Saturday, December 3, 2011

Taste of Carlow Sunday 4th December

Taste of  Carlow Festival is happening again this
Sunday 4th December.
Don't miss your chance to find Unique Handmade Christmas Presents
for your nearest and dearest.

Fabulous Artisans taking part so stop by my blog again next week for a full review :o)
The summer festival was fab! this promises to be Bigger and Better!!

See You There!


Till next time
♥

Saturday, November 19, 2011

The Witches' Attic

Just had to let you all know that
The Spiral Goddess Magical Jewellery
is now availabe at
O' Connell Street Dublin


Tarot Readings,Hand Crafted Jewellery, a fab range of books and T Shirts.
 With new stock been added daily.
It's a great place and George the owner a lovely man.
So stop by and say Hello.
Tell him Ellen sent ya :o)

Till next time
♥

Monday, November 14, 2011

New Arrivals

I would like to share my latest creations with you.
They will be listed for sale over the next few days :o)

Bewitched Cameo Choker Pendant

Dream Out Loud Hand Stamped Mixed Metal Pendant

Alice had stayed Too Long In Wonderland Choker Cameo Pendant

Blue Sunflower Pendant on Leather Thong

Flower Fairy Choker Cameo Pendant

Shine Hand Stamped Mixed Metal Pendant

The Snow Queen Returns Choker Cameo Pendant
Heart Pendant on Leather Thong

Stay Tuned there's More To Come :o)

Until Next Time
♥

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Let's Bake!

Hey Ho!
Today I would like to share the recipe for my Man's favourite cake :o)
It's a mix between a cake and a crumble and
whenever I bake it, it's gone within a day.
Really tasty and homely.

 Apple Streusel Cake

You Will Need.


115g/4oz Butter
450g/1lb Cooking Apples
175g/6oz Self Raising Flour
1 tsp Ground  Cinnamon
Pinch of Salt
2 Eggs
1-2 tbsp Milk
Icing Sugar for Dusting

For the Topping

115g/4oz Self Raising Flour
85g/3oz Butter
85g/3oz Caster Sugar

 Set your oven to 180*C/350*F/Gas Mark 4
Grease a 23cm /9" Spring Form Tin

To make Streusel Topping

Sift flour into a bowl rub in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Stir in the sugar and place in fridge until needed.

Peel, core and finely slice the apples.

 To Make the Cake
Sift together the flour, cinnamon and salt.
In a separate bowl cream together the butter and Sugar until light and fluffy.


Gradually beat in the eggs adding a little of the flour mixture with the last egg.
Gently fold in Half the flour mixture.
Then fold in the rest with the milk.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the top.


Cover with the sliced apples.(They always turn brown)
Then sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the apples.


Bake in preheated oven for 1hour or until browned and firm to the touch.
Leave to cool in the tin before opening the spring form.
Dust with icing sugar and 
Enjoy!

Delicious hot or cold 
Even better with Vanilla Ice Cream Yum!

I have made this with all different fruits
Blackberries, Apple & Blackberries,Blueberries etc.
If making with Blueberries
leave out the cinnamon and add some vanilla essence to the cake mixture instead.
Try it out and see what you think. 

Till Next Time
♥

Friday, October 7, 2011

Featured!!!!!!

The Spiral Goddess got Featured in
the Etsy Ireland Blog Fab Friday Picks!

That's me no. 5 with my Vampire Hand Stamped Cuff Bracelets

Happy Daze Yay!!

A great big thanks to Nicola of Nicsgifts on Etsy for the feature ;o)

Till Next Time
♥

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Setting Up Shop For Christmas

OMG can't believe I used the C word in September?/!
But when you run a business you have to think ahead right?
So today I wanted to show you my latest listings in my Etsy Shop
Hand Painted Cookies for Santa and Christmas Countdown Plates.
Ruldolph looks a little worried in case the cookies aren't shared
Plates can be personalised :O)
Just leave a note in message to seller during checkout.

I love the way Ruldolph is popping his head into the picture to remind you he is on the way!
Have great fun with your Countdown to Christmas with your Countdown Chalkboard Plate.

The Man Himself!
Yay! For Santa!
Don't forget to leave some cookies out this Christmas Eve.
Santa works very hard and would Love a cookie!

