We had a fun afternoon at Brooklyn Pottery ..............

 

   

                                           

     

  

                                   

   

     

I had a wonderful afternoon yesterday with my daughter's and grandchildren - we went to Brooklyn Pottery which has recently opened in Stockport. It is a pottery studio with a vintage tea room, and art gallery. It's very family friendly and you can have fun painting your chosen piece whilst indulging in a lovely freshly made coffee or pot of tea. Lots of delicious cakes are also on offer if you want to be tempted.

You pay a flat rate studio fee and then choose your pottery to paint, prices vary from about £2 upwards depending on the size and complexity of each piece . The children (and adults) had great fun.

Daisy May having lots of fun

Finn - very proud of his Shark

Alex checking out the fine liner before adding detail to his gecko

   

Zachy and mummy checking out the handprints

I can't wait to see the finished pieces when they have been glazed - we collect them next week, I will post some more photos.

Talk soon x

crochet heaven - my very first striped blanket

It's so good to be back on line and I have been having so much fun catching up with everyone in blog land - I have so missed all the creative inspiration on offer.

Everyone will be glad to hear that I have moved on from my crochet coaster phase (my daughters were fearing coaster Christmas presents for the next ten years) but I am still loving to crochet, so I am attempting my very first stripey blanket - and I love it.
I bought some Debbie Bliss Amalfi in the most exquisite colours when I was with Kate and the idea of a blanket was born.

 I am using seven different colours, my stripes are 4 rows of double crochet wide which use about 15 grams of wool so each ball only does just over 3 stripes - this is going to be a very expensive blankie - I think it may become a small rug to keep my knees warm or to snuggle a small child up with on the sofa - when they have a well earned afternoon nap.

I am so pleased how it's working out as my biggest fear was how I was going to keep it straight and keep the right number of stitches but so far so good.

Through my blog travels I have decided to join Ginny's Yarn Along.  Every week on a Wednesday  knitters, and crocheters link up and share a photo (or two) of what they are making and what they are reading. I thought this would give me the motivation to read more and also it will be lovely to see what everyone else is making so lots of ideas and inspiration - check out my Wednesday Yarn along post.

I always read Sandra's cherryheart blog and have just joined in with her "Making a Pretty Crafty Home in 2012" it's about house improving, house de-cluttering, pretty home making, and lots of amazing crafty projects. It includes doing crafty things to improve your home, making homes more of a pleasurable environment to be in, Sandra says that" if you can thrift and recycle your way there" - so much the better!
I am late starting as it all began at the beginning of the year but I am sure it will still be great fun to be part of the project.

Off to crochet another stripe before I start cooking dinner.
Talk soon x

I am back up and running ....................

I feel like I have been away for ages - so much has happened in the last two weeks. I have been down to London again as Kate needed help with moving house, and unfortunately was without Internet access which put a stop to any blogging. As well as no Internet we had no TV - it's amazing how we get used to all of these distractions and it was lovely to experience a  renewed interest in the art of conversation - although to be honest Kate and I are never short of something to say.
On my journey home I was involved in a car crash - someone ran into the back of my car on the motorway - which was a very scary experience. Luckily apart from some back pain and whiplash I am ok and the other driver escaped injury. My car has been towed to the garage and I have my fingers crossed it can be repaired - I love my car. It was all such a shock it has left me very jittery but I am so lucky as it could have been lots worse.

Also, my lap top had to go away for repair so today is my first day with my repaired laptop and Internet access - yeah.

In my last post I talked about a mini  "give away" the closing date to enter was last Friday, so I am very pleased to anounce that the winner is  Barbara Good, Barbara left a lovely comment on my post and I will be sending her a special little package as soon as I can get to the post office,

It's so nice to be home and as usual I have been having a little wander around my garden which I miss when I am away, I have taken a few photos to share with you.

Lillie's in bloom

Water Lily peeping out

first baking apple on my  new tree - not sure it will make a pie

hanging baskets are full of colour

Asters about to open 

                                                                           Clematis climbing up the brickwork

The garden is looking lovely and vibrant and as the weather has improved I have been able to spend some time pottering in it over the last few days.

 

I have had a restful evening after a busy day looking after two of my grandson's, it's been lovely having the opportunity to catch up with my favourite blogs - although I've still got lots of catching up to do as they have all been very busy .

Talk soon x

crochet coasters and more .................

My plan had been as soon as I had some free craft time I would start to crochet another doll - I started to look through my yarn stash to plan my colour scheme but I got really sidetracked and started to crochet coasters. I had seen them in Mollie Makes, they are designed by Yvonne Eijenduijn who has kindly given us the free pattern. - Yvonne writes a beautiful blog with lots of lovely inspirational ideas.

