Mince Pie Stars and Palmiers

Just thought i'd share with you my yummy cooking creations from this morning.
I won't take all the credit though.
Lorraine Pascale is one of my favourite pastry chefs, and while watching her show last night
(Lorraine Pascale's Last Minute Christmas)
I was inspired by her Mince Pie recipe.
Here's how mine turned out. I am rather pleased!

My Mince Pie Stars

These yummy delights are Palmiers, great for parties or an alternative for dipping in soup.
This recipe was taken from Lorraine's 'Baking Made Easy' Book.
Hopefully her new cookery book is waiting under my Christmas tree!

Sun Dried Tomato and Rosemary Palmiers

How delicious do they look!?
I guess you could make them with a variety of fillings, but this was the first time i'd made them. So maybe when i'm a bit more confident i'll try something new :)

These are suppose to be for christmas, but honestly?
I don't think they'll last that long! Hahaha xx

Advent Swaps and a Crochet Virgin

Another chilly morning in Oxford today
I can't believe it's Christmas in 6 days! Manic!
I've been meaning to update my blog with my recent advent swaps from my lovely twitter friend Judith
Here are the gifts from last week...

   

Aren't they all fabulous?
I also received 2 Cath Kidston booklets for Day 11 and 19 but i've lost the little tags.
I hope Judith likes her swap items, i've tried my best getting things that she said she likes and enjoys so hopefully i've done my bit :)

With Christmas round the corner, i thought i'd have a go at making some orange and cranberry decorations to hang on each of our doors.
I must say when they were cooking away they smelt delicious! I put them on the radiator for an extra day to make sure they were dry and attatched the cinnamon sticks i brought from a lovely little french market.

I am a Crochet virgin.
I've always wanted to learn and lots of people say it's easier than knitting (which i am a VERY basic knitter) So with my new crochet kit i got from my swap, and a massive book on crochet and knitting for my birthday, i got started. I found it hard learning from the book so turned to good old YouTube for help.
I found a great link to a lady in Australia that teaches how to make little crochet flowers..
For my first ever attempt, i am very pleased with it.
Not bad for my first go eh?

What do you think?

I think i'll turn it into a little brooch for my coat.
I can't believe how easy i found it, i think i'll definatley be sticking to crochet from now on!
Another little project i'm working on is a quilt for my sons 2nd birthday.
He is obsessed with 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' book, so i ordered some lovely fabric online and cut them up into patchwork squares. But i won't show you a picture just yet ;)

Anyway. Hope your all having a lovely christmas break, and all ready for the big day!
Love to you all, Jodi xx

Food Faces

My second post in 1 day!

Just wanted to share with you one of my 'Food Faces'

Finlay was brought a Food Face Plate from Habitat last year for christmas, and ever since i've been trying to come up with cool dinners that he will love to look at and eat!

I've been following a lovely blog by Mummy Cool who also makes food faces for her little boy.

This was a creation of mine i did yesterday...

Nacho King-Cole

Yummy Nachos with melted cheese and salsa, Mini Chicken and vegetable Fajhita and herby wedges.

What do you think?

Advent Swap Day 3 -8

Evening!
I know i said in my last post that i would blog every other day during the advent swap, but i have a stall at a school christmas fete tomorrow evening so i've been preparing for that.
But here are my lovely swap goodies from the lovely Judith...

How beautiful are they all!?
The sweets are half gone, there were more Reindeers but they've already been strung up ;) The bookmark is in my current read, the soap smells divine, decoration is on the tree!
I hope Judith likes the gifts i have sent/made for her. I will put a bunch of pictures together of Judiths gifts, i forgot to take pictures before i wrapped and sent them! Whoops!

Anyway i better get going, want to get some last minute stitching done before my stall tomorrow!
Hope your all having a lovely week!
Love to you all, Jodi xx

I'ma bad blogger :(

I have been a very bad blogger... My last post was nearly a month ago :(
BUT! I have been incredibly busy and i had a very bad virus that has been sucking the life out of me. Now i'm feeling much better and can start blogging again.
The reason i've been so busy as i have taken part in Hookin With Lala's Christmas Advent Swap. I was a little late putting my name down, but my lovely twitter friend Judith wanted to take part too so we paired up.
I received a lovely box of goodies, and here are my 2 first swap items...

The earrings are beautiful, and i plan to make lots of christmassy cakes, So the cupcake cases will come in very handy!
Really been looking forward to this swap, and i look forward to each days little suprises. Judith doesn't have a Blog and i forgot to take pictures of what i sent to her. So i will get some pictures and post them on the next blog post.

I can't believe its Christmas in 23 days!!
AHHHHHHHH! SO EXCTING :D

Finlay is extremely looking forward to it, we put all our decs and tree up on Tuesday and he loved it! I think it will be nicer for him this year as he understands it a bit more, last year he was just interested in the wrapping paper and boxes.

Anyway, i won't be blogging everyday. But i will put a picture from each day on every other post.
Hope your all having a lovely week, and have a great weekend!

Love to you all, Jodi xx

Craft Stall and Fireworks!

Today was the day of my second Craft stall, and i'm really pleased to say it went quite well!
It was only in a village hall and it wasn't incredibly busy but i did make a few sales.
A lovely lady had said her daughter in Washington DC has heard of my work, wether it's through my Blog or FB page and told her to check my stall out, i was very touched!
There was a range of stalls there, including a jewellery stall which was run by a very nice lady. I ended up buying a lovely pair of green drop earrings, she makes all the glass beads and stones herself. She's in the process of making a website so once it's up and running i'll put a link in my next post.
But here is a picture of my stall, i think it was safe to say i brought the right amount of stock with me...

Tonight we went to the Bonfire and Firework display in Stadhampton.
There was no fee to get in but they asked for a donation, i was very impressed! Food wasn't too expensive either (which is rare!) absolute nightmare getting out of the carpark though!
Didn't take too many pictures, as i forgot to charge my camera... "/

Finlay enjoying the fireworks :)

Did any of you guys go to a firework display? I used to HATE fireworks when i was little, but now i have a little boy myself, i put on a brave face and grin and bare it.
Anyway, i can't really write about what i've been making as i'm taking part in the christmas swap. So it's all hush hush until christmas time.

Hope you have all had a lovely week, and have a great weekend!
Love to you all, Jodi xx

New items, Christmas fete and more...

Hello everyone
I'm very sorry i've been neglecting my Blog recently, but i was away on holiday for a week, and now the family (including me) has the flu.
I have managed however to create some new items to sell on my facebook page and at craft fairs.
What do you think to these hanging Apple decorations?
Perfect gift for a teacher or lover of fruit!

Another item, that was made earlier this morning...
Baby taggie comforter, ideal as a new baby gift or just to spoil your little one! Don't worry, we all do it!
I have some fabric on order at the moment, so there will be some 'girly' ones soon :)

After the disaster that was my first craft fair, and all your lovely comments of support. I have managed to get a stall at a Christmas Fete at Pegasus School in Oxford, my auntie works there which is also a bonus as she says it gets incredibly busy!
I can't show you all the items i have been making as some of them are part of my 2 christmas swaps i'm taking part in. But here are some lovely little decorations...

How cute are they!?

AND....
They are as cheap as chips! I'm selling them for just £2.50 each!!
The little reindeers come in either red or white, and are ready to hang (comes with twine)
My gingerbread men sold so quickly, so i've got some on order and just waiting for the postie to deliver them. Hopefully i'll have some left to actually sell at the stall!

Anyway, i better go. Little man is being very clingy at the moment, and wants a cuddle.
Hope your all having a fabulous half-term week, got any plans?

Love to you all, Jodi xx