Fantasweets Cooking Parties

About Fantasweets Cooking Parties

Fantasweets is the creative idea of myself (Gill Talbot) and my partner (Tony Head). We both work full time during the week at the moment. Weekends are our favorite time as then we do what we most enjoy - cook! We live in Dalston and both my oldest children attend the local schools (St Michaels and Caldew). In fact, I think they are more well known than we are! We have recently had a new addition to the family, so please make allowances if i ask you if i can ring back or even worse, drop the phone before i've answered your call!

I am currently Secretary to the St Michaels School After School club, a Community After School club. I have been Secretary for nearly 3 years. In my role as Secretary and to confirm my suitability for this role I have been CRB checked. At the club we hold 2 or 3 fund raisers a year - the club is a registered charity and we rely on these events to raise funds for new toys, equipment, etc.

We both attend Wedding Fayres and exhibitions/fund raisers (child care allowing!) but when we haven't been able to arrange a babysitter you are more likely to meet me than Tony! I do the party entertainment for the children so if you book a party you will definately meet me! If Tony is unable to come with me to a community event or wedding fayre then I usually drag my friend Pam along! Whilst not formally connected to the business, she is very knowledgeable about the business and I always run all our ideas past her!

Christmas 2007 we held the "St Nicholas Night Christmas Fayre" which was when I really got to showcase my talents! I understand that I am now known as the "Chocolate Lady" in the village! I had my chocolate fountain going with a lovely selection of dipping items, some tasty cakes for the children to eat, an even larger display of sweets, all gift wrapped, and some lovely little trinket boxes, which the children could fill with the sweets of their choice.

We enjoy going to community events either to raise awareness for children cooking or to help in fund raising events. If you're holding a community fund raising event, invite us. Please see my Events and Fundraising page for an idea of how we will help to increase your fundraising! We always make sure we have a large display of pretty cupcakes all temptingly displayed in the best possible way!

I believe all children should be cooking - healthy is good but enjoyment and having fun is even better! - which is why I have dedicated a page to cooking equipment for young hands, these can be found on the Gift Ideas page. Feel free to have a look!

Some of my Favorite Moments with Fantasweets!

on 26th April 2009 there will be the Live The Dream wedding fayre at the Carlisle Racecourse. Feel free to pop along and have a nosy at all my gorgeous new accessories for Cupcake towers (like the beautiful cupcake cuddlers or the very elegant cupcake wraps!) and maybe try a cake or 2??! As always, I can promise a large and tempting display of pretty cupcakes!

Last weekend was the Ladore Wedding Fayre - what a gorgeous hotel and setting for a wedding (very POSH!).

The Debenhams Wedding Fayre was held this weekend - this is our stall with a customer or 200! somehow the idea of free samples appealed to many prospective grooms out there, as did my chocolate biscuit cake!

I think for the first time I realised just how rewarding this business is! These are photos of the cupcakes my 12 year old has made all by himself for Joan and Susie at the Afterschool Club as a christmas present - aren't they fantastic? sure the piping still needs a little bit of work (which is only practice after all!) but they are very bright and imaginative designs which have been excellently carried out!

Things are getting busier - which is brilliant! - but i'm finding it harder and harder to find the time to update my diary for you all! Last week there was lots of cooking and decorating with a wedding for Pam & Kevin and the Think Pink Friday for Carillion!

Well its official! The Afterschool Club in Dalston will be holding another Christmas shopping bonanza- which is another chance for "The Chocolate Lady" to flex her muscles! I believe the date is Thurs 3rd December 2008 - but watch this space for more details!

It was my daughter's birthday this weekend so I thought I'd find out exactly what people put themselves through when they organise a party at an outside venue!! How Stressful??!! The only good thing was her birthday cupcake tower and cake - which I had made and taken with me! Overpriced, not enough food for the tea party - the list is endless! very very disappointing! But her tower and cake are pretty fantastic - have a look!!

Well what a weekend! have just finished the Gretna Wedding Fayre and am sitting here with a lovely glass of el red vino and reflecting on all the lovely people I met today. I really hope I meet some of you again - in a professional capacity of course!! thank you to Mrs Annonymous for your text, encouraging comments are ALWAYS welcomed!

Sunday 26 August 2008: I've been invited to attend the Wedding Fayre being held at the Blacksmith Hall in Gretna on 14th September. I've been asked to take my chocolate fountain along and also to show some of the cakes i can make with the children attending these functions. I think i might even manage a Cupcake Tower or 2!!! should be lots of fun and i look forward to meeting some of you there.

Friday 22nd August 2008 - what a fantastic week!! Thank you to Jan for the comments you sent via the feedback form. I really do appreciate these xx. I've just seen the photo the Cumbrian News used in the end - thats really quite tame, I don't look too scarey at all! and I've found a way to upload Robbie D's comments - so feel free to play them!

Wednesday 20th August 2008 at about 8.10am, driving calmly along Rockcliffe Road and hearing Robbie D talk for 3 minutes about Fantasweets and me! Talk about excited! Huge thanks Robbie - I'll make you a cake for that!

Tuesday 19th August 2008 at 6.30pm (or thereabouts!) being photographed by the Cumbrian News for that week's edition - holding a rolling pin covered in flour like a sword and my wooden spoon above my head, "on guard Mr Photographer"!! I'm sure, if that's the picture they publish, most of you are going to be very very scared of me and not in the least bit interested in booking a party!! However in my defence, it was very good fun although very silly!!

Thursday 14th August 2008 talking to Nikki from Kids Cooking Co. A very inspirational lady with a terrific product (hence my gift page!). Many thanks Nikki for all your advice and ideas, they're working!!

Sunday 22nd June 2008 receiving my very first professional party booking! On my way to Newcastle to buy baby bits for our new arrival, juggling bags and junk whilst trying to take details from Ruth in a very professional manner! I hope she didn't think I was too mad!