GARDEN DELIGHTS....

It has finally stopped raining -I thought I was going to have to put my sewing to one side and build an ark. There has been lots of localised flooding but thankfully nothing too serious. It is warm and sunny here today and I have finally been able to venture into the garden to see how my plants and flowers are coming along......................

We have already had tomatoes and spring onions to eat. The blueberries are nearly fully grown and we are anxiously waiting for them to change colour! I only have the one plant in a large tub but it's nice to think we can just wander into the garden and pick some fruit to make some muffins!


The pepper plant has grown quickly in the last couple of weeks and although the peppers are tiny at the moment there are plenty of them!


My 'herb planter' is looking very healthy - my dad has also planted some lettuces in here and they are growing rapidly. Whenever I walk past the herbs I cannot resist picking a couple of leaves and smelling them - my favourite is basil!

My neighbour gave me a tray of livingsone daisies and they are now smiling at me from the borders. I love the fact that they close at night or when it is cloudy and then open their delicate petals again once the sun is out. What a lovely existence?

I have two hydrangeas - a blue/purple lace variety in the front garden and this reddy pink delight in the back garden. I have already cut a couple of stems for the house but I will have to try to resist cutting any more.

This plant was originally from my parent's house. I think it grew too large and my dad split it. It is the first year it has flowered in my garden - I'm not sure of the name. It's vertical thorny flowers can also be dried to use as an everlasting flower - or so I believe.

And finally one of my favourite plants, the hardy fuschia! I love this variety - hot pin and lilac flowers - they look like little ballerinas!

I have been working on a new item for my etsy shop (slightly different from my usual flower brooches and occasional scarves) and although it is complete the photographs did not work out well. Hopefully, I will take some more photos in the next day or two and I will post them asap.

Bye for now and enjoy the remainder of the sunny weekend! I hope I haven't spoken too soon!

3 for 2..................

I have a 3 FOR 2 OFFER in my Etsy shop at the moment and this will only be available until the end of JULY 2009.

BUY THREE BROOCHES AND RECEIVE THE ONE OF LOWEST VALUE FREE!

THE CHOICE IS YOURS!

GRANNY SQUARE PROJECT!

I have finally finished my granny square project that I orginially started in May 2009. This project was inspired by Vanessa and her colourful crochet squares! I'll give you a little peak first - I am so pleased with the result.

My mum is a super sewer! She has very kindly sewn the lining into the bag which is made from a Liberty of London cotton lawn - very soft. The handles are reinforced with iron-on interfacing. I cannot wait to use it. I carefully selected the colours to match my current wardrobe!

Do you like it - I hope you do!

Before I go I thought I would let you see what I have been designing and making! A new brooch - what a surprise!

I wanted to produce a brooch with a very modern, arty look! I looked at paintings by Kandinsky and Miro and as a result this new circular design was born! It has lots of fine detail!

CAN YOU GUESS WHERE????

On Saturday I drove up the wonderful Northumberland coast with my parents and Peter. My husband was successfully traversing the country on his pedal bike (known as the C2C) and I had an eary appointment at Belford Craft Gallery in Northumberland. Belford Craft Gallery is a small but superb gallery selling local artist's work. Fotunately, the lady I met agreed to exhibit my work in the craft gallery and I left with fewer brooches than I had arrived with!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On our way home we called at Bamburgh and ate delicious crab sandwiches in the superb Copper Kettle tea rooms; before descending upon my favourite part of the Northumberland coast - can you guess where it is. Here are a couple of clues ......................

The cross on chuch hill ...
The beach..............

And finally a crab! - photographed by Peter!

If you haven't already guessed - it's Alnmouth! Alnmouth is a small, picturesque village situated at the mouth of the River Aln, on the Northumberland coast. It is located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which stretches from the Borders in the north to Amble in the south of the region.

The village was an important port until a huge storm in the early 1800's changed the flow of the River Aln and cut off the towns old church (the location of the church is marked by a large wooden cross visible across the river which you can see on my first photograph). Today the estuary is used by pleasure crafts and small fishing boats and is only accessible around high tide to those with good knowledge of the waters.

If you are ever driving along the Northumberland Coastal route you will see the ever so pretty row of houses lining the River Aln - all painted different colours! I think it is one of my favourite 'views'.

BLOSSOM

I love blossom - do you???? These brooches were inspired by japanese blossom - there are some gorgeous fabrics and wallpapers in the shops at the moment! I quite fancy some new paper on one of my lounge walls!

These are currently for sale in my Etsy shop!

ANYONE FOR CAKE?

I thought I would share this photograph with you of the cake that I made on Sunday. I love lemons and have adapted this recipe from a number of cakes that I have made in the past. The result is a really light, moist cake which is ideal for long hot summer days. It lasts for about three days too as long as it is covered well.






Here we go. We'll start with the ingredients:


175g/6oz caster sugar
175g/6oz margarine
3 eggs
175g/6oz self raising flour
2 tbsp fresh orange juice
5 tbsp lemon curd
125g/4oz icing sugar
finely grated rind AND juice of one lemon


Method

1) Preheat the oven to 170F / Gas Mark 3 - grease and line the bottom of a 7inch/8inch deep cake tin.

2) Cream the sugar and margarine together until light and fluffy.

3) Whisk the eggs together and gradually beat into the creamed mixture.

4) Add the orange juice with a little of the self raising flour and then fold the remaining flour into the creamed mixture with a metal spoon.

5) Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin.

6) Dot the lemon curd randomly across the top of the mixture. Using a skewer swirl the lemon curd through the mixture.

7) Bake in preheated oven for approximately 35 minutes.

8) Once the cake is cool, sift the icing sugar into a bowl and add the grated lemon rind and juice. Beat the mixture together and cover the top of the cake.

SPECIAL OFFER!

I have a special offer in my Etsy shop at the moment. If you buy four brooches you only pay for three - you will receive the one of lowest value free.

This offer is only available until the end of June 2009 so don't miss out!