Made for my neighbour's little girls 1st birthday.
42 squares of delicious Cath kidston-esque colours.
Scrummy!!
42 squares of delicious Cath kidston-esque colours.
Scrummy!!
Tuesday 18 December 2012
☃ The lead up to Christmas ✰
How has December flown by so quickly? This month has been very busy indeed!
Early snowfall for my 40th birthday birthday...Spent with my nearest and dearest.
.jpg)
A visit to Santa's grotto...
A completed blanket for me and hubby, very welcome in this cold snap!
Celebrating with dear friends ♥
A Kitchen dining table and chairs makeover from dull wood to vintage duck egg blue~I'm SO pleased with the result, should have done it sooner!
Before...
After! Ta Dah!!
Cute Christmas pud cake pops for little boys party bags, not bad for first attempt at these!
Daughter made this at school, he NEEDED a hat and scarf!
Working on this scarf for Sadie.
All presents bought (mainly online) ~ thank god for Internet~ I hate trudging round shops. Big food shop ordered, all pressies wrapped, house blitzed (which will need doing again) in between keeping the family happy with constant supply of mince pies and sticky buns...
1 week to go.... Sadie is very excited, we will be making our biscuits to hang on the tree at the end of the week, I LOVE this so much! I'm making the most of little ones excitement, so precious when they believe in Father Christmas, it just won't be the same when she grows up....
I am quite happy listening to my Kings choir carols CD, and enjoying a nice glass of wine or port, and a viewing of A Christmas carol and some Capra, at some point. Can't wait to see the Snowman and Snowdog. Raymond Brigg's animations are Christmas itself :)
Plans are afoot for a new venture for me in 2013.
I for one after cooking all the dinner for family will not be relegated to the stool or pouffe at the dinner table!! Humbug to to all the sexist ads on the box at present!
Hope you are all surviving the mad rush....
Merry Christmas, Love and peace to all. xx
Early snowfall for my 40th birthday birthday...Spent with my nearest and dearest.
.jpg)
A visit to Santa's grotto...
A completed blanket for me and hubby, very welcome in this cold snap!
Celebrating with dear friends ♥
A Kitchen dining table and chairs makeover from dull wood to vintage duck egg blue~I'm SO pleased with the result, should have done it sooner!
Before...
After! Ta Dah!!
Cute Christmas pud cake pops for little boys party bags, not bad for first attempt at these!
Daughter made this at school, he NEEDED a hat and scarf!
Working on this scarf for Sadie.
All presents bought (mainly online) ~ thank god for Internet~ I hate trudging round shops. Big food shop ordered, all pressies wrapped, house blitzed (which will need doing again) in between keeping the family happy with constant supply of mince pies and sticky buns...
1 week to go.... Sadie is very excited, we will be making our biscuits to hang on the tree at the end of the week, I LOVE this so much! I'm making the most of little ones excitement, so precious when they believe in Father Christmas, it just won't be the same when she grows up....
I am quite happy listening to my Kings choir carols CD, and enjoying a nice glass of wine or port, and a viewing of A Christmas carol and some Capra, at some point. Can't wait to see the Snowman and Snowdog. Raymond Brigg's animations are Christmas itself :)
Plans are afoot for a new venture for me in 2013.
I for one after cooking all the dinner for family will not be relegated to the stool or pouffe at the dinner table!! Humbug to to all the sexist ads on the box at present!
Hope you are all surviving the mad rush....
Merry Christmas, Love and peace to all. xx
Monday 3 December 2012
Cinnamon buns
The minute I saw these, I could almost smell them and wanted to make them!
Thanks to Cherrymenlove for posting this recipe.
You will need:
A largish rectangular tray 1inch deep.
For the dough:
250ml warm water
2 x sachets of dried yeast
1 tsp caster sugar
150g caster sugar
250ml warm milk
150g butter
2 tsp salt
900g plain flour
2 large eggs beaten
The filling:
75g melted butter
225g dark muscavado sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon
100g dried fruit/or nuts (optional)
The drizzle icing:
200g Icing sugar
1heaped tsp cinnamon
1 heaped tsp ground nutmeg
Add the yeast and tsp caster sugar to the warm water,stir and set aside, it should grow a bit! In a large bowl, add milk, melted butter, sugar, salt and eggs.Stir, then add the yeast mixture, then stir in the flour.
Knead well for 10 mins by hand, or use the dough hook in a mixer if you have one, this should take 5 mins.
Place the dough into a large bowl and cover, leave in a warm place for 90 mins or so until dough has doubled in size.
