Tuesday 7 August 2012

Lots of nice things including Spelt fruit cake with dates, almonds and honey rum liqueur
























This is what's currently on my needles and I can't wait to pick them up again. I haven't managed to do any knitting since we were away in Sussex couple of week ago. I'm working on some colourful felting projects. Felting can be unpredictable so I hope they turn out as planned. As soon as my little workroom is sorted out...which hopefully will be any time soon...I can show you exactly what they are.

All the while I was knitting I was pouring over magazines like 'Selvedge' and 'Mollie Makes'. I read articles about 'L'oisive The' a gorgeous little tearoom-cum-yarn shop in the suburbs of Paris that you can read about on lovely 'found, no home' blog here, my favourite 'Quince and co', a skirt pattern by Danish designer Vibe Ulrik Sondergaard who creates the most amazing knitted clothes, and sneak peaks inside designer/makers' interesting homes.

Then I read 'The Handmade Market Place' by Kari Chapin.  It has lots useful advice about how to sell your handcrafted wares.

Fell in love with Churlish Green Farrow and Ball paint in an interiors magazine...

And to keep my energy levels up whilst doing all this knitting and reading I munched on rich spelt fruit cake with dates almonds and honey rum liqueur baked from this recipe here...(but using spelt instead of wheat flour adding dates to the fruit, substituting sugar with honey and a good dash of liqueur before topping with almonds)...and lots of tea and coffee...and the odd glass of something a little stronger...well we were on holiday...

I'm joining with Ginny at small things for yarn along...

...are you coming too?

15 comments:

  1. How can I have missed that cake recipe?! Gorgeous knitting and those magazines are beautiful, sigh...

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    1. Thanks Lucy. I indulged in reading my sisters magazine stash that she left out for me to read.

      It's amazing how changing the flour to spelt and adding the dates gives this recipe a kind of fudgy consistency...it really is very more-ish.

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  2. What a beautiful piece of knitting Debby. I am going to order your book today. My daughter in law and I were just talking about finally putting all of our items together and heading to the market so this is perfect timing. I also want to bake the cake you mentioned, it sounds so good. I have been doing a juicing and smoothie fast, but last night added a little seaweed salad, I have learned at my age to listen to my body and dropping 1.5 a day really is just too much. I hope you are having a great day.

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  3. Oh thank you Tracey.

    I really recommend Handmade Marketplace I read my sister's copy when staying at her house. A lot of the information is common sense but there is also a lot of useful advice and contact numbers etc that can help with either setting up a craft stall locally or an online shop. Lots of little hints and tips from successful members of the on-line crafting community like the founders of ETSY that's really helpful.

    Wow 1.5 is a lot to lose in one day. I agree about listening to your body...it's amazing how she often gives the right advice..

    Hope your day is good too...
    Deb

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  4. Your knitting is gorgeous! And that cake sounds super yummy. I think I'll have to try that out one of these days ;-)

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  5. Gorgeous knitting! I just love how colorful it is.

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    1. We've had quite a lot of grey days recently and I just craved really bright colours...thankfully the sun is shining brightly now...
      Deb

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  6. Love the bright cheerful colors!! Felting is unpredictable but the results are always pleasing. I hope you get to knit more now that you are home.

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  7. I know...there always seems to a bit of trial and error with it but I agree with you about the pleasing but. It never ceases to amaze me how the yarn transforms so much just by washing it.

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  8. Love the colourful knitting - what are you making?

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    1. I'm experimenting with felting fair-isle knitting Rel...I'm planning to make some cushion covers and even lampshades...so far they seem to be working well...fingers crossed...

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  9. Curious to see what you are making - such pretty colors. That shop loves fantastic. I only wish my travel budget were bigger. That and my yarn one.

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    1. I know Heather the shop sounds wonderful...

      Hopefully I'll be revealing next week...

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  10. Gorgeous colours and the cake sounds fab too.

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