Crafty Lady

First needle- felting efforts!

2010-08-31T06:48:00.001-07:00

These are my first attempts at needle felting - I know the dog looks a bit dodgy -good thing that the photo is blurred!! I was quite pleased with a couple of the flowers but think that I need a lot more practice . I'm enjoying it though and will keep on having a go...
Tell me what you think of them - your little bear, Boris , was so good for a first go. I could do with a tutorial from you- put one on YouTube for me- ha ha !!

First needle- felting efforts!

2010-08-31T06:48:00.000-07:00

Pistachio Macaroons

2010-08-31T06:42:00.001-07:00

These are the macaroons that I made from Nigella's Domestic Goddess book using pistachios instead of ground almonds- the texture was good but think that they could have had more flavour - perhaps next time I would make a different flavour filling instead of pistachio-coffee or vanilla might be good. They look pretty on your Gran's old "summertime" plate- don't they...

Raymond Blanc's blackberry crumble

2010-08-31T06:26:00.000-07:00

We spent a few happy hours collecting blackberries from our local fields and hedgerows this week - something very satisfying about picking blackberries - must be some sort of foraging instinct and it is good to have "free food"!!! I made a delicious blackberry and apple crumble using a Raymond Blanc recipe which is in the October issue of BBC Good Food Magazine.. here it is -as requested- and the topping is not at all soggy and the texture is much lighter than on a traditionally cooked crumble. Let me know if you like it?

crumble topping

120g plain flour

60g caster sugar

60g unsalted butter

Fruit Compote

300g Braeburn Apples cut into 2cm dice

30g unsalted butter

30g demerara ugar

115g blackberries

pinch cinnamon-

Heat oven to 190c fan/gas 5

Rub butter into flour and sugar until breadcrumb texture.Sprinkle mixture onto baking sheet and bake for 15mins until lightly coloured.

For compote- peel,core and dice apples. Put butter and sugar into medium saucepan and melt over medium heat. Cook for 3 mins then add apples and cook for further 3 mins. Add blackberries and cinnamon and cook for 3 mins then leave covered for 2/3 mins to continue cooking in warmth of pan.

Spoon warm fruit into ovenproof dish and top with crumble mix then reheat in the oven for 5/10 mins. Serve with ice cream or custard- ENJOY!!!!

My latest cake creations!

2010-08-09T04:33:00.000-07:00

Had fun making the Pirate cake and Bob the Builder and was pleased with the bride and groom on the wedding cake.

Home Grown Salad!!

2010-08-09T04:26:00.001-07:00

Colin was very proud that everything on this tasty looking salad came from his allotment and was picked just minutes before being on the plate!! The only thing missing were the tomatoes but hopefully they will be ready to crop this week- yum yum! We have so many courgettes this year and keep looking for fresh recipes- also the runner beans are amazing and the cucumbers seem to appear overnight ready to eat!!

Union Flag Cushions!

2010-08-09T04:19:00.000-07:00

These are the cushions that I made for Adam and Cath - they were very pleased with them. They are similar to some that I saw in a designer homeware shop in Notting Hill in London.

For our English Rose!

2010-06-08T14:07:00.001-07:00

I thought that you would like to see our garden in June especially as when you were here in January it was covered in snow !

Our beautiful climbing rose which is a David Austin rose called "Gertrude Jekyll"
is in full bloom and the best it has ever been. Do you recognise your cookery basket from about 18 years ago which I unearthed from the loft recently- it looks much better filled with flowers, doesn't it!

The goldfinch are still using the bird feeder and now I keep finding thistle seedlings
underneath it... and the pansies are the ones that I planted just before you arrived last November so the garden would have a bit of colour but we had the snow instead which was much more fun... and so far the slugs and snails haven't done too much damage to our hostas...

I made them myself!!

2010-06-01T02:33:00.001-07:00

I bought these fabrics from one of the many wonderful fabric shops in the Montemartre district of Paris ...

The skirt was made from NewLook pattern 6565 and the dress from NewLook pattern 6778 ...

the dress was quite difficult to get a good fit around the neckline but the skirt was really easy and I might make another one ... Stella McCartney should be really worried!!!!!

The Magic of the English Lake District

2010-05-31T11:22:00.000-07:00

Delicate wild violets...

pretty waterfalls...

The facade of Lowther castle ...

