Something transformed

Once upon a time a visitor from the south of the land brought a box of sweets to bring Christmas cheer.

The hospitable hosts were very grateful for the sweets and viewed the box with interest and untold possibilities.  After Christmas it was placed on the top shelf of a very, very tall cupboard and forgotten about.

Time moved on.

One day she cleared the cupboard and with great delight pulled out the box.  They viewed it curiously and suddenly an idea popped into her head, "Do you think it's possible?" she asked.

"Yes, I think it is", replied he.

A flurry of painting ensued.

He traded some beans with a wizard who taught him to spin crowns and letters from gold and magically placed them onto the box.

They looked down with joy and no-longer saw a plain sweet box, it had been transformed into a post box, and it shall go to the party.

The End.

Something to do with a hen and a stag

Sorry about the title, I had to keep the 'Something ...' wedding post theme going somehow. 


Our hen and stag parties were full of activities.

I went to my very first ice skating lesson.  I have skated before but have never been on a lesson - something I wanted to do for years.   We learnt to skate backwards, in a circle, do small jumps and to skate on one foot.  It was brilliant, I recommend you try it.

On the train to the ice rink Helen passed me a package and said "Before you open this do you promise to do whatever is in it?" After some deliberation and making her promise it was not dares or a tacky veil with L plates or other 'things' on it (you can guess what), I said yes.

I had to wear a bright yellow tutu, bright pink fingerless gloves and bright yellow ankle warmers.  

Then they made me wear this outfit on the tram back to Manchester and as I walked through Manchester city centre, always walking a few steps behind me.  Strangely, hardly anyone batted an eye-lid, ha har.

We met the others at The Modern restaurant above the Urbis museum for a fantastic meal (I recommend the golden syrup pudding with vanilla custard) and more dressing up items.


In the evening we watched 'Charlies Aunt' at the Royal Exchange Theatre.  The play has been running since 1892, making it one of the most successful farces.

For the boys stag party his brother took him for a helicopter flying lesson as a surprise.  In the evening they met the others to watch comedian Al Pitcher and for a night in Liverpool.


We both had great days.

Lancashire living

A few weeks ago we went on a lovely summer walk near our home in Lancashire, past fields of cows,

by canals with ornate boats

and by embankments framed by reeds.

If you want to see more photographs of the north west of England then visit JellyBeanAngels blog, the lady should be paid by the English tourist board. Her photographs remind me the little part of the world I live in ain't half bad.

Something sewn

Last week was very productive.


I had my first wedding dress fitting and with my shoes I look very very tall, ordered my veil and my replacement engagement ring, we met with the registrar and had our last meeting with our reception venue co-ordinator.


The never ending rain made me finally finish sewing 3 new sashes for my flower girls dresses. Their dresses are white and even though the white sashes were pretty, they were lost against the dress, so I made green sashes to link the colour between the adults bridesmaid dresses and the childrens.

My oldest niece Holly will carry our wedding rings on a cushion inspired by the ring cushions on the Martha Stewart Weddings website.

And because I thought the backed looked plain in comparison to the front I added some ribbon and my late grandmother's brooch.

For both the sashes and the ring cushion I used a green lining fabric, although the lining fabric is fine for the sashes I thought it would fray easily under pressure and show every lump and bump of the cushion stuffing.  So I added an extra row of stitches close to the edges and lined the lining fabric with a light weight white cotton fabric.

There's still a couple of items I want to make... maybe if there's enough time.

Coming soon, our hen and stag parties.

Gx

Twice baked cheesy potatoes recipe

When you are having a party it's great to have some hot food the guests love, it can be made in advance and reheated.  They're so good your guests will want more.

The instructions below make 4 cheesy baked potatoes.

Ingredients

2 baking potatoes - we normally bake 1 potato per person

150g grated cheddar cheese

Milk

Butter or margarine

Instructions

1. Wash the baking potatoes and stab them with a sharp knife 8 times.
2. Place in the centre of a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees Celsius, cook for an hour turning once, when the centers are soft they are ready. 
3. Cut the potatoes in half and using a large spoon scoop out the centre into a pan (be careful, they are HOT), place the skins back on a baking tray.
4. Add into the pan of potato a knob of butter or margarine and a splash of milk.  Using a potato masher, mash until creamy.  
   
5. Add into the pan 4/6ths of the cheese and fold in well.
6. Using a spoon, scoop the cheesy mash potato back into the skins.
7. Sprinkle the top of the potatoes with the remaining cheese.
8. When cool, cover and keep in the fridge until needed.  I have kept the potatoes for up to 2 days before re-heating.
9. Heat the potatoes at 200 degrees Celsius for 20-25 minutes, until the top is golden and the centre is hot.

Eat and enjoy.

Something new

Our wedding is only a month and a half away - eeek.

The boy and I decided to make a few handmade items for the wedding, I still have to make the sashes for the flower girls dresses, but I have been making the ladies favours on and off for the last few months.  

We have designed, made and posted the invitations, the boy even managed to source some FSC sustainable card, and I think they are great.  

A wedding magazine said if a bride normally wears her hair down like I do then she should wear it down on her wedding day.  Well, I am ignoring that little piece of advice, I want to look different, polished and elegant like Reese Witherspoon, Kate Beckinsale and Angelina Jolie.  My hairdresser tried out 2 different styles, sorry, no pictures until after the wedding.


These are my shoes for the big day, aren't they pretty!  I visited them for a good year before purchasing them, you see, I normally wear flat shoes, like, everywhere... and they add a good three inches to my height, so I really need to a. learn to walk in them, and b. break them in.  

I do have a plan b for the evening - bare feet, perfect for dancing.


Sorry I can't share photos of everything I have made yet, many of my guests read this blog and I want a few things to be a surprise.


Gx

Applique baby bodysuit (onesie) & free patterns

My cousin and his wife had their first child in May, a beautiful little girl.  

Every sewer knows each baby should receive a gift, one made with love and thought in each stitch.  For Freya's gift I embellished some shop bought bodysuits (onesies) as each newborn needs some cute bodysuits to wear with a skirt or trousers and a little cardigan.  

Both the apple and bird are attached using raw edge applique to allow the edges to fray slightly when washed, and the apple stem, bird's beak, feet and eyes are sewn with co-ordinating thread.  The bow is 3D, it was fashioned into shape and lightly sewn onto the suit.  

Welcome to the world Freya.

----------     Bloganniversary     ----------

This month is my one year blog anniversary and to celebrate I am sharing the apple and bird patterns, here they are: 

Click on the image to open a larger version.

I used the pattern on a bodysuit for a baby aged 3-6 months, and the pattern can easily be increased.  A new mum gets so many clothes for a newborn I like to give something the little one can grow into.


Gx