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March 15, 2021

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It’s that most wonderful time of the year. I’v

It’s that most wonderful time of the year. I’ve just popped into @morrisandsons to stock up on @manosdeluruguay yarn for this years Westknits MKAL

They’re a deliciously squishy wool and silk blend in glorious happy colours (somewhat similar to those I picked last year 😉). The pink is my pop colour.

#mkal2022 #westknitsmkal2022 #westknits #twistsandturnsmkal

At Chez Nicola we're well into our annual bake-a-t

At Chez Nicola we're well into our annual bake-a-thon for my daughter's birthday.

She turns 9 on Friday 🤯 and did a rapid switch on her birthday theme just a few weeks ago. I was slightly regretting introducing her to the Harry Potter books just before her birthday!

So I had to scramble to redesign everything from invites to cookies (it was impossible to re-use our original 'lady palaeontologist' theme 😂).

Here's what I came up with. HP cookies (using images by the amazing @naomi_lord for the character design) and 'sorting hat' macaron snitch topped cupcakes*. Each cupcake contained sprinkles in one of the house colours hidden inside.

I'm now about to bake a Harry Potter birthday cake that must be "cute". Wish me luck!!

*They're a gluten free sponge with swiss meringue buttercream, topped with a caramel macaron, and edible glitter dusted wafer paper wings.

#glutenfree #homebaking #decoratedcookies #harrypotter #birthdaygirl #glutenfreebaking

I made these yesterday for my daughters school. A

I made these yesterday for my daughters school. A group of students in her year are having a bake sale to raise funds for the children of Ukraine through Unicef.

It's been quite a while between cookie decorating sessions!

We've been busy moving house, renovating, and catching almost every cold going around this winter.

I've got the annual 'Munchkin Birthday Cookie Session' coming up (and she's picked some reasonably difficult designs), so I decided to make these quick ones to get my hand in again.

I hope the kids like them!

#unicef #ukraine #bakesale #decoratedcookies #homebaking #glutenfree #glutenfreebaking

Just before Easter I spent some time distracting m

Just before Easter I spent some time distracting myself from the wait for settlement on our new house by decorating mini cookies and designing packaging to make gifts to give to friends.

Then chaos ensued; we became insanely busy renovating the new place, and visiting family (we have been unable to see for two and a half years due to lockdowns and border closures).

As a result, we gave out two sets, ate one, and are still nibbling our way through the remainder.

Not that my family are complaining! They’re just short of a mouthful each and make a perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea or coffee.

Now, most of the renovations are in the hands of the professionals, I’m just packing, cleaning, and hanging new blinds and curtains.

So I’m hoping to finesse the packaging design, and share the template on the blog in the coming weeks.

The cookie design and cutters are from a kit by @miss_biscuit_

I find flooding cookies almost mediative. It’s a

I find flooding cookies almost mediative. It’s a slow process that requires concentration (this clip has been sped up 10X)

It’s been a very long time between blog posts. B

It’s been a very long time between blog posts. But I’m happy to say, I’m returning to creating content for Next to Nicx.

The blog has had a bit of a tidy up and, just in time for Easter, I’ve post this template for my Bunny Milk Carton.

It’s free, so you just need to download it, print it out, assemble it, and fill with treats.

It’s then your choice whether you give it away, or keep or for yourself 😉

Gingerbread house making and decorating is one of

Gingerbread house making and decorating is one of our family traditions (it started when we lived in Europe).

Even the years we have celebrated the holidays away from home, we have ensured to make one prior to our departure.

They’ve gotten more creative and detailed as my daughter has grown and become interested in baking. Admittedly, they’re also starting to have a lot more candy on them than when we started! 🤣

This year, Munchkin (who is now 8 years old) and I had involved discussions on icing, house shape, and the overall aesthetic. And then the whole family trooped into the candy store to choose the appropriate sugared confections.

It’s times like these I have to let go of my inner perfectionist and let things flow in whichever direction the family pleases. It’s fun to see what we end up with!

Now to wait until Christmas Eve, when we’ll eat it whilst watching Christmas films 😍🎄

I finally finished my @westknits knit-a-long shawl

I finally finished my @westknits knit-a-long shawl!

We now live in Australia and are heading into Summer, so these bold and bright colors are perfect for our cool evenings after days spent oceanside.

Given this weeks announcement that we’re in for another La Niña year… it may get a lot more use than usual!

