baking in mind

top left: The baking continues.
top right: Fresh from the oven left: i miss michigan

Easter baking with a twist; Banana maple pecan buns by Dan Lepard.

Fabrics of South Africa

Jezze hand printed fabric at etsy.
































Skinny laMinx screen printed fabric creations at etsy.
A recipe for a Sunday, Banana Chocolate Walnut Cake.

rainy day

Lovely prints by Matte Stephens, 'cat bird' and 'happy cloud'.

Rain forecast for the whole weekend, today has been showers all morning. A good opportunity to stay in and catch up at home. I hope summer show's a ray or two in July.

Cozy days in make me think of baking, warm bread from the oven. smitten kitchen's last of the loafing and beaming, bewitching breads are an inspiration to get some ingredients in.

Bloesem's 'knitting spree' weekend read is the essence of all things cozy at home. Full of great knitting ideas and suppliers.

I would like both the pretty books;  Pies and In the Mood for Food. Homely titles with delicious ideas.

a day trip to estonia

A souvenir from Tallinn, a trip out of Helsinki, last month. A summer recipe, Marzipan Cake with Strawberries & Cream from 'Estonian foodie' Nami-Nami!

sweet pea

June has been a busy month with much growth involved in my garden and at work. Yesterday my first sweet pea blossom revealed itself next to my clematis flower.

Today between the rain storms the vivid pink bloom has opened more and since yesterday another bud has gained some colour. I am hoping the sweet pea flowers will take to the trellis and cover it with multi coloured flowers.

An appropriately named unusual recipe, Sweet Pea Cake with Mascarpone Cream from Italian Cooking & Living.

I am enjoying Jen's new lets travel to... feature. Brings back memories of discovering Bergen at the end of a trip exploring Norway, beginning in Oslo. Finland now feels ages ago. When I returned my friend at work gave me an article reviewing the Nordic Bakery in Soho Square, London. I have yet to get there, must make time to sample the rye bread and try their other bakes.

delicate

Dazzle is on in Glasgow, out of reach but it has made me think how inspired the January show in London left me.

This roof window always reminds me of Paris, instead it is near the Thames, Battersea way in London. I like the way studying tiny beautifully crafted jewellery strengthens my awareness and appreciation of design and skill in the creation of large scale wonders such as this patterned roof top.

Here is the work of three jewellers I especially like, appearing at Dazzle's Glasgow show, until 6th May.









Laura Baxter























Zoe Bassi























Abigail Percy
















Inspired by the look of this new Florence Broadhurst book. More details in this mini site.

Sweet Potato Breakfast Bread recipe, also from Chronicle Books.

easter greetings

Hot Cross Buns, from Cook (almost) Anything at Least Once and Easter nest cookies from Nosheteria.

Happy Easter to all who make and do!

vintage fajance

My Stig Lindberg fajans vase, a proud purchase from ebay. Beyond admiring the decoration I wonder if it has a few stories to tell, delivered from California to me with unknown owners before. Here is more of Lindberg's ceramic work.

These tureens at 92 are painted by the same artist as my vase, the bell symbol is that of Inge Klinte. I also purchased a Gustavsberg factory brochure with a key to artists marks.












I have loved Stig Lindberg's work since discovering a vase printed art pillow in Design House Stockholm, Sweden. More Lindberg fabric designs have since been reproduced.

I was so pleased to find bloesem's weekend reads, a wonderful idea, vintage ceramics is a gem of an article.














Finally SKÅL, another fajans piece designed by Stig Lindberg and painted by Inge Klinte.

Glamorous fairy cakes, a pretty reference to finish, to go with the whimsical beauty of the glazed flowers.

chelsea treats

Oh how I love this time of year! I have been out enjoying the springtime as much as I can and loving the light evenings. Here's the Albert Bridge at Chelsea which lights up at twilight, magically. The Plane tree seeds decorated the sky at sunset.














A visual treat, the windows of Designers Guild in Kings Road. Beautiful spring flower displays with a Claire Coles teacup and Karin Eriksson vase. Fantastic colours, always an inspiration.











