Spring - What Does it Mean to YOU?
For me, waking up this morning to a new season was like coming out of a long, dark tunnel... I am not a "Winter" person. I don't like the cold. The short days. Frost on the windows. Grass that is permanently damp. Washing that won't dry. Scarves around my neck.
I DO like the sunshine. Long, lazy days and sunsets that linger... cotton singlets. Bare skin. Flowers. Early morning walks on the beach. Getting dirty hands planting herb seeds. My laundry waving in the gentle breeze. Pastels. Sandals. Iced water with fresh mint.
Spring, folks.
SPRING!
What does it mean to you?
Read More...
I DO like the sunshine. Long, lazy days and sunsets that linger... cotton singlets. Bare skin. Flowers. Early morning walks on the beach. Getting dirty hands planting herb seeds. My laundry waving in the gentle breeze. Pastels. Sandals. Iced water with fresh mint.
Spring, folks.
SPRING!
What does it mean to you?
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| From here |
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| From iamblessed.tumblr.com |
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| From wwwcastlescrownscottages.blogspot.com |
Green Gate Autumn/Winter 2011
This week for my 'shops i love' page I bring you delightful Danish brand, Green Gate. I have featured them many a time here on Torie Jayne. Their new catalogue for Winter 2011 is full of polka dot stoneware, gingham checks and fifties florals. There is the introduction of wicker baskets for water bottles, condiments and cutlery. A new pretty floral flour shaker and polka dot floral trimmed stoneware for the kitchen. Christmas decorations in colours of smoke and cognac in heart, bell and pinecone shapes. There is also a refreshing regal yet rustic collection of stone and blue coloured interior pieces. Like the blue postage stamp print on stone coloured cushions, place mats and aprons.
Have a sweet day!
sweet niece & nephew
After work I went out to practice shoot with my 10 month old niece. I have only edited a few but prepare yourself for extreme cuteness :)
big brother giving little sis kisses :)
he was playing around in that Redskins coat...it was a beautiful 80 degrees out!
are they not adorable or what?!
yep i am one lucky aunt!
wordless wednesday : an apple a day
Mini strawberry meringues
For my "pimp/shrink your picnic" at work, as well as ice cream cake pops, I also made some mini strawberry tarts which were super quick and easy to make as I bought tart cases and meringues.
Strawberry meringue tarts (makes 12)
Ingredients
12 shortcrust pastry cases
Crème patisserie (see below for recipe)
3 small strawberries sliced
12 mini strawberry meringues
Strawberry sugar
Cooking instructions
- Spoon chilled crème patisserie in tart cases.
- Place small slice of strawberry on top.
- Sprinkle with strawberry sugar.
- Place meringue on top.
Crème patisserie
Ingredients
- 500ml milk
- 9 tbsp caster sugar (superfine)
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 egg
- 4 tbsp cornflour
- 25g butter
- 1 tsp natural vanilla essence
Cooking instructions
- Place milk and 4 tbsp caster sugar in a saucepan and heat over medium heat until milk mixture begins to boil.
- Meanwhile in a separate bowl whisk egg yolks and egg together.
- Gradually whisk in remaining sugar and cornflour to egg mixture until you have a smooth paste.
- Gradually whisk in half the heated milk to paste.
- Pour mixture into remaining hot milk and heat until mixture becomes very thick.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Leave to cool.
I bought my strawberry sugar (sucre faveur fraise) on a trip to Paris.
Have a sweet day!
The Vintage Collection
I am really excited to announce that I have just added an new vintage collection to the
Sweet Style online store.
Sweet Style online store.
Beautiful pieces that would look stunning as an addition to any party or
as a display piece in your home.
All are Collectables
All are Antiques
Mason Jars are the latest trend - they look fabulous lined up and add a unique and vintage look to your table. They have been regularly spotted on drinks tables at weddings but also make the most wonderful vases.
The first and my favourite item are these green Ball Mason Jars wich come with a zinc screw lid. They are circa 1880-1930, so old and authentic.
The second style is once again a Ball Mason Jar but this time with a glass lid - they come in green or clear and in two different sizes.
I am currently stocking the green in the pint size and the clear in the Quart size.
Vintage Milk Bottles - 2 lovely styles to chose from
The Vermont Quart Milk Bottle from the USA and the Falshaws Milk Bottle from the UK
The range will grow with time and pieces will come and go as some are very limited.
You can find all the details about each piece on the website here.
I look forward to hearing what you think of these lovely items. Please do not hesitate to email if you would like more details about any of the above items.
random roxy post
my pretty girl sitting on the brick wall yawning while we we're taking maternity pictures.
if you didn't know, she's part cat.
she will climb onto almost anything without fear.
this is her practicing her agility.
crazy girl.
i <3 her oh so much
always will.
yes, even after baby comes!
i have enough love to give.
January 2008
In Which I Sew a Kids TeePee!
Hello folks! Way way waaaaay too long ago, I made reference on my blog to making my own teepee. Back then -- I'd only ever seen them in the shops for about $250 each and when I found a how-to in one my favy kid decorating books, Cool Spaces for Kids, I knew I must one day attempt one myself. I set myself an end-of-year deadline.
End of LAST year, that is. Truth is, I was more than a little intimidated. And so I put it off. And off. And off. My deadline came and went and I was no closer to dedicating myself to the task.
Until suddenly there were teepees and teepee-making instructionals making funny faces at me everywhere. And I decided enough was enough.
