Home made.

It is likely that if you are reading this you are more than likley a crafty type, or know the benifits if home made, so I wont preach to the already converted! Although I would like to share my little homemade gnome family.

I really have enjoyed making these, this little family are for me, yes it's true! I have started a Steiner inspired toddler (mother and baby ) group and these will become my resources. I am planning a stort time and these will be my puppets for autumn. I am not so mean to say the children are not able to play but they will have some of their own and I'm hoping parents will want to make some too.

They are delightful, and a pleasure to make I am encouraging Mr PB to make a family for Arthur for christmas.

Preparing for Spring

Today our efforts for creative Friday (joining in with the wonderful http://naturalsuburbia.blogspot.com/2011/10/creative-friday_28.html ) We have been preparing for spring, although this seems slightly mad seeming as it only just autumn! We have been planting bulbs into two large pots that sit on our front doorstep. We do this each year and it never fails to amaze me , near the bottom we have tulips, then on top we have daffodils, then crocus and then a little greenery to see us through the winter.

So the plan is in the spring, all effort made by mother nature will provide us with flowering pots that will last into the summer.

MMmm CAKE.

 

I just wanted to share with you a little story of cake, quiet possibly one of my favourite things pf all time. This is a special sour dough cake mix, passed on by Nicola a lovely potter in our village. Herman is a friendship cake that is alive and continues to grow over ten days.

This is Herman the cake mix on day one, we had to keep him on the side stirring him on each day, adding ingredients on day four and nine. Watch hoe he grows, it is really amazing!

On day nine we split Herman into five equal parts, in theory you keep one and give away the other four in friendship. Because we are greedy we gave away two, leaving us with two cakes to make up and one to start all over again.

The mix is quiet dense and you can add what you like, we had one with a fruit cake mix and the other choc and choc chips! I was really surprised at the size and the flavour is great. A real interesting taste that is thick but not over sweet.Looks like everyone else like it to as there isn't much left!

Just as well I kept a batch to do it all over again, I think it was a real success. I wish I could tell you how to start the sour dough but I I don't know. What I really like is the fact that it can keep growing and growing!

Creative Friday falls into autumn!

I am joining in Creative Friday with the lovely Natural Suburbia http://naturalsuburbia.blogspot.com/2011/10/creative-friday_14.html . I feel we have really embraced the autumn feeling, two days ago we collected fallen leaves from our local park. We have dried them in a book in the airing cupboard and now today we have been creating autumn pictures. Very simple, paint mixed with PVA glue enabled painting and sticking at the same time!

This was so lovely, more so as we had just walked the dog and collected blackberries.

Happy weekend

x x x

Yarn Along

Well here I am with Ginny http://www.gsheller.com/2011/10/yarn-along_12.html for my second week in a row. I have completed the leg warmers that I started last week, I am pleased with them and my confidence is growing.

This week I have started a little sleeveless top for Arthur (who is 2). I feel this is a good move as it is another creation with only squares. I am using Sidar Escape wool that is really yummy with gentle changing colours.

I am really hoping that I will get over my knitting pattern fear, I have been looking for very very simple patterns that I might give a go. I am up for any advice just remember my only skill until now is a square. I have come across drops and I like this although it is still a little scary! http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=117&d_id=42&lang=en

 The books I'm reading this week are The genius of play, I am on chapter 1, ans supposed to have read it for my Steiner course on Sat. I don't think I will get it all read in time as I do like to take my time. Also having a good fiction on the go means there is never enough time for it all. The second book is distant hours by Kate Morton. I have read here other two books which I loved ! Lucky me got this for my birthday last week.

My First Yarn Along.

Firstly I need to say sorry to Ginny for putting my first link to Yarn along all wrong! Now I'm making amends and getting it right. please look at the site and see what everyone else is up to http://www.gsheller.com/2011/10/yarn-along.html

My efforts are so so simple (I'm not really a knitter you know). My second pair of leg warmers, the first pair went off to Kent to my sister. I felt I should have a pair too.

And the book, well its obvious. I would like to say it is brilliant, I am a fan of Hugh but not having a TV means I was unaware if a new series. I feel this really has inspired me to try some new meals, and I feel I have reconnected with one of my hero's.