Lamp

I can finally show you my lamp:

switched on:
I have started a lantern (s small one, to put a candle in) and I already have a queue of projects: a mirror and another lamp, both Rennie Mackintosh style.
Also, I bought this lantern on Wednesday. The glass panels are removable so I am going to replace them with stained glass panels. I am thinking of a design with hexagons to match the top of the lantern.
Have a nice weekend :o)

New books

Last week it was my birthday and I've been spoiled by my friends: cards, socks, bracelet, soaps...and also books:

Louise made me this great felted cupcake pincushion :o)))

I also wanted to show you what I've been knitting lately: kids clothes, a pair of gloves,

and a hexagonal cushion.

Stained glass lamp

Tuesday evening, I went for my fourth session of stained glass. Last week, I soldered each panel individually and this week, I assembled the all thing.

It is not finished yet. The lamp base need to be wired and the solder tinted in black (it is only a 5 minutes job). We put it on the base anyway to have a feel of how it will look like:

It is far from perfect but I am quite pleased with the result :o)

Snowman

One of my colleague made a snowman at lunchtime...

2.35pm, the snow has now stopped :o( , the melting started ¦o( and most of the people at work have gone home (wimps ;o))

Snow

I am so happy! It is the first time in almost 8 years of being in Dundee that we have a proper winter with temperatures below zero for several weeks and a fair amount of snow :o) (I've been in Dundee for nearly 8 years...that's scary!!!).
When I woke up this morning it was snowing but it obviously just started. By the time I left for work it was snowing heavily. It took me 40 minutes to cycle to work instead of 30. It was a surprise for everybody here, I think, as the weather forecast was for sunshine and sleet so the roads were not gritted.
I took some pictures (at work) before it disappear (forecast are for rain/sleet later).

Stained glass

I've started stained glass classes 3 weeks ago and I love it. I am going every Tuesdays for 2h (here).
In 3 classes and I did much more than expected:

• prepare the pattern
• chose the pieces of glass and the beads
• draw the pieces and cut them
• grind and adjust the pieces

I am very lucky because we are only 2 students on Tuesdays and sometime the other student can't come so I am on my own with the teacher :o)
I took some pictures last Tuesday.
Grinding machine:

One lamp panel:

All six panels before adjustment:

Now, I've got to wash all the pieces and copper foil them and next week I will start assembling the lamp :o). I've chosen the base and the other bits and pieces. I have no idea how long it will take to do it but no more than a couple of sessions I think.

I can start thinking of my next project!

Lavender Brioche

As I told you earlier, I infused a handful of lavender flowers into some milk (simmer for a couple of minutes and let it cool, then filter the milk), in order to make a lavender flavoured brioche.
- It nicely perfumes the house at the same time -

Recipe:
130 ml of milk
1 egg
80g of melted butter
350g of flour (wholemeal:white, 1:2)
a pinch of salt
30g of sugar
1.5 table spoon of dried yeast
Use the brioche or wholemeal bread program on your breadmaker.

Result:
The lavender taste is very strong so I would recommend to use only a third or a fourth of the quantity of lavender flower to flavour the milk. Also, it would be nice if it was a little bit more sweet, so double the quantity of sugar in the recipe.
Overall, it is very unusual and I am sure some toasted slice of this brioche with a creme brulée (flavoured with lavender ;o)) would be delicious.