The "Festive" Spirit

It seems the Christmas Spirit has well and truly hit Melbourne. I'm not talking about tinsel and nativity scenes at your local shopping centre, or the over-abundance of chocolates and shortbread available at the supermarket, but the festive spirit that hits the market scene at this time of the year. There seems to be that extra bit of cheer in the stall holders, keen to help out, chat and talk about all their products. Maybe I'm looking for it more at the moment, but today's experience was just exceptional.

Anyone in Melbourne (or Victoria really), will know we've had some bizzaro weather lately. Yesterday for example, it rained all day... Which in November is just a little bit silly. It's not cold, just wet, crazy wet. Yet this morning, I still got up at 6:30 as planned, so I would have time to check out the Mulgrave Makers Market before my brunch date. Needless to say, it was dreary, wet, overcast and generally perfect weather for being snuggled up at home in. However, without fail, every stall owner I spoke to this morning was full of cheer, warmed by coffee and eager to chat. Although I bought very little, it was a great experience to be out amongst this wonderful community of crafters/ makers/ farmers who were obviously keen and passionate about what they do. I can only hope it's all year cheer, and not just saved for the festivities all too soon to come!

On another, completely different note, I'm experimenting a bit more with my cupcake flavours in anticipation of my first market in only 2 weeks.... Just a fortnight away! Although I'm insanely excited, I'm also a wee bit overwhelmed when I think of it too much. I guess I have set myself pretty high standards for service after my experience this morning! This afternoon I've done my first white chocolate mud cupcakes with raspberries, and I can't wait to try them once they've cooled down a little!

This is the final product... Simple decoration of some icing sugar and drizzed with melted white chocolate...

I recently inherited this cake stand - would you believe it's a Royal Albert? My nana gave it to me in a recent cleanout, apparently noone else wanted it because of the orange plastic on the handle and also the base. I couldn't believe my luck :)

Taking the Plunge

So, I've finally done it. I've had this blog page for a couple of months now, but have been putting off writing the first post on an almost daily basis... "What will I write?", "Will it be witty/ quirky/ entertaining/ interesting enough for other people to read?" and more importantly "How the heck to I introduce myself?". The list goes on.
Having said that, it's tremendously exciting to be doing something so unfamiliar to my daily life, and in a (kinda) silly way, something I've been dreaming and thinking about doing for some time, so now it's time to just  get on with it, and see what happens.
An introduction you ask? For the purposes of simplicity and conciseness, here are some basic things you need to know:

• I live in Melbourne, Australia. Born here, raised here... Am planning on living here for some time still (I lovel to travel, but also love coming home to my own bed!)
• My professional background is not in baking, cooking, or anything creative really. I work in the health and human resources sector, however have a profuse and undying love of the arts and all things creative. I think, so far, I've done a fairly good job of surrounding myself with those fabulous people we like to call "creative types" and I seem to become one by default.
• I starterd teaching myself to bake in 2009 (properly bake I mean, not just following instructions from a packet mix, which I'd been doing since I was about 5), for something to do  outside of my work life. Turned out, I love it. And I love trying to get better at it each time.
• As a resident of Melbourne, one of the things I'm most thankful for is the abundance of amazing markets available in and around the city each and every weekend. Nothing inspires me more than meeting other people making what they love, buying something unique and supporting the local trader. It can also be a good way to get some incidental exercise into the day!

And that, lovely people is that for now... I'm somewhat relieved to get the first post "out there", so I can start getting into the juicy, exciting bits of life... Featuring lots of cupcakes and other baked goods!

-- Bec