Paper garlands

I love garlands and enjoy making them as well. Way back when I was at art college I used to have a small washing line with inspiration pieces pegged to it, so to me a garland is almost an extension of that. Having something decorative strung about your space.

I've seen a lot of different people make simple paper circle garlands, so thought I would whip up a few myself.

old music paper + self patterned waxy paper + thread = pretty musical garlands. I think they work best when there are a few strings draped about together.
Have you made any?

Cucumber agua fresca

Making anything is rewarding, that feeling of having created something, achieving the goal that you set out to. So, beautiful cook book in hand (I'm a sucker for good photos!), page bookmarked, my sister and I decided that we wanted to have a go at making this lovely refreshing drink; which was to accompany the tasty chilli and slaw that we were having for tea (all homemade of course!) that weekend.

Ingredients.
4 English cucumbers
1/2 green chilli, finely chopped
juice of 5 limes
4 tablespoons agave syrup
1 litre of water
handful of mint leaves, plus extra to garnish
pinch of salt
Whiz all the ingredients in a blender; then strain through a fine sieve lined with muslin. Pour into glasses and serve with plenty of ice and mint!
(Recipe from Wahaca Mexican food at home by Thomasina Miers)
Now since making this drink - and it was v lovely indeed - I have actually located agave syrup on the sugar isle in the *big* supermarkets; we didn't have any this particular weekend and so substituted with maple syrup which actually worked fine. We also didn't have a fine sieve and had totally forgotten the muslin - so used a clean old pair of tights stretched over a colander!!! now there's creativeness in the kitchen for you, and two people determined to make these drinks! x

Handmade wedding ideas

I've been asked to help out with a friends wedding, contributing to the making of bits and pieces for it. It's going to be a lovely day (not until next year though, so plenty of time for the making!) and one which they are making very unique to them; which for me is how all weddings should be. So I am armed with a small list of 'makes' to do and am in fact making a few samples so she can see and choose the 'look' that she likes the best. (Next 'wedding meeting' is in November - samples to be complete by then!)

Image courtesy of Alice in Wedding Land

Image courtesy of The Creative Boom

Image courtesy of Green Wedding Shoes

I've even created a board on pinterest where I've been madly pinning away handmade and quirky items/ideas and creative individual elements that people have had at their weddings. It is such a big market these days - Weddings - that you are pretty much spoilt for choice as to ideas and items to achieve the perfect vision for your day.

Do you have any ideas or good resources for handmade weddings?