Happy Halloween...

Have a good night everyone....

(image above copyright of louise/loveprintstudio)

x x x

Nutella stuffed double chocolate chip cookies...

Get ready...

No, seriously, prepare yourself...

These are glorious chocolate cookies from Top with Cinnamon 

(amazing food blog by the way, as mentioned here)

They're sooo naughty, but oh my, are they sooo good!

Hop on over to see Izy at Top with Cinnamon for the recipe and directions and even a fabulous little video 'how to'.

Here are a few photos of how they turned out...
(I didn't use the salt in mine, as seen in her ingredients list, but other than that, I followed Izy's directions and ingredients to the letter)

(photos taken by me for use on loveprintstudio blog)

x x x

Take Four { food blogs }

As you know, if you're followers of this here, my little piece of blog land, 

I do love a bit of food related photography and styling. 

Photography, generally...

Food, generally...

but together, 

my oh my...happy days indeed!

And four bloomin' marvellous stops for you on that quest, should you share the need for it,
are some of my faves...

These four are amazing at what they do and and I so admire their photography, recipes and general style.

Enjoy perusing...

Top with Cinnamon - 17 year old London based Izy, with a passion for baking and cooking, and if thats not enough, a little fabulous behind the camera too!

Local Milk - Tennessee based Beth armed with a cast iron skillet and a camera

Honey & Jam - Hannah Queen..baker and photographer, just beautiful...

What Katie Ate - Sydney based Katie Quinn Davies..photographer, stylist and food author

(All images above from their respective blogs and all copyright is owned by them, links above)

x x x

That Friday feeling...

Well, I don't know about you lovely people, but I'm sure glad it's the weekend again...

And I'm planning on doing absolutely nothing with mine.
(Ooh, apart from trying to see what all the fuss is about Game of Thrones...ooooo, bring on the box set)

For a little gathering of recent pins, I thought I'd reflect on that kind of Friday feeling and share these lovely numbers with you...

I particularly had a good old giggle when I stumbled across 'Eat. Sleep. Create. Repeat.'

on Oh No Rachio blog recently.

Brilliant!

And pretty much where I'm at, at the moment.

Still wouldn't change it for the world though :-)

Sleep more...

Saturday and Sunday...

Eat. Sleep. Create. Repeat...

Love weekends...

Six month vacation...

x x x

Chocolate fudge brownies...

I've got a lovely chocolate brownie recipe for you today...

I posted another brownie recipe a while back, 

but these are a little fluffier and lighter in texture, and not sooo rich. 

Which basically means you can eat more of them! 

(can't be a bad thing can it? yum)

Here are a few photos of the little chocolate squares...

(photos taken by me for use on loveprintstudio blog)

Ingredients for the brownies

85g butter

200g low fat cream cheese (I used light philadelphia)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

225g caster sugar

2 eggs

3 tbsp cocoa powder

100g self raising flour

50g chopped pecan nuts

(Fudge frosting)

55g butter

1 tbsp milk

75g icing sugar

2 tbsp cocoa powder

pecan nuts, to decorate

Directions for one tray of chocolate fudge brownies (cuts into 16 small squares)

* Preheat oven to gas mark 4

* Lightly grease a 20cm square baking tin and line base

* Beat together the cream cheese, vanilla extract and 5 teaspoons of caster sugar until smooth, set aside.

* Beat the eggs and remaining caster sugar together until light and fluffy

* Place the butter and cocoa powder in a small pan and heat gently, stirring until the butter melts and the mixture combines, then stir it into the egg mixture

* Fold in the flour and nuts

* Pour half of the mixture into the tin and smooth the top

* Carefully spread the cheese mixture over it and then cover with the remaining chocolate mixture

* Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes

* Cool in baking tin

* For the frosting, melt the butter and the milk in a small saucepan

* Stir in the icing sugar and cocoa powder

* Spread the frosting over the brownies and decorate with pecan nuts

* Let the frosting set then cut into squares to serve

* Enjoy!

(recipe taken from 'The Big Book of One Pot')

x x x

Colour crush...

