Monday 27 July 2015

Lavender Sugar

 Here is the little hexagon quilt i was sewing together a few weeks ago.........the colours remind me of sugared almonds..............the mini quilt can be used for display, or as a table mat..........
 ................or as a doll's bed quilt............this little thrifted bed was given to me and i was happy to add a pink bed to the toy collection :)............
 ...............just needed a bunny to try it out..........and here is lavender bunny..............
 .............the fabrics are from lakehouse dry goods and are a lovely mix of florals and text prints....
 ..............here is the quilt back, featuring one of my most favourite fabrics which i have quite possibly shown you here before ;).................
 ............last month, on our little holiday, we visited cotswold lavender at broadway, and had a lovely walk through the beautiful lavender fields.........there is a pretty café and shop there too, filled with lavender products...............i bought a few gifts there...........
 ...............including some lavender sugar............i use this to sprinkle on fruit and to bake in scones.....do you use lavender sugar in any of your cooking?..............
 ..............i found these little jars on a shopping trip with my daughter a while ago.....they are lovely to store dried lavender in, as well as the lavender sugar....the little scoop is perfect to use........they make nice presents too, and you can be creative with labels and tags..................
 ...............below is some of the lavender i dried last summer.........at the moment our garden is soaking wet after a day of almost constant rain so it will be a while before i will be harvesting this year's lavender......there is a slight lightening of the sky now and a possible gleam of sunlight at last.....
 .............i had a lovely surprise last week when i won a 'secret' giveaway on my friend vivienne's blog......(a random comment is chosen from the comments section to be a winner without the readers knowing there is a giveaway)....such a fun idea.......and i was the lucky winner of these beautiful treats below.......i really love them all, especially the gorgeous flower made by vivienne, whose crochet is so skilful and beautiful........do go and visit her blog, green rabbit designs and see for yourself, if you haven't already, you will love it.............thank you so much, dear vivienne x.......
 ...............here are some sweet peas on a sunny afternoon before the rain came......
 ..............here is lavender, the sugar bunny, with her own jar of lavender to enjoy......the bunny pattern can be found in my pretty patchwork gifts book here...............
 ............and here is a little garden view also taken before it became rain drenched........but things are improving and there is definitely a ray of sunshine coming through my studio window now as i type this............
..................thank you for visiting my little blog space, dear readers, and for taking the time to leave me such lovely comments, it is always a pleasure to see you here and to hear from you too..........wishing you a happy week, with lots of crafty inspirations and plenty of sunny days.............back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

45 comments:

Ellie Foster said...

Dear Helen
I made some lavender shortbread last year (the kit was sent to me in a swap) and all you needed to add was the butter. The biscuits were absolutely delicious and moreish. I would certainly make them again but would need to check just how much lavender to use as it could be a little overpowering.
Enjoy your lavender filled days
Best wishes
Ellie

Evelyne said...

Hi Helen, What a lovely giveaway you won!! I don't use lavender in my cooking, but I cross stitch little bags and fill them with lavender as a gift for friends.
Lovely garden do you have!
Here is everything burnt, it very hot in France!
Have a nice week.
Evelyne

greenrabbitdesigns said...

What a lovely lavender post Helen! I have never cooked with lavender sugar but it certainly sounds like a wonderful idea.
I of course don't need to tell you how much I love Lavender bunny and her pretty quilt! I actually have that same fabric that you have backed your quilt with on my desk today for my next little make!! ;)
I too am hoping that it will dry up, it has been pretty grim both yesterday and today, it does look a bit brighter, fingers crossed as I do feel at this time of year we all should be in the garden!
Have a lovely week and thank you so much for the little mention, so happy you liked it all! :)
V x

Miss said...

Can you imagine how many little girls (or their mothers in fact!) would have a little rabbit doll, with this beautiful bed and the gorgeous quilt you made??
We always think in Big for quilt but sometimes, we should think little and make quilt for dolls.
I love this!
the Lavender always makes me feel at home!
a part of my life when I was kid!
And the flowers are beautfiul... They are hard to grow here in my part of country (Canada), I put some seeds of them in the garden this year and they just grow a little, no flowers! i will try again.
And your book is in my list!!!
Have a beautiful week.
Miss, xx

Annerose said...

