Crafty Plans!

So a friend and I have given ourselves a challenge for 2012.

We are going to make crafts for a craft fair.

I have been thinking for the past 2 weeks since I have been home and have decided on 4 main things:

Candles

Soaps

Body Scrubs/sugar

Fridge magnets

For Christmas I was given these candle making and soap making kits from Hobbycraft:

http://direct.hobbycraft.co.uk/products-House-of-Crafts-Creative-Candlemaking-Kit_299518.htm

http://direct.hobbycraft.co.uk/products-Organic-Soap-Making-Kit_341347.htm

Once I start making them, I will let you know how I get on!

AND now, I've seen that Hobbycraft have a sale on.... That's what I'm about to look at...!!

Photography Play

I have always loved taking photographs.  I know I'm not an expert but I love looking for colours and objects to snap.

My brother needed to practise his photography skills so we went to a village that we often went to as kids.  Frant, East Sussex.

We split up and met up again after being inspired. 

As you can see, moments like these make my life more worthwhile!

Here is a selection from the ones I took:

The brother!

I find old doors fascinating... The number of people who walk through. The mystery of them...

The village through the beams.

I like to think this view hasn't changed much over time.

These benches looked like they were having a good ol' gossip, while looking out at the village green!

I found this contraption pleasing to the eye!

Homemade Christmas fun

So this Christmas, to save money, I made a selection of homemade gifts.

My Dad is Alfredo and, you may have guessed, Italian.  He has been nagging me to make him Focaccia bread since I made it for him a few years ago.  So I bought the jars, made the labels and filled them with packet mixes.  I know - slapped wrist!  But I had only been back from America for 9 days so was running out of time. 

I bought the bottles and filled one with Mulled Wine and the other with Coffee Liqueur. 

I wrote instructions on the labels of all and use a Sharpie to write the main name tags.

Anyway, my Dad was really pleased and the total of these gifts was about £25.  It sounds a lot I guess but they really were a pleasure to make!!

Brighton tea shop

This morning I met my Aunt at the Mock Turtle teashop in the North Lanes, Brighton.

Quintessentially British in layout but purely Polish in service!!! ;-)

Everything was served on the vintage blue china, as you can see in the photograph.

It was quaint and cosy for the blustery, although sunny, winter catch up.

Recommended for tourists and cosy days like this one.

The array of teapots and cakes made it cosy and appealing to the mix of people in there.

Seating in limited as the place is so small but the coffee was good, which is just what I needed.  Unfortunately I didn't have any food - another time, dear Mock Turtle!  But here is a review if you want to see it...   http://www.qype.co.uk/place/34609-The-Mock-Turtle-Tea-Shop-Brighton

And a couple more photos.  Have you seen the size of those doughnuts?? That's what she said! ;-)

Brighton brownie baking

Back to Brighton....


.....and my brownies.  No cookies I'm afraid.  I had nothing to measure with, let alone a mixing bowl! 

Well I was certainly restricted.  But I bought 2 packets of brownie mix and decided to make a rocky road brownie.  I had no way of measuring oil and water so had to guess the consistency...!!

I bashed up walnuts, cubed marshmallows into small pieces (very sticky, I warn you!) and broke Cadbury's buttons in too.  As you can see, I had to use a pan as a mixing bowl as my friend has NOTHING to bake with...!!

I'm so sorry to say that I didn't take a photo of the finished result.  I will get better at this. I will!!

 

I baked it at 180'C for 25 mins.  It was very gooey and I worried that it was too gooey.  I let it finish off as I turned the oven off and left it in there.  Probably wasn't the best idea...

BUT!! The outside has a nice slightly crispy coating and a gooey centre.  My Mum thinks I under cook my brownies but I ASSURE you that this is the American way and way WAY more delicious.

British brownies end up being cocoa-heavy, heavy cakes. 

Gooey brownies washed down with a glass of milk.  Amazing.

My taste testers certainly oooo-ed and ahhh-ed over them.

I just took a terrible out of focus photo for you to see.

You want light brown coating on the top and a deep, dark chocolate gooey mix in the centre.

Oh my, it's just gone midnight and I am about to devour the last piece!! Shhhh!!



Cupcake-a-go-go!

Well, people of the blogging world.  I have an announcement!

All my mention of Pretty Witty cake company..... I was offered a job there today!!!!
I didn't dare mention my interview earlier but I start in just under 3 weeks.

I'm stupidly nervous.  Hoping it leads me back Stateside but also hope that no matter what - it is a door to greater things.

I have been an Early Years teacher for 8 years and have always said I would want a career change.... Here is my opportunity.  I am starting at the bottom of a new ladder - at the age of 31.  I will be working long hours for less than half of what I earned as a teacher.  That is what petrifies me.

BUT.... I already have requests for cupcakes for an 18th birthday and a baby shower.  Maybe I can branch out my own baking.  Where to find the time!!!?!

Dearest reader - you may not believe in God or fate but I HAVE to believe this is a new start especially as I love to bake so freaking much!! ;-)

So here are some close-ups of my cupcakes.  Very amateur and I hope to compare as I improve in time...

Brighton blogging part 1

Last night I came to Brighton to visit a friend.
This is the view from his apartment window.
A typical cloudy British-weather-day - as I used to say in North Carolina!
(See how life looks better in the sun?!)

We're waiting for a third friend to join us and then we'll go exploring and have some lunch.

I have promised the boys that I will make cookies for them this afternoon.  There's only a baking tray/sheet.

Seriously!  No eggs, flour, sugar..... No mixing bowl or spoon!!  This is a challenge I am willing to take!

The boys are building a wardrobe together so my mission is to reward them with a tasty treat.  I'll let you know how I get on...!