I've got a super nice colour post for you today, I love this combination!

Hope you like it too!

1 | Wake up and be awesome

2 | Squares

3 | I feel great

4 | Wrist warmers

5 | Double egg

6 | Hare

x x x

Three lovely things... { Autumn }

Three 'autumny' things I'm loving at the moment... 

What's not to love about teeny tiny white pumpkins, chunky cookies and a fishtail braid? 

1 | Mini white pumpkins...adorable!

2 | Fishtail braid via A Beautiful Mess...oh to be able to do this

3 | Apple cranberry oatmeal cookies via Kitchen Confidante... yum!

x x x

Pinterest picks... { This & That }

A couple of beautiful little pins today... 

Loving the delicate simplicity of these two images, soooo nice.

1 | Bejewelled 2| Heart

x x x

An abundance of apples...

I had a week off last week, and so, I also gave myself a week off from blogging too,
I've missed you!
My week was filled with this and that; bit of time in the kitchen, shopping, getting things done at home, a day out at Witley Court (pics to come), and finished off with a little cheeky 'Time for Tease' at Cheltenham Literature festival, fab!

Mostly, it was generally just nice to spend some time with my boys
(the husband, and the other of the fluffy variety).

So...for the first post after my little break... a food related one!
Mmmmm

 And, as the title suggests, I've recently had an abundance of apples...

I mean literally surrounded by the things! 

So, what better to do than to knock out a few crumbles and try a new apple pie recipe, yeah!

This recipe is from the very first British Bake Off book and is for an Apple Pie with Cheddar Crust.

Now...what's your first thought? 

Cheese? 

Really? 

In an apple pie?

But, yes, it really does work! 

I'm not suggesting that this would be my new 'go to' recipe for a basic apple pie. 

I'd probably always plumb for plain old shortcrust or maybe add a bit of cinnamon to the mix, but it's always nice to try different things every now and then, right?

Here are a few photos below of how my little decorative pie turned out...

(photos taken by me for use on loveprintstudio blog)

Directions for one Apple Pie with Cheddar Crust - serves 6

*Put the flour, salt and grated cheese into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until combined.

*Add the diced butter and pulse until mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs.

*With the machine running, add the water, and stop when the dough comes together into a ball.

* Flatten the dough into a disc, wrap in clingfilm and chill for 30 minutes.

* Heat oven to gas mark 6 and put a baking tray in to heat.

* Peel the apples, quarter and core, then cut each quarter into 3 thick slices and put them into a bowl.

* Add the caster sugar and melted butter to the bowl and toss gently until thoroughly combined.

* Roll out half of the pastry on a floured surface to a circle slightly larger than your pie plate 

(ideal pie dish 26cm)

*Drape pastry over pie dish, flour your fingers and press the pastry on to the base and up the sloping sides and rim.

* Pile the apple mixture into the dish and brush the pastry rim with cold water.

* Roll out the rest of the pastry to a large circle and place it over the pie, gently pressing the pastry onto the damp rim with your thumbs to seal the two layers.

* With a sharp knife, trim off any pastry overhanging the rim of the plate and cut a couple of steam holes in the top with the tip of a sharp knife.

* Decorate as you wish and sprinkle with a little sugar and bake on the hot tray for 15minutes.

* Reduce the heat to gas mark 4 and bake for a further 20-25 minutes until the pastry is golden and crisp.

*Serve with warm custard, cream or ice-cream.

* Enjoy!

x x x

Pizza night...

Last weekend saw my first attempt at making pizza dough...
and I have to admit, there reaches a point when dough is literally all over the kitchen worktop,
stuck to hands, spatulas and pretty much everything else in the vicinity,
when I did start to question whether the boy and I would be eating that night or whether we'd be calling for pizza instead... 

However, with a bit of perseverance and patience (definitely required)
the dough finally became remotely workable... was kneaded,
left to rise, (and very nicely indeed it did too), and sure enough, a little decoration of tomato sauce, mozzarella, mint, basil and cherry tomatoes and 20 minutes later,
we had homemade Margherita pizza fresh from the oven! (yay me!)