Little Salkeld Mill which is still a working flour mill - we always stock up on flour for bread making...it has a brilliant cafe serving home made organic lunches and delicious cake...

We had a wonderful week in the English Lake District and I always feel as though it is my spiritual home. My grandmother was born in Penrith and she always talked about it with much affection. The picture above is of my very favourite lake- Ullswater ...

there are always plenty of sheep..

and dry stone walls typify the beautiful scenery..

the loneliness of the fells especially Fusedale...

the tranquil Lake Derwentwater ...

Birthday fairy cake for Mabel !

2010-05-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

Made this cake for my grandaughter's 4th Birthday tomorrow- hope that she likes it...

memories of Paris!

2010-05-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

Enjoyed the busy Montmartre district...

and just had to see "Mona Lisa"at the Louvre and battle with the
crowds to get a photo...

drooled over the beautiful pastries in the Boulangeries!

srolled over the River Seine...

sometimes it is possible to escape the hustle and bustle...

enjoyed the atmosphere at the pavement cafes...

and the romance of the Sacre Coeur

Loved the majestic Notre Dame

and the pavement artists in Montmartre...

and had to go right to the top of the Eiffel Tower with the thousands of tourists...

Had a wonderful four day break in Paris and found it really beautiful and interesting ... we travelled on the metro , spent hours marvelling at the works of Art in the Louvre and Musee D'Orsay, enjoyed delicious meals at cosy French bistros, strolled along the banks of the Seine,
loved the French wine, pastries and baguettes,
Hope to return again some day...

Beautiful English manor house on the Brockhampton Estate...

2009-10-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

On a warm and sunny October day I visited Brockhampton Estate in Herefordshire and was amazed at the beautiful and romantic timber framed manor house which dates back to the late 14th century. It was picture perfect and still had roses rambling round the door in full bloom... It is surrounded by a lovely cottage garden and a large damson orchard and to walk amongst it all was like being transported back in time to a more tranquil era...

September sunshine...

2009-09-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

A few late blackberries- I have picked about 5 kg from the hedgerows this year

brightly coloured Hawthorn berries

a corn field after the harvest...

Enjoyed a lovely walk in late afternoon sunshine across my local fields - a little oasis amongst an urban sprawl... It has been an "Indian Summer" for the last week and long may it last...

Damsons in Distress!!

2009-09-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

I managed to buy some damsons from a farmers market this weekend - they are never for sale in supermarkets- and made a batch of delicious damson jam. They are my all time favourite fruit for jam as I love the sharp intense flavour and it is very easy to make as damsons are full of pectin so the jam always sets well. As you can see from the article below the fruit is on the decline which is very sad . Originally, damsons came from the area around Damascus, hence the name, and damson skins have been used for the manufacture of purple dye from Roman times.

Damsons in distress - HELP!! Save our Damson orchards...
By Telegraph ViewPublished: 7:44PM BST 14 Aug 2009
Fruit growers are reporting a good year for damsons, because of the cold winter and mild spring. However, there are fewer buyers than ever and many orchards are dying out. ? The damson is just the latest traditional English fruit to suffer from the decline in orchards and change in tastes towards more exotic fruits.
Stuart Ward, the last wholesaler of English damsons in the country, said that when he started in the trade 30 years ago more than 500 tonnes were sold every year but it is now less than 100.
This year the market is particularly dire because struggling drinks company Innocent have cancelled a massive order, jam-makers are importing plums from abroad because of consistency of supply and rising labour costs make it difficult for smaller growers to make a profit.
Mr Ward explained that damson trees only bear fruit for 30 years and many growers are simply not bothering to re-plant.
“Damsons will die out in a few years because no one is replanting the trees,” he said. “The picking costs do not make is worthwhile commercially for the value of the crops and people do not demand the fruit anymore – they do not realise how nice damsons are.” Most of the damson orchards left in England are in Kent, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. The Westmorland Damson Association in Cumbria,

Southwold- a British seaside gem!!

2009-09-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

my granddaughter just off to build a castle...

and didn't she do well!!

Have just returned from a fabulous holiday in Southwold - a traditional seaside resort in Suffolk that is famous for it's brightly coloured beach huts- and we had a wonderful time with the family... it was a real bucket and spade, ice creams, picnic on the beach, type of holiday and the weather was just perfect - warm and sunny everyday. We paddled in the sea, made sandcastles, got sand in the sandwiches and had a really great time. Southwold has a short pier that was only built in 2001 and has stylish shops and restaurants along it- we had a fish and chips lunch there in a cafe that overlooked the sea and the shore.