Prepare the filling 10 mins before dough is ready.
Turn out the dough onto the worktop, use a little flour to stop it sticking.
Roll out the dough into roughly large rectangle shape, slather with the melted butter, then sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar and fruit.
Start at top edge and roll down into a sausage shape, and cut into 12 rolls. Place into a buttered tray, face up.
Leave to prove a bit more for 15-30 mins, cover with a tea towel, I left mine on cooker top.
Pre heat oven to 180.
When they have grown, pop into the oven for 25 mins, and wait for the smell to waft through the house.....Tis amazing!
When they are golden brown, turn out onto a wired rack, and leave to cool. This is almost impossible as you will be picking bits off to taste test!
In a bowl mix the sifted icing sugar and nutmeg and cinnamon, add a little water at a time, you want a thickish drizzle consistency.
Drizzle the buns, I had a helper for this bit!
.
Thanks to Cherrymenlove for posting this recipe.
You will need:
A largish rectangular tray 1inch deep.
For the dough:
250ml warm water
2 x sachets of dried yeast
1 tsp caster sugar
150g caster sugar
250ml warm milk
150g butter
2 tsp salt
900g plain flour
2 large eggs beaten
The filling:
75g melted butter
225g dark muscavado sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon
100g dried fruit/or nuts (optional)
The drizzle icing:
200g Icing sugar
1heaped tsp cinnamon
1 heaped tsp ground nutmeg
Add the yeast and tsp caster sugar to the warm water,stir and set aside, it should grow a bit! In a large bowl, add milk, melted butter, sugar, salt and eggs.Stir, then add the yeast mixture, then stir in the flour.
Knead well for 10 mins by hand, or use the dough hook in a mixer if you have one, this should take 5 mins.
Place the dough into a large bowl and cover, leave in a warm place for 90 mins or so until dough has doubled in size.
Prepare the filling 10 mins before dough is ready.
Turn out the dough onto the worktop, use a little flour to stop it sticking.
Roll out the dough into roughly large rectangle shape, slather with the melted butter, then sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar and fruit.
Start at top edge and roll down into a sausage shape, and cut into 12 rolls. Place into a buttered tray, face up.
Leave to prove a bit more for 15-30 mins, cover with a tea towel, I left mine on cooker top.
Pre heat oven to 180.
When they have grown, pop into the oven for 25 mins, and wait for the smell to waft through the house.....Tis amazing!
When they are golden brown, turn out onto a wired rack, and leave to cool. This is almost impossible as you will be picking bits off to taste test!
In a bowl mix the sifted icing sugar and nutmeg and cinnamon, add a little water at a time, you want a thickish drizzle consistency.
Drizzle the buns, I had a helper for this bit!
The buns are HUGE and need to be halved. Finally dust with some icing sugar, plate up,make some nice coffee, tear apart and enjoy!
Happy Christmas!! xx
.
Monday 19 November 2012
A peek into our old house ❤
I live in a typical mid terrace Victorian house, with most original features you would expect to find, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I dislike all new houses with a vengeance. It is nothing special on the outside, but I have tried to make it so on in the inside. It is a bit of a tardis....
When we were looking to buy a property 5 years ago, my daughter was just 2 weeks old, but despite all the demands of a young baby, and it not being an ideal time to upsticks~ we needed more space ,and I wanted to take on a house with original features that would need doing up.
I fully expected that we would have to embark on this, with the type of house I wanted, that was within our price range.
We were very lucky that we found this house within a week of looking (Owners wanted a quick sale) which only needed a bit of redecorating, to be liveable. So we did just that , 2 weeks before we got the keys, (My mum was at hand holding the baby) every wall was painted white, all the carpets were pulled up ( I hate carpets!) and all the floorboards sanded and varnished, and we moved in.
The conservatory converted to cosy snug.
The best part of this house is the large kitchen diner, which is the heart of the house, and where we all gather. I love to cook and is perfect for entertaining.
Where I bake!
We have just retiled the kitchen from an otherwise grey tiled, drab area into something more warm and vibrant with these fabulous retro tiles which really have transformed the cooking area, also helped by a big range style cooker which was bargainous in price. Oh how I'm looking forward to cooking Christmas dinner now, will be a breeze!
We were lucky that the loft space was already converted into a bedroom which made the 3 bed house a 4 bed really and was perfect for my 2 boys.We use the box room as our art studio. The bathroom was relatively new, and the kitchen was clean, smart, with plain white units so no major works needed doing.
We have since re designed~landscaped the whole garden, layed decking which looks fab.
