Painting more pots

Paid a return visit to the Pottery Cafe today - this time to paint some birthday presents for my mum. We decided on a fruit bowl and a jug - these pics are unglazed - glazed version to follow in due course.

Can't figure out how to turn this pic round - sorry!

Birthday cake

Judging by the number of birthday cards I received featuring cakes most of my friends and family know well what the best part of birthday celebrations is in my opinion - the cake - this year's featured fat-free sponge with a filling made from fresh raspberries and mascarpone & a frosting made from cream cheese -Mmmmmm!

Birthday Bags

We have just celebrated K's birthday and her
main request was the latest Cath Kidston
bucket bag. To complete the bag theme and
continue the tradition of little treats I sewed
drawstring bags to package up the smaller
presents. It will be K's last birthday at home
as she gets married in three months!

Always time for cake!

No sooner do we finish all the
Christmas baking and resolve to
eat healthily for a while than it is
time to start making birthday
cakes. This one was for J's birthday
last week. He helpfully agreed to
eat most of it himself!

Black and White

Finished my niece's birthday present so can
now show you the finished product.
Meg's bedroom is black and white so that was
the brief for her quilt and here it is.

More birthday cake

Time for more birthday celebrations
and of course cake - this time to
celebrate Nick's birthday.
The cake is chocolate made as always
from a Nigella recipe and filled with
raspberries and cream.
Candles were lit and cake sampled
before heading off to the New Forest
and Dorset for the weekend.

Birthday time again

Last saturday we had a belated birthday
celebration for my mum.
My contribution to the food was as ever
cake!

Birthday bags

Hasn't been much craft on the blog
recently so here is a catch up of recent
activity, mostly works in progress but
this bag was another birthday gift
completed & dispatched!

Birthday cake

The birthday cake was classic
victoria sponge - set off by crazy
candles which re-light every time
you blow them out - supplied by
my mum and caused great hilarity
as I tried in vain to blow them out!
I was eventually rescued and helped
when the onlookers had stopped
laughing long enough.

Birthday Treats

Last week was my birthday when I was given
this beautiful cabinet - destined to hold supplies
in the sewing room. each of the sixteen drawers
had a present in it making it feel like Christmas!

Crafty cards

The end of the month means time to make more
cards in preparation for this month's crop of
birthdays. Mostly men this month so these
coffee-themed fabric panels were ideal.

Another birthday bag

Made this bag from Cath Kidston
fabric for a friend from America
who is here for a year and so
celebrating her birthday away
from family and friends.
Something English for her to take
with her when she goes back.

Greetings from Tokyo

This month's birthday cards have a distinctly
oriental theme using some of the beautiful
supplies I bought on our recent stopover in
Tokyo.

Beautiful buttons

Last month when I visited the
Creative Stitches exhibition I
bought a bag of buttons and learned
how to make necklaces with them.
Spent some time this weekend
trying to remember what I learned!
This one is destined to be a birthday gift
but I like it so much I might have to make
another one for keeping!

Chinese spoils

Went shopping for fabric while I was
in Hong Kong - used some to
make a birthday gift for a friend- only
3 days after getting back!

Happy Birthday to you

Been ill for a few days so not much creative
stuff going on :(
Did make some cards for those of my friends
and family who are celebrating birthdays
this month though.
Only 11 days till we go on holiday for 3 weeks
so had to plan a bit ahead!

happy birthday

Jon's birthday cake - reminded me
of a scene from Matilda!