tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25904655530755701212024-03-08T11:33:14.457+00:00with love, cupcakes and biscuits.::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.comBlogger199125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-37988750581120996282015-02-27T09:29:00.008+00:002021-06-23T13:10:35.109+01:00***** BLOGGING HIATUS *****Hello Hello.<div><br /></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: x-large;">UPDATE 23 JUNE 2021- how to find me on Instagram and changes in bold.</span></b></h2><div><b><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Have updated a few wee things like my profile and email address too.</span></b></div>
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LETS FACE IT blogging just isn't happening for me anymore (and not for a long time. This is my second post in two years!!!). <b>SIX YEARS!!</b><br />
I don't want to close my blog as you never know I may want to come back to it and a dramatic burning bridge gesture seems quite unnecessary thank you very much. <br />
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I may one day feel inspired to have a verbal vomit instead of an Instagram post.<br />
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At the moment I can be found online via my Instagram</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: courier;">@jammypuddingandcustard</span></b></h3><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Come find me there.</span></div>
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I'm<b> NO LONGER</b> selling my felt brooch designs via my Etsy shop (link to the right) <b>OR</b> custom, made to order fabric sewing accessories via <b>FOLKSY</b><br />
Pincushions, needle books and scissor fobs featuring EPP, hexies, embroidery, bees, flowers and lots of gorgeous Liberty prints.<br />
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I hope you are all well out there in blog land.<br />
Take Care<br />
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Ali xxx<br />
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<br /></div>::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-25073156736564518062014-07-21T17:23:00.000+01:002014-07-21T17:23:07.520+01:00Back to basics.Hello there lovely people.<div>
It has been an age.</div>
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Blogging has not been on my my very extensive list of things to do.</div>
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I haven't minded....</div>
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But I am here today......</div>
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I've been pondering of late if my blog title still applies. To the me of the 'now'. You know it has been a few years since I came up with the title and that stemmed from having to come up with a name on Etsy so I could, at the time, buy some buttons. 'cupcakesandbiscuits' seemed apt and fortuitous as it turned out. Adding the 'with love' part to the title of my blog seemed entirely natural as everything made should be made with love in my eyes. And with added cupcakes and biscuits for that matter. They are the perfect description to me. A cupcake is a compact, heavenly, fits in the palm of your hand, individual, sponge and buttercream, delight to behold. It is the perfect gift. Biscuits are too. A whole life of memories scattered on a wee vintage plate. A heady mix of childhood favourites and Scottish shortbread. In my head when I make and bake something, these three things and all their connotations seep in. I cannot help but feel, quite right too.</div>
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I can see as I write, the title of my blog still applies and of that I am glad. It helps build that wee bridge back to my blog for me. An aid to a re-connection. </div>
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A similar thing happened with the name of my Etsy shop. I couldn't use 'cupcakesandbiscuits' when I joined Twitter as it didn't fit size wise so I chose 'jammypudding'. I love that name as I love a pudding with jam and sometimes I feel a right jammy pudding. I found Instagram through Twitter and carried on with the name so when it was time to come up for a name for my shop it all fell into place. I love when that happens. It feels like I picked a name that turned out to be perfect for future endeavours. For when I started designing as well as making. When the creative me flowered. </div>
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Next is my new Etsy shop for sewing accessories which I am calling 'jammypudding and custard'. For obvious reasons. Well an obvious love of cake and jam and custard. In that I am forever predictable. An extension of the brooch shop. I am selling pincushions, scissor fobs and needlebooks already on Instagram but I'll get the Etsy shop up and running in the near future.</div>
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Hopefully there are still willing readers out there to indulge this pondering of mine. I have stripped my blog a bit. Gone back to basics. Let us see what happens next.</div>
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Ali x</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Find me on Twitter and Instagram as @jammypudding.</span></i></div>
::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-62611971599465680832013-11-29T09:29:00.001+00:002013-11-29T09:34:38.980+00:00A Jammy Black Friday.Hiya Folks.<br />
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Today is Black Friday with discounts galore online so I am joining in at my wee <a href="http://www.jammypudding.etsy.com/"><i><b>Etsy</b></i></a> shop with a 15% discount on all orders placed today.<br />
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At the checkout use the code <b>JAMMYBLACKFRIDAY15</b> and you will instantly receive a discount.<br />
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Just this week I have added a new brooch design for feeling Festive this holiday season.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOS2PNK3DhtY1n198z9TA9w_EKPK2P-RjOnPVG6_9l6zu8QdxF1TXYPViBlhtwhQnW6wJ4EQv8K2pMHHe6KpJEPjTWBkuL9zZ3HbZJLVoNT6lSs_NR6w8kzwb4S4l3zHlm3o4bfjtnQ/s1600/yesttimesthree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOS2PNK3DhtY1n198z9TA9w_EKPK2P-RjOnPVG6_9l6zu8QdxF1TXYPViBlhtwhQnW6wJ4EQv8K2pMHHe6KpJEPjTWBkuL9zZ3HbZJLVoNT6lSs_NR6w8kzwb4S4l3zHlm3o4bfjtnQ/s320/yesttimesthree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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With a choice of three button berries as I couldn't decide on a favourite. I still can't and I am struggling to choose which one I will keep for me. <br />
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Click on the 'Etsy' link above or on the shop link on the top and side of the main page.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Find me as @jammypudding on Instagram and Twitter.</span></div>
<br />::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-38824727997002716102013-07-28T13:09:00.000+01:002013-07-28T13:09:55.251+01:00hallo, hallo...Popping in to say hello to you all.<br />
I am not a good blogger at all these days.<br />
I seem not to care about that either...<br />
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Its a funny thing this blogging business. <br />
I cannot blame Instagram for the lack of ponderings on here. It is a great instant photo sharing/quick response thing but it isn't stopping me from blogging. <br />
I'm stopping me from blogging.<br />
Not being on a laptop means I am getting more creative things done and I am not so great at sharing these on here anymore. I get distracted on here, writing a post seems to take me an age. Reading blogs, getting sucked into Pinterest (which I deleted a while back and recently went on again), looking at tutorials etc distracts me big time. I have been making a lot. Quilts and socks and maggie rabbits. Lots of hours of hand sewing.<br />
I suppose I am not a great sharer full stop really. Blogging doesn't come naturally at all so we shall see. I've no desire to delete my blog or to take a brake or to force myself to write more posts but wanted to say hi to you all. <br />
I hope you are all well and life is good.<br />
Hope your wee hands are busy making.<br />
Hope you are eating yummy scrummy cake sometimes and enjoying the summer.<br />
Hope you have the time for a nice cup of tea and are getting plenty of sleep.<br />
*waves*<br />
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Ali x<br />
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<br />::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-13129166222027868582013-03-06T10:36:00.001+00:002015-02-27T09:35:48.390+00:00*NEWS* My Etsy brooch shop is OPEN!!<div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A</span>s I said in my last <a href="http://cupcakes-and-biscuits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/beavering-away.html"><i><span style="color: cyan;">post</span></i></a> I have been beavering away, sewing and generally getting organised and finally I can say my Etsy shop is opened.<br />
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Click<i><span style="color: red;"> </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jammypudding"><span style="color: cyan;">here</span></a></i> to go looksee or follow the shop link under my profile on the right of this page.<br />
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::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-71362558110022679932013-03-01T11:10:00.002+00:002013-03-01T11:10:25.522+00:00Beavering away....<br />
I have been such a busy bee lately preparing for the opening of my Etsy shop <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>jammypudding</b></span> next week. Investing a not insubstantial amount of pennies on supplies and sewing like a wee trooper to build up stock.<br />
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These are what I am selling...<br />
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Lovely (if I do say so myself) felt brooches.<br />
