Family Favourites.

I know, some of you (probably my age and older!) will be thinking of that programme which used to be on the radio, and humming along to the theme tune. Which is what I thought of myself as I typed the title to this post. What I was think of, was on the food side of family favourites.
Although both our children now have homes and children of their own, when baking day arrives somehow I still have them in mind.
I usually do a batch bake and freeze, unless I have something special to make, like when we go to visit our daughter.
I usually bake these, my daughters favourites .....


so they get packed up safely for the journey south.
My son and his family, also like cupcakes, but his favourite is this....


I always used to use butter cream or fresh cream as a filling, but family's favourite is marscapone cheese and icing sugar mix. Mmmm! When the fresh british strawberries are in season, they look lovely between the layers and taste so good!
Hubby's favourite is this.....

....Dorset apple cake, made to a traditional Dorset recipe. Served with a helping of clotted or double cream. (My favourite too, I think!). I usually end up making two of these, as one goes off to work with hubby, ( when it's his turn to take a treat in!).
But we all love this...

...rhubarb pie. I soak the rhubarb in orange juice and add fresh ginger. Serve with lashings of hot custard.
There is nothing more special than home baked food. It's so easy to pick something up from the supermarket on your weekly shopping trip. But I'd much rather do it my way.
Now, I'm sure there's some cake left...isn't there?

Spring is in the air!

Spring is in the air!
Originally uploaded by Shabby Tiger

What a glorious day it's been today. Whilst attempting to hang out the washing this morning, ( it's a little difficult at the moment with my knee problem) I realised that not only had the daffodils finally come out, but the violets too. So, time to get the camera out and see if I could get a few nice shots.
At first glance, I thought I just snapped the violets, but was so pleased when I found I'd snapped this too.
Spring is certainly here. Roll on the warmer days and lighter nights!

Playing with colour

I still seem to be on a pink "thing", I think it's because of our grand daughters, as I've done a lot of pink knitting this last year or so! So I've been playing with colours for several projects and these are a few of the images I've been looking at...
My set of ceramic bowls.....

.....although this picture hasn't really done them justice, the colours are really pretty, (and the pink one's gorgeous!)....
Jelly beans, eat them or look at them? Your choice!


...
A kaleidoscope, having made many of these in the past, and I've had a lot of success with them on handmade cards. Very addictive, once you get making them!

...
Spring flowers, they're just an inspiration in themselves...



.. there's still more pink.....


....even though my favourite colour is green!
Then there's this lot to consider...

I just love glitter and sparkle.... and, there's always vintage to inspire...



Don't you just love colour? I think I'll be a while yet, don't you?

HAPPY EASTER!

Have a wonderful time!

A burst of Spring.

At last, some good weather. Although listening to the weather forecast I'm not sure how long it's going to last, and I did hear a mention of snow, (forget I mentioned that!) But, it is nice to see some colour in the gardens at last......

........and some even have a fragrance.....

..... some I just love for the colour......

....... At the moment looking is all I can do in the garden. I've had a problem with my knee for the last few weeks, since I slipped and landed very badly on it. Hopefully, when I go back to the hospital (in three weeks time) they'll have the results from the MRI scan, and be able to tell me what's wrong and how it's going to get treated. But until then I shall keep as busy (and mobile) as I can, which is sometimes a problem.
I've been doing a lot of things these last few weeks, and one of them is knitting.
I've always been a knitter, since my mum taught me when I was four, which was a long time ago! Having grandchildren I knit for them, but I've also been knitting for other people, and making all kinds of things. Here are a few.....

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...there are one or two items which are from commercial patterns, but most are my own designs.
I have loads more ideas in my head, but I know there are a lot of people like me who have more ideas than time, but I'm determined that they won't stay "in my head" and that the real thing will appear.
I've opened up a shop on Folksy, the link is on the side bar, if you'd like to take a look. I'm hoping to offer an assortment of items for sale eventually.
It was my birthday last week and my daughter and her husband bought me this....


.......... The book is amazing, Tim Holtz has such talent. I'm going to set aside a whole day (hopefully) just to play!
Bearing in mind there's the housework, gardening, some decorating to do, my little craft room to tidy, not to mention ironing, (should I go on?)I still want to knit, sew, make cards, and I have some painting projects lined up, and tonight time steals another hour off us! But I shall carry on regardless. At the moment there are things which I am unable to do because of my knee, but they will be put on hold whilst I get on with the ones which I can do.
Don't foget to put your clocks forward..... oohhhh long summer evenings, I can't wait!
Have a good weekend, Linda

Our new arrival!

Here she is, our new grand daughter Evelyn Grace, born on the 1st February. This picture was taken just a few hours after she was born. Her mum, dad, brother and sister are all very happy, and so are we. We now have four grandchildren, three girls and one boy. What's it like to be a grandparent? One word, wonderful!!!

Vintage chair back covers.

Vintage chair back covers.
Originally uploaded by Shabby Tiger

These beautiful chairback covers ( antimacassars) are from the early 1950's, maybe even a little older. They were used on a three piece cottage suite, I absolutely adore them, but I couldn't bring myself to use them as they are so delicate now. The embroidery is all intact and the colours are almost as good as I can remember from many years ago. The pale green band along the bottom is not quite as you see it on the picture, it's more of a peppermint green, really lovely.
Sadly I don't have the third piece, the which fits the settee, I don't know what happened to it, but I'm glad I have these as they have been such an inspiration for one or two projects I have done in the past.

One project was for an oriental card for a friend. I loved the lanterns...

and decided to see if I could make something similar from polymer clay. well this is what I came up with....

I have to say, I was really pleased with what I produced, and not a bad likeness would you say?

One of the projects which I used a little lantern was this....

I was very pleased with the outcome, and I'm sure the reicipient was too!