ginger 2017: group 1

Behold! The first grouping of Ginger 2017 entries! I like to call this batch: Classic and Gingercational Architecture.

Cast your vote at the bottom of the post to help determine the winner of the 2017 People’s Choice Prize. (For more information on how this competition will go down, click here.) Don’t forget: commenting could win you a prize!

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Joey’s Old White Church

Sarah submitted the following information with Joey’s entry (yes, you read that right, Sarah sent Joey’s entry):

This old country church rests under a covering of soft white snow made of icing sugar, coconut, and salt. Ready for Christmas, the royal icing greenery brings us to simpler times. The pine trees and steeple are made of pastillage. The cross rising high above is royal icing. The main structure of the piece is gingerbread covered in white pastillage. The stained-glass windows are made from gelatin and painted with food coloring. The roof is gingerbread painted with black food coloring. All pieces are held together with royal icing.

Sarah has an entry below. She also sent me Richard’s entry, which you’ll be seeing tomorrow. This means that the men in Sarah’s life did not spend 2017 learning how to use the internet. I know this because Sarah sent Joey’s Ginger 2016 entry as well. Therefore, Joey’s desire to return to simpler times makes a lot of sense. I’m betting he’d like to see the return of pigeon post.

Now, let’s discuss that church! The hand-painted stained glass windows are exactly what I’d expect a religious organization to spend its considerable monies on. (Worth every penny!) Did you notice the perfect little red doors? Such a welcoming entryway. The trees look like they’d taste very good, which is important in landscaping. And look at the height! That’s daring ginger construction, people.

On reflection, maybe Joey doesn’t have time to waste on internetting. He’s too busy gingerging.

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Stephanie’s Holiday Hoedown

Stephanie writes:

I’m entering for the third year in a row. Not that I’m bitter, but I usually just have 4 votes and that’s if I can get my husband to cooperate. Therefore, I am bringing the heat this year with a creation I like to call Holiday Hoedown.

Yaaaasssss, gurl! BRING DAT HEAT!

Just look at the little piggies and sheepsies ready to hoe on down at the farm.

Trained animals of death, you say? I’m assuming hoedown is a euphemism for murder.

Friggin nightmare of a rice krispy treat silo is just full of goodies for the chickens and cows.

You’re almost cussin’, Stephanie! Go for the jugular!

Good luck to all the die-hard gingerbreaders who have baked, colored, and cussed their way into this competition. Let the games begin!

Wait… what? What happened to the bringing of the heat? You’re wishing your competitors good luck? Oh, Stephanie. Your flame burned brightly for but a moment.

Still, look at that barn! The decorative bows and wreath are a delightful touch. Now that I know a silo can be filled with treats, I’d like to have one. (I’d fill mine with Doritos.) Is it just me, or do the animals look super tasty? Maybe it’s because they are so roly-poly! I’m assuming the animals munch on the sugary fences when the frosted mini wheat bales are running low. Did y’all notice the little ducks on the pond? Yee haw! I’m confident you’ve earned your hubby’s vote this year, Stephanie.

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Sarah C’s Charles Dickens’ Victoria Station

Sarah writes:

Take a trip. Not in the modern day, but in the days of Dickens. This Victoria Station comes from those days of old. The building is gingerbread covered with pastillage. The gelatin windows have pastillage detailing. The “glass” dome is isomalt with just a touch of food coloring for the perfect shade to match the pastillage roof. The clock and “crown” railing around the dome are pastillage, as are the chimneys. Ride away on the pastillage tracks, with rock sugar “rocks” between the rails. The entry way, lights, and station sign are also pastillage. The snow is white royal icing, blanketed with a mix of coconut, icing and granulated sugar, and salt. Walk the pathways, which are made of a mix of tiny black and brown seeds. The Christmas garlands are royal icing. All paints used on this piece are edible gel paste food coloring, and all “glue” is royal icing. Close your eyes, take a trip, and enjoy the ride!

Honestly, I’m not sure how Sarah found the time to craft this entry given that she is in charge of communications for the men in her life. (I’m talking you Joey.) And yet, here we are. Look at this masterpiece! It’s a delightful representation of Victoria Station! And the best part is that it probably doesn’t smell anything like Charles Dickens’ London. Let’s get gingercational!

Picture it: London, the early 19th century. Watch your step! There’s horse poop all over the streets. Chimneys spew coal smoke. Gutters flow with raw sewage. Your friends? Pick-pockets, prostitutes, drunks, and vagabonds. Personal hygiene? Optional. Clean clothes? Why bother? The stank of body odour is overwhelming. And let’s not forget the Great Stink of 1858. In July and August of that year, the hot weather intensified the stench of untreated human waste in the River Thames. The pungent air was thought to transmit contagious diseases. You hear me? The place smelled so bad that people thought the stank was KILLING THEM.