Stop by and take a look around my little Siopa
or stop by
my brand new Facebook Page and leave a like if you like :O)

Till Next Time
♥

Friday, September 23, 2011

Everyone Say Awwwww :O)

Just had to introduce the newest member of the Household
Our new Bunny Rabbit.
 Previously know as Fluffy the girls have renamed her Winter.
She was given to us by a family who didn't want her any more.
Poor Winter :O(
She is so cute our girls squeeled with delight.
Could you Blame them :O)
We introduced her to Jasper and now they sniff each other through the hutch.
She runs around the house and loves to sit at the patio doors looking out.
We love them both Jasper and Winter

Till next time
♥

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Blackberries are not just Phones

Yes! Once again it's the time of year for grabbing your kids and some buckets to get out into the fresh air for some serious blackberry picking.
The blackberries seem to be very late this year.
We have been watching the hedgerows for weeks now and only spotted some the other day. I think my jam was made by this time last year??
Anyhoo we had a ball!
 Into the forest ( the Enchanted forest across the road from our house)
and 3 hours later we had nearly
 6 kilos of gorgeous plump berries :O)
  
 Even our dog Jasper eats Blackberries!

How do you know if you've had a successful foraging trip??
Easy!
Your hands look like this....

Your bucket like this :O)

And your Kitchen like this!!

You can find a recipe for making Jam here on my blog

Enjoy the Jamming
Till next time
♥

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

My New Love ♥

Hey Ho Peeps!!
Just a quickie to share with you my "New Love" that is Hand Stamping Metal.
I am spending Wayyyyyyy toooo much time searching the internet for new fonts and blank metals to stamp.
So here are my latest that are available in my Etsy Shop

Werewolf Hand Stamped Pendant Necklace

2 Pirate Cuff Bracelets
"Drink up me Hearty's Yo Ho "& "A Pirates Life For Me"

Love and Light Colour Disc Pendant

Pirate Lovin Bling Pendant


Wonderland Pendant with Rabbit Charm

Dream Out Loud Colour Pendant

2 Witch's Cuff Bracelets
"Good Witch" & "Wicked Witch"

Lots more to come and some great ideas for halloween costume jewelry etc also available in

Till next time
♥

Monday, August 29, 2011

Taste of Carlow Artisan Fair

Ok Peeps,
I'm back!! I have been prompted back into blogging by recently volunteering to write the
Welcome New Members spot for the
Etsy Ireland Team Blog

So today I'm here to tell you about the fabulous Carlow Food & Craft Fair I took part in yesterday.

Held in a great location on the banks of the River Barrow just opposite the Town Park there were Artisan Food producers which included Meats, Jams, cheese and organic vegetables, with gorgeous displays of quality fare.
Crafters included Potters,Card Makers,Jewellery Designers and Knitwear.
Excellent cooking demonstations were given by leading local chefs.

With Face painting,Music,bouncy castles and activities on the River Barrow it was a brilliant fun packed day for all the family.

The weather was great and Carlow town never looked better!
The event was a great success! Well organised by
Carlow Tourism with ample free parking.
I heard a rumor it may be a yearly event. I hope so it was a fabulous day and I was very proud to be part of it.

Until next time
♥

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Major Devolpments (just cannot believe it!!)

Yes, Yes, I know, I know... But Puppy ate my USB cable for my camera so I haven't been able to take any new pictures for here or my on-line shops :(
We made the mistake of not checking that the door from the utility room to the house had been closed properly when we went out to dinner.When we came back Puppy was sound asleep on the sofa with my cable chewed to bits on the floor. In fairness to him it could have been a lot worse!! He didn't poo or wee anywhere just ate my cable curled up in a ball, on the sofa, in front of the stove for a snooze (he's sooo cute).


Anyhooo it's been a busy busy month so far. My personalised plates have taken off and as I work in a Agri & Hardware supply store, I buy my plates there. My boss asked "what are you doing with all the plates"? so I explained and he asked me to bring some in to show him. I did...... and now my plates are on sale in my workplace!! I can't believe it!! I got 10 orders in the first few days!

I just wish I could list them on the sites as the Christmas Clock is ticking!

I also got a message through Etsy from Roisin of Roisins salon Kilkenny who I had supplied a small order to during the summer. She is opening a new store and wondered if I wanted to display my goods. OOOOooohhh yes please!
I went out to the new store which is in the Mc Donagh Shopping Centre Kilkenny and is Gorgeous!! I feel so proud and honored. I also got to see some of the other Irish Etsy sellers work up close, it was great!

So we shall see how it goes but it has just exploded and gotten crazy overnight and I'm loving it!

I have a cable ordered for my camera and I really want to get this blog going in the next few months. So please leave a comment if stop by you it means the world to me.



How cute is he....
Happy Crafting Y'all :)

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Easy Peasy Chocolate Brownie Muffins



Yes yes I know I know!! Once again it's been ages but I've been so busy.
My day job went CRAZY with a total revamp and relaunch of the store I work in.
So it's been late nights and early mornings for ages.

To apologize let me bribe you with some cake :)

On offer today is the easiest peasiest recipe ever!!

My famous
Chocolate Brownie Muffins Yummmmmmmmmmy!!