Right, here's the best bit...

THEY

WERE

AMAZING!

I seriously urge you to try this recipe and to go through the turmoil with the dough because it is sooooo worth it...the best pizza ever!
I know essentially its just plain old tomato and cheese but oh so good!

Heres a link to the original recipe found on Chatelaine for modern Margherita pizza

I literally followed the recipe to the letter apart from using mozzarella instead of goats cheese and I also found I needed a lot more flour than the recipe stated,
both when being mixed, and also when rolling out, but see how you go...

Here's a photo of our very rustic looking pizzas...

(photo taken by me for use on loveprintstudio blog)

x x x

Nica bag from Bagable...

I received a lovely package in the post recently... a beautiful little Nica cross body bag from Bagable.

It's sooo nice and just the right size for your phone, purse and some essential make up. 

The bag is called 'Verona' and its the cross body, plum version but its also available in other styles and colours; black, tan, burnt orange.
I really love this plum/aubergine colour at the moment and seem to be buying a lot of bits and bobs
in varying shades of it for my little winter wardrobe!

The bag came from the website www.bagable.co.uk who stock quite a few different brands, including Fossil, Fiorelli, Paul Frank and many more.

I've owned several Nica bags in the past and really love their brand so jumped at the chance to review one of the bags from the new collection.

So, here are some photos I took of the lovely bag, it's sooooo nice!
I really love the shape of this bag and the little perforated 'pin hole' like detail used to create pattern and interest on the front.
Stud detail features down the sides of the bag with an adjustable strap, making it easy to wear across body or as a shoulder bag, and finished off with a sweet little bow to the front.

Inside the bag there's a beautiful floral print lining in coral and white with a zipped compartment and an additional place for your phone too.
Perfect for when you just need your essential bits and pieces!

Below are a few photos I took of the bag...

(photos above taken by me for use on loveprintstudio and all opinions in this post are my own)

(image above from www.bagable.co.uk)

*Disclaimer*

I was provided with free products by the company for the purpose of reviewing.

I only recommend products and companies that I use and genuinely love.

All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and not influenced by the company in any way.

x x x

Hello October...

Ok, I know I keep saying how this year is flying by, but seriously...

(photo taken by me for use on loveprintstudio)

Where DID it go??

If anyone finds it, let me know... I'd like it back.

x x x

Take four...

Ooh it's Monday again... Where do the weekends go?

I've got a lovely cheery and crafty Take Four post for you today!

How nice are these??

Yum!

(A couple of the images come from a fab blog called studiodiy... gorgeous stuff!

Definitely worth a visit)

1 | DIY confetti dipped balloons from Studio DIY

2 | Homemade paper lantern DIY from Oh Happy Day 

3 | Paper bow ties

4 | DIY Honeycomb balloon gift toppers from Studio DIY

x x x

Pinterest picks... { This & That }

A couple of lovely pins to share with you today...

1 | Enjoy the little things art print by Hello Little Fox 

2 | Amazing butik glass snake bead necklace from Souchi

x x x

Etsy shop find...a chat with Studio Legohead!

As I'm sure many of you lovely readers will know, I do a regular post,
(well, regular-ish, lets call it reoccurring posts, if you will...)
on super nice etsy shops I come across on my travels around the internet and blog land,
and whilst I'm going to carry on doing just that, I thought it would be nice to get to know some of those shop owners a little better...

So, first up, is Jo Chambers who owns the shop Studio Legohead,
producing greeting cards, art prints, postcards and many other lovely items, featuring beautiful floral felt tip doodles and plenty of our beloved four legged friends in her pet portraits.

I came across Jo's work some time ago and have admired it ever since, so here she is answering a few questions for loveprintstudio and all you lovely reader folk.

Enjoy getting to know her, and why not pop on over to her shop once you've sat a while with a cuppa...

1. Can you tell us a little bit about you and your background...

I’ve always as far back as I can remember loved drawing, painting and creating. Apparently as a child I was always sketching something. 
This led to me going to college, where I had fantastic tutors, real artists that taught us how to draw, be observant, and interested. 
I feel very grateful to have had this grounding straight after school.

