Invite update!

Drum roll please! 

Got it!!!! 

The artist had 6 of these left which was exactly how many I needed! They are gocco prints. Which had never heard of. So of course I had to find out what in the heck a gocco machine is!

According to SaveGocco.com Gocco is:

Print Gocco is a Japanese color screenprinting system developed in 1977 by Noboru Hayama.  Resembling a toy, the compact and completely self-contained printer is clean, quick and easy to use. The system works using flash bulbs, a carbon-based image or photocopy and an emulsion-coated screen. When the bulbs are manually flashed, the carbon in the drawing or photocopy burns the screen into a stencil. Several colors of Ink can then be applied at one time and multiples can be stamped out, as many as 100 before re-inking is needed. Fans of Print Gocco appreciate its size, cleanliness, relatively inexpensive cost, and the fact that several colors can be printed in one “pass.”

I'm impressed! I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for one of these babies!

But seriously!?! How cute are those invites! I'm having to exercise some self control to wait to send them out! I only have to wait a couple more weeks! And then off they'll go! 

Congrats to the Lovely Little Nest!

The Loveliest Little Nest now has a chick! 

 The most sincere congratulations to Christy and Joe Ledford! 

 Harper Lucy Ledford made her debut! Born August 16th. 5lbs 13 oz 20 in long. 

Congratulations!!!! She's perfect!

Invites!

I told you last time that we're having a party! I LOVE throwing parties! I sent out little save the date postcards...and I didnt' even think to get photos to show you! Sorry!

So now I'm thinking invites. 

This is only a tiny party but that doesn't mean I'm going to skimp on fabulous! No way! 

A friend of mine sent me an email today "You’re going to FREAK out when you see these amazing invites!!! They are all screaming your name". And let me just tell you...she was soooooooo RIGHT! 

I was sent to this fancy blog called No Fuss Fabulous. And what do you think I did when I saw the designs? 

One of the designers has a must see ETSY shop!  Just when I thought these ladies couldn't get any more fabulous...they GIVE FREE PRINTABLES AWAY!!!  You can choose what you like from the "Our Printables" tab. Pinch. Me. Now.  

Since I'm already hanging around Etsy I've decided to have a peek at some other invites out there...

OOOoo....

Quite fancy Marie Antoinette collage sheet! For DIY invites! 

OF COURSE! Alice!

GASP! THIS ONE IS PERFECT!!!!

There is only one copy of this card, fingers crossed that the owner will be able to make more! !!!! It's a 1950s themed tea party I'm throwing! Complete with china and lots of lace and roses! There are even the right number of place settings on that table! AND it's printed on pink which is the birthday girl's favourite color! 

I'm emailing the artist right now! I'll let you know what I find out next time! eeeeeeeeeeee!

I could resist no longer!

{thanks bake it pretty!}

Do you remember me telling you about a Vintage Button Chocolate Mold? If you don't you can click those words and you'll see the old post about the discovery of the century.
That's right, of the CENTURY!
Since that time I have trawled the foodie shops in search. I even came across a wonderful button cookie cutter online {which will have to come home to me one day.}

How cute!!!!

Well my friends, brace yourself because I've just made a purchase you need to see.

IT'S THE BUTTON CHOCOLATE MOULD!!!!!

After phoning around I found it on ebay.co.uk of all places! So take heart people in the UK! You can have it without the horrible shipping fees! Soon I shall be turning out little chocolate vintage buttons by the truck loads! WOO HOO!

I'm throwing a 1950s style tea party for a friend's birthday next month and thought ickle colorful eatable vintage buttons would be a perfect party favor! {that's my excuse anyway!} I will have to tell you all about the party ideas later! It's going to be so much fun!

I'm gonna have to go check out Bake It Pretty's blog to see if they have any other button related projects and download the gorgeous cards to go with the chocolate buttons!

You can get a downloadable version from the link above!

Check out this other cuteness that will probably make it's way to the tea party table...

Sugar and Meringue also give you a downloadable card!

Kewpie Cake Topper! Our Birthday girl LOVES Kewpies!

 

well...those would be for me! 

My head is buzzing with buttons and all of the gorgeous 1950s decorations and odd recipes! I still have to design the invites...the possibilities are endless! Do I go kitsch? Do I go classic 50s? Oh! I just don't know! Squeeeeeeeee!

I can't wait to tell you about the party ideas but I'd better save that for next time! Something for me to look forward to!

Blackberries

It has begun. Well, it sort of began about a month ago with all of the elderberry cordial I made. But foraging is in full swing!
I grabbed my little basket, which is far too small really and headed out for my secret foraging spot!

It's still a bit early in the year, but I thought I'd give it a go anyhow. The berries on the ends of the bunches were the ones that were ready so I went for it!
However....there are some risks involved....

The evil nettles. horrid, horrid, horrid stinging nettles. They always get me. always! I don't know about you, but I get welts from nettle stings and even a minor brush will still be stinging the next day!

The green bits are bits of Doc leaf that I rubbed all over my stung self. And yes. It works.

Thank you Doc Leaves!

After the unfortunate incident I continued on my way.

What's the story morning glory?

The single & most delicious raspberry on earth.

I remember finding a single raspberry last year. Just ONE! I sort of remembered where I'd found it. Sure enough I found the same thing! One single raspberry! Incredibly yummy too!

The best spot! 

My basket is way too small! 

Blackberry manicure.

This little lady faired better with the nettles than I did!

I got my berries home, washed them & picked out any creepy crawlies that came with them. Heated them up, mashed them down, squished them through a sieve. Added an equal amount of sugar a good squeeze of fresh lemon juice and cooked it for about 30 minutes all together.
What I've got is a huge jar of very jammy, very sweet & extremely fruity seedless blackberry jam!
It is even better than it sounds! Yum!
I'll wait a week or so and go down for my second forage! Hmm....what shall we make with those berries?
Do you have a fave blackberry treat or recipe?