We have gradually layed nice laminate flooring over all the downstairs floorboards as they weren't in great condition.
I get most excited about fireplaces and windows, I hate double glazing. How I would love some original sash windows.We have a gorgeous fireplace with living gas flame, my husband prefers it as isn't messy, but I love the smell and crackle of a real open fire.It wasn't white originally, I repainted it ( not much escapes me and the white paint) much to the horror of of some, but it did improve it. I'm very grateful for it ,as is the focal point in a room.
Unfortunately there are no fireplaces in the other rooms, sadly different trends, styles over the decades dictated they be ripped out and bricked up, which is criminal!! Would be a lot of work smashing through to restore and purchasing fireplaces.
Whilst on my travels last Friday, driving past our local secondhand furniture shop my eagle eye spotted this mantle out the front and I thought Ooooh! I will call later to enquire about price. When I called I fully expected it to be around £50-70, but was quoted £20! Mine!done!
It was delivered yesterday, and was covered in splatted dryed up bits of plaster (hence the price) which took a bit of scraping and cleaning, a couple of screws into the wall and WoW!
The sunlight streaming through my bedroom this morning....
It has transformed the chimney wall in my bedroom very nicely thanks! It just needs fresh lick of paint. I don't care that it looks a bit silly with no fire in it, I will use my imagination to create the illusion.
I arranged some perfume bottles and put some hydrangea flowers in a vase, to prettify. Lit some candles the glow was lovely...
I have always made a house a house a home wherever I have lived, and have lived in some pretty grotty flats when I was younger, but always spruced them up with a lick of paint and adding feminine touches with my collectibles, always bought cheaply at bootfayres etc, I love a bargain,and really enjoy the restoration process.
My parents were not particularly interested in our family home, when I was young, and were very messy, we had 3 large dogs, which added to the mess and lived in chaos. The only clean tidy room in the house was mine, which has lead to me being a tad anal,~compulsively tidy.
I'm not perfect though and have and have dusty corners,crumbs and bits of mouldy food in the sofa, hair in the plughole, horrible bits behind the sink,cluttered cupboards and drawers like everyone else. But I can't see it! I am always making lists, I need order, it keeps my head in a good place. I love my home, it is mine and my families sanctuary after all so is worth keeping it to be just that.
I have some big plans for the work space in my kitchen. All will be revealed in the new year!
Now just waiting to Christmasfy the pad and get the tree up!
Thanks for reading!
When we were looking to buy a property 5 years ago, my daughter was just 2 weeks old, but despite all the demands of a young baby, and it not being an ideal time to upsticks~ we needed more space ,and I wanted to take on a house with original features that would need doing up.
I fully expected that we would have to embark on this, with the type of house I wanted, that was within our price range.
We were very lucky that we found this house within a week of looking (Owners wanted a quick sale) which only needed a bit of redecorating, to be liveable. So we did just that , 2 weeks before we got the keys, (My mum was at hand holding the baby) every wall was painted white, all the carpets were pulled up ( I hate carpets!) and all the floorboards sanded and varnished, and we moved in.
The best part of this house is the large kitchen diner, which is the heart of the house, and where we all gather. I love to cook and is perfect for entertaining.
Where I bake!
 |
| Baking worktop |
We have just retiled the kitchen from an otherwise grey tiled, drab area into something more warm and vibrant with these fabulous retro tiles which really have transformed the cooking area, also helped by a big range style cooker which was bargainous in price. Oh how I'm looking forward to cooking Christmas dinner now, will be a breeze!
We were lucky that the loft space was already converted into a bedroom which made the 3 bed house a 4 bed really and was perfect for my 2 boys.We use the box room as our art studio. The bathroom was relatively new, and the kitchen was clean, smart, with plain white units so no major works needed doing.
We have since re designed~landscaped the whole garden, layed decking which looks fab.
We have gradually layed nice laminate flooring over all the downstairs floorboards as they weren't in great condition.
I get most excited about fireplaces and windows, I hate double glazing. How I would love some original sash windows.We have a gorgeous fireplace with living gas flame, my husband prefers it as isn't messy, but I love the smell and crackle of a real open fire.It wasn't white originally, I repainted it ( not much escapes me and the white paint) much to the horror of of some, but it did improve it. I'm very grateful for it ,as is the focal point in a room.
Unfortunately there are no fireplaces in the other rooms, sadly different trends, styles over the decades dictated they be ripped out and bricked up, which is criminal!! Would be a lot of work smashing through to restore and purchasing fireplaces.
