Bread....

 

 

 

I have been making bread, lots of bread. In June my little sister and I did a two day bread course. Which was lots of fun.

 On our first day we made Malted Fruit Bread and Rich Bread Plait. Then the following  week we made Pitta Breads and Easy Bread Loaf.

 

Since then all I have been doing is batch baking bread, its so easy. Our teacher explain that you don't need it to be hot in the kitchen, yeast will grow in the cool. So if you make your bread in the evening and put it in a bag and fridge it, the bread will rise over night, then just cook the bread that day. SIMPLE!!!!!!!

 

So here is the recipe for the Easy Bread Loaf.

Ingredients;

500g granary, strong wholewheat or white flour.

7g of fast action dried yeast or fresh if you have it.

1 teaspoon of salt.

2 tablespoons of olive oil.

1 tablespoon of clear honey.

300ml hand warm water.

2lb loaf tin.

Method;

 

Tip the flour, yeast and salt into a large bowl and mix together with your hands. Stir 300ml hand hot water with the honey and oil, then stir into the dry mixture.

 

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and kneed for 10 minutes. ( if your hand are sticky with dough rub a little flour onto them.)

 

Oil the loaf tin and put the dough in the tin, pressing it out evenly. Put in a large plastic food bag and leave to rise. Once it has risen to the size of the tin ( and a bit more, mine looked like a giant mushroom) and it no longer springs back its ready for the oven.

 

Heat the oven to 200C OR 180C for fan ovens or gas 6. Then bake in the middle shelf for 30-35 minutes. Tip it out  onto a cooling tray and tap the base of the bread to check it is cooked. It should sound hollow. Leave to cool and enjoy.

 

Now this bread will last for 2 days easily. (Ha! Ha! Ha! not when everyone smells it cooking)

If you want to make a large loaf of bread just double the ingredients.

 

 

So far I have made white bread, wholemeal bread, granary bread, wholemeal with seeds bread, all using this recipe. And I have made white rolls with the recipe. All I did was to cut the dough into 8 pieces, round to make a ball shape then place on to a large baking tray, cover with a large food bag and left it to rise. Cooked it at the same. They came out as crusty rolls..... delicious.

 

Try it and let me know how you get on...

 

Thanks for stopping by ... see you soon and lets all make bread!!!!!!!!! 

Pegs Bags....... Update

 

 

 

As you may already know I am holding a peg bag swap on Threadbias. The swap sign up closes on the 29th July 2013 and the swap beginnings on the 1st August. So far there is 5 of us taking part, from all over the world, which is good. 

 

  So I thought I would show you the Peg Bags I have made for my mum and sister. I made four in total, two of each design and showed them all the bags at the same time. ( that way no one argues ) 

 

My two little nieces like the bags also so they had one each too, now my sister has to put up washing lines from them to hang out their washing. ( So cute!!!!!!)

 

The top three went to my sister and the bottom one went to my mum, but she has asked for another one as all her pegs don't fit in........... My mum is the only person I know who has over 100 pegs in her peg bag!!! I would not mind but there is only two people she needs to wash for and you can only get 25 piece of clothes on her round washing line......... Strange!!!!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by...... see you soon and keep sewing!!!!!!!

Quilt show

 

 

 

I thought I would show you some quilts from the "Quilts on the Line " day that I attended and showed my finished Christmas qwillow. (as above)

The day was good and we managed to raise £300 for charity. The weather was hot, which was a bonus. It looks like summer has finally arrive here in Britain. 

 

Lots of ideas for lots more quilts to make, just need a few more hours in the day....

 

Thanks for stopping by, see you soon......

 

Keep sewing!

Summer Cupcakes

 

 

 

Summer is officially here....

 

And to celebrate this I went on a Summer Cupcake course with my little sister. This was spread out over two Saturdays 9.30 am until 12'o clock.

Our first lesson we made bits to decorate our cakes out of Sugar paste and modelling paste. And our second lesson the following week we made cupcakes and cakes in ice cream cones and decorated them.

 

 

 

Pinwheel cakes as you can see the top one went a bit wrong! but tasted nice.

 

This is my strawberry one and lace worked cakes in the background.

 

 Cherries and cream

 

 Sliced lemon and a flower

 

 Summer flip flops

 

Ice cream anyone!!!!! These are the cakes made in ice cream cones, anyone who wants the recipe, just let me know and I shall post.

Sun glasses and lemon.

Flake ice cream.

 

The next class coming up in the autumn is Halloween..... but this gets busy, a bit like first come first served. So we will see if we can get on.

 

Once I brought these cakes home the cones went first followed by the rest.

 

Thanks for stopping by....  See you soon and happy baking.

 



June's quilt block .........Late!!!

Well this is late!!! Sorry.

June has been a strange month, it all started so well, lots of things to do and lots to share.

 Until "life stopped by, for a reality check" Nothing major no lives were in danger, just my washing machine!!!! I killed it, big time!! It has gone to the recycle bin.

 Simple I thought just buy a new one! This is were life gives you a kick up the bum and three washing machines later!!!!