Sehr schön Helen, die Lavendelgläschen mit dem Zucker, wunderschön und wirklich schöne Geschenke. Ich habe auch schon Lavendel und Rosenzucker gemacht und verschenkt. Und dein Lieblingsstoffe gefällt mir sehr gut.
Weiterhin einen schönen Sommer und liebe Grüße AnneRose

Simone said...

I posted about making scented sugars on Friday using perlagonium leaves - now I think I need to try and make it with lavender too! I love your sugar bunny and all the lovely hues in this post. Well done on winning Vivienne's giveaway. Have a great week Helen. x

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Lovely post! Congratulations on you win!
Lavender sugared iced tea sounds perfect for the hot weather in the forecast.

Kim said...

That quilt is just absolutely darling!

Cindy said...

How wonderful to see a whole field of lavender! Your little qu8ilt is so pretty, with the bunny and bed.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Aaahhhh...a little pink bed and even a lavender bunny! My heart is happy! Sweet hugs to you and your beautiful creations, Diane

Lin from A {tiny} Cottage In The Woods said...

I have never tried lavender sugar, but it is something I would like to do this year. Our lavender is just beginning to bloom here.
As always, everything you create is absolutely wonderful!!!
Enjoy your week!
xo,
Lin

Ingrid Orens said...

I have never tasted lavender sugar - I can only imagine how good that must be !
Maybe I'll try to make some myself - that is, when the lavender is dry again (same story here with the rain these last days....)
Love your little hexagon quilt !!

Gillian said...

Yes, I make my own lavender sugar and vanilla sugar. Love your little quilt!

Unknown said...

Love your new little hexie quilt, the fabrics are beautiful - glad lavender bunny has a new little bed and quilt. I've never heard of lavender sugar, but now I'll go Google it to see what I can learn. Cute containers with the little scoop right there. Glad the sun came out for you as you were talking to us - now send us, please, some of that rain :)

Mary

Teresa Kasner said...

Hello my friend! How nice to get a surprise gift! Love all your lavender colors and the bunny.. and that little pink bed is such a treasure.. I bet Daisy loves it! Your little quilt is simply adorable. We have one more day with our little granddaughters.. I'm just glad to have spent time with them. All that said we're so ready to head back home! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Jane said...

MMmm I love Lavender Helen and this is such a lovely post. I have never heard of Lavender sugar, sounds yummy. Your newest quilt is delightful such pretty colours and that bunny in bed...awww so sweet. We have local lavender fields here...I must take some photos but the weather as you say is pretty damp and chilly. Let's hope that summer returns soon xx

scrappyjacky said...

A beautiful little quilt.
I tend to use my lavender in sewing, but ought to try some in cooking as well.

AlisonC said...

I too love lavender and visited the Cotswold Lavender farm last year. In the tearoom I had lavender tea and cake.I bought culinary lavender home and put it in cupcakes which go down well with visitors. I love your Lavender bunny, they are always so cute
and happy

Jenn M said...

I have made lavender sugar before, but I don't think I have used it! I tend to 'hoard' specialty things like that if I think I won't get anymore! I think some lavender shortbread would be lovely though. This year I allocated all the lavender I picked and dried for cooking and baking only: no point paying a small fortune for 'culinary' lavender when I can have it for free from my own back yard! (provided I remember to harvest it before it blossoms of course!)
Love the pretty pastel hexie mat too:)
Jenn

Pat's Patch said...

Lovely cheery post to brighten a dull day. Love your sweet little quilt and bunny, with the scent of fresh lavender fields. Love the sugar jar labels too. Have a good week. Love
Pat x

Lorrie said...

Lavender is such a versatile plant. There's a store in Vancouver that sells lavender ice cream. I made some lavender sugar a few years ago, but you know, I think it's still on the pantry shelf. Sprinkling it on fruit sounds like a great idea.
Your makes are always so pretty. Love the bunny and the quilt. Happy weeks to you.

Jennifer Hays said...

I love the idea of lavender sugar. It would be a subtle way to add lavender flavor to other things, I think. I made a lavender-infused ice cream last summer which I liked a lot. It tasted less like lavender than I expected it to, but you could definitely taste hints of it. Your doll bed and quilt are so beautiful, just perfect. I love to make things for dolls. My daughter's dolls were the beneficiaries of many of my early crochet projects. I hope you have a great week, Helen. :)

Susan said...

Such a pretty quilt. I love the soft colors. I had never heard of lavender sugar before. From the description, it does sound like it would be good on scones. :)

Amy at love made my home said...

