cupcake magic

OK, total insanity to bake on possibly the hottest day of the year so far, but Miss T thinks we should have a trial run on the cupcake! Yesterday Lakeland had the giant cake tin in stock and as its miss T's birthday this weekend off I dashed to Brent Cross for said tin. Apparently I need to bake 2 for Friday (for school), 1 on Saturday (party) and 1 for Sunday (b-day)! Its just the thought of putting the oven on, may be later on.....

Will post a pick of the finished cake later...

nb. probably best not to try on such a hot day, butter icing melted.....

baby quilt

I thought I better get started on project 3 for Craft Hope, a baby blanket. I went over to Tikki in Kew, she has a fabulous collection of quilting fabrics and I can spend ages choosing. This morning on the way there I had decided to make a simple machine patchwork quilt and then I saw this very cute fabric. With a lemon backing fabric and hand quilting thread, thought I could quilt around some of the animals may be, not too sure yet. Miss T's quilt is growing and I also had to buy a little more fabric to finish.

in the garden

This lovely fuchsia is named after the very beautiful Joanna lumley and is rather splendid. I have been mooching around in our 'garden', watering all the pots and am a little concerned that although raspberries are about to come into season. I have been tending to 3 raspberry plants and not a sausage to be seen other than leaves, does anyone know if these plants below are indeed raspberries or the best cared for weeds!

Have ordered lots of gardening books from the library and hope to learn more from them, but stumped about these. I can on the other hand keep Orchids, just one of those things!

Do hope you all have a wonderful Wimbledon week, Miss T has gone away on a school trip this week, so the house is going to seem incredibly quiet. Now to start the dreaded ironing......

ok, turn away from the screen if your squeamish!

love the buttons, the dress not so sure (should have sought help on fitting). But 1950's it is! Just the hair to do now.

have a great weekend!

the dress - progress 2

Well its nearly there, only hem and buttons (to be collected this afternoon). I thought that I would wait until Saturday to take a photo, when at least I will look ok with hair and make-up (only put my hair on for v special occasions!). The quilt group have now been given a name and we are called The Material Girls, have had great progress and at our next meeting we will be starting the sandwiching and quilting. Will just have to brave it and take my camera along as I can not download photo's from my phone, try as I might.

Craft Hope have now announced project 3, they are asking for booties, beanies and blankets for newborn babies in orphanages in India. Do pop over to the web site, gives far more information.

Oh and tonight Miss T and I are joining her best friend and mother to see Cath Kidston chat about her life and work. Its part of the Bedford Park festival, should be interesting and the girls just adore her style. Talking of style, does anyone one knw where to track down a giant cupcake tin? Lakeland have one in their catalogue but sadly the wearhouse is empty.

the dress - progress

The toile has been made and fitted, now to cut the satin. But I have found the perfect shoes to wear!

back from half term

Miss T and I spent some time at the Hay festival during half term. She met up with one of her favorite authors, at one of the many talks and book signings and was utterly delighted that the last Roman Mysteries book was brought out before its publication date just for Hay. The quilting group met up this week and we have nearly finished the patchwork top, decisions to be made on a border then the fun of the quilting! It has been fun sitting, chatting and sewing as none of my friends do any form of craft. Later this morning I'm off to the Osbourne and Little sale in Battersea, one never know what will be found!

Saturday pm 6th June

well this is what I came back with, rather fab foiled baroque Nina Campbell wallpaper, bought by only seeing the roll (not a great thing to do really). But hoping it will make my study look fab! Today I went down to WimSew and bought a couple of patterns, one for a 1950's style ball and pj's for Miss T and me. I then had to go over to Fabrics Galore and choose fabrics, the best bit really. I have chosen a grey fluid satin for the ball and some fun boden cotton to make the shorter dress as a toile (unpicking satin is imposable)

I have just to finish off a tunic in tana lawn that I started during the week and will start cutting out the 50's dress pattern. Although I have left things to the last minuet as the ball is in a couple of weeks (why can I not be more organised a the mo?!). Oh the patchwork is coming along really well, have been sewing into the night watching tv and the apprentice final is this weekend.
Have a great weekend!