 

Long story short, I found a shop that I could collect a washing machine, Hooray !!!! only took three hours on the internet.  

Washing machine arrived home in the back of my car, unloaded, unwrapped and a big dent in the back. Phoned the shop, took it back, so sorry here is a new one. Got home unloaded, unwrapped and got to work.
 Why!!!! only two days without a washing machine does the laundry baskets look like I have not washed clothes for weeks?????

Six days later it broke, phoned their repairs department to have it fixed, the next available day for an engineer was 5 days away. So phoned the shop took it back the next day and third washing machine later its working.

 HOORAY!!!!!!
 

Right, June's quilt around the world block, the Queen for the month lives in Australia and asked us to make the quilt block called "Scrappy Trip Along".

I have never made this block before, but enjoyed very minute, Why I hear you ask, because we were asked to do it out of Christmas fabric. Yes, you have read correctly CHRISTMAS..........

 

So off I went ot my fabric trays and found my Christmas fabric( it has its own drawer)
I chose 6 pieces of fabric including red as asked for and then cut 6, 2inch squares from each one, totalling 36 small squares. 

Here they are all laid out, the bottom row is sewn together.

Finished.

It was such a lovely block to put together, never done this block before, but I shall now. Can't wait to see this quilt completed, its for Christmas , if you have not guessed! The red is to symbolize Santa rushing around the world to complete his Christmas run before the children wake. So cute!!

Then to go with this quilt block we were asked to make a label, for the back of the quilt. A little keepsake for years to come.
This is how it was made; 3 squares of fabric, ( Christmas of course)
 You will need to cut one 3.5″ square of solid white fabric, and two 2.5″ squares of your Christmas fabric.

 

On the backs of each of your patterned squares, draw a line from one corner to the opposite corner This will guide your sewing line.

 

Line up your patterned squares face down on the corner of your solid square. Make sure that your corners are flush and that the line you drew touches the edges of the white square. If you want to be on the safe side, have them line up so that they are just past the edge of the white square. Sew along the drawn line.

Trim your fabric for a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Repeat for the other side.
I then embroidered my name but you can write it using a permanent pen. 

Now they have been sent off to Australia.

Thank-you for stopping by, sorry for taking so long to blog, life just gets in the way sometimes!!!! or should I say "washing machines"
I have so much to tell.... see you soon ......
Keep sewing

Pot Holders

 

 

 

My mum needed some new post holders for her oven. She finds oven gloves a bit restricting and her pot holders had seen better days. So I made her a pair.

 

We were out in Canterbury Kent the other week and popped into The Sewing Shop to look at fabric!!! I love looking at fabric, Oh I need to tell you about a new swap I'm taking part in, its fabulous !! there I go off on a different direction................ Right; back to pot holders.

 

Yes, we looked at fabric for different projects I have on the go and my mum started picking out fabrics she liked, which were also ones I liked. So easy to buy with mum in tow and not telling her what I was planning to make ( for her ).

  

So the fabric chosen was Michael Miller Fabric Paris Ville Multi FQ French France City Street Scene Town and Summer Beach Huts scene but I am not sure who this is by.  Then I set about making her Pot Holders.

 The size for these are 9 inches x 9 inches, lined with my soft and elegant batting and edged in yellow fabric. And quilted with a pinwheel design, just to hold the layers together. So quick and easy to do, I hand sewed them in the garden, in an afternoon, enjoying the sun..... Yes!! we have sun here now at last!!!!!!

Then gave them to her as a present. My Dad asked what they were!!!!! typical men....... then replied "Good, now we can  throw them horrible things hanging by the oven away and used these, Good size I don't think I will burn myself now" and off he went to do the deed. So it looks like he likes them too.

Will tell you more about the other swap I am doing tomorrow as I have just got to finish a bit more research, lots of interesting blocks to make ........ Oh I need to tell you about Junes quilt around the world block, now that is different too.

Thanks for stopping by..... see you soon.....................

Keep sewing.........

 

 

 

 

May's block for quilt around the world.

 

Well May is here and the quilt block has arrived. The Queen of the Month posted late! You are meant to post one week before the beginning of the month... But she forgot it was her month to post. Never mind here we are.

 

This month we have been asked to do a block called "Garden Fence"

 the colours are any shades of purple, and shades of green with accents of whites and solid white.

 

I have the pattern and now I just need to convert it over to hand sewing. The pattern is for machine sewing so it has the seam allowance already added, but for hand sewing quilt blocks you have to draw the shapes required on to card minus the seam allowance.

 

 Basically I am turning the machine pattern into American block piecing pattern, you could turn it into English piecing but that would take a little longer,with lots of paper.

 

 Now for the cutting out.

 

 

Now we can assemble

 

 

Finished

This was so easy to put together, the quilt is going to look great. This block is going to be sent to America and June's quilt block is going to Australia.

 

Well I am off to bake cakes now, I am making rock buns (two types) and banana cake.

 

Thanks for stopping by..... see you soon.............

 

keep sewing and baking !!!!!!!!

 

Remember every day is cake day !!!!!!!!!!!



 

 

 



New Flock of Fabric Chickens.............

