Anyway, I was really excited about this project from the moment I was asked to do it. A cookie set for a jigsaw and gardening enthusiast, to take the place of a cake at his birthday party. All the design elements were requested: greenhouse, favourite plants and ducks, gardening tools, I just had to figure out how to put it all together.
As usual, when something like this comes my way, I do most of my planning as I'm falling asleep, until by the time I have to start making it, I really only do a few small sketches. In fact for this project I scribbled two thumbnails. This sort of design kind of forms itself as I'm piping to be honest.
One other aspect kept me occupied as much as the design though, and that was how to create a jigsaw with enough intricacy, where the pieces fit together tightly. My cookie recipe is a light, crisp shortbread style biscuit (recipe here and cookie baking tips here) but does spread just a little. Not enough to worry about usually but when the shapes need to fit tightly it can be a problem. With this dinosaur cookiesaw I used my microplane, but its flat surface meant I had to keep the curves fairly shallow. So after a little googling I came up with a six inch, coarse 'bastard cut' file much like this one, though searching on ebay will throw up much cheaper options.
It's a small, round, coarse file presumably intended for metal or woodwork. It was cheap and very rough, and perfect. (I did of course give it a long soapy soak, a thorough scrub, and dried off in a hot oven to ensure it was safe for food use first!). In fact it worked even better than I hoped. I simply used it to 'carve' the curves here and there, constantly adjusting and testing until all the pieces fit as tightly as I could make it.
A plain base of white flood, carefully piped right to the edges of the cookies, and I was ready to go.
I didn't take a photograph of the painted base layer unfortunately, but I came to do it just as Sugar Pearls Bakes and Cakes published her final Cookie Connection tutorial, and it was the techniques in her tutorial I used to create the background colour, including the small drops of vodka, which is really effective! I simply used a large brush and moved from light blue down to dark green, dabbing and mottling, and adding further layers where necessary.
I only had to mix two colours of icing - light green and orange! The behind the scenes moments when I'm most proud of my planning skills usually involve keeping mixing to an absolute minimum. I reckoned I could get all the greens I wanted with that one base plus handpainting on top, and the whole variety of tomato colour starting with the orange icing.
I used a pico projector to pipe the greenhouse shape, but everything else was done by eye. I had a collection of photographs of the specified plants and ducks to refer to, and an idea for where I wanted the actual flowers, trusting that the foliage could be piped around to draw the whole design together.
When it came to painting, again I referred to the photographs of flowers, but I tried to ensure that each colour would complement the ones on either side. So obviously starting with red and orange tomatoes, I followed with yellow irises, then peachy-pink roses, deep rose pink camellias with violet aquilegias sprouting through them. The magnolias I kept pale against the sky.
I used the same painting technique as in my Robin cookie video: starting with basic blocks of pale colour, blending and adding darker, finer elements on top. I finished with a few garden tools here and there, subtle, blending into the background.
And then came the best bit - I had made royal icing transfers of bees, ladybirds and butterflies which I attached with enough RI 'glue' to give a little 'lift' so these elements were slightly raised. I usually ship my cookies so have to avoid doing this, so it was lovely to be able to add a third dimension to this set. A simple border of gold rectangular cookies, with one or two stray insects finished off the project.
Very good written article. It will be supportive to anyone who utilizes it, including me. Keep doing what you are doing – can’r wait to read more posts. tank removal services nj
ReplyDeleteThe floor brush "Moyclare Pink" and the astrantia "Moira Reid" began in this nursery. for dethatching your lawn
ReplyDeleteThere are a wide range of sorts of grass cutting devices that that are utilized by home and foundations. Best Grass cutter India
ReplyDeleteYou may have noticed that some gardens have an organized look while others, having the finest plant collection, look haphazard.best leaf blower
ReplyDeleteThese nurseries are steep yet flourish in the haven of the stone bluffs and you will discover exotics from Mexico, Canary Islands and South Africa. loppers
ReplyDeletePretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon. click here
ReplyDeleteTo wrap things up on this coast is Longcross Victorian Garden at Trelights, Port Isaac. best weeding tools
ReplyDeleteCommon garden shed designs today include the A-frame type and barn-style sheds. There are also many other styles such as pet barns, saltbox greenhouse, playhouses, cottages, pool cabanas, or a miniature version of your own house. garden set
ReplyDeleteI want you to thank for your time of this wonderful read!!! I definately enjoy every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff of your blog a must read blog! Joshua Houston
ReplyDeleteIf you need a great place to store all your equipment, gardening tools or to have an ideal place to spend more time with your friends in your garden then having a garden cabin is a great decision.Viking Appliance Repair in Los Angeles
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. the simple method for a pole saw sharpening: a step-by-step guide
ReplyDeleteI am impressed. I don't think Ive met anyone who knows as much about this subject as you do. You are truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. Really, great blog you have got here. Pull Riveter Gun
ReplyDeleteI wish more authors of this type of content would take the time you did to research and write so well. I am very impressed with your vision and insight. BistroSet.Guide
ReplyDeleteOr on the other hand possibly you need to improve the vibe of your current nursery? You can do any of these two by adding some yard craftsmanship to your home. yard busters landscaping Calgary
ReplyDeletein case you are interested, i checked the follow/nofollow and there were 7 nofollow links, i can share those if that is helpful for your future jobs. http://www.city-data.com/profiles/220110
ReplyDeleteNot only that, for your tools to last long, you also have to keep them in proper working order by cleaning them after you use them. hoe tool
ReplyDeleteNice Informative Blog having nice sharing.. landscape
ReplyDeleteListed are some of the basic gardening tools we will need for planting and gardening: best garden shears
ReplyDeletevery good post, i surely enjoy this fabulous website, keep on it family friendly
ReplyDeleteThis is a fabulous post I seen because of offer it. It is really what I expected to see trust in future you will continue in sharing such a mind boggling post heavy duty garden hoe
ReplyDeleteAdore how magnificently every word is composed with appropriate adjust.
