NATURAL SKIN - ROSE GERANIUM FACE CREAM

Many moons ago I trained as an aromatherapist and one of the offshoots from that was I learnt to make various creams and potions. So today I thought I would share my everyday, good old reliable face cream recipe for you to try if you should fancy.

Now truth be told when I started training I really disliked the smell of geranium, the middle 'c' of essential oils, the oil can help to balance the hormonal system, lift the spirits and generally help put things back in balance. Well this didn't bode well as it would often be an important part of a blend for treating all manner of things so I just had suck it up.

Oddly today it is one of my favourite oils, it grew on me from bearable, to pleasant and then making it into my top 5 favourite smells...sadly it will never take the number 1 spot as my heart will never budge from the glorious rose.

It is the active ingredient in this cream as it it useful for all kinds of skin conditions, balances sebum, excellent for sluggish, congested & oily skins but also calms blotchy dry skin...

To make the cream you will need the following -

a clean sterilised glass jar with a lid
a wooden spoon
small saucepan
a double boiler ( a heat resistant bowl & a pan of hot water are ideal)
stick blender

125ml sweet almond oil
10g beeswax (i used clean beeswax straight from my hive but pellets or grated from a bar is perfect)
25g lanolin
10 drops geranium essential oil
30mls rosewater

1. Gently warm the rosewater in the small saucepan.
2. Place the sweet almond oil, beeswax & lanolin in a heat proof bowl (or top pan of double boiler) over a simmering saucepan of water stir until all melted and combined together.
3. Remove from heat and place stick blender into mixture. Start to blend and pour the rosewater into the oil in a slow steady stream.
4. Blend until smooth & creamy.
5. Stir in the geranium essential oil and spoon into jar.
6. Store in a cool dry place, use when needed.

Although this is a very simple recipe if you have sensitive skin it is advisable to test a little first before slathering it all over you face and regretting it for a few days after.

It is quite a heavy so maybe use at night or on a eau natural day when you don't need to wear make up.

NATURAL SKIN - ROSEWATER FACE WASH

My skin is random to say the least, one minute its sore because its so dry, the next I'm covered in spots....not what I had in mind in my forties so I am always desperately trying to find the perfect face wash that will do the job whatever the skin condition that week.
I thought I would share this recipe here as so far my skin seems to be a-okay and not having any issues or blotches. I use geranium essential oil for its balancing effect but you can change it for another if it would suit your skin better.

bits & bobs you will need

• 50mls unscented castile liquid soap ( i use Dr Bronner's)
• 50mls rosewater
• 8-10 drops of rose geranium essential oil
• A small bottle 

1. Pour the soap & rosewater into the bottle and give it a good shake
2. Add the essential oils into the mix and then shake again
3. Shake the contents each time you use it.

Now the perfect companion for use with the face wash are these natty wee face cloths. Ideal for those cotton wool haters out there and for those that find exfoliating face washes a little too harsh for the face. I made 14 so I have 2 sets one for using & one set in the wash. Brilliant for using up those pesky ends of yarn that are always hanging about. Do use a natural fibre such as cotton or linen otherwise your cleansing experience maybe akin to that of nails scrapping down a blackboard...

cotton or linen yarn scraps
4mm crochet hook

1. ch 20 turn
2. in 3rd ch from hook 1 dc
3. skip 1 ch and dc in next to end
4. turn, 2ch and then repeat step 3
5. once you have a square fasten off and sew in ends

CROCHET AT PLAY - KAT GOLDIN

A wee while ago Kat and I got chatting through our connection at Kyle, our publishers, as I recall our books were next to each other on a shelf, for all to see at a book fair ( I think we were both secretly very proud of all our hard work). So when Kat asked me if I would like to review a copy of her new crochet book, I said yes sir, yes please.

Well what can I say..what a great book, fresh fun ideas and some rather great tutorials which in my case were a breath of fresh air.

