Heart Garlands

I decided to make a heart garland because I wanted to add it to the Holly and Ivy garland I am going to make for my front door.  I made a garland last year for my door and added red bows but it was missing something.... Hearts.

So this year my garland is going to have hearts.

And while I am making one, I might as well make two. One for the door and one for the cabin.

The red hearts are going to be for the front door; I think!!!    And the ice blue hearts are for the cabin!!!!!

I have got to add the ribbons and string them. I have the cord for the blue hearts but I need to buy some string for the red hearts. I decided I wanted garden string so it would look more natural with the Holly and Ivy.

Once I have strung them I will take pictures to show you all. Hopefully I should get it done today as I off shopping to buy supplies. Oh and lots of treats for the Gang of three or as I call them "The Girls"

Thanks for stopping by.... See you soon

CupCakes and Sugarcraft

I left the cabin for the day to go with my little sister for a  Cup Cake and Sugarcraft course.

The Gang of Three did not like this; probably because I had to leave at 7am and they had just been up for an hour. Daisy had her toast at 6.15 am; which was 45 minutes too early. She was not impressed, Betty and Dotty both thought I was putting them back to bed as it was still dark at 7am. And Daisy...... well she was not having any of it. Refusing to follow me down to her house and run, I tried to bribe her with Cheese, did not work but Betty loved it. Tried her with a whole corn on the cob, still refused to move; Dotty had that and loved pecking at it. Then I tried porridge with warm milk, Daisy loves this on a cold morning, still refused and hid under the Ivy. Well time was getting on so I had no choice but to go in and get her out and what a noise she made, for someone so small she can wake the dead. Anyone would have thought she was being attacked by a fox!
Once they were locked away nicely in their run, with enough food for a party, off I went. One last look round to make sure they were fine as I locked up the cabin.. Daisy was staring back at me, frowning!!!!!
( I'm in the dog house, tomorrow is not going to be a good day. Daisy payback)

I have always made cakes, ever since I was small. Cupcakes I have decorated with buttercream topping and cakes with icing and buttercream. But I have never attempted Sugarcraft.

Well when we arrived we saw the cakes and my they were good, then the nerves kicked in. Oh my what am I doing here, I looked at my little sis and asked her if she was sure this was the right class.

See my little sis does a Cake Decorating Course on Thursday night's and she thought it would be good to do this class, as her tutor would be taking the class. Well I thought this could be a disaster.

Our Tutor's name was Ann Wilson and she had been teaching for 20 years + So she must be good and used to people looking nervous. And she was.....

Ann took us through all the cakes one by one, broke every design down and it was great, I loved it. Now when I look at these beautiful cakes I know how they are done.

We used modelling icing, glitter, sugarpaste ( icing ready made in the shops), food dye and had hand outs with recipes for Golden Syrup Cupcakes, Tomato Soup Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting, White Chocolate Ganache and Bailey's Buttercream. We learnt or should I say I learnt to pipe my cupcakes with the correct size tube. I have to use a Wilton open star tube for swirls. This is used on my green cupcakes. ( This is so they look like trees for Christmas and not because they have gone off, just in case you were looking at them wondering why they were green.)

 

 

We also learnt how to pipe a rose. I came out of class knowing how to do so much more now there is no stopping me and all my cakes will be sugarcrafted or piped. Watch out world here I come!



So if anyone else is wondering should I do a Cupcake and Sugarcraft course the answer is YES, you will love it!!!

 I arrived home at 7pm, went straight down to lock the girls away in their house.  I knew they would be fast asleep, they go to bed at 4.30pm. I tried not to make a sound.  Just as I  lent in  to close the door, Daisy popped her head up at the window and made this little noise and the look on her face said it all. What time do you call this, where do you think you've been all day. Just as I was about to say something, she stuck her head under wing and fell to sleep.
Oh I am in big trouble and tomorrow I will have hell to pay.

Thank- you for stopping by,  see you again soon....

Gourd Friends.

Veggie Friends

Meet the Gourds, these are my new friends for the cabin wall.......... They are so cute, I had to sew them.

Over at Threadbias we have been having a "November Stitch Along". The pattern comes from Mollie Of Wild Olive;
http://wildolive.blogspot.com/2011/05/embroidery-basics-making-faces-french.html

You must see her other work; it is fabulous, I could spend all day looking through her Blog and trying all the patterns. Also there is a step by step guide to some embroidery stitches. Its just wonderful!!!!!!

All I need to do now is decide what other picture I would like to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by, see you soon.......

Hexagon Christmas Wreaths

There are lots of books about Hexagons...... The quilting world has gone made for them. I did a quick search on Google for Hexagons for quilting and I had 1,970,000 hits in seconds. Then I did a search for Christmas Hexagons and had 4,740,000 hits. I am telling you the world is in love with Hexagons.

So am I.

They are so easy to work with...... I just love them. I first started using hexagons to make a pin cushion, now I have used them for my next Christmas project.

