Sweet 2016, Part 4: Chocolate Cake for One

This month it's time for a little self indulgence..and who could blame a sorely tempted quilter for tucking into a treat this charming? There's a Chocolate Cake for One under the glass dome and it's adorned with a too cute strawberry and garnished with a pansy. Yes please!

This past month I've eaten more chocolate cake than I care to admit, so it's an unusually fitting month and my mouthwateringly delicious chocolate hued fabrics have me craving yet another slice!

I always knew this Cake for One would feature in the Mystery. In fact, it was the first treat I sketched and became the Mystery mascot - so if you recognize it, that's why!

Be sure to copy and create your template pieces accurately. The Mystery is beginning to grow into a visual delight and it's easy, as the months go on, to get a bit careless with accuracy. The most important thing is that your finished applique block neatly matches the pattern. 

I still haven't sorted out my background fabric. The problem is, I love all the ideas - floral, plain, light, checked, barn wood, grey. black and jet blue. Oh, and I was rather taken by a red velvet also. I've set my many possibles aside and will re-visit them when I've finished my blocks. Or when inspiration strikes - whichever comes first. I've purchased more than 8 separate fabrics for my background and none of them are 'just so' when they arrive, so I've had to put a stop to background daydreaming and stick with the blocks themselves. I'm sure the right background will speak to me when it's time..at least I hope so! Fabric selection is my downfall. I can never decide. 

Here are my stash fabrics for the cake, strawberry and pansy. I had planned on making my pansy from the pattern - putting down a larger outline and then drawing in the small inner pansy shape that is just too fiddle for turn edge. This could be easily done with Indian Ink and penwork. But then I remembered my pansy stash. When I started out in quilting, every quilter I knew had a pansy stash. Lately I haven't seen much evidence of pansy fabrics, but I know they are out there!

 Here's my own favorite. Isn't it sweet?

Of course, if you have any other flower from a fabric in your stash, now is the perfect opportunity to fussy cut and allow it to adorn your cake. It just needs a little flower and I suspect I will get to see lots of different pansies and roses when this block gets made in the Group. I can't wait.

It's a little dome this month. This dome is the smallest size that occurs in the Mystery and it's set aside for the little morsels that need to shine all on their own. Most importantly, be sure that your dome doesn't grow and is an accurate match to the pattern.

I'm still undecided on whether to fringe my domes with flourished edges or not. I can't decide, I let the sweets sway me one way or another each month. This month, I've opted for decorative detail and I just think it makes the stand look so much cuter.

 to make it really tempting, I went in with my permanent fabric pens and enhanced some colours and in lines in the fabric. These little touches can just add the finishing touch, so don't be afraid to play.

 This is where we are up to in the Mystery..

As you can see, I've opted to pin my blocks onto the paper template each month rather than a fabric. It helps me put my fabric indecision to one side and focus on the gorgeous desserts instead.

Understanding the pattern release schedule: anyone can join Sweet 2016 at any time and when they do, they will receive a new block each month from that point onward. The day they receive each new block will depend on the date they signed up and made their first payment. Everyone who starts Sweet 2016, starts at the beginning, Part 1. Specific blocks cannot be purchased out of turn. This means that the Group can be up to Part 4 whilst some members have only received Part 1, 2 or 3. Only the first BOM starters - those members who signed up before and during the launch are up to Part 4.

Whenever you choose to start this BOM, be sure to keep us updated on your progress by sharing your work over in our Sweet 2016 BOM Facebook Group, see you there!

'Sweet 2016' is my current Mystery Applique BOM

It's just $3.95 per month

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And don't forget to join my Sweet 2016 BOM Group over on Facebook too!