Baking and Stitching

My photography gets worse - think I must have a bit of a shake on just lately, maybe I should get a tripod for my camera.  I baked shortcake again yesterday, a very useful item to have in my cake tin.  If I make six at a time that means we have puddings for three days and none get wasted.  If I make more than this we get fed up with them.  This time I used the silicone muffin pan (can't call it 'tin' anymore!).  It feels really weird to put this soft, floppy pan in a hot oven.  These shortcakes turned out a lovely colour and rose really well, mainly because I used double the amount of baking powder by mistake and because the mixture was a bit dry I added a drop of milk at the end and didn't mix it in thoroughly.  They were very light and fluffy.

I'm still doing freestyle embroidery.  The light this morning was terrible until a few minutes ago and I struggled to see.  I've got my lamp with the daylight bulb on and the ceiling spotlights but it was still a struggle.  Now the sun has come out and it's much better.  This time I'm stitching what vaguely looks like cow parsley/Queen Anne's Lace, or even giant hog weed.  It'll be made up into another little pouch.  I love making these pouches, the bigger ones are useful for storage, the small ones are mainly made because I just like them.  I have several of them, big and small, scattered around my craft room and bed room.  There are several scattered around the world too!!!  I love the thought that my work is in so many countries.

Embroidered Garden

I'm in the mood for a bit of freestyle embroidery.  My favourite is flowers and I've stitched several variations of the little garden scene you can see on this pouch.

I can't get a decent close up that shows the detail, probably my camera but more likely my photography skills.  I wanted to show what stitches I'd used, all there is on here is mostly straight stitching and French knots, with the occasional detached chain stitch - easy.  I find this kind of embroidery really quick to do and, as I've said before, I usually stitch on calico.  I have got some proper silk fabric that I keep meaning to use but when I decide to do freestyle I just grab a bit of available fabric and stitch, then afterwards wonder why I didn't get some of the silk out to do it on.  I don't use a hoop or a frame while I'm stitching.  It's kind of like doodling with needle and thread. Have a go and just stitch, you'll be surprised at the result.  Don't worry about being perfect and don't unpick anything.  Start off with some stems and add French knots, then embellish from there with a few scattered stitches.

Is It Lost?

This was mailed two weeks ago, so it's either lost in the post or not acknowledged - I think I would rather it be lost than not acknowledged!!!  If it is lost it doesn't make any difference that I show it on my blog because the recipient won't be receiving it anyway.  Oh well, never mind.

Look at this poor little dog, he's got to lie on a plastic bag - aaaahhh!  Dogs certainly know how to make you feel guilty, he wanted to sit on my knee but I was stitching at the time and it's very difficult to stitch with a dog on my knee, I know because I've tried it.  You should see him when he curls up on a small carrier bag, it's really pathetic then.  There are four dog beds for his convenience around the house but if they aren't within two inches of where I sit he insists that he has to sit on me.

A Mouse

Using the same humbug shape as the chicken, I made this mouse.  So far I've made pincushions, bags, Christmas decorations, chickens and now a mouse from the same pattern.  Now that is what I call a versatile pattern!  If the battery on my camera didn't run out so quickly I'd make a tutorial for my blog like some generous bloggers do.  I wish I had a camera that I could recharge on a plug-in charger, but I haven't.  Batteries that you can charge are next to useless too, a couple of pictures and they run out.  If anyone knows of good batteries that you can charge let me know.

I'm not sure what I'll be doing today.  We are waiting in for a spotter scope to be delivered.  You can guarantee that if we go out for five minutes it will arrive and we'll have to arrange for it to be delivered another day.  We've got binoculars but I've always fancied a spotter scope.  Graham did a lot of surfing the web looking for bargains (I think this is a hobby of his but he doesn't realise it, he's a much better shopper than I am).  We did order the same scope from another company and when it hadn't arrived after about a week he phoned them.  They were out of stock and hadn't let us know - I just hate it when that happens.  We might go to Willington tomorrow, depending on the weather.

Swap News And Other Stuff

I had to borrow the pictures of this extremely tasty Damson Chutney from Nipitinthebud because I forgot to take a picture of it immediately and we ate is so quickly it was all gone in no time.

I'm not a chutney lover but this was just perfect for me, not too sharp and vinegary like some chutneys can be, or completely tasteless like an expensive bought one we had.  We ate it with soda bread and cheese but it was gorgeous just on it's own with the bread.  I recommend this chutney if Nipitinthebud ever sells it!!!

I'm still in my Christmas decoration making mood.  The recent humbug swap I'm in started me off making humbug shaped chickens, bags and now bowl fillers.  First I used the printed panel I bought then I decided to try this shape with other designs of Christmas fabric.  I'm pleased with how many home made decorations I've made so far this year.  The cats in the picture were made a couple of years ago, I think they look good with the other stuff in this basket.

First Swap Received

Mangocheeks at Allotment 2 Kitchen sent me this delicious mulled wine plum jam in exchange for a chicken in a bag - that was quick wasn't it!!!  As soon as I'd unwrapped it Graham had to try it, he mostly said "mmmmmm"  so you can imagine, he loved it.  I was going to have some with bread but decided that it would do very nicely as part of our desert this evening and served it with a frangipane tart and ice cream, gorgeous!

I've got the packaged chicken and bag ready to be posted tomorrow, I wonder if it will be welcome in it's new home?

Fancy A Swap Anybody?

Chicken in a bag looking for a new home!!!

In fact I have several of these chickens, so if you fancy a swap I'm up for it.  It doesn't have to be sewing related either.  What have you got that you could swap?  Email me g.finch2@ntlworld.com 

The weather is terrible this morning, the wind is howling and the rain is rattling against the windows, what better way to spend the day than sewing.  What do you do when you can't get out and about?