All time favourites

I was very tempted to visit the fabric shop but promised myself I would find projects to use up as much of the fabric I already have at home before spending more money. Do you also have to make use of self control like this?

I do have a lot of stash left but get a mental block by looking at the same patterns and colours all the time. And going to the shop is such a treat! I feel like a kid in a sweet shop! However, I must admit there are lots of projects I can do with leftover bits, and this basket is one of them. 

I particularly like it because I made one of these years ago, when I first started to sew and blog. It is really nice and very easy pattern, and the combination of fabrics can be endless!

It is from Pink Penguin, one of my all time favourites. There are lots of other nice tutorials in her blog, and I am wondering which one to do next! 

If you are not familiar with her blog, I recommend you have a look at it for inspiration and prettiness. I can assure you will get hooked to it! 

A happy place

Sewing for me is not only a hobby. It is a kind of therapy. 

A place where I go and enter a meditative state. 

A place where I relax and be happy. : )

Admiring what others have made through blogs and books fills me with inspiration and creates endless thoughts of possibilities and creativity. (Thank you internet!)

Spending time thinking about projects, drawing designs, going to fabric shops, and sewing while listening to the radio fills me with joy. And I enjoy each step of the process.

One of my favourite books is The Crafter's companion. Here, crafters describe why sewing and making things is so significant in their lives. It is comfort reading, filled with beautiful photographs, and it always makes me get up and look through my stash to think what pretty thing I could make. 

Lets face it. We are not always on our best mood, and the darkness of winter and unpleasant whether doesn't always help to keep the spirits jolly all the time. That, combined with lives hurdles can make things a bit up hill at times.

I would be intrigued to know: what hobby or thing do you do to go to a happy place if you need to?

Sunday success!

I have done a little bit of baking in this oven of ours since we moved here in July.

The oven is not great, with uneven heat distribution, and so, my previous attempts have been a bit of a disappointment. 

But Ta-da! this morning I made carrot cake muffins that turned out perfect. I made muffins because making a cake in this oven would translate into cooked edges and an uncooked middle. I figured that making small cakes would maximize the success rate.....

I followed the recipe from River Cottage Everyday, a book I highly recommend. But if you only want to try this recipe, then click here. The only difference is that I used 100 ml of honey.

I love it because it is simple, healthy and yummy. 

Bon appetit!

Hope you are having a good weekend!

Autumn

Orange and green are vibrant and warm and go so well together. 

Photos from Oxford, starting from top left: 

1. St. John's College. The gardens are really lovely. Incredibly well kept.

2. Modern Art Museum Cafe. I don't usually like the exhibitions in this Museum, but they make lovely soup in the Cafe and going there makes me feel a bit arty.

3. Plant in the garden which I will try to identify by looking at the lovely book my Mum gave to us as a House warming, or shall I say, Garden warming present. 

4. Carrot cake I made. I subscribed to this website a while back and it got me inspired to do some baking.

So, this is the orange and green that has caught my eye recently. But I am sure that if I pay attention there will be much more around me. 

Have a good weekend!

Out and about

I went to the Natural History Museum in Oxford last weekend, and this are some of the things I saw. It is one of my favourite buildings. 

I went round using my Nikon to practice depth of field, something that I am into these days. I am finally getting to learn how to use a digital SLR. About time! I used to be a point and shoot auto kind of girl, but knowing how to use the camera allows me to be more creative and observant.

What are you learning about these days?

Going for a walk

More photos from our holidays. 

I went for a walk camera in hand the only day that was a bit cloudy early in the morning. 

It is difficult to take pictures when it is very bright, as well as uncomfortable to walk around in the heat, so I had to take the opportunity.

What I love about going out with the purpose of taking pictures is that I see the place in a different way. It makes me see building and details in a way that otherwise I would probably miss, even though I am very observant.

I hope you enjoy these photos.

If you do have a blog or flikr account I would like to see what you do. Sharing, but not receiving can be a bit boring some times.

Have a great weekend wherever you are in the world.

Hasta pronto!

Look up, middle and down

 

The sky was always blue during our holidays and it was only a few times that little white clouds came around.

I realise these photos do not have much life. I need to include a cat or some movement, but I was after the colours, textures and lines.
This is what I saw on one occasion when looking up, middle and down.

I love the blue on these stairs.

Out of the ordinary

We have just come back from a lovely holiday in the south of Spain, where even the cows go to the beach....

Land of sunshine, tapas and good conversation. 

I can never have enough of you!

These photos were taken on our way to Zahara de los Atunes, famous for its tuna fish. 

