Friday 2 November 2012

Blogging and Baking

Before I ever started blogging I used to read blogs and wished I could be part of what seemed to be an elusive community of bloggers. And that was what probably prompted me to start writing my own blog. Initially it was a quiet and lonely place, but gradually there was more interaction and I began to feel part of that special blogging community.
 
 
Mostly I would write about the things I made... machine embroidery, knitting, crochet and with the occasional cake. It was a place I could promote my textile work but like anything else it grew and changed over the five years I've been writing, just as the blogging community has grown and changed. (Alice has also written very eloquently about this recently.

 
I think it is inevitable that a blog will evolve and in some cases come to a natural end. This blog is still a place where I share my work in textiles and it is, without doubt, a valuable promotional tool for me. But I like to think it is more than just about my work and gives a bigger picture of who I am, with stories of my family,my home, my garden, places I've been and things that I've seen etc. But more and more it seems to be a place where I show my other passion... baking. And on more than one occasion over the past few weeks I've wondered whether I should start a separate blog for my baking endeavours.

 
And every time I think I will do just that I think of a dozen reasons why that would be a bad idea... like most of all could I really be bothered with keeping two blogs going? Do I even have the time to write two blogs? But then I change my mind because I think that pehaps if you are stopping by here to see textiles then perhaps you are just a little sick and tired of all the cakes? So what do you think... carry on as I am... or split into two?

 
But for now I only have the one platform from which to tell you what I'm up to and so I'm showing you this week's cakes which are Sticky Toffee cupcakes from the Hummingbird Bakery Cake Days (which also seems a good book from which to try every recipe!) Do you think it was just a little obsessive to make my own fudge for the topping though? (You don't have to answer that one)

 
And because there was a lot of icing and fudge left over, later in the week I made a Sticky Toffee layer cake which went to our village Over Sixties meeting yesterday.... something I have done and blogged about every November since I started blogging, so perhaps not so much has changed after all! I might be back soon with some textiles... or baking... or possibly even something else.
Have a good weekend!

38 comments:

  1. I think that variety is the spice of life. Mix in whatever you want because it is part of you. Textiles is not the whole you - it's your family, hobbies, yes baking and travel too.

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  2. I agree with Dolores - I love the eclectic mix of your blog. I also love the look of that CAKE!!!!!!!

    x

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  3. There's one you, Gina, so one blog seems to fit the bill nicely. Who could object to such a yummy looking cake?

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  4. I like things as they are Gina, it's who you are!!!
    I just wish I was closer to you because that fudge does look good and not at all obsessive!!
    happy weekend,
    Vivienne x

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  5. Gina, I also like to see your creative variety in this one place.

    And...yes, making that fudge might have been just a little bit obsessive...but that doesn't mean that I don't want a large slice of that very impressive cake!

    xo

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  6. I like it just the way it is Gina. I think if people are creative with textiles and other craft, then its likely that they'll be creative with their hands in the kitchen too, so your blog is a good mixture of everything we enjoy doing and enjoy learning about you.
    Those cakes look scrumptious!!

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  7. I love a good mix of topics, baking, textiles and just life in general. It is the person behind the blog that makes it the most interesting...and I don't mind being inspired with your handiwork as well.

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  8. Give me textiles! And cake! And other bits, too! I enjoy them all. ;-)

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  9. I agree too, I love your textile work but I also love seeing your baking. I made some sausage rolls too, even had to go out and buy mince to make my own sausage meat as the sausages here are a bit too garlicky for us. They didn't look as good as yours but hubby was pleased with the results

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  10. I think the occasional digression into baking, holiday thoughts and a little insight to your daily life provides a texture to your blog Gina. Sometimes when you are stuck for inspiration or just having thinking time about your next project a change of focus is very useful. So I'm with everyone else who enjoys the diversity of your blog.

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  11. I agree with everyone else - variety is the spice of life! I love to read about your textile work and your baking and all the other things. Your cakes look fab too.

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  12. Just don't decide to stop blogging Gina as I would miss your interesting and inspiring posts. I like the mixture of cookery and textiles - it's certainly got me baking more cakes (!) I know if I had to keep up 2 active blogs I would find it hard work and there are only so many hours in the day. No I don't think it's obsessive to make your own fudge topping - if you love doing something you will do it to the "nth" degree!

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  13. I'm drooling over those cakes and I've only just had my breakfast! I think making your own fudge for the topping is exemplary!
    I love your just blog the way it is and can see nothing wrong with a mix of textiles, cake, gardening, travelling and life in general.
    Running two blogs can be a pain and I only use a second one because it is required for my online coursework.

