Getting Ready for Easter

I helped out some friends make some little chicks to raise money for the Meningitis Trust and thought they were so cute I decided to make some for my family and friends. 

They were very simple to knit and then decorate. I made some little bobble hats for a couple of them and a bonnet for one the rest I just gave crazy hair. I think they are cute and when you add a Cadbury Creame or Caramel Egg for the bodies they are not only cute but also yummy.

Mother's Day gift idea

I thought I'd share this idea I had for a mother's day gift. Most Mums love photos of their families so I thought create a mini scrapbook come photos album as a gift. 

I got several mini note books from Hobbycrafts sale the other day which cost between £1 and £2 each. Very reasonable I thought, but also a bit dull and not very attractive as gifts. 

What I started with a plain brown spiral bound album

However, with a few oddments of ribbon, paper, embellishments, glue etc it was possible to transform these rather dull ducklings into rather spiffy swans. 

Just adding a pretty bit of ribbon improves things

The addition of some stamped labels, charms and embellishments and the change is just great

Now all that's needed is to fill up the pages with photos and other sentimental memorabilia, and that can be left to the recipient of the gift. 

Flower Power

As promised here is what I did with the wreath ribbon felt and felt flowers. 

I thought it made a lovely Spring/Easter time decoration.

The Staff of Life ... Bread

For my birthday last year my hubby bought me a bread making lesson at our local bakery. A now nationally known bakery I might add, it having featured on the TV program 'Britain's  Best Bakery'. Well my birthday might have been in August but we had to wait for a suitable date to actually do the course we had picked. Well it was well worth the wait, we had a great time making all our Italian bread. 

Paul the owner and chief baker of the Cinnamon Square was a great teacher (www.cinnamonsquare.com) hemade sure we all knew what we were doing in a friendly helpful manner and gave us loads of tips to ensure we could all hopefully go home and repeat all we had learnt.  All the staff were very nice and we had a great lunch and afternoon break. So all round I'd highly recommend the Cinnamon Square courses. 
  
Do'nt get me wrong it was hard work. I can tell you,all the kneading that's required really takes the stuffing out of you, and talk about aching arms. However. it was all for a worth it as  the bread that we turned out was fabulous even though I say it my self.  Anyway see what you think.

Salt free Tuscan bread

Tear and share pesto and olives

Pizza 

Olive Rosemary and Sea Salt Foccacia 

  

A days worth of bread making 

Had such a good time I will be enrolling on a Patisserie course later this year.