My ramblings in Pretty Nostalgic - No Way!

Hello. This post is partly to cheer me along with the fact that the weather, quite frankly, is pants today!

I'm blogging about something very exciting which happened a couple of weeks ago. You know very well I am a huge fan of Pretty Nostalgic, the magazine about "creative and sustainable living inspired by the past". Well I sent in some of my non-blonde ramblings along with a picture of one of my vintage finds. Whilst emailing an order for more back copies, nearly have a full set now with just one to go, Nicole told me my letter would be printed in the next issue! Here is my published piece. Eeeek!

I should explain that Nicole is Editor-in-Chief and an owner of Pretty Nostalgic, along with Rae Edwards, and her very own home is also featured in the latest issue. Take a look here at her beautifully decorated mantlepiece. 

    



There are so many wonderful things to look at but I especially like the bunny in the tea cup and the hyacinths which are one of my favourite flowers in Spring.

I find Nicole's arrangement so very inspiring as I love to decorate my own mantle at all times of the year, and here it is just now! (It changes now and then but loving it right now.)

 

So I hope you enjoyed mine and Nicole's show and tell, but before I go, you still have time to order a subscription to Pretty Nostalgic to make your mum's day on Mothering Sunday - check out the link here on all of the subscription options for this lovely, lovely publication!

Catch ya later. xx

Creative Eclairs Blog Hop!

Hi, you may remember that recently I was lucky enough to interview Ruth Clemens, of The Great British Bake Off fame, here recently. 

Well, I am very pleased to have been asked to take part in a blog hop in connection with Ruth's wonderful new book called Creative Eclairs. This is something very new to me so I really am hoping you like my contribution. You will find all the members of the blog hop listed here on the host website of Stitch Craft Create. 

Check out just how gorgeous the cover is, how inviting does that look?

 

Here are some images from inside the book to inspire you!

  

I have been lucky enough to get a sneak preview of the book's yummy contents and have a yet to be released copy to give away to one lucky winner - VERY excited to have my first blog giveaway! To be in with a chance of winning, I ask that you simply comment at the end of this post. All entering posts must be made by midnight on March 31st to be included. I will notify the winner by email.

Good luck to everybody!x

So for the first time, with the help of Ruth, I've been baking choux pastry and I'm sharing my experience with you. I decided to go for a small batch of the mixture as it was my first bash, but I was confident that as long as I followed Ruth's instructions then all would be well.
 

Initially the mixture is a lot like a roux sauce base.

You add the eggs and beat even though it looks like it might be curdling!

I am going to be perfectly honest with you as honestly is always the best policy in my opinion. I had intended to make the allumettes but I do not have a plain nozzle so decided to go for a fluted one and see what happened. It didn't work so I figured the best idea was to go for a woopie-pie inspired creation (hope you don't mind Ruth). 

Not too impressed with my piping but hey ho!

Once out of the oven I was quite happy with them.

I decided to fill them with my home made lemon curd - going for extra Brownie points here as I always use Ruth's recipe, but I add an extra egg and it makes it even yummier. (Again, I hope that is ok with you, Ruth?) And here is the final result. 

  

I was pleasantly surprised with the result and I can safely say I will definitely be making choux again. Thanks Ruth for the very easy directions and tips along the way.


So, I hope you have enjoyed this special blog post and that you will enter my giveaway; the lucky winner will be sent their very own copy as soon as possible!

Don't forget to check the list of other bloggers taking part in the hop, too.

Take care and thanks for stopping by and hope you will visit again soon. x

Use Life Well.

What do you consider this statement to mean?

For me it's about doing your best to use life, and not let life use you. To me it also means trying to take opportunities when they come along and, as one of my favourite sayings tells us - know where you are going, don't go where you know. Along with this, exploring avenues and possibilities life may put in your path can be a real eye opener. Doing this really can help you come to decisions when mulling over a situation. You may eventually find the grass is not greener, or now isn't the best time for whatever you are contemplating.

All these ramblings, which I hope make sense to somebody, came out of our considering moving from where we now live. We looked at a house that needed a great deal of work, do-able but a lot of it! We had time between the first viewing and making a second appointment to really think things through. The realisation dawned on us, that we had a wonderful home designed for us as a family and had just about everything we needed to be happy. We had visions of land and chickens and living the good life, and I think we can do that where we are right now. It takes looking over the fence at somebody else's back yard to realise you have been taking for granted what you already have. Preparing the house for viewings made us come to the conclusion we already have what we want, with a bit of tweaking.

So, we are to stay where we are for now and be oh so grateful for what we have, instead of going somewhere else to try and create the happy home we already live in!

Been Junkin' - What Fun!

Yesterday I went junkin' with my niece and hubby's cousin. We had great fun and I am now sharing with you my goodies soon to be used in and around the house.We went to Haslingden in Rossendale and started off at the indoor flea market. Truth be told, a lot of the stands have quite a lot of tat on offer. However, that is the thrill of a good rummage and I have a couple of favourite stands there which I was looking forward to having a look at.

