Jikana Damaru

Halloween candles

Skeleton candle from Pound Land.

Spike top tea lights and candles in jars from Habitat.

Pack of six skull tea lights, from Pound Land.

Pink cube candle holders, from Paperchase.

Some Halloween candles to match my colour theme!

Have a sweet day!

Fern's Way

Just one more gratuitous mention of Fern's Naming Day and then I promise to leave it alone...

Yesterday I was given a CD of images my sister in law took on the day. There are some amazing images, inspiring me to put together a photo montage of the day, something I'll get started on this week... but what I really wanted to share with you was this image:

Have a look near the top right hand corner where you will see a little wooden signpost that spells 'Fern's Way'. My husband's parents have adorably named various sections of their 20 acre property with the names of each of their seven grandchildren. I almost forgot, until I saw this image! Fern's ceremony was held right there, in front of the fountain with her little signpost to the side.

I also wanted to share the below image, which captures the personality of my little girl (and her jewellery fetish - she is her mother's daughter) and her two amazing Godparents beautifully and is, for all its imperfection, my favorite image from the day.

ps. I am very excited -- this week I will reveal my long awaited backyard blitz!! It is 95% complete, and I cannot wait a second longer to share!

Thanks for reading, and have a great week xo

Haunting

This week on Flickr Faves Sunday, I bring you these eerie, creepy haunting pics for Halloween. Check back soon for some more of the most inspirational photographers on Flickr.

Some beautiful shots from my Flickr favourites (clockwise from top left):

The eerie trees by John Gusky
The haunting gates in ???? by Stuart McMullan
The mysterious figure in Untitled by BMB Images
The scary spider web by Corquey

Have a great day!

Macarons

I have been buying macarons recently and trying all the different flavours. I thought it was about time I make my own and I wanted them to be in pink and white to match my Halloween colours. I think they are the hardest sweets I have made! My first batch collapsed! So, before I made the second batch I searched the internet for tips, which I've included below.

Vanilla Macarons (makes 12)

Ingredients
240g icing sugar (powdered sugar)
180g ground almonds
4 egg whites separated the night before (important!)
80g vanilla sugar
Food colouring, if required

Cooking instructions

Mix almonds and sugar in a food processor until you have a smooth fine powder
Whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks
Slowly add vanilla sugar to the egg whites, all the while whisking.
Slowly add the fine powder to the egg white mix with a wooden spoon till you have a shiny mass.
Add food colouring until required colour is achieved.
Using a parchment bag with about a 1cm opening at tip, squeeze the macarons mixture onto parchment paper lined baking trays. (I used a template under the baking paper of circles 2.5cm wide, to get them evenly sized).
Tap the underside of the baking sheet to remove air bubbles.
Let them dry for 1 hour so they form a shiny hard crust.
Cook them for about 10-12 minutes in the oven at 140deg C, turning them around after 5 mins. Also, leave the oven door slightly ajar and make sure to keep an eye on them.
Carefully remove them from the oven and transfer parchment paper onto a cooling rack.
When cool, slide them off the parchment paper using a metal spatula.

White chocolate & Blackberry ganache

Ingredients
125g double cream (heavy cream)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
50g blackberries, blended
100g white chocolate

Cooking instructions

Bring cream to the boil in a small saucepan.
Remove from heat immediately and stir in chocolate until melted.
Stir in raspberries and vanilla essence until glossy.
Refrigerate for about 45 mins.
Spoon a teaspoon of ganache onto half of the macarons and place the other halves on top to form the ganache sandwich.
Let the macarons chill in the refrigerator for 24 hours before eating.

Macarons will keep for 2 days refrigerated in an airtight container.

A few tips

Always sift and double sift your ground almonds and icing sugar so there are no lumps.
Use old egg whites that have been left out at least over night, otherwise you can be left with flat macarons.
If piping the macarons leaves a peak on top, be sure to smooth the top over with a wet finger.
Use a double layer of baking parchment to prevent burning.

Have a sweet day!

A few new loves....

Not the whole T-shirt but the see that square in the middle, that beautiful piece of Liberty fabric (with the wobbly sewing), I did that. No sniggering please :) Its the first time I've come near a sewing machine since year seven textiles, so more than a decade (shhh almost 2 decades) but lots of fun. I can see how all of you crafty sewers can so get addicted. My fabulous friend has let me borrow her sewing machine and I have spent the afternoon finding things that I can sew together.

When I was a little girl my whole bedroom was Holly Hobbie. The bedspread, sheet set, curtains and wallpaper was all Holly Hobbie and I even carried around a Holly Hobbie doll that I called Blue baby. I have spent the week searching internet looking for pretty things to add to my hairclips - when I found these buttons, I just had to get them. How pretty are they..?

When I get the chance I will pop them in my Madeit shop - if I can part with them

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Poss Bloss Launch

now that the new Poss Bloss range has been launched I am able to share more photo's from the shoot. Head over to the Poss Bloss store & snap up some Christmas pressies for all those little ones you know who like to make a mess!!!

Halloween cookies winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered the competition to win a dozen delightful cookies from The Fancy Lady.

My little skeleton helper has picked a winner! Congratulations to Elizabeth of My Crafty Mess.