About Me

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I currently live in Birmingham and come from Solihull. I have a love of all things crafty, developed from my mom's love of crafts as I was growing up. I currently work in marketing, but I'm a qualified Aromatherapist, and use to be self employed alongside a day job, might one day return to that. I try to fit in crafts when I can, I wish I had more time and money to spend on it! I enjoy researching my family history and finding out about the past. It can get frustrating, but is really rewarding when you have a break through! I hope to meet people with similar interests as me and swap advice/stories.

Friday 31 August 2012

Fashion Through The Ages

Over recent years I have become more and more interested and drawn to vintage fashions. Yes some clothes/styles just don't suit, but you can always add a little modern twist to make them more suited/practical.

I thought, since we are building up to the new series of Downton Abbey and since doing some family history research and looking back over old photos I'd take a look at some vintage styles and fashions. This is an ongoing theme and I'll update with various images and descriptions, any good 'where to buy' locations and my own purchases and finds.

You'll find more about the fashions here, but as a quick taster here's a few images.

The 1900s

 The Dowager Countess Outfit - handmade, original period lace was used.

Corsets - all women of this period were expected to wear a corset, no matter your social standing, it was a staple part of everyday outfits.

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Who Do You Think You Are?

With the new series on TV I was inspired to get back and update my family history page.

Please take a look here.

Or simply click on Family History page link at the top of my blog.

I have added information regarding marriage.

Here's a few images of past weddings:

Left: Original photo of what we have deduced as my great great uncles wedding c.1921. I'll be coming back to this in a later post on 'mystery weddings' ...some mysteries over this one!
Fred Schulze - m - Marie Rieziska
 Right: My grandparents wedding copy photo.
1938 John Lovelcok - m - Florence Johnson
 Left: My great grandparents original wedding photo 1904
Henry Edward Smith - m - Emma Schulze
Right: Original photo. We had no notes as to who this was, but from deducations and little help we now believe these are my great great grandparents and this is an engagement photo, taken in Germany.

Bruno Schulze and Marie Justine Siebe c.1878




One thing I love about all these photos is looking at the fashions, the different styles over the years and any cultural influences/differences. It's also fun trying to see family resemblances or traits!

Wednesday 8 August 2012

Apricot, Mint and Lamb Meatballs

I fancied doing something a little different for dinner and found this recipe which I adapted. It's nice and straight forward and tastes good too! It's also great because it's freezable, so after it's cooked and cooled down you can freeze it or if you make too many, there's another meal.

Ingredients:
Minced Lamb (500g) serves 4
Apricots (approx 8 chopped)
Fresh Mint - leaves chopped
Coriander leaves (1-2 teaspoons)
Cumin (2 teaspoons)
Red Onion - x1 chopped
Bread Crumbs (3oz)
A tin of chopped tomatoes
Optional fresh basil

Pre-heat oven to 200C/Gas Mark 5
Mix ingredients in a large bowl, adding the lamb last. The breadcrumbs can be made by weighing the bread and using a blender for just a few minutes - you can increase/decrease the amount of breadcrumbs you want to use.
Use your hands to break up the lamb and mix fully with the other ingredients.

Roll the mixture into balls and place into an oven proof dish (a foil tin if you want to freeze.)



Pour oven the chopped tomatoes and garnish with fresh basil, or additional mint.





Cook in the oven for approx 30 mins- please note dependant on the quantity and size of meatballs you will need to check them and may need to allow up to 45 mins, so check part way through cooking.


Finished:

You can serve the meatballs with pasta, spaghetti, salad, in a wrap, chips or with potato wedges.

Enjoy!