Fifty Books 2010

I suspect fifty might be rather underestimating it this year, but here goes with 2010's challenge!

1. Having the builders in – Reay Tannahill – not my usual type of book as it’s listed under historical, but looked like an interesting one and had me in stitches! Very well written and a lovely take on the historical genre. 
2. The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook – self explanatory, amazing yummy things to bake. Read it cover to cover, baked two batches and plan to test some more with Julia.
3. Magical Kingdom for Sale – Sold! – Terry Brooks – Book 1 of 5, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one, but again well written and in one of my favourite genres (fantasy) – this time a proper fantasy world with fairies and witches and such, juxtaposed with a lawyer from modern-day New York. Fabulous, can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
4. Confessions of a reluctant recessionista – Amy Silver – New arrival in the library so thought I’d snag it before anyone else did, fabulous chick-lit for the economic crisis!
5. In the pink – a rural odyssey – Molly Watson – it had a horse AND a girl in a pink dress on the front, need I say more? Based on the author and her sister’s real life escape to the country to hunt for a year after accidentally buying a horse, it was funny and fast paced, but I think would be less exciting to anyone who’s not as vociferously horsey as I can be!
6. Having the decorators in – Reay Tannahill – the sequel to ‘Having the builders in’ and it was equally wonderful! Characters from the first novel are developed and sneaky new ones introduced, the uninvited guests are hilarious. Very much looking forward to exploring more from this author in the future.
7. Weekend in Paris – Robyn Sisman – a sparkling voyage of self-discovery awaits 21-year-old Molly Clearwater when she resigns from her job as a secretary after an insult from her boss. Fed up of being boring and serious, she boards a train to Paris on impulse and returns a changed person. Inspirational, fun and poignant all at once. 
   

I have EGGS!!

... cupcakes here I come! :D

The soft splat of snow

Today was a Snow Day. It was also my day off work, and I was thwarted horribly in my attempts to bake by the lack of eggs anywhere. Briefly contemplated an eggless sponge, but they're never quite as nice so have decided to postpone the baking for another day.

Instead, I went for a walk (to source eggs - fail) in the snow, which was wonderfully peaceful and broken only by the occasional 'splat' of snow falling from the trees above me.

Came home, had lunch, got my craft stuff out - standard day in the life of Carla! In between watching antiques shows, refilling the printer and waffling at my parents, I made this:



I'm very pleased with it, but it's cheating slightly because Gran knitted the flower for me, and while she was inspired by a book I gave her, this one is of her own design. But incorporating it as I would a bead, and adding the clasp (which has been looking for a project to attach itself to for ages, since the bead fair in fact) and the result is, I think, quite pleasing :) It sits asymmetrically on the collarbone, and the design could be adapted for different colours and sizes of flowers, and obviously different lengths as well. It started quite a lot longer, but I kept shortening it till it sat where I wanted it to.

I intend to hang onto the idea and create some more for Ducking Fabulous, but this one will live with me, as the beads were a present from Jen of Ordinary Little Art and the flower was the first that Gran knitted for me :)

Enjoy the snow, all - I'm going to attempt getting to work tomorrow but if the roads are too slidey I shall get my books out and do some more crafting!

Meep, a whole month since my last post

I'm hopeless at this blogging thing, I always feel really inspired but never seem to have time to actually blog. Sniff.

Anyway, my new year's resolution is to blog more, among a whole miscellany of other things I'd like to achieve during 2010. Lots of which are crafty, in fact!

The Craft Experiment is alive and well, but has been somewhat neglected of late due to me having an interview to prepare for :) Despite it going much less well than I would have hoped, I got the job and I'm now a permanent Enquiry Officer, squee! Which means I can move in with Julia in July, and also means I can start the rest of my life how I mean to go on - making things!

Used some of my Christmas money to buy one of these http://www.lakeland.co.uk/F/keyword/cupcake+pan/product/13072 which I can't wait to try out! And have invested in the Hummingbird Bakery's recipe book, one for me and one for Jules, so that'll be added to the list and edible craft shall be performed. Or something! :)

So hopefully 2010 will be the year that I don't abandon a promising young blog...