Back to the gingerbread. Imagine pulling into this station on your candy train! You could munch on a sugar rock while waiting for your connecting ride. Look at that dome gleaming in the sun! This entry has it all: captivating colour scheme, attention to detail, technical prowess, and no maliferous stench. Please, ma’am, I want some more!

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Sharon’s Tudor House

Sharon sent the following information with her entry:

This rustic Tudor house in the countryside, adorned with its poinsettias and wreath shows of simpler times. Escape to a yuletide fire, nestled up with ones you love.

All the walls, chimneys and roofs are made of Gingerbread. The roof was then covered in pastillage and painted. All the beams on the outside of the house are gingerbread painted a deeper richer brown. The “stucco” walls were created with royal icing on the gingerbread then painted. Some of the windows have gelatin glass behind the lattice work.

The front stairs, doors, cobblestone, flowers and pots are made of pastillage then painted. The trees are made of royal icing and herbs. The grounds are green royal icing covered with parsley, rosemary and lemon balm. All paints used are edible food colorings.

I feel like most Ginger competitors think that my average reader is way smarter than they actually are. But because Ginger is gingercational, I will explain Tudor houses. Tudor houses were designed in the days of yore. They were originally constructed for educators of all sorts to live in, and are still preferred by tudors. Tudors are academic coaches tasked with giving extra help to students who have fallen behind in subjects like gym, shop and typing.

Are you looking at that house? Sweet fancy Moses! The poinsettias are killing me. LOOK AT THEM! The architectural detailing is astounding. I won’t lie to you — I want to lick those stucco walls. The grounds, my lord, the grounds! What pint-sized educator wouldn’t want to reside in this absolutely glorious abode? Thanks for schooling us in the art of ginger, Sharon!

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Barb & Family’s Jingle Bedrock

Barb sent the following information with her family’s entry:

This year’s entry is titled “Jingle Bedrock.” The buildings are made from light colored gingerbread marbleized with food coloring, textured with crumpled foil and painted with gray royal icing cement for a chalky stone look.  The rock wall is fondant-covered gingerbread that was also painted, carved and grouted. Other ingredients include, pretzels, pasta, Rice Krispy treats, edible paper, assorted candy decorations and fondant.

Barb, you need to know just how happy this entry is going to make my sister, Haddy. She’s been begging 2.0 and I to do a Flintstones themed Halloween costume for years. She says 2.0 looks… not unlike Fred Flintstone. This year she sent us this inspirational video:

It’s Yabba Dabba party time in Bedrock!!! Wilma is ready to welcome her guests, Fred and Barney are almost finished hanging the lights, and Dino is begging for some of Betty’s gingerbread cookies! Meanwhile, poor Pebbles is stuck at the top of the see-saw because Bam-Bam brings that dang club everywhere! It’s hard to see, but there’s also some stone furniture and a Christmas tree inside the house, plus a workbench with tools in the garage. Finally, our traditional Bear is overseeing the festivities while playing the role of Grand PooBear (aka Grand Poobah of the Royal Order of Water Buffalo).

Barb and her family have been competing in Ginger since 2013, and every year they freak my ginger freak. Our friends from Bedrock have been perfectly replicated in sugar form. Look at 2.0 Fred on the ladder! The trees, the walkway, the house, the walls! THE STONE WALLS! Did you notice the little star/bone lights that Fred and Barney are hanging? That’s attention to detail, pals. The footmobile in the driveway is spot on. Can you imagine how muscular Fred’s legs are? Why haven’t I ever thought of that before? The wheels were made out of stone! The Flintstones must have been fit… This entry is yabba-dabba-terrific!

Wanna hang out with Barb and her family? Of course you do! Jingle Bedrock is their 20th entry in the annual Gingerbread Wonderland at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown, NJ! Click here for info: arboretumfriends.org. They also have an online scrapbook on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/bramabile/my-gingerbread-scrapbook.

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Cast your vote below! The (one) overall winner of online Ginger polling will win the 2017 People’s Choice Prize! And don’t forget to leave a comment – you could win a prize too!

Repeat voters are blocked by cookie and IP address.
Polls close at about 12 pm AST, Tuesday, December 19, 2017.

Group 2 entries will be posted on Tuesday, December 19.
Group 3 entries will be posted on Wednesday, December 20.