Cupcake pattern trial

[Lady Helen]

This morning I whipped up a trial of the cupcake pattern to see if this is the
item I will mass produce for the 2010 bazaar.
I think this will work though I will need to tweak the pattern a bit.
Instead of a hanger I was thinking of leaving a gap between the cherry
and icing so I could slip monofilament through the gap.

I try to find patterns with 3 to 5 pieces that would be appropriate for a Christmas tree.
In the past I've done stockings, purses, reindeers, holly and berries.

Besides a cupcake I did consider a glass shoe.

[Anne]

cute Helen.  Have you thought about doing Santa's hat? Or a mitten? Or a Christmas tree with wire wrapped around it with beads on the wire for Decoration?

[Linde]

I like the cupcake and you can make them in all kinds of flavored glass.

[Kev]

That's cute Helen.

[Lady Helen]

I did the Santa hat and attached a bell, I had forgotten about that one until you mentioned it.

I have a pattern for a scrap glass tree but it really has too many pieces.
I donate these so I do try to keep them simple.
This year I had made reindeers and the wire antlers were not only time consuming
they were really hard on my hands, I could only do about 10 a day.
Here's a photo of the first complete batch.

[Kev]

  They are adorable!!!!!!!!

[JoanFrances]

very cute reindeers Helen.  Love the cupcake too

[Elizabeth]

Your reindeers are toooo cute, Helen!   
Here's a picture of my mini Christmas trees that have proved pretty good sellers year on year.  Maybe you can play with the idea to suit your needs.

[Audrey]

The reindeer are just precious, and the cupcake looks good enough to eat. It should be simple enough to mass produce for your purpose.

[Tom]

Instead of a hanger I was thinking of leaving a gap between the cherry
and icing so I could slip monofilament through the gap.

Not sure if it would work or not, but could you solder a small jump ring on the bottom of the cherry in the back?  out of site, not a hanger that shows, and could still hang with monofilament.  The weight would still let it hang straight, or if you off centered it, would hang at whatever angle you made it.

By the way, now I am hungry, on my way to the convienience store for some hostess cupcakes!!!!!!   

[Linde]

Lady Helen, I love those reindeer, they are soooooooo cute!

The tree is a good idea., how large are they? Did you string all those beads, Elizabeth?

[Elizabeth]

The tree is a good idea., how large are they? Did you string all those beads, Elizabeth?
[/quote]

They're 3.5" from top of hanger/halo,  and yes, Linde I do string the beads - THAT'S the hard  -read 'time consuming'- part!   The fingers don't handle such fiddley stuff so well any more!   

[Lady Helen]

Tom there is a jump ring soldered in the back on the left side.
I did a good job of hiding it. ;)




Elizabeth stringing small beads is not for my eyes, I have real trouble seeing small things.

I can do these cupcakes and collect ideas for next year. A tree is a possibility, thank you Elizabeth
for showing me your version.

[nansea121]

Cute pieces! Love those reindeer as well. They'd look great in a tree.
I also like Beth's tree idea. Those little beads might go a little easier if you had one of those magnifier lamps to view from. Know what I mean? You could also do a little decorative bead soldering on a wire to act as a garland.

[ct4mom]

Helen love the cupcake and those reindeer are adorable.

[Anne]

Here's another Christmas tree.  Not the nicest one I made, maybe that's why I still have it, lol.  Made a ton of these, used up lots of scrap and did them in all different colors.  They're better made with a bit more of an angle on the bottom but wanted to show you what I meant.

The Reindeer is really cute Helen.

[Elizabeth]

 
 You could also do a little decorative bead soldering on a wire to act as a garland.
[/quote]
Or you could leave off the decorations altogether and give it a brown trunk instead of a red pot!   I've also done them in glue chip,  which looks a bit like it's covered in ice!   (South Africans tend not to get that concept and prefer green!)

[Barbara]

Nice Lady Helen and such a sweetie for doing this for them.