Robynartdesigns

Hello and welcome to my blog.
Do hope you'll stop by from time to time
and follow my adventures in all things creative!

Monday, July 23, 2012

Attention All Vintage Linen Lovers!

This week I'm clearing out
more of my vintage linen collection
So I'll be listing lots and lots
of vintage linens
as well as my usual
handmade items
on my Ebay
just click on link 
on my sidebar
I'm also running
a sale on my hand stitched
patchwork pincushions
starting tomorrow (Tuesday)

So pop on over
and take a peek
you never know
you may find just the thing
you've been looking for
Have a happy week!
Robyn
 
 

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Date Scone Recipe

There's nothing more comforting
on a cold winters day
than a freshly brewed
steaming pot of tea
and a batch of freshly baked scones
So guess what I've been up to today?
I only had to spend less than an hour
in the kitchen to create this
comfort food, and it was comfort
food I craved today
being yet another cold rainy
winters Sunday in our part of the world
I do enjoy making scones
I guess I learned it from watching
my mother bake them when I was young
(not that long ago....really)
So I'm sharing her recipe with you
today and hope you might find
much comfort and pleasure
in baking them too

So here we go

This recipe makes quite
a large batch of scones
If you're lucky enough
to have any left over
they do freeze really well
 Just wrap in foil, freeze and
reheat when required

You will need to sift
4 cups self raising flour
with 1 teaspoon baking powder
into a large bowl
To this you now need to add
4 dessert spoons butter
(or margarine) whatever you prefer
Now spend a little time
rubbing in the butter
with the flour
lifting the mixture up as you go
keep doing this until
the mix looks like soft breadcrumbs
Now add one third cup castor sugar
mix this in
Now add one cup dates finely chopped
You can snip them with your kitchen 
scissors if you like
Now take a butter knife and make 
a well in the centre of the mix
and pour in one and three quarter
cups milk (you may need a little
more if necessary but just start with
this amount first)
Mix quickly with your butter knife
to bring it all together
Make sure you mix in
all the flour that hides down
in the bottom of the bowl
Now tip the mixture out
onto a lightly floured surface
knead lightly to form a round shape
gently pat down to about 
2.5 centimetres thickness
Now take your scone cutter
Mine is 5 centimetres
But you can use whatever
size you prefer
or you can just cut into
squares with your knife
So just cut out your scones
Place onto a large baking sheet
lined with glad bake
Brush the tops with a little milk
Place into a preheated very hot
oven mine is 210 degrees fan forced
Bake for around 12 minutes
Now while they're baking
You can put the kettle on
Get the butter ready
Jam and cream if you like
When you remove them
from the oven wrap them in 
a clean tea towel and
leave to cool on a cooling rack

Bon Appetit!

Hope you had a wonderful Sunday
Happy baking!
Robyn

You'll find me at:
Craftomaniac Monday 
Shabbilicious Friday 
 

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

New Needle Books and a Shabby Bag

Hi everyone have some new
items just completed to show you
two more needle books
and the sweetest little bag
which would be great 
for storing sewing or craft supplies
hope you like them
just click on the photo
for a closer view


These are currently available
to purchase on my ebay
just click on ebay button
on my side bar
if you like them
be quick to avoid disappointment
Happy week to all!
Robyn
I'm linking this to White Wednesday
and later in the week will
be partying over at
Kerryanne's Shabbilicious Friday 
 
 

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Busy Creating

"Creation of something out of nothing
is the most primitive of human passions
and the most optimistic"
(Christina Stead, 1902-1983)

I've been enjoying the the time
spent indoors, during our cold winter
and have been just happy creating
I've been enjoying working with
fabric and vintage images,
vintage laces, doileys
and buttons
most of which are antique,
sometimes grubby, but if not
I'm happy to age them in a bath
of tea or coffee
I love the characteristic 'simplistic'
or tattered look
this type of art conveys
reverting to a time
when life was simpler
and the finished
piece can look as though
it was made generations earlier
The above are just a couple of photos
of my past art
will have new items coming soon
hope your week-end is enjoyable
wherever you may be