Making and Bake

I've been having a little make and bake, as you do!

A card for Bob's Mums 80th Birthday, made one evening out of old books, clothes and buttons! How very frugal, I think I've become a super scrimper, note to self, must make a jaunty orange hat to wear at all times.

Cakes for the Birthday girl, a tray bake Bakewell and Lemon and Lavender fairy cakes. Found the recipes online, however prefer the frangipane from Mary Berry's recipe, so next time i'd use hers for that bit and mix it up a bit. They did taste gooood though!

A hug card for a friend who needed one. The buttons are the free ones from Mollie Makes. I love using old book pages stamped up with sentiments, the paper has an almost linen quality to it which makes it sturdy enough to sew and manhandle. The book came from a charity shop and was so much cheaper than buying paper from craft shops, the cover and spine had given up so I'm giving it a new lease of life!

Finally my saucy vases, made from posh brown and tomato sauce bottles! Is there such a thing?

I can't remember the name of the sauce just that it was reduced! I added ribbon and…ta dah rather nice vases don't you think?

I didn't make this! It's just a nice sky just briefly to cheer us all up! 

Now I'm watching the rain…boo!

What do you call a fast cake...

the view from the John Lewis cafe

On Sunday having spent a good hour browsing in John Lewis (love that shop!) And another half hour having tea and watching the world go by, when we finally emerged on to the chilly streets of Kingston clutching a new bed sheet purchase with a gift token (Egyptian cotton, how posh!) 

With a quick browse around TK Maxx, you have to be in the mood for this shop, me, I go there for the bakeware and interiors and look what I found, this lovely tea towel!

Last week we tuned in every night to watch the Comic Relief Bake-off. We thoroughly enjoyed each episode, I even downloaded some recipes to try. I made this little purchase to go towards Comic Relief day funds. The Tea Towels are by Emma Bridgewater and there is several designs to choose from.

I love the bake-off series, It has just the right mix of fun and seriousness with the steely eye Paul and a twinkle eyed Mary, she's a real inspiration to all bakers. Soggy bottoms and all!

On another note, I have finally wrapped my swap partners gift Little Dotty Bird and will try to post on Friday (whoop!)