Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Citrus loveliness and chunky mustard snood!

For some considerable time I have coveted those gorgeous snoods, the kind you find in shops that you cant afford!
So when having a good clear out I discovered some chunky wool that I had bought over a year ago, had I bought it with a snood in mind?

Well it was crying out ''knit me!"

This was a project that had simple and quick all over it! With in 2 days I had knitted a long scarf and then joined it together to form a snood!

I cant tell you how easy it was, with chunky wool and massive needles you all can have one!

There seems to be a colour theme in this blog post, could it be the lack of that golden shine from the sky that has driven me to these hues?

My Mother rang me the other day to ask if I wanted some Seville Oranges as she had spotted them in the shops and it is Marmalade season.

Now, my mother gave me her preserving pan last year with the intention I think of passing on her wise preserving wisdom!

So far my experiences of making marmalade have not been very successful! Let me just ask you this, have you ever seen or tasted Lemon Golden Syrup!!?

Armed with the tools I headed off to be taught by the professional.....

I can now see where I possibly went wrong.........


After removing all the juice, pips and pith, slicing the oranges filled the kitchen with the most gorgeous citrus scent, heaven.

Due to so much chatting and giggling before all the preparation time was running out.....

I had to rush off to pick the monkeys up (smelling of the Mediterranean!) from school.
So unfortunately I left the marmalade in the good hands of the pro and hopefully I will be able to pick up jars next week of our tasty golden Marmalade!

At least I managed to finish one project!

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Ending the year on a High!

With the mad rush of the Open Houses I had little time to blog!
So much news yet so little time.
The start of the high was a return trip to our most favourite holiday destination!
If you haven't tried a FeatherDown Farm experience I strongly advice that you do.
We went in October (the same time of year as the last trip), the same place and even the same tent!
It was like coming home......
The boys settled in straight away to farm life...........

We went for walks and observed nature at its best......
I became obsessed with clouds at this point, so spectacular!

Fields, landscapes, trees, running free........

We collected and foraged like squirrels.......

Making nature fairies and pixies!
Life on the farm refreshes and renews those tired spirits, gets the batteries charged for the busy and crazy months ahead!


Talking of making, the next BIG high of the year was again to have another feature in this gorgeous magazine MAKING.
Look, my work is on the front cover!

I was asked to do 2 features, one on how to make fascinators .......

the photographer, model and editor have really made my work look stunning.....

.... and the second was to make a belt/sash.
I am very proud of this piece, it was so enjoyable to make and write.
I have put a few of the fascinators in my Folksy shop if you don't have the time to make one.
I hope to write more this year and would like to thank the team at Making for making a dream come true!

As the seasons go by the light and temperatures change.....

I was asked to exhibit at 5ftinf Open House and was given the challenge to make something new!
With a mass of shrunken jumpers I came up with the Lapet!
A Lapet you ask?
Its a kind of blanket for your lap!

Each blanket was lovingly created using recycled sweaters washed several times at a high temperature to give that felted texture. Then each one has been given that unique touch with a simple embroidery or embellishment.

They certainly kept me warm in that cold weather as I made them!
I will probably put some in the shop, thats if I can prize them off my lap!
In the run up to Christmas there were the Open Houses and school fairs galore, all very tiring but enticing us into creating that Christmas spirit!

The Christmas cake and wishes were secretly made......

... And what a perfectly white Christmas it was!

Walks were taken........ very large cat like foot prints were discovered, gulp!

Snow angels were tricky to make in hard frozen snow.......

The Sussex Downs looked stunning......

A perfect walk.......

..... to end on a high and to wish you all a .......
.....Happy New Year!

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