Now I am a bit of a stick in the mud when it comes to crochet stitches, I like not to have to concentrate on anything too tricky or patterns I actually have to think about...you know, single, double & trebles with the odd double treble thrown in for good luck and maybe a puff stitch here & there.
So some glorious red yarn was chosen for this pattern by a young lady who is rather keen on a wrap or shawl.
I was a-okay with the puff stitches but then row 2 there it was ...1RdtrB... pardon me what, I have no idea what you are talking about Kat!
So a quick flick through to the front of the book and there it was, clear and rather easy peasy to follow, a Raised Treble Back stitch...simple when you know how....

So far I have learnt a couple of new stitches and I am making my way through this pattern,  so my thoughts on this book...blooming great and its taken me out of my comfort zone am I am looking forward to getting to grips with Mr Fox & Mrs welly boot warmers.....

TIPS FROM THE STITCHING ROOMS... A RATHER HANDY HOOK

Paper patterns aren't they a nuisance, delicate tissue, to stiff brown card. Where do you put them. Folding or rolling them back into the packet is a pain because they get all creased and won't lay flat. You could purchase some of these nifty hooks and hang them on a rail or you could make a few of these and hang them on a rail.

All that is needed for this quick fix is some heavy gauge florist (15 gauge) or similar and a bit of bending here and there.....rather easy peasy

1. Fold your piece of wire in half leaving a nice rounded curve at the base.

2. Then bend the left side top a couple of inches to make a hook, this will hang over you rail so make sure it is big enough to sit and move on the rail.

3. Bend the top right side about 2" at a 90 degree angle.
4. Then bend the end round the left wire just under the bend. This holds the hook closed so that your patterns don't fall off.

Just squeeze and unhook and thread your patterns onto the hook ( make sure you have punched a hole in them) and hang them on a rail all flat and ready to go.

You can also punch a hole through the instructions & envelope so you can identify the pattern at a quick glance.

Also if you haven't space for a rail, hook them over a coat hanger & hang them on the back of a door...

GRANNY CHIC OFF TO THE UNDERGROUND RESTURANT

Right then you lovely lot as you know I am off to Cybher this year to do my wee presentation on the process of writing a book with my wonderful buddy Tif, how our friendship came to be, how we found ourselves writing a book and various other interesting bits & bobs. So if you get the chance to attend its a fantastic day....

Now earlier in the year on one of her trips up north MsMarmitelover otherwise know as Kerstin came to stay for a couple of days filling the house with outrageous laughter, cooking, thrifting & marvellous stories and made me promise that if ever I was on my travels in that neck of the woods and should need a place to rest my head that I should give her a call.

picture from The English Can Cook

So that is indeed what I did when I needed somewhere to stay for this trip....Of course I was welcomed with open arms and then then Kerstin suggested wouldn't it be fun to do a 'granny chic' tea where people could come along to The Underground Restaurant  and sample some of Kerstins delicious creations, bring a crafty project or two & we could have a jolly nice evening.

If you would like to come along you can book tickets for the event here....see you there rx

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/216819

MISMATCHED FROCKS

are now in the shop....because of the nature of these frocks each one is made to order. Frocks can also be made in your own fabric should you wish to part with some of your stash.....just drop me an email or enquiry through the site.

ALL MESSED UP

Have you noticed how 'inspiration' has gotten a wee bit sterile all over the internet lately, or maybe its just me...perfect pictures adore our pin boards, blogs are churning out wonderful pictures of what is 'in' 'on trend' and what we should wish for ( just a note here, not all blogs,  I still read some wonderfully inspiring ones) and as I sat sipping a well earned cup of tea made by my expert tea maker son I looked around at the mess I was working in and thought to myself this is what I want to see....messy studios and lived in houses (obviously would rather not see pants discarded on the floor) but I want to be inspired by the goings on of other folk about their daily shufflings....

So in the spirit of all things messy a few shots of my studio... enjoy and if you fancy pinning some please do it would be good to see some ramshackle goings on in between all the perfect loveliness ;)