ReplyDeleteHobbyPlants
Finally, make sure to consider the type of climbing vine you wish to plant, as this can have a bearing on the type of trellis you purchase. If you're planting an incredibly heavy climbing vine Francis Chaney, make sure to buy a trellis that's big enough and strong enough to stand up to the weight. For info on varieties of climbing vines which are perfect for trellises, visit Home Products anymore.
ReplyDeleteSpecialized gardening usually involves non-residential areas. Common examples of specialized gardening include kitchener homes for sale amusement parks, botanical gardens, zoos, commercial landscaping along highway right of ways, and many more.
ReplyDeleteYou have shared a nice article about the fire extinguisher. Your service is very interesting and useful. I liked it.garden maintenance north shore Auckland
ReplyDeleteQuickly this site will indisputably be famous among all blogging people, because of its fastidious articles or reviews.
ReplyDeleteGarden Shredders. These are power tools that have a silent crushing system. They are used for cutting and crushing activities in your garden such as converting debris like branches, leaves and twigs into mulch. garden hoe
ReplyDeleteIt provides the "ease of cutting" advantage provided by a chainsaw, while at the same time eliminating a lot of the risk in using a regular chainsaw. best loppers
ReplyDeleteAbdominoplastie Tunisie pas cher
ReplyDeleteMini abdominoplastie Tunisie
Abdominoplastie et liposuccion en Tunisie
Tarif abdominoplastie Tunisie
Liposuccion ventre Tunisie
greffe capillaire Tunisie
ReplyDeleteDoors are a very important element in garden shed design. Choose a wide or double door to allow large equipment, Amarillo fence like mowers and tillers, to fit through it without a problem. Cupolas and windows provide ventilation and light.
ReplyDeleteFacette dentaire tunisie
ReplyDeletewill examine how to evaluate any given individual within each of the professions. Landscaper Wylie TX
ReplyDeleteif you add all that to your pleasure boat it promises a real pleasure. So to really add to the glory of the stag party in Budapest, order a spectacular erotic show. During the show the stag will be involved. From the stag's point of view it is not too humiliating and it makes the other group members laugh. budapest rentals
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThree of the easiest gardens to combine are butterfly, habitat, and rain gardens. And making such a combination is easy enough that kids quite often do it by nature as they love to choose bold blooms, bright colors, interesting textures, and plants representing history and culture. Gilbert tree service
ReplyDeleteThe horticulturalist George Johnstone, who acquired the house in 1904, developed large numbers of the seeds that came from abroad hence guaranteeing the standing that Trewithin has today. Trewithin is a remarkable garden pearl.housekeeping
ReplyDeleteNext is the Eden Project near St. Austell which is the most current of all our Cornish gardens. Made from a neglected china dirt pit in the year 2000 and the site opened on seventeenth March 2001. Lawn Services Near Me
ReplyDeleteTrewithin near Grampound signifies 'place of the trees' and has 30 sections of land of forest gardens and in excess of 200 sections of land of encompassing parkland. Aluminium ramen
ReplyDeleteOne gardener would slice out at the weed distinctly to become worn out and nod off, another would sit discreetly among the weeds to ponder about the arrangement of the developing weeds. new report
ReplyDeleteThe 4 sections of land at Ken-Caro, Nr. Liskeard is one more garden with a forest walk, magnolias and rhododendrons, little however wonderful and set high above Bicton Manor Woods. Another in a similar region is Moyclare set up in 1927 out of 1 section of land and organized around the house. tree pruning
ReplyDeleteThree of the easiest gardens to combine are butterfly, habitat, and rain gardens. And making such a combination is easy enough that kids quite often do it by nature as they love to choose bold blooms, bright colors, interesting textures, and plants representing history and culture. Tree Pruning Kelowna
ReplyDeleteThere are many different types of gardens. So many that it might seem daunting to try and figure out which type of garden you want to plant. Let's start with the most basic two types of gardens: Flower and Vegetable. Those are pretty self-explanatory right? Of course they are. Then it gets tricky. Here is a brief overview of some of the most popular types of gardens that you can choose, but remember that the only real limit to the type of the garden you can create is your own imagination. Stump Removal Kelowna
ReplyDeleteNice
ReplyDeleteYour writing is always thought-provoking. You challenge my assumptions.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you're looking for any kind of Shades In Saudi Arabia then,
CarParking Shades in Saudi Arabia
is a great option. Their shades and tents are made from sustainable materials and
are sure to make a positive impact on the planet.
A Cookie Garden jigsaw puzzle offers a delightful blend of fun and creativity, inviting puzzlers to explore colorful cookie designs. Similarly, the neo matrix coat symbolizes a blend of style and intrigue in the world of fashion. Both inspire imagination, encouraging us to enjoy the art of piecing together unique experiences.
ReplyDeleteThe evil santa costume might seem mischievous, but it pairs perfectly with the delightful charm of a Cookie Garden jigsaw puzzle. Just as you piece together the puzzle, you can imagine the whimsical garden filled with festive treats. Embrace the holiday spirit and creativity making this the perfect seasonal activity.
ReplyDelete