Oodles and Perchik

I thought I'd introduce you to two old buddies of mine,

Oodles and Perchik.

Enjoy!

Time flies

I thought I'd let you see another of my birdy brooches.

This one's already sold. I think I'll need to make some more soon.

Friday Already!

I've still been busy packaging my rose earrings.

I just love these little aluminium tins I got a hold of.

So, Friday already, and as usual I haven't done half the things

I'd hoped. Still, my challah bread is baking in the oven

with the promise of a restful day ahead.

Here is my easy bread machine Challah recipe

Sorry it's in metric, and is not particularly accurate,

but that's what I use here! It's my own recipe I have adapted

from a variety of recipes. I always look for the easy options!

2 eggs

a splash of milk

enough lukewarm water to make the eggs and milk up to 300ml

520g of strong white bread flour

I sachet of easy yeast - suitable for bread machines

A half teaspoon of sea salt

and two tablespoons of butter

2 tablespoons of honey

(a pinch of saffron if I have any)

I bung the lot in the machine - liquids first -with the saffron,

then the dry ingredients. Then I use the dough setting.

I always like to check once it has started mixing to make sure

the dough looks moist enough. If it doesn't, I just start the machine

off again and add another splash of milk. Once it has risen, I knead

again and, if I am feeling patient, I divide into four bits, roll them

into sausage shapes,and plait them together. Other times I just

stick it in a round tin.Sometimes I glaze with an egg

and add poppy seeds, and sometimes I don't.

Either way, it tastes delicious!

I bake for 30 minutes in a preheated oven at 180 degrees celsius.

I believe the same dough is good for cinnamon rolls.

I'd been wondering how to package this little birdy brooch for a while,

then I realised that I could adapt my new earring cards perfectly.

He looks quite happy perching here don't you think?

Looking Rosey

This morning, I glued the backs onto the polymer clay earrings

I made while Gabriella napped yesterday. Now all I need to do

is wait for the epoxy resin

to harden properly, and then package them nicely.

I'm quite pleased with how they turned out.

It's been a long while since I did a batch of rose earrings -

about 18 years to be precise!

I used to sell these to a shop in Edinburgh.

This time I am going to put them in my Etsy shop.

I guess I better get started on the

pillow boxes while the little one naps today.

Polymer Clay Day

To be honest, I'd much rather go out and pull up weeds today,

but the back is feeling a bit iffy, so while Gabsy goes for her nap,

I shall get out the polymer clay and make some earrings.

Above is a brooch I made for a friend who has recently

become a great grandmother. The three birds and the egg

are to represent the four generations of women.

I used gold coloured primo, and pearlex powders.

It looks better in real life, the camera flash loses some detail.

Owl brooch

This is snowy, the little owl pin.

I really like the way his expression turned out.

I've put him for sale in my Etsy shop.

Here's a little pin I made a while ago.

I used scraps of felt, seed beads and embroidery floss.

He's already sold and flown the Atlantic.

I hope he and his little mouse friend are happy !

Looking for inspiration

I just love to draw chickens.
These are a some of my dear friend Annie's chooks.
They are adorable.

Here is a watercolour I did a while ago from a photo.

To get this blog going, I shall continue

to post some past creative efforts.

So, watch this space !

Bubble Trouble !

Before I even get started on posting,

this is my excuse for not getting much done.

Here is my adorable little girl Gabriella -

as photographed by her older sister Naomi (15)