Whilst on my travels last Friday, driving past our local secondhand furniture shop my eagle eye spotted this mantle out the front and I thought Ooooh! I will call later to enquire about price. When I called I fully expected it to be around £50-70, but was quoted £20! Mine!done!
It was delivered yesterday, and was covered in splatted dryed up bits of plaster (hence the price) which took a bit of scraping and cleaning, a couple of screws into the wall and WoW!
The sunlight streaming through my bedroom this morning....
It has transformed the chimney wall in my bedroom very nicely thanks! It just needs fresh lick of paint. I don't care that it looks a bit silly with no fire in it, I will use my imagination to create the illusion.
I arranged some perfume bottles and put some hydrangea flowers in a vase, to prettify. Lit some candles the glow was lovely...
I have always made a house a house a home wherever I have lived, and have lived in some pretty grotty flats when I was younger, but always spruced them up with a lick of paint and adding feminine touches with my collectibles, always bought cheaply at bootfayres etc, I love a bargain,and really enjoy the restoration process.
My parents were not particularly interested in our family home, when I was young, and were very messy, we had 3 large dogs, which added to the mess and lived in chaos. The only clean tidy room in the house was mine, which has lead to me being a tad anal,~compulsively tidy.
I'm not perfect though and have and have dusty corners,crumbs and bits of mouldy food in the sofa, hair in the plughole, horrible bits behind the sink,cluttered cupboards and drawers like everyone else. But I can't see it! I am always making lists, I need order, it keeps my head in a good place. I love my home, it is mine and my families sanctuary after all so is worth keeping it to be just that.
I have some big plans for the work space in my kitchen. All will be revealed in the new year!
Now just waiting to Christmasfy the pad and get the tree up!
Thanks for reading!
Wednesday 14 November 2012
Chicken and leek pie
After watching Nigel Slater's dish of the day,where this pie was featured I had to make it, it looked so delicious.
It uses very few ingredients and and is very cheap to make and feeds a lot of people.
If you are veggie, then some good root veg made with a good white sauce, or quorn substitute would be equally good.
I tweaked it a bit as didn't feel that bacon was needed.
I used 8 chicken legs added a few mushrooms, because they needed using up, and added in some grated nutmeg, and a little cream because I like it.
I cooked the chicken pieces in the milk the night before and left in fridge overnight. You are left with very moist chicken which comes off the bone easily,and a a gelatinous milky stock, which make the base sauce for the pie, but you wont need it all, or will be to runny.
Freeze what you have left to use another time for base in white, sauce, soup,and would be ideal as a base for bread sauce.
When you have softened the leeks and mushrooms,add the stock, cream, and mustard, until bubbling, then add the flour until quite thick, then add flaked chicken at last minute, or the chicken will all break up and be a stringy mess.
Make sure you season well with salt and pepper to taste.
Take off the heat cool and allow to cool completely, I transferred into a large shallow dish so the filling cooled quicker.
You will need a baking sheet that is at least 15 by 11 inches in size as is a big pie.
I just used the ready rolled puff pastry and placed first sheet onto a lined greased baking sheet.
NB. Don't attempt to assemble this pie on the work top then transfer onto a baking sheet, I made this mistake last week, and needed 3 of us with metal slices to try to get onto the baking sheet, it very nearly ended up on the floor!
Now spoon the filling on the pastry don't over fill, then cover with the remaining sheet, and crimp the edges to seal. Slit 3 times across the top of the pastry to allow steam to escape.
Brush with beaten egg, pop in oven for 30-40 mins.
Voila!!
.jpg)
We had ours with new potatoes, marrowfat peas, carrots and gravy.
Nigels recipe here
If your lucky enough to have any leftover, it is yummy cold for packed lunch, or take a sneaky visit to the fridge during the night!
It uses very few ingredients and and is very cheap to make and feeds a lot of people.
If you are veggie, then some good root veg made with a good white sauce, or quorn substitute would be equally good.
I tweaked it a bit as didn't feel that bacon was needed.
I used 8 chicken legs added a few mushrooms, because they needed using up, and added in some grated nutmeg, and a little cream because I like it.
I cooked the chicken pieces in the milk the night before and left in fridge overnight. You are left with very moist chicken which comes off the bone easily,and a a gelatinous milky stock, which make the base sauce for the pie, but you wont need it all, or will be to runny.
Freeze what you have left to use another time for base in white, sauce, soup,and would be ideal as a base for bread sauce.