There is an interesting harbour there with loads of shacks that sell freshly caught fish, crabs, crayfish etc and a ferry that will row you over to the pretty village of Walberswick. The present ferryman is a young woman and she is the fifth generation to run the ferry.

The ferry that rows you over to Walberswick...

Walberswick village.

Lepidoptera - A butterfly Ball!

2009-08-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

The really beautiful Red Admiral butterfly....

A Painted Lady Butterfly... have seen lots of these this summer...

Not sure what this one is? ....

The Peacock hiding in the nasturtium leaves...

The garden is just full of beautiful butterflies this summer so have spent hours trying to photograph them - very difficult as they don't stay still for long enough . Our Buddleia bush has just been covered with them whenever the sun is out...I have been trying to identify them from an old "Observer's Book of butterflies" from 1966 !

Wild Northumberland

2009-07-29T03:42:00.000-07:00

The ancient remains of Dunstanburgh castle...

Hadrians Wall and Housesteads with it's ancient Roman fort is impressive and the Roman soldiers (looking good for their age!!!) complete the scene.

Have just returned from a good holiday in the wilds of Northumberland which is in the north east of England. It is one of Britains hidden gems as there seem to be few tourists even though the countryside and coastal areas are stunning. The beaches are wide swathes of clean golden sand often with a backdrop of sand dunes and Embleton bay and Bamburgh both have ancient castles overlooking the sea.

The historic town of Alnwick ,which has one of the largest second hand bookshops in the U.K. housed in the old station building- Barter Books- is interesting to visit as is the pretty town of Warkworth which has an impressive castle and good places to eat. I sound like a travel guide!! But it is a lovely place to visit and locals are friendly and welcoming!!!

Lavender cup cakes!!

2009-07-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

These delicately flavoured and unusual cup cakes are really yummy and lovely to make in the summer when the lavender is in flower. I used the recipe from Nigella Lawson's "how to be a domestic goddess" book and it is the usual standard cup cake recipe with some lavender milk added to the mixture. This is made by infusing 6 to 8 sprigs of lavender in 125ml of hot milk and leaving for 20 minutes , then straining the milk and leaving it for a further 10 minutes before adding about 2 tablespoons to the cupcake mix. The icing is made by adding some lavender milk to the icing sugar. Enjoy a flowery scented treat!!

Happy first birthday...

2009-07-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

I made this sponge cake for my youngest grandaughter's first birthday ...her favourite toy is a duck glove puppet so thought she would like a cute little duck to feature on her birthday cake...

Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire used for filming "The Duchess"

2009-07-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

Had a fabulous day out at this amazing country house in Derby, U.K.- It was built in 1759 for the Curzon family and features some magnificent interiors designed by Robert Adam which definitely have the wow factor. The house has beautiful landscaped grounds with a series of lakes and cascades. It was recently used to film "The Duchess" starring Keira Knightly and has an exhibition showing how the interiors were transformed and cared for during the filming... I am looking forward to seeing the film when it is released in the U.K. in September..

Bright summery Bag!

2009-07-02T03:29:00.000-07:00

I have just finished making this bag for my sister to cheer her up as she has been ill for quite a long time- am pleased with the bright summery colours from the lovely fabrics that I got from Etsy... It took me a while to find a good pattern but eventually found one on this blog

http://vintagericrac.blogspot.com/2008/01/1-hour-bag-tutorial.html and it is very easy to make and a really good tutorial... good blog as well!

Best Lemon pudding ever!

2009-06-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

This pudding is just divine and the recipe is in the BBC Good Food magazine which I subscribe to monthly.. I served it cold for a change with summer fruits - strawberries and blueberries -and it was gobbled down in minutes with everyone wanting seconds !!

The recipe is

50g butter

200g caster sugar

2 large lemons

3 large eggs

50g plain flour

300ml milk

butter an ovenproof dish and heat oven to 180c/160c fan . Weigh sugar and butter into a bowl .Finely grate lemons and then squeeze out the juice- you will need 100ml. Separate the eggs putting the egg whites in a dry clean bowl. Whizz the butter,sugar and lemon zest in a food processor until creamy, add the juice , whizz again and tip in yolks,flour and milk to form a smooth batter.

