sunshine in the garden

Well this sunshine is hanging around isn't it......Sat out in the sunshine making brooches....

 The leaves were rustling, the sun shining and the birds chirping away.......

 Made quite a few of these lovely little flower corsages.............

 I like the one with the Cath Kidston colours...might keep that one for myself....... the hubster likes the apple tree one

And poppy likes the blue garland one..which one do you like the best?

Lavender Workshop only a couple of places left x x x

The next workshop is on Saturday 14 June and is based on Lavender! They are being held in Hesta of Bodkin's HUGE crafty kitchen.
You will be greeted by china and lavender biscuits over which we will all spend a few minutes getting to know each other.

Craft Activity 1: Learn How to Fabric Paint on Canvas Bags
Shown by textiles expert, Hesta of Bodkin.

Craft Activity 2: Learn How to Make Beautiful Delicate Lavender Jelly
Taught by Claire-Louise of Sidmouth Poppy (everyone will get to take home a jar.

*Break for lunch made of locally sourced / foraged goodies.*

Craft Activity 3: Learn to Make Traditional Lavender Bottles
They are used to perfume your drawers and wardrobes and make wonderful gifts.

The afternoon will then wrap up with a lavender infused cake and tea on vintage china and everyone will have a chance to admire each others handicrafts before leaving with a lavender goody-bag.

£45 for workshop to include lunch, tea and cake and goody bag.

Pre-booking is essential via Eventbrite: http://bit.ly/1hedu6Y

 

my first sourdough loaf

 My first attempt at a sourdough loaf.....I have enjoyed feeding my starter....although at sometimes I was convinced it wasn't working...it was just doing all its growing when I wasn't looking at it...and when I did it was flat and hungry....

 I kneaded and kneaded and was convinced it wouldn't work ...but...at the end of the first proving I could see that it had.....

 Didn't have a fancy proving basket so I just lined a mixing bowl with a heavily floured napkin.....

 But I had a brain wave I need to find a lacy cloth or doily and have patterned bread!

 After the second proving I was well impressed...i still had two hours to go but was worried it would "over" prove....so I cooked it...should I have left it????? Can anyone tell me?

 Here is the finished loaf......It was very light and tasty..although it didn't taste sour at all ( i did use a recipe that included a tablespoon of honey)

It was gobbled up with tons of butter dipped into my home made pea and ham soup, a family fav...and the next day I used it to make garlic bread to accompany our meal....It was very satisfying to make and I intend to use the weekend to perfect  my baking skills....practice makes perfect!

making christmas pressies

 Spent yesterday making these little beauties x x 

Little dorset button brooches ready for stocking fillers for crimbo......have any of you started making Christmas presents yet?

Bodkin workshop

 I spent Saturday at one of Bodkins amazing all day workshops......

 We spent the morning learning drop spindle spinning........

 Then ate an amazing lunch....

 Lovely hunks of bread....

 An amazing home made quiche and herb salad grown on Bodkins allotment

 It was a great bunch of people.....

 We also had tea and a raspberry and almond cake on vintage china.....

 In the afternoon we started needle felting angels.....

 I have never needle felted before in my life!!!!!!!!

 And decided to make  a mermaid.....

And here she is........the sum of my efforts...i am very pleased with her...and Hesta of Bodkin was such a great teacher.....I am eager to go to another workshop and brush up on my new found skill....

Lilac scented sponge cake.

 Used my lilac jam to make a this cake for knitting club and decorated it with the lilac flowers that I crystalised ...every week I have to make a cake for the ladies at my knitting club, which I help run,

As from next week I have to make TWO! It's quite hard finding different flavours each week...... Please pop over and check out the other blog I run on behalf of the knitting club....it's quite time consuming doing two!!!!!    http://sidmouthknitcafe.blogspot.co.uk/

Lilac Jam Part 2

 Well here it is folks......

 My first attempt at Lilac jam.....

 And although it has a very pleasant floral flavour..........

I was expecting a more intense flavour.....hoping to make another batch this week and see if I can intensify the flavour x x x x

I am soon opening up a Sidmouth Poppy facebook page, where I am hoping to sell some of my crafts and vintage finds.....will let you know as soon as I have it up and running x

Lilac Jam .....Part 1

 I got into foraging last year and discovered that you could make a jam/jelly from Lilac flowers just a few weeks too late in the season.

 This year I have been kindly donated a lovely bag of Lilac flowerheads.......

 What a beautiful job plucking the flower heads, they made a satisfying little snap as the flower is snapped from the stem...and the smell is divine....I now have to pour boiling water over the flowers and leave to infuse overnight....

 I saved one perfect flower head to crystalise the flowers for decorating a cake for next weeks knitting club.

I  will post part 2, the making of the jam tomorrow, and show you the Lilac scented Victoria Sponge I will make with it x x I may even have a jar or two  to sell! I need to find more Lilac bushes!!!

Dandelion Petal Cake......

 As regular readers of my blog will be aware I have got into foraging ....BIG TIME.

At the moment I am captivated by the humble Dandelion......Making a few Dandelion Petal Cakes....

It's very labour intensive.....involving picking dandelion heads....washing them, then pulling all the petals off, steeping overnight, straining, making into a syrup,  then pickinganother lot of  dandelions, washing  and pulling all the petals off to put into the cake along with syrup. But well worth all the effort x x

Next week I am making another lot of syrup, and some dandelion marmalade which is delicious, would anyone be interested in purchasing a jar off of me???????

Bookbinding course.

Hi what did you get up to this Easter Monday....

 I spent mine in this wonderful creative kitchen......

It belongs to Hesta of Bodkin....

And she was running a book binding course....

We had a dandelion petal cake and rhubarb and lavender cake....

I fell instantly in love with these Alfred Meaking Brixham trios.....

Everywhere you looked........

 You saw something new.......

 and creative......

Even the tea was special Lavender Earl Grey!!!

After introducing ourselves and nattering away , we finally got down to book making.....

It was a very stimulating atmosphere, as we were all getting loads of ideas....

Nina was a really inspirational teacher.....

And it was really good fun!

 I struggled a bit as I kept stopping to take photographs and then fell behind!

 It was really interesting deciding what papers to use....

There were many to choose from, different textures and styles I loved these maps.....

I chose a dark brown cover....

Tiff chose a yellow jacket.....

 Hesta found an old 40's children's  book and I loved the illustrations....

 They were vaguely art deco....

 Nina took us through step by step.....

Everyone loved making their own personal books....

I can't wait to get cracking on some of my own at home...think everyone will be getting books for Christmas!

Here we all are at the end of an enjoyable couple of hours...well I am behind the camera! It was also great because I got to meet lots of lovely like minded ladies and  Dottie  Angel!

thank you sooooo much Nina Fenner and I can't wait to do it all over again next week, as Bodkin  are running another bookbinding course next monday ,but  there are only  a couple of places left. If you are interested in signing up for one of Bodkin's courses please click here x