My Hexagon Christmas Wreaths.

 

 

1. The first one I made was the smallest, this was made by using a 4 cm hexagon template,
2.  Freezer paper or scrap paper,
3. Two different pieces of material,
4. Matching threads.
5. Small amount of ribbon and a Christmas button. 

 

 Small Wreath

 

 

Then I drew around my template onto the paper 12 times. Then after cutting out my paper templates I ironed 6 on to one colour and 6 on to the other. If you don't have Freezer paper, pin your paper template on to your material.
Then leaving a small seam allowance cut the templates out and tack the material to the paper.

 

Next sew two hexagons together making sure they are the same colour, wrongsides together and LEAVE all the papers in, this helps to keep its shape. You will need an invisible stitch or ladder stitch.
When you have done this to all your hexagons, lay them out in the shape of a wreath, remove your tacking  and sew them together.

 

Add your ribbon, button and here you have your very own Christmas Hexagon Wreath.

 

 

Larger Wreath

 

 

If you want to make a larger wreath, as I have; this is also easy  and a little different  to make; as I cheated a bit............

 

1. The template I used for these was a 7 cm hexagon,
2. Two different fabrics, matching thread,
3. Toy stuffing,
4. Ribbon, buttons and small bells.

 

With the fabric I folded it right sides facing each other, then I drew around my hexagon straight on to the fabric.

 

Then sew together leaving a small opening for turning out and filling. When you have finished you should have 3 hexagons waiting to be cut out.

 

Repeat this process with the next piece of fabric.

Cut out all the hexagons leaving a small seam allowance.

 

 

 

Once they are cut out they should look a little like this. Turn the right way, making sure the corners are pointed and fill with toy stuffing and sew up the opening.

Place all pieces into a wreath shape and sew tthe corners together using a bar stitch.
Add ribbon, buttons and bells.
Other finished Christmas Hexagon Wreath.

 Any problems leave a message and I shall do my best to help you out.
Thanks for stoppping by see you soon .........



Freezer paper; Freezer paper or “grease proof paper” in the UK, is paper with a waxy finish on one side. It is generally used to wrap and protect food that will be frozen, but quilters figured out that they could cut patterns out of the paper and lightly iron it to fabric.
I brought mind from cotton patch.

If you don't have freezer paper, any forms of paper can be used.


 

 

Meet the Gang of Three. Girls from the Cabin

Meet the Gang.

We have Daisy, Betty and Dotty. These are my three chickens. They live in the garden in a nice little chicken house by night and by day they live in the cabin.
Our day starts at 6am in the winter or 5.45 am in the summer. In the summer it could be earlier. This means no sleeping in.

 Betty

They are funny little chickens, Betty is the smallest and very bossy. She will peck her sisters if they get too near her food, sharing is a bit of a problem at times for Betty because the food is also Daisy's and Dotty's. I do explain this to Betty daily and we are getting there. Betty is first out the Hen House and first in the cabin in to the box of straw under the table to start the process of getting ready to lay her egg. Some days this happens within minutes other days it could be hours. All depends on the time of year. While she is in the process she will go though her nesting ritual, which means Betty will walk around the cabin/ garden picking up straw, leaves, twigs anything in her way and throw them over her shoulder. Its quite funny to watch, she can be a drama queen at times. If Daisy or Dotty get in the box of straw before Betty has finished with it she will stand in front of the box and crow at the top of her voice and if that does not work, she just climbs in and pushes them out even if it means she sits on their heads in the process. Share can be Betty's biggest problem.!!!!!!!

Dotty

Dotty is larger than Betty and is our pin up girl. Dotty is always cleaning her feathers, making herself look nice. But don't be fooled Dotty can be very mischievous, if Dotty wants to go somewhere Dotty goes!!!!!!!  she is always jumping up and over things, going into places she should not be in. The grass is always greener where she should not be. Then when you find her and try to bring her back she looks at you as if butter would not melt. Lately she has decided to sit on my shoulder when we are in the cabin. I could be sewing, reading, cutting out material or just passing the time of day, Dotty will jump up onto my arm then proceed to walk up and sit on my shoulder or stand what ever takes her fancy as long as she is higher that her sisters. Now and again I will get a peck on the head to let me know I have done something wrong like moved without telling her what I was doing.

Daisy

Daisy is the youngest and smaller that Dotty but gets an ear full from Betty. Daisy is first in of a nighttime as she loves to sleep near the door, which Betty and Dotty hate. As every night they try to push her out of the way in to the middle of the perch so they can sleep there but Daisy stands her ground and pushes back. And wins every night.
Daisy is the most vocal of all my girls. She talks from the time she gets up to the time she goes to bed. Just as well really because I talk to them all day too, probably where she gets it from. Daisy loves toast in the morning, with proper butter, none of this "you think its butter, or tastes like butter," she's not fooled and will tell you so if you try to fool her. Some days she is partial to a bit of jam but during honey season and extracting, well if she could get her head in the bucket she would, she loves honey........