You will need
300g (2 cups) Self Raising Flour
35g (1/3 Cup) Cocoa
75g ( 1/3 Cup) Caster Sugar
60g Butter Melted
95g Choc bits (chop up favourite bar dark/milk you decide)
75g (1/2 cup) chopped nuts (walnuts/pistachios taste great in this recipe)
Nuts are optional
125ml (1/2 cup) Nutella
1 Egg beaten
300ml (3/4 cup) Milk


Pre heat oven to 200 Celsius/ 400 F/ Gas 5
Now the easy fun part
Put all the dry ingredients in your mixing bowl
Add the wet ingredients to the dry

It will look like this


I hear ya doesn't look great does it.... trust me they will!!

Now Mix with a spoon, not too ,much just enough to blend the ingredients

It should look like this

Spoon into muffin cases and bake in the oven for 20 Min's and your done


Grab yourself a mug of coffee and a good book and curl up on the sofa for a well deserved break.

These muffins are great fresh from the oven and don't last long in our house.

I told you they are easy peasy and they are g
reat to make with kids on a rainy Autumn day

"The Raven" Edgar Allan Poe Mug available in my shop

http://www.etsy.com/listing/55379681/the-raven-halloween-mug

Thanks for stopping by
Happy Crafting y'all :o)

Saturday, September 4, 2010

We're Jamming

Oh Yes!!! At Last At Last!!! It's Here!!
Autumn My Favourite Season.

I have been watching the hedgerows for weeks now. Spotting the flowers, the promise of Fruits to come.
So last Saturday we gathered up our buckets and our new puppy
And off we went
Picking Blackberries!!! Yay!

Our fruit trees are laden down with Apples,Plums,Pears so we got busy picking.

How to preserve all this gorgeous harvest?? Why Jam of course!
It's the easiest thing in the world to make and yum on freshly baked scones or crusty bread. Basically you match the weight of your fruit with the weight of sugar.
I thought I'd share my recipe for Damson Plum and Apple Jam :)

You will need

2.2lb (1kg) Fruit, Decide how much apple you want to mix with the Plums
It really is up to you once your fruit weight is 2.2lb
2.2lb (1kg) Granulated Sugar
12 fl oz (300ml) Water


Sterilise your jars by washing them in warm soapy water then putting them in the oven at 100 degrees for 20 mins or until your Jam is ready.

Place the lids in a saucepan of boiling water and simmer till needed.

Put two small plates or saucers into the freezer

Wash the Fruit
Peel & Chop up your Apples again its up to you if you want nice chunks of fruit or fine slivers.Place in your deepest saucepan with the Plums and all the Water.

No, you don't have to do anything to the plums other than wash them. Believe me this is soooooo easy!

Place on your Hob and slowly bring to the boil then reduce heat and simmer for about 15 mins until the fruit is soft and squishy.

Add the Sugar


And stir until it dissolves.

If you have a timer or stopwatch set to 15 mins then bring the fruit to a rapid bubbling boil and Boil for 15 mins.


You will see the little stones from the Plums pop up to the surface as the fruit boils.

CAREFULLY remove them from the pot. I repeat Carefully! It is Boiling :O)

After 15 mins remove from the heat, take one of your plates from the freezer and spoon a small bit of Jam onto it. Place it back in the freezer for a minute. Now test it for setting point.


Take the saucer from the freezer and push back on the Jam with your finger. If it wrinkles it is ready. If not just put the fruit back on the boil for a few more minutes and test again with the second saucer.

I usually end up putting some from the saucer on a piece of bread "quality control" and the makers privilege ;O) yum!

Once you are happy that setting point has been reached,take your jars from the oven and fill with your gorgeous gooey Jam. Clean the top of the Jar with a damp cloth and seal with lid.

Wipe the Jars with a damp cloth, make your own label (if you wish) and

Congratulations!!! You made Jam!




This recipe makes 3lb of Jam.

Use any fruit or combinations of fruit you like. Experiment have fun!

You can adjust the weights any way you want to get a bigger volume of Jam.

Just equal the weight of fruit to sugar.

If you want to use less sugar the setting will be slower but you could try the Jam Sugar that has Pectin added. Pectin is the setting ingredient found in fruit. High in apples lower in blackberries and plums so it's great to add a few apples to a Jam to aid setting (and flavour).

Don't get worked up about Setting Point. TRUST your instinct. And even if your bottled Jam doesn't set just empty them it back into your saucepan and boil again. Don't worry it Will Work!

You can use frozen Blackberries,Plums,etc just defrost first.

To store a large batch of Apples or Pears just wrap each individual piece in newspaper and they will keep for months.

Jam makers lucky wooden spoon available in my shop


Enjoy Your Jam!

Phew! Long Post!

Happy Crafting Y'all ♥