Busy Week

This week has been productive we have finally found a house to move to which is big enough for both myself and my partner to work from home, It also has enough room for 2 8 year old boys and a silly dog with no spacial awareness and a curious growing bunny. We will also have enough room for visitors to stay and enough space downstairs to entertain, which will really help us get used to our new town. I am getting very excited for January when fingers crossed we will be fully settled.

We have decorated our tree in our very small lounge and sent our letters to santa.

I have set up my little unit in Chic & Shabby selling little knitted bits if you are in the Gainsborough area pop over and have a look. I have also almost rest up my Etsy shop and my Facebook page.

Here is a small selection of the scarves I have on sale.

We have both been derailed from our productivity by a hideous cold which has knocked us both off our feet this week. to remedy this I have made lots of wholesome soups full of vegetables and chicken stock. This has definitely been our favourite:

 https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/236861261630227603/ 

It is fantastic.  Warm and soothing  just like a good soup should be. I did kick it up a notch and added birdseye chilli  to help us shift our colds.

new starts again

So many things have changed since I last blogged. I have separated from my husband, started new relationship and become an almost step parent to 8 year old twins. I also have given up my job and moved to Gainsborough within the last couple of weeks. Moving out of my home of 14 years and moving all my pretty things and accumulated belongings has been one of the toughest things I have ever done but it will all be worth it in the end.

My plan is to get back to crafting on a more productive basis now I have time to concentrate on new products and ideas. So stay in touch and I will keep you updated.

So I have been very poorly with my back a bit down and lost my get up and go. Now it is back partly due to me being off the painkillers and partly due to my new nephew, I say new but he is two next month and he is adorable but I can say that as his only Aunt. I have also become addicted to pinterest where at this exact moment I have 4993 pins pinned to my folders. Pop over have a look: http://gb.pinterest.com/lupincottage/
I have been trying to get more organised with my pinning checking links work and only pinning recipes I am going to use currently this is my most popular pin  http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/236861261625993344/

I have also just had a birthday myself  which has also helped get my crafting mojo back.It was time I had my closest friends round for cake and Prosecco.  http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/236861261626864653/
http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/236861261626880379/
http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/236861261626949238/
and one Prosecco Cocktail http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/236861261626872229/

Next time I post I will have pictures.

Christmas is coming

Yet again I have been lax in blogging. My back is still poorly but is getting better slowly. I'm still off work so have spent lots of time crafting when not doing my physio. Both my best work friend and my brothers wife are expecting so I've been knitting lots of baby clothes and as everyone wants a surprise so far I've been knitting lots of white things as requested but  leaving the buttons until the new people have arrived.

I'm also trying desperately to stop smoking which has also improved my crafting speed by making Christmas trees from unwanted books. It is quite time consuming but its keeping my hands busy.

Last Christmas I was in hospital so this Christmas we are going all out. This tree was taken last December in the period between my disectomy and getting my infection. It doesn't look like we stand much chance of white Christmas this year if today's temperature is anything to go by but I can hope.

  

And here's Tiff all dressed up for Christmas two years ago.

Keeping busy

hanging cupcakes for sale at http://www.hackwoodfarm.com/

This week has been a thinking and designing week.I've been knitting up samples and checking I've all I need in my stash without having to buy any new yarn. Which I have but if I do see some wool I like in the next few weeks at a reasonable price locally I wouldn't say no, as I'm short of wool that felts up nicely.

I've moved back home after almost 3 weeks as a guest at my parents, as Mr LCD is back from seeing his mum with about three kilos of peppers from his mums garden. I may slow roast see this recipe, http://www.wisegeek.com/how-can-i-make-roasted-peppers.htm or  http://www.squidoo.com/RoastedRedPeppers I'll have ago this week in between new physio exercises classes, catching up with the news from work, the dentist, counselling, starting Tai chi from my new DVD from amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Element-Tai-Chi-Beginners-DVD/dp/B002AFPZLW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1313359195&sr=8-2  , which has been recommended by the pain clinic as it gently brings back muscle strength in your core and finally knitting projects. 

