Light and dark

When my mom was here for a visit, we had dinner in Ipswich one evening and then went for a walk along the docks just before sunset. 

We also brought the camera along on a very sunny (but cool) afternoon at Helmingham Hall.

Review: Divergent

I loved the Hunger Games, and I enjoy dystopian YA romps as much as the next person. I don't remember where I was recommended Divergent, by Veronica Roth, but I really loved it.

It's set in post-apocalyptic Chicago, and reminded me a bit of the Hunger Games.  Both have strong teenage girls as their protagonists, and both require them to do things they never thought possible. I've also acquired a vocabulary word: abnegation (self-denial or renunciation, to save you having to look it up, too).

I'm about to read the sequel and am rather enthusiastically awaiting the movie!

Bury Bach Choir concert Saturday 18th May

Well. I know where all the cool kids will be on Saturday 18th May. The Bury Bach Choir will be singing Verdi's Requiem in the Bury St Edmunds Cathedral, as part of this year's small-but-perfectly-formed Bury Festival.

We last sang the Requiem about 5 years ago - it was one of the first Big Choral Works that I'd ever taken part in, and it was unforgettable.

Tickets are available for £23 and £16 (reserved), and £13 and £10 (unreserved)  and are available from the Apex box office or on 01284 758000.

See you there!

Buttercream and Bunting

My mom arrived for her annual English Week on her birthday. So, while she was napping after her red-eye flight, I made some cupcakes with her favourite (buttercream!) frosting.

I used this chocolate fudge cupcake recipe (and overfilled the cakes slightly), and this buttercream recipe (with vanilla added).

The cupcakes were super-chocolatey and not too sweet.

And the buttercream was delicious (vanilla, sugar and butter...what's not to like!?)

Our random entertaining activity this time (in the past, we've Delia'd and screenprinted fabric) was making Bunting at Halfpenny Home in Needham Market. Nicola and I have been twitter-buddies for a while, and I randomly pop in when I need buttons/fabric/etc. Side note: hers was the angora yarn that was beautifully soft but that filled the airplane with fluff when I went to NY in February.

My mom was initially skeptical. They don't really DO bunting in New York. I pointed out that she could make some in colours to match their boat, and she perked up. I gave Nicola a general idea of what we might be using in terms of colour schemes, and she managed to scrounge up a surprising amount of orange fabric!

We ended up doing the workshop with Nic and her mum, who was making (gorgeous) bunting for a summerhouse.

Here's some free-motion embroidery practice:

Here's my pile of fabrics:

Nic made a pear and ginger cake and some lemon tarts. YUMSTERS.

We spent the whole day either sewing and concentrating or laughing. This one was both!

More concentration:

The combination of top-stitching the red polkadot fabric and union flag bunting was making me somewhat dizzy.

Finished!

All three of us with our creations - they came out SO well and we had a blast. There are still workshops to come on the schedule - I'd highly recommend booking one!