MY CATH KIDSTON BAG

I recently bought the book Make by Cath kidston. It came with a blank bag that you could applique yourself, so at the weekend I cut stars from the pattern inside the book and decorated the bag with them. The fabric I used was left over from the curtains from my doll's house.

The bag is just the right size for holding my lunchbox and book that I take to work and it's nice and light to carry.

COLOUR SWAP GOODIES

I recently joined a Colour Swap with Jessica at Kid's Napping? I'm Scrapping. You had to send your partner craft items in a colour that they specified. My swap partner was Emma from Stitching Magpie, and this morning I received a beautiful pink parcel from her.

There were some really lovely items in the parcel including a hand made bunny (according to the kids it's name is Miffy, so this is what we have called her), a cupcake bath bomb, lots of ribbon and beads and some gorgeous fabric in various shades of pink. There was also 2 beautiful wooden pink hearts.

Thank you to Emma for the lovely gifts - I am so pleased with them. Also thank you to Jessica for organising the swap - I have really enjoyed it.

I'VE RECEIVED AN AWARD!

Thank you to Nana Grace at Nana Grace's Place for giving me the Sisterhood Award. I am so honoured to receive this award from her. Please check out her blog to view her lovely crafts.

The rules connected to the award are thus:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post

2. Nominate at least 10 (11) blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received your award.

I am passing the award over to the following people:

At Home With MelMel

21st Century Housewife

Jose-Mary

Stitching Magpie

Vintage Tea

Faerie Nuff

Tiny Treasures

La Stanza di Guiggiola

Kitschen Pink

Little Gems World

I have informed everyone about the above, but I am having problems reading MelMel's blog tonight. If you are reading this Mel, then you will know I have given you this award!!

VINTAGE TREASURES

As promised, here are the pictures of the things which my Aunt brought for me last night. There was a huge suitcase to sort through but I only wanted a few things. These have been in my Aunts loft for between 10 and 15 years since my Nan and Great Aunt died.

It started by my saying that I quite fancied taking up crochet and my aunt said she had some hooks that belonged to my Autie Gertie (yes, I said Gertie - my Nan's name was Florence Winifred - lovely old fashioned names!!) To get some idea of their era my nan was born in 1907 and my Aunt Gertie 1905, although some things are fairly new, such as the crochet hooks. I had an apron, a set of crochet hooks, a vintage pattern book complete with patterns for woolly knickers, an unfinished embroidered tea cosy, embroidered tray cloths , some filet crochet lace edging that my aunt made (no picture) and some old knitting patterns for doll clothes.

Next week my Aunt said she would bring some cookery books for me that go back to the war.

KIM'S BIRTHDAY

Monday 2nd March was Kim's birthday (she was 14). As it was a school day I said she could have some friends to sleep over at the weekend, so this is what she did last night. Not sure what time they went to sleep as I was asleep first! (My two are the two with the lighter hair).

She had some birthday money so she decided to buy a Wii Fit, which of course I had to have a go of! I'm still aching - but they are fantastic, well worth the money. This has nicely coincided with the fact that I started a diet last Tuesday. I'm not overweight but my BMI could do with lowering from 24 to about 22, which I hope to achieve in about 6-8 weeks.

The picture is of the girls after invading the kitchen and making ice cream soda! They stayed in their pyjamas until about 2pm, which is not normally allowed as I like them up and dressed straight away in the mornings, so this was a bit of a novelty.

My Auntie came this evening and let me sort through some craft items belonging to my Grandmother and my Great Aunt. I was told to take whatever I wanted, so tomorrow I will show you what I have got - lots of lovely vintage items!

Welsh Cakes

350g S.R. Flour
2tsp Baking Powder
175g Margerine
100g Currants
3/4 tsp Mixed Spice
1 Large Egg
about 2tbs Milk
Caster sugar to finish

Put flour and baking powder into a large bowl and rub in the margarine until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the sugar, currants and spice. Beat the egg with the milk, then add this to the mixture and mix to form a firm dough, adding more milk if required.

Roll out on a lightly floured work surface to a thickness of about 5mm and cut into rounds with a 3 inch (7.5cm) plain round cutter.

Heat oil in a griddle or heavy based frying pan and cook Welshcakes on a low heat for approx 3mins on each side until golden brown. Do not cook too fast as the centre will not be done.

Cool on a wire rack and dust with icing sugar. Serve buttered. Best eaten on the day they were made.

LEEK AND POTATO SOUP

As it was St. David's Day on the 1st, I thought I would share this recipe, it's delicious:

2 Large Leeks
1 Onion
1 Large Potato
20z Butter or Margerine
1pt Hot Vegetable Stock
1/2 pt Milk
1/4pt Double or Whipping cream
1/4pt Natural Yoghurt
Salt and Pepper
Dash of Tobasco Sauce
2 tbs Chopped Chives

Wash and trim leeks and cut into rings. Finely chop onion. Peel and dice potato.

Cook onion and leeks in the butter or marg. until softened. Add potato and stock. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer gently for 20mins. Add the milk. Blend soup in a liquidizer until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and whisk in cream, yogurt, salt, pepper and Tabasco.

This soup may be eaten hot or cold. If serving cold garnish with freshly chopped chives.