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Some of the designs go way back to 2010 and I have been making them as gifts ever since but finally decided it was time to share my love of brooches with any one willing to part with their hard earned pennies for them. I'm selling them already on Instagram (since yesterday) and am pleased to say that I have sold some already. It feels lovely actually. Lovely that someone wants them, lovely that I made them with my (sh*t, less than 5 weeks till 40 year old) hands. Lovely that I feel competent I know what I am doing and am organised. Lovely to spend lots of time sewing, watching Heroes on LoveFilm and it feeling like a job.<br />
To be fair lately it has stopped me furfilling other creative urges but I am nothing if not committed so I kept at it even though I have a list of wishes and WIPS as long as my arm. It just feels like the right time.<br />
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So I am taking photos to edit, ready to list on Etsy very soon so if you are looking for a wee gift for yourself or another come have a looksee when I open.<br />
Or if you are in need right now get in touch, (contact details at the top of this page).<br />
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Find me on Instagram and Twitter as <i>jammypudding</i>.</div>
::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-70478598980992420532013-02-04T14:27:00.001+00:002013-02-04T14:58:27.204+00:00A crafty Fishy sale.Tomorrow (5<b>th February 2013</b>) the amazingly talented and super seller<b> KirstyFish</b>, is having her annual sale day across her Etsy shops.<br />
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If you haven't shopped with her before then tomorrow should be the day to go looksee at the things she has to offer and with <b>FREE UK POSTAGE</b> from 8<b>am to 8pm</b>, how can you resist.<br />
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At her <i><b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bigfish"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">BigFish</span></a></b></i> shop you can find buttons and ribbon and felt balls and buttons and ribbon, oh and did I mention BUTTONS!!! And I mean lots and lots to choose from. <b>Just quote FREEUK at checkout.</b><br />
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At her<i><b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/FuzzyFish"> <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">FuzzyFish</span></a></b></i> shop you can find felt in many (and I mean many) colours, acrylic (my felt of choice) or wool blend or lambswool. If there is a particular shade you are looking for I could pretty much guarantee you will find it here. <b>Just quote FREEUK at checkout.</b><br />
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The shop you will drool over if you love Christmas is Kirsty's <i><b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/snowfish"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">SnowFish</span></a></b></i> shop. It is jam packed filled with AMAZING decorations all designed and handmade by the lovely lady herself. <b>Just quote FREEUK1 at checkout.</b><br />
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These are my go to shops for felt and buttons and I love the lady herself. Go looksee at Kirsty's<span style="color: red;"> </span><b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://lovepaperfish.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">blog</span></a> </b>for more details and tempting shop photos and do yourself a favour and grab bargain <span style="font-size: large;">£1 bag goodies</span> <span style="font-size: large;">LISTED THROUGHOUT SALE DAY</span> or simply shop and save postage in the UK.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">LovePaperFish - SALE TUESDAY 5TH FEBRUARY 2013 - 8AM-8PM - UK FREE POSTAGE USING CODE FREEUK (FREEUK1 AT SNOWFISH) AT CHECKOUT.</span><br />
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::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-14172553807235982472013-01-16T14:38:00.001+00:002013-01-16T16:24:59.036+00:00Hello hello, is anyone still out there?<span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span>h my it really has been the longest while since I blogged. No excuses given, I simply haven't. That's a bit of a fib I realize. Whenever I think about having to organize my thoughts, cables for cameras etc I let out a huge sigh and think '*$!* it I'll do it later!'.<br />
Later, invariably, never comes.<br />
I have things to show you, subjectively feel good ta-dahs. Revelations on new crafty endeavours and new skills learned. The discoveries of free machine embroiderey; being both 'so my thang' and sewn text neater than my actual handwriting. A handmade Christmas (even though I promised myself I would buy more) and a poorly Christmas.<br />
Last year was the year I fell out of like with blogging but this year, this lovely 2013 where I turn 40, I am determined I am getting back my blogging mojo. I am planning a revamp, a reclaiming of my cyber space. <i>I am opening an Etsy shop soon too to sell my brooches so keep an eye out for that.</i> I am focusing on 'keeping it real' which, for me, means remembering I am at my very core a blether, a chatterer, a verbal vomiting type and cannot compete (and don't want to) with any other blog. That I do not have to always have photos or subjects and definitely will <b><i>NOT</i></b> be offering advice on how to use old plastic hand cream containers or tights. I forgot after a certain amount of time blogging why I started. I got bogged down with thoughts of 'what are you trying to say?', 'who are you trying to say it to?' and silly things like that. Feckadoodle!! What on earth possessed me to have silly ponderings like that? I obviously was having a wobble!<br />
All I want to do is chat, be creative and entertain myself and hopefully you lovely peeps who take the time to read my posts!<br />
Sounds simple enough. Although I have had a thought, earlier on I wrote 'keeping it real'. OMFG! Wait a minute "OMFG"???? I fear I have swallowed an old person trying to be 'down with the kids'. Oh dear....<br />
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Oh and 40!! How and when did enough time pass for that to be happening this year?<br />
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Hope you are all fine and dandy my intersweb pals. I have been as negligent of your blogs as I have mine for which I am sorry, I bet I missed loads of lovely posts.<br />
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<br />::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-50390240104665445532012-10-31T14:07:00.000+00:002012-10-31T14:07:51.073+00:00Why a girl needs emergency chocolate cake stashed in the freezer...I do and I'm a girl, well a grown up mummy lady but I do *need* emergency chocolate cake stashed in <i>my</i> freezer.<br />
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Sometimes only chocolate cake will do and I am well apt to cope with what life throws my way if I know there is a chocolate sponge ready to be slathered in chocolate buttercream available to defrost at any given time I may need it.<br />
It's a simple strategy really, whenever I make chocolate cake (Nigella's all in one recipe in Feast is my go to), I make a double batch, that is four sandwich layers rather than two and bung two of them in the freezer *in case of emergency*. It works for me as my local Sainsburys only sells sour cream by the 300ml tub and the basic recipe requires half that amount. It is sensible then to use it all up, no? Besides I am a double, triple, quadruple batch type of a cook. It's practical and means I can justify using huge pots and long handled wooden spoons. Any excuse for that in my kitchen makes me a happy haggis.<br />
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I also make sure I have a supply of luxurious dark chocolate in my baking drawer and I'm good to go.<br />
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My boys love their chocolate cake and it is always their choice if they fancy some cake resting in the kitchen, on a cake stand or pretty vintage plate, ready to be sliced after school.<br />
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I like mine with a cup of tea served in a lovely cup.<br />
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If there was no emergency chocolate cake it would take so much <i>longer</i> to use my scrummy dark chocolate up or <i>use</i> pretty cake stands or vintage china or <i>eat</i> alongside cornishware teacups and saucers or <i>make</i> my boys happy after a hard day at school.<br />
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Emergency and <i>essential</i> chocolate cake stashed in my freezer is a must!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Find me on Twitter and Instagram as <i>jammypudding</i>.</span></span></div>
::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-22727121193924804902012-09-19T09:09:00.000+01:002012-09-19T09:09:24.875+01:00The day I made lemon curd and embroidered a pretty jar topper...So I am asking why oh why oh why oh effing why haven't I made lemon curd before?<br />
I mean it<br />
Why?<br />
I love lemons, adore them, cannot think of a tastier flavour of sponge. There are few better smells in the world and they rock yellow like no human could.<br />
Yet until very recently I hadn't ever made the effort to make homemade. I had <a href="http://thebigstoveyear.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/when-life-hands-you-lemons.html"><b><i>this recipe</i></b></a> from the lovely <a href="http://lovepaperfish.blogspot.co.uk/"><i><b>Fishy</b></i></a> and bonny <a href="http://afteralltheworldisabeautifulplace.blogspot.co.uk/"><i><b>Mrs B</b></i></a> (whose shared foodie blog I miss with all my stomach and would bribe them to post again) bookmarked for an age and had copied it into my favourite treat notebook. I mean for yonks and yonks!<br />
