Stumpwork Progress

Just a wee postie today to show off the progress of the peacock stumpwork and I have to say now that I have the tail feathers completed and I know where I want them; I utterly love it! I am so pleased that the tana lawn has behaved and I haven't had to much of a headache, it's such a light weight fabric that I wanted to get out of having to back it in any way and it's worked a treat. If your wondering how I got them like that, its wire that's been very tightly/neatly couched over,  the wire that's been used is the ones florists and cake makers use, its wire that's been wrapped in paper. I normally like to stab the wire down first which you can see in the very top picture before going back round with the closer stitching. 

Once it's stitched onto the fabric you carefully cut it out, and with very sharp scissors and a steady hand you cut very close to your stitching, use the blade to get as close as you can, and brush you nail back and forth (gently) over the loose fabric to bring the fibres to stand up (makes it easier to trim). 

To make them stand up I've pushed the excess wire in through the fabric and on the otherside I will tack them down, and securely fasten them before trimming the wire back.

Baking - Sharing is optional

It is true what they say that practice makes perfect, at least I find that with baking and I must say I am really getting into the rhythm of making Iced Buns. They are such a cheerful, easy recipe to make that is just lush with a cup of fresh tea.

So here is the recipe enjoy!

Ingredients:

500g White Bread Mix (usually only costs about 85p)

100g Caster Sugar

1 Medium Egg

300g Icing Sugar & some luke warm water (1 tbsp if not more..take it slowly when you add it.)

Sprinkles and Colouring (I use pastes and natural colours)

250 - 300 ml of Luke warm water

Method:

1. Preheat an oven to about 200 for non-fan over or 180 for fan
2. Pulse together the bread mix and sugar in a processor
3. Whilst the mixer is running add the egg and the water until a soft dough is formed, I find that it gets rather sticky but don't panic. 
4. Tip it out of the bowl onto a floured surface and with either lightly oiled hands or dusted with flour knead it. And keep dusting with flour if it keeps on being sticky. Patience. Knead for a good 5 - 10 minutes or until your wrist gives out.
5. Form into a nice smooth ball and put into a lightly oiled bowl and cover with cling film leave in a warm spot until the dough double in sizes. Usually takes a good thirty minutes to an hour.
6. Once doubled, or nearest dammit, knock it back with your fist (good stress relief).
7. Get a tray and lightly oil it and now divide the mixture up into as many decent sized pieces I usually get about 16. You could probably get more, but aim for about golf ball size if not a bit bigger..play it won't really matter. Now you can either roll into sausage shapes or keep them proper bun shaped. I've had more success with them looking like round buns than iced bun fingers.
8. Leave to rest on the tray, covered with cling film (may want to oil but I've had no issues with not), let it double in size again.
9. Then once doubled put in your preheated oven for between 7 - 9 minutes or until they have a slightly golden, basically they look a bit like a bread roll. Leave to cool on a wired rack.
10. Fun time! Ice and decorate your buns. You want your icing to be nice and thick too runny and it goes everywhere. So keep it stiff as possible. Put the sprinkles before the icing sets.
11. Sit back and eat with a nice cup of tea. Sharing is optional. 

YUMMY

Even made....Foccacia!
It's not all for me, I am actually having a picnic tomorrow but had this recipe that I wanted to try, and it's not turned out to badly!

Peacock Stumpwork

I am just going to slot in a wee post about the progress of my stumpwork piece 'Peacock', not a catchy title but I will figure that one out once it's completed. At first I wasn't so convinced by it but now that I have finished off the wing (not sewn it down yet) I am rather pleased with it and look forward to working on the tail feathers. The tail will be a mixture of appliqué and free form wired shapes that will be raised up like the wing, I'll also be mixing the fabrics and notions too. 

I shall work on this one a bit more tomorrow for now I am going to disappear to go and enjoy the sunshine at my parents abode, work on the quilt some more and watch Doctor Who. Life is as they say is getting better with each day, and the sunshine is certainly helping.

Simply Stitching

At this point I had stabbed down the cordonnet and started stitching the needlace 

This post is going to be fairly short and to the point. Not feeling awfully great owing to a stinking head cold, it did however force me to chill out on the sofa and I did stitching whilst watching Supernatural. 

This little lot is what I was working on today, I need to still stab stitch down the appliqué shape which I will probably do in a minute, along with the padding under the main body of the bird (the bit in the middle). Then I will be able to start working on feathers on the tail, I won't stitch down the actual needlace until I've gotten most of the embroidery done and I am happy with the general layout. This piece I have an idea what I want to do with it, but relaxed enough and flexible  to change it as I go along.

Anyway, desperate need of a laydown!

Tiny wired wing

Bergamot, Buns and Blimey

Lots of b's today. 

Finally was able to take a really good shot of my elusive ninja hamster. Bergamot the Ninja hamster who likes to escape, lost count now. He's cute for a furball but he's a pain in the neck owing to the fact he's very jumpy and doesn't particularly like being handled. So it makes for a bit of a love hate relationship. Anyway, I was mainly trying out my new camera now that I have finally gotten round to getting a SD card for it, so yay! Looking forward to testing it out in Washington in the fall. 

What's with the buns and the blimey though, I can hear you asking. Well the buns is because I am making 'easy' iced buns, well we will see if they are easy when they are finished proofing. They are for tea tomorrow, seeing Anna (UK handmade).

The blimey is for...well I have decided its about time I do something stumpwork related whilst I am working on ideas for my collab with Heidi, just a small piece, not that I do anything large but anyway here's a nice shot so you can see what I have in mind. It's based on a Christmas decoration I purchased many years back. I am thinking of a good mix of liberty fabrics and stitching is a must. Will keep you posted on its progress.

I leave this post on I hope your enjoying the lovely spring weather as much as I am.

Breaking Tradition & Mother Appreciation

And posting on a Saturday...well not really breaking a tradition but whenever I come to write a blog post I do tend to find its on a Sunday. This Sunday, however, if your in Blighty is Mother's day and I won't be spending the day hunched over my mini netbook instead I'll be hanging out with my biggest supporter, the one that listens to my ramblings and tells me off when I forget to tell her something important. Yep, my mum! 


I don't know about all your crafting types but I wouldn't have gone down the path of doing more and more crafting had it not been for my mum. She was always baking and sewing or even turning her hand to glass and silk painting when I was a kid. Having someone who was free to create around you and encouraged you to get involved is one of the best kick starts to life. So it's to my mum that I give huge kudos to for without her I don't think I would have never have gone to art classes when I was a nipper.


So today I will be spending drinking tea (I have a lot to get through and catch up on) working on the collaboration project with Making Strangers and then stitching of course!