I will post more pictures of the holidays soon. 

The introvert in me

Sometimes I like to be an observer. 

To not do much. 

Just to contemplate my surroundings and be more aware.

The introvert in me takes over, and I let her be.

This video goes with my mood

http://vimeo.com/channels/hd#27235856

Inspiration

I have never cooked or baked as much before.

Even though this kitchen is very basic it inspires me every week to try new recipes.

I have made this lemon cake before, but never this big. 

They always advice not to open the oven door so that what is backing rises properly. 

And do I listen? Obviously not....look at the dip in the middle - but perfect for holding the hundreds and thousands. 

Still, it is delicious!

Treating myself

Life has been very busy lately. 

Lots of interesting things to do at work, but with a deadline. 

At home, more DIY.

I have treated myself to an early birthday present. 

I like the illustrations of Harriet Russell. 

They make me smile. And I like to smile.

Any plans for this weekend?

To like what you see

This is what happens when you don't follow the recipe properly....

Instead of 300 ml of sunflower oil, I put 300 gr! 

I was quite sleepy on Saturday morning when I prepared this mix..... Still, I did put it in the oven to see what happened, and it is not a pretty sight!

But it is not all bad news. I have managed to loose 3 kg thanks to all the exercise from moving boxes, going up and down stairs, painting, gardening, etc during the last month. Don't be fooled though. I am posing quite nicely here, and probably don't look so stylized in real life. But isn't it nice when you look at yourself in a picture and you actually like what you see?

Strawberries

Finding these in the garden are a wonderful tasty present. I love these long warm evenings and having time to enjoy the outdoors. We finished doing the move this weekend. We are finally in our new home!

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Personality types

It is funny how some animals are really show offs

Others are shy. And others are in between.

Just like people.

For a few minutes

Can you spot the swimmer? 

I wish I could be him for a few minutes. 

In fact, if I close my eyes and think about it carefully, I am him. 

Holidays abroad

We have no plans for a holiday this year, but I hope we can escape for a few days to Spain. 

A few days of laziness, nature and tasty food. 

Have you gone away already? Where have you gone or going to?

Healthy colours

I have been unwell for the last few days with bad headaches and a tummy bug. 

The timing is really bad. We are moving to our new home this weekend. 

I am super excited, but just wished I had more energy.

I selected this photograph because bright colours always make everything better.

White

I admit the quality of these photos is not great and that one can't really appreciate how white the walls are now, but I hope you can see the difference on the before and after.

For home DIY and improvement, neatness and white, have a look at Chez Larsson. I spent a lot of time looking at it!

Test post with phone

My nieces came to visit over Easter and I took this photo with the phone. I am also bloging with the phone. This is a test.

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Zebra design in the larder

I can't tell you how happy I am that now we have a usable kitchen. 

This is the larder. 

The first photograph shows it as I found it, with old paper on top of the shelves, full of dust and dirt. I removed the paper and cleaned underneath. There was this blue lino and wood. I painted inside the walls, varnished the wood and covered the old lino with sticky fabric ( I am sure it has a name, but I don't know it). I wouldn't normally go for zebra design, but there wasn't much to choose from, and since it is temporary I thought I might as well go for something outrageous and fun. 

Well, maybe I should do something outrageous and fun when we design our new kitchen, rather than going for a plain classic style....what do you think?

To be fit for the job

When you do this dozens of times a day, and for days and days, you become quite more flexible and achy. 

I have never felt more tired, fit and satisfied. 

We have had some help this weekend. 

Thanks a million! 

This means less bends and stretches for us!

A clean space

R has done a magnificent job with the kitchen floor.

I have been painting inside the larder today.

We finally feel we are in a clean space. 

But it has taken so many hours!

Now I go to sleep

Any plans for this weekend?

Photos

Some days I am just plain tired and cannot seem to do much work on the house. 

And so, I potter around and take photos.

Kitchen

The kitchen is coming along. 

Many hours of hard work cleaning decades of dirt and making it look decent through coats of paint and new lino floor - all temporary until we can get a brand new kitchen. 

Ideas

Reading, looking at photos, getting ideas.

Endless lists of things to do.

Daydreaming, imagination running wild.

Notebooks to download my brain and remember what needs to be done.

Flower power

We have a garden full of a varied selection of flowers and plants.

My problem? I am clueless in this area. I can identify the basics of the basics, but that is about it.

Need help. Need helpers. 

Should be fun to have friends round this summer doing gardening and enjoying what I can't right now out of ignorance. 

I can provide tools, drinks and food.

And gratitude.