Mother's Day Memories!

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!!!

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!!

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!

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....

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!!

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!!

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.