Yesterday I watched the sun set behind the chimney pots from the otherside of the Thames. Looking forward to more riverside walks, watching Comorants fly and plenty of daydreaming.

Rhubarb & Ginger cake.

paper parade

Egg Press


































































Hello! Lucky



































Snow & Graham

A luxurious indulgent bake Triple Chocolate Espresso Bean Cookies, sounds like a special treat.

finnish folktale

A small adventure to Finland lies ahead in the spring. I have always wanted to visit Finland to see Moomin artworks by the late Tove Jansson. I have loved the Moomin's all my life! We will go to Tampere first and then Helsinki.

I am now searching out more Finnish wonders to look for on my trip. I have found two sources of Finnish design fabric, other than the famous marimekko. Hau Hauz's, beautiful hand screen printed linen creations, featured by Design*Sponge earlier this month. Beautiful handbags.


















Silmu & Pioni


















Rosebud & Kalevala


I will be looking out for anything by Ivana Helsinki, I especially like the Campings collection.


















Dead Butterflies


















Campings

Finnish Coffee Bread, takes time to make but looks superb.

paper lux

Today I found The Goddess Guide by Giselle Scanlon, stacked up with the hardback cookery books. Intriguing, perhaps someone was thinking Nigella? Misplaced I feel, this crosses subjects, visually and inspirationally. I was reeled in by the beautifully patterned and flocked jacket, this little book is like delving into the best scrapbook for girls on life, I want one!

Amazon says 'As sumptuous and approachable as a glossy magazine, this gorgeous style-bible is both fixer and facilitator - destined to be your new best friend, personal, trend-setting concierge and ultimate Goddess Guide.' Chapters have embroidered titles by Hand and Lock, so many hand-made touches, inspired photography and travel writing.

Rose Scented Madelelaines from the vintage wonder that is Brocante Home, discovered in my knitting search yesterday.

knit one

Spring cleaning has begun and I am finding many unfinished projects, fallen by the wayside. These photographs are from my neglected knitting. I love to knit but haven't made time for any this year. The balls of wool are from Norway and the chunky purple wool is from Iceland. I like to buy wool and needles on holiday, making fine souvenirs and great to see how craft shops vary in different places. I have a few scarves on the go, all needing attention.

Thinking about knitting today, I remembered an inspiring lecture day on knitting I went to with my Mum at the V&A Museum. From looking today I've found the website contains great knitting resources. Information on Regional Knitting in the British Isles & Ireland. Even 1940s Patterns to Knit and so many links.

This sounds good, I Knit London shop, not heard of this before. A visit to Loop is long over due. Last time I bought a ball of Be Sweet Boucle Mohair, so soft and made a gorgeous little cream scarf.

Lovely blogs suggested by the V&A are Vintage Knitting and My Fashionable Life. Last year I found Knitting Iris, full of textiles, along with these beauties.

Parisian Macaroons

nouveau?

New greetings cards from beaumonde cards. The lilac bird card shows a striking resemblance to the Thomas Paul Robin corn silk cushion, shown in my recent new season post. Which came first - the chicken or the egg? I do like the little pink wren with the cheeky tail feathers!

Bird's Nest Cookies look fun to make. From M&M's.

bird's nest cookies

1-1/3 cups (3 1/2 ounces or 100g) flaked coconut
1 cup (2 sticks or 240mL) butter
1/2 cup (120mL) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups (480mL) all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 12 ounce package (1-3/4 cups or 340g) "M&M's"® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Baking Bits, divided

Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).
Spread coconut on ungreased cookie sheet. Toast in oven, stirring occasionally until coconut just begins to turn a light golden color,
about 25 minutes. Remove toasted coconut from cookie sheet; set aside. Increase oven temperature to 350°F (180°C). In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour and salt; add to creamed mixture, only until combined. Stir in 1 cup (240mL)"M&M's"® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Baking Bits. Form dough into 1-1/4-inch (32mm) balls. Roll heavily in toasted coconut. Place 2-inches (50mm) apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. With thumb, press indentation in center of each cookie. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until coconut is golden brown. Remove cookies to wire rack; immediately fill indentations with reserved candies, using a scant teaspoonful in each. Cool completely.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.