Pink Lemonade

Pink Lemonade! Yum :) Recipe coming out in the summer issue of UK Handmade…. x

Blossom

So lovely to have a bit of sunshine for Easter despite the drop in temperature!

Spring Garden Necklace

A few of my favourite things…

Easter biscuits and cupcakes

Polar Bear Christmas Cake

Its lovely to be back home for Christmas and have some time to get crafty in the kitchen. I’ve really  missed baking while I’ve been away at university. I thought I’d do something different for my festive baking this year….

Christmas Polar Bear Cake

… I couldn’t resist making a polar bear Christmas cake – I’ve named him Henry :)

Merry Christmas!!

Gilly xx

Close up of Henry the Polar Bear

Calendula Long Knotted Necklace

I’m celebrating! There’s free shipping on ALL orders at Gillyflower Jewellery throughout September!

I’m leaving for university in a few weeks and while I’m studying I might need to close my Etsy and Folksy shops. So… September is a great time to celebrate and offer free shipping to all my customers :)

My online Folksy shop is mainly for buyers in the UK, and my online Etsy shop is for UK and International buyers. Do drop by and have a little browse – all my colourful and funky jewellery is handmade by me in Lincolnshire and features my trademark glass flower focals. Gilly ✿ xxx

Cherry Blossom Cupcake

Just a few cherry and almond cupcakes this week, decorated as I did once before with pink fondant tops and pink flower adornments. The sponge is almond, containing almond essence and ground almonds, and is filled with cherry jam and a preserved whole cherry. The cakes are topped with a thin layer of almond buttercream and then the rolled fondant. I ♥ cherries!

UK Handmade Autumn Issue

Flick through the beautiful new bumper issue of UK Handmade magazine and be inspired for the forthcoming season :) The lazy summer days are the perfect chance to plan your crafty autumnal activities and read about Britain’s wonderful craft heritage – there’s a great feature piece on silk weaver Debby Kirby and a lovely article on the return of Harris Tweed. Plus there are recipes, including my spiced butternut squash cuppies on page 55, and fabulous craft tutorials. So get reading, its a great way to chill out on  a summer’s afternoon :)

Spiced Butternut Squash Cupcakes

Cupcakes Take The Cake Website

Ooh, my new home cupcakes have been blogged on the fabulous Cupcakes Take The Cake blog, one of the most popular cupcake blogs. Awesome, thank you Rachel :)

New Home Cupcakes Blogged

Moving to Cornwall Cupcakes

My wonderful and very dear friend Jules and her husband Pip are moving away to a beautiful cottage in Cornwall this weekend (sob!) so I made some cupcakes with beach, home and hobby related decorations to let them know that I’ll miss them loads but hope they’re really happy in their new house. That’s supposed to be a guitar, not a violin, by the way! The cakes were all gluten free: zesty lemon (shown in the pics) and also chocolate brownie. Love  you Jules xxx

Forest Flower Knotted Necklace

Its a good week for Gillyflower Jewellery! Folksy has picked my shop as a featured seller, so my jewellery will be on the front page at various times and my shop will be listed as featured seller on the Folksy website. Hurrah, I’m thrilled :) Think I should probably get busy and make a few new pieces, there’s a lack of red and purple in my shop at the moment…  *grabs pliers*

Lemon Gluten Free Cupcakes

I made some gluten free lemon sponge cakes this week for a Friday get together with a couple of good friends. I used Doves Farm gluten free flour as usual, but I felt they tasted a little bit weird this time – like potato pancakes! The flour does include some potato flour as part of the gluten free mix, but I haven’t noticed it before. I think I overcooked them a little, a mistake I often make with gluten free – gf cakes can be a little bit dry so its best to take them out a few minutes earlier than regular sponge. Anyway, they were OK and served their purpose: tea and cake with friends, lovely :)

I blogged the recipe a few years ago, click here to see how to  make them. I haven’t sold them very well with all my complaining about potato and dryness, but they’re normally pretty good and most people don’t even realise they’re gluten free! Also, I highly recommend chocolate brownies made with Doves Farm flour to the recipe on the back of the flour packet. The recipe is here on my blog and is also on their website. Totally yum!