Another Lush Batch of Gluten Free Cupcakes!

The Gluten Free adventure is still on but I have to be honest that I haven't been on it 100% which may explain why I don't feel any different. But I can say one thing...if I eat something with lots of gluten in it....like pizza or a big portion of pasta...my Fibro symptoms are way worse. I have really noticed it since I have been (mostly) gluten free. Maybe I needed to cheat here and there to kind of test it...I don't know...but I do plan on going at it 100% full throttle very soon. I'm still poring over all the cookbooks I bought and planning meals etc. Will keep you posted.

Meanwhile...will you look at these gorgeous cupcakes! They are chamomile, lemon and courgette with a chamomile/lemon butter cream frosting...and they are gluten free. I made them for a dinner party and everyone there said they tasted better than cupcakes made with wheat flour. They were delicious. The recipe is from THIS amazing book...I highly recommend it.

Have a great weekend!
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Caroline Victoria Rose: A Rose for the Arts

A gorgeous, strong and elegant rose created in memory of Caroline Victoria Coldicutt, a young and talented artist who's life was cut short by a tragic death. Read more about the rose here...and read about the Foundation here.

Mine is blooming and filling my studio with the most heavenly fragrance.

I so love roses.

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What I Wore Today: May 30, 2011

The daisys are blooming so I thought I'd dress up for the occassion.

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'Going Gluten Free' Celebration Cupcakes

I have recently made the decision to try and go gluten free. I'm not Coeliac but I do have some other autoimmune problems such as Hashimoto's Disease as well as Fibromyalgia. I guess the writing has been on the wall for a while now. I have some friends who have Fibro who have seen a huge improvement in their symptoms once they went gluten free. I also have a good friend who is Coeliac and she has shown me that eating gluten free isn't as limiting as I first thought. She has been so generous by passing on information, giving me tips and advice and loaning me some of her cookbooks. (Thanks L...hugs, hugs.)

Giving up bread and wheat isn't so daunting really...but it's the baked goods that had me concerned. My beloved cakes and pastries would be no longer! I thought a gluten free cupcake would taste like dust. I was so wrong! I made these delicious cupcakes today from the 'Strawberries and Cream Cupcakes' recipe from this gorgeous cookbook by Harry Eastwood. The cake part is made from courgette/zucchini, ground almonds and rice flour. There is a dollop of strawberry jam in the middle. The frosting is made from icing sugar, a wee bit of butter, vanilla and mascarpone cheese. It's not as sickly sweet as a conventional buttercream frosting and not as sour as a cream cheese frosting...and I kinda like that. Wayne wasn't too crazy about the texture which is a bit grainy rather than spongy but he thought that they tasted better than regular cupcakes. I think they taste better too. They taste real. Like real food and not sickly and processed-like...does that make sense? Anyway, I am now in love with Harry Eastwood....I can't wait to make more stuff...and to share it around. Life is just better if you can have cake and share it with those you love.

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I Saved A Bee!

Today when I came home I found a flaked out bee on the bathroom floor. His little legs were all stiff and twitchy...he looked like he was nearly dead.

Rewind about 30 summers ago when I was aged 14 sitting on the porch watching my great aunt Lou do her gardening. Being an avid gardener and a good Christian, Lou loved all of God's creatures, especially the bees. Whenever one was found fizzled out and struggling she would drizzle some honey near it to revive it. Being an angst ridden and bored teenager I probably rolled my eyes, but Lou's method of saving bees must have stuck with me because it's the first thing I thought to do for this little bee. (and little he was...not a honey bee...more likely a solitary mason bee perhaps?...not too sure.)

Anyway, it worked! I put some honey on a butter knife, picked the bee up with it and he immediately started licking it up. Lick, lick, lick...I could see his cute little curly tongue lapping up the honey. Gradually there was movement in his legs, then his body, then his wings...and after about a half hour, he crawled to the window and flew away!

Bye bye Mr. Bee!

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Victorian Cemetery and Church Love

It's a cliche, I know...being an American here in England, oogling the Victorian architecture...but I can't help myself.  No matter how many Victorian churches and cemeteries I see, I never tire of them and I never cease to be amazed at how romantically beautiful and atmospheric they are. All those people, dead for over 100 years, gravestones faded and weathered, loved ones long gone and probably forgotten. It seems so sad, but there is always such a strong presence in Victorian cemeteries that can't be ignored. Perhaps it's because I'm from California and there is nothing this old or ornate there. The really old architecture seen in California is of a Western/Mexican/Pueblo style...very 'Ranchy'...which is beautiful too and gives the perfect backdrop for cactus (which I love). But because I grew up with that, I'm used to it.

European architecture though...simply gorgeous! These photos were taken at Nunhead Cemetery and All Saints Church, both in SE London.

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My Illustrations Featured at Laura Ward Photography

This is some illustration work that I did for an amazingly talented photographer named Laura Ward. Honest, feminine, deep, nostalgic and multi-layered is how I would describe her work which is communicated by her use of various types of cameras (and techniques)...especially the old, hand windey up ones (sorry I don't have the proper terminology) but they are lush. I really enjoyed this job because not only is Laura is a joy to work with, but I really admire her work as well...and besides, I can draw tea related stuff all day...I love it! Thank you Laura for such a sweet and generous write up about me, my work and my studio. Fred says Hi!

You can visit Laura's blog here and see more of her work here.

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