Christmas Swap Time

Yay......I can't wait to do this swap! 

1. At LEAST One Handmade Item
2. Something to Read (book, magazine, poem)
3. Something for the Tree (garland, ornament, topper, skirt)
4. Holiday Goody (candy, cocoa, tea, coffee, chocolate)
5. Challenge: Include one gift for each letter needed to spell out a word from the season (SNOW, JOY, FAITH, LOVE, HOPE, GIFT, TREE, JESUS, STAR, SANTA, etc). We did this last year and it was SO MUCH FUN! Of course, the perfect gift for an "A" is an APRON.

Shawnee has requested that participants answer her questionnaire to help out out swap partner.....so here are my answers...

Shawnee's Secret Santa Swap Questionnaire

1.  What are your hobbies?

Sewing, Cooking,

2.  What are your favourite colours? –

Pink, Lilac, White, Taupe, Aqua, Melon, Aubergine

3.  Do you collect anything?

 Not really

4.  Are you allergic to any fibres or animals?

 No

5.  Do you have any pets?

Yes!  two gorgeous fluffy doggies, Daisy & Hugo.

6.  Coffee, Tea, or Chocolate?

All of these!

7.  What do you like to read?

Classics

8.  Do you prefer Cookies or Candies as a sweet?

Candies

9.  What is your favourite holiday treat?

 mmm so many - probably gingerbread

10.  Describe your favourite holiday tradition.

Sitting around the tree and opening our gifts

11.  Did you believe in Santa as a child?

Yes!

12.  When do you open presents?

We have a European background so half of our family’s pressies are opened on Christmas Eve and the other half on Christmas Day.

13.  Do you put up a tree and when?  If not, how do you celebrate?

I love putting up our tree - it's HUGE.  We decorate the tree and house on the 1st December so we can get the most enjoyment out of all our effort!

14.  Does your tree have a theme?

Yes, each year we have a different theme - this year I'm thinking maybe red & white

15.  What has been your favourite gift to give?  to receive?

My favourite gift to give is something that's hard to find or something special from overseas. I love receiving gifts that someone has put a lot of thought and love into especially for me.

.

2012 Calendar Tea Towel Competition

This is my design for the Spoonflower 2012 Calendar Tea Towel Competition....soooo much fun!
Check-out all the super creative entries at www.spoonflower.com




.

Among the trees

For this years Sketchbook Project my theme is "treehouse".  I LOVE trees - I think they are so beautiful. One day, when I grow-up....I wanna live in my very own tree house....

Here is a little inspiration....

 

  .....stay tuned for some sketchy-type up-dates.  :)

.
.

Bonjour mes Amis!

After a little hiatus from blogging, I'm back - more motivated and inspired than ever!  During my little break I’ve.....

• Been to Paris to visit Maison et Objet (interior design trade show) – P.S: It was AMAZING!

The AMAZING textiles hall (1 of 8 halls showing the lastest in interior design) at the Maison et Objet

Jardin des Tuileries

Jardin des Tuileries

Sacre Coeur

• Stopped off in London....met the cutest squirrels!

Cutie squirrel in the beautiful Kensington Gardens

Big Ben

Trafalgar Square

Buckingham Palace

• Designed my first fabric collection “GEOMETRIKA” Spring 2011

• Added to my little family.....introducing.......HUGO!

At the moment I'm working on....

• The Sketchbook Project 2012

• Next fabric range, Summer 2011
• Opening up an Etsy store.....yay!
• Ooohh ....and preparing for my favourite time of year with all sorts of Christmassy projects!

I’ll be sure to make regular posts keeping you up-to-date.  I hope you’ll drop in from time to time – I’d love to have your comments.

LOVE x

 

Pucker!

It was such a beautiful day today and I just had to post a picture of my gorgeous little lemon tree!  These are it's first two lemons and I'm so excited......but, I can't think of what to use them for and it seems a shame to pick them as they look so lovely on the tree!

....but, perhaps the call for a lemon meringue pie is too great to ignore!



.

Cartwheel for Joy!

Just when he thought no-one was looking.....LOVE it!

.

.

.

McVities......fit for a KING

For the reception Prince William requested an alternative treat to the traditional Wedding cake – a McVities chocolate biscuit cake which was one of his favourites as a young boy. 

The couple asked McVitie's Cake Company to create a chocolate biscuit cake for the reception at Buckingham Palace (pictured above).

The chocolate biscuit cake is made from a Royal Family recipe.  Below is a version of this scruptiously decadant looking cake!  ....YYYYUuuuummm!

The Royal Chocolate Biscuit Cake

You’ll need:

• 400g milk chocolate
• 250g dark chocolate
• 200g white chocolate
• 150g unsalted butter
• 275g golden syrup
• 275g digestive biscuits
• some good quality salt, such as fleur de sel, to sprinkle on top (optional)

You’ll also need:

• A large heatproof bowl for melting the chocolate mixture plus some kind of baking tray or dish to hold the chocolate biscuit mixture while it sets. I used a 28cm x 18cm x 3cm baking tin, which was just about big enough to hold this amount.

The Steps:

• Line your dish or tray with greaseproof or parchment paper.
• Break each digestive biscuit into 3 or 4 pieces.
• Break all of the chocolate into very small pieces or chop finely.
• Cut the butter into small pieces.
• Place your heatproof bowl over a pot of hot (but not simmering) water and over a very low heat. Add the golden syrup and butter.
• Once the butter has started melting, stir in the chocolate pieces and, stirring constantly, allow the whole mixture to melt together gently.
• Remove from the heat as soon as the chocolate has melted. Add the biscuit pieces and stir to combine.
• Fill your dish or tray with the chocolate biscuit mixture and, if you like, sprinkle with fleur de sel or other salt flakes.
• Allow to set in the fridge for about 2 hours, then cut into slices of whatever size and