Falling at the final hurdle
So…….NaBloPoMo then. Oops! Totally lost the thread with it, what with my Mum being over and running around Glasgow like a loony. However, it proved to be a useful exercise as it made me think more about this blog and what I’d like to get out of it.
As we’re now in December it’s time for the Christmas crafting to step up a gear! I have Eileen’s bauble swap to work on, while there is some cranberry vodka doing……whatever it is cranberry vodka should do, in my hall cupboard. Very simple recipe, you can see it for yourself here. I also came across a fantastic thing on the BBC website – 25 different Victorian themed Christmas projects. You can check them out here – I think I’m going to give the marbled wrapping paper a try – possibly also the place mats!
Glasgow on my mind
Another brief post from me – I am in the ‘Weeg with my maw and very full of yummy Italian food! I shall be hitting the shops tomorrow, on the hunt for crafty goodness.
Coming to the end of NaBloPoMo, I’ve been reflecting on the fact that this blog has become quite personal, as well as being about craft. I’m still guarded about what I say here, because it is so public, but it’s been nice to have this outlet!
A quickie
Not got time to post much this evening, as I’ve got to finish off my laundry, pack and generally tidy the flat up a bit. Maw Paddymade is coming over for the weekend, so tomorrow I’m off to Glasgow! I’ve got £60 to spend in Borders and I cannot wait. I’ve also finally started reading Twilight. So far not completely gripped, but I’m only a few chapters in so I’ll see how it goes.
Lush as it will be to see my mum, being out on Thursday does mean I’ll miss the first episode of the final (sob) series of Gavin and Stacey. Thank God for the iplayer. If you’ve got no idea what I’m on about, check this out. Tidy.
Another day, still no crafting
I really am a useless article! However I have at least managed to nail down some ideas about who’s is getting what in a handmade stylee for Christmas….I’m not going to list that exactly since some of the recipients do read this, but we have sugar scrubs, a cute little mini scarf, aprons, and bead jewellery. Once I get paid next week it’s time for a massive shopping spree and to get cracking!
Since I have no pictures of lovely craft to show, I’ll leave you with a picture of a lovely man instead 
Keira Knightly bugs the tits off me – but Matthew MacFadyen as Mr Darcy gets my vote!
Baubles!
I am all partnered up for Eileen’s Craft Neutral Bauble Swap and well excited! For those of you who didn’t click on the link when it was posted (and shame on you!) I have to make a Christmas Bauble using only materials I have in my stash or anything I can find from nature. I am paired up with Jane, so a big hello to her! I’ve also got another craft swap on the go – organised by the members of a Livejournal community I’m a member of – so I’ve got much to keep me occupied!
Today was another day with no crafting, since I had to go into work (despite it being my day off) but this turned out to be one of those days I can’t complain about. After all, how often do you get to hang out with luvvie royalty?
Count your blessings
Sunday’s seem to be my day for slightly more serious posts and today is no exception. It’s been a pretty rough week for me (I didn’t get the job, amongst other things) and I’ve been a bit down. However, I’m taking the time to recognise the good things in my life. I have a job and roof over my head, I have family and friends who love me and I have a lot of possibilities in front of me. I’ll admit a couple of drinks with a friend has helped me into this state of mind, but it does no harm to recognise these things from time to time. Hope everyone’s had a good weekend!
Cake and a card
In a break from tradition for me, it’s a Saturday night and I’m going out!! Admittedly it’s only to a house party and I’m driving because I’m working tomorrow but still! The party is actually for some friends who recently got married and I wanted to bring something with me to mark the occasion. Being me, this means a cake, but I didn’t want anything too heavy, so I decided on Rachel Allen’s Butter Free sponge. The recipe – which is from bake – is as follows….
3 eggs, separated
8oz caster sugar
3floz water
5oz plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
Preheat the over to 180c and grease and line two 8in sandwich tins.
Beat the egg yolks and sugar for two minutes, then add the water and beat for approx 10mins or until the mixture is firm and creamy. Sift in the flour and baking powder and fold in gently with a metal spoon or spatula.
