Countdown to Christmas 21

Countdown to Christmas 21 - Throw a Cake!

On the second Saturday in January, Manitou Springs in Colorado, USA, hosts the Great Fruitcake Toss. This competition is based on the idea that fruitcakes are very dense, weighty hard cakes - unwanted Christmas gifts which can be readily sacrificed and in fact, thrown away. By that date, I know that our Christmas cakes would definitely be consumed so I am not sure if it is a sporting event our family could qualify for. However, Manitou Springs, a small town of approximately 5000 people, has organised the tournament since 1995. During the competition, fruitcakes are thrown, hurled, catapulted and cannoned into the air using a range of inventive devices.

The high-powered equipment used in recent years has sent fruitcakes souring to distances "beyond measurement." Lewis said in 2013, one official distance was recorded as "destination unknown." The record hand toss with a 2 lb cake (1 kg cake ) is 415 feet (126.5 metres ), also set in 2013.
From http://gazette.com/

Those braving this event would be wise to remember to look up occasionally – a frozen fruitcake in the face is a formidable force when fired from an exercise-bike-powered cannon or a catapault.

The rule is that each participant must provide his/her own fruitcake which is inspected by the “Fruitcake Toss Tech Inspectors” to ensure that no inedible substances are included in the cake. This is done to protect the competitors and the audience in case anyone gets hit in the head with a flying fruitcake. https://www.daysoftheyear.com I
f any participants do not have at their disposal their own fruit cakes, it is quite acceptable to rent a fruitcake from the organising committee!

Other competitions in the Fruit Cake Toss tournament include :

- Catch the Fruitcake which is played in groups of three team members who are required to catch 1lb /500 g fruitcakes tossed by their own devices. . The team that catches the most fruitcakes wins.

- Accuracy with Targets is another great way to take part in the competition but not get as messy. Targets are placed out in the park at distances of 75 feet, 125 feet and 175 feet at varying angles. The goal is for each team to land in or as close to as many targets as possible.

And if you happen not to be the sporty type, there is also a fruit cake bake off connected with the Fruitcake Toss, and your cake should be safe if you bake well!

Tomorrow, let's sing the praises of Christmas cake!

Too Precious to Waste

Stitched tea bags/ old doily "tea lights" - Wilma Simmons More than a year ago, a decision was made. The annual exhibition of NCEATA ( Newcastle Creative Embroiderers and Textile Artists) 2015-2016 will have the theme "Mottainai". Mottainai in Japanese refers to more than just physical waste (resources). It is even used to refer to thought patterns that give rise to wasteful action. Grammatically, it can be used in Japanese as an exclamation ("mottainai!") or as an adjective phrase ("it feels mottainai"). There is no plural form. The collection of mottainai things could be called mottainai koto ( もったいない事 ? ). As an exclamation ("mottainai!") it means roughly "what a waste!" or "Don't waste." [2] A simple English equivalent is the saying "waste not, want not." A more elaborate meaning conveys a sense of value and worthiness and may be translated as "do not destroy (or lay waste to) that

Fish and Sticks : Art Dolls

This week I've been working on fish and sticks .... The sticks are the message stick art dolls which were very popular, attracting some attention and a few orders at the Wise Women exhibition. Each of the message stick dolls are from the Wise Women series, each with her own personality and message of wisdom, handwritten on a handmade timber tag. I gather the sticks during my walks around my neighbourhood and the tags are made from special bits of timber, some collected by me or my husband or from off cuts gifted to us from another doll making friend whose husband makes bagpipes. These dolls start off very simply with a wrap around a stick, in the general shape of a body. 'Naked" message stick dolls - strips of wadding wrapped around found sticks. Then I usually wrap other layers of fabric, wool, and/or fibres, over which I do some simple embroidery. I sculpt or mould small face masks for these dolls. I really like using "sari ribbon" as wrapping str

Wednesday's Child /2

Work in Progress - 3 of the 193 for "Stitched Up"- Wilma Simmons The work for the "Stitched Up " Project continues. See the previous "Wednesday Child" post for the background to this art project celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Newcastle Industrial School. I have been documenting the progress of my work, so I thought it might be interesting to share some of the early stages of the "stick dolls" ... Here are some of the beginning steps.. Sticks collected while walking the bushland in my neighbourhood Drying and getting rid of any insects - oven heat 75 degreesC for approx 1-2 hours. Trimmed and cut if necessary Ends sealed with matte sealing solution. Drying - solution goes on white but dries clear. First wrapping - foil to create a body shape Second wrapping - stretch fabric. Third wrapping - fabric strips Some stitching - more stitching and embellishment to come. Follow thi

Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

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