Folksy Friday - Rainbows !

It's been a weird world of weather down in Essex today. We've had sunshine, rainstorms(of which I got caught in two) and the first rainbow I've seen for ages.Well that is apart from Diomo's glass rainbow that has wowed me on Folksy this week.  I've found a selection of other glass rainbows to brighten the day.

 
 
 
  Diomo GlassAbundant GlassBlack swan Glass JewelleryDormouse StudioPixel Pyro LampworkRoslyn Mitchell Designsshop. Please click on the link to go directly to the shop.
 
 

And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.

Gilbert K. Chesterton



Go to work on an egg!

I know Easter is over but I've been thinking about eggs. I had been worried that I may have been eating too many because our fabulous new chickens have got the hang of it rather quickly. My cake recipie this week used up a few, we have enjoyed eggy bread remembered from Guide camps many moons ago, I even made my first quiche (5 eggs!). How many though is safe to eat?

In a bizarre coincidence Dr. Christian Jessen (the one from embarrassing bodies and supersize programmes) published an article yeaterday about egg consumption in The Evening Standard.

'Dietary cholesterol from foods such as eggs and shellfish has only a small and clinically insignificant effect on blood cholesterol.'

'Whilst I loathe the term 'superfood' if anything could be given the accolade, then it is the humble egg. They are a nutrient dense,high protein, nutrient controlled food.'

'And just to set the record straight there is no limit on the number of eggs that you can eat in a week.

So to encourage you to eat more eggs here are a selection of egg related items from Folksy this week.



Creme Egg by Cherry Blossom Candles

Jo Bangles Jingles and Jangles

Egg Cosy by Jane Lightfoot Designs



Duck Egg Blue Passport Wallet



Egg Cozy by Claire Sibley



Egg Pin Cushion by Perfect Past - Perfect Present



CaractacusPots



'Go to work on an egg'

British egg TV advert

http://www.gotoworkonanegg.co.uk/

Chunky Monkey Loaf

I thought I would share my absolute favourite recipie today. My inspiration coming from the glorious smell in the kitchen, melting chocolate, bananas and general cake!

Since getting our chickens that have laid more eggs in the first 2 weeks than we hoped - we are in full production already! I have had to make a lot of extra cakes and treats so we don't waste them. 

This is a very forgiving recipie and is mixed in one pot in any order and with various additions and omissions. 

This is the basic.

Hovis Notebook by Nant Designs

250g butter ( I use a cheaper marg )

125g sugar (I use caster, brown, or golden)

90g brown sugar ( if I have some- if not more of the browner ones from above)

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla ( never added this as later on I add chocolate)

2 teaspoons lemon rind (never added this - lemon, banana and chocolate didn't sound right)

250g self -raising flour ( substitute with plain and baking powder if run out)

2 bananas



Banana by Woolley Duck



Then the secret ingredient that our family have added to the recipie

dark chocolate chunks

(if too big they all sink to the bottom, too small they melt and there are no chunks)



Vegan Soap by Bits N Bobs

Mix it all up then pour into a greased loaf tin. oven 180C about 45 mins.

In the past we usually had only 2 eggs kicking about so we changed the flour and butter to 166 g and sugar to 143 g total.

As you can see this is a very random style, easy cake to make and unless my children miss out the flour usually turns out absolutely delicious.



  

Taste Test!



Stripey Sock Monkey by Skullduggery



Lucky Dips!

This week I have been inspired by the concept of a lucky dip.I'm sure most of us can remember as children visiting a funfair or school fete and rummaging through a barrel of sawdust to find a little present. Apparently some presents were supposed to be great and others more mundane.

This week I have listed a lucky dip on Folksy. For £5 the recipient will receive at least 2 items, a pendant and something else, maybe a brooch or ring or 2 pendants, as most so far have been. The items have been selected from a group that have never made it to the website for various reasons. Some colours are hard to photograph. I find lilac particularly hard, it comes out quite grey for me so there's quite a few bits in that colour. Lots of daisies with more random than uniform petals and some items that I have merely had for a while now.

I've bought a few lucky dips myself from various folksy sellers and have been really pleased with the products.

Click on the picture to take you to the lucky dips.

Have fun at the fair!



lucky dip by bluedaisyglass

A misfit from kOodles

A kit from KatieLou Illustrates



Rockpool brooches by AmyOrangeJuice



Flower Rings by Nosey Rose Parker



Origami Flowers by Folded Frippery



Purse by Luvlii



Lavender Lally cat by Little Bird House.

Wonki by Detailed Design



 

Have fun at the fair!

Folksy Friday!

 Folksy Mayhem!

I have recently rejoined the daily listing club on Folksy and am amazed everyday at the range and quality of items listed. I hope to list something everyday for the month of May. Good luck to all those who have joined this month.

The items selected for FOLKSY FRIDAY today are some of my favourites so far.



Silk Purse, Sow's Ear - Vintage Butterfly Brooch



Gimme that Thing -
Turquoise Magnesite Gemstone Square Silver Wire Wrapped Ring




O'blue - 'Plan B' Recycled Skateboard Heart Keyring



Lilly's Night Garden- Hanging Bird Decoration - Blue Flowers



DamselflyGemma - Turquoise glittery resin and sterling silver earrings



Whimsical Wren Jewellery-Aurora Bird earrings



I hadn't realised how drawn I have been to blue this week until I started to post.

Blue skies smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies do I see.
(Irving Berlin (1888-1989), U.S. songwriter. "Blue Skies," Betsy, Irving Berlin Music Corp. (1927). Music composed by Ralph Rainger (1900-1942).)

Perhaps I was subconsciously inspired by the fantastic weather that we have had in East Anglia over the past month. Long may it last!