Anyhoo, I have no excuse and if I had known how effing easy peasy lemon squeasy it was going to be to make I would [like to think I'd] have done it sooner.<br />
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It is the best lemon curd I have ever eaten and had to take Mrs B's advice and pair it with my favourite scone recipe with added poppy seeds.<br />
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There was enough for just about two jars becauseI didn't use standard sizes. I knew once I saw those golden filled jars I had to get sewing, sorry embroidering (see still have issues with the names).<br />
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Still wanting Robert Plant to squeeze ma lemon. That will never change whenever and everytime I think of lemons</div>
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Says what it was, lovely lemon curd.</div>
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If you have never tried making it, please do. You will be rewarded with heaven in every mouthful.<br />
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Some strange people, namely Mr Biscuit are not impressed by lemons, fools and numpties one and all. He is both, trust me!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Find me on Twitter and Instagram as </span><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">jammypudding</i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">.</span></span></div>
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<br />::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-21135078459036976302012-09-05T14:12:00.000+01:002012-09-10T08:57:45.129+01:00Oh my, I love to embroider...part 1.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYOnvV47EyT2dxTu55ePx8ktZ0d0gUy-M9Y8fVFbSK-TfoN5S5SywTk6XXBHiqkO2jNwQrIt0AhZI0VLUgeLlsNzLaiRRKZhOtdM0770emg8N-Mvv6YYi9thh_l3-Pi3FSZd11Ar7gg/s1600/iphone+2011+and+2012+700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYOnvV47EyT2dxTu55ePx8ktZ0d0gUy-M9Y8fVFbSK-TfoN5S5SywTk6XXBHiqkO2jNwQrIt0AhZI0VLUgeLlsNzLaiRRKZhOtdM0770emg8N-Mvv6YYi9thh_l3-Pi3FSZd11Ar7gg/s320/iphone+2011+and+2012+700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have always sewn since way back as a wee lass learning at primary school. I was taught 'cooking and crafts' by Mrs M whom I remember enjoyed the sun. As in 'looked like an old leather handbag' liked the sun and wore an incredible amount of ugly gold jewelery and had pillar box red talons. Not nails, dear readers, t-a-l-o-n-s!! Her hands freaked me out because she she would insist on keeping those rings on when she had her hands in flour. To this day I hate to see someone baking with rings on and never ever, not on your nelly, do I keep mine on. Any kind of food under someones rings gives me the boak! Worse still under those talons. I blame Mrs M for me never wearing nail varnish either. Put me off for life. The look of her garish, leathery hands has stayed with me even if she was the person who taught me to sew hexagons together and bake cakes. *shudder*<br />
But I was hooked (not by her talons which would have held me prisoner, pinned forever) and since then I have always felt at home with a needle in my hand. Later, in my teens, my mum and dad got me a second hand sewing machine. I used it loads, altering things I got in charity shops and generally playing about with it. I have never fallen in love with a machine as much as with sewing by hand. There is something so methodically comforting about hand sewing. It soothes my soul.<br />
Until recently I feel I have only dabbled in embroidery. Even back in spring I was waxing lyrical about that. Dabbled because in my head embroidery is quite specifically defined. That is, what I do, the sewing I usually do, is not embroidery. I suppose, for me, embroidery is prettifying, embellishing with stitches. I don't know why in my head I think I didn't do it. I am a loon as it's obvious I do embroider and always have. I was just calling it sewing, which it is, duh!!<br />
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A while back I bought Alicia Paulson's Daisychain sampler pattern from her <a href="http://rosylittlethings.com/daisychainsamplerpattern.html"><b><i>shop</i></b></a> because I was going to learn how to embroider properly (right, I know, thicko alert). Ignoring the fact that I knew how to do quite a lot of the stitches described in it, 'I sew not embroider' was imbedded deep. Oh my it was a revelation, I found the thing I love to do more than anything. I am all about a needle in hand. I had started to get that when I was sewing thousands of hexies together by hand. I enjoyed it way too much even with the pain of aching joints and getting spiked under nails and through fingers. I felt hardcore folks! But I had found 'my thing'. The sampler was going to be my way of practicing new stitches with something at the end of it. I wasn't a fan of alphabet things, well I thought I wasn't. I am all over breaking assumptions in crafting! I loved the end result. 'I made that' was a grin plastered to my face!<br />
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Here's some shots...<br />
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Once finished I put it in a frame and it now hangs in my bedroom reminding me of the joy I had sewing it. My boys and I ask each other what letter is our favourite and before we know it we each have said pretty much all the letters. It is that pretty!<br />
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Once this was finished I moved on to a new project called 'Crafty Shelves' which I will save for another day. Wouldn't want to bombard you with too much gorgeousness at once. I thought we could spread it out for longer appreciation of the joys of embroidery. You agree, yes?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Find me on Twitter and Instagram as <i>jammypudding</i>.</span></span></div>
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<br />::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-27666283313716948712012-09-03T08:59:00.001+01:002012-09-03T08:59:42.176+01:00Why I love camping, glamping, holidaying in a tent...<br />
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I do.<br />
It's just lovely.<br />
This year we went up north a few hours in to the Scottish Highlands, the land of midgies and mouintains. Our campsite in the <a href="http://www.rothiemurchus.net/Pages/Stay%20Locally/Camp%20and%20Caravan.html"><b><i>Rothiemurchus</i></b></a> Estate (near Aviemore)....let me rephrase that. We got to pitch our tent in the woods which happend to have a (fanatastic, clean, refreshingly unisex) toilet/shower/dishwashing block in it. We literally found a spot to camp for the piddly price of 152 pounds for seven nights. Don't let the cheapness fool you, we weren't slumming it.<br />
Now, our tent is massive... <br />
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See? Big right?</div>
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If I could pass on one tip about tent choosing or buying a tent, is get bigger than the number who sleep in it. Our tent sleeps six even though we are a family of four. You need the living space for dodgy (normal UK) weather. You need to be able to take your outside furniture inside and still have enough room for a cooking area. As it turns out having a canopy that attaches to the front of our huge tent means we haven't had to move indoors yet as a canopy simply means we can stay seated outdoors and not be exposed to wind and rain. We can still eat out there and still barbeque. We have born witness to so many families squeezed into a 'perfect fit' tent in the pouring rain. Get a bigger tent to 'live' in and if you can a canopy for more of an outdoorsy time of it. I must admit that I refuse to do any type of camping that does not involve being able to stand up inside a tent. We used to rent holiday cottages and since downgrading price wise to camping, I still want to be comfortable. I don't want to have to crawl into spaces and sit on the floor. No way no how.<br />
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We pitched next to a burn surrounded by trees. That burn was a lot of fun for my boys and even though there was a couple of falling in incidents (one of which was mine but I still argue I did a ladylike sit down. Okay I was a bit tipsy and my boys urged me to do the obviously obligatory 'You've been Framed' fall in the burn. Unfortunately being drunk ( did I mention that?) I was a little eager and 'sat down' before anyone got their camera ready. My boys were not impressed missing out on 250 smackers!! I really didn't slip in on purpose but still too soon. It felt lovely to my drunken bottom!).....but oh my it was a lovely spot. Running water is a heavenly sound. We saw loads of red squirrels which I have never seen in my life before even though I have tried and failed on many visits to the Highlands. They are so cute and very fast. The mister manged to get a photo but you have to be quick.<br />
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You can spot the wee beastie in the middle of the shot.</div>
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I love the sound of rain on a tent roof which is just as well as it rained loads but as I said it didn't dampen our outdoor life at the tent. It does get cold at night though. No sleeping bags for us but duvets and lots of woolly crochet blankets and wool blankets underneath the airbeds. You really need them. I know sleeping bags are warm but who wants to sleep in a tube. I don't. Even in the height of summer with scorchio days, nights are freezing up north in Scotland.<br />
Here's my Biscuits' bedroom... <br />
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Necessary midgie putoff-er.</div>
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We used the lidded bbq of an evening to keep warm, sitting out once the boys were cooried up in bed, in the glow of candelight drinking tea and chatting. It was bliss.<br />
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And just look at this view from up the Cairngorm mountain...<br />
