Some Homemade Scones and Lemon Curd!

Hi - I've not been on here much lately, life is just whizzing by and I don't seem to be getting time to do anything to really write about!!!

I've been wanting to bake some scones for a while and I know that alot of people on MSE had been raving about Karen's scone recipe so I thought I'd give it a go.  You can find the instructions here along with some other lovely recipes.  Karen has done some easy to follows instructions with photos.  I have to say these scones tasted delicious and they have not gone dry despite being a couple of days old.  I made them as a tester as I want to bake another batch on Saturday for my birthday as I plan to have afternoon tea with my family.  I will cut them alittle thicker on Saturday as I think they will be higher then!

Last night I made Lemon Curd, following Karens recipe which can be found here - very easy to make with Karen's fab photo tutorial and the taste is just wow wow wow!!!!!   I don't think I will ever want shop bought Lemon Curd again.  I teamed it up with one of the scones and it was gorgeous!!!  I liked it more than strawberry jam so this will be my new favourite scone topping!!  I will be making some cupcakes for Saturday and injecting some of this curd into them as well as putting a jar on the table to go with the scones!!!!  Of course on Saturday there will be clotted cream as well to go with the scones!!!!

Do take a look at Karen's blog as she has some other lovely recipes including a lovely Farmhouse Cake which she has named 'Alice Cake' after the grandmother from whom the recipe was handed down from. 

Thanks Karen for your lovely recipes!!!!!

An Eventful Day!

Well this week was going nicely, had my mum's birthday - I cooked several different Indian dishes and we had a lovely dinner at home with just immediate family.

I sold a few Sock Kitties and a few other bits so that was good but on Friday I went to the Post Office to post one of the kitties and came out and was trying to cross a road when a parked car suddenly reversed back and knocked me over onto the road.  I was lookinig at the oncoming traffic so I didn't even see it coming.  The worse part was that I was on the floor and he was still reversing.  I don't think I've ever been so frightened in my life. The driver just didn't see me and he didn't even realise he had hit me.  He heard shouting and stopped and then saw he'd hit me.  I can't believe how lucky I was not to be badly injured.  The driver was very nice and apologetic and swore he had looked in his mirrors but must have had a blind spot.  He gave me all of his details and a lady that had crossed over to help did the same.  I fell onto my hip so was hurting abit and then had to hobble down the road to meet my mum whilst trying to hold back my tears.  I was sore and bruised on the side I fell and then yesterday woke up with very bad back ache around the rib area where the car had hit me.  I took some anti inflamatory tablets last night and it seems to have done the trick.   

It really hit home to me though that all it takes is a few seconds for something life changing to happen.  If I'd been a child, the driver might not have even heard the shouting and driven over me.  Luckily, I'm here to tell the tale. 

Thanks to everyone that knows me on Facebook that took the time to post and make sure I was ok - it meant alot to me.  Shame that one or 2 people that I once thought cared alot about me didn't care enough to check I was ok!  C'est La Vie!

Father's Day Newspaper Style Card

I've been wanting to make a newspaper style card for ages and I was lucky enough to have a fantastic tutorial sent to me by Caroline - she did a brilliant job and made an easy to follow tutorial with photos.  Thanks Caroline!!!!

My dad doesn't like cards with things like bears or anything like that on them.  He cannot understand why bears are put on so many cards lol!   Therefore, I have to try to find/make gardening themed cards as this has been his hobby for as long as I can remember!  He's had an allotment for many many years and we have been lucky enough to enjoy some lovely fresh vegetables since we were small kids.

Anyway - I made the basic newspaper card and then decorated it with some gardening decoupage that I'd picked up at the Ally Pally in April.

I'm really pleased with the result and will be making many more of these now I have the hang of it!!!

Centre Stair Step Card

I've not made any cards for a while now but had a few occasions coming up so made a couple of cards.

The first was for my mum's birthday.  I'd seen a lovely centre stair step card style which I wanted to use and there were some great instructions here.

I used some polka dot card and went for a butterfly theme.  I've used 3 different butterflies, one is from my Marianne die and the other 2 were sent to me by Caroline.  Caroline makes some lovely cards and other bits and bobs and you can find her here.

