I have been knocked for six this last week with influenza - yucky nasty virus. So today, as energy levels are still way below par I am sending you a post full of delicious things of the visual and edible kind.
These cakes were a treat yesterday afternoon - taking advantage of the very warm February sunshine, I was coaxed out to Wentworth with my other half and daughter. Tea and cakes under a bright blue sky on the verandah of the cafe was just the tonic - now that's what I call medicene!!
And Ohhhhhh would you look at those beautiful primroses? So very, very bright and spirit-lifting after so many of those dreary, colourless days we've had around here.
And more flowery lovliness - a little bunch of buttery yellow tulips - these have been glowing like sunshine on my table this last week and make me smile everytime I see them.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm of the highest order here. This is about as good as chocolate gets. Have you ever tried Raw Chocolate? No? Well neither had I - and I decided to order some from my friend Kate Tregellas who is an artisan chocolatier based in North Devon. I was curious to try it as the health properties are second to none.
They also taste pretty damn good too - Im so happy to have given raw a go and if you are curious, you can contact her directly by visiting her FB page for more details of the fabulous flavour creations she makes. Hot off the press news, she is currently working on a divine Easter chocolate range!!!
Oooooooohhh!! Now what have we here?!!
In my last post you might remember that I fell swoonily in love with a certain crocheted waistcoat. Well, a bit of investigating on the interweb brought up nothing...I was starting to wonder if this waistcoat actually existed so I got in touch with the company to ask about it. My mole at CK tells me it is going to be launched at the end of March but I'm too impatient to be hanging around that long, so as you can see - I've been getting busy....
...making my very own Cath inspired waistcoat. Now, I want to just clarify - this is going to be my Own Pattern - I'm not copying anything here folks. I was very inspired by the colours of the original one in the magazine (which is what caught my eye in the first place) and have picked similar ones from the Rowan Handknit Cotton range (thinking cotton would be nice for summer). I also thought it would be fun to design my first garment, something I haven't attempted yet apart from a scarf which doesn't count, as it's just a long rectangle.
I have already started one of the front panels as you can see, and it's going really well. I will of course do my best to work out an understandable pattern for you in due course, but when it comes to things like this, I tend to just launch head on into it with the idea in my head and hope for the best. But I will do one, I promise.
I'm working it in a cluster stitch. I tried a sample of granny stripe as I originally thought that would look good but afterwards I didn't think it suited the look of a waistcoat.
Although I do love the granny stripe - can I feel a blanket coming on?? No, no...I must stop tormenting myself like this!
Well that's it from me - I'm feeling in need of a cuppa - got to keep those energy levels ticking over, and a slice of that Raw Chocolate might be necessary too...Ooh, just before I go, many thanks to all of you for the kind comments you left on my last post about the Oyster Catcher textile art work. Thanks also to all of you who stop by and visit my little world and read my ramblings, it's so very nice that you do.
Sending you sun~filled days and things that make you smile.
Love Julia x
