Autumn Cupcake Dates Announced

Here are the dates for next term's Cupcake Classes, for detailed information visit the Colourful Cupcakes blog:

HERE

Monday 10 September:  STAGE 1 CUPCAKES  12.30pm - 2.30pm  £50

Sunday 23 September: COACH TRIP TO THE CAKE & BAKE SHOW  £39.50

I know, it's not a class, but it's an important date in our Cupcake Calendar!

There are still spaces available, we leave Newbury Wharf at approx 8am, we will be taken to Earls Court and collected again at 4pm.

Mary Berry and a host of other bakers and chefs will be there, talking and demonstrating alongside stalls full of baking goodies.  For more details visit the show website:

www.thecakeandbakeshow.co.uk


Saturday 29 September:  FREE-FROM CUPCAKES  11am - 1pm  £60

Saturday 29 September:  CUPCAKES STAGE 2  3.30pm - 6pm  £60


Monday 1 October:  VINTAGE CUPCAKES  11AM - 1PM  £50

Saturday 13 October:  VINTAGE CUPCAKES  11AM - 1PM  £55

Saturday 13 October: STAGE 1 CUPCAKE CLASS  3.30PM - 5.30PM  £55

Saturday 1 December: CHRISTMAS CUPCAKES  10AM - 12 NOON OR 3.30PM - 5.30PM  £55

Cornwall - Watercolour Class 12 July 2012

It was the last day of Summer Term at Treetops today, and we finished with a Watercolour Class, titled Cornwall.  Always popular; seas, harbours, boats, with skills such as water and reflections to master.

The morning was spent honing our drawing skills, tricky to get the boat in a leaning position.

Then it was over to the island to put the masking fluid on the areas we wanted to keep white, before we did our first wash of colour before lunch. 

At lunch we had the Pink Champagne out to celebrate Claire's birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEACHER!

The afternoon was spent mixing colours and bringing the painting to life.

Although it was the same boat, we used artistic licence in choosing new names and colour for the boat!

Bookings are being taken for the Autumn Term classes, dates are on the blog.  Scroll up to the top and click on the "Dates of 2012 Classes" heading.

Two-Day Summer Watercolour Class

We have just had a lovely two days painting at Treetops.

The sun has been shining, with the breeze sweeping through the house.  

There were some beautiful paintings created:

Claire and I have put together the new Autumn Term dates, we will shortly have them up for you to see.

Aga Fabulous Fish Class

Here is the table set for us to enjoy the food's cooked at today's Aga Class.

Sarah was here to cook us a feast of Fabulous Fish, whilst showing us our way around an Aga at the same time.

There were plenty of Aga tips and cookery ideas shared during the demonstration.

It was a delicious spread.

Here are some photos of the Fab Fish.

Firstly a Seafood Cassoulet, fantastic with some crusty chunks of bread.

Followed by a Smoky Fish Pie, a hint of stilton in the mash and a hint of horseradish in the sauce, really turned this into something special. 

Sarah always demonstrates a tart, to show that in Aga-Land we don't blind bake, your tarts and quiches can just go straight into the Aga on the floor of the Roasting Oven, which is such a time saving revelation!

Today's tart was Smoked Mackerel and Spring Onion.

Next is a Steamed Sea Bass with an amazing tangy sauce.  Today, Sarah also had some Poulting fish which she used too.  We roasted the fish for this recipe.

There were other dishes such as scallops with cauliflower, sesame crusted tuna, slow roasted dill salmon and a chunky baked cod with a rocket crust

Sarah is back at Treetops on Friday 21 September for Effortless Entertaining, from 9.45am - 1.30pm.  

£65

And also for Christmas Aga (Turkey this year) on Friday 9 November.

Coming Up - Two Day Watercolour Retreat

We are holding a two day Watercolour class in June.

Wednesday 27 & Thursday 28 June.

Two days to get away from it all, to come and relax, enjoy the peace, quiet and setting of Treetops, and paint.

Over the two days, Claire will cover drawing skills, building up your sketch pad - how to capture a sketch and how to use it later on, watercolour and painting techniques.

Having the two days enables you and Claire to get into greater depth with your work.

I'm sure that over the two days, there will be some sunshine, and we can spend time outside sketching and using parts of the garden as inspiration.

The days start at 9.30am and finish at approximately 3pm.

The price includes all of your materials, lunch and wine on both days and teas, coffees and home made biscuits.

(I can recommend a nearby B&B if you would like to stay nearby).

Watercolour Bluebells

We had Claire with us yesterday for another Watercolour Class

 - Bluebells -

The paintings were all lovely, full of light, dappled shade, meandering pathways and pretty bluebells.

The trees were painted in last, so the paintings looked very strange until they were painted in, then the paintings came alive.

We worked with 3 shades of purples, greens and browns, so we spent alot of time mixing and getting the right balance of paint pigment and water.

We also mixed up a tiny bit of pink, as it's always nice to add a bit of pink!  Whether it's in skies or bluebells woods.

We also loved hearing how one of our artists came to the class because her husband proposed to her in a Bluebell wood .... aaaahhhh!

Claire will be back for a two-day Watercolour Class in June, where we will be doing some exciting things, please email or call for details, we still have some spaces available.  I can recommend a great B&B nearby.

Sunny Flower Class

It was lovely to have Susanna from Tiger Rose back today, for a Spring/Summer Flower Class.

Susanna started the morning with a few demonstrations, including the beautiful lavender basket above.

There were beautiful peonies and sweet peas nestled inside.

We spoke alot about plants in the garden that are useful to plant for foliage and their flower, and how to condition and look after our cut flowers, whether from the garden or the flower shop.  

Susanna then showed everyone how to make a pretty hand-tied posy.

The key was in the preparation; clean stems, key flowers, secondary flowers and complementary foliage.

We had some bright gerberas, hyacinths and frilly tulips.

When everyone had finished their posy, Susanna showed them how to wrap the arrangement in a water-bag and co-ordinating tissue paper and cellophane.

The posies were then popped inside a vibrant green bag.

They looked stunning!

After lunch we had some creative time around the table. 

Susanna had spoken in the morning about using different containers around the house for flowers, not just our usual vases.

Taking this a step further, she had an assortment of jam jars and tin cans for us to decorate for flowers.  (This is a look that is currently very popular at weddings).

Using strong carpet tape (today's floral top tip!) and an array of ribbons, lace, buttons, a needle and thread and a hot glue gun, there were some beautiful creations.

Below are just some shots of some of today's flowers, they were so pretty.

Susanna is back for Christmas Flowers in December.

Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 December

£80

9.45am - 2pm

This includes all of your materials, a simple lunch with a glass of wine, refreshments and home made biscuits throughout the day.