OK, so Jo told me off….

… for not posting – especially when I have been busy creating – so here I am updating.

My main recent achievement was to make Jam, well to be exact, Bramble Jelly.  I’d never made Jam before and had always been a little daunted by the task but, inspired by friends recent gifts of Blackcurrant and Damson Jam, and the massive bounty of fat, juicy blackberries at the Norfolk campsite we stayed at for hubby’s 40th birthday,  I decided to give it a go.

It was actually remarkably easy.  I went for the jelly option as recommended by my good friend Charlie.  As you strain it there is no peeling and very minimal chopping involved.  It also doesn’t matter if there are any crawly visitors in the blackberries as they just get strained out.  I quartered 5 windfall apples (no need to peel or core) with the washed blackberries and the juice of 1 lemon then add enough water to just cover in a large metal pan.  Bring to the boil and then simmer until the mixture is a big pulp and cool before transfering to a jelly bag over a bucket to strain overnight.

The following day you add 1lb of sugar to every pint of liquid and bring to the boil.  I had a jam thermometer so just boiled the mixture rapidly (at approx 105 degrees) until it reached setting point.  I used the saucer in the fridge method of dropping a teaspoon of mixture onto the cold saucer and popping it in the fridge for a minute to see if it wrinkles up when touched.  I’d sterilised my jars in the oven at 150 degrees for 15 mins and then poured the jelly in using a jam funnel while the jars are still warm. This is important of the jars will crack if cold and you pour hot jam in!!  I placed a disc of greaseproof paper on top of each and put the lids on while hot.  Pop on pretty fabric lid covers and, voila – free homemade jelly!!

I’ve given some jars as gifts and have already finished one off – it’s super yummy on french bread with butter! Mmmmmm!

Yummy Yummy Orange Cake

So good I made it twice in a fortnight!  The first one was devoured by myself and the lovely Jo in a matter of 3 days and the one in the picture was made as a thank you gift for all the the ladies who have looked after my son at Preschool for the last couple of years.  I did some fancy stripey icing with a touch of edible glitter (my new fave toy!) to make it extra special. 

The recipe is from Rachel Allen’s book, Home Cooking – Orange Madeira Cake and was very easy to make.  Just wanted to post a pic of it here as I was very pleased with how it turned out… was particularly scruptious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some fresh raspberries… xx

Garden Monkey Spotted in Northampton!!

It had been rumoured for some time that knitted garden monkeys, so far fairly native to the southwest, have been seen further up the country.  I didn’t believe it but,  lo and behold, when I wandered down the garden to feed the chickens this morning, sitting in a bush was this little fella!

For a wild monkey he is a very friendly chap and has already become firm friends with my son Riley who has christened him ‘Humdrum’.  He has apparently told Riley that he is a monkey superhero who can fly.  I am now under instruction to make him a cape to aid his flight.  As I type he is flying around my living room at great speed and seems none the worse for all the crashes!

Thanks to Jo for the pattern from ‘Knit a Square & Make a Toy.  So simple even I could make him.  I did have to take his head off and re-stuff it to make him a little firmer, but he was very easy and I now feel a stripey garden monkey coming on…  watch this space…

Hope you like him Jo and that he lives up to his cousins… xx

Knitted ipod Cover

Here’s a little pic of a mini-project that I did when my lovely hubbie got me a new ipod for my birthday in April.  I wanted something to protect it from scratches (and also cos I am quite good at dropping it!) and so I decided to knit a cover with some leftover sock yarn that I had got to make bookmarks for my friends at christmas.

Anyway, it turned out quite good.  I made a little rope with the same wool and added a pretty button to keep it all secure.  Works a treat – even if it does make everyone else laugh!!  I just like the juxtaposition of the forefront of technology nestling safely in a pouch made from one of the oldest crafts around…  xx

Decoupage Delight

Having been bogged down in Open University TMA stress for the past few months, I haven’t been very crafty of late.  all that changed however with the dawning of Jo’s 30th birthday.  Not being able to let the side down, I decided to turn my hand to some papier mache and decoupage, something I haven’t done for ages.

I’d saved a plastic cotton bud pot which I thought was just the right size for a pen pot and being as Jo has recently moved into her new flat/cave, I wanted to make her one for her new desk/dining table/writing space.

I covered it in about 8 layers of papier mache (newspaper & PVA solution) and then 2 layers of pale pink paper.  I painted the inside and bottom with dark purple acrylic paint and added a small ring of pink, leopard print paper at the bottom and then I adorned it with a mini-Jo that I had saved from the girt wrapping on a Lush gift box.  With the addition of some flowers, hearts and butterflies and a few sparkly pink gems, it was done!!

It travelled down to Falmouth with me last weekend for the birthday celebrations and survived a couple of accidents on the way – phew!

Hope you like it Jo Jo!  xxx

The force was with me…

Well I was a busy bee for Riley’s 4th Birthday last week.  My gorgeous boy is currently obsessed with all things Star Wars and so the obvious cake choice was an R2D2.  It seemed like a great idea until I thought about the logistics but after 4 hours work (and a few inspirational gin and tonics!) I think he turned out OK.  He tasted pretty cool too.  Chocolate sponge with chocolate buttercream and cherry jam filling.  2 nights to make, 10 minutes to demolish – oh well, he was a great hit with all Riley’s little pals… and the Dad’s too!

Here he is in his all together!

In all his droid glory!

Also in the process I discovered the joys of edible glitter!! WOW!! The colours available are amazing and I can see them being used liberally in my baking future…

At last… a post!

Well, at last things have settled down after a hellish couple of months involving broken limbs and back surgery – neither for me I have to add!  I’ve been on nursing duty and as a result, had no time to post.  Anyway, Riley is now running around as before and Alan is back on his feet, even if still a bit ropey at times, so I’ve a little more time and have been making the most of it.

My latest completed project is a Stripey Baby Blanket which I made for my lovely pregnant friend , Natalie.  It was one of those things which was a great idea at the time but which, half way through (and 140st per row!), I just couldn’t see an end too.  Well I finished, in a rush as baby arrived early, and completed with an appliqued felt star.  It’s the biggest item I have knitted and took me 5 weeks in all.  I think it came out lovely and was really proud to hand it over to the scrumptios baby ‘Gabe’. 

Hope it keeps him warm and snuggly!

Howdy Doody!

Well here goes…

I thought it was about time I gave this blogging business a go so inspired by my good friend Jo-Jo (who is doing a splendid job at it – see link!) here I am giving it a go.  I’ve always got several ‘projects’ on the go and this may be a good way of ordering my mind full of chaos trying to keep track of everything.  I can’t promise how regular it will be, but I will give it a good crack… x