Quilt

For some time now I have been meaning to make a start on a quilt for my daughter. Before Christmas, I started to cut out some squares for a nine patch and then left it for a while, life got in the way. I picked them up again last week and realised I made a massive boob, I blame the lack of sleep from when I cut them due to my newborn. I had allowed the seam allowance but only for one side, an experienced quilter/ sewer may have been able to to still use the pieces but I want to do things ‘by the book’ and have it as perfect as I can manage. I thought that I would have all these small squares of fabric wasted, although I could save them for applique pieces but everything would then be quite samey. I thought about finishing, batting and binding then it occurred to me they are big enough to use as bias binding- woo no wasted fabric and it will give the quilt a nice finish too.

Keep checking back for progress and photos!

Thanks for reading, N

curtain tie backs

I had a spare pair of tie backs from our living room so in up cycling fashion, wanted to use them for my daughters room. Now her room is quite colourful and these are plain white bog standard ones so into the scrap box I go!

I got her to choose whatever fabric she wanted on them and decided to do a bunting design on them. As they were cotton fabrics instead of hemming or backing them I used pinking shears to make them look funky. I also got my daughter to help sew a running stitch to hold them until I got to my sewing machine.

I sewed a simple straight stitch along the top of the triangles and then pressed them.

Creme egg brownies

As it is time for Easter and indulging I have a recipe treat for you! I have seen these dotted all over the place, originally from Eric Lanlard I believe and as I have a weekend of family gatherings I thought I would give them a try.

185g dark chocolate

185g unsalted butter

85g plain flour

40g cocoa powder

3 eggs

275g caster sugar

A bag of mini crème eggs

-Preheat the oven to 180ºC, gm4. Over a pan of water, melt the chocolate and butter together then put to one side to cool slightly.

-In a separate pan, crack in the eggs and whisk in the sugar until pale and frothy. Add this to the chocolate mixture and stir in.

-Sift in the flour and cocoa powder and gently fold in.

-Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes and whilst the mixture is in the oven, take a sharp knife and finding the join, cut them in half.

-After 15-20 mins, take the mixture out and squish in the egg halves evenly spaced apart.

-Put it back in the oven for 10 mins to finish baking and melt the crème eggs.

-Let the brownies cool completely in the tin before cutting.

Vintage fair

Yesterday I had a mummy day, long overdue and popped over the water to have a bit of retail therapy and also attend Southampton vintage fair. I went with my younger sister and son and as we got to the guildhall, a long line of people greeted us which is always a good sign that it is worth going. As we made our way through the entrance into the hall, rails and tables of vintage lovelies awaited to be touched and adorned on the next owner. I already had a list of things I wanted to look out for but my eyes kept drawing me in all directions with the colours and textures, scooting up each aisle to look for fabric and tea sets proved fruitless unfortunately so I was free to browse the rails of clothes. As we laughed at a very 80’s shell suit it occurred to me that some of the denim pieces could be 90’s- my era at a vintage fair- eep! There were some beautiful tea dresses that I was very tempted to buy but were too big or long and I was just too nervous for the thought of my pins and dressmaking scissors to start making alterations and then have a disaster.

Walking round, a charming little stall caught my eye, the apple bobber, selling children’s vintage with some  pretty little lace christening gowns and THE most gorgeous little girls dress and jacket suit as well as magazines, books and patterns. Seeing how well made these clothes were inspired me to think about starting to make clothes for my children.

A stall with a rack of beautiful vintage hats stopped us in our tracks for a closer inspection at Juliette’sthread and we admired the reworked bags.

Another stall that pulled us in with their beautifully laid out goodies including a crocodile bag were Tomorrow looks vintage- by Jones. Fur coats in perfect condition just willing you to stroke them and some darling clutch bags.

A stall that I will be contacting in the future is vintage in print, Mr p wants a vintage car print, probably to offset the trinkets and treasures I have dotted around! They had some wonderful old vogue prints and harpers bazaar but I could see that he wouldn’t be impressed with yet more fashion related girlieness.

My sister bought a lovely Alice in wonderland inspired necklace from the lovely mother and daughter team, forage and find and we spent an age looking through the old postcards trying to make out handwriting and finding it endearing a thank you card for some socks. A child’s cabinet displayed made me think of parents and grandparents rummaging in their lofts to bring down old toys and looking through photos, especially now they have gone up a generation and noticing the painted murals in common.

The last stall we popped to is where I got my silk scarf which evidently my daughter, almost 3 just LOVES and carries it in her bag. The neck scarfs in particular where neatly folded across the table and you didn’t have to rummage through bins to look at each one. The ladies at kipper and bow were lovely to chat to and had some lovely shabby chic bunting made from paper that I just wanted to buy it all.

I am just wishing that I booked in an appointment for the vintage hair lounge as the girls being worked on looked fab.

Love N x

Winter cobbler

This is a new recipe that I am trying – fingers crossed!  Due to this horrid weather I have reverted back to hearty rib sticking dishes.

