Dala Delightful
I am just a little bit excited about showing off my first ever Dala horse. Here in the UK they are pretty much impossible to locate, I’ve only ever seen the traditional red/orange ones in one shop, once. So when I received this blue and white beauty for Christmas, from Miles I was more than a little over the moon. She made a long journey all the way from Sweden and safety arrived in one piece yesterday – eeek!
I think I let out a little squeal when Miles gave me it, I had no idea that he had remembered I wanted one, or even knew where to get hold of one. I was a very lucky girl this Christmas, my friends, family and Miles all put so much thought into the gifts they gave me it was really lovely. I love Christmas and as I grow older it becomes less about the gifts I receive, I get so much pleasure finding the perfect things for everyone and then watching their faces light up when they open them. It’s also such a great time of the year, breaking from work for a whole 2 weeks and spending much needed time with the loved ones – what a treat!
Christmas Paper Wreath
Happy Christmas to everyone! So sorry I haven’t blogged sooner, December has been insanely busy, there are just not enough hours in the day! I really hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and is still enjoying the festive season? I have a lot to catch up on and I fear I am going to have to my Christmas posts after Christmas! Topsy-turvy I know, but I still want to share some of the things that inspired me throughout December. As I may have mentioned (once or twice) before I was really aiming for a more handmade Christmas this year and here is a picture of the wreath I made from paper.
I can’t take any credit for the idea behind this one, I spotted the tutorial over on The Red Thread (thanks for the inspiration). I used paper bought at Paperchase and it’s simply a case of stapling each and every leaf into place, one-by-one! It’s a slow but rewarding process. I would really love a natural wreath, but I know I would be shocking at making it myself and I am sure it would wilt or be stolen from my from door in minutes. So for safety reasons this now adorns my living room door, safe from thieves, rain and snow! This is so quick and simple to make, I think it could double up as a really effective table centre piece with a fat pillar candle in the middle – I must try that next year.
Happy Tapes ‘n’ Luggage Labels
Well, it’s been a funny few days, that’s for sure. Lets just say my normal routine was a bit disturbed but all is better now. Despite the topsy turvy weekend I did manage to make a few things to cheers me up. These early Christmas/any occasion labels were one of them. I used all my lovely new supplies that I had been storing – it made me pretty happy – the simple things really. It really is, I am busy, stressed and rush around all week long it’s so nice to sit, relax, stay in and make stuff at the weekend. Even if you don’t really need anything – just making something creative helps.
These are just plain old luggage labels from Paperchase jazzed up with a little happy tape and Petra Boase sticky tape. I got the coloured masking tapes from Present and Correct – their stock is all so kitsh and cool I could spend a fortune. The large pink and turquoise tapes are the Petra Boase, I picked them up at the Country Living Fair for the bargain price of 2 for £5!
Anyway, I hope this inspires someone out there to do a little bit of crafting – it is really is good for the soul, and, as I have proved you don’t have to be wonderfully talented to get involved. It’s not hard sticking tape onto labels at all, but it is really good for your well-being. I’d love to know what other people think….. I am not really sure if there is anyone out there lately, possibly some blog readers, but no commenters. It’s getting a little lonely 
Festive DIY Garland
Christmas seems so near, yet so far when it come to decorating the house. I admit I get tad over excited and tend to want to put everything up at the beginning of November, having realised that this isn’t that socially acceptable I am finding new ways to creep Christmas in without going full haul. I started with this festive DIY garland and who knows where it will end.
So some people may recognise this garland, I took inspiration and followed the tutorial for the valentines love garland over on Style Me Pretty (man I love that site). I wanted to keep mine a little more muted and opted for some Edwardian shades of blue and biscuit to keep in style with our flat. I really went to town with this one and even splashed out on a Martha Stewart paper punch to replicate the look just right – I love an excuse to have to buy more crafting bits and bobs. I used East of India ribbon and ran out half way through, so my unexpected trip to the Country Living Craft Fair turned out really useful.
Here is my whole fireplace, I recently acquired the white planter set in the middle from a cute local shop called Gathering Moss, it was originally teal blue so I decided to tone it down a little and paint it my favourite colour – white. I also managed to squeeze even more festiveness in with the addition of some yummy pine cones, generously donated by colleague at work! I am much happier now there is a little hit of Christmas in the flat, I know, it’s nuts, but December is so short that I feel I need to stretch the magic a little further.
In other news, I’ve also joined bloglovin so you can now follow my blog with bloglovin.
Fluffy Cupcake Tower
Enough scary zombies and back to my nephews birthday bake-off. This was the fluffy cupcake tower I made for him and everyone to devour. I know, I know, it’s pink! I can’t get my hands on any masculine food colouring around here. I need to get some of the colouring jelly/pastes that pro’s use, but I must find the best store to get it from first. So long as it’s sweet, edible and colourful kids love it no matter what. I made a giant pint Martha Stewart pom pom the other night and it keeps creeping into the background of photos, so everything feels more pink than it is.
