Saturday, May 9, 2015

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 ~

~

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19 comments:

Karyn said...

Wow Kelly-Anne!

not very eloquent, I know but WOW is my first thought at most things I see on your blog :)

your Miss Lettuce's are beautiful as are your words!
love, Karyn

Visits With Mary said...

Miss Lettice is just beautiful. AND..thanks for sharing the muffin recipe, hmmmm yummy!

Christine said...

Dear Kelly-Anne! What a blessing to read through your posts! It does ones soul good!
And I see you have inherited your grand mothers creativity and sewing talents! Your bunny is just darling!
Following along now to enjoy your posts!
Thank you too, for your sweet words on my blog!

magnoliasntea said...

Lovely indeed, Kelly-Anne. What a pleasure your posts are to read. Your bunnies are really adorable, and all the little details you added are so very pretty. I can almost smell those delicious looking muffins. :)

Sarah said...

Kelly-Anne,

Your new bunnies are just adorable!! You have such an eye for detail. Your workmanship is beautiful!!

-Sarah

Mari said...

Miss Lettice is so cute, and I love her name!
Happy Mothers Day!

Paige said...

What well dressed rabbits! You use pretty fabrics for Ms. Lettice. :)
Those muffins sound so yummy! :D I like dates.
Enjoy your weekend!

Anonymous said...

Sweet friend! Your sewing creations are absolutely the sweetest things I've come across in a long time :) You did a fabulous job!! And those muffins...oh my! They do sound scrumptious- the perfect treat for the cooler weather. And I can imagine they go quite well with a cup of tea! We are getting ready to go into summer here, but I'm going to save that recipe for when autumn comes round again.

Enjoy the cooler weather- it's always my favorite :) Especially cozy evenings with the family and getting to wear all the warm clothing.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy a special Mother's Day with your mom and family! Sending love and blessings your way!! <3

Stephanie said...

I just squealed with delight when I saw Miss Lettice - oh, how I adore her :) She reminds me of the rabbits my grandma made. In fact I still have mine...I should pull it out from where it's being stored.

Your recipe...oh my, it looks and sounds delicious! Thank you, my dear, for sharing the recipe with us. Today I made raspberry danishes for my family and they were a nice treat. I think these muffins should be the next tasty thing we have :)

Please tell your sweet mother I said Happy Mother's Day and thank her for raising such a beautiful and kind young lady. The two of you are blessed to have one another.

Love and hugs, my friend!

CherylQuilts said...

Oh, Kelly-Anne, I am squealing with delight too in seeing your Miss Lettice! She is such delight and so beautiful and cute!! I didn't know you were also a seamstress, and I so admire that you are! I've long been a seamstress and used to make ALL my clothes since a teen-ager. I love the fabrics you've used and the attention to detail in your choice of fabric combinations and stitching! And the muffins look absolutely yummy! Hugs, precious friend! You are a treasure!

Parlor Room Ponderings said...

What a good sewer you are! Such meticulous work. I'm a sewer as well, so I understand and appreciate all the work involved. They are lovely! I love reading your posts. You are so sweet and precious with your words. Have a super week Kelly-Anne!

Loniel said...

Lovely girl!
Have a nice creative week!
Hugs,
Olga

www.artinmess.ru

Debby Ray said...

Hi Kelly-Anne! First of all, I must have missed something...you are having winter in May?? Your little Miss Lettice is just adorable and you are quite the seamstress! Your posts are a joy to read! I know your mother must be very proud of her girls and certainly her Mother's Day was blessed as well!

Emma Jane said...

Hello, Kelly-Anne!

Oh, your Miss Lettice rabbits are darling! It reminds me of a stuffed rabbit I used to have-- she was white and wore a long green dress with little Christmas accessories on the fabric, and I called her Lissy. I haven't thought of her for a while, so this made me smile. :-)

Oooh, your muffins looks so good! My sister is our chief muffin-maker here-- I shall have to direct her attention to this recipe!

And, since I am late in commenting, I hope you had a splendid Mother's Day!

Much love,
~Emma

Ida said...

Oh my goodness those bunnies are sooooo cute! - The muffins sound delicious. I'm curious if you substituted apple sauce how much would you use?

JES said...

The bunnies are adorable, the fabrics are perfect! I do love reading your blog Kelly-Anne. Such a treat! :)

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Kelly-Anne, Miss Lettice is adorable and I so love her different outfits! I have a bunny boy and girl that I made years ago and the girl is very similar to yours.
The muffins look wonderful and I'm sure they were a delicious treat for your tea party.
I also read your post on your grandmother's cabin. What fun it was to take a peek, both inside and out, and see all of your grandma's creativity. Thanks for sharing!!!

Linda Walker said...

Kelly-Anne,
Your Miss Letting sure did put a smile on my face! She is adorable! I love the fabrics you chose! So sweet! You are quite the talented young lady! The muffins sound delicious btw. I will have to try them.
Linds
Mysewwhatblog

Esther Asbury said...

How did I miss this pretty post the first time? Lovely little rabbits -- you did a wonderful job on them! The muffins looks yummy too!