Thursday, August 14, 2014

Birthdays.....

I am hopeless at remembering birthdays .... I need reminders

luckily these days with facebook I get the reminders

but usually just on the day

when it's too late to make up a gift

(even my grandchildren get their presents late!)

That's what happened with Michelle's birthday


Marilyn made up this pattern recently and I thought it looked like a nifty little project bag


.. it's actually quite big.... and like a small suitcase... with lots of room
(pattern can be found HERE)


and pockets inside....perfect for projects

Well... since Michelle went off on a holiday I was able to make it up and send it off late...

... I am hoping it is nice to get a late gift... for a belated birthday present...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At our quilt group we have a shared lunch once a month...  to celebrate birthdays of people in the group .... and this month I decided to make chocolate eclairs from my chocolate book from Shez

My mum always made them and said they were very easy so I happily went to the kitchen....

Attempts 1 & 2 look like frizbees for Barbie and Ken


I wondered if it was my piping bag?


1 & 2 next to #3... there is an improvement.... Barbie and Ken now have stepping stones for the garden....

youtube came into play at this stage


#4 next to the others..... not amazing but workable


I wasn't about to try making the special custard

so I whipped up some cream and added a good dollop of my boozy vanilla
(if it's boozy enough the ladies won't notice the flattened eclair!)


.... stuffed with cream...


... and topped with dark chocolate....



Righto, Gotto Go... I am still lamenting the hours wasted trying to conquer eclairs... but next time I expect to whip them up in a flash .... (???????)

31 comments:

Susan said...

I admire your persistence Fiona...I would have given up and bought something by then!! I hope they were admired and devoured!

Cheryll said...

After ALL your effort... I bet they were tasty... & enjoyed by friends.

kiwikid said...

Well done for persisting - I would have given up on attempt two!! I bet the disappeared fast!!

kiwikid said...

Oh forgot to say the project bag is gorgeous!! Well done!

Maria said...

Michelle birthday gift and fabulous and I am sure she won't mind a late gift.
The eclairs do look delicious after all your effect. I would have given up...
Love the your ELEPHANT baby quilt and the girly on is very pretty too..

Chantal said...

LOL making eclair in a flash! Ha! ha! ha! funny one! (for those you don't get it éclair is French for lightning) Hidden under a good dose of chocolate, who care what they looked like when they came out of the oven. They sure look tasty now. (They called them éclair not because they were easy to make but for the speed they disappear) Enjoy!

Bev C said...

Hello Fiona,

Lovely late present for Michelle, love the fabric on the bag. I am right there with you on eclair making. I remember when my first was at pre=school spending the whole morning making them, what a flop.
Happy days.
Bev.

Michelle Ridgway said...

Oooooh! I adore my bag and all the goodies hiding inside. Thank you so much lovely friend. It is being filled at the moment. Big hugs xxx

Anonymous said...

Hi Fiona oh you have excelled again that bag is gorgeous,i love this pattern and boy that fabric is perfect for Michelle,what a wonderful precious gift you have sent our friend,oh your eclairs look so yummy,had to love at the Ken and Barbie frisbees,lol,hope you have a lovely day my friend.xx

Janet said...

The last attempt looks just right! Great bag - and lovely present!

Jennifer said...

What a pretty bag! Well.......I certainly wouldn't notice if your eclairs were wonky, I would just enjoy them!

Susan said...

Pastry, cream and chocolate........who cares what they look like......you can make them for me anytime! Great project bag for Michelle. I don't think she will mind a late gift, it's better to spread the birthday joy out over days and weeks.

Lyn said...

A beautiful bag in such lovely fabric..the eclairs do look tasty and it's all about the taste anyway.

Baa. xxx said...

But they look so delicious! Yummy!

Jane said...

With cream and chocolate, who cares what they look like :) The project bag has turned out really well, well worth the wait

Susie said...

I really love this case, must make one one day.

Karen said...

I admire you for even giving eclairs a try. I wouldn't dare. Bet they tasted good no matter how they looked.
Lovely gift for michelle. It looks like a great idea for projects.

marina said...

Michelle's bag is so beautiful and the waratah fabric is gorgeous.
looks like you have mastered those eclairs. Definitely in a flash next time you make them.

Sue SA said...

Oh yum! I think it is a well documented fact that choux pastry is not the easiest of things to make! Still I am very impressed with the end result, just wish I was a bit closer for the taste test!

KaHolly said...

I love the bag you made Michelle. Was it difficult? Yum, the eclairs look so tasty.

Christine said...

Your eclairs were worth every hour of making!
That is a stunning bag too.

Larissa said...

So glad you persisted Fiona!! Choux pastry can be a bugger to get right, but once you clue on to the secret, there's no stopping you - me, I love making a good batch of choux pastry goodies! Just a shame I don't get to do it as often as I'd like ;) ... Your version of Marilyn's project bag is gorgeous!! I love the choice of fabric you've used on the outside - just perfect!!! Have a great end to the week hun! xx

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

That is one nifty bag Fiona! Those eclairs look pretty good too!

Raewyn said...

The bag is gorgeous Fiona - a special gift even if it is a little late! I'm sure the ladies didn't even notice the flatness of the eclairs, they look delicious with the finishing touches to them - top marks for persitence!!

Helen said...

Georgeous bag and yummy looking eclairs :)

Just Ramblin' said...

Love the bag and stitchery. I know it will be appreciated. Had to laugh at the pictures of the eclairs. I never seem to have much success, but it looks like they turned out just fine. Nola

Jeanette said...

Gorgeous project case. The eclairs look great. Hugs,xx

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Fantastic job on the case....Lucky Michelle....well done with those eclairs..

Cheryl said...

Oh Fiona I'm chuckling over your eclairs. Glad you got them to work in the end. Such a gorgeous bag you made for Michelle and I know she was thrilled.

Lin said...

Interesting that your little eclairs are what I would call profriteroles. Eclairs from my childhood were sausage shaped and always filled with thick whipped cream. Scrummy. Here in France they are filled with custard which is always a disappointment! The round ones however are filled with custard and piled into a very tall pyramid and covered with spun sugar to make a wedding cake - also a disappointment to me as I love the thick icing we have on a traditional British wedding cake. Love the project bag - I am sure that Michele will be delighted cos I sure would be. xx

Marilyn said...

Ooh Fiona, I am just reading some blogs for the first time in probably 3 weeks or more, and just saw your project bag for Michelle. It looks gorgeous, and I love the fabric you have used. I am so tickled every time I see it made in another fabric - I love the look of every one that I have seen made up.
Well done on persevering on the eclairs. You have more patience than me - after attempt 1 or maybe 2 I would have been off to buy some goodies.

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