Polly Rowan

Polly is a student studying textile design {she just interned at Orla Kiely - brilliant!} who I finally met at my craft evening {you can spot her here.} She's opened an Etsy shop selling just a few things, including this beautiful cushion cover {£24.} But, I particularly love her embroidered feathers which she is selling as framed versions {£42}. So pretty! I'm excited to watch her career develop.

Wednesday workspace

I see a piece of paper covered with blackboard paint, and I'm immediately thinking 'Brilliant idea!' Think I might have been reading blogs for too long. When I read this post on adding orange slices to water and thought 'genius'! I thought it might be time to get out more.

{I've got some blackboard paint and rolls of paper, so I might try this. And, I did slice some oranges into water almost straight away.}

Image: Jeroen can der Spek

Love these...

....Harris tweed bags. In a total turnaround from my anti-autumn sentiments yesterday, I just came across these little bags by Breagha on Etsy and I want one! Normally they are around £65 but I just noticed these have 25% off until tomorrow, so thought I'd share now instead of filing away for colder times. My favourite is the green, how about you?

Summer days

I've spent these last summer days (and a few days of holiday), cleaning, shredding, filing, and making! It's so satisfying! I love trips to the charity shop and late night wanders to the charity book bin at the supermarket. I'm also trying to rest, and enjoy the summer rays while they last. There's been too much talk of autumn around!

 

 New storage from Ikea - very painful to put together, in fact I had to give up {it's just about holding together as it is.}

 

{Evening sun - and I made this cushion at a Clarissa Hulse / Dalani evening. Actually I just looked blank, and had quite a lot of assistance.}

{Making freezer jam and natural yoghurt lollies - yum! And this time Ikea did the trick - haven't had any problems with their 99p lolly maker.}

Anyone else have stacks full of Living Etc from 2007 in their cupboards? Once upon a time, I didn't throw out magazines until I'd ripped out all the features I wanted to keep - but I'm over it.

{Photos: @teaforjoy on Instagram.}

Ribbon Squirrel

I never need to buy another notebook; but I love the combination of black and white photos and graphic design on these notebooks {£3.80 each} by RibbonSquirrel. 

Wednesday workspace

I have a desk I'm not too fond of, but before I offer it up to the scroungers of Freecycle {no, I don't believe you genuinely need a table, half a box of tiles and a helium tank, for example*}, I'm going to give it one last chance and move it to a sunnier spot by the window, where I'll be available for Neighbourhood Watch duties.

Photo: Fantastic Frank, via Kat Hannaford

*Genuine Freecyclers I like, the others not so much.

Summer styling

Now that we're having an occasional appearance of summer weather {a few hours a week, it seems} I have a new appreciation for pretty scenes such as these from stylist Rebecca Newport. Show me any kind of food in glass jars and I'll love it almost every time.

Hendy Home Store

A few weeks ago I took a day trip to Hastings, where I'd already earmarked Hendy Home Store {which I'd spotted while driving through the Old Town on our way here.}

It didn't disappoint! Full of  Labour and Wait-type utilitarian home goods, such as enamel kitchenware, antique desks and lamps, Mason jars {although pricey at £25 each!} and old linens.

 

But, a great source of excitement, which wasn't expected, was when we saw a menu in the window! Recently opened at the back of the shop is a tiny restaurant which sells simple, mainly fish-based recipes. I loved our starter of radishes with a celery leaf salad and bread, and my baked crab was delicious. We sat on a table right beside the kitchen, and I loved it. Only open at weekends, from 12-4, it was the highlight of the day! Next time I'm in Hastings I'll be heading straight there for lunch.  

Treat time

Recently, I've noticed that almost everything I've pinned to my wishlist has been jewellery. I need to rename it something more bejewelled. Which of these do you like? I haven't made any purchases yet, but it's feeling like treat time soon.

1. Kaleidoscope locket $65, 2. Blokkie $30, 3. Copper beaded necklace $30.99, 4. {current favourite} Dip dye necklace €24.90, 5. For kids, but isn't it pretty? Liv necklace $45.

Making: raspberry freezer jam

Over the weekend I decided to make some raspberry freezer jam. I'd hoped this summer to visit a pick-your-own farm, {inspired by this post} but am not sure that will happen, so have ploughed on with the jam-making regardless. This is my first attempt at making jam!

I decided on freezer jam as it's easy, and so tasty! There's no cooking required.

Ingredients:

*550g raspberries {my recipe called for slightly more but I bought 2 punnets of raspberries at 225 each}
*900g sugar
*4 tablespoons lemon juice
*1/2 bottle Certo

 

Just add the raspberries, sugar and lemon juice and stir. When it looks like the sugar has dissolved, add the Certo {in my supermarket this was beside the golden syrup, it's liquid pectin} and stir for a few minutes. Leave for 24 hours, and then freeze in small containers. Keep in the fridge when opened.

Of course, I had to decorate it with my new jam decorating kit. I've already eaten some, in my porridge and on wheaten bread, but I'm not sure I'll make it again in a hurry because of the huge quantity of sugar! When there's more sugar than fruit, that can't be good, although it looks like normal jam uses less sugar - but still a lot. It's like the time I made my own buttercream icing, that put me off fancy cupcakes for life! Have you ever realised something is seriously unhealthy when you've made it from scratch? Or, if you've got any good recipes for reduced sugar jam, let me know!