I think the coasters are beautiful and they are lovely to crochet  - I now need to buy some spray starch so that I can firm them up and start to use.

I have been using up left over bits of yarn and had great fun creating lots of little things ... just not sure what I will do with all my creations.

My inspiration has come from some of the amazing blogs I follow and many have been kind enough to share great ideas and helpful tutorials. I visited Bunny Mummy and with a little practice can now crochet - Daisy Granny Squares.

After a another late night blogathon I found Craftyiscool and a cute pattern for little monsters, what do you think!.

I think I need to hide my hooks.

One can only have so many coasters, granny square samples, and crochet flowers, I have decided to have a mini "give away" It will be a mixed bag of crochet lovelies, with some little surprises thrown in. If you are interested please leave me a comment and I will randomly select the winner on the 20th July.

Talk soon x

catching up with good friends ....................

                            

I went out for dinner last night with Barbara and Elizabeth - it's about 6 weeks since we came back from Croatia so it felt time for a post holiday catch up. 

We treated ourselves and booked a table at the Rose Garden which is quite a new restaurant in the trendy area of West Didsbury. The atmosphere was informal, the service really professional but friendly, the staff made us feel very at home in the beautiful contemporary surroundings. 

The restaurant supports local suppliers, and is passionate about using the most seasonal produce available, producing modern British cuisine.

Barbara .......

Me - having a lovely coffee ..............

I love the pantone coffee cups - had to take a quick snap ..............

The food was amazing, the flavours were wonderful, and we are already planning our next trip.

talk soon x

Little helper .....................

Zachy and Noah came over for a few hours on Sunday. Zachy brought a little bag with his apron, silicone star cake moulds, baking cases and sprinkles .................all set for a morning baking with Nana. Noah obliged and after having a little play and story went into the cot for a nap. 

The first thing Zachy and I made was the  biscuit dough we then put that into the fridge to chill, next I made a sponge mix and added some cocoa to half of it as we had decided to make a marble cake. I have to watch Zachy carefully as he loves eating the raw cake mix - he is just as bad as his mother or maybe worse. 

In between helping Zachy watched a quick episode of spider-man that I had pre- recorded for him as he gets fed up waiting for things to cook, he likes the action bits like measuring, stirring and decorating, although then I have the problem of stopping him eating all of the icing before it reaches the biscuits.

Whilst things were in the oven I made a batch of flapjack using a new recipe which was posted on bunnymummy it's mixed all in one bowl and everything is melted in the microwave rather than in a pan on the hob.

Then it was time to get the chilled dough and roll out the biscuits - it was the same recipe I used at Kate's but she fancies cloud shaped biscuits now for the wedding - so I have adapted a flower cutter - see what you think.

I then outlined the clouds with white fondant icing but it's a little thick - I need to refine this.

Lastly I iced the marble cake with chocolate butter cream and finished with orange chocolate buttons..............and I have to apologise to Zachy as I totally forgot to take a photograph of his finished baking but it was amazing.

All in all a lovely morning, don't worry I didn't forget about Noah - when he woke up from his nap he had a lovely play with his grandad.

The boys went home after lunch and I put my feet up with a coffee and yes my crochet hook was out again and I watched the Wimbledon final.

Catch up soon
Sue x

My lovely book ...................

When I was in London Kate bought me a present, it's a lovely story book called Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett - it's beautifully written and wonderfully illustrated.

The story is about a dull colourless town that gets a touch of colour and change of attitude with the help of a box of yarn and a girl named Annabelle. From the seemingly endless box of Extra Yarn Annabelle knits clothing for everyone around her, tempering the ill-tempered, and creating beautifully patterned warmth for people, animals, and objects, alike. When a greedy clothes-loving archduke tries to buy--then steal--the box for himself, he discovers that ill-gotten gains bear no fruit--or in this case, yarn. 

Kate had written me a little message inside the book - it hasn't photographed very well but I hope you can read it - it's so lovely .................

I love the idea of knitting people happy, I would love to be Annabelle. 

Annabelle

I hope you get a chance to read the story-  it has made me think that sometimes it doesn't take very much to make people happy and little things can have a big impact - some of the time.

Keep knitting

talk soon Sue x

It's finished ................

Molly

My first ever crochet doll ............... I am so pleased, and must thank annabooshouse again for the amazing tutorial.  I need to work on the hair but I still love her.My mind is racing about my next doll, or should it be a monkey or even a cat - although I do fancy a rainbow monkey but then I think Molly would like a sister. It's definitely going to become a craze. ( my poor patchwork - crochet is winning by far at the moment)

talk soon
Sue x

Home again ...............