Whisk the egg whites with an electric whisk until firm but not too stiff and pour in the lemon batter and fold two together carefully so as not to knock the air out of the egg whites.

Pour the mix into buttered dish and set in a roasting tin adding a kettle of hot water to the roasting tin making a 'bain marie'. Bake for 35 minutes until the top is golden brown with a lovely lemony sauce beneath and ... Voila! Enjoy! Lovely dusted with icing sugar and served warm or cold with berries and ice cream - yum yum !!

beautiful birthday gifts...

2009-06-29T14:27:00.001-07:00

It was my birthday today and I received a parcel from Australia from my lovely daughter who had made me this fabulous hand made bag

and matching purse - I am so in love with it- it is really beautifully made and the fabrics coordinate so well

this lovely little book was enclosed called "The Miggy Tree" by Karl Yeomans with wonderful illustrations by Anna Walker. The story is really heart warming and was dedicated to the author's mother - sadly he died in 2006 aged just 33 years. These are such precious gifts - thank you so much Becky.

I spent the day at a barbecue in my friends garden and had a really good time eating and drinking far too much and enjoying the perfect weather today, which ended in a huge thunderstorm ... then watched Andy Murray winning a tennis match at Wimbledon so I had a day to remember...

11 things to LOVE and HATE!!!!

2009-06-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

1. I love pink blossom seen against a blue sky-

2.The smell of fresh bread first thing in the morning- courtesy of our breadmaking machine..

3.English tea shops and the coffee shops in Melbourne, Australia

4.Soppy films that make me cry

5.Brand new shoes ( what woman doesn't !)

6.Australian soft licquorice- it's addictive!

7.my dishwasher- best invention ever

8.the blackbird who sings his heart out at the top of our birch tree in the evening

9.receiving a handwritten letter delivered by the postman ( hardly ever happens now with emails)

10.cliff top walks with the sound of the sea crashing on the beach

11.finding a book in the public library that I was just going to buy on Amazon....

I could go on an on but these are the things that I HATE - it's good to have a grump!!

1.coat hangers- especially when they get tangled up in each other- drives me mad

2.people who don't clear up their own dog's mess- this is a real rant!!

3.sorting out the laundry and always finding an odd sock- seems to be some sort of law!!

4.waiting at the bus stop to find my bus is not running

5.Halfords, Maplins and any sort of "blokey" techy shops

6.public toilets - especially when there isn't any loo paper or soap!!

7.slugs, snails, daddy long legs, mozzies etc etc...

8.any sort of milky pudding like rice pudding-yuck!!

9.drivers who don't signal left or right

10.people talking on their mobiles at supermarket checkouts or at the restaurant table- so rude!

11. Buying something full price to find it in the sales the next week.

Phew- feel better now- I could go on an on but what are yours- go on - let me know...

Baby Badger...

2009-06-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

I made this baby badger in his little racing suit as the official mascot for a brilliant website created by my nephew for all Formula 1 fans. The web address is www. f1badger.com and it is a very entertaining and light hearted site - "Formula 1 is not boring!". So for all the many motor racing fans out there ,it is definitely worth a visit as it is the best and most informative and most importantly the funniest formula 1 website in the world .... but I am biased being number 1 Auntie... check it out and see!!

little pony cake!

2009-06-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

I made this cake today for a little 5 year old girl who is crazy about ponies! I thought it would be impossible to do at first - a pony shaped cake? but I think that this gives quite a good effect and hope that she will like it...

HOT HOT HOT in the U.K.!!

2009-05-31T10:07:00.000-07:00

We are having a mini heatwave in the U.K at the moment so are making the most of it while it lasts. These gardens at Biddulph Grange in Staffordshire were looking their best on Thursday..
The Chinese garden is based on the famous "willow pattern plate "story and was really pretty ... just wanted a couple of lovers running across the bridge!! The little house is just like a gingerbread house and the azaleas and rhodedendrons were amazing - so much brilliant colour..

Crazy patchwork!

2009-05-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

Had a go at this crazy patchwork to use up a mountain of scraps that have built up over the years- got the idea from the "Sew Hip" magazine. It is so easy to do and I think it looks quite folksy and random and it is quite addictive once you get started...

