Elderflower Cordial

It's that time of year again, the sky is blue, the birds are singing and plants are bursting into flower...and I'm sneezing, rubbing my eyes and cursing nature!
I love elderflower cordial, there is nothing more refreshing than a glass of this mixed with fizzy water, ice and a slice of lemon. I also enjoyed it with a dash of gin last year...hic! I am sure that Mum won't mind me posting her recipe here for you all to enjoy. It's so simple and makes a great present too.

Elderflower Cordial

20 heads of Elderflowers

2 pints boiling water

2 kg sugar

2 lemons, zested then sliced

80g citric acid (available from brewing shops and some chemists...I got the third degree last year when trying to buy it from a chemist)

Boil the water (I use the kettle for speed and efficiency) and pour over the sugar which you've already put in a large pan, heat until it comes back to the boil and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Take off the heat and add the lemon zest, sliced lemons and citric acid. Pour this mixture over the elderflowers - shake them first to get rid of any lingering insects, there's usually a small spider or two! - and cover. Leave for at least 12 hours to infuse. It's such a delicate floral flavour that you really need to let it develop for as long as you can.

Sieve the cordial and then strain through muslin. Store in clean bottles in a cool dark place.

Serve diluted with fizzy water and/or a splash of gin, ice and a slice.

Got gooseberrys? Make an elderflower and gooseberry crumble using the cordial. Yum!

Enjoy your summer, Ali x

Happy Birthday Mum!

My lovely Mum celebrates her birthday today. Those of you who have met her or know her as Picperfic will know how wonderful she is. Without her I doubt I would knit, sew, crochet, bake, etc etc! She taught me so much and continues to inspire me. I am very proud of how she has turned her life around and made it the life that she wants and deserves. Love you Mum xxx

This is my current project. A Tomten jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman in Katia Mexico. This is a lovely knit and the yarn is great too. It's my first EZ project although I have read her books from cover to cover numerous times. I love the way she writes, so easily and calmly. I'm going to edge the jacket with an applied i-cord using some green handspun.

We had some sunshine yesterday and were planning to go to RHS Rosemoor but the central locking on my van has gone loopy and gives you a split second to open the doors and then locks you in. I don't feel happy driving long distances in it so we picnicked in the garden instead. The above photo is Sullivan just before he launched himself on top of Emilia and Madeleine's Barbie game. Boys!

The girls were wearing their Amy Butler Sun Surf Halters, this is a lovely pattern. I made one for myself but the fabric was too stiff and just looked yuk! I love the girls in theirs and they were them as often as possible.

I hope you are enjoying your summer!

We had a fantastic day today. The sun was shining, we didn't need coats and the girls weren't being too bickerish... :0)

Emilia and Madeleine had painted a pony at the local 'paint a pot' place last weekend and we needed to collect the fired ponies. So we piled into the van and went to Braunton to pick them up, had fish and chips and then fed the ducks. The carpark was so empty that the girls were safe to scoot around it.

Sullivan loved the freedom! We got his shoes on monday and today was the first time he was 'released'! He only fell over when the girls wanted to hold his hand. There's a video of him walking at the bottom of this post. The tank top he is wearing is from Louisa Harding's Miss Bea's Seaside. It's called Target and is made from a mixture of Rowan and Sirdar denim yarns. A lovely knit but next time I'd split the back neck and add a button as it is a little snug going over his head!

I've just cast on a hoody for Sullivan from Martin Storey's Mother and Baby in RYC Natural Silk Aran. I really should finish Emilia's Linnet but I want to get this jumper made before he grows out of the amount of yarn I bought!

Back to school monday :o( and :o)

Don't forget my yarn sale in the previous post. Great prices, luxury yarns!

Oh - the interviw went well. I was with them for over an hour, I'll find out tomorrow or Monday...keep your fingers crossed for me!

Getting back into the swing of things

So much knitting has been done over the last couple of weeks. I've been washed out but starting to feel better again now, my iron count was low so I'm hoping that all the iron rich food I've been eating along with the spatone I'm taking is helping boost things up. DH is fantastic, he is doing so much of the housework as well as decorating the front room.

I've got loads of pics to show you, but for now I'll just post the latest knits and a couple of the girls. Baby mitts, thumbless for easy on off ability. I'm not sure whether I should put a cord on these or not, any opinions?
Monkey socks - what a great pattern, I think I'll try to make some mini monkeys for the girls. Regia 4 colour. I love the way this yarn softens and blooms after washing.

Forest baby hat.
Camouflage baby set, so cute! I think I'd be happy with a boy if he got to wear this set! Jaeger baby merino, a wonderful yarn!
Baby hat from one skein and a pair of socks for school friend of E's who's mum has just had a baby girl.
The finished pinwheel blanket, it is the perfect size for a pram/crib/moses basket. I love it and I have plans afoot for a different one.
Tootsie baby hat using sirdar click dk. Not my favourite yarn but great colours.
And finally...I made the skirtsicle from Magknits in 2 days! I used 4 balls of Anchor Magicline cotton and the age 6 pattern for Maddie although she is not 4 yet! Lovely pattern but the sizes are a little small, perhaps I just have tall children!