When you have softened the leeks and mushrooms,add the stock, cream, and mustard, until bubbling, then add the flour until quite thick, then add flaked chicken at last minute, or the chicken will all break up and be a stringy mess.
Make sure you season well with salt and pepper to taste.
Take off the heat cool and allow to cool completely, I transferred into a large shallow dish so the filling cooled quicker.
You will need a baking sheet that is at least 15 by 11 inches in size as is a big pie.
I just used the ready rolled puff pastry and placed first sheet onto a lined greased baking sheet.
NB. Don't attempt to assemble this pie on the work top then transfer onto a baking sheet, I made this mistake last week, and needed 3 of us with metal slices to try to get onto the baking sheet, it very nearly ended up on the floor!
Now spoon the filling on the pastry don't over fill, then cover with the remaining sheet, and crimp the edges to seal. Slit 3 times across the top of the pastry to allow steam to escape.
Brush with beaten egg, pop in oven for 30-40 mins.
Voila!!
.jpg)
We had ours with new potatoes, marrowfat peas, carrots and gravy.
Nigels recipe here
If your lucky enough to have any leftover, it is yummy cold for packed lunch, or take a sneaky visit to the fridge during the night!
❤ Hearts ❤
Hama bead heart, I think my daughter is taking inspiration from my crochet stripe rows!
Perfect for small people and if your little one has a lot of patience!
My little lady didn't feel well yesterday and spent hours making these up, they were all full last night wish I had got a pic! She emptied them all apart form the heart this morning.
Sadie's first piece she made on Monday at school sewing club. How cute :) I will treasure this forever!
I have a little heart collecting habit going on.
I may not be able to resist making this. A Christmas cushion!
Perfect for small people and if your little one has a lot of patience!
My little lady didn't feel well yesterday and spent hours making these up, they were all full last night wish I had got a pic! She emptied them all apart form the heart this morning.
Sadie's first piece she made on Monday at school sewing club. How cute :) I will treasure this forever!
I have a little heart collecting habit going on.
 |
| Love this cone heart |
 |
| Red berries |
 |
| My Pa |
I may not be able to resist making this. A Christmas cushion!
Monday 12 November 2012
Crochet Flower headband
I made this yesterday as I had run out of yarn for my current project.
My girl lost her flowery headband in a shop the previous weekend, and was sad ,as it was her fave, so I decided to make her one. I am thrilled with the result, took me a couple of hours, and wasn't too difficult, I followed a pattern from You tube.
+-+Copy.jpg)
Think I will make a few more in different colours!
My girl lost her flowery headband in a shop the previous weekend, and was sad ,as it was her fave, so I decided to make her one. I am thrilled with the result, took me a couple of hours, and wasn't too difficult, I followed a pattern from You tube.
+-+Copy.jpg)
Think I will make a few more in different colours!
Friday 9 November 2012
Mum's birthday blanket
Mum chose the colours, and she was very happy with it.
I used stylecraft DK in grape, and Robin DK in Magenta and Pale rose. Each square is five rounds so largeish .There are 63 in total. I joined the squares as I went this time which was much easier and the squares lay flatter and it looks altogether a lot neater.
Method here from the super talented Lucy at Attic 24
I edged it with 3 rows of trebles or DC then finished the edge of the edge with a small scallop.
 |
Starting the edge |
The worst part is the sewing in of ends on the back, very boring, but when that last thread is done , what a feeling!
 |
| Pile of ends |
Sorry there are lots of pics! It's very satisfying seeing and feeling a blanket folded! I want a whole stack folded to choose from. I think I'm a little bit sad :)
I have another blanket on the go, one for me this time. Its a gorgeous colour combo of vintage Sea green, and pinks.
It's the same daisy pattern (same as previous two), and the last one I will be doing in this pattern
as I have lots of projects in mind, blankets are an addiction though....I so NEED to make a rainbow ripple blanket, and a granny stripe, it will make me feel cheery- all those bright colours! And its a pattern that you can just keep going on with, so no fiddling faffing-joining in between. I've found I'm fairly quick at crocheting when I get going, which is a good thing as I'm very impatient and want an end in sight.
Little projects like hats, scarves, and ponchos can be worked up very quickly and am definitely going to purchase some chunky Aran multi coloured yarns to do this very thing. They are great to give as gifts.
I think I will possibly lay off the crocheting in the summer months and maybe do my artwork and other creative pursuits in leisure time, as I get hot working on a blanket with it draped all over me even when it's super cold, I hardly EVER feel the cold, so its ok at the moment, but I would probably melt in the summer.
Thanks you for reading!
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