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It was driech but it really wouldn't be a fair representation of Scotland if it wasn't.</div>
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We traveled up the funicular (which is one of the best words EVER!) railway which was really cool (even if I still got travel sick on the way down, the shandy lightweight I am).<br />
We loved hanging out at our tent, having scrummy one pot dinners and tasty bbq's. We had tasty lunches out and about, lovely walks, got soaked, ate scones and drank lots of tea. What gets better than that? Crafting, you say? Well I did some of that too.<br />
I have the camping bug well and truly now and plans are afoot for getting a van next year so we can pop off whenever we like. One negative thing is the packing of the car, roof and trailer but next year it will all go into one van AND we will manage to take our bikes too. Heaven or what?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You can find me on Twitter and Instagram as </span><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">jammypudding</i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">. </span></span></div>
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<br />::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-35867962243867105122012-08-28T20:01:00.000+01:002012-08-28T20:01:31.709+01:00Blogging and lack thereof...I cannae be arsed, there I said it. <br />
I think about my wee blog and I just have nothing to say. Not a thing (or so I thought, well because obviously right now I am writing this post). I could say I have lost my blogging mojo but that doesnae sit right with me either. I just think honestly I cannae be arsed because really I am lazy. I like being creative out there in the thing that is the 'world wide web' but I simply have discovered a quicker way of doing it. A quicker way of posting photos and a quicker response time. My underlying impatience has won out so yes I adore Instagram. It is an easy fix but, BUT, like many things I am starting to yearn for a slower pace. Maybe I want to come back to my wee blog space and take my time again. To ponder over things rather than give into the random, the now, the 'this just happend' or the 'I just made this'. I love random and I love quick and for this reason I hardly ever even switch on Hortensia (my laptop) because I have an iphone even though the screen is tiny and typing is a serious pain the the below stairs. It's quick and easy and I like quick and easy (titter yee not!). A habit of such things has been formed and you know what? I miss my blogging friends who are not on Instagram or Twitter but unfortunately many of my favourite bloggers (I assume, like me) have lost their blogging enthusiasm also. It takes way too long to write up a post and I am always curious about those bloggers who manage posts every other day if not everyday. The whole 'professional' blogger is a discussion for another day but a lot of people seem to keep up the momentum when I cannot find the energy or enthusiasm for it at all. <br />
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I have a review to write (sorry for the delay dotcomgiftshop) but I haven't got around to it. I have been sewing lots and baking lots and knitting and crocheting and holidaying and reading and planning and well lots and lots of things we all do all the time and not felt the urge to share ANY it here at all. It just seems like too much effort and too much time taken up to do it. *sigh*<br />
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So what to do? Do I shut it down, delete, move on and forget about it? Do I make an effort for whatever reason to plough on? Do I do it differently so it doesn't eat into my time so much? Do I NOT make a decision about what to do at all? <br />
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Go with the flow.<br />
See what happens.<br />
Maybe get around to it or not.<br />
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Not give a shit either way because in the big scheme of things it's only a blog? <br />
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It is not cumpulsary.<br />
It is not an obligation.<br />
It shouldn't be another chore on life's long list of chores. <br />
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Presently and for a while it has been a chore. Something I feel I have been neglecting willfully and with no guilt whatsover if I am honest but I wonder, should I put it to bed and let it sleep an endless sleep or revive it.<br />
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I am glad to say I do not have to answer.<br />
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<br />::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-57468920264361845922012-07-10T11:45:00.000+01:002012-07-10T11:48:43.366+01:00Pondering the 'summer' hols.<br />
We are into the second week of the summer hols here folks and I may or not be giving a lovely long list of activities that my Biscuits and I have been up to but alas not. For one they are of an age now (11 and 8 1/2) where they tend to have their own plans for the day and don't need me to interfere with them. Things like crafting or baking together are rare and only to be enjoyed when they are 'in the mood'. I remember when they were small and there was a rotation of things to keep them busy all day. They choose their own these days. They <i>have</i> been glued to the PS3 as we got them a treat of a new game for the end of the year, good reports etc. I don't know about you but on one income, new computer games are a rarity in our house. I don't have a problem [in the main] with them playing them either. I monitor, force breaks and think what a great thing they are for rainy days at the beginning of a long holiday from school. Feeling the freedom of being able to play computer games all day because you don't <i>have</i> to go to school is a wonderful feeling. Besides the novelty wears off and they naturally look to other things to entertain themselves soon enough. Going out is not fun at the mo. They have tried going out to play but it didn't take much to put them off and bring themselves home again. This kind of constant rain does interfere with playing out as it puts them off from stepping out of doors in the first place.<br />
I have to say too we don't believe in providing constant stimulation for them in the form of lots of days out either. Well of the costly variety anyways. Rain is a problem regarding the free sort as long walks, picnics etc are simply not as fun in the [this incessant] rain. I suppose we want them to learn to find ways of entertaining themselves without having to pay for entertainment and honestly we cannot afford it and it wouldn't be right to show them that you do it anyway. Don't I sound cheap?? I suppose it's finding the balance between letting them play/live life using their imagination etc and all the external things available to entertain. I suppose to we want [expensive] trips to things like the cinema to be a treat too.<br />
I always think too that as parents we worry over whether they are out or in and what they do. Lots of 'shouldn't they be' when really you can see when your kiddies are content and you are just worrying about what 'happy' is brought on by. As grown ups I think we obsess about 'happiness' but kiddies just get on with living, don't you think? I think that is the biggest thing I have learned since my Biscuits arrived, to take a leaf out of their book and just get on with living each day as it comes, rain or shine etc etc. I don't always manage it but you know us grown ups have a lot more things to scunner those plans. <br />
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I do love the summer hols, I love seeing so much of my boys and yes my routine goes to pot and the house always feels a mess but you know I get to do a lot more things for me compared to when they were small and needed constant attention and supervision. For example I am just about to disappear for more than an hour upstairs on my bike and they will happily play away, read or whatever with each other and not even notice I'm gone to be honest.<br />
It's nice not to plan too. Holidays are for not having things you <i>must</i> do after all. <br />
Oh but please, a bit of sunshine would be heaven!!<br />
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<br />::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-49006772813757212002012-06-28T09:39:00.001+01:002012-06-28T09:39:58.363+01:00Effing rain!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ui2KoPz0Lril4KAS1xhorIHWLR32bz9BOKO_zKy2AIRcn4TwIIBkeDb_DCckwDHSmbXiR7hFPJn1F63KjG8tymBgQn_mToG_xb3kYD3tx9SMMsOFoC2n6L4j77oY90zdgcaCgKPhDQ/s1600/effing+rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ui2KoPz0Lril4KAS1xhorIHWLR32bz9BOKO_zKy2AIRcn4TwIIBkeDb_DCckwDHSmbXiR7hFPJn1F63KjG8tymBgQn_mToG_xb3kYD3tx9SMMsOFoC2n6L4j77oY90zdgcaCgKPhDQ/s1600/effing+rain.jpg" /></a></div>
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I don't want to be a right old moany face about it but I'm hormonal, therefore feel entitled to moan if I like. Don't get me wrong in many ways I love rain, the verdant greens, the slate greys of paths and 'making the garden grow' etc but I want to be in my bare feet and flip flops. I want to have all the windows and doors open and if I cannot, I'd like them to be closed without needing to coory under a blanket or worse, switch the heaters on. I want to have meals in the garden and hang the washing out, have a view of billowing sheets and hear the birds singing.......<br />
All that list of 'I wants' needs is addition of a goose that lays golden eggs. <br />
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SIGH<br />
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My boys finish up school tomorrow and I am hoping the weather improves. I am Scottish, I do not expect a lot, just please please please PLEASE, let it be dry for a spell.<br />
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Urgh!!! Moan moan moan!<br />