In a separate bowl – which must be spotlessly clean – beat the egg whites until they just hold stiff peaks. Fold it into the cake mixture gently, again using a metal spoon or spatula.
Divide the mixture between the two tins and bake for 20mins or until the sponges are just set in the centre. Remove from their tins and leave to cool on a wire rack. The sponges will be quite puffy and sticky, so handle with care! Sandwich with whatever you fancy – Ms Allen suggest fresh fruit and cream – I went with lemon curd and cream. Dust with icing sugar.
Horrible pic, I hate my kitchen, but you get the idea!
I also made up a very simple card, using my ink stamps and a tea stained page – the glue isn’t quite dry in this picture – it’s not a stain!
Paddymade’s Friday favourites
Well, here we are again, the end of another week, so it’s time for some selections from the cream of crafty types. This week I am leaning towards homewares. I’ve been thinking a lot about decorations since I signed up for Eileen’s Bauble swap, so it seemed appropriate!
I absolutely adore these ceramic hearts…
Actually I love everything in Prince Design UK’s shop, so if you’re of a like mind then head on over there.
This is such a simple idea, but a really effective one….
You get 55 white card and button flowers to jazz up your walls however you like – potentially a great idea for revamping a girl’s bedroom? These come from 100% Delicate.
Finally we have some sage advice, courtesy of Miso Funky…….
All of these fantastic products were found on Folksy – it’s really inspiring to see what people are coming up with!
When doves cry
Today has been a decidedly odd day. My mood has been all over the place, mostly down to my hormones (Tammy Wynette had it right, that’s all I can say) and there was a decent chance you were going to get an outpouring of crap. However, tea and chocolate buns have restored my equilibrium, along with the arrival of this little flock….
I’ve been at my folding work again – mindless repetitive activity really is very calming! These doves are slightly smaller than the previous batch – which means I can put more text on the card. Here’s a close up to show the pattern on the paper a little better…
These have been added to the pile to be stuck onto my blank cards. I’ve been pondering my plans for Christmas over the last few days. I’ve seen lots of things that I like the look of, what I need to do now is marry them up to people who would like them for gifts! Handmade stuff for the blokes in my life (my Dad, my stepdad and my brother) is proving tricky plus I need to remember that my ambition and my skills do not necessarily match up! However, I am confident that I can come up with some good gifts and I’m actually quite excited by the idea of doing it by hand. A cracking blog for those of you in a similar frame of mind is Christmas Matters, which has ideas, recipes and reviews of all things Noel related. Also, if you haven’t signed up for Eileen’s Bauble swap yet, why on earth not? You’ve got until Sunday, you know it makes sense!
A new meal and a new swap!
Earlier this week, the fabulous Eileen threw down a challenge, as she set out to learn more recipes and I decided to join her. Tonight was the first installment – Roast Poussin with Sweet Potatoes. This comes courtesy of Nigella Express and the recipe is as follows…
2 poussins
2 tbsp garlic oil
1 sweet potato, weighing approx 500g
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1-2 bunches of watercress
Salt and pepper
Lime juice
Preheat the oven to 220c. Put the birds into a small roasting tin and pour half the oil over them. Cut the unpeeled sweet potato in 5cm dice and put them into a roasting tin – Nigella suggests using two tins, I used one. If you’re doing that, put a slice of bread underneath the poussin to soak up the juices – this means the sweet potato will get nice and crisp. Either way, pour the rest of the oil over the sweet potatoes and then sprinkle on the spices. Stick in the oven and cook for 45mins.
Nigella suggests spritzing the watercress with the lime juice and seasoning the rest with the salt and pepper. I just tore up some iceberg lettuce. This was super tasty and very, very easy. Obviously if you were looking to feed a family a chicken would be better, but these quantities work fine for two. I now have the carcass sitting in a pot so I can make stock with it tomorrow.
Staying with the lovely Eileen, she’s hosting her first swap and I do love a swap, so I am duly signed up!
I encourage you all to get along to her blog and do the same!
