In the Park

Interior Love

This weeks interior love is from the April edition of The World of Interiors, true to my form it's white and light, with some gorgeous hints of colour. The dining room is amazing, all that space that big table.

Green

I love the fact that elsewhere in the world right now it’s warm and sunny and bursting with green, even if it isn’t here. There are some very lovely images on flickr at the moment so I thought I’d share some of my favourites. I’m still feeling a bit under the weather right now which is no fun but on a brighter note I borrowed my dad’s old Nikon FA film slr and I can’t wait for the weekend to have a play with it, it’s terrifying but exciting.

Top: Left, Right
Bottom: Left, Right

French Lemon Cake

This is the recipe I used to make my french lemon cake, I was surprised as I wasn't sure it had enough moisture in it when I started, but it comes together really well and has a rather balanced lemon flavour.

Ingredients:
2 eggs
2 teaspoons of grated lemon rind
40g butter at room temperature
1/3 cup of milk
1 cup caster sugar
1 1/2 cups of self raising flour
extra 1/2 cup of caster sugar
1/2 cup of lemon juice

Preheat oven to 180 celcius and grease and dust with flour a deep 20cm wide round cake pan (I used the fluted pan because it is the highest round tin I have, and it worked no problem). Beat eggs, lemon, rind, butter, milk, sugar and flour for 3 minutes. Place in tin and cook for approximately 50 minutes (this may be a little quicker). Remove from the oven and leave the cake in the tin and pour combined lemon juice and extra caster sugar onto the bottom of the cake. Stand the cake for a further 10 minutes and then invert.
Dust the cake with icing sugar if you like.

This Weekend

It's hopeless when you make plans for a weekend and then you get struck down by a nasty sinus infection, yuk! I think I slept most of yesterday and today I feel like my head is full of weights. No matter, I had a peaceful afternoon, made a french lemon cake and drank mint and green tea, and went through the little pieces of liberty fabric given to me by my mum (she has a very impressive collection) - I'm too scared to use them just yet, they are so pretty! I think I will make some little birds with it.

Hi there,

The weekend is so close, and I am so pleased! This has been boring rut week, work, the gym and then home, the cold hasn’t helped either. But I’m not going to let that continue, so this weekend it’s all about taking pictures, cooking (I’m thinking raisin bread and butter pudding), and new music from Paul Dempsey (singer from Something for Kate) and Iron and Wine. Good things to banish the rut!
I hope you all have a lovely weekend too.

Catherine
x

Interior Love

Lilian's flat on Apartment Therapy is lovely, that wallpaper in the kitchen is fantastic, and I love the grouping of prints.

Found via Lena Corwin

Shopping Lists

I'm still perusing the Lisa Stickley website, I can't help myself it's all so gorgeous, plus our dollar is doing well against the pound right now....hmmm!

A few other bits and pieces I have my eye on:
liberty pillowcases
mini Paris polaroid postcards
Mimco necklace
Lizzy Stewart print

This Weekend...

Some more photographs I’ve taken recently, actually I’ve been thinking about getting the Diana Edelweiss, sure it looks really cute but I think it also could be a lot of fun to shoot with. Has anyone had any experince with lomo’s?

Store Update

I've added some fabric drawing pins and dotty garlands to the store.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend, I've been domesticated cooking and doing housework, watching live Ben Kweller concerts on tv (sooo good) and celebrating my grandmother's 82nd birthday with a family afternoon tea. I wish weekends didn't fly by so fast!

Place

Hi there,

I hope everyone is having a lovely week. I am over my blah which is good.
I went to listen to the author Tim Winton talk last night at uni, (I had flash backs to law lectures) it was very interesting. He is so laid back and unpretentious and was saying that he starts his writing from a place. I really liked that idea, that from the place you find the people and their stories.

PS I think I am a little addicted to chocolate sardines, they are cute and soooo yum!
PPS I'm drooling over new Donna Wilson designs

Marimekko

I love these new marimekko purses and bag. They are so cute, perfect if it is nearing summer in your hemisphere! Sadly here it is not and I'm coverting check shirts, mittens and jackets, but I am still appreciating the colourful delights above.

blurb

Ugh I have a serious case of Monday blah happening today.

Bad points: it’s Monday (obviously!) and I had to leave my nice house to sit at my work desk for eight hours (not even one meeting today), it’s been grey outside, and I think I need a holiday.

Good points: I got to wear my new mittens this morning (absolutely beautiful), I had a raspberry jelly lamington for lunch, and the kitty faces above make me smile. I had my first blurb book printed up, it is brilliant. The software to make the books is quite addictive, rearranging and editing what should go where. Definitely an enjoyable time waster!

Oh and very exciting one of my pictures is featured on the gorgeous Creature Comforts. mmm maybe monday isn't so blah after all!

This Weekend...

Fun decorating times for mother's day, some dotty garlands, sweet treats and presents.

Very Good Mail Day

I have had an exceptionally good mail day today, receiving a package of beautifully made goods from the very generous and lovely Rebekah. The mittens are gorgeous and I love the green of the felted wool that she has made the tissue cover and cup holder from. Visit her handmade store here and vintage store here (so many wonderful items, she has the best eye for thrifting).

A very good start to the weekend, I hope everyone has a great one too.
Catherine x

Interior Love

I had to share, I love this table setting, everything about it is perfect: the low hanging lamp, the one wooden chair, the flowers and of course the bunting.

Image via Hidden In France

The Sounds of May

The last week or so I have had these same songs going around in my head and on repeat on my ipod.

Ceremony – New Order
Blood Bank – Bon Iver
f.e.a.r. – Ian Brown (version with lyrics)
In Other Words – Ben Kweller
White Tooth Man – Iron and Wine
Anonamimal – Andrew Bird
Sweet Illusion – Ryan Adams
Domino – Van Morrison
Trophy – Bat for Lashes

What is on your playlist right now? I'd love some new music suggestions.

This Weekend...

I made lemon curd, it was brilliant on toasted crumpets and I’m planning on making some mini lemon tarts. I had forgotten how good Delia Smith recipes are.
Hummingbird necklace – a birthday gift I had to share. I absolutely love it.
Paper dots - I am pretty sure I drove my neighbours crazy hammering holes in all these with the eyelet tool, it definitely required some loud music to drown out! They are for something I am working on right now.

Also some links to share:
I love (really love) Elizabeth’s raindrops
A cute peacock t-shirt
Happy tape - something the whole world has blogged about but I am in l-u-v-e!
Pretty sure I've posted this link before but I still love everything here

A Finished Product

I finally remembered to take some photographs of my quilt. It took a little longer to finish than I thought, and it is a lot smaller than I imagined but I really am just so pleased that it is actually done! I did have a lot of help by my mum to do the boarder, so I can't claim that it is solely my work but it is so satisfying to see it and think of all my little stitches.

And while we are talking craft, I also added a few mini pom poms to the store.

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend x

Hi there,
Thank you for all your kind birthday wishes. I had a lovely day (well evening the day itself was an average work day) was given some very generous gifts and had an amazing homemade sponge with jam cream and fresh strawberries! Yum-oh!

I guess I’ve been a bit off the radar this week, it could have a lot to do with the fact that I read Twilight (I think i like the book and the film equally) but also I'm struggling with the gloomy winter weather, going to work in the near dark and coming home in the dark...it's not my idea of fun. I must be struggling with seasonal adjustment! Regular blogging will resume : )

Have a happy weekend x