Making & Baking

I'm still feeling rather rough, so I cheered myself up this weekend with some needlework and comfort food!

I was inspired to knit this sweet mouse after seeing Deb's post here.

Introducing Primrose; she reminds me of my Brambly Hedge china.

She is knitted from scraps of Dk that I had leftover from previous projects.  The fur yarn was originally bought many years ago to make another Alan Dart pattern - Peter Rabbit for my Daughter and the dress yarn was leftover from knitting a cardigan for her when she was a baby.  The blue oddments are from knitting a baby cardigan for my son.  Sweet memories!

Another quick make was this heart doily, crocheted in Aida Cotton 10.

In the kitchen I made:-

A Banana Loaf,

a Chocolate Orange Sponge,

 Cheese Scones,

 Cranberry, Pecan and White Chocolate Cookies

and a Raspberry and Dark Chocolate Cheesecake.

 Hopefully that will keep my family going for the coming week. ;)

In Between the Showers of Rain

 Yesterday, I briefly ventured out into the garden, between the heavy showers, to admire the flowers.

Today the sun is shining

and there are even butterflies in the garden.

What a difference!  I hope the sun is here to stay.

Made By Me

As I can't post about my current makes yet, I thought I would post about the needlework pictures that are hanging around our home.

My first cross-stitch kit - Aged 19,

"Snowy Window" Brambly Hedge embroidery,

Bedfordshire Bobbin Lace Butterfly,

"Welcome to Our Roost" cross-stitch,

"Welcome Baby" to celebrate the birth of our Daughter,

Two Forever Friends cross-stitched Bears for Fay's bedroom,

 The Rabbits from Percy's Park, stitched for Fay,

Two farm kits stitched on perforated paper,

and two pin-craft picture frames, Aged !!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Talk about April showers!  It has poured every day!

 It is raining so hard that the drops are bouncing off the road!

I decided that the best way to stay warm over the weekend was to do some more baking.

These Raspberry and Marzipan Muffins were made using Jooles' recipe.  Thank you Jooles they were delicious.  I just changed the cardamon in the recipe for nutmeg, as I don't like cardamon.

 I also made some Chocolate Muffins using the recipe from The Hummingbird Bakery cookbook.  These are lovely and light and my favourite recipe for chocolate muffins.

 A second batch of Chocolate Eclairs.

Some Lemon Curd.

And a Sponge Cake.

I used the Lemon Curd and Lemon Buttercream to fill the Sponge Cake.

 Needless to say I have had to go to the gym several times to work off my portion of cake! :)  Unfortunately my Husband has been very generous and has given his cold to me, so I'm not fit for the gym at the moment.  Never mind, this gives me more time to craft.  So far I have made three items this week with a Red, White and Blue theme, but I can't post about them yet as they are for a swap.

Hope you are all enjoying your day, Pj x

Getting Back to Normal ...

... after the Easter holidays.

I've eaten too many of these!  So this week I have gone back to the gym, after a long break due to an injury.   We didn't get the chance to do any more walking over the holidays as it has rained every day.

  Sadly these blossoms are now fading as they have been battered by the heavy showers.

At least this rain will help rejuvenate our lawn, which is looking rather sorry for itself after my Husband treated it for moss and raked it.   The borders are greening up and are dotted with lots of spring flowers.  (Please excuse the compost bin - it has been moved forward temporarily whilst a post is being fixed behind it.)

The Wisteria is looking beautiful

 and I am happy to see that my lilac is going to bloom this year, after the severe pruning that I gave it last autumn.  I always associate this flower with the birth of my daughter, as from the maternity hospital window I could see a row of lilacs in full bloom.

 In the greenhouse my flower seeds are sprouting.

 Some of these seeds were given to me by Gem and Ros as part of swaps earlier this year.

 Talking of swaps, this is what I made for the latest one I participated in.  This swap was interesting as your partner had to make something and send the same materials to you, without your knowing what she had made.

  I received some checked curtain material which I turned into a picnic cloth.  I hemmed it into a square and appliqued flowers onto the corners, added some flowers that I crocheted and some vintage buttons from my Nana's button tin.

We just need some good weather this summer, so that we can use it!

Meanwhile, whilst I am waiting for the rain to stop I am enjoying these gorgeous ranunculus and tulips that I bought this morning whilst doing the groceries.

 I also picked two craft magazines to help inspire me for the current swap I am taking part in,

which is being hosted by Lynda of Hookin' With Laalaa.

Best wishes, Pj x