Sunday, 23 November 2014

My Week

It has been a typical spring week, one day a taste of summer and the next a reminder of winter.  One thing I love about spring is the elderflower trees in blossom.  Elderflower cordial making is the top of list.  I love it with its musky flavour.  I have never made elderberry cordial, I mean to but the birds get the berries before I do.  May be I will have to camp beside the tree!



This week I have been busy with the blanket for my niece it has to be finished before Thursday!!!  I am busy sewing it up, hopefully tomorrow I can start on the border.  However I have done some other crochet to lighten the load.  One was a little cowl, as it still can be cold in the early morning when I leave the house and I wanted something to keep my neck warm.


I used V stitch it was super quick to do an hour or so.  I have worn it most mornings, and soon as it is warm enough I slip it off and put it in my bag.


Pretty colours!

I have also done some work on my Painted Rose cushion and it is now ready to sew to the back


I am using the curtain material leftover from when I made new ones earlier in the year.  I just love this pattern from Cherry Heart.  I cant wait to get started on the blanket.  But it will have to wait as I have other projects that require my attention.

For a change I decided to try my hand at making embroidered brooches.  I had seen some on Pinterest and thought they would make great gifts.
So here is my first attempt.


Think I will keep this one for myself as it has a few errors in it!  But I love it anyway.

So that has been my week, I will leave you with my recipe for Elderberry cordial.

Elderflower Cordial

Ingredients

25 - 30 elderflower heads
1.7litres/3 pints boiling water
900g/2lb caster sugar
50g/2oz citric acid
3 lemons, sliced

Preparation method

Gently rinse over the elderflowers to remove any dirt or little creatures.
Pour the boiling water over the sugar in a very large mixing bowl. Stir well and leave to cool.
Add the citric acid, the orange and lemon slices, and then the flowers.
Leave in a cool place for 24 hours, stirring occasionally.
Strain through some muslin and transfer to sterilised bottles.

Thanks for visiting and have a great week.



18 comments:

  1. Lovely covl and brooch,very pretty colors!
    Great granny squares for cushion!
    Happy week.:*

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  2. A busy week with beautiful projects. The cowl is a delight and the brooch stunning, they really would make lovely gifts.

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  3. I have always fancied making elderflower cordial too so I hope you manage to make yours and it turns out ok thanks for the recipe, I love your brooch it's lovely and your cowl looks lovely and warm, hope you're having a great weekend. :) xxx

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    1. Thank you Linda, the elderflower cordial turned out wonderful, making a second batch for Christmas gifts tomorrow. Saw a recipe with some orange slicesas well as the lemon slices so thought I would try that. Have a good week.

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  4. I love working with felt, it is about as addictive as crocheting!!! As Christmas approaches a tug-of-war erupts within me .... I have all these crochet projects to complete ... but Oh dear, I would love to get my felt out and make a few new ornaments for the tree .... but maybe should just finish this square first ... and so it goes on!!!!! xPat

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    1. Thanks Pat, I am becoming addicted to felt as well. Somehow I can home from town with a collection of coloured squares, yummy colours they are a mix of bamboo and wool. Zana.

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  5. Beautiful creations !!! Love your brooch !!! And your cowl !!!
    Idon't have elderflowers in my garden...I had tried to find one but it's not a species that we usually heve around here...
    Have a great week !
    Anna
    excuse any english mistake...

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  6. I have my beady eyes on that pattern but must concentrate on my sewing for a week or two, then I have the wool for 2 more blankets. O h My, I need to grow another pair of hands.

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    1. Thanks Pam, I need another pair of hands or more hours in the day too.

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  7. So many pretty things, especially your brooch!! xx

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  8. Hi Zana - I have nominated you for a Liebster Award. Please pop over to my blog to take a look. Regards, Zelna

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  9. Ile kolorów ile pomysłów ! Pozdrawiam !

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  10. Oh homemade elderflower drink! Few things that beats that! My friend and I used to make it in her parents basement when I lived in Sweden. Reminds me of happy days! Anna x

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  12. Beautiful creations, Zana! Lovely colors too!
    I wish you and family a Merry Christmas!
    Hugs from Portugal,
    Ana Love Craft
    www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

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  13. Hi! I just wanted to let you know that your shawl was the most popular entry at Link Your Stuff in the month of June. You can read all about it here: http://annemarieshaakblog.blogspot.nl/2014/12/link-your-stuff-2014.html
    Wishing you all the best for the new year and lots of creativity!
    Best wishes, Annemarie

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Diversions

Not a lot of crochet has been done this past week.  I have been lured away from it by the garden and the urge to do spring cleaning, which i...