First purchase in the bag was this ancient looking tin. I figured I could secure the label and protect if from the elements to use it for a planter in the front garden so that is the plan. I should point out that I got it for the price he wanted but also got him to throw in the 1960's recipe leaflet on Danish bacon!
 

 
Then onto that favourite stand where the owner had a lovely, small brown suitcase - see here.

This, once I have given it a vacuum inside and a clean on the outside, is perfect to go on the prayer table at the end of the spare bed. It will look delightful holding towels, facecloths, soaps etc.

In scanning the many shelves I spied a lovely cigar box in great, colourful condition so bagged this, too.

         









 
Kitchenalia is always something I am on the hunt for and original blue and white enamel ware are items I hope to find. I was lucky enough to come across 2 pie plates and I like to pick up any nice looking cutlery so found these two. All in all, after offering him what I wanted to pay for the bundle, I got the lot for £12, which I think was a great price.

We then popped to Holden Antiques, also in Haslingden. I felt slightly sceptical as to whether or not I would find anything in my price range, but how wrong I was! The place was a gold mine for the big buyer or somebody, like me, looking for little accents and special items.

I could have bought a tonne of things but I kept to my budget and I came away with this fantastic old first aid box; it also came with a small pot jar. This will go beautifully on a wall in the spare room and I will now be looking for suitable vintage items to go inside.

Well, that is my goodies shared with you and I look forward to showing you them in their chosen places and homes very soon.

Thanks for stopping by and catch ya later!x

National Stationery Week Is Coming Soon!

For all you letter writers, scribblers, planners, list makers and general stationery addicts, like me, our week of weeks is coming - SOON!

NATIONAL STATIONERY WEEK is March 31 - April 6 so visit their website because it is choc-a-block with items celebrating the written word, getting people to write letters, espcecially children, and tonnes of other fun stuff including competitions.

Why not put pen to paper and write a note or short letter to somebody today instead of emailing or Tweeting? Personally I have always loved writing letters and belong to #PostCircle set up by the lovely blogging lady Anna of Miss Beatrix.

I am quite a stationery addict and just love to buy beautiful notebooks, folders, files, anything I can write in really, even if I don't avtually need to use them right now. good to have them in stock just in case!
 
BTW, my English teacher always told me you could remember to spell the paper kind of stationery by remembering the e for envelope at the end not an a as is the standing still stationary. Just thought I would mention that! 

Hope you will join in with this wonderful week and that you enjoyed this post and will stop by again soon. x

Fabric Follower and Student Seamstress!

In case you hadn't noticed, the second series of The Great British Sewing Bee is now underway at 8pm on BBC2 each Tuesday evening. Therefore this Wednesday found me  watching the previous night's programme, which I had recorded, whilst having my lunch. I remember watching it last year and being very inspired so I did manage to complete a small number of projects. 

I've started a little fabric stash - I think I have said before that if I call it material I don't feel a proper novice of the needle! I like looking at and touching it just about as much as I liked stroking paper when I used to do more paper crafting!

I love collecting the required tools, equipment and yummy parafinalia when you start a new project or hobby. I have these two fabulous pairs of fabric shears which my husband came across in our shed; the larger ones I think could possibly dispatch a small animal, hence I am keeping them away from my children. Ha ha!

  
I found this fabulous sewing box in one of my favourite charity shops for about £3 and enjoy using it instead of the small, ugly Tupperware-type box I have used for too long!
 

 











I didn't sew as a youngster, even though my mum made everything from my oldest sister's wedding dress to a faux fur coat for me as a teenager - I do wish I had paid more attention. I do, however, remember trying out the different embroidery stitches on a bag for the scrabble tiles when she took delivery of a new sewing machine.

I suspect lots of people have to sew when it comes to school name tapes. That was a both a baptism of fire and a catalyst so my skill level has certainly improved as I went from polo shirts to trousers via gyms kits.

I really would like to make more useful items. I don't have a huge interest in making elaborate clothes but rather prefer to make tote bags, sewn decorations for the house etc. As I type this post my machine sits next to me all threaded up for a project I recently started which I hope to share with you next month, once I have presented it to the recipient. That is the other thing, I like the idea of making something for a friend or family member as there is an immense sense of achievement with creating a gift for a special person.

I would love to hear from anybody who, like me, is just getting started when it comes to sewing to share ideas and experiences.

Thanks for stopping by and catch ya later! xx

Special Guest - Ruth Clemens!!

Hello everybody! 

Today I am thrilled beyond belief, and that's saying something, to have Ruth Clemens, Baker Extraordinaire, joining my non-blonde blonde ramblings here on Creating and Baking.

