Monthly Archives: July 2010

Lavender Scones Recipe

Posted on by Abi

In the midst of an English summer, when the sun actually does decide to shine, I really enjoy having a proper afternoon tea with cakes, biscuits and of course friends to share it with. One of my all time favourite delights is Lavender Scones with lashings of jam and cream. I’ll leave you all to debate that most contentious of questions; does the jam go first or the cream? You can probably guess my preference by the photos, I ought to slip in here that the order I use is the same as dictated by the Ritz Hotel (well if it’s good enough for the Ritz…)

 

What You’ll Need

8 oz/225gms self raising flour
2 level teaspoons baking power
Pinch of salt
2 oz/60gms margarine
2 oz/60gms caster sugar
2 rounded teaspoons of dried lavender flowers
5 fluid ozs/150mls milk

Step 1

Sieve the flour, salt and baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Rub in the margarine until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Step 2

Using a pestle and mortar crush the lavender flowers and add them into your mixing bowl along with the sugar.

Step 3

Add the milk using as much as you need to form a dough.

Step 4

Turn out onto a floured board and knead lightly with fingertips until the dough is smooth. Roll out to about 2cms thick and using a circular cutter cut into rounds.

Step 5

Place the rounds onto a baking tray and brush with milk. Bake in a hot oven 425-250F, Gas no. 7-8, 220-230C for 10 mins.

Scones are best eaten on the day they are made. They can be made in advance and frozen until required though. Enjoy!

On my next post I will draw and announce the winner of our biggest ever blog comp!

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Fabric Flower Tutorial

Posted on by Abi

Today I thought I’d share a fabric flower tutorial with you all, we’ve been making these for years and they are so much fun. This is a really useful little technique to know as the flower can be made into a badge, sewn onto a hairband or hairclip or anything else you can think of. You can also vary the size with eaze and the end result looks very impressive.

What You’ll Need

Cardboard
Fabric for petals
Fabric for flower centre
Felt Fabric
Buttons and beads to decorate

Step 1

First you need to decide on the size you would like your finished flower to be. The one in the picture above is about 9cms across. Next draw a circle onto your carboard the same size as the flower and cut out.

Step 2

Place your cardboard circle onto your petal fabric and draw around six times (to make six petals). Cut out the six fabric circles.

Step 3

Fold each circle of fabric in half, with the right side of the fabric showing. Now you need to gather the raw edges of your petals, sew small running stitches along the side.

Step 4

Pull the stitches to form your petal. Repeat with the other five circles using the same piece of thread going from one to the next.

Step 5

Join the first petal to the last and sew firmly together to form your flower.

Step 6

Cut a small circle from felt or a woollen material that doesn’t fray and sew onto the back of your flower.

Step 7

Now we need to make the centre of the flower. I chose a contrasting blue material for mine. Once again use your cardboard circle and cut out a circle from this fabric. Gradually sew a running stitch round the edge of the circle turning the raw edge to the centre as you go.

Step 8

Pull your thread so that the gathers end up in the centre of the circle.

Step 9

Place this circle with the gathers facing down so they can’t be seen into the centre of your flower. Next you will need a button to secure it. Sew it right into the centre to hold everything together. At this point you can add beads or whatever embellishments you fancy.

Step 10

Now your flower is finished you can sew a brooch back onto the back if you like, or add it to a fabric hairband or hairclip. I think I may add one onto a bag I’m sewing, really the ideas are limitless. Have fun!

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The Elegance Of Chandeliers

Posted on by Abi

I absolutely adore Chandeliers, the way they hang from the ceiling, the way they glint as light hits them, the way they can ooze elegance into a room which previously had none. The larger and grander the better, at least that’s true when I see them hanging in country houses etc. Of course most of us aren’t lucky enough to own a home worthy of a handmade or antique beauty, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still appreciate them. One of my favourite places to visit and see Chandeliers is Venice. But I am not talking about the crowded squares of San Marco or the usual tourist routes. To really appreciate Venice you have to walk away from your guide books and explore the hidden areas, the shops that only locals frequent. There are many antique/junk shops hiding down small alleys.

In one shop I saw the largest Chandelier I have ever seen, of course it’s hard to depict scale in a photo, but believe me it was huge!

In another shop stood a large workbench with glass drops set out ready to mend broken chandeliers. The street was very dark, which made it hard to take photos, but the shop plus street was like looking into a past that most of us have forgotten, the real artists Venice.

Of course you can buy chandeliers in any country in the world. Modern ones are usually wired for electric lights, which means they can be used daily. Have any of you purchased a bit of grandure and hung a chandelier in your home?

In London there is a beautiful tea room called Le Chandelier which aside from wonderful food also sells beautiful chandeliers.

Or perhaps scour the antique shops near you and buy up antique chandelier drops, I have seen these made into beautiful Christmas decorations, or pendants to hang in a window, the possibilities are endless. We have made some of our favourites into jewellery here.

LittleYayas

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