WIP, Swap and cakes for tea.......

Sorry to all the lovely people who normally follow my blog for not writing last week, but last week is best forgotten as far as I am concerned.


The picture above is of a WIP that I have nearly completed.I have altered it in places to suit me, and have stitched different colours to which the pattern stated. The pattern is a Mystery Sampler ( a freebie)which I found on http://pagesperso-orange.fr/anne-les-petites-croix/ . It has a good variety of speciality stitches which I found quite absorbing, and a change from just doing cross stitch.

The vase of flowers is a mixture of the many Aquilegia we have growing in our garden together with what I call popcorn grasses.I was so upset because the wind had been very strong for the past 3 days, and that along with the rain had been beating their tall stems all down onto the lawn.


The above picture is of the scissors case and fob which I stitched as my part of a swap to Irene in the Netherlands.Now that Irene has received her swap I thought you may like to see what I made. The swap was through one of the groups that I belong to Yahoo Group bbinteractive. The link can be found at the top left of my blog. The stitching was done on a 28ct even weave linen with a French Navy pure silk lining. I sent a little card which I made. I cross stitched a hedgehog on perforated paper, and decorated with a frame then made it into the card.

For many years I used to bake cakes, biscuits, pies etc, but up until the recession I am afraid I haven't been as good as I should and have been buying ready made.Today though I thought this must change.Not only is the price of some shop bought cakes ridiculous,but you really cannot trust exactly what is going into them. I feel so strongly about the fact that some unscrupulous manufacturers are putting hydrogenated fats( causing heart disease), into our food that I thought it was high time I went back to making my own goodies. I was trained in catering before I made the great decision that, that wasn't what I really wanted to go into job wise when I first started work; and eventually ended up being a window dresser for a large high street fashion store for while before getting married.

The pic above is of a Victoria Sandwich Cake which is sandwiched together with Damson Jam, and lightly dusted with icing sugar over a doily; which I made this morning. This is the start of me making and baking my own again.

The teacup in the picture is my favourite vintage teacup, of which I have many. This one is made by Royal Cauldon. This cup makes any cup of tea taste wonderful.

This is my favourite Picture for May, it is taken on Dartmoor, and when I took it I was surrounded by Bluebells. The scent was heavenly.

On a cold Februay Sunday.....

Yesterday was so bitterly cold, but we ventured out to a nearby bootsale, as my youngest son adores rooting through other peoples clutter. It was hardly worth going as there were only a handful of poor souls who had decided to sell their wares. However, I was really delighted when I happened upon a beautiful Victorian Cake Plate. I must confess I do have another passion apart from Cross-stitch and sewing etc, and that is pottery and porcelain, especially of the Victorian era. My husband dreads me going to flea markets, and bootsales, as I always end up " saving a piece from the clutches of the great pottery graveyard in the sky"Lol! I have boxes and boxes of beautiful china stored away.

Stashes

Since joining various stitching groups I have come to realize that I am not peculiar, and not alone in hoarding material which I know will be sat for years in some box waiting for the time when I suddenly remember that ' piece' of material is the exact piece that I want to use for some project or other. For years, more than I care to remember I have had a stash, of fabric, lace, beads, patterns etc the list goes on and on. My poor dear husband looks in despair sometimes, at the huge stash that I have collected, particularly when we decide to move a room around, or decorate. I only wish like some ladies have that I had a room specifically for it all.

I suppose I am a confirmed obsessive stash collector!!

Yesterday's Finishes

I have just put together two smalls:- needlebook and ornament by Windy Willows

I also decided that I would try making some covered buttons worked on a natural linen and stitched in crossstitch with a valentine theme.