So Here It Is, Merry Christmas...

I wanted to post a huge thank you to everyone who has read and commented on my ramblings this year, I am very much in the early days of my blogging life and am thrilled that there are a few lovelies out there that have wanted to drop by. One year ago today I left the relative security of my job in retail to pursue a path as a designer/maker of silver goodies. Now, I am certainly not running an empire as yet but, with the support of many wonderful people, I do feel I am on my way there.

So now go and put on your Christmas jumper, heat up some mince pies and dance around the Christmas tree to your favourite festive tunes. I am wishing you all a magical kinda Christmas, make it a memorable one and remember to tell me all about it xx

Busy With Bakes & Makes

I'm very late writing up today, but I can't complain as I've been fulfilling some last minute Christmas orders!
I have also done some baking today, whipping up a batch of chestnut and brandy jam and my first round of marzipan mince pies. I thought you might like the mince pie recipe for any easy last minute bakes this weekend...

Ingredients

220g plain flour
100g unsalted butter, cubed
Pinch of salt
3 tbsp cold water
Mincemeat mixture
Marzipan

Method

• Preheat oven to 200*c/gas mark6

• Sift flour and salt into a bowl. Rub in the butter to create a rough sand texture.

• Sprinkle water in to the bowl and lightly work mixture into a ball.

• Wrap in cling wrap and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

• Roll out to a thickness of approx. 3mm and cut out enough circles to fill your greased tray (usually 12).
Press the pastry discs into the tray.

• Roll the marzipan out thinly and place a small disc in each pastry cup. Spoon a teaspoon of mincemeat on top of the marzipan.
For the lids I cut star shapes from the rolled out pastry and placed them on top of the mincemeat.

• Finish with a milk wash and bake for 20 minutes, or till golden.

Enjoy xx

That's a Cracker!

So it's less than a week to the big Ho Ho Ho and I've managed to get all the gifts together. I just need to wrap them now.
I thought I would share a last minute wrapping idea with you that I've done for the little people. Instead of tags I put together some Christmas crackers with little extra gifts inside (a chocolate snowman, stick on tattoos and such). I have yet to meet a child that doesn't love pulling crackers so it seemed a nice touch to add. I did cheat a little and buy a make your own kit from The Works for a couple if pounds as it had the hats, jokes and snaps included. But instead of colouring in the outer wrapper I covered it with brown paper and used red ink to stamp the children's names on the cracker. I then finished them off with some pretty ribbon and vintage stickers. Voila, fun (and I think quite stylish) gift wrap!

What have you been using to wrap up this year?

Wassail! Wassail! All Over The Town...

Over the weekend the Yuletide season went into full speed here, there was a dinner or two with old friends, a trip to the cinema for a Christmas blockbuster and more than a tot of something mulled! Now in the West Country we are obviously famed for our cider production, and whilst I do love a glass of German Gluwein, a cup of mulled cider will always go down a treat.
Traditionally hot mulled cider was drunk copiously at the Twelfth Night Wassail, where villagers and cider producers would gather around the largest apple tree, hang cider soaked toast on its branches and drink its good health with ale and mead laced with apple liqueur. In recent years it has become more associated with the festivities running up to Christmas, but which ever way you want to drink it there are many recipes out there to try. Here I have used Jamie Oliver's as an example for you to try, I would maybe add a tot of mead or Brandy to give it some extra warmth!

• 2 litres good cider, such as Scrumpy
• 6 cloves
• 3 or 4 star anise
• ¼nutmeg, finely grated into the pan
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 vanilla pod, halved
• Juice of 1 orange
• Juice of 2 clementines
• Juice and seeds from 1 pomegranate
• 4 or 5 tablespoons of caster sugar, to taste

1. Pour all of the cider into a large pan on a low heat and warm it through for a few minutes. Add all of the spices and fruit juices and turn the heat up. Once boiling, turn down to a simmer and leave to tick away for 5 to 8 minutes. As everything infuses you'll get the most delicious layers of flavour. Just because this is a glorified Christmas punch doesn't mean you don't taste it like you would a sauce. Pay attention and add a few tablespoons of sugar to taste. You don't want it to be sweet; you just want the sugar to join up all the different spices so you get a harmonious taste.
2. When you are happy with the flavours, ladle the mulled cider into glasses or mugs and serve while warm and delicious. Personally I think it's nice to leave bits of spices floating around in the cider when you serve it but if you want yours clear and perfect just pour it into the glasses through a sieve.

typically.pretty.wish list - to do

A list of gift ideas for those people in your life that like to get out and about and do stuff!

1. Afternoon Tea somewhere special. Tea at The Ritz London will set you back £45 per person.
2. A book spa. Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath offers a 2 hour session for £55-£100.
3. Subscription to a favourite magazine. My fave is The Simple Things for food, crafts & home decor.
4. Tickets to a show or the movies. Get Odeon vouchers to watch Les Mis in January!
5. A crafting book for busy fingers. Everything Oz is a fun book full of things to make and do.

Any ideas of your own?

Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust!

So the last night I decorated my little tree, and I think you'll find it to be one of the kitschest trees you ever did see! Whilst out shopping for presents for little ones I ventured into the Disney store and came out with a Tinkerbell doll (nothing unusual there you say?)... it was for myself! Couldn't help it, I remembered I needed a tree fairy and what better one to have sitting there on the top my tree than Tink, the naughtiest fairy there ever was. I think she goes perfectly with my toadstools, typewriter key snowflake and vintage decs.

How is your tree shaping up? What's your favourite decoration?

Cold But Pretty

What a great market Bristol put on today, it was lovely to be a part of. The morning was bright and the waterfront looked beautiful in the winter sun. And although it was cold the lovely people I met, my 'Christmas jumper' and the hot mulled cider helped to keep me all toasty.

Now for the people of Frome to make tomorrows market just as amazing xx

One Stop Dec Shop!

Feeling totally festive today so I have put together a selection of decorations that you may want to go out and grab. There is something you'll want I'm sure from this collection of vintage kitsch, homespun and Nordic style ornaments.

1. quotesandnotes on Etsy
2. mellybee on folksy
3. inkmeup on folksy
4. tentvintage on Etsy
5. luncheonettevintage on Etsy
6. Bread and Jam on folksy
7. Anthropologie
8&9. Paperchase

Go forth and decorate people, and let me know your favourite xx