I've had a lovely day just pottering around the house. I have caught up on lots of little jobs and also had time for a coffee with Pam. It's Pam's birthday tomorrow so I have given her an early birthday present which she has promised not to open until the morning.

I have had time to catch up with some of my favourite blogs and also a new blog annabooshouse which is amazing. I have already fallen in love with some adorable little crochet dolls, which I am going to attempt to make. The blog shares the pattern and also gives step by step tutorials - they look fabulous  but I haven't tried to follow them yet. I hope I can manage as in my head I have already made a little family of them.

              
                                           
               Don't they look amazing - the tutorials are in five parts, starting  with a kit list.

The head is started with a magic loop, I have just watched a crochet tutorial on "you tube" to remind myself how to make the loop - keep your fingers crossed, I am about to start!

Talk soon
Sue x

baking .....

Even though I am away from home nothing makes me happier than indulging myself in a spot of baking. On Sunday afternoon Kate, Seb and Jake went out for a stroll and I had the kitchen all to myself. I thought I would experiment with a recipe idea for Kate's wedding cake, Kate only wants a very simple cake. I've already had a few trial runs, do you remember the pink layered cake I made a couple of months ago.

                     

Today I am trying a lemon cake and plan to fill it with lemon buttercream and lemon curd. 

The wedding cake on the day will be quite tall - maybe 6 sponges sandwiched together, my practice one will be much smaller as we just want to sample the sponge and fillings.

                    

I didn't make quite enough butter cream to fully cover the top and sides - but it did taste yummy!

I also made little butter biscuits which Kate is going to serve with tea and coffee after the wedding breakfast. Ideally we need a small rectangular cutter and a stamper for the design. I had a fiddle with a cocktail stick and a little bit of fondant icing.

Not the required standard yet but the recipe worked well - its just the execution of the task that needs refining - also the right tools for the job.

can't resist making collages at the moment!

All together it was a fun and productive baking afternoon.

Talk soon x

slow living - June

It's time for my slow living post for June - where has the month gone! It has been another untypical month but maybe that's true of my life in general at the moment.
Since taking early retirement I am much more able to help my daughters with childcare and have played a much greater part in the lives of my grandchildren.
I looked after Laura's precious little boys when she was away on honeymoon, Vicky has been taking exams at college so I've been helping out with her three lovelies and Kate has returned to work following her maternity leave which has brought me to stay in London. Looking after adorable little Jake who I don't see as often as my other grandchildren.
I am still in London, Jake is having his morning nap and I am looking at the slow living headings and wondering if I have achieved very much this month - well I must make a start.

NOURISH:
I have been working closely with Kate and we are both trying hard to encourage Jake to try different foods. He is growing and thriving beautifully but he is very hesitant to try new tastes. We have been looking at ways to increase the amount of protein in his diet. He loves wholemeal toast so I tried dipping it in egg and milk and then frying it, hoping he would still think it was toast - but he sussed me out quickly and that was another failure. But we keep on trying, and he is munching more raw vegetables.


PREPARE:
I have continued to do quite a lot of cooking, especially batch cooking for the fridge and freezer. Before I head to London I spend a day cooking meals to leave behind for my other half. He is very capable of fending for himself but probably would not spend a great amount of time preparing his food.(it makes me feel better to know he is eating well - thats my nurturing side taking over)


REDUCE:
Since traveling up and down the country to look after Jake I have found that I have really reduced food waste. I am much more focussed when buying food, ensuring that I only buy what is really needed. I am planning meals much more and using the cooker more cost effectively.


GREEN:
Although my train travel has increased I have reduced the use of my car and I am doing much more walking. Jake and I go out for a walk everyday and I buy food locally supporting local businesses.


GROW:
I haven't grown anything myself but I have supported local growers and we visit the farmers market on a Sunday Morning. We have tasted some amazing bread.


CREATE:
My passion for crochet has continued but this month I have had a reintroduction to patchwork which has been great fun. In addition I have been busy knitting jam jar covers which are to be used as table decorations at Kate's forthcoming wedding.


DISCOVER:
I have had the opportunity to re discover the joy and exhaustion that comes with looking after a one year old, who can crawl faster than I can walk, finds everything that I inadvertently put down for a minute, doesn't like trying new food but loves eating paper and cotton wool, and emptying book cases - the wonderful list goes on..


ENHANCE:
I am enjoying the e-course which I started this month, written by Holly Becker, but I've not had much time to put things into practice yet.


ENJOY:
I am continuing to enjoy my busy family life and I am lucky to still have some special "me" time when I can catch up with friends. This month I have had a lovely patchwork crafting day with Pam, and a holiday catch up with Barbara.


talk soon x