Chartreuse

I can't get enough of this lovely spring colour at the moment. And totally by accident it seems to be in every project I have on the go.....

It features in nearly all of the baby bibs I've made this week.

My much loved tin bought from Habitat years ago that I use to keep my larger needles in.

A couple of lavender bags I made using some scraps.

And finally my new knitting project, a double breasted baby jacket in moss stitch, from Debbie Bliss Eco Baby.

Funny how you can be drawn to one colour so much and not realise until you are completely surrounded.

Half term is just around the corner. Lets just hope the weather cheers up so we can all be out in the garden. I've only got six weeks to go until the baby is due which I'm very excited about (in a tired, pregnant lady way....)

Knitting and gardening....

......but not at the same time this week.

I've been knitting lots of love hearts with any odd scraps of red and pink wool I have and then stuffing them with lavender. They're brilliant at keeping clothes smelling fresh when thrown in a drawer. I plan on giving a whole load to my husband for Valentine's Day (romance is not dead, even when you are eight months pregnant - but only just) If you want to make some in time for Monday you can find them here as a free pattern at Magpie Patterns.

I've also been getting excited about the polytunnel and vegetable patch this week. After trawling through lots of seeds catalogues I've decided to order them all from Sarah Raven. Planning to plant lots of multicoloured courgettes and squash together with salad, fennel, tomatoes, herbs etc. Spring is in air for sure.

Sorry for the lack of blogging of late. Things have been hectic around here as we celebrate Mr L turning 40 (much to his annoyance and I try not to rub it in too much that I am still in my 20's.) We have also been busy painting floors, decorating and organising the nursery (less than 10 weeks to D day) and just the general juggling of everyday life in grey January. Only a few days until February, we are nearly there people......

Anyway, normal blogging service should resume shortly but in the mean time I came across this lovely pattern for knitted dishcloths....

I suggest knitting a stash on one of those long winter evenings. Find the pattern here.

Friday morning baking...

We set out to bake a banana/brandy bread (its a new invention and comes from the fact I have left over brandy butter - if it works I will post about it). Anyway the chickens have stopped laying in protest of being made to stay in their run (we spotted the fox on the meadow earlier in the week) and I only had one precious egg left in the cupboard. So as not to disappoint my daughter we decided to make scones.

I've forgotten how good these are. Simple and delicious. We are supposed to be saving them for coffee with my parents tomorrow but I'm not confident they will last that long. Recipe below.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 stick/50g butter
• 2 cups /225g all-purpose flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 oz/ 30g fine/caster sugar
• 1/4 cup/ 50g sultanas or chopped dates
• 1/4 pint / 150 ml milk
• 1 egg beaten with a little milk

Preparation:

• Heat the oven to 400F/205C/Gas 6
• Grease and flour a baking sheet.
• Sieve the flour into a roomy baking bowl then add the butter, baking powder and salt. Quickly rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and sultanas and stir.
• Make a well in the center and using a dinner knife, stir in enough milk to make a soft, pliable dough.
• Turn the mixture on to a floured board and knead very lightly until just smooth then lightly roll out to 2cm / 3/4" thick.
• Cut rounds with a 7.5cm /2" cutter or cut into triangles with a sharp knife.
• Place on the baking tray and brush with the beaten egg and milk mixture. Bake near the top of the hot oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown and well risen.
• Cool on a wire rack before eating.

Serve with butter, or lashings of jam and cream.

Ok, so I have to admit buying yet more fabric from Saints & Pinners. This time, in their very tempting sale.

Here is another quilt in the making. My plan is to make this one a little bigger than the others.

New handmade patchwork cushion added to my Etsy shop. Find it here.

new hand knits in the shop....

Happy New Year! Hope you all had a great time. We had a wonderful couple of weeks and have only just emerged from all the turkey and of course the Quality Street tin.

I did get a chance to do some making over the festive period so lots of new hand knits in my Etsy shop. More soon....