A new Felted bag and good news on the Orla Kiely mugs

This is a bag I have been working on for many months. I lost interest in it and then suddenly got going and it's almost done. I just have to make the handles and an inside pocket.

This is before felting in the washing machine

Front view

I needle felted some small flowers onto the back, just to give it a different detail to the front.

I bought some felting wool in a colour that is quite close to the deep aqua to make the handles with. You can see a little chain of it I tried out next to the needle felted flower.   I should have it finished in the New Year.

Orla Kiely mugs update

I am delighted to report that my mugs have been replaced (see my allotment blog for full details)  and that apparently the company that make the mugs for Orla Kiely had a batch that weren't glazed properly, so I guess mine were from that batch.  That makes sense of the fact that the latest one bought from John Lewis recently hasn't stained at all, but the ones bought earlier in the year elsewhere had. The mug company were so generous as I got more than I already had replaced.  Fantastic customer service ! I am so pleased.

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND A HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

M XX

Does anyone have a problem with Orla Kiely mugs?

This is a copy of the post from my Allotment blog as I know some readers only see this blog, so I wanted to put it here too, apologies to anyone that reads the other blog and sees this again.

I have just e-mailed Orla Kiely customer services as I can't be the only one who has a problem with their beautiful and very expensive mugs ! the problem is the quality of the bone china mugs they use. Let me explain ! they stain so badly and even the dishwasher doesn't move the stains. I have resorted to using a kitchen spray that has added bleach, which I know wont be doing any good whatsoever to the long term life of the mugs, but I'm desperate. I have even used a teapot rather than putting the teabag directly in the mugs, but that didn't work either.

I have other bone china mugs that cost half the price and they never stain, so this is very annoying especially as they cost £8.50 each. What an expensive mistake !! I realise that you pay for the design, but I expect quality as well for that money !! OK moan over, and I am waiting for their reply. In the meantime does anyone else have these mugs ?? and do you have the same problem.

I feel better now I've aired that !  If we don't complain about these things to companies they get away with rubbish goods ! and we mugs ( pun intended) pay the price !

M x

And the WINNER is .......

http://mylottieheaven.blogspot.com/2011/11/and-winner-is.html

I had a friend pick the winner. (see allotment blog link )

Last few days to enter the book giveaway

We now have 17 names down for the giveaway, so I thought that seeing as I did say that as soon as I have enough interest that I'd do the draw. So I am going to get a friend to pick a name on Friday and the winner will be announced on Friday evening. So you still have a few more days to leave your comment.


Visit my allotment blog to enter your comment and link

http://mylottieheaven.blogspot.com/2011/11/fantastic-giveaway.html

A fantastic book giveway

I am doing a giveaway for a beautiful and very different Cookery book, so if you like cooking and photography (the book has some lovely photographs) please visit my Allotment blog for all the details. here is the link.
http://mylottieheaven.blogspot.com/2011/11/fantastic-giveaway.html

and if you decide to enter Good Luck !

New Bag and I'm now Taking orders

Here is the latest bag. What do you think of the colour ? If anyone is interested I have now decided to take orders for the bags. I love making them, but have decided that four bags is quite enough for me to own, so I may as well sell them (hopefully). The only downside is that they are expensive to make  and of course as I have to knit them and then felt them in the wash it's time consuming as any knitter/craftsperson knows. So I have to charge for my time as well as making costs. If anyone is interested please let me know and I will reveal the cost.

This is a new detail that I have added on the back of the bags. I have needle felted a small flower onto the actual bag, whereas on the front the flowers are on brooch pins so can be removed.

All the bags now have a roomy and fairly deep inside pocket, to take a mobile phone keys etc.

I really like this colour and have another gorgeous colour ready to start the next bag. It's in yummy lime, aqua and browns.

Here is a reminder of the last three bags. Varied sizes and all Very individual. These are made from my own pattern, so are really different.

A recipe to die for ( if you like your puddings sweet !!)

At last I got to use my new pie dish but for a very sweet and tasty pudding. I got the recipe from 'Country Living' magazine they have some good recipes in there which I am always cutting out and keeping, although not always trying ! anyway this one is called  'Raspberry Shortbread' and is extracted from a book called 'At Elizabeth's Table' by Elizabeth David ( and no I'm not reviewing it sadly ! as it sounds good)
Here is the dish just out of the oven

I wondered why it was called 'Raspberry Shortbread' as apart from a few different ingredients it seemed just like any old crumble recipe. However when I tasted it, sure enough it has a shortbready taste and is sooo delicious especially with custard.

Here it is GOING  GOING NEARLY GONE !!!

YUMMY  !! I expect you'd like the recipe ? so here it is

RASPBERRY SHORTBREAD

Prep time: 10 mins

Cooking: 25 mins

Serves 4 

INGREDIENTS

* 500g raspberries  ( I used frozen from my freezer, home grown of course !)

* a little white sugar   ( my sugar is organic unbleached granulated , so not white ! I used about a     dessertspoonful)

* 60g butter

* 175g flour

* 120g muscovado sugar ( which I didn't have so I used Dark brown soft sugar which I guess is similar)

* half teaspoon ground ginger

* 1 teaspoon baking powder

METHOD

1) Put the raspberries into a fairly large, shallow pie dish and sprinkle with white sugar. Cut the butter into small pieces and crumble it with the flour until thoroughly blended ( funny description! my version is rub together to resemble fine breadcrumbs !).

2) Add the muscovado sugar, ginger, and baking powder, mix thoroughly. Spread the mixture over the raspberries and smooth it out evenly, do not press down.

3) Bake in the centre of a medium oven at 180 C (160 C fan oven) gas mark 4 and bake for 25 mins.

SERVE HOT OR COLD