THE ALTERNATIVE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF

I confess that I did not really understand what others (women in particular and even more precisely - my sister) saw in a certain gent named Paul Hollywood.  Until last night that was! It probably has more to do with the fact that I did not really get in to the last series of *The Great British Bake Off* but now the new series has started I am thoroughly enjoying it, and last night was itching to get in the kitchen and knock up a few bread sticks (grissini if you are Italian!) ... probably of the salted caramel variety to ensure that (in my dreams at least) I would get Mr. Hollywood's approval.

In the absence of just about every ingredient needed to make even a basic breadstick at that time of night, I thought that I would show you some baking that I did earlier ... my entry for the alternative GBBO!

FLORAL CUPCAKE GREETING

    

Like the Floral Pomanders shown in an earlier post, these can be hand-made to order with flowers and colours and occasion of your choice, and in a variety of sizes.  Ideal for weddings as table-decorations or name-holders, or as a one-off greeting keepsake.

10,000 REASONS - NOT TO SYNCHRONISE

I have to admit that I love the song by Matt Redman called "10,000 Reasons".  We sing it a lot at our church and a very good job we make of it too!  However, this post is not about Matt Redman or his songs.  It's about the prolific pile of photos which are slumbering quietly on my hard drive. 10,000 to be precise.  This morning whilst attempting to reduce the distinct possibility that my laptop will have a fatal heart attack at some point in the near future, I discovered that my pictures had produced synchronised babies.  So now .... not only do I have 10,000 photos, but I have around 3 clones of each which have miraculously arrived via my phone or tablet.

Until recently, my knowledge of synchronisation was limited to childhood memories of ladies in frilly swimming hats kicking their legs in some kind of aquatic circle dance, in Bournemouth Arena.  However, the arrival of the digital age, and more particularly digital photography and so-called *smart* phones has produced something far more sinister, and I am currently running at a loss as to how to get rid of the rather large extended family of images that I seem to have acquired by default.  

So ... what has this got to do with *The Altered Cottage*?. Rather alot actually, as it was in trying to set up a photo album dedicated to pictures that I will eventually put on the blog that I started to despair at the prolific pro-creation that has taken place ... probably courtesy of a goblin called Google.  

I will get round to sorting it at some point, but I need to be in the mood to go and lose myself in my hard drive for what could be a rather long time.  Perhaps I WILL put Matt Redman's 10,000 reasons on whilst I am in there, it may help me to have the right attitude whilst my finger is hurting from getting stuck on the delete button whilst evicting the 30,000 squatters that have moved in to my unsuspecting *Pictures* folder.  

PAPER POSIES

Some time ago I began to make some floral *pomanders* and various matching tags, many of which were sold in a local florists.  The core of these are made from a styrofoam ball, with paper sculpted flowers wired and hot-glued in.  Pearls and diamantes are added, and the finished product is then scented.  
They make lasting keepsakes for a wedding - perhaps as an alternative for a bridesmaid's posy, can be given as a unique gift, or just simply another way to add something home-made to your house.  

Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in ordering one of these.  They can be made in a variety of sizes, with most flowers and colours of your choice.

TWO YEAR CYCLES!

They say that life consists of a round of two-year cycles. In the case of my blogging history that is definitely true, through no fault of my own.  Whilst technically my previous blog still does exist (Coffee With A Spoonful Of Glitter), it is probably one of the most visually boring blogs on this planet as it does not have any pictures!  It would be fine as an audio book but as a blog it just *doesn't do it!!!*For some reason, about 2 years into diligently writing the coffee and glitter blog, all my pictures turned into little black triangles with warning signs and so I have taken it as a hint and abandoned it.  I have also taken the hint to keep the pictures from this new blog in a seperate folder, so that if they ever become missing in action again, they can be re-united without too much hard work.

So ... onto the business in hand and giving a little of my history in the world of crafting.  

Ever since childhood I can remember loving the feel of paper and pencils in my hands, despite not being able to draw even a stick person and flunking art (along with most other subjects!) in a spectacular fashion at school.

The now eclectic mess of paper, pens, paints, chipboard, glitter, glue, and more recently yarn and felt, along with various jam jars, mugs and pots for altering, demonstrates the various different routes that I have been down in trying to discover a particular style.  

At different times (usually ... like the blog ... in two year cycles!) I have been discovered by scrap-booking, card-making, altered art, and currently by crochet and felting. Please note ... THEY discovered ME and not the other way round.  I prefer it like that!

So ... how did *The Altered Cottage* come about?  In 2008 we became the owners of a 200 year old river cottage.  At the time we first saw it, it was exceedingly unloved and un-lived in but it had potential!  It was not in the least bit *homey* and not really what I would have called a cottage at the time.  Bit by bit over the last 5 years we have altered it, and changed it into the haven that it has now become.  Some of the alterations have been major structural work, but it is the little things that make a house a home.  

   HOME MADE CUSHIONS TRANSFORM A FIRESIDE CHAIR

I will be sharing the *little things* on this blog, along with giving the opportunity for you to create a custom order if you fancy a little bit of the cottage in your home too.

And so  .... now to plod on with the blanket that I started ....!!!