Christmas Flags
I’m yet to put all my Christmas decorations up, however I am managing to sneak a few things past Miles and up befor our designated decorations date. One of the first things to go up has been this Christmas mini flag bunting that I made a few weeks back. I was really inspired by the windows of my local Toast store and decided to recreate the look and make my own. I had no idea that they actually sold the flag bunting, I thought it was just a window decoration! Anyway, it’s cheaper and more satisfying to make your own and this way I got to use this dreamy rain drop paper from Paperchase. I’ve used the finish product to adorn my fireplace, any regular readers will know I can’t resist making something seasonal for my fireplace, you can see last year’s garland here.
I am pretty excited about putting the rest of my decorations up this weekend, including the tree! It’s been snowing on and off here in London so I am hoping there might be a few flurries whilst we put the decorations up – extra Christmasy feel! Am I the only one who’s ridiculously excited about decorating their home for Christmas? I’ve just got my hands on the new Lula, so I think a good reading sessions is on the cards tonight. It’s so curling up under a blanket or duvet weather right now……night all!
My Mini Mistake
I had a bit of an ordering miss-hap! I got excited an ordered my much wanted Fjallraven backpack from America for Miles to pick up and boy did I get it wrong. The Opening Ceremony website wasn’t really the most helpful and did’t give any measurements for the bags so I ended up ordering one that would even look too small on a Child – the Mini Kanken. I had my heart so set on the bag that I had to go out and get the right sized one at English prices, which are considerably more (sob). However, since having it it hasn’t left my back and I have had free limbs, no longer ladened with my heavy handbags – I love it! I have no idea what I’ll do with it’s little brother – lunch bag maybe? In other news I’m loving Two Door Cinema Club, Oh Happy Day! blog and The Help (a book I’m reading).
Blueberry and Lemon Cupcakes
Despite the fact that it’s pretty much winter and the weather is dismal, I couldn’t resist baking some summer style cupcakes. Well, I think it has lots to do with the fact that blueberry and lemon are one of my all time favourite flavour combinations. I love a blueberry and lemon american pancake and the same can be said for cakes – they are yum! These didn’t turn out to be the best looking cupcakes I’ve ever made, but they do taste good. The icing was a little soft as I was about 50g out on the icing sugar (which does effect the consistency) but I had to go with what I had in the cupboard. Another pitfall is that they do bake quite heavy with the fruit in, next time I would reduce the amount I use to try and get them a bit lighter. The wafer flowers on top of the cakes I picked up from The Country Living Christmas Fair on Wednesday, but I think Squires Kitchen sell similar ones.
You’ll need the following:
115g of unsalted better
115g of golden caster sugar
115g of self raising flour
2 medium sized eggs
the grated rind on one lemon
a table spoon of milk
1 generous handfull of blueberries (washed)
For the icing:
500g of icing sugar
100g butter
Around 50ml of milk
The rind of 1/2 a lemon grated
How to make the cupcakes:
1) Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy and light, then beat one egg in at a time until mixture is smooth.
2) Add in the lemon rind and mix again. Now sieve in the the flour and mix until smooth. Then add the milk to make a dropping consistency.
3) Roll the blueberries in a little flour to stop them sinking, shake them off then fold in gently to the cake mixture.
4) Spoon mixture into cupcake cases, making sure to only fill them a 3/4 way full. Bake for 25-30 mins at around 150 degrees.
5) For the icing blend the butter until soft add in the lemon then add half the icing sugar and milk, mix until smooth. Then add the other half of the sugar and blend – the mixture should now be very stiff, add as much milk now as you want to create the desired consistency. (Stiffer icing is easier to pipe)
Happy Sunday, I hope everyone has a lovely cake filled weekend. I’m hopefully off to the Mid-Century Modern show at Dulwhich today - if you like Mad Men or well designed furniture take a look here. Also I plan to make some more seasonal cakes soon, when I do I’ll be sure to share them. However if you want some fun cake-spiration, check out this AMAZING cake my friend Sarah created for someone’s birthday.
San Francisco Gifts
Miles returned from yet another trip to American and bought with him a bag of pressies. Although it’s a pretty lonely with him not around (well really lonely) it’s always nice to receive a present or two. I don’t know if you’re familiar with Plover Organics, a lovely US company that produce beautiful bed linen and cushion covers. Well, Miles knew that I love the confetti pattern and managed to pick me up 4 stunning napkins in a shop in Hayes Valley, San Francisco! To say I’m in love with them is un understatement – they are lovely.
He also treated me to my favourite stationary – Rifle Paper Co recipe cards! Rifle Paper produce some of nicest stationary around, it’s so unique, detailed and whimsical – everyone should check out some of their lovely wares. I know Paper Mash is a stockist in the UK and there are lots of places stateside that stock them. He also picked me up a copy of Martha Stewart Living as it seems very hard to get hold of in my area lately (sob). Overall I was very spoilt and I’m very grateful, although my biggest gift was having Miles home (cheesy but true). I hope everyone else has had a great week?
Autumn Harvest
This week I seem to have pumpkin fever! All I want to do is buy lots of the little, twisted and unusual ones, not the orange ones that occupy every supermarket shelf here in the UK. It’s a real treat for me to find the green pumpkin that I did (above), and now it’s pride of place in the living room. It’s funny because at no other time of year do I display a vegetable next to my fave milk glass.
