Wheaten Loaf Recipe.....

20th September 2015

Another lovely week here in Blackpool.....

.....beautiful blues....

.....out walking making the most of the sunshine....

.....can't remember the name of these huge thistles in the Solaris Park on the promenade.....

......they were covered in sparrows and bees until I produced my camera!!

Love this sturdy 'bug hotel'.

>>>>>>

Used my poppy head printed silk paper to cover a sketch book, gave it a couple of coats of acrylic wax to protect.....

.....AND FINISHED MY SOCKS-WOOHOOO!!!

Not perfect but a great learning curve and they fit.

>>>>>>

Cut out my sling bag, using my indigo dyed fabric for the lining....

.....must try to finish it this week.

>>>>>

More experimenting, this time with plastic bags!

I was shown this idea on my Cornwall course but had forgotten about it until I saw the idea again in my Creative Group....

......place strips of carrier bags between baking parchment and heat with an iron....

....fascinating to see the ways the different bags react to the heat...

....this reminds me of autumn leaves...

.....love the crinkling on these...

...and the holes in this one...

....might try to incorporate some of these into a mixed media piece and stitch.

>>>>>

When I came back from my stint in the park this is what greeted me....

....RD cutting the top off our neighbour's Monkey Puzzle tree before it damaged the telephone wire!

I was glad to see Alan holding the ladder steady!

>>>>

Finally I made another wheaten loaf from an old recipe my MIL gave me years ago....

.....so tasty, I am only going to make one a week!!

RECIPE

12   oz  Coarse Wholemeal Flour/Strong brown bread flour

2 oz oats

2 oz bran

2 oz wheatgerm

1 desert spoon sugar

heaped teaspoon bicarb

half teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 pint buttermilk/2  x 250 ml cartons

Mix all the dry ingredients then add the beaten eggs/buttermilk. Bake in a 2lb loaf tin for 45-60 mins, test with a needle, cool and ENJOY!

I have also made 2 x 1lb loaves out of the same mixture.

Delicious with home made soup/jam and makes wholesome sandwiches

I would love to hear your opinion if you try the recipe.....

Silk Paper.....

15th September 2015

11000 steps today!

Fabulous day here, although very windy, so had a long walk along the prom......

......cut out a template for my sling bag......

......added more to my silk paper.....

.....colours blended as I applied acrylic wax.....

.....printed using a poppy seed head and applied another coat of wax when dry.....

.....will use this to cover a sketch book, watch this space!

>>>>>>

I have actually completed some gifts....

......using the last of my sari strip fabric I made a pin cushion and needle case....

....button self covered, hand made cord....

......used my own felt to make another needle case....

.....matching pin cushion.....

.....lots more projects to complete!

>>>>>

Blackberry dyed old fabrics, such a delicate colour....

....did I tell you I love Pinterest and enjoy adding to my boards on a daily basis, so many very talented people out there.....

My Week.....

13th September 2015

I have had a good week and apart from a couple of days the weather has been beautiful.....

......more blackberry picking, jam and bread making this week, forgot to take a photo of the wheaten loaf and it disappeared very quickly!! Will share later in the week when I make another.

Lots of walking and some gardening in the park....

...still a lot of colour....

.....sunflowers planted by local children, sunflowers always make me smile....

.....busy bee.

All the usual household chores......

....a visit to The Knitting and Stitching Show in Manchester with friends....

....wasn't planning to buy, but couldn't resist...

...fabric for a sling bag for my trip....

....all this for just £3....

....just had to buy these printing blocks....

....recycled silk yarn and threads, LOVE the colours!

I have used some of these threads....

.....spread some on my felt...

....used my embellisher, 

....not sure which side to embroider!

>>>>>>>

Today decided to make some silk paper...

.....spread the stripping on baking parchment, spray with water, place parchment on top and iron....

....repeat process until the paper is thick enough....

.....sprayed with water and sprinkled Brusho, turquoise and orange...

....more to do on this.

>>>>>>>

I really enjoy a 'smoothie' every day and one of my favourites is blueberry, raspberry and strawberry with a globe of stem ginger and coconut water....

....DELICIOUS....

My Virginia Creeper is looking fabulous at the moment.

More crafty news next week....

A Woodland Walk....

7th September 2015

Another beautiful autumn day......

....wonderful colours....

....so beautiful growing wild....

.....amazing how this log, left in the woodland, has been enhanced by ferns, moss and fungus....

......quite magical as the sun filters through the trees.....

.....and we walked 10564 steps!!!

Did I say before this step counter is a little addictive??

>>>>>>>>

I have actually finished knitting my FIRST sock!!!

It has only taken a YEAR and is not perfect but an achievement none the less!!

Hope the second doesn't take quite so long!!