Monday 22 April 2013

Sweet little houses

Little fabric houses, can be hanged with a satin ribbon or stuck next to a houseplant with a bamboo stick.

 They have a cute little bead door knob :)

 Yellow flowers...
 ...and tulips.

 My favourite one, the red flower.

 

Sunday 21 April 2013

Beef broth made into two course dinner

I love good comforting food on Sundays, but preferably something that doesn't require me to spend my entire morning at the stove chopping, stirring and cooking. And of course it shouldn't cost a fortune.
Well, this recipe is the perfect choice! You just have to throw everything in a pot, let it simmer for about 2-3 hours and that's it :) And if you add a few more minutes you can turn it into a two course meal!

 Ingredients:
appr. 500gr rib steak with bone in, but if you use 1kg it's even better!
1 onion lef whole
1 garlic clove, unpeeled
8-10 black peppercorns
1 small bay leaf
1 tsp salt
 a generous pinch chilli flakes
1 potato
1 tomato (I used two cherry tomatoes that were lurking at the back of the fridge)
1kg carrot, peeled
500gr parsnip, peeled
small bunch of celery
If you can get them a small piece of savoy cabbage and a small kohl-rabi would give extra depth of flavour.
A big bunch of parsley, finely chopped for sprinkling

Put all the ingredients, except the parsley in a big pot. Add enough water to cover everything and about an inch more. Bring to the boil and simmer on a low heat for 2-3 hours.
 When everything is cooked through pour the broth through a sieve and sprinkle the chopped parsley on top.
 Serve the veg on a separate tray so everyone can take as much or little as they want.
For the second course, reserve your meat. Boil a few spuds in their skins and serve with the meat. You can serve some sauce (gooseberry is delicious!), or mayo, or horseradish sauce with it, maybe some salad.
Enjoy!
Oh, and don't forget the dessert! ;) Like my world's best chocolate cake...

Sunday 14 April 2013

Teddy army

These little teddies in two sizes are getting ready for the next fair :)


 I like the pink ones and the one with little flowers.


Which one is your favourite?

Friday 12 April 2013

Little softies - teddy and snail

Now I'm busy preparing for fairs, sewing for the Friday Country Market and trying to stock my Etsy shop. Not bored at all!
So I'm trying to make a few items that won't cost an awful lot and make nice pressies from a day out :)
So now I'm sewing, cutting out and stuffing snails and teddies!
 I love the fabric of her shell. So romantic!
He is so soft, and love the fabric. It's an old one, I used to have a set of bed linen from the same :)

Thursday 11 April 2013

The last of the bunny girls... for a while ;)

I'm sure you are getting bunny poisoning by now on the blog with all the bunny pictures lately! Now, this little lass is the last one in a long row of bunnies in the recent weeks, I'll be turning to other sewing plans in the coming days. Only there are way too many!!

 I love her dungarees, so cute!
She is listed in my Etsy shop, so if you'd like her go and have a look!
 

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Bunny girls and my new Etsy shop

Finally I took the big step and registered on Etsy and opened a new shiny shop. And what else could be my first listings than a few bunnies? :D
 They all have the same style dress but in different colours. I like the blue one the most. Who is your favourite?



She was actually gone within half an hour of the opening of the shop! :)




Isn't she cute? She can't wait to find a new home.
Go and have a look at the shop and if you like it spread the word! ;)

Tuesday 9 April 2013

Spring in the garden

Spring has finally arrived here in Ireland as well! With the warmer weather my flowers started blooming :)
I have to confess most of them are in pots as I'm still working on the garden layout (i.e. digging, digging and more digging).
 It's nice to have a splash of colour around the house.


 My garden gnome looking after the flowers :) Unfortunately he doesn't do the weeding.
 A little flower bed I made last year, now slowly coming into colour.

 I hate throwing out broken mugs! They make really cute planters, don't you think so?


 

Monday 8 April 2013

Woodlawn wood on a chilly spring day

I went for a nice quiet walk the other day and really loved the colours in the wood. It was very cold though, really felt like autumn!







It was nice, but I still can't wait for summer and the blackberries to ripen! :)