My pet free sewing environment...

I recently returned to my sewing maching to find my neighbours' cat sitting on top! (She'd crept in the back door and decided that was the best spot.)

In view of my Etsy promise that all items are constructed in a pet free environment, I quickly and kindly tried to 'help' her get down.  Her response was to nip the back of my hand, grip the machine with her back legs and refuse to budge. At least it gave me chance to take a photo - I was laughing so much, I'm suprised I managed to keep the camera still.

Potential customers please note that this is not a regular occurence...

 

Valentine's Cupcakes

I did a bit of baking last weekend and made these Vanilla Valentine cupcakes, entirely for his benefit -honest. We washed them down with hot chocolate (which he's cunningly taken to flavouring with rose syrup so it tastes like turkish delight!). Yes, we felt a little queasy by the time we'd finished...

Narcissus

This Narcissus was a Christmas gift (one of those indoor bulb kits which you plant and grow yourself) and was very special while it lasted; it's a shame the fragrance can't be shared online...

Embroidery

My Grandma kindly gave me this delicate piece of hand embroidery at Christmas (she made it herself a long time ago). I think it is an amazing piece of work; the colours are beautiful and the detail breathtaking...

If you click on the image you can see the detail more closely.

Christmas is definitely over...

This weekend we burnt our Christmas tree in the garden.  I wish we could have planted it, but its lack of roots somewhat hampered things.  It made for some interesting photos though...

 

Tutorial - Vintage Cake Stand

I recently made this cake stand for a friend. Simple but effective!

It's always nice to create a special one-of-a-kind item. If you fancy making a similar one, it's as easy as this...

You will need:

• A plate (a dinner plate is the best size; choose one which isn't too heavy)
• A candlestick with a flat top (approximately 18cm/7 inches tall)
• Epoxy glue (two separate gels which you mix together immediately prior to use)
• White spirit
• A marker pen

Instructions:

1. Wash and dry the plate and candlestick thoroughly.
2. Measure and mark the centre of the reverse of the plate with a small spot of ink.
3. Place the candle stick over this mark (i.e. where you will eventually glue it in place) and draw around it.
4. Lay the plate face down, mix and apply the Epoxy glue to the candlestick, then glue to the plate. (This glue sets incredible quickly so you won't have much time to reposition the candlestick if you make a mistake).
5. Leave to dry overnight.
6. Use white spirit to remove any traces of marker pen from the reverse of the plate.
7.  Place cake(s) on finished stand, admire briefly, then eat.

Tips:

• You can find a massive selection of vintage plates and candlesticks sold individually on eBay.
• Make sure the candlestick has a flat top. Some have rounded tops and therefore less surface area to stick to the plate.
• In preparation for gluing (to create a stronger bond), you can sand the top of the candle stick and the marked area on the plate. Sandpaper is sufficient, but I was fortunate enough to have a helper with a small electric sander! Remember to clean the sanded areas with white spirit prior to gluing.
  
• Wash/wipe clean by hand. Although the Epoxy glue is incredibly strong, I would not advise putting your finished cake stand in the dishwasher.

As always, I look forward to making one for myself!

Spring Flowers

I spent some time tidying the garden this weekend and was delighted to see the daffodils and tulips starting to sprout. It almost made up for losing control of the hose and soaking myself with ice cold water…

 

Last year local squirrels had a wonderful time digging up the bulbs and tasting them, discarding most...          
I solved the problem this year with some prudently positioned chicken-wire. Looking forward to a little more colour in the garden over the next few weeks!