I'm off to get on my exercise bike and see if my mood improves. I have cakes to bake later and cannot be this cross whilst baking, cakes need love to rise people!<br />
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X</div>::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-10163971616339752092012-05-15T12:46:00.003+01:002012-05-15T12:46:57.417+01:00On the list of craft 'wanties'...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjDEaCbSYhNPldUoKoaUDxd3uq1i16Y1DOV70ldNA3AdAxYi7c35ItLJgJBp7h1RuHpIPauleAhqqifrh9tCFEe63EX-bCLgjNxZ2AD37nT9hokgsafktGxE3GN0tJaIUF7Irhg-QFg/s1600/iphone+2011+and+2012+1433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjDEaCbSYhNPldUoKoaUDxd3uq1i16Y1DOV70ldNA3AdAxYi7c35ItLJgJBp7h1RuHpIPauleAhqqifrh9tCFEe63EX-bCLgjNxZ2AD37nT9hokgsafktGxE3GN0tJaIUF7Irhg-QFg/s320/iphone+2011+and+2012+1433.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> always always <i>always</i> have my eye on yarn of some kind and yet again I am drooling over the [above] Starburst crochet blanket by Jane Brocket from the Gentle art of Knitting book (pattern also in issue 2 of Mollie Makes). I've had my eye on this for an age but recently spurred on by Kath on her <a href="http://www.inverleith.blogspot.co.uk/"><b style="color: #274e13;"><i>Inverleith</i></b></a> blog and Instagram feed, who has been making a granny a day of it and has posted lots of lovely images of the finished blanket. She chose <i>really</i> lovely colours (in Rowan Pure Wool DK) and made me 'want' to start all over again. I've even been looking at yarn and at the mo considering Rowan Cotton glace. I have some balls that I got for the 'icing' on knitted cupcakes and the shine is lovely on this yarn. I love cotton yarn too, it is my favourite I think. It's a double knit wool and has a lovely feel to it too when knitted up. I am very tempted but as always such a thing is quite an investment money wise. <br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>'ve been looking longingly at this shade card.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>here is fabric on the 'wanties' list too but as of yet I have not decided what I would do with it. I have been thinking of trying to make a zipped pouch. This kind of sewing really is NOT my area. I get very easily confused when things have to be rightside/wronside/insideout/outsidein/cut/measured etc etc. I like my sewing machine but it has not (as of yet) turned into love. This 'walk in the woods' fabric by Moda has me tempted to try as it has foxes liberally sprinkled all over it and I love a fox.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cottonpatch.co.uk/acatalog/A-Walk-in-the-Woods.html"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIyQLSU20z1zE_HZQK8PAxYP0nMnw_Dd_qdHh0GKzB0vKSd2TiyIiRhQaVTyT69e-7ew4c3TlLJNQ96VuJ120tnvPQFzvQmJrdpOJEdG439FnJii9hRGFffwLVkeGFAqjAkqi_c3ojg/s200/foxes+by+moda.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(image from the cottonpatch. Click on image to go see the full range) </span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>t really is very cute fabric and I can picture it on something small. Oh and did I mention? Love a fox! I'd love some of this but what to do?<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> am constantly fighting the urge to make more quilts/blankets but as I have a few on the go (see this earlier <a href="http://cupcakes-and-biscuits.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/it-cannae-just-be-me-who-does-this.html"><i style="color: #274e13;"><b>post</b></i></a>) I really must not start another so it's lucky I do not see this fox fabric in a quilt.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>here are craft books calling on me at Amazon, whispering to me with their potential.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcW0o_KEgIUmDYftnDMutxNAdjkzOHSTR7IlaRD569utaUn0d7BT-O_e5NDStvs6xMCHO8kDVgPSqQ3AsdyhEW5YYbUAzIxQ5-uFreUY9ubcY1_Fr5sqU6jIgIYdvmkExzJL5WYsBFw/s1600/3d+embroidery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcW0o_KEgIUmDYftnDMutxNAdjkzOHSTR7IlaRD569utaUn0d7BT-O_e5NDStvs6xMCHO8kDVgPSqQ3AsdyhEW5YYbUAzIxQ5-uFreUY9ubcY1_Fr5sqU6jIgIYdvmkExzJL5WYsBFw/s1600/3d+embroidery.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>'ve had my eye on this book for a while as I love embroidered flowers and this book has some really nice ones including daffodils. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LDXQ3GRTh9EQrr2_YGlufk0J7IVdpNDGORNyum56juQHvw4BhHUGxHj8BhRceq9OHinJlJc7BK3PyII8JKSOpG8RB51i2fhf7YlSR02LsROq6DSOXQl9FRXhUBH-YGWzmlLAzEqThA/s1600/zakka+style.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LDXQ3GRTh9EQrr2_YGlufk0J7IVdpNDGORNyum56juQHvw4BhHUGxHj8BhRceq9OHinJlJc7BK3PyII8JKSOpG8RB51i2fhf7YlSR02LsROq6DSOXQl9FRXhUBH-YGWzmlLAzEqThA/s1600/zakka+style.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>his books looks great but I am a little unsure because as I said earlier this kind of sewing does not come easily to me but I like the look of the things in here so maybe I would be inspired to give some of the projects a go. Maybe some of you have it and could let me know hoe easy/difficult it is to follow.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (Three book images from Amazon.co.uk)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> love the look of these socks. I haven't knitted a a pair in a while but the patterns in this book are really lovely. I am thinking of making some as gifts as last year I made really simple tube socks for a couple of friends and they were very well received. I like the idea too of knitting (as the title says) from the toe up as you can try them on as you go meaning you can be sure of the fit you like. These socks would also mean I can look at hand dyed yarn which is a really fun thing to do on Etsy, especially with the app.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>t's not a huge list but there is always, without fail, a list on the go and who doesn't love a list or indeed a notebook (or ten) to write them in?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>hat's on your list of craft 'wanties'?<br />
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P.S you can always find me on Twitter or Instagram as <b>jammypudding</b>.<br />
<br />::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-6924981990478121812012-05-11T13:31:00.002+01:002012-05-11T14:01:54.105+01:00Can you ever have enough.............baking books?<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> really do not think so.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> make something, sometimes many things, from each of the books I buy, yet the compulsion to have more is always there. First there is the 'noticing' of a book, whether it be by recommendation from someone (or by amazon - they get me <i>every time</i>). The imagining begins. I begin to wonder what delights may be inside, could there be <i>the</i> perfect recipe for something I already make and love? Something new I have never tried before and always wanted to? What photos are in there? Will they make be drool at the very thought of the pressure of a pastry fork?<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>hen a new book arrives I almost want to create a ceremonial moment, take the time to enjoy every detail of the book, the feel of the pages turning, the smell, the potential locked inside. It's all very much an indulgence!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">R</span>ecently I have become obsessed with patisseries, windows full of shiny glazed delights, thoughts of delicate pastries and not so delicate slabs of bread, wanting to refine, to be precise, to hone my baking skills. I love hearty classics, always, but I want the challenge of having to be more skilled. Always wanting people to exclaim "you did that?". You know that slightly insulting/impressed thing we all do? I want to get to grips with liquid fondant and make French Fancies. The <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boutique-Baking-Delectable-Cupcakes-Teatime/dp/1849491062/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336737245&sr=1-1"><b><i style="color: #274e13;">book</i></b></a> I recently bought by the amazing Peggy Porschen will help with that. I want to get to grips with pastry so I ordered this only the other day...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BxZXS29JOsP_F4vDpZcoZvj4FT0_Vshs93Pz3BLQ2QYlj4HTBw5gmCCMsL4Kq_LAXyUWwmRNy4NeQDl9yHU0mlddusWdK2U5AwGWJVK-1pgXw0GfTZSZUitMbUxTij8trO0njS5qdg/s1600/pastry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BxZXS29JOsP_F4vDpZcoZvj4FT0_Vshs93Pz3BLQ2QYlj4HTBw5gmCCMsL4Kq_LAXyUWwmRNy4NeQDl9yHU0mlddusWdK2U5AwGWJVK-1pgXw0GfTZSZUitMbUxTij8trO0njS5qdg/s1600/pastry.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(image from Amazon. Click <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pastry-Richard-Bertinet/dp/0091943477/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336737356&sr=1-1"><b style="color: #274e13;"><i>here</i></b></a> to see the book)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">J</span>ust look at that cover!! I cannot wait to delve into this book! I am not scared of pastry at the moment, a little bemused by it, not fully understanding it when I make it, not fully 'there' with it like I am with cakes. I want to become excellent and produce exquisite things. Things made of pastry.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> have that image of a tiered cake stand all prepared for afternoon tea and with that image I hear myself wanting to recreate it with things all made by me. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Y</span>ou see why I *need* this book??</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>t may well be the fact that, in the main, it still feels wintry, but I have a notion for nordic baked things too so have my eye on this book...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zKc4Z50lhcq4CutSAk8ifnfcgstHR33WrceAU7qxv9Tii8oKUHkoMR-xc_UuxUT-Mtw1BQNAthUwm0cHaoT8LpdXd44c-dEkjEqHLEM0hxZaS2e0Vz4Jn8fbA8-hEaSyWQ5fhhQuog/s1600/scandilicious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zKc4Z50lhcq4CutSAk8ifnfcgstHR33WrceAU7qxv9Tii8oKUHkoMR-xc_UuxUT-Mtw1BQNAthUwm0cHaoT8LpdXd44c-dEkjEqHLEM0hxZaS2e0Vz4Jn8fbA8-hEaSyWQ5fhhQuog/s1600/scandilicious.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(image from Amazon. Click <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Scandinavian-Cooking-Scandilicious/dp/1444703927/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336737422&sr=1-2"><b><i><span style="color: #274e13;">here</span></i></b></a> to see book)</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>his book sounds amazing. Those breakfast compotes and jams, those cakes and bread, mmmm cinnamon buns! Big amounts of *sighing*. I am so so so very tempted.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span>ut for now, bring on the pastry making.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span>lways thinking about baking and loving the abundance of books. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>n my wee world, you can never, ever have enough!</div>
