Nordic style hearts and stag cushions

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my last post. No apologies then this week for sharing what I've made!

The pink and white linen floral applique hearts are now finished and stuffed full of lovely lavender - I do so love lavender!

Printed and stitched stag cushions - printed on vintage French metis using a method that I will share with you soon, and then outline stitched in grey thread. Backed in the same metis with a band of vintage French natural and cream striped ticking and some large wooden floral buttons (yet to sew on in photos!)

2nd cushion awaiting making up below - different buttons for this one

Nordic style heart hangers - made from a vintage cream wool blanket, stitched with a simple red cross stitch design, and hung with red and white butchers twine with a vintage red and white button.

Well the photos speak for themselves really. Yes, I've been sewing (and printing!) again.

My week so far shown above in between the chores. 

And we have some sparkly new double glazed window units in some of our timber windows, replacing those that had "blown" and were either cloudy, streaked or had condensation trapped between the two panes of glass, so it looks like there's no glass at all in some windows as it's so clear and clean!

Oh, it's all so exciting here. Not.

Wishing you all a Happy Friday tomorrow and a great weekend, wherever you are and whatever the weather throws at us!

Autumn Makes

As we head properly into Autumn weather after a very mild Hallowe'en (when I walked the dog across the fields and orchards in t-shirt and sunglasses - see photos below) it is now time for lighting the woodburner each afternoon before the light starts to fade. 

This is one of the things I love about the change of seasons, and about living here in the countryside....the lighting of the fire. 

The little ritual of laying the fire - emptying the ash pan, screwing up the newspaper and setting it in the grate, laying the kindling on top, selecting the right small logs, striking the match and lighting the paper, then watching it take. Adjusting the air intake, getting it going good, then sitting back to watch the golden orange flames flickering and hearing the crackling of the logs. It is a very simple pleasure and primeval act, one which has been taking place for centuries, the lighting of a fire for warmth.

Sitting here watching the fire and drinking camomile and spiced apple tea, warm and comfortable, I'm feeling grateful. 

 daisies in November!

mistletoe and unpicked red apples in the orchard 

(I had planned on writing more about apple orchards and mistletoe but I just don't have the time at present.)

cute Shetland pony saying hello on our walk last week

In the coffee shop this morning where I met a friend for our weekly catch up, they were a season ahead and playing a Bing Crosby song normally associated with Christmas. It was kind of comforting to hear as we sat with our mochas and lattes whilst the wind and rain lashed outside, and it gave us a sense of well-being as we hashed over the news in the warmth of the cafe.

For me it's been the usual week of indoor chores, the washing, cooking, cleaning, vacuuming, and the trips out for shopping, post office, numerous station runs, dog to groomers, meeting friends, making tea for the builder doing our external rendering to make us watertight for the winter, dog walks, dog bathing after muddy walks, doing paperwork for husbands business, etc etc, and I have been squeezing in a few hours here and there where I can to build up a bit more stock for the Xmas Fair (decided just to do one this year) and for my Etsy shop.

So I now have a flock of ticking birds finished........

some mini stockings made from vintage white damask, with a vintage lace rose, lined in a vintage floral, and perfect for hanging from the tree full of those little chocolate coins........

make-up bags from vintage fabric - this one from a sweet 1960's fabric, lined with a recycled striped blouse.......

embroidered lavender hearts.......this one from a lilac felted cardi that I ruined in the wash

 and today, these lavender filled hearts made from linen with a rose applique. 

I've also spent an hour or two playing around with transferring images to fabric.

I am planning on doing more transfer printing next week, and at the moment just wish there were more hours in the day as there are so many things I would like to do but there's just not enough time!

Thankyou for your comments on my last post. I'm sorry that I have little to share but my makes, but that is how I'm spending my days at the moment!

Have a great weekend wherever you are!

Just a Quickie............

...........to share a few things with you.

Firstly this yummy Apple Cinnamon Cake recipe that my daughter made a few days ago. 

She found the recipe on line but, typically, we now can't find it so I'm sorry I can't credit the recipe source, but thank you whoever you are for this recipe as it is delicious!

Apple Cinnamon Cake

50g brown sugar
80g caster sugar
120g butter
2 eggs
220g plain flour
120ml milk
2tsp cinnamon
1 granny smith apple, peeled & chopped chunky
2tsp vanilla extract
1.5tsp baking powder

Start off by making a brown sugar topping by mixing the brown sugar with the cinnamon in a bowl and placing to one side.

Cream the butter and sugar together until fully combined then start to add in all of the other wet ingredients, such as the eggs, vanilla extract and milk. Once mixed together add the dry ingredients – the baking powder and flour, again stir until well combined.

Into a greased tin pour half the batter, then push in half an apple that has been peeled, cored and cut into chunks, make sure they are spread out, then sprinkle on some of the brown sugar topping. Repeat this step with the remaining batter, apples and cinnamon.

Bake for 30mins or until a skewer comes out clean at 190c (or 170c fan).

* * *

We've been making the most of the few warm sunny days by getting out for long walks, but on the wetter days I've been spending what spare time I have on making more Christmas Fair items.

more French vintage ephemera coasters..........

some hand stitched shabby hearts, ideal for hanging from the tree 

a few more little vintage fabric pin cushions

and some little ticking bird tree hangers

On the crochet front, I've crocheted together the four ribbed squares that I crocheted a few weeks ago here and which I now need to crochet a back for so I can make a cushion.

And I made another cloche hat using the same pattern as before from Ravelry, a brown tweedy one from the Sirdar Chunky yarn I bought a few weeks back.

And apart from having developed an addiction (whilst I'm sewing production line style) to the White Chocolate and Cranberry cookies that our little village shop sell, I think that's about it from here!

Thank you for all your comments on my last few posts.

I hope you are all enjoying a good half term week!