Millie feeding a wallaby and holding a snake at Exmoor Zoo, she's a brave girl!
Maddie stroking a Skunk! Pooey!
Sorry for the pictures and captions post. I'm still getting tired easily and just doing this has worn me out.

Tomorrow - photos of Sock pal socks and a wonderful knitty SP parcel.

Yes, I've been sewing again. I designed this circular needle roll last night and I am really pleased with it. I used a button and elastic fastening rather than ribbon and find it to be more secure...time to find some knitting related buttons!


I also made this little denim tote bag, I really like her and plan to make a bigger one with two pockets this afternoon...if Millie lets me!



We're off to town in a minute, the craft set I bought her on Wednesday (from M&S) doesn't work too well, the glue they supplied doesn't actually stick the mosaic pieces to the photo frame and box, it just dries and then they ping off. So, I'm putting my consumer rights hat on ans we will be finding her something else...hopefully to keep her busy whilst I am sewing!

We go away on sunday for a week, DH has a course in Southampton and his company have agreed to pay for a bigger hotel room so we can all go. It will be great to be able to see old friends and family as well as being able to go shopping in a city again! I'm really looking forward to the journey down as we are planning to go via Ikea in Bristol and have a hot dog/chips/icecream lunch...followed by copious amounts of Dime cake! (Almondy)

Take care
Ali x

Knitting blahs

Ever had the knitting blahs? I've got too much on the needles at the moment and don't want to finish any of it. Some of it I must finish, but some of it can wait. Time to prioritise I think, and put the fun back into knitting. I just want to be sewing at the moment!
I took E to Arlington court again on friday, they had a free dance workshop happening and she enjoyed every minute of it. She puts everything she has into dance and it is so wonderful to watch.
Here I am, looking dour and yuk! I've got a headache and my pelvis is playing me up no end today. I'm 27 weeks tomorrow, not looking too fat yet...The pinwheel blanket - I've been working on it for months now, it is my car knitting and I really enjoy it. I'm using odds and ends of acrylic/wool mix for it and it is growing nicely. I plan on using a garter stitch picot cast off.This is what I have been sewing! I have also made 2 more Miffy bags but I let the girls have them as washbags. There are also 6 more that I have made in the same curtain fabric as E's blind...hopefully to help her keep all the little things that 6 year olds collect together!I'm selling on etsy again, my username is Faerynuff - funny that!


edited to add - I will be selling on etsy again soon, once I can upload photos again.

Sunshine, Sewing and Sknitting....I wanted another S word!

I've been busy again the past week or so, we've been doing lots of playing and I've been doing lots of crafting and baking :) I hope this intense hunger passes soon or I'll end up the size of a house before baby arrives!

Also have been in quite a lot of pain with my pelvis, walking is getting increasingly painful but nothing I can't cope with. I've got a physio appointment next week and the Health Visitor is meant to be contacting me about joining a prenatal depression group...watch this space!

I'm 26 weeks now and we still haven't bought anything, I'm being ever so relaxed about this baby, it's quite refreshing!

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Maddie's nursery told us last thursday that they were having a Circus day today, and all the children were to dress up. Everything was put on hold whilst I made her this dress. From Zoe Mellor's Adorable Knits, the bodice is knit in Knitpicks Shine sport and the skirt made from net. In total this dress cost £3.20! Bargain!

I finally got round to making a little bag yesterday, I'm really pleased with it and will be making more tomorrow. Do you want to do a swap for one? Let me know :)

************************************************************************************ My latest way of getting the girls to stop arguing is to throw out the front with an assortment of paints, pens, glue and sparkly bits to make as much mess as they like...they are creating some wonderful things!Yesterday we went to Arlington court for a Victorian Garden Party. It was fun playing on the coconut shy, throwing horseshoes around a pole, splatting a rat and table skittles. The girls enjoyed rolling down a hill the most though!

It was a beautiful day yesterday...look at this lonely cloud! Unfortunately it is not so sunny and warm today but it is still dry :)

Jackie - the slate fire surround didn't sell this time, but the cast iron fireplace did. The auction will hold on to the surround until it does sell.

That's all for now folks! I need to make lunch and get Maddie to nursery.

Ali xxx

Chalk + 2 girls = ?

Just to prove we are starting to have summer now...a sunflower that the snails didn't eat!

As the weather has been wonderful today I shooed the girls into the garden while I had 'some' peace and quiet. What do two little girls do with jumbo chalks in the garden? Not colouring stones and rocks it seems....

It was too funny for me to be cross with them, my little punk rockers!
I made these 2 bags over the weekend, the green/brown is made using scarps of Kureyon, Silk garden,Texere Jamaica and Cascade 220. I have enough pinky/red/orange scraps for a larger one.

The purple pink one is made from yarn I bought in New Zealand, JJ's handpainted 8 ply which is a slightly heavy DK, light worsted I suppose?

This is what else I've been working on, but I can't say what as it is a secret...

Look what Mr. Postie brought me this morning, 4 balls of the most delicious bamboo yarn. I don't know what to use it for, any ideas? I love it! Thank you Faerlywell!