Spider plant flowers

BEAD FEST

Oh joy of all joys, a bead fair exactly one week before my birthday! This event (obviously planned with me in mind) was held at Rheghed near Penrith (Cumbria). It was ace! Totally rammed with beady ladies (largely). It was nice to see lots of Czech glass beads- it reminded me of my holiday in Berlin and the lovely bead shop Eva & I frequented. I didn't take any photos of the event as a whole as it was too jam packed but here are some close ups of some of the stalls.



These beads were from 'Dobeadoo'. I like how they are stored in rice- i'm guessing to protect them and it would keep them dry (not sure if that is terribly important). Don't you think they look a little like exotic fish?





This was the 'Bead Spider' stall. I bought some really nice tiny Czech glass iridescent beads from here.








And this, well this is my haul...

Froggy froggy cupcakes

These cakes were a commission and I think are pretty adorable.





Chocolate Cake Recipe

Ingredients
50g of cocoa powder (not drinking chocolate)
240ml of boiling water
200g sugar
113g butter
175g self raising flour
2tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp of salt
2 beaten eggs


Preheat your oven to 180c

1. Mix the boiling water into the cocoa powder (as if making hot chocolate, so into a paste and then gradually adding the rest) stir alot so all the lumps disolve.
2. Cream the butter and sugar until light in colour and fluffy
3. Sift in the self raising flour,salt and baking powder
4. Add the cocoa/water & beaten eggs
5. Mix well until there are no lumps (The mixture will be very runny but that's good!)
6. Pour into whatever you like (This makes 12 Large muffin like cupcakes) so will be enough for two layers of cake.
7. Bake for around 25 mins until firm to the touch.
8. Cover in delicious icing (preferably coffee flavoured)