\winter cobbler, serves 4

1tbsp oil

1 garlic clove, crushed

3 small onions, chopped

250g beef strips (can use mince or any other meat)

3 carrots.  chopped

4 medium sized potatoes, cubed

400g canned chopped tomatoes

2tbsp gravy powder

4tbsp water

Splash tabasco sauce to taste

Pepper to taste

-          You can add a handful of lentils, rinsed, just add 150ml of water to the dish.

For the topping,

225g self raising flour

Pinch salt

4tbsp butter

115g grated chedder cheese

1tsp chopped herbs

1 egg

150ml milk

1.        Preheat oven to 180ºC. Heat the oil in a pan and cook the garlic and onions over a low heat for a few minutes then brown the meat. Add the gravy powder and water and heat until thickened.

2.        Add in the carrots and potatoes and cook for a few minutes then add the chopped tomatoes and season to taste.

3.        Transfer to ann ovenproof dish and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes

4.        To make the topping, sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Add the butter and rub in then stir in most of the cheese and herbs. Beat the egg with the milk in a small bowl and add enough to the dry ingrediants to make a soft dough. Knead, then roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1cm thick and cut 5cm rounds

5.        Remove the dish from the oven and increase the temperature to 200ºC. Arrange the dough rounds around the edge of the dish, brush with the remaining egg and milk mixture and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese. Cook for a further 10- 12 mins and enjoy!

noisy newborns

It’s needless to say that new-borns are noisy, particularly if they are hungry/ thirsty, tired, bored, nappy filled. My daughter cried and winged more than my son as she had trouble bringing up her wind which unsettled her. Jellybean has been a model baby, hardly crying at all and at nearly 6 months has only just started to whinge, mainly due to teeth and just wanting to be off after his sister. In other aspects though he was the noisiest, snuffling when he was asleep, fidgeting and the delightful habit of growling when he was about to or being fed. Yes growling like a grizzly bear, greedy boy you see. At first it took me a week or so to get used to these noises again because you do forget the range of sighs, grunts and moans leading to the crying. Mr p tried to get used to it with earplugs too but alas had to retreat to the spare room for some sleep. Trouble is once he is woken up it takes him a while to drop back off whilst I have no problem falling asleep anywhere or I did before jellybean came along. I have increasingly found that it takes a while for me to switch off to go to sleep not helped by jolting awake when he does as I don't want my toddler to wake up otherwise my mornings would start at 3am! Hey ho, I know this will pass and quickly at that so I will try and take every grunt, grumble, moan and shriek in my stride and enjoy him whilst he is so young and still wants snuggly cuddles with his mummy!

My growly bear

Love ya, N x

mummy, daddy days

Often in our house when it comes to the weekend and it all depends on what kind of week it has been, we devote the weekend to 'whatever mummy wants to do' or daddy. Now this isn't a time to go solo on a day trip or spa day, however nice that would be, these have to be family orientated as this time is precious and the kids love family weekend time. It has to factor in with walking the dog as he is a responsibility and we want to keep him in his prime like a gundog should be by giving him good exercise. Other dog owners are amazed at how good looking he is for his age (and I am talking about the dog, not Mr P) ((although Mr P you are equally as good looking for your age too)).

Although very occasionally I do get a lay in, I usually get up with the kids and we have 'cuddles on the sofa' drinking tea (milk for kiddies) with a blanket over us watching tv, slowly waking up and I don't mind it one bit.

 By the time we are organised, have had lunch, fed jellybean to keep him happy and pip have a nap (phew) it is around 2 anyway so if mummy wants to pop round the shops, especially on a Sunday, Mr p won't have to traps after me for very long. I think that he secretly has a pep talk with the kids, timing explosive poos for when I'm ready to go or hunting after puppy that has been on my bag all along.

I always think that I would like a little longer to look round, but in reality I've been there done that and kiddies just don't add to the equation they get bored and restless and who can blame them really? I would just be looking at things I can't afford and would like to but I come away thinking 'actually a cashmere coat or beautifully tailored trousers are not in my lifestyle right now with two young kiddos and a mucky dog' when it’s time to stop crawling on my hands and knees playing and wrestling with them, then I can contemplate them, until then I'll don my jeans and wellies and splash in muddy puddles!

Nowadays I always have a list and general plan so whizz around knowing what I am looking for. Mr P hates shopping because a) he is a man and b) I don't always get something which frustrates him but he doesn't get that if I think it is too much or bad quality I won't be happy with it but that is just me! I have a real appreciation for old things and not because they are 'fashionably vintage' they are made to last unlike the plastic tat that gives up the go 2 months after your warranty has run out and you cannot get the plastic casing off to try to fix it so a replacement is bought begrudgingly. Is it weird that I ask to come along to the tip and then go and look for a 'treasure' to repurpose? That is me, I love a bargain or a bit of furniture to 'do up' however my recent love is ikea they have so much furniture to personalise and I must admit for my kids it is a godsend. Admitting it or not, I think Mr P secretly likes ikea too as he always ends up buying a cuddly toy for pip!  N