Cards for Easter and More . . .

Hello Friends!

I'm afraid I haven't felt much up to blogging lately, but I thought I'd share with you some cards I made recently.

I've used a mix of Mirricard, matte metalic card, and American Crafts card. I made them using the Entwined Cross collection of dies by Leonie Pujol. I have had them for quite a while. They were still in their sleeve, unopened, when I went to use them this week. They were a bit fiddly and faffy to stick down, but I got there in the end.

They started out as Easter cards. However, looking at them, they would make suitable cards for baptism, first communion, sympathy, even wedding cards. As a result, I've decided not to put a sentiment on them and to leave them blank inside. It's always useful to have multi purpose blank cards on hand.

 

This one had a slight mishap while glueing in place . . . 

so I resorted to the old trick, if you make a mistake stick a butterfly on it . . . 

The top card here didn't cut out quite good enough so I trimmed it to even it up and to make it useable.  After all, Mirricard is not cheap!

The crossbar should have the same flourish as the top and bottom

but if I hadn't pointed it out, would you have noticed?

As always, I am well behind in posting, so must get a wriggle on today!

Until next time

Stay safe, stay well

Debbie xx

Surprise!

Hello Friends!

Long time no see, but I'm going to give blogging a go again.  Little bit of housekeeping first of all.

1.  I apologise to anyone who has legitimately wanted to comment, but day after endless day I spent far too much time deleting spam.  I know many of you will understand, but it undermined my taking a break.

2.  I had to fiddle with Blogger, didn't I?  In doing so, I may have inadvertently unfollowed rather a lot of you, so if you read this, please leave a short "hello" to help me reconnect.

3.  Update on me.  As some of you who kindly kept in touch know, it's been a long, rough winter as I suffered many weeks of side effects to my medications.  Thankfully, I was over the worst by early February, but I still suffer from extreme tiredness.  Naturally, that is impacting severely on my day to day life.  I find myself experiencing sudden onset of going to sleep.  I sit down for a cup of tea and next thing I'm waking up two hours later.  This is not funny, it is very inconvenient and often I wake up in the arm chair after midnight, shivering with cold.

Onwards!

With low energy I haven't been going out very often.  Also, I have no walking buddy and so until this is resolved my witterings won't include much in the way of new photographs. 

This year, I did take part in the annual ICAD Daisy Yellow art challenge and was honoured to be invited to join a small, online group of sixty members taking part.  It's been my happiest, most productive ICAD experience ever!  It took me a week to find my stride, but then one of the other creative spirits introduced us to Neurographic Art practice and I flew with it!  

Here are my first week of cards, while I was following prompts

ASTERISK

PEONY

LABYRINTH

KEY {KEYSTONE}

FLAMINGO or PINK

DAYDREAM {Wales qualify for the FIFA World Cup}

ROOT

Then, I was introduced to Neurographic Art and took off running.  If you would like to find out more, there's plenty of information and examples on line, but here's my first week of exploring this new to me concept, it's the second week of ICAD.

My very first go

This was done using my non dominant hand, which also has the worst tremors.  You can see the difference, with more jagged edges and less smoothness.  There are some interesting shapes developing to which I can attribute personal meaning.  Consequently I decided not to colour it in, as not everything in my life is black and white now.  I can't go into more detail as it's too raw and personal.

Do you like them?  Do you have a favourite one?  It's no secret that I had the most fun ever this year, and it's the first year I actually completed on time!  I'm now doing another online art challenge, set by Rachel Greig, but more about that another time.  Oh, and I won a seat on Robin Sturis's "Flow and Line" art course too!

One of the last walks I managed to accomplish was a carefully paced stroll around the Cathedral at Easter.  I hadn't been there in two years due to both the pandemic restrictions and being poorly.  However, I wanted to see the Lilies of Remembrance which used to be at Christmas.  The list of names I submit is growing longer each passing year. 

I hope I haven't detained you, and that you've enjoyed my pictures.  I'll share more of ICAD next time!  

Until then, I hope everyone is doing well and life is being as kind to you as it can be in these strange days of continuing Covid, rising prices, and global climate issues.

Debbie xoxo

Easter Baking

Hello Friends!

Easter heralds the start of many things, new beginnings, and for some the easing of lockdown so that a socially distanced and responsible gathering of friends outside can happen as the weather {hopefully}  improves, although we are getting a properly Arctic blast for Easter Monday.

image source: Wikipedia

I grew up with the tradition of Hot Cross Buns on Good Friday, we always had them toasted as a breakfast treat. I used the Doves Farm recipe this year, which was not without it's problems.  The dough rose absolutely perfectly, it could not have been better.

Normally, I make my crosses using marzipan.  However, not having any to hand, I followed the flour and water paste method in the recipe. Despite my best attempt, after baking, the crosses had disappeared entirely, so I panicked!  Hot Cross Buns without a cross are just buns.  Oh, dear.  Then I suddenly remembered seeing someone make water icing and using that.  So, that's what I did.  I made a thick drizzle and although not perfect by any means, my Hot Cross Buns now have crosses.

Cross~less buns, hot from the oven

and after the iced crosses are drizzled on

Probably my best effort.

I did try one, for quality control purposes, you understand, hot from the oven, before the crosses were added, but my favourite way to eat them is lightly toasted and thickly slathered in unsalted Welsh butter.  Deee~licious, even if a little rustic looking.

When is a Hot Cross Bun not a Hot Cross Bun?
When it's scone {gone}

I didn't bake a huge amount, just enough for me for the weekend, but happily shared with a neighbour. It was lovely to see her for the first time in oh! so many months, and have a socially distanced doorstep visit, so much missed, although we speak often on the phone.

Here's my chocolate and vanilla Easter Egg Cake, rich, dark, chocolatey goodness indeed.  One of my favourite things to bake for Easter Day Afternoon Tea.  I now have three killer ingredients, secret of course, for my chocolate cake!

With the weather being decidedly chilly, I won't be risking any gardening for a few days, and Easter Monday is predicted to bring a cold, Arctic blast to us, so later today I shall be doing more baking, keeping warm and snug in my cosy cottage kitchen baking Irish Soda Bread and Cherry Scones {which are new to me}.  I'll let you know how I get on, as scones are not my forte.

Until next time

Stay Safe, Stay Well

Have a Joyful, Blessed Easter Day

Easter Time

Hello Friends ~~~

At this time of year there are many feasts and occasions celebrated all over the world, and however you celebrate, or even if you celebrate nothing in particular, I wish you a very

HAPPY

EASTER

I gussied up my front porch with a few little Easter trimmings this week, nothing fancy as I don't have a lot of space, but here are some photos I'd like to share with you of what I did with an assortment of handmade and shop bought decorations on a fresh, pussy willowed willow twig ~~~

I have managed a few hours {taken in small bites} clearing the forlorn raspberry patch and the parlous state of affairs is now on the mend! In the beginning I was overwhelmed with the sight before me, but, armed with trusty secateurs, I made a start. Soon there was enough space for me to stand in the middle, now there is enough space to move freely about most of the patch! A little determination works wonders. I shall give a full update on my progress in my next entry ~~~

Until next time ~~~
~~~ Deborah xo