Baby Boy Hat

Recently, a friend gave birth to a little boy, a perfect excuse to use my crochet skills to make a present, although I have to say I always find it harder to find a nice pattern for a boy that doesn't end up looking a bit lacy and girly. So I thought I'd try my hand at a bear hat. This pattern is available for free at the blog of a very talented hooker - owlishly
and lets face it, what newborn doesn't look cute with teddy bear ears?

Daily Bread

If I had more time in the day or/and was better organised, one thing I truely wish I could achieve would be to bake a nice fresh crusty loaf of bread everyday, but for now I have to settle with it being either a weekend treat or a packed lunch emergency at 8pm the night before.

The loaves above were made using 2 part strong white to 1 part wholegrain with the added loveliness of date syrup and pumpkin seeds - they didn't last long, but long enough to give me that smug glow of feeling like a domestic goddess, for half an hour at least...

Lisa Hannigan

Colour, music, craft........... If someone adds cake this website will become my personal web heaven.

Packing Heat

I wonder if I can claim my recent little creations are part of our Renewal theme? A pair of husband's old jeans, some remnants from curtains and the legs from daughter's old bootcut trousers have been most helpful in offering themselves to be reborn as heat packs filled with grains of cheapo rice doused in Lavender oil. The packs are now ready to begin their new lives; they'll be gifted away - according to my diary it's officially birthday season now - and then occasionally stuck in the microwave for 2 minutes before lying on an aching muscle or warming chilly sheets. Perfect on the lower back after a bit of springtime weed pulling?