Tuesday 30 December 2014

Cake makes the day better...

Found the perfect recipe for what i wanted to cook today. Came across a small problem when i realised i had no lemons. So i changed the recipe a little.

Instead of 120ml milk, i added 125ml and increased the coconut by about 2 more tbsps...

Baked as instructed in the recipe and out came one prefect coconut cake. Decided not to ice it, as i found it was sweet enough. My son has described the cake as "delectable."

The recipe i partly used is below, but this cake was fluffy and firm and so so nice. Happy Baking!

Link:-  http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/24398/lemon-coconut-loaf-cake.aspx

A minus and a plus.

There is a bite in the air this morning, the temperature a bitter -2 C outside with fog drifting across everything brave enough to be outside. Our feet are cold and socks will be the next order of business, a long with another warming cup of tea. And after, i feel another day inside where it's warm and safe from slipping on this winter morning. My son is huddled under a blanket , watching a film as he lets his day slowly awaken fully. Our cat is waiting by the back door in the vain hope he will be allowed to explore the frosty world outside.

Yesterday was a chillout day, not just due to the coldness, but the request of my son for some timeout from the chaos that has been christmas. A chance to craft for me also, and progress made on the chart i'm working on. There were moments of unpicking but as you can see the teddies are making shape, and hopefully by tomorrow, they may have clothing joining their heads.

As you can also see i have started the backstitch before the whole design is finished. I find it easier to work a design this way, rather than leaving it till last. After a while the various colours blend so close it's hard to know where the backstitch goes sometimes, so i use my method, pretty much all the time.All i know is right now i'm enjoying the challenge of this design and will be so delighted once it's complete. Now i must cover my feet, and then maybe find a recipe for cake. Something different maybe.

Monday 29 December 2014

Small, small kisses

Started working on my next project. It's by Design Works Crafts. I admit, last night i was questioning my choice due to the count size and the lighting issue. (Pink lamps are not good for stitching by!) . This morning however i'm pleased i have chosen it. I adore teddy bears, ask my son, he'll tell you i have too many. Anyway, the design is worked on 18 count, which most stitchers will tell you, is pretty small.
The 1p coin gives a clue to scale here...

So far i have done some of the bears clothing and the outline of both heads. It uses 16 colours and when you open the pack, you find a bundle to sort. I admit i had a problem figuring which colour was which, some of them are so close, but i think it's been sorted, thanks mainly to the front cover picture and checking through my DMC threads for comparisons. The design chart is quite clear and ,i'm working slowly through the design. I've tried to find the design i'm working on, online, but have a feeling it's a discontinued design now.


Going on how cold it is this morning, i feel that crafting and watching films with my son, maybe the plan today. Neither of us like the cold, and with a frost heavy on all outside surfaces, it's certainly looking like a winter's day. We still hope for snow, somehow it always has a magical feel, and as it falls, it's like being in a giant snow globe. Plus my son would love to make a snowman on the front lawn, with the odd snowball thrown at me i'm sure.

Sunday 28 December 2014

Biscuit The Cat By Mouseloft

Biscuit the cat, by Mouseloft 

Biscuit the cat ~ A small design but very enjoyable to stitch. Mouseloft started in the mid 90's. Their fun designs attracting us stitchers to a little challenge we could carry around, and of course stitch on the go, or between coffee breaks.
                   
I'd been given this design by a friend, and of course being a cat owner myself, fell in love with this little gem. Cats being the creatures that can be so full of mischief on a daily basis , perfectly reflected in this design.