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  14. I like the of you putting your cakes into the mix - I will however blame you for my expanding waist line when you do :-)

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  15. I think your blog should stay as is. I do enjoy reading about and looking at your cakes even though I'm not a baker. I must say the cakes on this post look very yummy I might even be tempted to find my book then again I might not.

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  16. Please stick to the way you blog now - it is always interesting - and those last cakes look gorgeous.

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  17. Eclectic wins for me every time.

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  18. Carry on exactly the same please! I love blogs that are a mix of things - eclectic is what I like best :-)

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  19. I think majority the above comments have probably answered your question: stay as you are! By the way, what are YOU doing at an Over Sixties village meeting?

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  20. I think that if you had a separate baking blog, then I might not read it and would miss out on a lot. As others have said, put everything on this blog, then I won't miss a thing.

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  21. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE one diverse blog. (I hate when people run half a dozen blogs, most of which are started with enthusiasm, then die stillborn). Rant over.

    I also have a quiet rule, I will put one blog from each blogger in my Google Reader. I enjoy a diversity of bloggers, and diversity within a blog.

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  22. Dont change it, Ilove the different thngs you post about. I run 2 blogs and it can be a pain to keep them both going at times.

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  23. I've just discovered this blog - and please, don't change it!

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  24. There is only one Gina,made up of
    various parts to make the whole.
    So Iam with everyone else. If it
    ain't broke don't fix it.

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  25. Hi Gina, I love reading about all of your adventures, cooking, textiles, home and family. Your cake looks delicious too. Jane x

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  26. One blog... which includes the receipe for that fudge please :-)

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  27. "If it ain't broke.........."
    :O))))))

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  28. You have no idea how helpful this question and the answers were to me.
    This is exactly why I still haven't started a blog because of the diverse interests I want to write about. This post has really made it clear to me. We all want the whole 'package' of Gina that's what makes your blog so attractive.
    Now, wait for me.....xxxx

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  29. I like the idea of one blog that just gives me the opportunity to share anything I have been busy with and folks come pop in any time to browse! Those cakes look amazing - x Jo

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  30. I think everyone has said it, stay as you are and share your life as a lovely mix of reality.

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  31. I agree with all your other commenters, Gina - I love to see everything you do whether it's textiles, baking or family stuff. It's your blog and it's you we love to visit, no matter what you're up to :o)

    By the way, those cakes look gorgeous! I bought Minx two new baking books yesterday and she's planning to try out a whole host of gorgeous cakes and puds.

    She's writing me a shopping list right now :o)

    xx

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  32. Please don't do a separate blog, I love reading about your life other than textiles - as well as the textiles of course! I am sure those who are not interested in parts of your blog will just skip over those and the rest of us can enjoy the lot. cheers

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  33. I know i'm not very 'active' in the community anymore and I rarely leave comments, but I still do read all my old favourites including yours! I like your baking posts, and I often have the same conundrum about my own poor neglected blog .. do I make a new one more relevant to my life now? or should the blog be reflective of my evolving life over the last 5 years, from nervous breakdown to self employed businesswoman, something I never ever thought would happen, with a lot of learning, crafting and community in the middle somewhere ... So I don't make a new blog to reflect what I'm doing now because everything I have done led to this moment, so I do limp on with my House of Marmalade, but I couldn't change it. Similarly, I read Fan My Flame because of the personality behind it, not the content really ... although ofcourse textiles/art/creativity is what drew me to it in the first place ...

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  34. For me, and probably for a lot of other people (but I'm just guessing) embroidery and baking are both equally valid expressions of creativity - so reading your blog regularly and not knowing if it will be cake or stitch today has never been a problem! And after a hard day at the coal face, what better than a slice of cake and a cup of tea? Even if it's just a picture of a cake...

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  35. don't you dare stop posting about your cakes! It's about the only way I get to enjoy them since I banned them from my own diet many years ago - you wouldn't deny a woman a little vicarious pleasure now would you?!!

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  36. Errr...all sewing and NO CAKE???

    Now that's what I call real blogging crisis.

    Don't do it!!

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  37. Gina, I'm struggling to keep one going at the moment so don't make me feel worse by doing two!! I love it as it is. If it ain't broke don't fix it! x

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  38. Another vote from me for keeping things as they are. You blog under your name and are multi talented :D

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