Elderflower Cordial

What a lovely weekend it has been. The weather has been glorious and it has been ideal for collecting the Elderflower heads I needed for Cordial. So off we went to collect them. Lily wandered around swinging the basket and counting how many flower heads I had put in. Then it was back home to make the cordial.

Elderflower Cordial Recipe

• 30 large Elderflower heads
• 1.5L (2 3/4 pints) water
• 1.5kg granulated sugar
• 70g (2 1/5 oz) citric acid (available from chemists)
• 1/2 Campden tablet (available from home brew shops) 
• 3 Lemons (sliced)
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• Pick 30 good sized heads with the flowers fully open.
• Rinse the Elderflowers briefly  in cold water to remove any bugs, shake off excess water and allow to dry on a tea towel.
• Boil 1.5L (2 3/4 pints) water pour into a large bowl and add the sugar stir until dissolved .
• Allow to cool slightly then add the Lemons, citric acid and Elderflowers. Stir and cover loosely with a tea towel.
• Leave to stand in a cool place for five days, stirring twice daily.
• Strain the liquid through a sterilised  muslin cloth laid in a colander, into a large bowl. 
• Crush half a Campden tablet and dissolve in 2tbsp of water, stir into the cordial this helps the cordial to last up to 1 year.
• Pour the cordial into clean, sterilised bottles, seal them with a tight-fitting cap then label. 
• The cordial is ready to use straight away just dilute to taste with water.

The aroma in the kitchen is heady with the smell of  Elderflowers. I love the smell although it is usually at the end of May rather than the beginning of July. Better late than never though.

Melanie xxx

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An Early Morning Sky

I was taking my sister to the airport this morning and this is the amazing sunrise at 4.30am

I am off to Worcestershire this afternoon to meet up with some fellow Bloggers arranged by  Gilly @ Gilly Makes. I'm so looking forward to it.  Will post more on that tomorrow. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs Melanie xxx

It's All Coming Up Roses

I am glad to say summer is happening in the garden at last. Well a few of the plants are flowering anyway.

This is the latest I can ever remember that the garden has started blooming.

I love roses but I have to grow them in pots as the back garden is totally paved. I don't think I do to badly though I just can't have all the plants I want. :(

These are Lily's plant on the veranda of her little Summer House. She picks them all herself and plants them, water and feeds them. A budding Charlie Dimmock I think. She loves being out in the garden but isn't too keen on getting her hands dirty, so she has bought herself some gardening gloves from Laura Ashley. 

The shady corner of the patio.

Hostas near the Kitchen door

Let's hope the sun keeps shining and the rest of the garden bursts into flower very soon.

Everything is very green but a bit of colour would be nice. 

I hope you are all having a lovely week.

Melanie xxx

Secret Tote Bag Swap

Secret Tote Bag Swap

It's finished!

One of the swaps I am participating  in is Lia's Secret Tote Bag Swap the bag is now done and ready to post (Job #1 tomorrow )

I have enjoyed making it and wouldn't mind keeping it myself, but sadly it must go to it's new home.

My first try at a concealed zip pocket. Not too bad for a first try. 

I love the buttons. I think I may have to buy some more of those they are so cute.

I hope my partner likes it. 

Better get my nose back to the grindstone now.

Happy Stitching 

Melanie xxx

Bloglovin

I'm moving to Bloglovin :)

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5695755/?claim=3gbw7h2vcyw">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Melanie xxx

Sewing Gifts

Here is another thread catcher. I made this one for my friend Pat as she was having issues with the one she had. She liked this one so that was good (phew).....

I loved making this house needlecase for Loretta. 

I used beads for the flowers on the vines. I think I will be making some more for my gift basket. Maybe even one for myself.

Home Sweet Home Swap

I took part in the Home Sweet Home swap and this is what I received from Vicky I loved the extra gifts and the House ornament was so cute. Thank you Vicky.

I think I will be putting this in my hall. I love the colours she has used.

I was given Loretta as a partner and this is the cushion I sent

I also sent Loretta embroidery scissors, house buttons, threads, Aida band, lilac fabric and a house needle case.

 

Hugs Melanie xxx

Christmas Quilt Along

When I joined the CQA I thought I would be able to get alot more done than this, but Jarad and Lily came down with DV bug so that put pay to my sewing. At least I got some of it cut out and I need to get a few more fabrics anyway.

I couldn't find a pattern that I liked so I designed this one. I'm not sure what it is going to be runner or wall hanging so we'll have to see how it develops.

I hope you all had a good weekend.

Hugs Melanie xxx

FNwF

This is the result of my Friday night's sewing. I made this needle case. It's going to go into my gift box. I'm not sure who is going to receive it though.

I've also decided to join in with the Christmas Quilt Along over at Needle,Thread, Happiness

The Challenge

 

Make a quilt on the theme of Christmas without using the colours red or green.

The small print:

·         The quilt may be any style, as long as it has two layers of fabric enclosing wadding, secured by quilting or tying

 

·         It may be any shape, but must measure no more than 96” around the outside edges.  ie, it could be a square 24” x 24”, a rectangle  8” x  40”, a triangle measuring 36” on each side,  a circle with a diameter of 30”, or any other shape you can think of, as long as the total outside edges do not add up to more than 96”

 

I've been rummaging through my Christmas fabrics it looks like its going to be blue and white as almost all my other fabrics have red or green in them. 

Well I had better get back to it as I haven't decided what to do yet.

FNWF

It's that time of the month again. I will be joining in with Friday Night with Friends, so why not pop over to Cheryls blog and join us.

Happy Stitching.

Melanie xxx

Santa Sack Swap 2013

I hope you have all had a good week. 

Just a quick post to  let you know Cheryll over at Gone Stitchin is hosting the Santa Sack Swap again this year , its's an International swap so why not pop over and join in the fun.

It was my first time last year and it was so much fun. I couldn't wait for the sign up this year, and to see who I'll paired up with.

Hugs Melanie xxx