Chocolate souffles

I have a small addiction to GU chocolate souffles, light as air and rich with the flavour of the darkest chocolate. As a result I end up with lots of the glass serving jars they come in, I reuse them for serving butter and dips, holding toothpicks and olives, but still have stacks in the cupboards.

So to give them yet another purpose I gathered some scraps of lace and favourite twine to wrap around the glasses then trimmed them with some berries, gold beads and silver sparkles. Now they are tea light holders. Glowing and twinkling on the kitchen table.

Supplies and notions

If you were thinking of handmade presents this year maybe you should treat yourself first with these lovely utilitarian supplies and notions from Merchant and Mills to get started? I love the traditional branding and boxes. Of course if you are not a stitcher yourself they make superb gifts in themselves.

Illustration day continued

I am in the mood for fantasy today as it is so grim outside, and although I am dressed it is still cold so I am back in bed writing, drinking a cup of tea and eating turkish delight. Extravagant I know, but I can't go anywhere so that is that. I will admit, even though I think it to be wildly uncouth I have reheated this tea twice, please lets just keep that between us.

Anyway my third illustrator today is the wonderful Kate Wilson of Little doodles. I do wish my backyard wildlife were as enthusiastic about pretty things as these little feathered folk, when we finally get our own garden and bird table I will teach them some new tricks. They will dine on peanut party rings and birdseed macaroons.


All images Kate Wilson

What will you make pretty?

Are you still with me on this cold November week? Good luck to those who have entered the last two giveaways, here is wednesdays.

Better late in the day than never, is this "Lets make pretty" box of sewing supplies and keepsakes. A glass bottle of antique pearls, beads and sequins, vintage buttons and silk thread, a handmade pin keeper with removable charms, Liberty print relaxing flax and lavender eye mask for when you retire from sewing.

To be eligible to win this givaway you just need to be a follower here of my blog page, Facebook page or twitter feed.

A week of pretty

Fondant creams, favourite books for inspiration, frilly layers, lavender and rose, cushions and colour charts. I love making things and this week off has really been great. Sad to go back to the day job next week.

Little things and shoes that sparkle

Adorable little dog cards from Rifle Paper Co and a shoe thats definitely not suitable for puppy walking.

All my favourite colours.

A hearty cup of spiced chicken and bean soup was the helping hand I needed to start an Autumn pom pom garland and embroidering some new cushions last week.

I wish I could crochet

My highlight on twitter this morning is finding out from Sandra Juto that it is Wristworm season. But which pair? I love them all.

All images Sandra Juto, one of my favourite bloggers. Her photography really does makes my day.

trimmings and sparkles

Kits containing all the trimmings and sparkles to create pretty keepsake letters and a floaty hanging mobile made with vintage jewellery, just a couple of things from my latest shop update.

Happy Wednesday

Pretty in pink, things for a sweet tooth and new craft projects. I'm going to London for the day with my sister to meet a friend and see a show. Happy Wednesday.

The Homemade Home.

The Homemade Home by Sania Pell. I love this book, bursting with gorgeous pictures, styling and fifty pretty projects that add a bit of extra flair to everyday life. Most of which can be made with things you would find laying about the house like fabric scraps, broken jewellery, tired furniture or old jam jars. A perfect way to brighten up a dull corner and make the most of rainy weekend mornings.

I have been saving some liberty lawn cotton for ages and decided to finally tear it up. The first project from the book that I tried was these fabric covered coat hangers, I have loads of plain old hangers from my high street shopping addiction that are looking rather sad, so now all of my dresses are going to get the royal treatment. I didn't have wire hangers but these ones ended up showing more of the fabric and I am super pleased with them, I will post a photo of them all together next time.

All watermarked images by photographer Penny Wincer for The Homemade Home available from publisher CICO Books

If the good weather fails to last and you get driven back indoors what will you be making this week? I would love it if you were to post some links and share. Happy midweek.

Pictures and pastimes

Things to look at, things to send and things to get you started on a new project.

Shop update.

sweet treats, plans and inspiration.

Last weekend was spent preparing sweet treats for a Saturday night gathering. Teeny meringue and fruit tarts, brownies, yummy white russian cupcakes from this book, and fresh strawberry ice cream. Seems I ate way too little cake and drank too much Rum. Although Sunday morning I did manage to fight through the hangover and craft a green iced dinosaur out of chocolate cake for a two year old's birthday party. Miracle. It all went down hill after I became a human climbing frame. So will be having quiet Saturdays in for a few weeks.

Has everyone else been really enjoying the sunshine? Even from indoors, my windows pushed open, curtains fluttering in the fresh spring breeze. Tidying magazine scraps into folders and paper piles all over the living room table (much to my husbands dismay).

I have been gathering images for a holiday inspired mood board hoping I can weed out the black leggings and grey cardigans for more colourful and bejewelled style capsule wardrobe to take away with me to Marrakech. All my greys fall together so easily and the revival of leggings has made me utterly lazy about dressing. Feel another wardrobe cull fast approaching.

Still procrastinating about what to sew these beautiful stones onto. A trip to Liberty is needed to get some fabric and design some cushions. All this colour is making my imagination boil over.

Wreaths and wishes

Happy Monday everyone I hope your weekend was filled with sunshine and happiness. My husband has been away again at a trade show in Taiwan so I have actually been back in my work room, getting the feel for making a few more things as its only two more weeks until I drop a day at the bank. Hooray! Some tiny blossom adorned wreaths have been added to the shop to bring the first days of spring ever closer to home.

Ps I was featured in April's issue of Company Magazine and I would love for you to vote for my blog in the poll over at their site.

Will I ever see the sky again

Snow, rain and now thick fog. I am forgetting what it is to see a blue sky, and so is my camera. An evening with my friends on Saturday saw the wine glasses emptying and topped up a little too quickly and I woke up yesterday with the feeling that someone had sunk an anchor into my head. I am not a big wine drinker and now I remember why. A good time was had so I am not complaining. I just feel a little resentful towards myself for not having my Sunday with a crisp clear mind. But there is always next week.

I spent a few hours spent peacefully stitching by beloved glass beads to some vintage lace yesterday so all was not lost, and now the sun has just appeared through the clearing fog. Happy Monday to you.