I had no idea how pointlessly complicated making a basic lined curtain could be until I embarked on making one.  After trawling the web I was quickly confused by conflicting advice about machine stitching versus hand-stitching, how much extra fabric to allow and so on and so on. So here my friends, is the no […]

I’ve long been a fan of dark and oaty homemade soda bread not least for the ease with which it can be knocked up in less time than it takes to eat it (ideally slathered in butter and smoked salmon).  I’m less offay with proper loaves simply because I rarely have three hours spare at […]

Some months ago my darling sister became engaged and I obviously immediately started plotting about what would make the perfect wedding present.  I’ve always loved antique cross stitch samplers  so decided to make a more modern piece of needlework which I could adapt using bright almost clashing coloured thread and their names and the date […]

As I mentioned in my last post, I haven’t been blogging much and this is why.  Meet Margot.  She’s two and a half months old, extremely soft, a little bit nippy and thoroughly intrepid.  From here on her adventures will be documented in detail alongside my own. She’s already been to some great restaurants, hung […]

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while but what with moving house, finally learning to drive at the ripe old age of 30 and holding down the day job, I’ve been a bit lax. But I am pleased to say that  after many MANY days of knitting (often before the sun was even […]

I am something of a chilli fiend and lately this lust for fire in my food has gone into overdrive.   I have countless chilli sauces in my cupboard, evidence of my on going search for the Holy Grail of sauces: one that has bite and heat but isn’t sickly sweet and shiny smooth like many […]

Unlike my sister and quite a few friends I am not a great knitter, learning a new stitch or technique takes time and always having to stop and start means I spend far too much time trying to work out where I left off hence the various half finished projects in cotton bags languishing around […]

I first made these fabric covered rope necklaces last year as Christmas presents, they’re also a good way of using up awkward sized scraps of fabric.  Here’s what you’ll need: Wooden beads, I went for chunky 35mm ones bought on ebay Fabric, for 35mm beads you’ll need strips 10cm wide and at least 1m long […]

Baking and babies, I have realised lately, don’t really go together. During my pregnancy I envisaged long quiet periods of time stretching out every day whilst the little plum slept. Florence however has different ideas about how her day should pan out and prefers to be part if the action, so my friends, I have […]

I haven’t posted anything for quite some time and I wouldn’t surprised if all my readers have abandoned the silent ship. You see, quite a lot has happened in the last few months and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling a little bit nervous about returning to the blogosphere.  First up we […]