Just a little hint

My new website category is almost ready to launch. Here is just a little hint...............

St Patricks day cookies

A little St Patrick's day cheer, for all those in need of a pot of gold. With special thanks to The Whole Cake & Caboodle for this awesome cookie picture, using this cauldron cutter.

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Red Puppy Appeal

I received the details today for the Red Puppy Appeal, from one of our lovely Kiwicakes members. I couldn't wait to share this with you all.

‘Red Puppy Appeal 2’: Sanura Wheatley-Stewart (11) from Taupaki (left), Georgia Wheatley-Mahon (11) from Freemans Bay, Thomas Williams (4) from Farm Cove, Bronagh Key, and Ethan Garland (3) of Birkenhead.

Bake a Difference for the Red Puppy Appeal - Need greater than ever following Christchurch earthquake

This year’s Red Puppy Appeal is set to be sweeter than ever with the launch of Red Puppy Bikkie Day on Friday 1 April.

And the need has never been greater, with the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) providing urgent and ongoing support to over 1,200 blind, deafblind and partially sighted members affected by the Christchurch earthquake.

“We are currently focusing a significant amount of time, resources and money to help our members and guide dogs affected in the Canterbury region,” says Sandra Budd, RNZFB Chief Executive.

“We have over 1,200 members in the area, including 40 guide dogs owners, some of whose dogs will need retraining as their usual routes and routines have changed dramatically.”

The 2011 Red Puppy Appeal, which is supported by the Prime Minister’s wife Bronagh Key, will run from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 April 2011, with Red Puppy Bikkie Day launching on the Friday 1 April. People can download materials and information from www.redpuppy.org.nz.

“We’re launching Red Puppy Bikkie Day this year to encourage individuals, schools and businesses to ‘bake’ a difference for our appeal,” says Ms Budd. “We’re inviting people to bake puppy-shaped biscuits and sell them for a donation to friends, family and colleagues.”

The funds raised by the Red Puppy Appeal will help the RNZFB continue its essential support work in Canterbury, as well as throughout the country.

Ms Budd says staff are working tirelessly to support the RNZFB’s members in the region, with specialist assistance needed to help working guide dogs and their owners.

“Extra staff members have flown into Christchurch – where they are camping in our local office – and visiting members to attend to urgent issues and to help plan for their orientation and mobility needs.

“The RNZFB receives no Government funding for Guide Dog Services so every dollar collected during the appeal counts and we hope that Red Puppy Bikkie Day will encourage people to support us,” says Ms Budd.

With the help of a RNZFB guide dog, those with little or no sight have greater freedom, confidence and independence. To become a RNZFB guide dog, puppies train for two years, pass 55 different tests and walk many thousands of steps.

During the appeal look out for RNZFB volunteers in bright red vests in your local area holding RNZFB collection buckets.

Go to www.redpuppy.org.nz to volunteer for the street appeal, register to hold a Red Puppy Bikkie Day event, or to make a donation.

Hazel Wheatley-Mahon (8) from Freemans Bay with Bronagh Key

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Kiwi Cake Decorator - Kirstin Fogarty

Tonight I profile Kirstin Fogarty of Magical Cakes - Auckland . If you'd like to be profiled in the Kiwi Cake decorator profile, please email me at sandra@kiwicakes.co.nz 

Kirstin's online - Flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/magicalcakes

Q: How long have you been decorating?

A: 8 years

Q: What is your favorite thing to bake & decorate – why?

A: Children's Novelty cakes covered with fondant – especially Debbie's Browns! ( I have 9 of her books, all autographed!)

Q: What got you started in baking/decorating?

A: 8 years ago when my daughter was a baby I had the top tier of our wedding cake recovered and decorated for her Christening by a professional cake decorator. I was a little disappointed in the cake and its finish and thought I could do a better job if only I knew how? So I enrolled at my local college and did 12 weeks of night classes to learn the basic skills. I loved it and from there on there was no stopping me! Creating my children's birthday cakes and family and friends cakes has been so much fun and I have learned a lot along the way!

Q: What are your top 5 decorating tools?

A: My Kenwood Major, small silicon rolling pin, ball tool, smoother and Wiltons large cake leveler.

Q: What do you do when you not decorating?

A: I am a Mum at home with 2 beautiful children and a busy husband who flies around the world a lot for work! I juggle the everyday running of the home, but I also love gardening and landscape design!

Q: What are some of your favorite creations you’ve created and why?

A: I love this circus tent cake that I created for my gorgeous nephew Sebastian on his first birthday, because the idea of circus animals popping their heads out of a tent was so cute and I loved the bright colours!

I love this cake by Peggy Porschen for its simplicity.

I also love Debbie Browns funky Fairy cake which I did at one of Debbie's workshops last year alongside Sandra!! I look at this cake and have fond memories of a very special day!

I made this little fairy cake for our builders laborer who worked tirelessly digging in the rain for a week during a renovation to our property! He mentioned his little girl was turning 2 shortly so it was a perfect way of me showing thanks! He was speechless!

I also like this recent Debbie Brown creation ‘Midnight Fairies’ from her Gorgeous and Gruesome book.( At last years workshop - we were lucky enough to have a sneak preview of it on Debbie's laptop before it was printed!)

Q: What is your favorite cake, cookie or cupcake?

A: White Chocolate & Baileys Mud cake. I love the subtle exotic flavor that keeps people guessing on the ingredients! Plus it is easy to stack and decorate and stays moist and fresh for a long time!

Q: If you could have someone to make a cake....

A: A two tiered round double barrel cake with 2 large peonies.

Q: Kirstin we met for the first time at a Debbie Brown workshop last year, I recall you telling me, you liked a more minimalist approach to things – is this how you’d describe the way you decorate?

A: Yes, but not a minimalist approach more of a ‘less is more.’ I don’t like to clutter a cake for the sake of it.( I found it hard adding so many daisies to the Funky Fairy cake!)

Purple Cake Day fun

We're having fun here for Purple Cake Day. I forgot to take a photo BEFORE the cupcakes started disappearing. We've got purple jellybeans for the kids. As well as the purple Rainbow Dust specials which run through on the website until 10pm tonight.