I made my way to the fabric store and purchased about 200 metres (ok, slight exaggeration) of calico for the body of the teepee. You can use whatever funky fabric you like for this project of course, but I wanted calico because it was plain and therefore ripe for decorating, plus it was inexpensive and perfect for manouvering about outdoors. Oh -- and if I stuffed up, it would be cheap enough to start again! (such confidence in my own ability ;)
I engaged Dan-the-bike-man (husband and part-time bm3 pattern cutting assistant) to cut out the pieces and really it is pretty much as easy as tacking it all together and whipping it up on your trusty sewing machine! Granted, you need about 10 rolls of cotton (ok, another slight exaggeration) to get through the sewing part. And there is an awful lot of hemming and so on. But really -- a beginner sewer could do it; PROMISE!!
The fun was in the decorating, of course!
I kept mine pretty simple; I chose a fabric colour palette of red, white and navy blue and contrasting patterns. Although my teepee is for both my kiddies, I really made it for little Elliott -- for his birthday party (which was on the weekend and which will need its own seperate post once I get the pictures; sooooo much to share!) and later for his bedroom, to read or frolick about in or to hide from his sister).
I made a simple string of bunting, cut out a little window, sewed some triangles along the bottom, some trim along the entrance and ta-daaaaaaa:
A teepee!!
The hardest part I reckon was getting all those damn bamboo sticks in the right way -- took us FOREVER! We decided to sew little loops to keep our teepee attached to the bamboo and there is also string tying the whole thing together at the top.
It took a little while to pull together but I reckon it was worth all the effort and was a hit at Elliott's party!
I'm going to set it up in Elliott's bedroom once I ditch the feeding chair with some comfy cushions and books and whatnot. His own little indoor cubby-house!
Have you made a teepee? Have you been inspired? Go on -- have a go!!! x
Read More...
End of LAST year, that is. Truth is, I was more than a little intimidated. And so I put it off. And off. And off. My deadline came and went and I was no closer to dedicating myself to the task.
Until suddenly there were teepees and teepee-making instructionals making funny faces at me everywhere. And I decided enough was enough.
I made my way to the fabric store and purchased about 200 metres (ok, slight exaggeration) of calico for the body of the teepee. You can use whatever funky fabric you like for this project of course, but I wanted calico because it was plain and therefore ripe for decorating, plus it was inexpensive and perfect for manouvering about outdoors. Oh -- and if I stuffed up, it would be cheap enough to start again! (such confidence in my own ability ;)
I engaged Dan-the-bike-man (husband and part-time bm3 pattern cutting assistant) to cut out the pieces and really it is pretty much as easy as tacking it all together and whipping it up on your trusty sewing machine! Granted, you need about 10 rolls of cotton (ok, another slight exaggeration) to get through the sewing part. And there is an awful lot of hemming and so on. But really -- a beginner sewer could do it; PROMISE!!
The fun was in the decorating, of course!
I kept mine pretty simple; I chose a fabric colour palette of red, white and navy blue and contrasting patterns. Although my teepee is for both my kiddies, I really made it for little Elliott -- for his birthday party (which was on the weekend and which will need its own seperate post once I get the pictures; sooooo much to share!) and later for his bedroom, to read or frolick about in or to hide from his sister).
I made a simple string of bunting, cut out a little window, sewed some triangles along the bottom, some trim along the entrance and ta-daaaaaaa:
A teepee!!
The hardest part I reckon was getting all those damn bamboo sticks in the right way -- took us FOREVER! We decided to sew little loops to keep our teepee attached to the bamboo and there is also string tying the whole thing together at the top.
It took a little while to pull together but I reckon it was worth all the effort and was a hit at Elliott's party!
I'm going to set it up in Elliott's bedroom once I ditch the feeding chair with some comfy cushions and books and whatnot. His own little indoor cubby-house!
Have you made a teepee? Have you been inspired? Go on -- have a go!!! x
Crochet Crush
I have had a crush on crochet for a while now. When I saw the ever so cute crochet flower picture frames from Lola Nova in Mollie Makes I knew I had to have a go. I am still getting to grips with it and my stitches look rather uneven! I am determined to continue until I get better. Then I can cover jars and make picture frames to adorn my home with.
To see more inspirational crochet cuteness check out my Crochet Crush board on Pinterest.
- Just say it like it is... by Dottie Angel
- Emma Lamb
- Emma Lamb
- Lola Nova
- Dottie Angel
- Lo and beholdness... by Dottie Angel
Have a sweet day!
When will I ever learn?
I'm too personal.
I shouldn't write about others the way I do.
I say stuff lightly that others can't lift.
I wish I didn't link to Beth in my post last week. I've regretted it ever since. I was being light (and I felt light - I loved Beth's post, which is why I linked to it) but some people didn't see it that way and I regret that.
Some of the comments on my Follows Back post also made me realise that I can be too harsh and judgemental.
I try not to be judgey. But I just am. Maybe I'm a bit of a nasty bully after all. The thought of that makes my heart soggy.*
So, apologies to my dear friend Beth. She knows I love her, but now you do too.
And apologies to the Follows Back people. I shouldn't have judged.
I'm not going to be posting for a while. I'm a bit tired of myself, to be honest.
Happy days to you!
x
* Thank you, Maxi-Taxi, for describing so well a feeling that is mostly indescribable.
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