Day 4 Tour De Fleece

Didn't get much spinning done today but I did a bit and took a few photos.

Today I made a chocolate, cherry, coconut banana bread.  It should be called everything including the kitchen sink cake!

Beads and Brownies

I've been making stitch markers.  So far, I haven't outgrown my love for beads, wool, dogs and cake.  As you can see it's been a day of all the loves.  The knitting is a hat that I am working on.  I made all the stitch markers pictured.  Lexi is patiently modelling my cowl that I dyed, spun and knitted.  I made the brownies today because my brother is coming over to watch a movie and for dinner.  My mother and I tucked into the brownies and drank a load of tea.  Really full now.

All I want to do today is eat cake.

All I want to do today is eat cake.  You can quote me on that.

This is a picture of my brother's birthday cake that I made him.  (Technically, I made him two cakes.)

I might try and make something nice, fun and glutenfree for my own birthday.

Whatever Happens

I am doing quotes that I like as a personal project.  I don't want to over think the project.  I just want to do it.  I want to basically mess around with quotes and words that I like.  Some quotes mean more to me than others but I really don't want to discuss it all.  I just want to share the quotes without an explanation.

I sewed this pencil case last weekend.  Made one for my brother as well.  Don't expect him to use it but I just wanted to sew him something for part of his birthday present.  I tie dyed the fabric probably last year and still have a bit more to use.  I love dyeing fabric and yarn.  I found these pens when going through some old boxes belonging to me at my parents'.  Knew they needed a new home so I made a pencil case specially for them.

I am going to try to sew something today.  I'm a bit wrecked, it was a long week, but a good one.

P.S. Mustard turned out grand.  I am going to try messing around with the recipe and other recipes.

Made the courgette loaf by Nigel Slater again.  This time I skipped adding the apple and raisins.  Didn't have either.  I probably added more courgette because I had it and wanted to use it.  I didn't have just raisins.  I had a bag of mixed fruit for Christmas cake making.  I felt citrus peel would have spoiled the party so I skipped it and didn't feel like going to the shop.  I like using up what I have the most in cooking and baking.  I also like adding more of what I like, so I added more cinnamon.  I put in almost a teaspoon.  Happy enough with it.

Eleanor

I don't know what kind of mind discusses cake because that is probably what I will be doing today.  I am baking my brother his 'real' birthday cake.  I am going to make another chocolate jam cake - glutenfree for myself to eat whilst everyone eats birthday cake.  August is a time of many cakes.  I used to make cupcakes and cakes with icing.  One year, I'd say we went through a serious amount of sugar and icing sugar.  I'm not going to lie.  I was buying the big 5kg bags of sugar.  My family and I had problems sleeping at night due to the crazy amounts of sugar.  Molly, the dog was given a teeny amount of cake and even she was up at night howling.  The icing recipe was too hard core.  I should look for another one.  I have just been making chocolate icing and cake since.

Can't wait to blend the mustard and see how that turned out.  I'll see if I can cut the mustard or not.

This bag above I sewed the weekend August 9-10, 2014.  I also made few other items.  I have a busy weekend this weekend.  Hopefully, I will get some sewing done on Sunday.  Might make some cushion covers if I have the right zippers in my stash.

Better start baking the 'real' cake.

Let There Be Cake

Tomorrow is my brother's birthday and today, I am baking him a teacake - Chocolate jam gluten free cake.  It's actually Nigella Lawson's Store Cupboard Chocolate - Orange cake.  Don't think calling it chocolate jam gluten free cake would sell many slices.  I really like making it and using raspberry or strawberry jam instead of marmalade.  Never was that big into marmalade.  At the weekend, I am going to bake him a proper birthday cake.

Also we have a lot of courgette/zucchini on the go so, I would like to make some courgette loaf (zucchini bread).  I am going to use this recipe.

Must get a move on!  Hope your Monday treats you well.

Knitting and Cake

I have a bit of birthday knitting to do yet.  Still slugging away and it is all late.  Lucky for me, the birthday folk are flexible.  Weird year for birthdays.  Our family's birthdays come in clumps and mine is the last one.  The July-August group have 2- 3 weeks between each.  Usually by the time my birthday comes around, we are all fed up of cake and borderline diabetic.  One year, there was so much sugar in the icing/frosting that none of us could sleep the full night until the cake was finished.

This year, my mother didn't want a cake.  My brother is crazy busy at the moment, so we will celebrate or I will make him a cake when he gets time off.  I don't think this soon to be birthday girl (me) will be having a cake as well.  I am trying out the Autoimmune Protocol Diet this summer.  Anytime, I try and go back on any of the no list, I am not well.  As much as I love cake, I don't want to be sick on my birthday.  It is mad to think that this is my first year without a cake but it is a worthy sacrifice to feel good.  (Not 100% easy all the time)

This is a raglan that I am working on and hope to finish soon.  It is actually a remake.  I followed a pattern that is one size fits all.  I must of made a mistake.  Not to worry!  I finally ripped it out a few months ago and finally started cracking this summer.  I have a lot of projects on the go.  I love starting new projects the most.  Trying to finish more projects!!!!

The mitten is knitted with some Studio Donegal and some of my handspun from batts I made myself a while back.