugar, mixed spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter, eggs and we always add a tablespoon of black treacle. Make sure that the mixture is pale and silky before adding in the soaked fruit mixture. Combine thoroughly before pouring into cake tin that is double lined with grease proof paper.

Wrap brown paper around the tin so that it is just higher than the top and use string to tie it up. Bake at 150 degrees for at least 3 and half hours for an 8" round cake. Once cooked allow to cool in the tin. This can be done when cooled or while still slightly warm. Use a cocktail stick and prick holes all over the cake.

Then drizzle a couple of dessertspoons of whatever you used to soak the fruits. Feeding the cake like this is done once a week. I'm alternating between brandy and rum.

Wrap the cakes in grease proof paper and a clean tea towel until ready to feed again or marzipan and ice.

xxx