Sewing & Baking Loveliness...

It would seem that winter is slowly making her way to our part of the world...

Mornings and evenings have become quite chilly around here and we are finding ourselves having to don boots and warm clothes everyday...

I love going for walks in the forest this time of year as there are always pine cones to be collected for firelighters as we know that cold, rainy days will soon be visiting us...

The fire is lit almost every evening now and I can picture myself contentedly stitching away at the fireside...

I have been doing some embroidery lately and I am looking forward to showing you the completed project in the next week or so!

 In the meantime I have resumed my sewing and spent many a happy hour at my sewing machine, creating a few lovely items for Heartmade while listening to beautiful soundtracks from Pride and Prejudice, Cinderella and Wives and Daughters...

After visiting my grandmother in April, I came away feeling quite inspired and motivated to continue with Heartmade and be truly thankful for the rich blessing and privilege I have to do something that I thoroughly enjoy...

Heartmade brings me such pleasure and I also know it brings joy to others!

Oh, and for those of you who follow the Heartmade blog, I have plans to update it sometime this weekend, so do stay posted!

Here is another adorable Miss Lettice I created...

I just love these gorgeous fabrics!  I added a lace frill at the bottom of her little dress and flower buttons to her bodice...

I gave Miss Lettice little black french knots for eyes, a nose and mouth and sweet pink cheeks...and don't forget a pretty hair ribbon!

...And here is yet another Miss Lettice I made using some of my recent fabric purchases!

I just love how she turned out! I used some light blue anglaise for the frill of her dress and also for the little pocket on her bodice...

Dainty straps...

Miss Lettice is one of my favourite items to make and I must say, I get quite attached to each rabbit!

{To 'meet' Miss Lettice, do hop over to this post!}

 She measures approximately 15"....

~

I thought I would share this lovely muffin recipe with you which my sweet little sisters and I made this week.  

Sofia and Rebekah love helping in the kitchen whenever they can and often I have a bit of extra time to let them assist me...  

This time I decided to let Sofia crack an egg by herself and the result was that it landed up in her lap!

 Apple, Date and Spice Muffins

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup cake flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp all spice

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped dates

160g melted butter

2 free-range eggs

300g apple puree

Combine the flour, baking powder and all spice.  Add the chopped dates.

In another bowl, mix together the pureed apple, melted butter, eggs and brown sugar.

Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the wet mixture.

Gently mix and pour into twelve muffin cases.  

Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for about 20 minutes.

Remove from the oven and leave on a wire rack to cool.

Dust with cinnamon and serve with a steaming cup of tea...

~ 

We ladies enjoyed these delicious muffins at a tea party one morning this week...  As both Nancy and I had added new tea cups to our collection in the last few weeks, we thought it was only right that we had a tea party to celebrate...

I am looking forward to showing you my beautiful new tea cups very soon!

~

 If you are looking for a few simple ideas for blessing your mother this Mother's Day, perhaps you would like to read my post about 7 Simple Ways to Bless a Mother...

Or if you are a mother in need of encouragement, perhaps you would like to read my post entitled The Dear Love of a Mother...  This is post is dedicated to my precious mom and to all the Godly mothers who are striving to raise arrows for the Lord's army!

 And maybe you would like to see the Mother's Day brunch my sisters gave my mother one year and hopefully be inspired to organise a celebration...?

...Here is a beautiful quote I found to bless each special mother!

"To be a mother is by no means second class.  Men may have the authority in the home, but the women have the influence.  The mother, more than the father, is the one who molds and shapes those little lives from day one."

- John MacArthur

Thank you so very much for visiting today, sweet friends!

I pray each of you will have a special Mother's Day weekend blessing your precious mother or being blessed by your dear children...

~ For You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  Psalm 139:13-14 ~

~

 This Post May be Shared with...

~ The Art of Homemaking Mondays, Roses of Inspiration, Wise Woman Link-Up, Raising Homemakers Link-Up and Modest Monday ~