Valentine Chocolate Truffles

It's Valentine's day at the weekend. It feels like it's come around pretty quickly this year. If you have left it a little last minute and are looking for something special to make for your Valentine which looks like you've put in loads of effort but actually is effortless to rustle up then these super quick Chocolate truffles are the perfect recipe for you! 

They make the perfect little gift for your Valentine and even a novice chef can make them, with only 4 ingredients and in only 30mins! (plus a little setting time) 

You only need 4 things!
300g chocolate (plain, milk or white any work)
30g butter
200ml double cream
sprinkles to decorate


Make it...
Fill a large saucepan half full with water and simmer over a medium heat.

Break up all the chocolate put into a heat proof bowl along with the butter.
Place the bowl in the saucepan  to make a bain-marie and stir until the chocolate and butter have melted.

Heat the cream in another saucepan until it starts to think about bubbling (almost boiling), take it of the heat immediately add it to the chocolate.

Now stir, stir, stir until its all mixed together well and it's smooth. Allow to cool, then chill in the fridge for a few hours. 


Once the Ganache has set, take a small bowl and add your sprinkles

Use a spoon to take some of the Ganache and roll into small balls in your hands, roll each ball in the sprinkles until coated. Place the truffles into a dish and chill until ready to serve to the one you love!

Happy Valentines Day all!
 

 Bakeware part of my collection at David Mason Design available at maisonhome.co.uk
 

Hobby mugs for M&S

Really excited to share this mug collection with you which I did for M&S. The brief was to work on various popular hobby's. My husband was pretty pleased to see a cycling one in there as he is a bike maniac! There's also a tennis, baking and gardening themed designs. They were really fun to work on, setting little scenes to convey a story. All the designs are hand painted in watercolours first, scanned in high resolution, edited and formatted onto a mug template. I'm really pleased with how they have transferred to ceramic. The colours are great and they have that authentic handpaint feel. They are such a bargain price too! I think I'll have to get a set myself, for my portfolio of course!

Shop the range exclusively at marksandspencer.com and in local stores. 
 







Eat your greens: Veggie Tableware for M&S

A series of vegetable paintings I was commissioned to do by Marks & Spencers is now available in their new tableware collection. This was a really nice brief of realist watercolour colour veggies with a inky modern edge. I suggested to add some witty words to the range to just give it a charming little touch to the pieces too. The range has turned out really well! It's not my usual style but a nice change for the norm for me. Shop the collection now for some classic, conversational pieces for your dining table. Available exclusively from Marks & Spencers www.marksandspencer.com


Wild Blackberry & Apple Crumble

I have such wonderful memories of blackberry picking as a child with my little sister. I really want to make it a yearly activity with my children. Ripe blackberries are a sign of the end of the summer, when picked fresh they do not keep for long just a couple of days so get prepare beforehand so you can make this straight after picking. This recipe is so easy, you can definitely do it with young children. Or even if you've never baked before you will be able to make this and it will taste amazing! Baked using my new collection at David Mason Design. Shop the range online at www.maisonhome.co.uk


You'll need... 3 cooking apples, 200g-250g Wild blackberries, 1tsp cinnamon, 3 tbsp caster sugar, 200g plain flour, 100g butter (cubed), 175g light brown sugar 


 To make... Peel the apples and slice, put them in a large, swallow pie dish (the one from my range can be brought here...) add the blackberries and sprinkle on the cinnamon, 3 tbsp of caster sugar. Mix well and add a splash of water enough to just cover the bottom of the pie dish. Then in a mixing bowl (buy the one from my range here...) add the flour and butter and rub together with your fingertips until in resembles fine breadcrumbs. Then add the light brown sugar and stir together. Top the fruit evenly with the crumble mixture and bake on a baking tray (as it can get messy with fruit bubbling over the sides!) at 180oC for 40-50mins 



 

Shop my new collection online at maisonhome.co.uk

Side Plate, £7

Mixing Bowl, £23

Scalloped pie dish, £20

Set of 2 Tea towels, £15

Measuring cups, £17

Glass worktop saver, £10

Valentine Muffins


Bake a little treat for your Valentine this year! These muffins are super duper easy to make and I’m you only need a few basic ingredients.

You'll need...
My heart shaped cake mould
250g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
50g butter
75g caster sugar
175g blueberries
grated lemon rind
2 large eggs
250ml milk

To make...
Pre-heat the oven to 200oC/Gas 6.
Measure the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl.
Rub in the butter until mixture is like breadcrumbs.
Stir in the sugar, lemon rind and blueberries.
Mix together the eggs and milk, then add to the mixing bowl and mix quickly to combine together.
Don't worry about the lumps!
Spoon the mixture into the heart shaped cake mould, 3/4 to the top.
Bake for 25mins until risen and golden.
Leave to cool completely then run a knife around the edge of each heart to help lift the muffins out.
Happy Valentine's baking everyone!

Full baking collection available online at Maison home

Ashley Thomas for David Mason Design

I'm so excited to launch my new collection with David Mason Design at the end of this month.
Which will be available at some exclusive retailers across the country.
The collection will accessorise your home beautifully with a unique, whimsical look. My signature style co-ordinates colourful mix and match patterns, with the ethos of making a house a home.
The range includes baking, afternoon tea, textiles and giftware, featuring vintage inspired florals, making your kitchen uniquely special. Stay tuned for more info coming soon. 

Shop online at maisonhome.co.uk



Seaside Mugs for M&S

So excited to share these seaside mugs I was commissioned to do by Marks and Spencer last year that are finally in the shops. They are wonderful edition to my portfolio a gorgeous set of four handpainted designs which have been beautifully translated onto ceramic. There are two seaside slogan designs and two seaside scene designs which even feature my little dog Bertie running on the beach!

Shop the range exclusively at marksandspencer.com and in local stores.

 






Contact me for a portfolio viewing or to discuss commissioning an upcoming project.

The English Tableware Company

I've been working on some own brand projects for various companies recently, after having a break for my trademark in between exclusivity contracts. A couple collections have launched now and I have been really looking forward to sharing them with you all! 

The English Tableware Company epitomises everything great about British Design. They take inspiration from everywhere around them and create gorgeous giftware and accessory collections for the home. Their aim is to make every product special, paying particular attention to the detail and carefully sourcing each product for its quality and appeal.

I was commissioned to illustrate a range of sea creatures for the dish of the day range. The collection is bold and expressive with hand painted animals in watercolour inks, placed on a range of fresh white kitchen ceramics giving a clean look with a sense of fun.




Shop at The English Tableware Company

Debenhams Christmas 2018




Here's a collection I did for Debenhams Christmas 2018, actually my favourite Christmas range I've done to date. I absolutely loved doing the artwork for this. The range is all hand-painted and will be featured across a range seasonal of tableware. The range has a storybook quality, with bears driving cars in the snow, penguins posting letters to Santa and set across a starry winter night.