I got a chance to use my new piping skill that I learnt at The Make Lounge, it uses so much less icing than the swirl and is a little less sickly – result! Speaking of more blue cupcakes and The Make Lounge, the yummy cupcakes I decorated there have been featured over on Denise’s adorable blog, The Swelle Life. I am really flattered to have my cakes featured on her very cool ‘Cupcake Monday’ section, her love for blue cakes is on par with my love for pink ones! Cakes and fashion fans check out Swelle Life it’s a visual treat!
Halloween Zombies
Look away now if you don’t like gore! Sorry if you were expecting cakes and flowers, not a trip to the dark side. Miles and I dressed up as zombies for Halloween this year and managed to scare quite a few people when we headed out for drinks and dancing. However, it’s kind of funny as I am the least dark side person there ever was, my fave colour is white and pale blue and I love cakes and Cath Kidston! We went a bit to town with the make-up and I ended up looking like Helena Bo Carter mixed with the guy from The Horrors. Anyway, it was a good fun night and no necks were really hurt when making Miles’ costume. Normal posts will resume now!
Flooded Birthday Cookies
I know this is another baking post but I couldn’t resist as the other day it was my nephew’s 11th Birthday, 11 years old! This seems so surreal because I’m only 24. Time flies so fast, as I remember the very day he was born, all those moons ago. Now he’s choosing a secondary school and walking him self to class everyday, I really can’t keep up.
Anyway, as we were having a family party I decided to bake for the occasion – lots of colourful things that kids like. These orange and lemon flooded cookies were just some of the baked good I rustled up for the occasion, believe me I was baking all day long. It was worth it as they all went down a treat and I got to try out lots of techniques that I hadn’t had time to previously, like flooding cookies.
My attempt, by no means is perfect, my yellows don’t quite match and my shaky hand lets my down, but it was a fun first attempt and spurned me no to try more. Christmas biscuits would be the dream, however piping santa and co could more a lot more tricky than a huge chunky flower. I picked up this technique over on the very helpful, Cake Journal – really this site is a wonder – I love it!
Feeling Blue?
This very pale, icy duck egg blue is my latest obsession. I really can’t get enough, I’ve packed all my pink away, banished to the bedroom because I am in love with blue. I think it happened when I moved into my new flat, as a victorian period property pale blue seemed so much more fitting and refreshing. This is a little snap shot of my crafting basket – I am eagerly preparing for Christmas and decorating the flat for autumn.
I am currently making some festive wool pom poms with the wool I got from the very lovely and super unique, Loop on Cross Street, Islington. I am not too sure what to do with them yet, I have a few ideas but I think I’ll squirrel them away until something is finished.
I am also acquiring an healthy obsession with these gorgeous East of India ribbons, Not on The High Street have the most wonderful selection of lovely stuff and I am slowly becoming bankrupt buying everything up. I am in a bit of a creative frenzy at the moment I just want to make everything, spend all day crafting but I have to work. I enjoy what I do but I long to take some time off and just make things, feel inspired and re-connect a little. So feeling blue? A little. I am sure the prospect of Christmas decorations, pumpkin carving and Present and Correct will keep me chipper until the Christmas break.
The Make Lounge Cupcakes
Last night I went to a cupcake decorating course at The Make Lounge in Islington and here are the fruits of my labour. It was a lot of fun and I learnt a fair amount about cakes and the different ways you can decorate them. I learned about the joys of marzipan and how best use it, the best way to color ripple butter cream and how to fall in love with cake glitter.
I went for an Ice blue and lemon lime colour-way to be different I managed to resist the pink for once. I think they came out quite nicely, however I would love to practice more so I improve my piping and come up with new ideas. Please note my new milk glass urn in the picture, I snapped up this beauty for a mere £4 at a Hoxton street market – joy!
Enough about the cake and more about The Make Lounge. Anyone near London or visiting you should certainly book yourself on a course, it’s so much fun and there’s such a good atmosphere. The course options are endless with sewing, cushion making, candle making, rubber stamp carving and so much more the list goes no and on. It’s a been a crafty hectic week so far….. I’ve really enjoyed it!
Strawberry Sandwich?
Saturday morning’s American style fluffy pancakes left me with a handful of left-over strawberries and to be resourceful I created my take on the classic victoria sponge. I used fresh cream not buttercream and real strawberries over jam – personally I prefer the fresh version, it’s so sweet, yummy and perfect with a cup of tea.
This cake reminds me of being a child when my mum used to make this exact cake but layer it 3-4 sponges high, filled with lashing of cream and strawberries – makes mine feel quite modest. The higher the better really, perhaps when the weather warms I’ll make a sky high strawberry slice? When strawberries are back in season – it’s now time to use some more seasonal fruit.
I am pretty excited by the week ahead, yes I’ve got to work, but mid-week I am off to the Make Lounge to a cupcake decorating evening course. I am attending with Holly, so hopefully we’ll have lots of fun. If anyone is a crafter in the UK and hasn’t heard of the Make Lounge in London, have a peek they offer some great courses. I’ll be sue to let everyone know how it goes – hopefully I’ll come out a pro piper and dab-hand decorator?!