 

 

I have made a new flock of Chickens. I made some for my nieces for Easter, as they love chickens! real ones and fabric!!

 

 This time I made larger ones for doorstops, as well smaller ones for paper weights. Theses have double becks, so it looks like they are chatting. Every time I make these I seem to add different bits, I'm thinking the next ones may have wings!!!!

 

So welcome to the new flock!!!!!!!!!!! There are lots.....

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoy the new flock.

Thanks for stopping by .. see you soon..

 

Keep sewing ..........

 

Greengage Jam

 

 

I did it !! I made my Greengage Jam. The greengages are from last years stock, that I froze. One of my freezers is two thirds full of fruit from last year. So I do need to start making Jam so there is room for this years fruit. And because I have ran out of homemade jam.

(Which taste better than shop brought jam)

 

The recipe I used was one my little sister gave me about two years ago, its very straight forward and easy to follow;

Ingredients.

 

1.5 kg or 3lb 5oz greengages,

1.5kg or 3lb 5oz of granulated or caster sugar,

1-2 vanilla pods,

15 g or 1/2 oz.

 

Method.

 

1. Put the whole greengages into a pan, ( tip; count how many go in because that is how many stones need to come out) with 250 ml of water and the vanilla pod. Simmer for 30 minutes until the fruit is extremely soft. Draw off the heat and add the sugar. Keep stirring until it has all dissolved, then return it to the heat. Bring it to the boil and stir in the butter.

 

 

2. Let it boil hard for 10 minutes, stir occasionally so it does not stick to the bottom. By this time the stones should be coming to the surface. Lift them out with a slotted spoon. Keep boiling then jam until it reaches setting point.

 

 

3. Skim off any scum, and fish out the vanilla pod. ( keep this to one side.) Then ladle the jam into hot sterilised jars, seal, leave to cool and label.

 

 

Now I am going to tell you how to make vanilla sugar, with the vanilla pod wipe it clean. Get an air tight jar and fill it half up with sugar, place the vanilla pod into the sugar, don't worry if its a little sticky add the remaining sugar and seal the jar. Leave for a week or two open the jar and smell the vanilla. You have just made your very own vanilla sugar.

 

 

I do this all the time, then I use the sugar when I am making cakes and biscuits.

My jam this time came out dark because my fruit is frozen, if you use fresh greengages the jam will be lighter, but it all tastes the same," delicious ".

I love making jam because the last little bit in the pan I always have on hot toast there and then. Once all the jarring up is done and before the washing up begins, I cook up some toast, make a cuppa and enjoy my freshly made still warm jam on my freshly made toast, it tastes divine.

 

 

 

 

My little piece of Heaven, then the clearing up begins, .......... 

 

Hopefully next week I am going to make apple and blackberry jam.

Thanks for stopping by.... enjoy making the jam its fun and tastes nice too..

See you soon

 

Peg Bags

 

 

 

 

 

In August I am hosting a Swap on Threadbias. Having racked my brains for something to come up with, I have decided on Peg Bags or Clothes Pin Bags.

 

I knew I was on to a winner, when my little sister came for a visit and said her Peg bag had split and could I mend it for her. This was the Peg Bag I made her about 10 years ago, I made one for my mum and other sister at the same time so I know they all need an overhaul.

 

I agree, and went off to find patterns. So off to the Library, my bookshelf and you guessed it Goggling I go..........

 

I have found hundreds and thousands, all different shapes and sizes on the Internet. On my bookshelf I found a book with two in and at the Library I found some more.

 

Now I have decided on the four I want to try out before August. I do like to be organised, and I am a bit nervous as I have never held a swap before, taken part in loads..... not hosted.

The first one is made from a tea towel. Bit of advice fold the tea towel in half to make sure its the same size. The one I used was not and a lot of shaking of the head, measuring and sewing went on. Here is the finished bag. It needs a little bit of decoration but I want  to show you the basic shape, now I will decorate it....... 

The next one, I tried was the dolls dress. This was a little bit harder as I had to enlarge the pattern and add lace. This fits a child's coat hanger, which is OK but I want to make on larger one that fits an adults coat hanger.

 Front
 

Back

 

The next two are the same style but in different fabric. These are both using children's coat hangers

 

And my last is completely different, this is like a little bucket bag. It hangs over the washing line. On the hanger is a press stud so you can undo the strap, hook it over the line and press it back together. I am going to add a button where the press stud is, but I want a bird button and I don't have one!!!! YET but by tomorrow evening I will....

 

 

 

 Front

 

Back

 

I shall be making more as they can be using for all sorts of things. Some people remember these as pyjama bags, some people have this in their pantries for plastic bag holders or even in you wardrobes for socks, and underwear bags.

 

I am going to use some for my sewing room to keep scraps of fabric in and one by my sewing machine for bits of thread and fabric ( much easier than bending over on your hands and knees picking stray bits of thread up)

You could even make some to put your potatoes and onion in and hang them in the pantry... The list goes on and on and on...........

 

Well thank you for stopping by, I may have just inspired you to make one! or two!!

See you soon and keep sewing.....