Daisy is a bit like Betty when it comes to laying her eggs, if someone is in the box of straw they will not be there for long, Daisy goes full steam ahead and kicks you out. She will sit on you and if that does not work she will push you over the side. No love lost when I comes to Daisy and laying her egg, "needs must an all... girl's got a job to do" and Daisy will do the job.

Being the youngest she is a little unsure of things and not a lover of change. Her big sister Peggy used to look after her alot but Peggy died this year and Daisy missed her terribly, well we all did and still do. She has good days and not so good days. I have become Daisy's surrogate big sister and she is my little one and we do feel sad together when we miss Peggy. But time is a good healer so they say. Anyway Daisy follows me everywhere and I mean everywhere if she could come shopping she would.

This is Peggy on the back of the chair. We love you Peggy R.I.P


Well they all would Betty, Daisy and  Dotty are very nosey if shopping bags are left on the floor for too long( we are talking 10 seconds max) their heads, followed by their bodies go in to see what you have brought them!!!! They think all shopping food, clothes, material, anything really is theirs. Then if they can't eat it, then its yours....... Chicken logic "if I can't eat it, forget it!!!!!"

Now you have met the gang, well some of the gang. You are still to met Bear my black fluffy by winter cat.

See you soon for more adventures, as every day is different in the cabin. Thanks for popping by ......

Christmas Decorations

Christmas Decorations

  As a fabric lover I have lots of fabric, I admit it...... I love fabric and I would like more, lots more. A girl can't have enough fabric, shoes, bags and cakes.But to do that I must start to use up some fabric from my scrap bags to make room.....
So I have started to making Christmas Decorations...... Yep I know its only November but have you seen the Christmas fabric out there , its GORGEOUS..... and if you are not into Christmas fabric, the other fabric is pretty dam good. So to have this, I must sew and sewing I have.

 I started with my triangle Christmas Tree.

 

For  this tree I used a 7cm triangle template and 3 different types of fabrics. Lots of buttons and a small piece of ribbon. Once I made all the triangles, I arranged the tree and attached each triangle using a bar stitch. The once the tree was complete I added the buttons and ribbon. 

 

Then I made two Suffolk Puff Christmas Trees, Yo-Yos Christmas Trees.

 

These were made from scraps material and a circle template. Each circle is then attached to each other with a bar stitch, added a ribbon. Two more trees. These were made within a few hours and the triangle tree was made over a couple of days.

 

They were all easy and fun to do. I shall be making more Christmas Decorations over the next few days.......  as I do need some new fabrics or rather want some more fabric. My next Christmas Decorations are going to be made from Hexagons.

 

Thanks for popping by see you again soon .......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Cakes.......

As promised I am going to chat about cakes, well one.

Today I have made one large Victoria sponge and twelve mini Victoria sponges. The recipe I use is Mary Berry's from the book 100 Cakes and Bakes. For those who do not have this book or recipe for a Victoria Sponge here it is;

Cake tins
2 loose- based 20cm (8inch) sandwich tins 4cm (1 1/2inch) deep.

Ingredients

225g (8oz) butter softened.
225g (8oz) caster sugar.
4 large eggs.
225g (8oz) self-raising flour.
2 level teaspoons baking powder.

For the filling

Some jam (your choice, I have used strawberry and in the past raspberry)

If like mine you would like to add butter icing here is the recipe for that too.

Butter Icing

75g (3oz) unsalted butter softened.
250g (9oz) icing sugar sifted.
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Method

Step one.  Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/ Fan 160*C/gas 4. Lightly grease the tins or use non-stick baking paper for the bottoms.

Step Two. This is were you need to decide if you are going to use a electric mixer or an old fashioned wooden spoon!
I have used both  and they come out the same. This is an old favourite recipe and if I have time I use my wooden spoon, ( taught at school this way) but if time is a bit short I use my electric hand mixer. You choose..........

Electric mixer way; Measure the butter, sugar,eggs, flour and the baking powder into a large bowl and beat for 2 to 3 minutes until all blended together.

Wooden Spoon way; measure sugar and butter into a large mixing bowl, cream together until the mixer is pale and fluffy.
Then add the eggs one at a time be careful not to let the mixture curdle ( egg separates the mixture), if this happens add a little flour from your weigh flour.

Step Three; Divide the mixture between the prepared tins and level the surface with your spoon or spatula.

Step Four; Bake for about 25-30 minutes, until well risen and golden brown. Leave the cakes to cool for 5-10 minutes in their tins on a wire rack, then pop them out of the tins and leave to cool completely(about an hour if you need it quickly or longer if you have time)

Step Five; Choose the best looking cake for the top, then place the other cake face down onto a serving plate. Spread with buttercream first if you are using both then cover with jam or spread with jam, as much as you like.  Put the other cake on the top and sprinkle with either icing sugar or caster sugar. Your choice or no sugar.

Step Six; Make a cup of tea or coffee, cut yourself a slice and enjoy.Mmmmmmmm