Baddesley Clinton in Warwickshire,UK

2009-05-22T07:49:00.000-07:00

Love seeing blue sky through pink blossom- one of my favourite things!

picture perfect kitchen garden !

Spent a lovely day exploring this beautiful Elizabeth manor house complete with moat which has been in the same family for 12 generations before being given to the National Trust. The gardens were really beautiful and I loved the kitchen garden- wish it was mine!!

April Bag!

2009-05-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

Made this drawstring bag from the Sew Mama Sew blog with Elizabeth's tutorial and am pleased with how good the tutorial was with good clear instructions and photographs and how nice the bag is..http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?m=200904 I would recommend the pattern as it is quite easy to make even for a duffer like me!!

Snowshill Manor in the Cotswolds...

2009-05-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

Snowshill Manor is built of soft golden cotswold stone and dates from 1500 and was once owned by Katherine Parr -one of the wives of Henry the eighth.

a strongly scented bank of wild garlic...

she looks sheepish!

This is Snowshill Manor in the Cotswolds, U.K. and a National Trust property - it is a beautiful old manor house which was once owned by Charles Paget Wade (1883-1956) purely to house his enormous collection of artefacts which he had been collecting for most of his life... he loved anything handmade and admired all craftsmanship as he was himself an architect and artist.There are 20 rooms stuffed with all manner of "things" ... bicycles, children's toys, clocks,spinning wheels,textiles and costumes and a large collection of Samurai armour.

The surrounding gardens are a delight with borders full of cottage garden flowers and a pretty apple orchard...had a lovely day exploring it all.

Happy Mother's Day in Australia !

2009-05-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

To my beautiful daughter on your first Mother's Day with little m...do hope that you have a wonderful day and that you enjoy the Mother's Day walk... your great grandmother wrote this poem for me many many years ago and I have never forgotten it- it is very sentimental but pretty and was written by George Cooper (1838-1927) In case you can't read the writing it says...

Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky

Hundreds of shells on the shore together

Hundreds of bees in the purple clover

But only ONE mother the whole world over.

and this is a lovely photo of your great grandmother, Dorothea Amy ,taken about 1911 - I still have the silver locket that she is wearing... doesn't she look beautiful. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother!

And a happy Mother's day to all the mothers in Australia...

An English country garden!

2009-05-09T08:45:00.000-07:00

My garden is just beginning to look good as the hosta plants- my very favourite - are springing to life and the azalea is just so colourful and bright. I think that May in the U.K. is the best time of year as there is always a glimmer of hope that a good summer is on the way!!

Inspiration needed!!

2009-05-06T04:25:00.000-07:00

My latest internet purchases and I love them.... just need some inspiration - perhaps I will make a summer bag with some of this fabric or some little make up purses- who knows- will just looks at them for a while!

2009-05-05T15:13:00.000-07:00

This was made for my grandaughter's 3rd birthday as "Finding Nemo" is one of her favourite dvds and she was thrilled with it .

Fabulous flapjacks

2009-05-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

Just made a batch of flapjacks for a tasty snack with a cup of tea as having friends coming over tomorrow - the recipe in the U.K is for a biscuit- type treat and is very easy to make as the simple version contains only 4 ingredients-

100g butter

75g golden syrup

75g soft brown sugar

225g rolled oats (porridge oats)

Melt butter,syrup,sugar in a saucepan over a low heat until melted and then stir in oats and mix well. Spread onto greased baking tray- 8" x 12" and bake for approx 30 mins at 160c/gas 4/350f until golden. When cool cut into squares and ENJOY!!

Day out at Wightwick Manor...

2009-04-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

The oldest part of the manor house...

A lovely Angelica plant almost in flower...

The orchard just coming into bloom...

Fabulous Topiary...

The wisteria was beautiful and smelled divine...

Had a grand day out at Wightwick Manor which is near Wolverhampton in the U.K.- a beautiful house built around 1887 and inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and now owned by the National Trust .The rooms are full of Pre-Raphaelite paintings and William Morris wall coverings and ceramics by William De Morgan so it is really amazing ... spent ages wandering around the rooms admiring everything. The gardens surrounding the house are immaculate and there is a kitchen garden which is being renovated..

Another little birdie!

