Wednesday 28 May 2014

Fruit Scones

Fruit Scones
Ingredients
8 oz. Self Raising Flour
1/2 teaspoon Salt
2 oz. Butter/margarine
2 tablespoons Sugar
2oz. Dried Fruit
1 Egg
1/4 pint Milk
1.   Preheat the oven gas mark 7, 220C/425F.
2.   Sift the flour, sugar and salt together.
3.   Rub in the fat until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
4.   In a jug whisk the egg and milk together.
5.   Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the fruit. 
6.   Stir in a little milk at a time to make a fairly soft dough.
7.   Make sure the dough is not too sticky. You may find that you do not use all of the milk mixture  or you may want to add a little more milk as your mixture is too dry.
8.  Turn out onto a floured surface.
9.   Knead very gently to removed any cracks or to bring the dough to a smooth dough.
10. Roll out gently.  We like our scones to be 'tall and thick'.
11. Using a 2 inch cutter. Cut out scones and place on a greased baking tray.
12. Brush with any left over milk mixture or milk.
13. Bake for about 10 minutes or until golden brown in the top of the oven.
14. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
15. Serve split with butter or jam and cream.
Makes 8 large scones or 12 scones.

Tuesday 27 May 2014

OPAM May 2014

I finished two pin cushions today.  I have lots of projects on the go at the moment but sadly I have only managed to finished the two pin cushions this month.
Note to oneself:  I must do better next month!! 
Plym Jar 2 x 20p = 40p  

Monday 26 May 2014

Free Motion Quilting Monday

Last Monday afternoon I taught a 'Free Motion Quilting' workshop to a wonderful and talented group in Yelverton.
I am going to try and post every Monday some FMQ samples and links to websites for the ladies to explore before I go back on  a post workshop visit.
Leah Day started the 'Free Motion Quilting Project in 2009.  Her aim was to try a new FMQ pattern every day for a year!
 Remember that we are only stitching on our practise squares!  My squares are 6 1/2 inches.
   

Thursday 15 May 2014

Pentille Headland

After a lazy day yesterday, Mr D and I decided that we would walk along the Pentille Headland.  On the way we notice the large signs advertising the Newquay car boot.  So we had a short pit stop for refreshments (we always have our own refreshments in the cool box) and a stroll around the car boot.  Mr D and I purchased two books each for our holiday in France later in the year.  We paid two pounds for four books.  I also purchased two packets of buttons for a pound.        
We had a wonderful walk along the Pentille Headland after lunch.  There is a wonderful view of Crantock bay on side and Fistral bay on the other. 
It is a lovey walk with lots of benches to sit and enjoy the views.
There are also lots of different species of birds that nest along the cliffs. 
 

Wednesday 14 May 2014

Lazy Day

The weather today was fantastic, clear bule sky and warm sunshine. Mr D and I spent the whole day on Crantock beach enjoying the peaceful view and catching up on our reading.
Whilst at Trago Mills on Monday, Mr D purchased a new book to read called Bottoms Up in Belgium by Alec Le Sueur.   I started reading Pegasus Bridge by Stephen E. Ambrose whilst on holiday in France last year.  Pegasus Bridge was the first engagement of D-Day.  It is a account given by the men of British 6th Airborne Division lead by Major John Howard and the german soldiers station at the bridge. I really feel strongly that we should not forget the men and women of this country that gave their lives for our freedom.
Mr D and I have often paid our respects to our fallen in Normandy and at other Commonwealth War Graves Cemeteries across the world.  One of the most moving cemeteries to visit is Le Cambe German Cemetery in Normandy.  The German fallen are buried in graves that hold up to five/six soldiers in one plot.  After the war the french refused for the germans to buried their dead on french soil.  La Cambe was an american cemetery until they relocate all the fallen  to Omaha cemetery.  As La Cambe was officially american soil they gave it to Germany to bury their fallen.  Every year german school children visit the site to maintain the cemetery.
As you can tell I know alot about the events that happen during the world wars.  I can recommend reading the Pegasus Bridge book.     
The photo above show the fabric that I purchased at Trago Mills on Monday.  I am going to make bags with the blue, orange and pink fabrics.  I could not resist the fabric with postage marks on as I thought it would make lovely fabric postcards.
Anyway back to my book.   

Tuesday 13 May 2014

Good Morning

I had this morning to myself.  so after breakfast I set up my sewing machine to prepare a few samples for a workshop that I am teaching next week.
After I finsished the preparation for the workshop, I started sewing some more gift bags. 
Now I am off for a short walk along the coast path. 

Monday 12 May 2014

Crantock

I had hopped over the border again to stay in Crantock, Cornwall for a few days.  The weather has been lovely today.  I did my normal stop off at Trago Mills in Liskeard.  And yes, I did by a few metres of fabric!  I will photograph it tomorrow to show you.
Here are a few photos of our evening walk along Crantock beach.
This is the view we have from our accommodation.
  

Friday 9 May 2014

South Hill Piecemakers Quilt Show

Yesterday on a cold and damp day I set off with a couple of friends to the South Hill Piecemakers Quilt Show called 'The Seasons'.  The charity they were supporting and raising funds for this year is 'Help for Heroes'. This group meets at Golberdon Village Hall every 1st Monday and 3rd Thursday of the month from 7.30 pm until 10 pm.  Their quilt exhibition is always worth the journey over to Cornwall.  Once again this year they had an outstanding display of work on show.  Well done.
 Spring.
Christmas.
 Autumn
 Winter
Summer.
And finally the charity quilt and sales table.    

Sunday 4 May 2014

Mystery Quilt - That Garden Quilt Part Three

SusanClaire aka The Gourmet Quilter has post part three of her mystery quilt on her website and blog. 
I have downloaded part three and print it off but will not be starting it until nearer the end of the month due to that fact I have been commissioned to quilt four quilts!!!  I will post more about later this month when I have finished quilting the four tops and handed back to the client. Plus I can up date you all on my mystery quilt blocks. See you all soon.

Friday 2 May 2014

Cast Offs

On Wednesday, I sent a text to the Cast Off girls saying that they were to wear old clothes and bring an apron plus lunch to the Cast Offs meeting on Friday at my house.  I did not say why! 
During that day, I found some fabric that I had wash and prepared for a dyeing day some months earlier but must had forgotten all about it.
So I wash it again and thought the girls might like to play with all my fabric paints and dyes. Hence the text to them.
I got the dyes, stamps and screen printing equipment out too.  I gave them a very quick demo and then let them loose to do their own thing.     
This did mean showing them my fabric paint and dye cupboards.  I have alot of stuff, all treasure.
I have an old kitchen that is in need of being replace so it really did not matter if we made a mess.  But the Cast Offs girls are so tidy.   
I hope they had fun.  They all went home tired but with some great fabric pieces.
Kay and Sheila drying their fabrics with a hairdryer!!!  The first photo in this post is Kay watching Jean screen printing.  Jean has a natural gift for screen printing.
Sue's fabric dyed blue then when dried Sue screen printed in silver paint the leaves, then stamped with black paint. 
I cannot wait to see what they make with their fabric.......