Ruth first came to our attention as the super cool, uber organised finalist in the first series of The Great British Bake Off. Since then Ruth has gone on to create her own very successful blog, the pink whisk. She is also the author of three books including her Brilliant Baking Step-By-step which I reviewed a short while ago. Ruth is constantly working with major baking brands, writing for magazines and this month is encouraging us all to bake some lovely loaves as part of the Lurpak February Challenge on http://www.bakeclub.co.uk. Make sure you sign up and take part so you can be in with a chance of winning a set of Ruth's books, including the soon to be released Creative Eclairs - more of which later!

So I hope you are sitting down with a brew and a slice of cake; I have some of Ruth's Choc Chip and Fudge Madeira cake to enjoy whilst we learn a little more about our guest.

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Being an established cookery writer, which non-food authors are favourites on your bookcase at home?

 

I love Tess Gerritsen, Jo Nesbo and then a good variety of light-hearted chick lit – I tend to avoid the baking stories though, that’s just a bit too much like a busman's holiday for me and I do love to curl up with a good book and lose an hour or two!

Your family has a baking history going back four generations. Could you share one of your great-grandmother Thirza's trade secrets with us?

 

I wish I could! Unfortunately my memories of her and the bakery were when I was a young girl and I have to admit I didn’t pay enough attention unless it was to lick the bowl and spoon, or to do the taste testing before baked goodies made it to the counter! The two generations  of my family between my Nannan (Thirza) and me didn’t want a career in baking and so the Bakery was run by members of staff until eventually it was sold - something that I deeply regret. What she did give me is a love of baking, a love of the smell and the sounds of clattering tins and busy kitchens. She also taught me that baking is to be shared and enjoyed by as many people as possible; Nannan was a truly inspirational influence on me and I hope that I can leave as good a memory when I’m gone.

 I, too, have a houseful of boys, so how do you express your inner pink other than through baking?

I just have to keep asserting a strong female influence much to their disgust! This includes dancing randomly round the house, singing along to the radio at the top of my voice, asking them which top goes best with which trousers and explaining the ins and outs of various makeup/beauty regimes even though they have absolutely no interest. Also dragging them round The Trafford Centre (our local large shopping centre) fairly regularly, making sure they’ve examined and had a good sniff at everything in Lush before being allowed in the Apple Store. They’re not keen on the enforced girliness but at least they tolerate it now, and if I have to trapse through the mud with them, ride bikes up blustery muddy hills and cheer them on at sports games from the freezing cold sidelines then I think it’s only fair!

You equipment list includes suppliers from the US and Australia. How do certain items differ from those available in the UK and why do you prefer them?

 

I have to admit I love seeing what equipment and supplies that you can get in other countries; you can sometimes come across some really different items before they make it over here. The US and Australia supplier lists in the books are more because I’m lucky that my books are launched in the US and Australia at the same time as the UK so it’s to give the international readers some pointers as to where to buy their bits from too!

I am a fan of Anna Olsen and she recently branched out with a Food Network programme using fresh food items. Would you consider widening your remit to include more savoury baking and making?

 

Very much so. Until recently I’ve never been much of an inspired cook, I think mostly down to the fact that my boys were younger and completely unadventurous so it became very disheartening when no-one would try it, let alone eat it for their tea. However, as they get older they’re much more willing to try different things and broaden their horizons.

 

The reason I tend to come back to sweet baking is because it’s so much easier to share. You can tempt most folks with a slice of cake, I can dispatch my husband with a plate of sweet treats to share at work, drop boxes of goodies off with my sisters, deliver slices of brownies to my Nanna for wrapping individually and storing in the freezer not to mention squirrelling the odd jam tart in the boys lunch boxes!

What would you say to people who want to bake for themselves but don't quite know where to start?

 

Get a bowl, a spoon and a good recipe and get stuck in! You can’t beat the taste of something you’ve made yourself – the proud factor ups the taste level immensely!  Its hugely rewarding when you can share it out too and say "I made that"; you can’t beat a good bit of baking.

 

What future aims and ambitions do you have for your baking career?

 

It may sound a bit odd but I just want to carry on baking for the people I love; I’ll carry on sharing my recipes as long as people are interested and after that really who knows? First and foremost I’m Mum, wife, daughter, sister and friend and those are the people I love to bake for. Aside from that I’m extremely lucky that I have a lot of ‘online friends’  through the blog that I love to bake for too and, whilst I can’t share the slices out that far, I can pass on the recipes so that they can all bake for their families and friends too. 

 

Through the blog I have had some amazing opportunities and experiences, writing books and recipes and working with all sorts of brands which I have loved doing and who knows what the future will hold? My big hope is for a kitchen extension so I have a better space to work in, but I can bet I’ll still be balancing things on the toaster and the drainer and using the microwave for impromptu storage even then!

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Thank you so much for your time today, Ruth, and I am really hoping to review said new book, Creative Eclairs, in the very near future!