2009-04-27T14:58:00.000-07:00

Had a go at making another little bird and had a bit more success in getting the legs to stay in place this time - nothing like a bit of superglue! Found him quite difficult to photograph as it has been very dark and wet in the U.K. today!! So even this little fellow looks a bit fed up...

work in progress!

2009-04-26T15:25:00.000-07:00

I decided to make a tank top for little m ... so found a cute vintage pattern and some nice cotton yarn in a soft grey and got started... but knitting is not one of my strong points and I don't know why I put myself through all the angst as this is the third time that I have started this project - the other two attempts were full of mistakes !! but I am determined to make a good job of this and will be very proud of myself if I finish it even though it might be too small for little m by then!!!

Fabric from Patchwork!

2009-04-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

There is a really brilliant shop in Melbourne called Patchwork which is chock full of the most delicious fabrics you could ever imagine- it is very exciting to visit it- like being a child in a sweet shop and there is so much choice that it is quite difficult to choose!!I have not yet found anything to match it in the U.K. and this is what I have made with my purchases from my last trips to Australia - the colours in the table runner are so vibrant ...

and I love my apron which is 1950's housewife style..

Designs in sugar!

2009-04-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

I had fun making this cake today- it one of my best sellers as it good for any age group and is lovely and girly!! I love basing the handbags and shoes on designer labels without the hefty price tag!!

pear pincushion

2009-04-16T15:08:00.000-07:00

A fresh picked pear - looks good enough to eat - maybe!! Made from a "Heather Bailey" sewing pattern which was quite easy to do and didn't take too long to complete , just an afternoon and now I think I will make a strawberry one . Seems a shame to stick pins in it so perhaps it will be just a little sculpture thing to look nice!!

iky sticky pudding!!

2009-04-16T05:05:00.000-07:00

Had some friends for lunch yesterday and I made this Sticky Toffee pudding from the Jamie Oliver book- Jamie's Dinners- which is a cook book I would highly recommend as it is full of everyday recipes with a twist and you want to make every one!! The sticky toffee pudding was absolutely divine and the best one I have ever tasted - even though it is probably very very high in calories - it is full of cream,butter, dates, brown sugar etc mmmmm lovely!!! It has given me plenty of energy to do some crafting ...

Spring in the Park

2009-04-11T07:15:00.001-07:00

Had a lovely walk in Sutton Park last week - it is the largest urban park in Europe and is a national nature reserve so we are lucky to have it right on our doorstep. It covers 2400 acres and has 7 man made pools - all very different to each other so there is always something new to see and there is lots of wildlife on the lakes. Had a lovely warm sunny week so am making the most of it!!

2009-04-06T14:54:00.000-07:00

My family are all coming to visit for the easter weekend so I made a special cake to celebrate - it is a rich fruit cake iced with marzipan and decorated to look fresh and spring -like with a couple of odd looking chickens for fun!! had a good time making it- Happy Easter everyone!!

Easter Bunny!

2009-03-31T14:40:00.000-07:00

I have just finished making this bunny egg cosy from a "little cotton rabbits"pattern after much gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair! It looks so easy but in fact it is quite difficult to get it to look exactly like the adorable rabbit on the photo on the front of the pattern. I made him in cotton so he is easy to wash - am now making another one to hopefully get a better finish. I did enjoy making him despite the problems - there are a few rejected heads, ears etc lying round the room now!!

custard cupcakes!

2009-03-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

Made these delicious cupcakes today and wanted to share the recipe as they are really easy to make and also made with stuff that you usually have in the cupboard which is always a good idea. There is nothing worse than finding a recipe you like and then you do not have all the ingredients to hand! I found it in the BBC good food magazine and it is:

100g custard powder

200g butter

2 eggs

4 tablespoons milk

140g caster sugar

100g self raising

Heat oven to 180c/160c fan/gas 4

Beat custard powder,butter, milk and eggs together and stir in sugar, then fold in flour. Spoon into 12 muffin cases.

Bake for 20 minutes and leave to cool

Make up some glace icing with 200g icing sugar, few drops of vanilla extract and enough water to make a thickish paste. Spread on the cupcakes and then add some sprinkles and enjoy!

"Heather Bailey" magic !