I then went on to study a Creative Arts degree in Art and Textiles at Bath Spa University. The course enabled me to work in two areas that I really couldn’t choose between, and I’m so pleased to have had the combined disciplines, as I never felt restricted.

A few years later whilst studying my MA there I was asked to teach embroidery to first year BA students, which although was daunting at the time, as I had no real teaching experience, I snapped it up and loved it. 
7 years later and I’m still a visiting lecturer there. 
It’s such a pleasure to work with the students and see them develop over the course of their degree.

After my MA I went into a bit of a creative block, after years of drawing/stitching florals I wanted a change. 
I saw a dog in a bowtie online, loved the character it conveyed and began to draw. Before I knew it I had sketchbooks full. 
During my MA studies I was introduced to the Irish Singer sewing machine, a free hand embroidery machine, which is like drawing with stitch, my new drawings and this machine combined led to a series of embroidered dog portraits, which then led to an exhibition.

I produced some greeting cards for my show that sold really well. 
So after I opened an Etsy shop and began e-mailing blogs and websites to try and get more press. 3 and a half years later, the dogs are still with me, as well as the florals, and I’ve had the best time ever.

2. What books/ magazines are currently on your coffee table?

I’ve got to admit, I’m pretty terrible on this front. I’ve never been much of a reader! 
But the items currently on my coffee table are – Maria Kalman ‘Various Illuminations (of a crazy world)’ the Guardian weekend guide and Focus, Science and Technology magazine! I so admire the work of Maria Kalman, 
but I think what I find more intriguing is the creator herself, open, honest and immensely talented. 
The Guardian guide speaks for itself, 
and Focus is my partners but it had a great article on Sleep!

I’ve also a fascination with psychology and human behavior and much prefer to read about the working of the human mind and real life than fiction.

3. Tell us about a typical day for you...

My typical day, starts at 6am. 
I get up and do a workout, at least 4 out of 5 working days. 
After that, breakfast and if I’m working from home, a walk around the block/to the shops before I settle at my desk. 
I find it really important to get back home and feel like I’ve arrived at work, 
it’s something I’ve always done.

Then it’s normally admin and e-mails for a bit before I get cracking on commissions, orders that need posting and occasionally the odd interview questionnaire to answer!

4. Can you give us an insight into your creative process?

If I’m working on a portrait commission then I always ask for a biog of the canine or feline in question. 
I like to hear as much about the character that I am trying to capture, 
as I want the final image to be as personal to my client as possible.

I began drawing dogs because I liked to imagine them as human characters and what there quirks would be. 
Working on a commission is always random, 
I never know what breed of dog I will be working on, 
what there human friend might want them adorned in and this is what always keeps it fresh and I can honestly say I never tire of.

When creating pieces for myself I’m always drawn to vintage ornaments and memorabilia. I adore colour and pattern, but I also love white spaces, hence my Mantelpiece Meet-Up series and the prints I produce from original sketches. 
I draw, collage and colour in. 
A little cleaning up on the computer and I’m usely done. 
I prefer to do as much as I can by hand.

5. What inspires you?

I’m inspired by lots of things, but I guess the main inspiration for me was my Nan. 
She is sadly no longer with us, but she left me with a curiosity for the kitsch, tatty and slightly odd things I now love. 
Her home was filled with objects. 
Looking back they certainly weren’t glamorous or expensive, but as a child visiting her home I was always transfixed by the amount of colour, the mixture of pattern and textures and selection of collected/hoarder objects. 
She was a wonderful lady who was never shy of clashing colours!

Inspiration also comes from my friends and partner, who I must say are a creative and talented bunch, and all varied in their interests and disciplines that they work in. 
I love hearing what they are up to and what their next project has in store.

And more recently inspiration came from my trip to the Picasso Museum in Barcelona. I’ve always been a fan, but seeing the work he created from the age of 9 years old till when he died was a dream. 
Mindblowing!

