Taking a break!

Taking a well earned family break away

Be back soon

Restocking !

I managed to get a few more items made up and I found some vintage and retro crockery to add to our My Little Vintage space (you can read about it here)
Our dresser is looking lovely and full now

I'll be back restocking it next month, I cant wait to see what else Debbie is adding to it too
You can visit My Little Vintage here on Facebook

Summer Holidays - Part 2

The boys came home from nannys house and for a week the weather was not kind to us, downpours of rain, thunder and lightening on most days kept us indoors
We had movie afternoons

more paper making (more on that on another time)

brownie making (hummingbird bakery recipe of course) not all for us, some was gifted

fishing with little nets in the local brook - loved it

Play dates at the park

and of course more crocheting from me

 These holidays are flying by, we're super saving at the moment for our french holiday so its lots of free days out and staying in for us until we go - which is very very soon - super excited

Saying Goodbye is one of the hardest things to do ...

but it had to be done
On the 1st August my little shop closed so one evening last week after packing up all the sellers makes I invited them along to the shop so I could say a big thankyou, eat cake and drink schloer (all driving you see!)
I baked, hoping it would take my mind off it!

 I've added the coffee cupcake recipe here - it was totally delicious

It was emotional... but i'm now ready to move onto the next chapter

Coffee Cupcakes

I adapted a few recipes together to create these
yummy coffee cupcakes

I used the Hummingbird Bakery Vanilla cupcake recipe
120g plain flour
140g caster sugar
1 1/2 tsps baking powder
a pinch of salt
40g unsalted butter
120ml whole milk
1 egg
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

I also added to this some coffee essence which I made using this recipe
2 tbsps instant coffee granules (all I had was caramel flavour which is just lovely)
170ml water
Add together in a saucepan and boil until half is dissolved, then leave to one side to cool down

Put flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a mixer, beat on slow until combined and a sandy consistency, gradually pour in half the milk

Whisk the egg, vanilla extract and remaining milk in a seperate bowl, then pour into the flour mixture, mix until combined

Add 2 tbsps of coffee essence and mix again until well combined

Spoon in cake cases and bake in the oven 170c / 325f / gas 3

For the topping I made a batch of Hummingbird bakery frosting
250g icing sugar
80g unsalted butter
25ml whole milk
2 tsp of coffee essence (add a couple drops of vanilla essence to make vanilla frosting)

Beat the icing sugar and butter in a mixer
Mix milk and essence in a seperate bowl and add to mixer a few spoonfuls at a time
Once all combined, mix on a higher speed, until light and fluffy (at least 5 minutes)

Top the cooled cupcakes with the frosting
I used some melted chocolate to decorate the top

Rainbow Colours

I finally got around to ordering some amazing colours of wool to create new grannie bunting with
I popped along to the Wool Warehouse online and ordered the Attic24 special pack as the colours looked so inviting and fun

I got started straight away

I bought this gorgeous zpagetti yarn (for a special project)with the cool name colour of petrol
I cant wait to use the new hook, i've never used a wooden crochet hook before!

Theres something quite comforting about wool coming through the post, its kind of like christmas!

Handmade Paper

I popped along to a little workshop my friend was running of how to make paper
We were taught how to make pulp and how to use a layering technique to thicken our paper
I added some dried rose petals, string and netting to mine and I totally love them

I decided to frame them both

These are going to live in my new studio
I totally love them and feel an addiction in creating handmade paper and art happening!

Summer Holidays - Part 1

There here!!!
6 weeks of the boys off school and preparing them ready for another new school year!

This first week has consisted of a drive to Nannys to drop the boys off for their weekly visit (they live so far away they dont get to see them much) but I also got to swap them for my niece for some girlie time (everyone was enjoying themselves so much it turned out to be a 10 day holiday)

I had to work but she loved helping and she took time out to chill at home too
We went to a wedding reception
I showed her how to decopatch and that was it! She now wants to follow me and decopatch the world!

I had pre-booked tickets with my friend to see Grease at Boughton House it was great to see a fantastic film and sing a long in such a beautiful setting

All in all a great start to the holidays

My Little Vintage - Shop Space

Myself and my friend Debbie are so excited
We have a space to sell our wares in the cute and vintage and handmade shop My Little Vintage
Luckily the cream dresser out of my shop fitted perfectly in the space available, which again was just perfect for our joint little venture of selling our wares

At the moment I havent really filled it with much of my items as I didnt have much and the space came up quite quickly!

I love how our items mingle together

A new little adventure for my makes - very exciting indeed

Hows it going!

the weight loss that is!
Well I've finally lost half stone and got slimmer of the week at the same time

Very very happy indeed

Flowers Galore

I had so many beautiful flowers given to me on my last shop day, I felt truly overwhelmed by them all

I have a little get together planned with the sellers on the 15th August and then we are off on a much needed family holiday, when we return and the boys are settled into their new school routine, I'll be down the new studio sorting things out ready to be a workspace once again

The end of one dream - The start of another