Nana

Hello April! The month of hot cross buns for breakfast (smothered in far too much butter), Mother's Day and celebrating Easter. I decided to name this post 'Nana' as everything I wanted to write seemed to link back to her this week, and she is also a bit of a hero in my eyes.

Impeccably dressed, she gardens in her high heels, makes the finest bakewell tart in the land and conjures up delicious afternoon teas by the fire in the blink of an eye. We grew up toasting bread on the log fire, picking and eating cherries from the tree in her garden and cooking fry ups on Cornish holidays on the doorstep on a camp fire. Ask me my perfect Sunday afternoon and it will involve her garden, a blanket on the grass and her infamous Pimms (she swears on her life Pimms isn't alcoholic and serves it eyewateringly strong - there is no correcting her, believe me we have tried...)

This week I picked up a bundle of vintage mini jelly moulds from a charity shop, and was instantly reminded of the towering blancmange she made for my 21st birthday tea party in her garden. Most of my friends didn't have a clue what the blush pink wobbling mass was, but it disappeared as quickly as it was dished up and was a firm favourite with all who had a bowl full. This summer I plan to make mini versions of her delicious blancmange in these moulds, alongside elderflower and rose flavoured jellies with edible flowers dotted through them - I promise to share!

My sewing machine has seen some serious action this week with a last minute order of lavender hearts for a bride and groom's favours, and starting on the soft furnishings for the lovely Oh Me Oh My. An abundance of plump cushions in pretty prints will hopefully entice guests to sit and just 'be' for a while on the comfy chairs and sofas and admire the beautiful setting, including the ceiling which is just one of the amazing features of this lovely space. Their special secret sessions include afternoon tea and Sunday roasts, and I could not think of a nicer place to collapse with a tummy full and watch the world go by. (I urge you to book yourself in for one of these sessions now, you won't be disappointed!)

I often find it hard to complete my own projects when I have lots else going on, but on Sunday I made myself sit down and finish painting, sanding and waxing my vintage sewing box, - the perfect Christmas present from my Nana. I decided on my favourite colour and painted the inside and out chalky pink, and sanded down the edges to give that timeworn look. Having lined the compartments with floral wallpaper offcuts, my box is now full to the brim of threads, trims and buttons, and ready for the mountain of sewing I still have to do!

This week has been scented by hyacinths around the home, the smell of spring (finally) in the air and sticky toffee pudding hot from the oven. I am aware sticky toffee isn't exactly a spring time dessert, but it earned me brownie points with the other half - finally! I am returning to my favourite part of the UK this weekend for a wedding of one of my oldest friends Charlotte, in Cornwall. Charlotte is a dear friend as we were next door neighbours growing up, and used to spend our summer holidays making 'cakes' from the mud, moss and flowers in our parents gardens - much to the frustration of our mums and their precious rose beds! The lucky girl lives down in Cornwall, and I cannot wait to see her be married and be part of her springtime wedding celebrations. I adore Cornwall. I am in love with its coastal paths, rugged beaches and lush countryside, and cannot wait to spend the next few days with my family and friends down there. A trip to the Lost Gardens of Heligan may be on the cards, in between eating enough fish and chips and cream teas to last me a lifetime.

I better get my breton stripes on...