QUINTESSENTIALLY ENGLISH

I have recently discovered a beautiful little village ~ Great Tew ~ nestled in the Cotswolds just 4 miles outside Chipping Norton.

If you are looking to find the charm of old England then this is the place for you, it simple oozes all that is good and traditional about our beautiful country.

Narrow country lanes are adorned with quaint 17th century chocolate box thatched cottages.  However, the best find for me was Sweet Peas a florist and tea shop!

This shop seemed to be the heart of the village.  You are greeted with a warm welcome from the owner, there is a choice of seating inside or out and a selection of coffees, teas and cakes to choose from.

Once refreshed you can browse the wonderful selection of gifts, cards, flowers, breads and even have a sandwich made for you.

It was a step back in time to a slower more civilised pace of life where people had time for you and even trusted villagers to return later to pay for their bread!

Oh how I wish I could live in Great Tew.............

To find out more visit http://www.greattewvillage.co.uk/

GREAT DAY OUT

On Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th September we can be found selling our signature range of candles and simply gorgeous candle holders in the Eden Gifts & Crafts marquee stand 364 situated in Avenue F at The Royal Berkshire Show on the Newbury Showground.

I have added some stunning Christmas tea light holders, beaded garlands to twirl around my candles or place in the bottom of a storm vase, decorative silver hearts, white ribbed hearts and some beautiful clear hearts to our selection too!

Our Christmas fragrance for this year is Frankincense and Myrrh ~ it proved a enormous hit at the Henley Show last weekend so I have been busy at the melting pot making more festive candles ...

The show is a real treat for all the family ~ take a look on
http://www.newburyshowground.co.uk/show-2011

and it is a perfect opportunity to start the Christmas shopping and purchase a unique gift for a loved one.

Look forward to seeing you all!

PERFECT WEEK......



I'm soo excited.... I've just found out it is NATIONAL CUPCAKE WEEK!  The perfect excuse to try a different cupcake everyday.....actually, the week hopes to get you and I not just eating cupcakes but baking them too!

It's not just making the cupcakes that can give so much pleasure it's the decorating of them too.  You can let your creative juices flow when you pipe on your butter cream or frosting and choose from a wide variety of dusting powders, edible glitter, flowers and coloured sugars that are available at most supermarkets and specialised cake decorating sites online.

Then there are the beautiful wrappers that snuggle around the cupcakes and of course the stunning cake stands that you can display the finished pieces of artwork on....

So don't go out and buy cupcakes today, stay inside and dig out the mixing bowl and get creative. 

If you need a little help, why not try Rachel Allen's Lemon Cupcakes...

MAKES 12 CUPCAKES

INGREDIENTS

• 125g butter, softened
• 175g caster sugar
• Finely grated zest 1/2 large lemon (keeping the zest of the remaining half for the lemon icing)
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 150g plain flour
• 1/4tsp baking powder

FOR THE LEMON BUTTER ICING

• 75g butter, softened
• 125g icing sugar, sifted
• Finely grated zest of 1/2 large lemon
• 1-2tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 12 crystallised flowers, optional

METHOD

1.  Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4. Line a 12-hole cake tin with 12 paper cases. Cream the butter in a large bowl or in a food mixer until soft. Add the sugar and grated lemon zest and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.

2.  Gradually add the beaten eggs, then sift in the flour and baking powder and fold into the mixture. Alternatively, whizz all the ingredients together in a food mixer.

3.  Divide the mixture between the paper cases and bake for 7-10 minutes, until risen and golden. When cooked, the top of each cake should be slightly springy to the touch. Remove from the tin and place on a wire rack to cool before you ice them.

4.  To make the icing, cream the butter in a bowl with a wooden spoon or hand-held electric beater until soft. Add the icing sugar and beat into the butter, along with the lemon zest and enough lemon juice to soften the icing to a spreadable consistency.

5.  When the cupcakes are cool, spread a heaped teaspoon of lemon butter icing over the top of each one. Decorate with the crystallised flowers, if using.

 

Happy baking!  Pop by and let me know what you decide to make....

CUTE MUGS

I think you are all aware that I am a great fan of Susie Watson Designs.  I was very excited when I discovered she had added some new designs to her wonderful range of pottery, the animal magic range is so cute.

My favourites are Monty & Maisy and Boris.... that's probably because I'm mad about dogs!

   

Monty & Maisy straight mug £15.75



Small Boris Mug £13.50
Both photographs courtesy of http://www.susiewatsondesigns.co.uk/

 
I think these mugs would be a welcome addition to my collection and would look great displayed on my dresser ~ may need to pop to the gorgeous shop in Marlborough!

NATIONAL WOOL WEEK

Today is the start of National Wool Week 5th - 11th September

The campaign for wool was started in 2008 by the Prince of Wales with the idea to promote and champion wool and help reinvigorate the global wool industry.

So after visiting the Autumn Fair at the NEC in Birmingham yesterday, I thought I would do my bit to help those working with this great natural product and introduce you to a company I discovered.

Bronte (www.brontebydesign.co.uk) is an established British company with a wide range of beautiful products ~

Like this throw in soft Merino Lambswool ~





And these decorative and practical doorstops ~

And these gorgeous pure alpaca throws ~

All photographs courtesy of brontebydesign.co.uk


Well I will do my best this week to help the wool indusrty, my sofa would look great with a fabulous woollen throw draped over it ~ just need to decide on the colour, oh and how many matching cushions I need!

 

A LOCAL FIND

I consider myself very lucky to live in a beautiful part of the country between Windsor and Marlow on the river Thames.  I am surrounded by National Trust Land and farmland and I can often be found walking our lovely dog Harry when I am not making candles!

A new cafe at Stubbings Nursery has proved a big hit with me as it means I can combine two of my favourite things - dog walking and eating cake!





Cafe situated in the glass house overlooking 18th century walled garden
Stubbings Estate, Henley Road, SL6 6QL

  The cafe has been open for a month and I am already a frequent visitor, the cappuccino is delicious and I am slowly working my way through an extensive selection of cakes.  The staff are friendly and no-one complains about you sitting there for sometime taking in the fragrant aromas from the Richard Elder floral design studio.

Dog walkers are welcomed and there are plenty of water bowls for thirsty dogs. The walk back home will burn off the calories so no need to feel guilty about consuming that large slice of coffee and walnut cake.....