Summer Solstice Cake

Oh hi there beautiful! I made this rose topped cake at the weekend and HAD to capture it amoungst my blooming ammi. Saturday was also the summer solstice which I didn't realise but I'm sure made these photos feel extra magical. I love summer and will never pass up the opportunity to celebrate it in all its beautiful floral glory. As I didn't have long, I set this cake table with a cloth picked up in France, an arrangement I was playing about with using left overs from my flower stall and pretty rose patterned plates. Simple moments really do make the everyday beautiful, cake instructions below. Bon appetit! 

For the cake I swear by the all-in-one sponge by Queen Mary Berry. I baked mine the night before so it had plenty of time to cool.

For the decoration I whisk up a small carton of double cream with a tablespoon of sifted icing sugar. I then hull and chop strawberries into quarters and add them to the bowl (I sometimes add raspberries too). I give them another mix until the cream turns pink. 

Using a spatula I spread a thick layer onto the base cake making sure I get right up to the edges and sandwich the second cake on top. I then spread a thin layer to the top and sides. Due to my children misbehaving I popped it into the fridge whilst I sorted a small skirmish  - it worked wonders and set the cream. You don't have to do this step but I recommend. 

To finish I scattered rose petals around the edge of the cake and added three juicy strawberries and a few mini meringues off centre. I then added small roses and feverfew daises to fill in the gaps. As a final flourish I sprinkled a few more rose petals and a gentle dust of icing sugar. 

Keep cool until ready to eat or instagram! 

More summer cakes here...

Classic Sponge with Eton Mess Filling 

Layered Lemon Cake

Early Autumn Afternoon Tea

Buckets of Flowers

Happy Friday! I've been busy this morning getting my homegrown flowers cut and rested and jam jars scrubbed for tomorrow's flower stall. They are looking so pretty and summery, I'm really excited! From earlier in the week, here is a bucket of beautiful english garden flowers I snipped for a friends birthday party (socially distant of course!). She was having a festival themed birthday for her daughter's 19th birthday so I went bright and clashing with lots of grasses reminiscent of english meadows. I put everything together in vases (these lace sprayed vases have resurfaced) and got five vases full. I did a doorstep drop off and my friend dotted them around her house and garden - perfect. 

I'd like to start offering buckets of flowers for any event you might be having. I've written so many times about the joy and importance in making your everyday beautiful - I feel like lockdown has really shown people that celebrations at home can be just a special as being out. I'm delighted that I can now offer flowers that you can use alongside my tutorials for laying and styling tables - I'll leave a few links to some styled tables that you might enjoy. 

If you are looking for fresh garden flowers, I'm based in Leigh-on-Sea,  Essex and can put anything I have growing together for you (based on seasonal availability) from £5 jam jars to something bigger. I'd absolutely love to hear from you, you can email me or an instagram message works too .  Have a lovely weekend, I hear the sun is back. xx 

Summer table 

Fathers table table setting

French and Foliage inspired wedding

 Party Under the Pear Tree 

Under the Sea Party Table 

Talking Tables Truly Alice Party Table 

DIY - Recycled leather and gem stone bracelet

**this post contains gifted items**

Do you have a hobby? Mine is most certainly jewellery making and I fallen back in love with it. I love how it gives me space to think without thinking, the time to create without pressure and the beauty of turning a pile of beads, jewels and findings into something beautiful. Today with leather and findings kindly gifted to me from Endless Leather I want to share with you how to make this simple leather and gem stone bracelet. It's been a while since I last worked with them and I was delighted to discover they now stock recycled leather. I'm trying to me more mindful of what supplies I'm buying when it comes to craft projects, this recycled leather gives me the buzz of new materials without taking anything more from the earth. I've paired it with recycled gem stones from broken pieces of jewellery to create a gorgeous summer bracelet, here's how to make. 

You'll need - Recycled leather 10 x 2mm, taupe, lobster clasp, large hoop, 5mm jump rings, 2 x end cap, E6000 glue (the best) and a mix of jewels mine mostly come from broken pieces of jewellery. If you need new try Etsy they need to be about 5mm 

Step 1. Cut your leather to your exact wrist measurement. Cut the corners off each end, this will help the leather fit snuggly into the end cap - make sure you don't cut too much. 

Add a small dab of glue to the inside of each end cap and then insert the leather. Leave to dry. 

Step 2. Glue your gem stones into place - I kept my colours random but you could do any variation you like. Leave to dry. 

Step 3. Fix a lobster clasp to one end using a jump ring (this post explains how to open and close a jump ring) and a large jump to the other. 

It really is that simple, my new bracelet is already sitting happily on my wrist with some other old friends. Happy Making everyone!

Leather and cord ends kindly gifted for use in this project from Endless Leather. Tutorial, styling and photography all me. 

