A tutorial for you

We've been really fortunate this year to have had lovely weather over the summer and so we have eaten lots of lunches outside.  One of my favourite lunches has to be salmon and asparagus quiche served with an English salad and freshly baked bread, accompanied by a refreshing White Zinfandel.  For dessert, or maybe even to be served later in the day for afternoon tea, delightful little fancies.  I will write tutorials for the food but today I would like to share with you how I made the basket which the bread is in.  I used bright summery Cath Kidston cotton but any cotton could be used to fit in with your table setting, particularly since it's quite close to Halloween now, or day I say it, Christmas!

To make the basket you will need the following:

A circular piece of thin card measuring 15cm in diameter
A square piece of thin card measuring 10cm x10cm
80cm square of patterned cotton fabric
1/2m contrast fabric
30com wadding
10cm pelmet vilene

Now let's hope that I make my instructions clear enough for you to follow. 
1.  Using the round card template cut out 8 circles from your contrast fabric.
2.  Stitch all around the edge of the circles, inside the seam allowance, with a small running stitch.
3.  Place the cardboard circle inside the circles of fabric and pull the ends of the thread to gather the fabric over the card.  Press and leave to cool.  Remove the card template.

4.  Cut 8 squares from your patterned fabric and 8 from your wadding. With your circle facing the wrong side up, lay a squre of wadding and then a square of patterned fabric right side up in the centre.  Pin the folds down and stitch through all three layers.  Make 8 of these patches.

 

 

5.  Using the contrast fabric cut out 2 rectangles meauring 21cm x 11.cm.  Leaving a.5cm seam allowance, wih the right sides together, sew the 2 fabrics together around the outside, leaving an 8cm gap on one side for turning.  Press and turn right side out.  Slip the Vilene into the base and slip stitch the opening closed.  Top stitch around the outside to strengthen the edges.  This is your base.

6.  Placing 2 patchwork squares next to each other, join them together using a zig zag stitch.  Repeat this another 3 times so that you have 4 sets of 2 patchwork squares.

7.  Join the patchwork squares to the base as in step 6 using the picture below for guidance.

Finally, pin the edges together as shown and top stitch into place. 

Phew, after all that I think I need a nice chilled glass of White Zinfandel.  Happy stitching!

Mary x

This is me

Well, I must say, I'm not very good at keeping up with my blog!  Also, this is the first post which I've written without the help of my daughter Sarah, so fingers crossed that I manage to get it right.  A couple of weeks ago I had laser surgery carried out at the site for eyes clinic situated in Sunderland Eye Infirmary and for the first time in years I am sitting here at the computer typing without the need for glasses.  It's both amazing and strange because I only had my left eye done, so I can actually see more clearly if I close my right eye!  But at the same time the fact that I can read and write without glasses is fantastic.  I'm having surgery on my right eye next month so I can't wait for the end result.  This is me about an hour after the operation wearing a protective patch over my eye...all that is missing is the parrot!  Not the most attractive picture which I have had taken I have to say.  But, a huge thankyou to Mr Jean-Pierre Danjoux and his team for making such a huge difference to my life!

Easy peasy jam making (AKA very lazy jam making)

 

I love making homemade jam... Well, actually I love eating homemade jam as it is so much nicer than any shop bought jam I have tasted.  There are lots of time consuming ways to make jam, which I am sure give very good results, but in my opinion, the method I use makes delicious jam without making too much trouble.  If you would like to give it a go, here is my recipe.

800g washed blackcurrants

1kg Silver Spoon Jam Sugar

Knob of butter (optional but delicious)

Place the blackcurrants and sugar into the largest heavy-based pan which you have and using a potato masher, mash them up.

Heat gently, continually stirring, until the sugar dissolves then add the butter. Bring to the boil and keep at a rolling boil, one which cannot be turned down, for 15 minutes.  It is important to use a large pan to avoid the jam spitting out at you.

Take a teaspoon of jam and drop it onto a saucer which has been in the fridge.  If the jam begins to set and wrinkle up when you push it with a spoon then it is ready; if it is still quite runny then leave it to boil for a few more minutes.

Next decant your jam into old jam jars or Kilner jars which have been thoroughly washed and sterilised.  I sterilise my jars by washing them in the dishwasher.

Finally, enjoy with a nice thickly cut slice of freshly baked bread, or better still, invite friends around for tea and scones.  If your friends are like mine then they will be expecting to go home with a jar of your delicious jam, so make plenty!

Mary x

My first post

I love reading other people’s blogs.  I find them both aspiring and inspiring, and also I suppose I’m just a little bit nosey!  For a while now I've thought about starting a blog, but because I tend to procrastinate it’s taken me quite a long time to actually get around to doing it.  I’m hoping that by writing this blog I’ll be motivated to finish lots of projects which I have on the go.  My intentions are to have lots of photos of my projects on my blog along with tutorials so that you, if you wish, may have a go too.  I hope you enjoy reading my musings.

Mary x