6. In three words, describe your work.....

Colourful, cheery, characterful

7. What's your guilty pleasure?

Dark chocolate with sea salt, madjool dates and Eastenders *hangs head in shame*. 
I would love to own Dot Cottons wardrobe!

8. What are your top three blogs?

Analogue Faszinitaten

Angela Dalinger is an illustrator who runs a Tumblr feed.  
I love the mixture of work, but also a lot of it has humour, which I’m a fan of in art.

What Angela says about it – “I thought it’s kind of a nice idea to make this a blog for all illustrators, which stay analoge in their art. Hand drawings, with crayons and marker, no graphic tablet or how ever it’s called.”

Cush and Nooks  
Because I’m a bit nosey and love having a peek into other peoples homes.

Also there is always a great array of interior products and art

It's Nice That
A real mixture of illustration, graphic design, photography, branding, the list goes on. Always current and I can get lost there going from feature to feature.

Thanks so much to Jo for sharing a little bit of her world with us!
You can find and follow Jo in various places detailed below...

facebook | blog | website | etsy | instagram | twitter

(all of the above images are taken from the Studio Legohead etsy shop 

and all copyright belongs to Jo Chambers)

x x x

Buttermilk blueberry breakfast cake...

I'm popping in with a yummy (but a little bit naughty) breakfast recipe for you today...

I found this recipe for buttermilk blueberry breakfast cake over on www.alexandracooks.com and it's sooo good!

There's also a good little tip over there on how to make homemade buttermilk, definitely handy if you're all out, and don't want to do a shop run.

I've included the ingredients needed for the cake on one of the photos, but pop on over to Alexandra's blog for original post and directions to make (link above).

So, below are a few photos of how mine turned out...

Hope you give it a go..and if you do, leave a little comment and tell me how yours turned out, and while you're at it, I'm sure you'll agree just how tasty it is!

(photos taken by me for use on loveprintstudio blog)

x x x

Paper & Cloth at Indigo, Paris...

Well..it's that time again...Indigo in Paris (part of Premier Vision) has soon rolled around again, pheweeee, time flies!

So, I'll be absent from blog land next week as I'll be at the show with the lovely Jen,
(pop on over and say hi if youre visiting)
but I'll be back the week after with new posts.

Got some lovely ones lined up...

But for now, here's a little sneaky peek at the Paper & Cloth e flyer for the show in Paris, cute eh?!
Visit the Paper and Cloth blog to see the post...

(Image copyright of Paper & Cloth Design Studio)

x x x

Etsy shop find ... Brittany Bass

I've got a great etsy shop find for you today...

Britt Bass sells her large scale abstract paintings and cute little iphone cases in super lovely colours.

Nip on over and have a little looksie.

Here are a few examples of what to expect...

(all images from Britt Bass etsy shop)

x x x

Pinterest picks ... { This & That }

Something for me, and something for the fluffy one in today's post...

I love these handmade collars and leads in geometric prints, by Hiro & Wolf,
found through not on the high street.
They come in three different colours but I particularly like the emerald green ones. 

And while Alfie's sporting one of those, I thought I could atleast be matching while we toddle to the park... with these lovely geo inspired nails...
(and I love the colour of that jumper too)

Just got to find the time and patience to even attempt them! But soooo nice, right?

x x x

Inspired by...Elena Deshmukh

Elena Deshmukh produces the most beautiful handmade cards 

using luxurious papers and custom envelopes. 

Each card is individually printed and hand embellished with accents of fine embroidery, 

and include jewelled birds, lace, decorative florals and decoupage butterflies, 

all in gorgeous vintage colours.

Her designs are so much more than cards, they are gorgeous as framed artwork in their own right. 

I've actually got several of them around our house.

I love her sophisticated and delicate illustrations, alongside the subtle areas of embroidery, that add a real handcrafted feel to the cards.

Here are a few images from Elena Deshmukhs website, please click here for more information.

(I've also previously posted on Elena, click here to see that post)

(all images copyright of Elena Deshmukh)

x x x