Pyjama Bags

As our bathroom is downstairs the boys keep their pyjamas on a peg by the stairs to put on after washtime. I made these, applique and all, for them.

Neglected Blog & Carnival Party

Dear neglected Blog - things have been rather busy with everyone's birthdays and such. Here are some piccies of my eldest son's fabulous Carnival Party

The Invitation - we printed on card and were small (luggage tag size ) - got really lucky and found some tiny brown envelopes which fitted perfectly!

The Cake - 3 layers of sponge with buttercream, I painted onto the icing with food dye and used strawberry laces as hair. I couldn't eat the main cake but the laces were yummy!

Snowman!

When we woke at 7am there was that telltale silence where you know it's snowed and you go to the window and peek out. It was beautiful this morning before anyone and stepped on the soft virgin snow. Then the children we're out on our street laughing and playing. Sam and a neighbour's son made this fantastic snowman - my only input was finding the accessories. Definitely the biggest snowman I've ever seen! It was a really magical day.

Giant Paper Snowflake

The boys and I made a giant paper snowflake this afternoon. I think it turned out stunning and Sam really enjoyed it. We're going to make a pair of half sizers to hang either side tomorrow.

Thai Salmon & Sticky Coconut Rice

Decided to do something different with the salmon tonight - Baked Thai-style marinated Salmon on sticky Coconut Rice with peas and carrot shavings. Although Jack usually hates rice he ate half his and half his salmon! I thought it was super yummy!

Christmas Cards at last!

Finally finished my Christmas Cards! After much dibbing and dabbling settled on a design I liked. Copper pearlescent paper layed with white card and stars stamped in copper acrylic paint with pearl buttons and tiny sleigh bells. Must start them earlier next year methinks!

Room for 2

Finally got round to making the girls a Room for 2! I had some leftovers from an unfinished project that have been hanging around in my fabric box waiting to get used. So I made them into this cosy. The seams arent hidden but I used the strongest boning I could find to keep the entrance open and I'm really pleased with the results - and so are they as they have been snuggling up in there together.

Florentine Christmas Cake

Wow I loved making this - my first Christmas cake and totally Dairy free (did use eggs). I had debated icing the cake but came across this recipe for Florentine Topping http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2180/festive-fruit-and-nut-cake and I love nuts so seemed perfect. I did substitute the hazelnuts for pistachios. The cherries and the subtle green of the pistachios make for a really festive feel. Smelled absolutely scrummy and am looking forward to sharing it with my family (and possibly half the street!) with a warm glass of mulled wine/apple juice.

Chocolate Winter Cupcakes

We decorated the leftover cakes this morning - chocolate buttercream instead - the boys loved it. Sam was really good with the piping bag! I think one snowball worked better and reminded me of winter bobblehats. The green glitter looks much better on the chocolate background too. We had enough to give 2 to their Great Grandad too as an early birthday gift.

Definitely going to invest in some deeper cupcake bases in the future.

Snowy Christmas Cupcakes

My first effort at piped cupcakes for my eldest's Christmas Fayre. Decorated with vanilla buttercream, chocolate dusted snowballs, dessicated coconut, silver balls and some gorgeous edible glitter. The easter look was completely unintentional as they are supposed to be snowballs on top!

I think I may have been bitten by the cupcake bug - I have more than a dozen cakes left over which I'm gonna ice when I get a chance. Looking forward to trying something different!

I nearly went for a light cream and brown fabric but decided that wasn't very practical and chose this. I had thought it was lilies in the shop but was very happy to discover it's actually Clematis.

I finally finished the curtain for the front door and am really pleased with it. Heathcoats had a sale on curtain fabric so I made the whole thing for only £14. It's lined with a flat bedsheet so should keep out any draughts the excluders miss. This is the first curtain I've made and it was harder going than I thought - mainly because of the lining - it involved a lot of ironing and pinning!

And Jack is loving having a new hiding place.

Operation Welcome

Operation Welcome has finally been started. I have been waiting 3 years to get the front of the house sorted. It's so nice to come home to a gorgeous blue door not the peeling factory grey! We took the extra time to strip and restore the original knocker too and I'm really glad we did. Just the gas box, windows and gutters to do!!

Eco (and purse)- friendly Christmas Gift Wrap

We made Christmas wrapping paper! The pic doesn't do it justice as the stars are metallic. I bought a foam star stamp and we stamped to our hearts content. Jack loved it too although had to be really careful as we used acrylic paint! Used up all my copper acrylic so will be heading for the shops tmw for some more.

I decided to make my Christmas wrapping as eco-friendly as I could this year so I have also banned cellotape.

Better Daytime pic of the cuddle cups

Cuddle Cups

Petal in fleece/cord cuddle cup

Poppy in cup with 60z wadding

My first attempts at the Guinea Cuddle Cup - really chuffed with them. The first one I made just with cord outer and fleece then went on to make second with 6oz wadding - holds the shape much better when pigs are fidgetting about in there. Considering making a super size one for the spare bedroom in the new hutch - they don't seem to mess in these like they do the cozies. Sorry the pics are a bit dark! will have to take some more piccies in the morning.

Triangular Bed

I made this triangular bed for the girls last christmas - it's made only from cotton outer layer and fleece lined with a removable fleece pad. As you can see it's never held it's shape too well but they have always loved it and still squeeze in there together!

Pretty in Pink Cavy Cosy

Here is my first attempt at a guinea pig cosy cavy I made for my little pigs - they love having somewhere cosy to hide! And it's a great way to use old fleece jumpers!

Welcome

Welcome to devon rose blog - i am hoping to share my love for all sorts of crafts! Be seeing you soon