wordless wednesday

bits + pieces

are  you the sort of crafter that works steadily on one project until it is complete before you move on to something else ?, or do you have lots of different projects on the go at any one time ? i am most definitely in the latter group..

on my table at the moment are;

Scandinavian stitching,  very fine work on 32 count linen, i have to be in the mood for this and also need a bit of quiet due to the amount of counting involved.

i have long admired anne-claire petit crochet toys, so when i saw this patchwork family book that uses one of my favourite yarns, rico creative cotton i knew i had to have a go at making one. i chose to make this rabbit (i know it looks more like a dog, but it is meant to be a rabbit), i think i expected it to be about 12-15cm in height, (there are no finished measurements in the book), but it turned out huge, just over 56cm !

i do like knitted or crocheted toys, and another designer i have admired is julie williams of little cotton rabbits she has just produced a pattern for her bunny girl and bunny boy, they are for sale on her ravelry page. i have made a knitted rabbit a couple of years ago which i posted about here but i think that this is a nicer pattern.

i saw this cardigan that kate of foxs lane had made for her daughter, sometimes i struggle to find patterns now the children are that bit older, but thought this was lovely, so this is for hebe, but clemmie has asked me to knit her one next. it is knitted in the round from the neck to the hem in one piece and then the arms added, so no sewing up ! i have really enjoyed knitting this, although i have struggled with some of the knitting terms on the pattern that were different from the uk but with the help of some of the ladies on the forum for the designer on ravelry i am doing ok, only the sleeves to go. the pattern can be found here.

this is a simple little skirt is for clemmie, easy and quick to make and ideal for the summer. burda pattern 9502.

this is going to be a lacy scarf, one of chris's customers gave me some beautiful mohair yarn in this gorgeous deep red, i am using a pattern from a old rowan book.

the same lady also gave me this french double knit yarn that i made into a beanie/beret for hebe, it was strange yarn, it went thick and thin, this pattern used double knitting doubled up, so that's what i did, however it is massive on her ! and she could possible fall over under the weight of it ! think that this one will have to be pulled out..

 

of course there are always things that i should be doing instead of crafting, but sanding the stairs is really not much fun !

 

friday's bake

This weeks friday bake is plum and vanilla cake, it is taken from bill granger - bills food, it is basically a sponge mix with halved plums set into it and a crumble topping sprinkled over the top.

 

More of a dessert cake to have with cream, rather than a cake to have with a brew I think, but well worth having a go at.

52 week project 19/52

 

a portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2013.

 

Freya Elizabeth; more experimentation at photography club

Hebe Francesca; sometimes you just don't want to be photographed.

Clemmie Alexandra; such a happy smiling girl, seem to spend an lot of time in the bathroom washing your hands at the moment.

 

 

Finn Patrick; goodness me, you can eat, sometimes there really is no filling you ! But then you are always playing sports or training so maybe you need that fuel ?

wordless wednesday

friday's bake

 

today's bake are apricot danish. the recipe is from In the mood for food by Jo Pratt its a great book which is split into 'mood'  sections, i.e. in the mood for being healthy; in the mood for some comfort; in the mood for being lazy etc etc, you get the idea.

 

 

These apricot danish are made from very accessible ingredients and are really easy to make.

 

I used ready rolled puff pastry which I cut into eight squares. brush the surface with egg wash (egg yolk & milk), add a spoonful of ready made custard into centre of each square, top with sliced tinned apricot, scatter with flaked almonds and sprinkle with icing sugar. then bring two opposite corners over to meet each other in the middle, brush with a little egg wash and pinch together. Brush all over with egg wash and dust with more icing sugar. Bake for 12-15mins 200c.

 

you don't have to use apricots, you could use, tinned peaches or pears, or fresh sliced apple, plums or strawberries.

 A frothy cappuccino would be the perfect match for these.

52 week project 18/52

Joining in with the 52 week project started by Jodie of che and fidel.

A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2013.

 

 

Hebe Francesca & Clemmie Alexandra; can't beat jumping in your jammies.

 

 

Freya Elizabeth; enjoying camera club at school.

 

 

Finn Patrick; the amazing flamingo chip.