Behind the curtains

　“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot  of hard work.” ― Stephen King


I would like to share with you the story of one amazing women I meat a year ago and gladly can call her my friend. She is one talented women who puts her heart in everything she is creating. I had the chance to see and photo-shoot many of her beautiful designs and each and every time she left me speechless. As a full time job Danielle is a music teacher but on her own time she is an amazing baker. She and her sister Renee are the owners of www.sweetcheeckscookiesandcakes.com.au. Currently both are running the business as a part time job but they are looking to end that and focus their time on the amazing cakes/cookies/cupcakes they are making. The reason I am writing about Danielle and her sister is because up until few day ago, I never truly known what means to make a cake. Yes sure, we all know the simple procedure of mixing and baking but there is so much more about designing a cake. Did you known that the average time to bake a mud cake is around 4h? Yes my dear readers, 4h only on baking, and add on top of that the time spent on designing the cake. We all have ideas and would like beautiful cakes but we never give a second thought on how hard it is to make that cake.
I have been witness the process of making a beautiful Victorian train for a birthday party few days ago and all I can tell you is that there is a lot of work involved. Apart from the 4 hours of baking the cake, Danielle spent more than 7h to decorate the cake. Once the baking was over, Danielle had to cut the cake in the right dimensions. For the Victorian train Danielle had to use two cakes which she cut in half long ways and filled them with caramel ganache. Once all the filling and cutting was done, Danielle had to cover them both in fondant and apply the support for the top cake.
Danielle manually creates each and every piece for the cake. This involves a lot of patience and time. I don't think this job is suitable for everybody, I, for instance gave up 10 minutes after she started. It is fascinating to watch how she's measuring each piece and she makes sure they are the same length, shape and size. How she studies the photo so many times till she gets the piece exactly as she wants it. With so much care and patience she glues all parts together, she than walk around and studies more. She smiles when everything comes all together and the piece before her eyes starts to look exactly like the customer request.

The steps to a beautiful cake:

                                                                Beautiful Danielle

 　
　                                                                  THE END

The challenge

In order to improve our photography and work on our creative side, me and my friend Lorna decided to give each other one object and see where our imagination takes us.

We gave each other similar objects, I got some colourful numbers to play with.

Here is the result of my imagination.

Getting inspired

I have so many ideas running through my little head but so little time to actually do something about it. I am thinking of improving my photography as well as my writing. I want to give it a go to my creative side and create something.

I guess I always find excuses,I know that's something I should not be proud of but is the truth in the end.

So I thought, I may give myself timelines on each and every thing I want to do.

Photography- Find a project and work around it by 23rd September

Writing - Get my current book checked for spelling and grammar mistakes and publish 1st chapter on Wattpad by 23rd November

Creating- Get ideas and create something that may help me in my future shootings by 23rd December

I guess sometimes we need to motivate ourselves in everything we wish to do even if that is a little project or a big one.

So, this is my way to remind myself that there are things that I should do because they make me happy.

Alex

Glad to be back:)

It has been a while since my last entry. There is a reason behind it, I was out of ideas and with no motivation in doing something at all. That changed, thanks to my friend Lorna.She is the only one who brings me back from my la la land. I am so happy to have her back. She arrived back in Melbourne 3 weeks ago and to celebrate we went out shooting:) it was an great morning and both got some amazing photos. Hope you'll enjoy it:)

Sweetcheeks Cookies and Cakes

This year I’ve decided that all of us deserve a cake for our b-days , I can’t remember having one since I arrived in Australia.

My brother in law’s b-day(September) was first. fallowed by my husband(November) and ending with mine (December). So I’ve start looking at places where I can order a cake and I found it.
 
This place is amazing, I am so happy I found it. I’ve met Danielle few weeks ago. She is such a lovely person and her talent and passion is incredible. Gosh, she’s amazing!!

I strongly recommend you to have a look on their website and do not hesitate to contact this amazing teamfor any special ocassion you may have.