It's good to have him back as he can take me to my appointments rather than my Dad  who I'm sure was getting fed up with ferrying me around, I'm still not driving. As I do nest all over the house I think Mum was ready for me to go, but I have left my knitting machine and a box full of yarn there as I will be going back for the night one day next week.

I've been working on some new packaging for my cupcakes and new tags for everything else so I've a cohesive collection which all works together.Everything seems to take so much time but it is satisfying when things get finished. 

 

Cupcakes not for sale yet

Tidying

I didn't realise how out of touch I've been with the blogespeare I've deleted all the old links that don't work. I'm kind of glad it wasn't just me that had neglected my blog., as 10 weeks in hospital will confirm but I do wonder where everyone else has gone.

I'll have to do some exploring after I've finished knitting up some c trees. Still not saying that word. I have knitted up thirty holly leaves today while watching Trollied which is on sky one on a Thursday nights at nine if you've not yet set your cable or sky recorder do it now it did make me laugh out loud which I don't do very often at the moment (it's the medication).

If you can recommend any sites let me know.

I have also baked today:

Lemon curd cupcakes:

Make a basic sponge recipe, if you normally add milk to your mix don't, as the base needs to be quite firm I doubled Nigella's recipe for cupcakes from the domestic goddess. http://www.nigella.com/books/view/how-to-be-a-domestic-goddess-12 . .Using a desert spoon  use half the mixture to fill 24 muffin tins/silicone molds. Then put a tea spoon of lemon curd either home made or shop bought in the center of each cake then using the remaining mixture cover up the lemon curd. Bake at 200c for 15/20 minutes. Try not to eat straight away as the lemon curd gets quite hot, hence the burn on the roof of my mouth. No pictures yet again as my brother visited.

Egg Tea cosie and egg cosy's available from http://www.hackwoodfarm.com/

What I've been up to during the first week of August

I boxed up some cherry cupcakes for sale.

I helped a elderly neighbour walk her equally elderly King Charles spaniels.

I cuddled my brothers dog while she tried to eat my wool for a new project, mohair hats and mice anyone?

I knitted up lots of red wool to make stockings, not that I'm allowed to say the C word yet, but you have to plan ahead.

Found some baby hats stored away in my bedroom.

Had some physio and I've been given new exercises, now I'm feeling the pain.

Reduced some of my medication.  

Visited Hackwood Farm to reorganise my stall and check sales.

Following on from last week this week I have made an Orange meringue pie using store bought puff pastry, I know its lazy but I still can not stand for long periods. To make one yourself this is what I did, dry bake the pastry for about 20 mins at 180c (I'll let you do your own conversions)in the pie dish of your own choosing,covering the edges with foil and filling the case with baking beans(or dried peas in this case). Then the baking beans were emptied out and I placed it back in the oven for 3-5 more minutes to help dry out the base (no soggy pastry here.) Then using one jar of the orange curd I filled the case and then covered it with half the amount of meringue from the last post. I then sprinkles with icing sugar and put in the oven until the meringue started to go golden. It was served with natural yogurt as my Dad does not like his desserts too sweet. However I would appreciate it if you go mad as cream, fromage frais or ice-cream all blend with the flavours well. Alas I have no pictures as I was not quick enough to take a picture before it all disappeared.

I also knitted this blanket/throw from 100% wool the main panels were sourced from a lovely knitting shop at Breedon on the Hill nurseries. The hand knitted holey panels used up the remainder of the wool from my staithes holiday. I'm trying to talk my husband into visiting during the next bank holiday but he does not love North Yorkshire as much as I do and he won't even do the Dracula experience with me at Whitby which I think is just mean.

I have also sat and watched a few sunsets from Mum and Dad's back garden they really have the most spectacular view.  Especially as the sun goes down and the hares are hoping accross the field and the bats start coming out to play