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P.S I'm always posting photos on Instagram so come and have a looksee, I'm <b>jammypudding</b> on there. </div>
</div>::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-69410351824186175572012-05-01T11:49:00.000+01:002012-05-02T17:13:42.513+01:00April showers of a baking kind.<span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span>or me, April hasn't showered rain so much as flour and icing sugar. I've been a busy ol' bee with birthdays and things and when I look at my Instagram feed (I'm <b>jammypudding</b> on there by the way) there is an abundance of bakes.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span>ack at the beginning of April I turned 39 and had a lovely, lovely day which was made all the lovelier for having this...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxblMgPXQebB9mZryx4CAnMYEJcDpXi_gK9K44n15EmbiF2RJCySpLP0QWHrjdQpo65EHo0xtFZ0IMSjjslRCc03fvH0YYRKdkmFTHmag8QHnteAlIklp0qcjRVULFhGHN78eYMPdww/s1600/iphone+2011+and+2012+1132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxblMgPXQebB9mZryx4CAnMYEJcDpXi_gK9K44n15EmbiF2RJCySpLP0QWHrjdQpo65EHo0xtFZ0IMSjjslRCc03fvH0YYRKdkmFTHmag8QHnteAlIklp0qcjRVULFhGHN78eYMPdww/s320/iphone+2011+and+2012+1132.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span>emon cake decorated with handmade daisies. It tasted so so so good. I'd take lemon cake over all others (maybe?...might have to think about that claim) and it was kind of nice making myself a cake for my birthday. Eldest Biscuit was outraged by the idea!<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span>y father-in-law's birthday quickly followed mine so I made him his favourite coffee and walnut cake but this time I used my cool <a href="http://www.lakeland.co.uk/15170/My-Kitchen-12-Cup-Mini-Sandwich-Tin?src=gfeed&gclid=CLW2l43-3q8CFaImtAodI2JZvQ"><i><span style="color: #274e13;">tin</span></i></a> from Lakeland. It has straight sides for individual cakes so you can make small versions of large cakes. I was very pleased with how they turned out and will have to make mini Victoria sponges soon.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>he lead up to the end of the Easter hols meant I had to re stock the freezer with some bakes for my boys' lunch boxes.<br />
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Banana bread and<br />
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marble cake cut up into ickle pieces. Sponge freezes really well and even though baking ingredients can be expensive by the time they are cut up small and used up, they work out quite cheap and although not exactly health food, better than processed and I do think cake makes people happy. In my head my Biscuits are able to get through an afternoon of school with the help of their little cakes of happiness made with love by me.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I </span>also made chocolate cheesecake for a friend as part of his Christmas gift of bakes throughout 2012. I couldn't encourage a heart bypass so he didn't get a whole cheesecake, a few pieces were leftover for us.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span>h my this cheesecake from Nigella's 'Feast' book is simply heaven in every mouthful and whenever I have it I feel I am in one of those old Flake adverts, having a special moment in a field of wild flowers. So good!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span>ast week I made madeleines for the menfolk as an after school and work snack (and of course a few for me too). If you have never made them or let alone eaten one, please do. Apart from the specialised tin (Lakeland sell <a href="http://www.lakeland.co.uk/13647/My-Kitchen-Madeleine-Pan" style="color: #274e13;"><i><b>one</b></i></a> for under a tenner) they are very very easy wee cakes to make and quick too. You can pretend, if you have a need to, to be refined and delicate whilst nibbling on one. I find it essential to drink tea from a china cup and saucer whenever I have one. Look at them, *sigh*!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span>nd finally, Eldest biscuit turned eleven yesterday. All you parents out there will understand when I say I do not know how that happened so soon after him arriving but eleven he is. I managed to convince him not to have his usual novelty sugarpaste clad birthday cake ( a 3DS this year) in favour of a chocolate cake made with chocolate from Hotel Chocolat. It's surprisingly cheaper weight for weight than Green & Blacks. The self sacrificing mother that I am had to go into their shop in Edinburgh, forcing myself to take their free samples whilst shopping for his cake. The things we do.<br />
I didn't want to use my everyday, all-in-one cake (again from 'Feast') so opted for a luxury buttermilk one from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tea-Bea-Recipes-Beas-Bloomsbury/dp/1849751439/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335868570&sr=1-1" style="color: #274e13;"><i>'Tea with Bea'</i></a>. This book is really lovely with seriously decadent bakes. It isn't a book for beginners I think but if you are a confident baker it's worth a looksee. Here's how it turned out...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> layered it with vanilla buttercream (which to be fair didn't compliment the sponge I feel, you live and learn) and covered it with chocolate buttercream. I sprinkled over fudge pieces, Minstrels, smarties and gemstone drops from Hotel Chocolat. I also made the bunting to decorate and little flags for these...<br />
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...mini vanilla cupcakes. Eldest Biscuit likes to share his cake with family and friends so these were for those not so keen on a rich chocolate cake. Too cute! <br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span>nd of course there were the obligatory and traditional number biscuits.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span>or Christmas 2000, whilst pregnant with EB, I got Nigella's Domestic Goddess book from Mr Biscuit (he wrote inside "who's to say you're not already" sweet or what?) and knew when I saw these biscuits that I wanted to make them [for our cooking baby + any more] every year for birthdays and so far I have. We joke that as grown men, my boys will still expect them. I followed the 'Biscuiteers' way for the icing and am getting to grips with icing bags and plastic bottles.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span>ere's a photo of my boy making a wish.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span>h my what a calorific month! Just as well it wasn't all for me. Yet I am dreaming of more. I got a new book yesterday to sigh over and consider "What to bake?".<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>ndeed "What to bake?" .</div>
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<br />::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-71464353649672091412012-03-23T11:02:00.003+00:002012-05-01T11:49:49.174+01:00Sing with me "I'm a Biscuiteer"......no really, I'm singing it.<span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span>ello my friends!<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> hope you are all fine and dandy. I am feeling good today after a week of <i>the</i> most awful cold. It's still there, lingering but compared to earlier in the week I feel great!<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I </span>wanted to share with you my Mother's Day baking. Usually I do a nice dinner for our Mums (remember <b><i><a href="http://cupcakes-and-biscuits.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/random-list-of-38-thingsi-love-that-i.html">last years</a></i></b> next morning hangover on my birthday?) but this year I felt like a wee change. so I grabbed these and some other ingredients and ventured forth in to the land of the <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Biscuiteers</i></b></span>.<br />