Cow Parsley and Rainbows, a look back at lockdown

With a weird sense of familiarity  returning to our lives I wanted to take a little bit of time to reflect on the past few months.  I truly believe that the world has needed this time and I'm so incredibly grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to keep us safe. 

During the early weeks when uncertainty jump started a cleaning and clearing fix I listened to a great episode of How to Fail with Elizabeth Day and Mo Gawdat  which my sister recommended. Whilst emotions did rollercoaster I focused my energy on staying positive and thankful for all that was good in my life. I took the time to look at my blessings and counted them daily. I know that this all sounds a bit twee but my role is to keep my family on an even keel as possible and this was how I coped.

That's not to say we didn't have bad days because we absolutely did - my husband continued to work in London leaving everyday before 5am and returning at 7pm. I was doing all the childcare solo without a break alongside all the household stuff which was not only monotonous but mentally exhausting but I was in a safe haven and felt VERY lucky about it. 

For me the greatest outcome has been the space to breathe, reflect, change and refocus my priorities. The world had become so noisy with expectations and double standards about what is expected from motherhood and beyond, I had to be just be for ten solid weeks and y'know, it was enough. Being so often told we need to do more, buy more, take our children on expensive trips to be a good parent made me never feel like I was never keeping things exciting enough. My intuition has always told me that they don't need fancy things, just quality time and I found our simple adventures with my full attention have been some of my favourite days of motherhood. 

As I've been writing this post (its taken a while to process and articulate my thoughts) the world again has highlighted the brutality of human nature. My thoughts are redirected on how to make the world a kinder and more positive place - I've been listening and learning filling the great holes in my knowledge. And I will continue to do. 

Before lockdown I kept coming back to the importance of listening to ourselves and to each other.  In a world so dominated by pocket platforms that give anyone space to share an opinion, we have lost our ability to listen, to truly listen. As lockdown starts to ease I really hope we can step into a 'new normal' - one where success is not defined by wealth, status and power but the kindness and compassion we can show ourselves and each other in the most strange and uncertain of circumstances.

A simple garden rule - one weed out, one plant in

The title of this post really sums up what I want to say but as I'm writing I might as well elaborate. For me half my gardening time is spent pulling out weeds, there are some corners where grass and dandelions look magical and others where weeds are just a pain. I wrote earlier this year about how I've dealt with bindweed but today I want to talk about how I get my everyday weeds under control. 

It's a busy time in the garden, hence the lack of posting here. The seedlings that I've been nurturing for months are ready to move to their final spots unfortunately the weeds have had the same idea. During the warm evenings I've been outside pulling up buttercups, bindweed and anything else I don't recognise. Instead of leaving the ground empty I have filled each spot with dahlia's, scabiosca and cosmos. If your garden is looking more weed filled than wonderful - for a summer I recommend you fill your beds with annuals (annuals are plants that grow, flower and set seed within a year). With garden centres re-open you can pick up plants really easily and a jolly bed will be far more inspiring than a weed filled space of earth.

I have used annuals for the past few years as a gentle way of keeping the weeds in my garden under control. Every time I have gone to put a plant in I have been able to pull out another length of bindweed or clump of buttercups (I love buttercups but they really take over quickly). As annuals need to be taken out at the end of autumn it gives me another opportunity to weed again when I take them out.  I can the give my flowers beds a good mulch over the winter - giving the next summers plants a head start. 

If you have empty beds but not too many weeds maybe start to fill with roses or hydrangeas. David Austin roses are a total dream but I've had just as much joy and success with cheaper roses I've picked up in B&Q and online. From my beginners experience there is never a right time to start a garden, each season brings its own benefits and challenges. My advice is to start with what you've got if something doesn't work, learn and google and try again. Happy gardening, I share more on my instagram account @lottsandlots if you want to see more. 

Petal Cupcakes

Hello! A pretty post for you today with a little help from my friends at Polly's Petals. We haven't done much baking during LD - the alignment of flour, eggs and butter hasn't always happened. That said when we did bake, it became a real treat and an opportunity to make an ordinary day into a special one. I found this Hummingbird Bakery cupcake recipe in a forgotten cookbook, having never baked proper cupcakes before I was so pleased with how they turned out. I had to improvise on the icing/frosting but I couldn't resist giving them a sprinkle with this beautiful petal mix, so much nicer than the garish sprinkles my children are addicted to! These petals have become a baking essential, now the weather is warming up I'm going to add them to ice cubes to make even a basic glass of water beautiful - enjoy! x 

You'll need 

a 12-hole cupcake tray, lined with paper cases

120g plain flour
140g caster sugar
1 ½ tsp baking powder
a pinch of salt
40g unsalted butter, at room temperature
120ml whole milk
1 egg
¼tsp vanilla extract

For a simple vanilla frosting (I've not used this one but its recommended) 
250g icing sugar, sifted
80g unsalted butter, at room temperature
25ml whole milk
a couple of drops of vanilla extract

Dried Flower Petals 

To make, preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F) Gas 3.


Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) and beat on slow speed until you get a sandy consistency and everything is combined. Gradually pour in half the milk and beat until the milk is just incorporated.


Whisk the egg, vanilla extract and remaining milk together in a separate bowl for a few seconds, then pour into the flour mixture and continue beating until just incorporated (scrape any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula). Continue mixing for a couple more minutes until the mixture is smooth. Do not overmix.


Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until two-thirds full and bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, or until light golden and the sponge bounces back when touched.


A skewer inserted in the centre should come out clean. Leave the cupcakes to cool slightly in the tray before turning out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.


When the cupcakes are cold, spoon the vanilla frosting on top and decorate with hundreds and thousands.


Beat the icing sugar and butter together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed.


Turn the mixer down to slow speed. Combine the milk and vanilla extract in a separate bowl, then add to the butter mixture a couple of tablespoons at a time. Once all the milk has been incorporated, turn the mixer up to high speed.


Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. The longer the frosting is beaten, the fluffier and lighter it becomes.



This recipe is taken from The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook by Tarek Malouf and The Hummingbird Bakers
Published by Ryland Peters & Small
Text © Tarek Malouf and The Hummingbird Bakers

Thanks so much to Polly's Petals for gifting me these petals. Photography and Styling all my own work, Recipe credited within post. 

DIY - Colourful tassel necklace

It’s been a while but it feels so right to be sharing some jewellery making tutorials with you again. I’ve got lot(t)s in the pipeline so dust off your pliers we’re getting beady again! Hooray!

I made this beauty of a necklace a few years ago, inspired by the gorgeous pink quartz points I’ve used - I wanted to create a piece of jewellery that was 100% summer. I’m not sure why it was left in my jewellery box for so long (small children?!) but I was delighted to rediscover and I’ve enjoyed wearing it even more. I think I just made it rather than made it to share, so there are no pics to go with the steps but the technique is the same as this brass and glass bead necklace. I’m going to talk you through it anyway so, let’s go.

You'll need - mystic pink quartz points, 5mm jump rings, 7mm jump rings, tiger tail, crimps, knot covers , cotton cord, cotton tassels, beading wire and a mix of beads, I used what I had in my stash, a mix of large statement beads Kernow crafts has a beautiful selection of semi precious stones and small beads (I used large seed beads). 

Step 1. Prep your crystals and tassels. This earring tutorial has some great images of a wrapped loop. 

Cut lengths of wire about 10/15cm long (one length per piece of quartz). Thread the quartz onto a wire, fold the wire in half so the two lengths of wire cross at the top. 

Using pliers bend one piece of wire so that it points upwards, make sure the second piece of wire crosses over the first and points horizontally. You should have the quartz bead in the centre of the wire with a length of wire pointing vertically and another pointing horizontally. 

Take the horizontal wire and wrap it around the vertical wire a couple of times, snip off the excess. Make a small loop in the vertical wire and wrap the tail of wire around the wrapped wire a few times and snip off the excess wire. Repeat this step so all your quartz pieces have loops. I had seven pieces of quartz in this necklace. 

Take your tassels and depending on how big they are, thread a 5mm or 7mm jump ring to the top of each one. 

Step 2. Join your tassels and quartz crystals together with a jump ring, keep it as small as you can get away with. I had one central element which had one piece of quartz and two tassels (one turquoise, one pink) and then six smaller pieces with one tassel and one quartz.  

Step 3. Take a length of tiger tail (approx 30/40cm long),  you want enough to work with but so much you get in tangle. Thread on your central quartz tassel and then a small bead either side working outwards on both sides thread on your bead mix in a design that works for your beads, you might go super symmetrical or more random like I've done here. 

Step 4. Once you're happy with the design add a knot cover and crimp to one end. Squeeze the crimp closed and then close the knot cover over the top, repeat on the other side. Fix a 7mm jump ring to either end.  This brass and glass bead necklace tutorial gives you some good close ups. 

Step 5. Still here?! Yay! You can free style this part depending on what cord you've got. If you're using leather you could go with a fixed length necklace like the brass and bead necklace. If you've got cord like I had, cut two lengths 75cm long. Thread each piece through the jump ring on the end of the necklace, make sure each piece is exactly in half and tie in a knot close to the jump ring.

Step 6. You are more than welcome to finish here tying knots at the end of cord to finish off. You would tie the cord in a bow to secure when wearing. But for a final step I put the ends next to each other with the ends facing in opposite directions and did a simple macrame box knot over the top with some left over nylon thread - this friendship bracelet tutorial gives you a close up. 

Apologies for taking you on a journey through my back catalogue of jewellery making - even if you don't end up making this exact necklace I hope it inspires you to look at what you've got in your stash and see what you can create. Happy Making. xx