2009-03-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

my mother's day gift from my daughter was this "Heather Bailey" pattern for "freshpicked pincushions" - a pear,apple tomato and two strawberries- it is so delicious and I can't wait to make them - I think great things are expected so I will have to take my time and do them properly!! I always get really impatient to get new projects finished so tend to rush them and then make mistakes.... need to calm down and take my time- can patience be learned?-it has never been one of my strong points. The pattern for the pear looks particularly gorgeous and might be too nice to stick pins in- perhaps it will just be a little sculpture or I might fill it with dried lavender...

The fabrics were included and they are really beautiful- they seem to "sing" together- don't you think? and are really vibrant colours...

little pink Birdie!!

2009-03-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

This is my third attempt to make a little bird!! And he is far from perfect so will have to keep trying ... the legs are really difficult to attach but think I will try superglue next time just to stop them from twisting...

Mother's Day Memories!

2009-03-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

To my beautiful daughter on your first Mother's day with little m - we were talking about childhood memories the other day and I remembered that I had carefully saved these cards which were handmade by you many many years ago and I thought that you would like to see them again... do you remember making them for me? They were very special to me which is why I have kept them. You were very creative and artistic when you were a small child and also very loving ...

I am so proud and happy that you are being such a wonderful mother to little m and you inspire and amaze me with whatever you do- love you very much xx

First warm Day!!!

2009-03-17T06:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the most perfect spring day and the temperature rose to a unbelievable 17degrees so spent an afternoon pottering in the garden and admiring my favourite plant - the Lenten Rose- which has just come into flower....

My Pieris is fantastic at this time of the year and is just a mass of creamy white blossom- no wonder it is called the" lily of the valley" plant! It is in bloom quite early this year and is a joy to look at...

And my bucket of hyacinths are in full bloom and smell divine - it is good for the soul to spend time in the garden with time to think ..and watch my favourite bird- the blackbird - collecting nesting material - hope they succeed this year as they usually get chased away from their patch by the bossy magpies!!

Easter Dollies!!

2009-03-15T04:17:00.000-07:00

I had fun making these two - and they will be easter gifts for two special little girls! Think that I will make a little chicken to put in the pocket of the bigger doll .... and now it's on to the next project and I have a long list ...

Vintage greetings cards!

2009-03-10T03:40:00.000-07:00

This weekend my sister and I were looking through a memory box that belonged to our late parents and discovered this really cute greetings card from the 1950's possibly early 1960's ? It looks so kitsch with the poodle holding a basket and the random birdcage and umbrella- what's all that about? The birdcage is made of a silky fabric and padded and inside the card is another picture of a poodle holding somes roses- I really love it!! I seem to remember that poodles were really fashionable in the 50;s in designs and ofcourse as pets!

Red Velvet and Tea....

2009-03-05T06:02:00.000-08:00

Here is a lovely recipe for Red Velvet Cupcakes allegedly made famous from featuring in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias!! They are totally moreish and delicious:

125g butter

165g caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

185 g self raising flour

25g cocoa powder

125ml buttermilk

2 teaspoons red food colouring

Preheat oven to 160 c. Beat butter and sugar until really light and fluffy and then add eggs and beat well. Add flour cocoa powder, buttermilk and food colouring and beat until just combined. Spoon into 12 muffin cases and bake for 18-20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack...

Cream cheese frosting :-

250g cream cheese ( philadelphia is good)

50g softened butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

80g icing sugar mix

Beat cream cheese, vanilla and butter until pale and creamy then add icing sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Spread on cupcakes with a palette knife ....

and enjoy with a nice cup of tea - preferably Assam tea and especially when drunk out of a beautiful vintage cup and saucer like this one - so pretty and lady-like... I always think tea tastes so much better when served from a china cup and even for every day it tastes good from a china mug. What better way to enjoy and hour or so ...

It is no wonder that tea ia a national institution in Britain - everything seems right with the world after a brew and it is a cure for many troubled minds - giving one time to contemplate while sipping the delicate golden nectar!!

ENJOY!!

ORANGE!!

2009-03-03T11:32:00.000-08:00

Just finished this little

"Stash and Dash" bag from an Amy Butler pattern. And have used Orange fabric for a change... not completely satisfied with it so will have to make another but perhaps in cool greens....

Spring has Sprung!!

2009-03-03T11:05:00.000-08:00

Had a lovely walk in our "local" countryside on sunday and it was good to be out in the

fresh air and have the sun on your back for a change. Good to see crocus and daffodils which are my favourite spring flowers and catkins and pussy willow all in bloom.