(there should be trumpets at this bit so just pretend okay)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> ordered some flower sugarpaste (which btw dries unbelievably fast even compared to regular sugarpaste!) and a daffodil cutter and added to my wee collection of colour paste (I had to bin a whole load that I'd had for <i>years</i> but I'm slowly rebuilding it). The end result were these little fellows.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>ith no foam pad to sit them in/on (mental note to obtain one) I resorted to making them comfy in upturned icing nozzles balanced in the holes of my wee metal pot trivet. Did the job though. I'm glad I went with making the trumpet a slightly darker, more orange yellow (although difficult to see in the above photo). They turned out lovely I think.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">N</span>ow onto the biscuits.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>'ve had the Biscuiteer book for a couple of months now. I have always used a Nigella recipe for biscuits which is great, but, the icing always made the biscuits soften and it is impossible to sit the biscuits atop of one another without a right old mess. Not to mention disastrous consequences for the icing design, so I was interested in trying the Biscuiteer way of doing it because of the icing being harder and therefore easier to transport etc. I did that thing I sometimes do though, with the recipe. I read that the plain biscuits called for granulated sugar and I went ahead adding it in the full knowledge that unrefined golden sugar of any kind does not act in the same way as refined. You can see in the next photo I was right. The sugar is still apparent even after baking. It didn't effect the taste but next time I should trust my baking or sugar knowledge and change to caster (cannae use bleached).<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>he biscuits were/are very tasty. Adding golden syrup really made them taste delicious.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">N</span>ow to the icing.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span>gain I followed the recipe knowing full well I was making too much but you know I am not a Master Baker so I bow to the idea that other people may know something I don't and therefore I go with them, even, on occasion, when I have and instinct something is not right. But you know, with baking, you have to be precise. The fundamentals are not to be tweaked, flavours etc sure, and you never want to end up in that awful situation of 'not enough' so you go with it. Anyhoo, I had way too much icing but let me tell you, Royal icing whisked up in a Kitchenaid for five minutes is a glorious sight. Beautiful and glossy like meringue. <br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">N</span>ow this is where I get a bit irritated and I know I shouldn't. I hate hate hate that I am not better with an icing bag. It drives me nuts. I get that it takes practice. I know that but I want to be perfect instantly and no matter how much older and hopefully wiser I get, I still do not learn this lesson. I was not happy with the end result but I will persevere.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> love doing the polka dots with the flood icing though, it's a lot of fun and the daffies look really good, if I do say so myself.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span>ee, look at that line icing....grrrr!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>hey looked great all packaged up in recycled tubs from the supermarket ( I cannae throw anything away that can be used to package up baking). They tasted really good too, once we got used to the idea of crunchier icing. I liked that they got put back in the oven on a really low temperature to dry out as this meant I could pile them up in their boxes. <br />
I have plans to make them for EVERYBODY'S birthdays this year if anything to justify adding to my cookie cutter collection.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I </span>am just a wee bit pleased I can now call myself a 'Biscuiteer' but I cannot help asking. Where's my sword and I demand Gene Kelly has a well choreographed sword fight in front of me in those 'tight' tights.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's</span> the book, click on the image to go to Amazon. What can I say, it's where I get my craft/baking book fix from.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Biscuiteers-Book-Iced-Biscuits/dp/1856269418"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKX2pk8vADyyG4x_L98LapMumSACmRPRf9QUs8biccfaxXq4m73_RVaXD1Y8S4Jxv-8fL4bHup6UmvifSU40hJRXWpBEQBjFeoMqSjHl1r7Dk3btUN9fwQa285HTAeCSw8zZmnFTyLcw/s1600/biscuiteers.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-37883016759414208162012-03-12T11:43:00.001+00:002012-03-12T12:53:22.000+00:00Spring forward and back to Easter.<span style="font-size: x-large;">The</span> latest Mollie Makes magazine dropped through my letterbox this morning and the cover filled me with thoughts of Easter past and present.<br />
Easter means, for me, Spring and also birthdays (mine and Eldest Biscuit's to name two of half a dozen), renewal and the colour yellow. Chocolate of course and weekends with my lovely wee family, holidays from school and work. I do like spring, even if it's usually always still baltic here in my wee bit of Scotland. Yet the sun shines and that is always lovely don't you think?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So</span> down I sat with my mag and my cappuccino. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPG85x7HLDbLsi8rNTeZJGRn8v1yHWHyxTxdKvDwQVguj93D4IW-e4p-EUcifQAO99Aav56bGxFBEUELLfoVaCwiwiVLRnCRLu9NoAfGeQFh9sdDpNLrjWItz7-8Laoc92E42YfCCtQ/s1600/iphone+2011+and+2012+905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPG85x7HLDbLsi8rNTeZJGRn8v1yHWHyxTxdKvDwQVguj93D4IW-e4p-EUcifQAO99Aav56bGxFBEUELLfoVaCwiwiVLRnCRLu9NoAfGeQFh9sdDpNLrjWItz7-8Laoc92E42YfCCtQ/s320/iphone+2011+and+2012+905.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span>ollie Makes has egg cosies on it's cover that took me back a couple of years. You may remember I knitted these for Teacher gifts way back in 2010.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxlVYl4JNdIYn30-1V2LTuBNv4kaanN_FzO_7550TJfAaXPrhnOArsoTzJu2Ejxl771U3uiSZF_ib_oVMcCDYGQnmgvo301FM9UsMpCpW_z_B_8HiFELwZuz0SPB0Qs2Fv0Lj_n2d_Q/s1600/egg+cosies1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxlVYl4JNdIYn30-1V2LTuBNv4kaanN_FzO_7550TJfAaXPrhnOArsoTzJu2Ejxl771U3uiSZF_ib_oVMcCDYGQnmgvo301FM9UsMpCpW_z_B_8HiFELwZuz0SPB0Qs2Fv0Lj_n2d_Q/s320/egg+cosies1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span>eems like such a long time ago now.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>he pattern for these is there for all now in issue twelve and they are well worth the time to knit them up. Although now I am looking at the photos I did change the pattern after I knitted up the blue one. I confess I hate hate hate garter stitch with a passion. I think it shows up uneven tension and is quite ugly. I'm also surprised when designers choose it over other stitches that look so much better. Anyways I changed the cuff to 'rib' which I thinks looks loads better. I might have to make one for me as I frogged the blue one to make the phone cover you see in the first photo. They are cute and I remember the Teachers I made them for loved them too.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> do love Mollie Makes, such a lovely, inspiring magazine.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Take care, my lovelies.</span></div>
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(there is a correction for the crochet flower brooch pattern <a href="http://molliemakes.themakingspot.com/blog/mollie-makes-issue-12-crochet-flower-correction?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+molliemakes+%28Mollie+Makes%29"><u><i>here</i></u></a> if you need it) </div>::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-64691903907442720212012-03-07T15:53:00.001+00:002012-03-07T16:11:45.282+00:00A feast for the eyes!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>CaKe. </b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What else?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> made these pretties a wee while ago and I'm so glad I took some photos to share their lovely colours with you. Sorry I have no actual lamingtons to give you (especially you, Victoria), you know I would share any of my bakes with you all and invite you round for a cuppa any day of the week.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Y</span>ou'll just have indulge in looking and then run off and bake something moreish! <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Recipe</span> from this...<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Primrose-Bakery-Book-Martha-Swift/dp/022408688X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331134402&sr=8-1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DthC9mRzQZrgtgfR4aqaFJRZNlgvt1PbvLSK5dld-3J7AitUvepYCNjJKtFToStjmntUE2Ib3jVNyhmKaGHbOLoMgXQaVKv6uDGyVTWqSV66Pv5GzJseL1eRhwvhmFoJr-bh5mABPg/s1600/primrose.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(image from Amazon)</span></div>
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<i>Click on image to take you to amazon where you can have a look inside if you like.</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I love </span>this (and the previous one) so much so I'm urging you to beg borrow or steal it,if you haven't already got it.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Aren't</span> you glad I shared the glory of:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNO7YiAQPDAg8p78Ridyq_C_cDlCFqFlq7L3kpgZnDz1R1NrpFq6GBa-EnZzYQzCa7WqtDmddabWqPWBVnJijqtbKnMxVR70fwQBDaJE6kqSi_0qpT283we5ZZYZLzPylLEeURYH0Tug/s1600/lamingtons3+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNO7YiAQPDAg8p78Ridyq_C_cDlCFqFlq7L3kpgZnDz1R1NrpFq6GBa-EnZzYQzCa7WqtDmddabWqPWBVnJijqtbKnMxVR70fwQBDaJE6kqSi_0qpT283we5ZZYZLzPylLEeURYH0Tug/s400/lamingtons3+.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Take care, my lovelies.</div>
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X</div>::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-81714732265208255472012-03-05T11:36:00.002+00:002012-03-05T11:40:03.579+00:00Spring is in the air......even though we woke up to a thick layer of frost this morning.<br />
However Spring is poking it's head up with the daffodils and crocuses. I have especially been 'feeling it' in my sewing.<br />
The last few weeks I have been embroidering the Daisychain Sampler pattern from Alicia Paulson's <i><a href="http://www.rosylittlethings.com/daisychainsamplerkit.html">Rosy Little Things</a></i> shop. I an sewing it in floss rather than crewel and I have been loving it, finding it remarkably soothing and one of the most enjoyable things I have ever made. I realise as time goes on my true crafting love is hand sewing. Something I began to learn/feel as I was sewing hex after hex together. I haven't really tackled embroidery much before, a wee bitty here and there and a dip of the toes in some cross stitch, although I discovered I'm not keen on that. This is my first real foray into such a varying amount of stitches.<br />
