Canvassing....

Decided it was time to start making some stuff to sell in my Etsy shop. I thought it would be nice to use some of my fabrics to cover canvases having done a big one with Marimekko fabric I had. I've only done a couple to date and not listed them yet, but soon I'll be selling some small canvases that look like this:

House selling

I'm currently trying to sell my house, it's a nice little property, quiet neighbourhood, nice garden. Any takers?

More cake please.....

More cupcakes were made this weekend. This time chocolate and vanilla cakes, with plain buttercream, chocolate curls or a dusting of cocoa powder. Yum.

Cupcakes

While in New York we went to Billy's Bakery which is an offshoot of the more famous Magnolia Bakery. It was a nice break from the cold wintry weather, but even nicer to try their cupcakes - delicious.

I haven't baked for quite a while but we decided to try some cupcakes of our own with the star shaped silicone baking cups I got. The buttercream was the hardest part to make, my arm was aching trying to beat the butter and icing sugar together, but it was worth it. They may not look like much but they taste great!

New York

Central Park Ice, originally uploaded by Claire Howson.

I've just come back from New York. It was pretty cold over there, there was already snow on the ground and more fell during the week. During a stroll through Central Park I spotted some cool patterns in the ice like in this photo. There are more on my flickr page.

Create your own flowers....

I was visiting a rather cool webiste called Stumble Upon which took me to another rather cool website called Zefrank where you can build your own flowers. I made the two below and I think I could get addicted to making them. You can also create gardens. It's a good way to spend ten minutes at least....

The machine returns...

originally uploaded by Claire Howson.

I finally got the sewing machine back out to make myself another bag (like I need another one). I bought this green canvas from reprodepot last year along with some Marimekko fabric that I can't bear to cut into.

I have been meaning to make this bag for a long time but got sidetracked with work, but I finally got round to getting the machine back out and made this over a couple of evenings.

The pattern was from here and is really easy to follow. I used some Amy Butler fabric for the lining, and added a couple of pockets. It's nice and roomy, will be good for summer.

Misty

originally uploaded by Claire Howson.

While I was looking through the photos I took at Christmas I noticed that there were a few more spots and dust on my camera sensor. My dad cleaned it for me a while ago but unfortunately more stuff has got in there since. I suppose I'm not careful enough when I'm changing lenses.

On my New Years Day walk I decided that I'd have a look at the sensor. I could see a few bits and pieces in there and blew quite carefully into it to try to get rid of some of them - not really a good idea. The sensor misted up and the result was a few blurry shots like the one above. I quite like the effect, although I'm sure it's better for the camera to do this with photoshop!

Happy New Year

Cow Parsley, originally uploaded by Claire Howson.

I'm starting the new year as I mean to go on - taking photos and updating my blog.

The nature reserve near my house was nice and frosty with lots of photos ops. I didn't take as many as I probably should but I got a few that I'm happy with.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Day walk

originally uploaded by Claire Howson.

After Christmas dinner we always go for a walk and collect my grandma from my aunty's house. I took this on the way, on Applebury Hill between Cark and Allithwaite. The wind farm is near Barrow-in-Furness.