weekend baking

On Friday the unbearable heat changed to what I call a "proper" summer;  

low to mid twenties, sunny without the intense heat, a joy to be outside. It has been like that since, which was specially good on Saturday, 

because the family got together in our garden to celebrate joint birthdays of DD and SIL. 

The cake I made for the occasion was "Persian Love Cake", a scrumptious mix of almonds, lemons, cardamom and rose water; very easy to make.

My recipe came from the book "The Saffron Tales" by 

Yasmin Khan, but there are many variations to be found online. 

The book bag (see previous post) was well received, and DD decided that it will also be very good for her kindle, to take on holiday.

Today I spend quiet afternoon outside, 

finishing another book in the "Department Q" series,

and making a small progress on the next block 

of the "Awakening" quilt.

Tonight and tomorrow we are expecting some serious rain and thunderstorms;

our garden will be so happy!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2019

book bag

It is hot, hot; the hottest day of the year....... the promised rain on Tuesday night didn't happen, just some spectacular lightning.

Even I have retreated indoors today;  any shade outside just doesn't do it any more.

Even the computer is straggling 

So I am doing little reading and catching up with some missed TV.

Yesterday I finished a book bag - a birthday present for our DD, 

just big enough to pop a paperback in.

Of course, it can be anything she wants it to be, but I used a template from the "Indian Book Bag", 

a workshop I did with Tiggy Rawling of "I Rather be in India" some years ago.

And yes, I did find my linen threads! 😀 (see my previous post)

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2019

he who seeks, finds,

but not necessarily what one is looking for!

My sewing room is very, very small, so you would think not much can get lost in there.

Few days ago I came across an article about Swedish linen embroidery threads, and I knew I had some. 

I bought a selection during one of our Scandinavian holidays.

But can I now find them?  I have gone through all the possible places, but nothing.

What I did find however, was something I forgot I had, in fact I can't even remember how long I had it. It is a crewel embroidery kit from Jane Rainbow.

I seemed to had done quite a bit of it at the time, although I really don't remember when.....

But it is just too hot for a wool embroidery right now, actually it has been too hot for any needlework,

my hands are just too warm.

I did little baking. Bublanina (the traditional Czech "bubble cake", usually made with cherries; when baked it looks like the fruit inside made bubbles). I prefer to use apricots, because of their stronger flavour. 

It has been very dry in our part of the world. We are keeping the garden going the best we can, 

using what is left in the water butts, and any used water from indoors,

and at the same time creating as much shade for ourselves as we can.

But today I stayed inside for most of the day, it was too hot outside.

We are supposed to get some rain during the night, but again - it might pass us by......

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2019

summer embroidery

It is this time of year when I embroider most, I find it so much more enjoyable to do outside in the summer light.

This is a cushion kit by Nancy Nicholson, which I bought a couple years ago. All her kits come in their own canvas bag, decorated with a bonus design on the outside, which you can also embroider.

I did that right at the beginning. 

There is still lots to do here.

Today I managed to find (in the depth of my room) "Heartsong", 

a design by Rosalie Quinlan, which I bought ages ago. 

The pattern comes with two design options (one being Christmas), and two sizes; the smaller sizes have  iron-on transfers included, the larger can be traced on to the fabric.

 I don't really feel like Christmas, so I am making the "summer" version.

Which colour should I go for?

In the end I went for the pinks.

Yesterday we happened to be on the Somerset Levels, 

so we made a brief visit to Barrington Court (NT),

to see how the gardens are doing in this heat.

Like everywhere in this part of England, it is very dry here and desperate for some rain, but still there is lots of colour around.

In the old stable block are several small shops;

while DH was browsing in the secondhand book shop,

I "popped in" to the Barrington Patchwork shop.

Unusually I did not buy any fabric this time,

but I did come away with a selection of 

pearl cotton No16 (to add to my stash),

which I like to use for some colourful quilting.

I always buy some when I am this way, as this is the only shop in my area (that I am aware of),
which stocks it.

The lavender in our front garden is loving this weather.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2019

FNwF

It is hard to believe, but another month has gone by, and there we were again at Cheryll's for a virtual get together.

Thank you, Cheryll, for inviting us all.

Our lovely summer continues (I am not even going to say we need some rain.....)

Lovely warm day on Friday stretched well into the evening, oh so nice. Until last week we had cold evenings even when the days were warm.

So I stayed outside for the first part of the evening, to put some finishing touches to the "fish" block on the summer quilt.

Later, back inside, I crochet few more triangles for the Arabian Nights blanket.

When I'll start the next row, I will be nearly a half way there!

I had very productive Friday night!

How did you do?

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2019

Hardy's Cottage

soda bread

Yesterday I gave you the recipe, today I made it myself.

I used part plain and part wholemeal spelt flour.

So quick and easy, and tastes wonderful!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2019

Thomas Hardy's cottage (NT)

Our lovely summer weather continues, days are sunny and pleasant, without being too hot - 

ideal time for "days out".

Yesterday DH and I went on to visit the place we have been meaning to go to for a long time, but only now got around to it; 

 round trip of about 100 miles - the birthplace of Thomas Hardy just outside Dorchester.

From the car park and the Visitor Centre you can choose one of 2 walking routes, the first one relatively short. The second is more pleasant, through the woods, and with far reaching views in places. 

The cottage suddenly appears in front of you.

And this is it; built by Thomas Hardy's grandfather. 

This is where Thomas Hardy was born and where he lived until he was about 30 years old.

Room shared by 2 Thomas's sisters; 

some patchwork quilts made by them have survived.

Parent's room and where Thomas was born. 

There is a story, about a snake which came in from the garden 

and was found asleep on the top of baby Thomas.

Thomas's room (shared with his brother in the early years) 

and where he wrote his early works.

This quilt is new, made by a group of National Trust ladies, who got together to make a quilt in the same EPP method as the two sisters used.

Back downstairs in the kitchen another of the National Trust ladies was making a soda bread, 

made to a similar recipe used by Thomas's mother and grandmother, 

and which we had a chance to taste, still warm - delicious.

And you can even have the recipe:

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2019