Take a looksee...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpaMMZ3CgxXR-mRdealiUsbc0CHQ9YYOW1uTlddb2GGfA9wJcR2Vl3FjPpbOq11JDpzAzCVAbzw27haU67W7UkxEbqTi4RV7cipkmweUPUq7ZLysaAJLH1usBF3G2-RDlamL_J7p3Gg/s1600/iphone+2011+and+2012+720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpaMMZ3CgxXR-mRdealiUsbc0CHQ9YYOW1uTlddb2GGfA9wJcR2Vl3FjPpbOq11JDpzAzCVAbzw27haU67W7UkxEbqTi4RV7cipkmweUPUq7ZLysaAJLH1usBF3G2-RDlamL_J7p3Gg/s320/iphone+2011+and+2012+720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My cool wee Loftus on the Hipstamatic and north facing window are not doing the colours justice so 'here's one I took earlier'...<br />
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I made this wee house for my Kindle too, copying some of the flower designs from the above pattern and adding a bumblebee and sunny buttons.<br />
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I put wadding it it for protection and am glad I made one myself but I never enjoy using a sewing machine as much as I continually think I am going to.<br />
No doubt I'll make an Autumn/Winter house for it too. Love my Kindle. Much easier to stroke cats whilst reading...<br />
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I cannot leave without a photo of cake, too pretty to leave out.<br />
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Take care, my lovelies.</div>
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X</div>::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-66270060896541421992012-02-08T15:41:00.000+00:002012-02-08T16:13:40.205+00:00It cannae just be me who does this....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Surely it cannot?<br />
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Today I find myself with my mind birling with ideas.<br />
Creative juices a bubbling and a spiraling.<br />
I have a need to <span style="font-size: x-large;">design</span>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodAmt1OtvDL5G1LvfeEmfWEcNCMAyGB2E31X1f5-UN8OCmDWS9ZbLJ4P3-vod6WSX-Me_4gNuIc6wtMkFDAqbYo6mgaDOPxB1RiC2OoJpeX5OKvnqK4KquYovg-lXD7SkV8-TvISUMQ/s1600/iphone+2011+and+2012+681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodAmt1OtvDL5G1LvfeEmfWEcNCMAyGB2E31X1f5-UN8OCmDWS9ZbLJ4P3-vod6WSX-Me_4gNuIc6wtMkFDAqbYo6mgaDOPxB1RiC2OoJpeX5OKvnqK4KquYovg-lXD7SkV8-TvISUMQ/s320/iphone+2011+and+2012+681.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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So I have all of this out designing a special quilt; my 'Teawagon Quilt' inspired by the lovely Jane of <i><b><a href="http://teawagontales.blogspot.com/">teawagon tales</a></b></i> who sells <i>the</i> most lovely vintage fabric (oh and Jane is very cool too, she loves Morrissey, what can I say?). All of the fabric for this quilt is from her <i><b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/littleteawagon">shop</a></b></i> so hence the name. I have been quietly foraging pieces away in my stash for a while now. Once I have enough I'll get going as it will be sewn on my machine and therefore won't take long (I have been sewing the below by hand for months and months so anything by machine seems easy and lightening speed) but... </div>
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The ridiculous thing is that I already have three other blankets on the go, two of which are stumbling in the main due to finances. This <a href="http://theroyalsisters.blogspot.com/2010/04/grandma-all-square-tutorial.html"><b><i>granny all-square</i></b></a> from The Royal Sisters blog which is shown here as part of the 52mmmc...</div>
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which, even though I have a hundred plus pile of, I need a lot more wool to complete it <i>and</i> then there's this...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWjpjbZ9u5H08DXhEUFEJ2j15fygzALGsMNDo9MVK1LBZ91oMY3Y-pr2V5BUjm7wy703g0l2H1MQJE4_wwGjrXFQJGfCnKBT-JFRxaLcY6g9Ew95H_ZB4lVrut6Al4YX_ZvzPrJC_fw/s1600/iphone+2011+and+2012+521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWjpjbZ9u5H08DXhEUFEJ2j15fygzALGsMNDo9MVK1LBZ91oMY3Y-pr2V5BUjm7wy703g0l2H1MQJE4_wwGjrXFQJGfCnKBT-JFRxaLcY6g9Ew95H_ZB4lVrut6Al4YX_ZvzPrJC_fw/s320/iphone+2011+and+2012+521.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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of which the top is pretty much finished but I still need to add some more white hex's to square off. This involves counting up all the spaces and working out how many half hex's I need too. There's two thousand paper pieced hexagons on this bugger already but I need some more calico to make more hex's which means money. Oh and the batting but luckily I have an ancient (well it used to be on my bed when I was wee) candy stripe flannel sheet for the backing. This 2.3 x 1.1m quilt top has been a real labour of love and I could have carried on and on, I loved it so much!!</div>
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I'm thinking of opening a wee Folksy and/or Etsy shop to (hopefully) make a few pennies to help??? Scottie dog/apple brooches anyone??</div>
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I have also started a knitted patchwork blanket from my wool stash...</div>
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You know, something for the evenings!</div>
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It doesn't seem to matter how many WIPs I have on the go (just about to start <b><i><a href="http://rosylittlethings.com/daisychainsamplerpattern.html">this</a></i></b> too???) I cannot stop the need to be creative about the NEXT project. I don't always have to start this next project straight away and I like to have a few things on the go; a bit of crochet, a bit of knitting, a bit of sewing, as I like to be able to move around depending on my mood but when a new idea strikes or there are rumblings of an idea taking seed I MUST heed it and sit down, pencil and paper in hand and design.</div>
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Hands up who else?</div>
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I see you there, get that hand up!</div>
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<br />::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-20636220356947862912012-01-16T17:05:00.001+00:002012-01-16T17:05:52.579+00:00Sunday baking.<br />
Yesterday I spent the better part of the day in my apron baking. <br />
I had a lovely ol' time to myself listening to music (MGMT, Newton Faulkner and REM if you are curious) and making a floury mess.<br />
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Scrummy yummy cupcakes, a few topped with lime buttercream and sprinkled with coconut.</div>
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And also<br />
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Bread to go with dinner.</div>
I love baking bread but my rubbishy wrists hate it, particularly after making pizza dough the night before. I use Jamie O recipes (after trying many others) but think I will be trying out some Baker Boys ones soon, love them! Realized I love a man dusted in flour, who knew?<br />
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My Biscuits were playing happily, Mr Biscuit was maintaining his friendship with his guitar and I was in my lovely kitchen baking. Happy day!<br />
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<br />::cupcakesandbiscuits::http://www.blogger.com/profile/09715002013671389532noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590465553075570121.post-69121987843083256742012-01-05T13:07:00.000+00:002012-01-05T13:09:13.269+00:00'What is funny?' It's one of those 'big' questions...no.1.<span style="font-size: x-large;">It</span> is indeed such a subjective question. What <i>is</i> funny?<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> am always curious to what makes us laugh. How some of us find things hilarious whilst another has a bare quiver of a lip. How it is uncontrollable, not always welcome and usually always funny in itself. Seeing someone in tears, tummy aching and body rocking is, to me,a beautiful sight! Love to see actors corpsing!<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> am always interested in peoples take on the world around them and how they feel about it, their quirks and eccentricities, their likes, loves and hates.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>n particular I love to know what makes people smile and even more so, laugh.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> got to thinking I would share some those things that tickle or have tickled me, either into a smile or requiring a seat to compose myself or in some cases sent out of a room and hope you will leave some of yours in the comment box too.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">so...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span>ere, for your pleasure folks, or not - rich tapestry 'n' that, are some of the things I find/have found funny for as many weeks as I can think of things to share.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Back in April I was manning the bake stall at my Biscuits' school and they had a few different things on in celebration of their 40th birthday. One of these things was a balloon artist. As we were setting up this balloon artist who was dressed as a clown (as they seem to always be) had to go into the next hall so he decided to run. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Did I mention the maseeeeve clown shoes?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Slap slap slap slap slap slap slap slap slap slap slap slap slap slap slap."</span><br />
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It was one of those occasions where I am laughing like a loon and all around are not. Oh and if he had fallen down.....<br />
Funny? Not Funny?<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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