Carousel Completion!

You may be thinking that I've done nothing but gingerbread for the past 3 days. And, if so, you'd be right! Between baking gingerbread pieces and whipping up batch after batch of royal icing... I've started dreaming about gingerbread. I think I woke up Stephen last night with some vague dreamland type question about making gingerbread pieces...

But alas, it's all behind me now. All gingerbread for 2007 is complete! I am finally satisfied, if not downright pleased, with the Carousel and its yard area. Here's a photo of the somewhat barren surroundings.
And then here's the final version which will be driven all the way to the bank. :o) [Because that's where the display & competition is being held...]

I really like my fondant Frosty with his Necco shard "coal" eyes, dried mango nose and buttons and banana chip cap. And the Big Red Flyer sled is cool, too! I also like the way the sugar cone trees came out. I used a different icing technique on them than I've used in the past. Straight out of the Wilton Cake Decorating Yearbook from 1994. It came with the cake decorating kit I picked up at the Thrift Store for $4.50 a couple months ago.... lots of icing tips, icing bags, and how-to instructions. Pretty neat!