Pancakes!!

2009-02-25T05:22:00.001-08:00

Our family have always made a big thing of pancake day or Shrove Tuesday and yesterday was no exception. When the children were small we used to have a dinner first and then pancakes but now we just have the pancakes! They have to be served with plenty of juicy lemons and sugar- that is the law!!! I don't know why but the first one to be cooked usually breaks when transferring it to the plate and when we had a dog, she used to lurk around me hoping to be able to snaffle the duff one up which she invariably did- - she seemed to remember the routine as years went by - she was far too clever! -Last night my sister joiuned us in the feast and the three of us guzzled down 15 between us - shocking!! But they were very tasty and I always think they symbolize the start of spring which is a lovely thought!!

Grand Day Out!!

2009-02-22T11:14:00.000-08:00

Had a really good day out in the Cotswolds on Friday and the weather was quite spring like with warm sunshine and blue skies. First stop was the pretty village of Chipping Camden and a nice morning cup of tea and a scone in a very English tea shop complete with a cosy log fire. We strolled around the usual gift and antique shops before heading off to a larger village called Broadway so called because it's very wide main street was used to drive cattle through in olden times. We found a traditional "proper" pub called the "Crown and Trumpet" and enjoyed a first class lunch with a glass of real ale. After browsing round some more shops and buying some tasty looking rhubarb from a well presented fruit and veg shop we headed for Snowshill which is a completely unspoilt Cotswold village but alas without a pub or teashop!!

Scottie!

2009-02-20T10:54:00.000-08:00

Meet Scottie- a cute little character I made from a Moopy Bunny pattern - think he might need a friend....

Black Apple doll

2009-02-08T06:45:00.000-08:00

This little lady has taken me all week end to make partly because I had to make my own pattern - I am reasonably pleased with the finished result...

Streuth! It's Baltic in Brum...

2009-02-08T06:38:00.000-08:00

We had a fun time in the garden on Thursday afternoon- bit less dangerous than sledging......

Two beautiful girls...

2009-02-05T05:25:00.000-08:00

Here's looking at you, Kid !

2009-02-05T05:05:00.000-08:00

This was the highlight of our trip to Linton Zoo in Cambridge on Saturday- a pair of Tapir with their cute little baby - they were very friendly considering that generally they are very shy creatures lurking in the rainforest and only venturing out to feed after dark.

Melt in the Mouth

2009-02-04T03:05:00.000-08:00

Made these tasty little morsels - Melting moments- which will be nice with cups of tea after our usual Wednesday lunch with a couple of friends. They look pale and interesting - must remember to use custard powder instead of cornflour next time I make them to give a more golden colour to them. I love my vintage "Royal Winton "plate with its chintzy pattern called "summertime" .

Winter Wonderland!

2009-02-04T02:51:00.000-08:00

Enjoyed a walk across the fields and stopped by these woods -it all looks very pretty but the snow is making the headlines on the News- roads gridlocked- schools closed - millions having a day off work and general chaos everywhere- it is a good thing that it doesn't occur very often in the U.K........

Let it snow ,let it snow!!

2009-02-02T03:58:00.000-08:00

This is the wintery scene that I woke up to this morning .. from my bedroom window. The heaviest snowfall in the U.K. for at least 18 years. Can't wait to go tramping across the fields while it is still clean and fresh!!

Girly Day In Brum!!

2009-02-02T03:39:00.000-08:00

Bea and I had a lovely girly day in Birmingham on Thursday which included a spot of retail therapy with Bea bagging some bargain boots in Jones and I bought a couple of cosy tops. Then we had a splendid lunch in Bacchus Bar - which is part of the Burlington Hotel.

Pretty cushions!

2009-01-28T09:30:00.000-08:00

I love the bright colours and lovely fabric and they will brighten up our living room.

My First Post!!

2009-01-28T04:06:00.001-08:00

Can't believe that I am doing this- my first Blog-it's quite scary as it's like writing a diary which is something that I have never been able to master. I am hoping that this will give me loads of motivation to do some crafting along with the inspiration that I get from my beautiful daughter.

Have just finished making a cute little dress and pants for my granddaughter's Babyborn Doll- I bought a retro pattern from ebay and have adapted it so it doesn't look too Victorian!! Also making some cushions from some gorgeous Japanese fabric -