I love lavender! Your giveaway things are so lovely too aren't they, what a very nice surprise! xx

Rhona said...

Lavender is one of my favourite fragrances (as long as it's the real thing!) I have quite a bit of it growing in my garden and I love when the cats or dogs brush past it as the smell is divine. I haven't used any for cooking....definitely something to try though! Lavender bunny is gorgeous and the quilt and the little bed are just perfect!

Kate said...

Lavender Bunny looks cozy with her hexie quilt. :) I love lavender and use it however I can ... I envy you being able to grow your own.

Ladybird Diaries said...

I love that little quilt, with the bunny in her sweet little bed! Cotswold lavender sounds like such a lovely place to visit.
Marianne x

KC'sCourt! said...

Love that pretty little quilt. Its gorgeous
Julie xxxxx

Janet said...

Lovely little quilt. Beautiful photos.

serendipity said...

What a sweet little quilt. I've never used lavender in cooking. I wonder if it's as good for you on the inside as the oil is on the outside?

Sigrun said...

Oh, I love lavender sugar very much and make my one every two years for cakes and cookies. My friend braught me lavender from france, bio.

Your quilt is very cute!

Sigrun

Zwergenwelt said...

dear Helen,
I love lavender too, and the picture of the house with lavender fields ist so great.
Could also be in france, so pretty. Your mini quilt with hexagons is lovely! I am so lazy .. it seems, I have to sew some items soon,..;O)
Have wonderful summer days!
Best wishes, cornelia

Frances said...

Helen, I find lavender a lovely color and scent, and always have some dried lavender in my home. However, I've never tried making any lavender sugar...I'm not quite sure how much lavender to add to the mix, having the sense that a little might go a long way.

There's usually a lavender stand at the farmers market and I'll enquire at the stand this week. Probably will also buy some 2015 lavender to freshen up my supplies.

The miniature quilt is completely charming with its gentle harmony of colors. Can you imagine this...I actually had a dream last night that invoved my begining cutting out fabrics in preparation for some hexy paper piecing. I suddenly realized I might need a thimble and woke up. I think your posts are inspiring me! I've put Thimble on my shopping list. I know I have one around here somewhere...but where?

xo

Thimbleanna said...

Always so pretty over here -- Lavendar bunny and her little quilt are just adorable. And that photo of the cotswolds lavendar house makes me swoon!

Sharon - creativity and family said...

Your little quilt is gorgeous Helen. Definitely one to be treasured! I have never tried lavender sugar, does it give a floral taste to the sugar? I always think Parma violet sweets when I hear of lavender used in cooking and it always puts me off! x

Elderberry-Rob said...

A delightful quilted bed for bunny! I have a lot of lavender drying for silk painted bags - I might try making up some lavender sugar as it does indeed look pretty and make a wonderful gift, thanks for the idea. Betty :D

susan said...

I never heard of lavender sugar, but it sounds heavenly. I'm a huge lavender fan so this would really be right up my alley. Your hexie quilt is darling. I'm still doing just squares with my quilting - I'll have to step out of my comfort zone a bit.

Jane said...

I love lavender but I've never used lavender in cooking; the lavender sugar sounds wonderful though. We have a couple of lavender farms near us but I've never visited them, time to go and see them I think. Congrats on winning Vivienne's surprise giveaway and your little hexie quilt is beautiful. Have a good weekend. Jane xx

cristina said...

Hi, Helen! I love lavener and I love your bunny and your new quilt.
Congratulations for your new post, I love to all!
Kisses and a big hug! hope you have a nice summer!

Kay said...

Such a lovely quilt, and it absolutely does remind me of sugared almonds. x

flowers on my table said...

I do love your sugared almond quilt, such an apt name for it, the backing fabric is really sweet too. I do love all things lavender, I make lavender shortbread with my lavender sugar, and lavender and honey ice-cream, both are delicious. Much love to you Helen, and congratulations on your lovely giveaway surprise, Linda xx

vintage grey said...

Oh, such a beautiful little quilt!! Love the soft lavender! Hope you are having a lovely summer dearest Helen! xo Heather

driftwood said...

just adorable x and the lavender sugar sounds divine x

handmade by amalia said...

This lovely post has a French country chic vibe to it, so very pretty.
Amalia
xo

Linda said...

Oh I do always enjoy your colour choices! I love the colours of the crochet blanket and the little rabbit bed quilt cover is delicious! I agree, very like a box of sugared almonds.