I coloured the butterflies with a promarker and then used glamour dust and stickles and some flat back pearls to decorate them.  I cut out a mat with Nesties and embossed it with Swiss Dots which I then coloured over with the same promarker.  I had some ribbon with purple dots on it so put that along the bottom and added a stamped circle sentiment.

I also put some purple polka dot paper on the inside and a Labels 1 mat on which I printed a sentiment  and used distress ink to colour.

I really like this design of step card and wil be using it again.

Bargain Fake Tan!!!!!

Now I know this post won't appeal to everyone but I wanted to share this brilliant bargain product with you all!!

I love testing out different fake tan products as I'm not one to lie around in the sun for hours trying to catch a tan and I always like to put sun tan lotion on my face if I'm out in the sun as paraonid about wrinkles!!!!

Anyway, I love St Tropez for my body but never keen to put tan that develops over a few hours on my face as if it goes wrong you can't get rid of it!!!

I saw in a magazine that a instant fake tan had been give rave reviews by This Morning on tv and it was from Poundland - yes you read that right!!!!  So for just £1 I thought I'd give it a go!!

It's an instant shimmer tan called Bronze Ambition Glow 'N' Go and it's made by Creightons.  It comes in one shade I think as no sign of any others.  You just rub it in your face or body and then when you don't want it on anymore you just wash it off. 

It give's a really nice even colour and it doesn't stain your hands very much when you use it although you should still wash your hands straight after applying!

Probably best not to wear it with white clothes but you could test it and see!!!

Here is what you need to to look out for

I forgot to say that it has a pleasant coconut fragrance to it. 

They also do another fake tan by the same manufacturer that is the type that develops over a few hours.  I didn't buy that one but may go back for it!!!

Grab yourself a bargain and have a tan even if the weather is miserable!!!

Vintage and Handmade Fair

Well yesterday I caught the bus to Chipping Sodbury as the Vintage and Handmade Fair was on at the Town Hall.  It's the first time that I've been along to one of these, the last one was held on the same day that I went up to London for the Craft Show at the Ally Pally.

Chipping Sodbury high street is a lovely oldy fash type of street with beautiful buildings and some gorgeous little gift shops and a tea room called Poppy's which I've not been to yet.

The fair was lovely and full of the most gorgeous vintage fabrics and other bits and pieces.  It was great to be able to stroke the fabrics and take in all of the fab colours and designs.  There were also lots of vintage clothing and linens.

I had some lovely chats to some of the ladies on the stalls.  Here are a few stalls that were beautifully displaying the most gorgeous fabrics

This gorgeous stall was being run by a lovely lady on behalf of her daughter, Donna Flower.  They have the most fantastic range of vintage fabrics and you can find them here.  I loved the whole look of this stall, a simply beautiful display.

This was another stall packed to the brim with gorgeous vintage fabrics  - Sal's Snippits, lots of cotton feedsacks.

You can find Sal here - go and have a look!!!

I bought a few bits and pieces at the fair.  I got some gorgeous bundles of cotton lace and some Liberty fabric pieces from Hardaker and Pope

 and a lovely little brooch.

I really enjoyed the fair and will be keeping an eye out for the next one!!

EDIT - OMG I forgot to mention the coffee and homemade cake that I had!!  Served in a lovely china teacup and a slice of very dark chocolate cake - yum!!!!

Union Jack Fever!!!

Following on from my Union Jack Mug and Union Jack Sock Kitties, I made some glass tiles with vintage style Union Jacks on for an order.  They really looked great on a necklace and earrings set.  I even made matching backing cards to put them on!

Here they are

Tonight I made a little Union Jack purchase for myself as well!!!  I was in T K Maxx and spotted a lovely Emma Bridgewater Travel Document Holder in a Union Jack pattern

It was a steal at only £6.99 - Here it is on the EB website at a much higher cost so very pleased with my little bargain, will be great for my next lot of travelling!!!!



Glass Tile Jewellery

I've been playing with glass tiles recently and they are very addictive!!!!

I've just ordered some more as I've used all the first lot  up!! 

They look great on necklaces and bag charms and can have all sorts of images on them including photos or pretty papers.

Anyway - here are a few things that I've been making using the tiles

Some of these are available still to buy over on my Facebook page along with a few others.

I've deleted the shop application on my Facebook page as it wasn't working out postage properly.  I have started a photo album to show any items of jewellery that I have for sale so if there is anything you'd like to purchase just comment under the photo and I'll be in contact!