My brother in law is a huge fan of FC Barcelona so I’ve asked Danielle if she can make me a cake with the logo on.

http://www.sweetcheekscookiesandcakes.com.au/

Photography

Photography I am really motivated to gain more experience in this field. Even is not a day to day job, I've decided that I will try each weekend to get to shoot at least for one or tow hours. I have already told people I know, if they are interested in having their photos taken to contact me or maybe HELP ME OUT!! I got some great feedbacks and have some bookings done for early October. I am really excited and cannot wait to have my proper shooting session. Well not really as I am not a photographer but I will get there one day. Now, I just need to focus more on practicing, I am pretty sure someone up there will take good care of me and make my other dream came true. :) small steps get you in the right direction. So many things to do, never been that busy. I need to start organising myself otherwise I will loose track of important thinks. It is hard when you have only 24h a day and at least 8 of them I sleep and other 8-9h I work. I am not counting, school, gym, and housework:) I guess since I don't have many friends around I may as well be very busy so I don't miss having company. :) I will keep you updated with my first photo-shoot session. October looks good in terms of photography!!!! Alex

The Secret Wood Of Araviel

Excitement!!!!!
I cannot tell you how happy I am, when I got the email from our publisher today, I was so nervous and it felt so unreal seeing my name there…Gosh!!! So much to take in one day.J Very happy!!! Me and my husband were busy this afternoon taking pictures of myself for the back of the book. Not happy with the results but I assume I will never be so there is no point of trying anymoreJ
Ok guys, have a look and let me know what you think. Is not ready yet as on the back are more to came.
Happy Happy Happy!!!!!

The secret wood of Araviel

It started with a dream and passion for writing and I got lucky along my journey to meet and make a friend that shared the same interests. From there, we find our selves writing, the writing end up with a book. Having a book published, for me will be a huge accomplish in life. Being able to write down my ideas and thoughts that eventually will end up into a book is a great success already.

I am not seeking to get rich or be famous, I learned along years that money and fame would not bring back health or people you lost. So is better to cherish the moments you have with your close ones and enjoy small things life gives you and not worry on how to make more money or how to get more famous. Anyway, I am so excited!!!!

Today I have in my agenda to send off the manuscript and cover so that the team, that has been assigned to us can start working on it.

I thought to sheer with you some covers ideas that Lorna came up with. As another hidden talent of hers is drawing.

Hope you will enjoy it!!!

Nature

Amalgam

The deepest feeling always shows itself in silence; not in silence, but restraint

Feelings are everywhere - be gentle.

Faith makes things possible, not easy

Lost in thoughts

There are beautiful people in similar situations, feeling very much the same things as we. And though we are alone, in a way we are not, and for me there's a comfort in that.

I like to believe those bikes belongs to a madly in love couple.

When the wind blows, there are my dreams and hopes.

Take them, take them all with you, let them feel, explore and send them back to me, to have them all…at list they tried.

Through your eyes


Along your journey called life, your eyes and soul will build a book called memories. Memories and feelings all kept in a safety place called heart.

Our eyes are more likely the same, similar shapes, same colours, but yet they are so different. What is simple and plain for you it may be interesting and intrigue for me. It’s about what you see, feel and think, that make us different.

So here I am, posting for 1 week, each day one picture from my portfolio, sheering the story behind it and the feelings I had.

What I would like, is that you could sheer the story you can see, the feelings and thoughts that comes alive when looking at the picture.


Come along and let your imagination free.

Looking forward for the unknown future, feel the taste of freedom, embrace the feeling of happiness and joy.

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it"

A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.

"Show me someone who doesn't dream about the future and I'll show you someone who doesn't know where they are going"

Very excited to shear my big project for this year. I am currently working along with my friend Lorna to finalize our book and send it to print!!! Yay!! I just recently had the courage to enquire and find out how I can print my book.
I got all the information I needed, and we are on the way to make it real. J Still working on editing, title and cover. I need to say a big THANK YOU to you Lorna for taking care of editing and cover.
I am so excited, it’s all I dream and think about.

About the book!!!It’s a fairytale about one girl and her adventure in keeping the magic real even in the real world . I wont sheer to much as we are still working on adding and taking out bits and pieces.
I thought to introduce myself and my www with one of my hobbies and projects.
More to come…
Alex