Sun rises

I had a week full of working on projects, so I was up at about 6 (hungover or not... #proud) everyday. 

There were a lot of beautiful sunrises, because it was a beautiful week of weather... of course it was; I had work to do.

Woodland adventures

I have the luck to be able to walk a gorgeous dog every saturday. Today was sunny so I took a LOT of photos...

Garden is coming into bloom. Super happy!

Gem, the wonderful dog.

Gluten free fruit cake and SNOW

We didn't get any snow in plymouth, so we went to dartmoor to find some....

And I made that gluten free cake. It was a bit dense, and sour (since I did a lemon drizzle topping)

Recipe:

1. Soak 500g of dried fruit (mix of whatever you like - I had apricots, sultanas, peel, dried raspberries, currents) in a big bowl with 600ml of boiling water and 3 tea bags. I used 2 PG tips and 1 oolong tea bag.
2. Leave overnight. Go to the pub, don't worry about baking hungover; it's easy as hell, go have some fun.
3. In the morning, remove the tea bags, and mix in 200g of sugar. I used granulated because I am poor.
4. Crack an egg in, and mix.
5. Spice it up with whatever you have in the kitchen. My weapons of choice were cinnamon and lemon rind.
6. Mix in 250g of gluten free flour. I didn't see the need to sift.
7. Bake at 170 C for about an hour. Test its 'done-ness' by inserting a metal skewer/knife and see if it comes out clean.
8. Give it 5 in the tin, but while it is warm, stab it a fair amount of times, then drizzle on the icing - juice of one lemon mixed with about 100g of granulated sugar. Using granulated gives it a great crunch. 

Points:
Housemate envy: 6/10 (There isn't any left, but that might have been because there was a lot of us, and the snow makes you want to eat lots of cake. People thought it was an interesting thing - lots of questions)
Presentation points: 8/10 (Forgot to take a bloody pic of it whole. It was a bunt cake, which makes cake easier for picnics as there's no wispy bit in the middle to crumble.)
Yummy points: 7/10 (It's hard to judge as it was a bloody weird cake. But I had a fair bit as it was good enough for me.)


I also went to Exeter last night to see my friend Mary play, which was fab.

Thar be snow!

Had a play with photoshop to collage this great jump...

...and this one.

find out more on http://wordsbymaryjane.wordpress.com/

Stockholm Photos

I got my film back from the processors!!! YES!!! I think I used a 400??  B&W film. Never been so nervous to pick up a developed film!

Took photos of the prints on another camera - I apologise for this; the prints are better in real life! Also - sorry for the bad White Balance on a few!

First successful film!

I've been testing my cameras one by one, and, folks, we have our first winner!
Here are some of the shots (any blurryness is from my phone camera, not the photos them self - They are crisp as!)

I'm off to Stockholm tomorrow, so I'm taking the camera that gave me these beauties (plus digitals for safety!), so make sure to check them out in a week or so!

x

Appologies

Hello neglected blog, I am sorry I have been ignoring you; I have been busy knitting hard and making various travel cases and covers for tickets.... however, I am leaving in  a few hours and I haven't any time to upload pictures!!
So when I get back from holiday number uno, I will have pictures of:

•  my ever growing pile of knitted squares (I am making a 'uni' blanket of LOTS of 15cm square samplers)
• My awesome travel diary cover
• A matching passport/ ticket/ map wallet
• a customised 'bra bank' (clearly not with me modelling it - ewww) 
• Whatever craftiness/ photography magic I come up with in the next few weeks 

As always, 

Lots of love and thank you for reading!!! Off to finish packing and panicking about how much I should/shouldn't be taking! (without exaggeration, I am packing very light clothes wise, and seriously half of my luggage is wool and knitting patterns. Sad isn't it?)

Abi

xxx

PS. Whilst I am away - pretty please have a look at my friend Lily's Blog It's so full of inspiring craftiness and really motivates me to not put off my projects, but just get on with it!!

Auction haul!

I went with my mum and brother to Lewes auction yesterday, and I seem to have caught the auction bug! Must remember that I don't need antiques!
I managed to become the happy owner of a lawnmower box of cameras. As I was looking at a warthog head (as you do) Cameron (my brother) rushed over and told me that I had to look at this box under a table. So glad he did, because what I found was lot 153.... and it was love at first sight.

mmmmm

My Pentax K10's long lost grandpa

My absolute favourite

consul box camera.



All the lovelies - 28 in total. 

If I am honest, it was a bit of an action of heart rather than head - I'm supposed to be saving for Europe. However, at £72.60, I think you'll agree that this was a positive steal - even with some duds in there. It makes the cameras average out at £2.60 each. I'm a happy bunny. There were also a few light meters, lenses, filters, tripods, new 1980s opera glasses and (not pictured) a photoschneidemaschine - which I can only imagine is a kind of guillotine? However it has a serrated edge - so if anyone could shed light as to why that would ever be a good idea, that would be great!
I have discussed creating a dark room in our garage with my mum... only problem is I am not a photographer, I did not take photography at college.
I have no idea what I am doing.
Good job then, that I like the look of cameras. Because they are all film, and I haven't a clue. Time to hit the books I think!

We also bullied my mother into buying an oil of a clipper which the auction room decided was horrible. Cam and I disagreed and got it for £6 plus buyers premium. I would have cried my heart out if it was my work that received so much negativity.
Just because we can, our plan is to paint a Jolly Rodger on, paint the sailors to be little Jack Sparrows, 'rip' the sails a bit and send it to the french lake house. All in good fun!

measures 51" by 54".... it was fun getting it in the car.

See the little striped sailors?

Anyway that's enough for now! Off to clean, knit and read - classic teenage activities.