Secret loves

O.k I am going to admit something .....I have a secret love... of cake stands, I feel the need to have as many as I can in various shapes and sizes and its a long standing addiction that I have managed to keep under control (hence the secret bit) since I was a child and first had afternoon tea in a cafe with my father (Serendipity in Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland- I think in about 1990ish)  it was bought to our table on a pretty cake stand and as I marvelled at how pretty and elegant it was and how special it made me feel I decided that when I was grown up I would have as many of those gorgeous stands filled with an array of treats as I could possibly get. I love the pretty ones, the shabby chic ones, the ever so slightly chintzy ones, Tiered ones, flat ones, pre loved ones, I love vintage bit and bobs ,any make, expensive, cheep I'm not fussy and most of all I love them if they don't match anything.

While trailing around antiec shops, second hand stores, kitchen shops, car boot sales I fight the urge to buy them.
I was given one in 1998 by Grandma everyone laughed at giving such an old fashioned present to someone who was only 20 years old but I loved it and still have it, but it remained my only one for years as no one understood why a cake stand was necessary let alone several of the things and then last summer for my birthday my boyfriends mother bought me one it was such an unexpected present and so gratefully received that something changed... and slowly I bought myself a simple two tiered stand that I found in a Robert Dyas sale, a few weeks later I found another one and then another. This seemed to quench my thirst at first and then I found myself searching the internet for more (I've just today won a 1930's cake plate with a silver handle on eBay) I needed more in different sizes! then while trying sedate my longing for more (and reading my emails/checking facebook) I looked at Bombayduck.com and saw the wondrous treats that they stock and it led me to a blog by Torie Jane who not only shares my love of all things pretty etc. but has an array of pretty bits and bobs and where to buy them! and a picture tutorial on how to make your own cake stands!!

The revelation that I am not alone was to much and I felt the need to share it with you so I hope there is a link with this post.

In order to make use of these cake stands it means I need to make cakes which as you can see from the photos on this blog I do quite often. Today is no different I am attempting for the first time to make Banoffee cupcakes (I personally hate bananas but I am not the only one who eats cake in this house so felt the sacrifice to make a cake I wouldn't eat myself was justified) I will get back to you with how I get on. If they are good they (and several other flavoured cupcakes) will be donated to my youngest sons school bake sale on Friday this week.