So, this week was also the one that we finally decided to give up on failing tomato crop. After months of feeding, watering, tending and not really being able to get in our front door, this is all the tomatoes it decided o give us (sob). I don’t think they liked the lack of sunlight they had, oh well there’s always next year. Needless to say we haven’t sampled these very green and very hard tomatoes, even with sunlight they are not ripening at all – a tomato disaster! I don’t think I have very green fingers, either that, or I should just wait until I finally get that garden (one day).
In, other news I’ve been to my second crochet class at Loop and learnt all sorts of new stitches, then fell apart when it came time to try a granny square. Pattern and diagram reading is not my strong point, that and grown tomatoes. I’ve been practicing all day so hopefully next week I’ll have made progress. Also, I am off to the Belle Epoque Party, Green Fairy Halloween party next Saturday, so I’ve been busy preparing a costume (my goodness, I’m not sure).
Have a great week…x
Where I’ve Been – Loop N1
Sorry for the super long hiatus. I’ve been in another world of feeling ill and being so busy I don’t get a minute free. Also, weekends are the time I usually take some pictures and blog, however these have been all been very hectic so I’ve managed neither. I always think I must snap that for the blog and then I come home from running errands and the light has gone! I really need to re-program myself for the fading light.
So, seasonal woes aside, I’ve been learning to crochet. Now ordinarily I might share a photo of something I’ve made or created, but in this case all i would have to show you would be curly ball of wool that has been unpicked a hundred times. Needless to say, I’m not quite there yet, in fact, I’ve only had one, two hour lesson and a lot of home practise. I’m lucky, I have a mother who is incredibly talented a crochet (remember this blanket?) so I’ve been getting a few after class pointers, but for the most of it, I’m on my own.
The photos above are of the beautiful wool shop and learning space, Loop. The shop is just 15mins from my house so I do feel very lucky – it’s so beautiful and my class is taught by the very talented Bee Clinch. The shop space is lovely, all Ercol tables and stick-back chairs – with stunning knitted blankets draped over them. Wood and wool really does look so natural together – just like Ingrid always says.
Anyway, that’s a little update from me. I am also busy booking my tickets for The Country Living Christmas Fair and a swish Belle Epoque halloween party. If it’s anything like last year costumes the photos should be fun.
(All images are from Loop)
Autumn Escape
Sorry for my short pause in blogging, I nipped off to Spain for a little autumn escape for 5 days and forgot to post anything before I left. I went to a town 2 hours north of Barcelona to watch Miles do some skydiving. We went with friends and had a lovely time soaking up some last-minute sun, eating plenty of tapas and getting neck ache watching Miles floating down from the sky.
Now I’m home, it’s officially autumn and I’m embracing the the cooler weather and trying hard to embrace the darker evenings and mornings. I’m also looking forward to starting my crochet course at Loop soon, fingers crossed I can actually master it. I’m hoping this could be my winter hobby, something to keep me occupied on the long dark days. Other things keeping my occupied at the moment is listening to The Like, reading new blogs and finding new cake recipes to bake.
Horsey Magic
Now this was one thing I spotted today that I couldn’t resist sharing. I know it’s made the round on many a design blog but I just spotted it over on Present and Correct’s Facebook page and it made me squeal with glee. It’s a concept design called Horsey, designed by Eungi Kim. It for the Seoul cycle design competition. I love my bike, but this accessory would just make cycling so fun – it’s awesome! It’s so cute it would be great for kids and big kids, like me.
Images from Design Boom
New Additions
Saturday Miles and I ventured home to Kent to see our parents and ended up in the seaside town of Deal, whilst browsing the high street we came across a boot sale/market packing up and I instantly spotted this little Denby lamb in duck egg blue. This was pretty exciting for me as I have wanted either a Denby lamb or rabbit of quite a while now and for £7 it was a bit of bargain. It doesn’t have any markings on it, so it could be a fake or a copy, but it doesn’t matter as I love it for the design, not the designer stamp. Too cute!
My new lamb sits proudly next to my first ever Jonathan Adler piece, bought back from the US by Miles. I have been lusting after the entire Jonathan Adler range for so long that it’s very exciting actually owning something – it’s just so pretty.
I love the white and duck egg together, the colours are calming and the flower on top of of the pot makes me smile – I love detail! It’s strange how something a silly as ceramics can make you happy. I’m either very fickle or easily pleased – I can’t make my mid up. 
Recent Inspiration
I spotted these stunning paper wreathes over on Duet Letterpress, they are from Paper Source in the USA. They come in mum kits that you construct yourself and I think they are beautiful. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of paper wreathes as I made my own Christmas one here, nut this really is something different. The colours are so seasonal and that thick pink ribbon is so cute – I’m sold!
I’m am totally in awe of all the brilliant blogs I keep stumbling across lately. I have added some new faves to my blog roll, my daily reads now include Blushing Ambition, Mustard and Sage, You are my Fave, Duet Letterpress, Ruffled and Whisk kid. Thank goodness for blogs, they provide so much inspiration and visual happiness – thanks bloggers! Has anyone else found any amazing blogs lately?