Princess Series - Snow White

Princess Series - Rapunzel

Princess Series - Mulan

Princess Series - Belle

I did promise that I would post what I've been up to, so here they are...enjoy!

Curiouser and Curiouser

If you know me, you know that I threw a 'Mad Hatter's Tea Party' to celebrate my 21st Birthday. You would also be aware that I love planning parties...this however all eventually leads to one experiencing post-party blues where one is lost with what to do, now that your cake taste-testing and teacup collecting days are behind you...

Thus, I threw myself into illustration, a pastime which has found itself neglected until recent months!

Over the past few weeks I have been doing a fair bit of illustration, and this Alice in Wonderland inspired piece sets the tone for the style I have been experimenting with. Using animated characters as a point of reference, I have been modernising them by making them glamourous and grown-up.

I'm quite happy with how Alice turned out, cartoon-esque, without being little-girly. I was trying to capture the mood of Alice running from the garden, the point where she realises that things are not always what they seem, and thus the piece is entitled 'Curiouser and Curiouser.' She was created using A3 300gsm watercolour paper, with a 2B pacer and Derwent watercolour pencils.

I hope that you like this style of illustration and that you are inspired to try and revamp your own favourite film or book character!

Let me know whether you, or anyone you know may be interested in participating in an 'Art Club'. Whereby, each month a theme is chosen, and at the end of the month all participants submit the work they have produced which reflects their interpretation of the theme to me. I would then publish the submission of the month :) Media used is up to the artist, photography, watercolour, pencil, the options are only limited by your creativity!

Happy Drawing.

Baked Bean Dip with Flat Breads

Sometimes, on the weekend you don’t feel like eating salad for lunch. You need a little something more, to congratulate yourself for the past week…Beans might not be your thing, but they are definitely my thing. Beans make a salad a meal and nachos delish, so why not enjoy them all on their own as a moorish bubbling and cheesy baked concoction…hungry yet? I am and I only recently had breakfast…

This dip has done the rounds at my place. So much so, that it has almost reached food-group status, like its second cousin twice-removed chocolate mousse.

The homemade charm and taste is enhanced by making your own flatbreads, soooo much better than store-bought “Frisbees”! Whilst they take a little more time than heating up packet ones, they really are simple to do, so trust me you won’t regret the extra effort!

Bean Dip

Lovingly adapted from a Coles brochure.

Ingredients

1 Small Brown Onion

400g tin Cannellini Beans (drained)

¼ cup Mayonnaise

1 clove garlic (crushed)

1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

½ cup grated parmesan

Breadcrumbs and Extra Parmesan

Method

Preheat oven to 170°C (fan forced).

On medium heat, in a small pan, cook finely chopped onion until browned. Set aside.

Blend beans, mayonnaise, garlic, Worcestershire and half the parmesan, with a stick blender or food processor until smooth.

Mix in the onion and remaining parmesan. Place into a small baking tin, sprinkle with breadcrumbs and extra parmesan.

Bake for 20 minutes, until browned and bubbling.

Tortillas

Lovingly adapted from Donna Hay Magazine Oct/Dec 2011

Ingredients

1 cup Plain Wholemeal Flour

10g Butter

1 tsp Sea Salt (ground)

160ml Boiling Water

Method

Place flour and salt in a heat safe jug. Add the butter and mix with fingertips, until flour is the consistency of breadcrumbs.

Add the boiling water, and mix in well with a spoon.

Place mix onto a well-floured surface, and knead until it forms a dough.

Cut into 6 even segments, and roll into 20cm diameter rounds.

On medium-high heat cook each round separately in a non-stick pan, for approximately 2 minutes a side, until browned.

Cover breads with a tea towel to keep warm whilst dip is baking.

Notes

Serves 2 for lunch. Double recipes, when serving at a party nibbles table.

If you have leftover dip, store it in the fridge and reheat in microwave or oven…Do not eat cold, as tastes feral!

Happy Baking.

Back To School Party

Sorry for the absence my LPOFD (little pinch of fairy dust) friends, I'm now back, and ready to bring you more cute and joyous things to do in your free time this coming 2012...

It’s been a long time coming, but here is my first party-theme post!

To celebrate the imminent recommencement of studies for the year, we had a little celebration Old-School-style. It was great fun dressing up in School-girl-esque attire (think netball skirts, long socks, pigtails and ribbons) and eating from our very own ‘tuckshop’ filled with scrumptious mini-foods and treats, before settling down for a Glee marathon sesh…such a fun night was shared by all!

This party layout would work equally well for a “School’s Out” celebration or a School Breakup shindig. Even if you are no longer in School, this theme is even more fun due to the cute nostalgia of it :)

Here’s a list of the ideas and items you can use to re-create the look...

Decorations

·      Red, green, black, white and wood colour scheme

·      Mini blackboard

·      Locker

·      Jar of paintbrushes

·      Pile of books

·      Drawing mannequin

·      Apples

·      Owls

·      Milk bottles with ribbon

·      Posters of celebs and pictures of your memories

·      Paper bags

·      Milk cartons

·      Giant stationary

·      World map globe

Tip – You could make your event look more primary school or more high school depending on the little features you incorporate.

Foods

·      Milk and cookie shots

·      Whoopie pies

·      Apple cake pops

·      Mini sausage rolls

·      Mini sushi rolls

·      Lolly jars in theme colours

·      Mini pizzas

·      Individual serves of nutella (in mini bowls with paddle-pop sticks)

·      Mini sandwiches in various cookie-cutter shapes

·      Mini jam doughnuts

·      Lamingtons

·      Meat pies

Milk and Cookie Shots

Whoopie Pies

Mini Sausage Rolls and Sushi

Apple Cake Pops

Tip – You could do mini versions of your favourite tuckshop/canteen food, lunch-box inspired foods, or foods which are simply cute and thus ‘kiddy’.

Games and Activities

·      Film and TV – Watch Glee, Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You etc

·      Choir practice - playing karaoke

·      P.E. - Wii sports

·      Maths - Uno, Cranium

·      Business - Monopoly

·      Recess - Eating!

·      Drama - Sharades/Guesstures

I hope that you are inspired to throw your own party as you head back to Work or School, taking the opportunity to celebrate, simply for the pleasure of embracing all those random events in the year besides your typical birthday and Christmas festivities! For there is always some special day or event upon which one can utilise an excuse to throw a themed par-tay!

Happy Celebrating.