Sugar and spice and all things nice

 I thought I would share some of the presents I have made this year (now the coast is clear to share them!).

I made a few of these small lined zipper bags.  Some I stuffed with shop bought goodies others with vouchers.

 I also made several batches of Elderflower cordial this year and also sloe gin (the sloe gin I give as gifts has been maturing for a couple of years, I never give this years as I like the flavours to develop and mellow).  I also made another batch of spiced sugar (with bay leaves from the garden, cloves, cinnamon etc)

Hopefully people like the gifts, they usually ask if they can have some more so I am assuming they do!

Happy crafting

kyla

 

First part of my Christmas make round up

Hello peeps, as many of you will know I have had to be a bit cagey over the past couple of months about what I show on my desk in case I uncovered something I was making for Christmas!

Finally I can share with you some of those makes.  First for each brother (hubby has 2 and I have 1) I made a homemade hamper.  They each contained a bottle of elderflower cordial, some spicy rhubarb chutney, spiced sugar (which contains flavours such as clove, orange, cinnamon and bay leaf, yep, bay leaf...it really does work) and some sloe gin.  All handmade and I finished off the hampers with some candy canes and some christmas tree decorations with their names on (not handmade but they did look so cute)!

 Back in the summer I did a glass fusing course and made necklaces, keyrings and coasters.  Now, I did make a few but I kept a lot of them myself so I need to do another course (luckily my brother in law and his lovely wife bought me a glass blowing course voucher so that's another craft to try!).

 I also made several book covers.  I made a few quilted ones (but these are a PAIN and took me hours to make just one!)

 So I decided to try using solid fabric instead and this worked just as well but took a lot less and didn't cause my RA to flare after.

Then there is the proverbial problem of what to make for men!  Well, my brother currently works for a Japanese company and I know that tradition states that they respect their business cards so I made him a leather business card holder with his initials stamped on the front.

So, that's a few of my latest makes.  I will finish uploading the rest of my photos soon and share them.

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

Instead of paper crafting the past 2 weeks has seen me furiously making elderflower cordial!  At least twice a week off I go, carrier bag in tow across golf courses, footpaths and hedgerows picking elderflowers.  I try to make enough to keep me in cordial for a year (about how long it lasts) and to give as gifts.  It's lovely hot, cold, over crumble but especially with a Gin and Tonic ;-)

At the moment I am furiously bottling, but in time I make pretty labels, add some raffia and hey-presto a lovely gift for someone.

IF I do get a chance to craft then its mens cards, fathers day is just round the courner in the UK and if I'm inspired to make a male card then I need to make a couple each time as its always difficult to make a male card (why I don't know all you need to choose is: sport, beer, cider, music...but still I struggle).

So following my theory that it needs to be one of the subjects above I made a golf card using some vintage designs

and then my inspiration deserted me!  Luckily I had a weekend back at my parents planned, an evening at a spa with my mum (lovely, with roof top thermal pool-nice and chilled) and then my mum and dad took me to their local lavender farm.

Isnt't it amazing?  I have never been to a lavender farm before, I'm not sure what was more heady, the scent as you approached or the fields of bright colour...totally breathtaking.

Instead of paper craft I may have to get out my scrap bag and sewing machine and make some lavender bags (am I the only one who has both fabric AND papers (ooh, and maybe ribbons) that are TOO nice to cut up and use, so you end up just taking them out and looking/touching them? Even as I type this it is sounding SO wrong!!).

All this talk of fabric has set my palms a sweating....off the do something with cloth!

Happy crafting

Li'l Pidge



What a weekend - Craft Stash and courgette!

What a busy weekend. My brother was down visiting the folks for the weekend from london (Bro, next time check WHICH weekend is Fathers day!) and it was great catching up and surprising my Dad when we picked up my brother from the station (though there were LOTS of questions from him as to why my mum was driving in the opposite direction to where we were meant to be going!).

I also finished my Elderflower cordial and my parents brought the batch they made along and we had a blind tasting - all very nice (Gussie's recipe is a corker) and I even managed to get a 2nd batch on the go at the weekend.

To top it all I also got my first yellow courgette from my veggie plot which my OH made into a thai green curry for tea - lovely!

I also went to a craft show at the weekend in Somerset, it was run by Sincerly-yours and was a great event. Debbie Moore was demonstrating and there was lots of goodies on sale that I have never seen in my local craft shops - needless to say my purse did not stay in my pocket for long! The lure of free tea and coffee meant my OH came along (complete with a book to keep him entertained) and I could leave all my lovely stash with him whilst off I went, like a woman possessed, to seek out more loveliness!

I will keep you posted with how I get on with the new products....

I also got some lovely post from the Crafts-Beautiful forum ladies for this months ATC swap. The theme was black and white and these two are from Lesleyanne (the cat) and Shelleyhope (shaker flower) - I love getting nice post.

I must admit I have not been crafting tonight (updating this blog and the crafts-beautiful forum- there are just not enough hours in the day!) as I had my new gym routine today-so I am shattered and a little bit sore! But I am sure its worth it (after all, according to the adverts, I am!
Happy Crafting
Li'l Pidge

A cordial evening

I didn't feel too good this weekend so no new makes to display, however, my Fathers day card was well received.

I showed a little peak at it earlier in the blog. I am really pleased with the results, it's an easy version of a pop up card, but as it was a first attempt I thought I would make my life a little easier (for a change!).

I did manage to get out another R.A.K. for another CraftsBeautiful forum member, its a good way to sort out your stash and share a little bit of joy - especially since the only post we all seem to get these days are junk mail and bills (I do like the idea of returning the junk mail to the sender in one of the franked envelopes they send you - even more cost to them, a fair retribution considering I never even asked for the 10 or so credit card/personal loans mailshots I seem to get each week!).

The nice weather yesterday did spring me into action and me and the OH decided to have an evening stroll along the stream that runs down the back of our street (I am hoping the exercise will cancel out the large glass of cheeky red I had when we returned!). I must admit to having an ulterior motive as I also took a couple of bags with us and as we walked we collected Elderflower heads from the hedge-row. I then mixed them in a bucket (ooh, its all high-tech round here) with sliced lemons, more sugar than is healthy, citric acid and hot water. Stir every day for 5 days, strain and bottle and there you have it - homemade Elderflower cordial! Its a recipe from a friend of my Mum's (thanks Gussie) so I am looking forward to trying it.

I did make it, yet again in my back garden. What with the felt making and now this the neighbours really must wonder about me!

Happy crafting

Li'l Pidge