I’ll post some close ups later in the week.

#shawlographymkal2021 #mkal2021 #westknitsmkal2019 #summervibes #australia #knitting

I made this set of cookies for a little friend who

I made this set of cookies for a little friend who turned four. It was my first attempt at writing with royal icing. They were very much appreciated!

I’m in the process of putting together designs for Christmas- I’m think bold Australia flora and native birds. They certainly won’t be pastel!

When your daughter wants Halloween cookies- but di

When your daughter wants Halloween cookies- but dislikes scary things

I’ve been trying something completely new to me

I’ve been trying something completely new to me this week.

I’m an average knitter… and I’ve always been a bit scared by more detailed and intricate patterns. Last year I taught myself continental stitch knitting and found I’ve been enjoying it more.

And this year I discovered @westknits and his Shawlography knit-a-long (#mkal2021) and decided to take a leap into the unknown.

It’s a shawl pattern that is released in sections each week. It requires you to buy yarn not knowing exactly what you are knitting.

Buoyed by the knowledge Stephen provides detailed video tutorials and that thousands of others would be knitting it too (so I had people online to ask questions) I joined in.

And I’m so glad I did! I’ve discovered German short rows, I cord bind offs, and that a really love using multiple colors, particularly when they’re super happy ones like these!

I’ve always thought I should go conservative with my colors because if I was putting in this amount of work, I wanted to be sure I could wear it with everything! But, again, inspired by Stephen’s amazing color combinations in his kits, I decided to go bolder than I ever have before and selected amazing @hedgehogfibres yarns. I’m now regretting going safe for so long.

This is the first portion (clue No.1). I’ve given it a slight steam and finger press to open up the wedges.

I 💜it!

#shawlographymkal #shawlographymkal2021 #shawlography

Some decorated gluten free cookies I made to post

Some decorated gluten free cookies I made to post to little unicorn loving friends in Melbourne, the US, and the UK 💕

This morning, my stunning @hedgehogfibres yarn fro

This morning, my stunning @hedgehogfibres yarn from @conventandchapel for my @westknits shawlography knit a long arrived!

What a bright and colorful dose of happiness to cure my Monday-itis!

Now to wait for the October 8 start!

#shawlography #shawlographymkal #mkal2021

I recently completed crocheting this cardigan for

I recently completed crocheting this cardigan for my daughter.

It’s luxuriously soft! Made from wool, silk, and alpaca yarns in a gorgeous dusky pink. I’ve made it oversized so it should fit for a couple of years.

I love it! So I’ve started making myself one in blue.

The pattern is a slightly adapted Poets cardigan by @littlegoldennook

It feels like forever since I updated here. I’ve

It feels like forever since I updated here. I’ve not had a lot of time to be creative the past 12 months. So I’m taking advantage of lockdown 5.0 in Victoria. And this is the result!

A bunch of cute sea themed mini cookies (they’re about 3.5 cm at their widest). They’re from a class kit by @miss_biscuit_

It’s a lot of work for a mouthful. But my daughter and I have really enjoyed making them!

We’ve been asked to avoid Trick or Treating this

We’ve been asked to avoid Trick or Treating this year due to Covid.

So we’re doing a socially distanced Halloween. During the week my little one and I made cute Halloween decorations for the mantle. And this afternoon we’ll carve a pumpkin, our daughter will dress up, we’ll have a treasure hunt for treats, and have a fun dinner.

Not the usual holiday, but this isn’t a usual year...

Out halloween is looking a bit different this year

It’s a cool, rainy, Spring morning. This calls

It’s a cool, rainy, Spring morning.

This calls for crêpes complète style, and coffee.

It’s been forever since I posted here. I spent 2

It’s been forever since I posted here. I spent 2.5 years creating and working at a business while we lived in the United States.
The business did well. I didn’t. My physical and emotional health took a beating. I had no time or brain space to make. It wasn’t healthy.

So we took a sabbatical, moved back to Australia, and I’ve started another adventure. I’m spending this year getting healthy and learning new crafts.

Thanks to @kawaiiboxco for sharing my Kawaii Hallo

Thanks to @kawaiiboxco for sharing my Kawaii Halloween Cupcake Toppers. The tutorial is on the blog.
Not sure what to do for Halloween this year... but one thing is for certain; it won't be scary. I hate scary things 😜

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