I made Elizabeth David’s Chocolate Almond Cake for my sister’s birthday lunch. It is flourless so gluten-free. When I was Googling for the recipe I found it on this pretty cookery blog. I used their doubling-up method. Very delicious, I will make this again.
I gave my sister Dorie Greenspan’s book Baking: From My Home to Yours
This is what I made with the remainder of the fabric. It is a little drawstring bag for the small bike bits and pieces that I either need to carry around in the bottom of my bag when I park my bike, or keep together in my house ready to grab when I am out the door. This little bag is handy to stop everything from getting lost or dropped.
I had made that little black bike with the button wheels ages ago as a test run for a bike I sewed onto some cushions for my mother so it was no bother to sew it on here.
I used the fabric from Liberty to make two cushions. I also made something with the leftover fabric which I’ll show later. A bright addition to our sofa (seen before here – the cats still hate me hoovering).
I made them in the envelope style and held together the opening at the back with two small cream bows on each. If the cats get into attacking these too much I will replace them with poppers but I like the bow look with this fabric. The fabric felt a bit too light for zips (also this is quicker and cheaper than having to find two zips of the right size!).
Btw I keep the longer lengths of ribbon that I have wrapped around a cardboard roll, I like to think I’m channeling ‘Martha‘ on a tiny scrappy scale :)
I made a felt chain decoration using these instructions from Purl Bee. I have seen something similar done before with paper too. It was easy to do and quite therapeutic to cut out the circles. I imagine this would look fantastic with only two or three colours, if I do it again I would possibly try my favourite combo of red and white. I am not sure where to hang the finished article, I think I will put it away and use it as part of our Christmas decorations next year.
Each year I make a few decorations if I have time. Here are two super quick and easy decoration ideas that I came up with this year.
I have made a PDF template that you can download for free from here.
1. Christmas Leaf Decoration
a. Cut out the leaf and circle from the template.
b. Choose some card, whatever you like, I use red, green, and brown card. Draw around the leaf template and the circle template onto the card.
c. Cut these shapes out. Note that you can use the leftover inner circle for the leaf.
d. Poke a hole in the circle and then another hole in the tip of the leaf, thread through this, make a small loop and tie a knot. Poke a second hole in the circle above the first and make a much bigger loop of thread, as long as you need it to be to hang it.
e. Finished! I think they also make good small seasonal gifts.
![leafdecwindowsill]](http://www.quaintliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/leafdecwindowsill.jpg "leafdecwindowsill]")
Good for hanging in the window.
2. Christmas Leaf Banner
a. If you have kitties in your life and you haven’t been paying them enough attention because you are working on Christmas decorations then this may happen :)
b. Then fold a long strip of paper into a concertina the width of which is the same as the leaf template. Make sure that the left and right sides of the leaf reach the folded edges. Draw around the leaf and cut out the leaf shape being careful to leave the left and right tips of the leaves attached.
c. Fold out. Finished! Tape them all over the house.
The end. If anyone makes these let me know!
