Heather Bullard

Heather Bullard is a stylist, photographer and editorial story producer based in southern California. Heather started her career in retail, interior design and antique industries as a shop owner and antique dealer. The vast experience she gained whilst running her shop became invaluable when she started work on editorial assignments, which included fresh story concepts, finding locations, styling and photography. She is currently a contributing editor at Country Living Magazine and also produces a quarterly online publication called Souvenir - A Seasonal Lifestyle Gazette.

To see more of her gorgeously fresh photography check out her portfolio and her popular lifestyle blog, Heather Bullard, which she started in 2006.

Happy Friday, sweets!

Mini doughnut packaging supplies

This week on "Wonderful World of Etsy", I wanted to share with you the fabulous Etsy shop, Avenue 55. They stock some wonderful packaging supplies, from pink and mint twist ties to the prettiest floral paper bags. I have ordered some of the ties and translucent bags to put my Christmas mini doughnuts in to give out as gifts.

• 50 pink stripe wax papers
• 1000 mint twist ties
• 1000 pink twist ties
• 20 mint hand made tags
• 60 translucent plastic bags

Have a sweet day!

Nordal Autumn/Winter 2011

Today on label love I am sharing with you some of my favourite pics from the new Nordal catalogue. I adore the patterned drawers with the white ornate handles and the distressed white paint finish that gives them a lovely vintage feel. I am also coveting the quirky coat rack with the velvet ribbon.

Have a sweet day!

Gluten free vanilla doughnuts with strawberry glaze

Yesterday I showed you my inspiration for mini doughnuts. I just had to have a go myself and love how they turned out. I will definitely be making some more batches for my Winter Woodland dessert table and to give as gifts.

Gluten free vanilla donuts (makes 24 mini doughnuts)

Ingredients

• 110g (1 cup) gluten free flour
• 1 tsp xantham gum
• 115g (1/2 cup) caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons buttermilk
• Non-stick cooking spray

What you will need

• Mini doughnut pan

Cooking instructions

1. Preheat oven to 160 deg C, fan assisted (370 deg F)
2. Lightly spray doughnut pan with non stick cooking spray
3. In a bowl beat the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla essence and oil together until you get a foamy mixture
4. In a separate bowl, add the sieved dry ingredients to the sugar and mix.
5. Gradually pour foamy mixture into dry ingredients and stir until mixture is combined
6. Pour mixture into greased doughnut pan until each cavity is half full (I prefer to use a piping bag to fill each cup more evenly and cleanly)
7. Bake in preheated oven for 10-15 mins or until doughnut springs back when lightly pressed
8. Turn out onto baking rack and leave to cool

Strawberry Glaze
Ingredients

• 60g (1/2 cup) icing sugar (confectioners sugar)
• 1 tablespoon blended strawberries, sieved
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking instructions

1. In a bowl add the sieved icing sugar to the blended strawberries and vanilla essence
2. Whisk all of the ingredients together until you have a smooth paste
3. Pour into a small, shallow bowl

Decorating the mini doughnuts
What you will need

• 24 mini doughnuts
• strawberry glaze
• white sprinkles
• pink edible glitter

Decorating instructions

1. Dip doughnut into strawberry glaze, shake off any excess
2. Sprinkle white sprinkles onto icing
3. Sprinkle pink glitter onto icing
4. Leave to set

I packaged mine in mini floral printed paper bags and sealed them with pink & white stripe Washi tape.




Have a sweet day!

Winter Wonderland mini doughnut inspiration

I recently picked up a mini doughnut pan in TK Maxx for less than half price. As soon as I saw it I started thinking about how cute it would be to have some mini pastel iced doughnuts for my Winter Wonderland dessert table. I am thinking vanilla flavoured baked doughnuts with strawberry icing, cinnamon doughnuts with green apple icing, aqua coloured chocolate-dipped doughnuts and snowy looking dusted ones. All served with mini glass bottles of milkshakes and striped straws!

• Vanilla bean baby doughnuts by Sprinkle Bakes
• Doughnut dessert by Martha Stewart
• Yeasted doughnuts by Whisk Kid
• Gluten-free coconut doughnuts by Cannelle et Vanille
• Mini doughnuts by the Ring Bearer
• Pink iced doughnuts by Picsfood

Have a sweet day!

Snowflake cookies

This week on Flickr Faves Sunday, I bring you some of the prettiest snowflake cookies. This year I am determined to make some of my own...., to serve on my Winter Wonderland dessert table and give as gifts.

Some beautiful shots from my Flickr favourites (clockwise from top left):

• The pretty pink and blue Round Snowflake Cookies by Glorious Treats
• The intricately iced, Decorated Snowflake Cookies by Bossa Cafez
• The perfect white and aqua Snowflake Cookies by Pink Penguin cakes
• The double iced YILBAŞI KURABİYELERİ - CHRİSTMAS COOKİES 2 by DIDEMCAFE

Have a sweet day!

Pretty Wooden Letters

Over the Summer I made some gifts for my cute niece, Molly, like these pretty wooden letters. I got the wooden letters from the adorable Molly of online children's lifestyle boutique, Molly-Meg; a wonderful store full of the cutest treasures like the pretty mint kids antique chairs, vintage swan rocker and super cute prints painted especially for Molly-Meg by American artist Trish Grantham. Check it out!

Pretty Wooden Letters

You will need

• Wooden letters to spell the name or word of your choice
• White undercoat paint
• Washi tape ( Japanese printed masking tape)
• PVA glue (craft glue)

Equipment

• Paint brush
• Craft knife

Instructions

1. Paint wooden letters with white undercoat paint and leave to dry - they will probably need two coats
2. Carefully stick washi tape to front of letters and carefully trim tape with craft knife so it is flush to edges
3. Carefully wrap washi tape on the sides of the letters
4. Paint a layer of PVA glue over front and sides of letters to seal them and leave to dry

I will be making more hand made gifts this year for Christmas presents so stay tuned for more gift ideas to make this year with free downloadable patterns, clear photographed instructions and ideas for where to buy all the materials you need to make the crafts.



Have a sweet day!