Page 27 of Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

Chapter 12

IT’S A WRAP

It was a beautiful spring day. The sky was a hazy blue, punctuated with fluffy, cotton-wool clouds, and the daffodils were out in full bloom. Rachel was walking down Primrose Farm’s lane, Moss padding along obediently at her side. She reached the end of the track and found Eve waiting at the school bus collection point with a big grin on her face.

‘They’re ready!’ her friend announced.

‘What? Ooh, do you mean the pudding packaging? Have you made some designs already?’

‘Yep, I’m so pleased with them, but … I’ll let you make up your own minds. Why don’t you and Jill come up to the cottage, in say fifteen minutes, and have a look? I’ll put the kettle on. Maisy can come and play with Amelia.’

‘That sounds a great idea. I’ll walk Maisy home, then catch up with Mum and let her know. I’m sure she’ll be happy to come across. Ooh, I’m excited to see them now. Spill … are they patterned, checked, floral, plain?’

‘You need to wait and see.’

‘Spoilsport.’

‘No, I just think it’s best you see how they work. First impressions and all that. Just like your customers will.’

‘Yeah, you’re right. Well then, this is a special occasion which I believe deserves cake. Do you have anything in?’

‘No, sorry. Been too busy doing all my crafting these past few days.’

‘Well, I’m sure Mum was baking earlier today. I’ll see what she was rustling up. There’s always something tasty in our kitchen these days. If we’re lucky, she may even have been testing out some new puds. We’ll bring something along, don’t you worry.’

‘Now that sounds a plan.’

Rachel, Jill and Maisy were soon jumping into the farm’s battered old Land Rover and heading across to Eve’s place to see the pudding packaging samples. They parked by the old stone cottage and walked up the pathway that was bordered by sunny daffodils and soft-pink tulips.

Eve came to the door with a cheerful grin. ‘Hello, hello. Come on in, my lovelies. Welcome to the mad house. Sorry, it’s a bit chaotic here just now, but I’m so excited to show you what I’ve made so far. Would you like a cup of tea or anything?’

She led them through to her dining room, which looked like an arts and crafts Aladdin’s cave – where the table and dresser were piled with bundles of colourful material, balls of wool, scraps of felt, buttons, threads and ribbons in all shades, and more.

‘Oh yes, tea would be lovely,’ Rachel answered. ‘But can we see the packaging ideas first?’ She didn’t think she could wait.

‘Of course. Right …’ Eve had some material samples placed at the centre of the pine table top, next to a box of coloured satin ribbons. ‘Well then, eek …’ she sounded rather nervous. She opened a cardboard box and from it set out four options which she’d wrapped earlier, using the correct size of metal foil containers that Jill had chosen to bake her puddings in. ‘Here are your pudding packaging ideas.’

Each had a different floral print that had a gorgeous vintage-farmhouse look. Any of the patterns would work brilliantly, and Eve had tied thin satin bows around them, which looked beautiful.

‘Of course, the material wrap will come off before baking, but they just look so pretty. And I can change any of the patterns or the colours of the bows to whatever you prefer. I’ve got some other samples of materials here.’ Eve sounded slightly anxious as she pointed to the other colour options.

Jill just stared at the package designs with a huge smile on her face.

‘Oh wow,’ said Rachel, ‘I love them. They look old-fashioned in a lovely vintage kind of way.’

Jill had a glisten to her eye as she spoke. ‘Aw, they look like something Grandma Isabel would have made.’ She gave a little sniff. ‘This pattern is just adorable.’ She was pointing to a small floral print in red and green, with tiny red roses.

‘Oh, and I love this one,’ Rachel added, pointing to another floral pattern but with browns, yellows and orange shades that had a seventies feel. It had been tied with a deep-brown satin bow. ‘This has chocolate pudding written all over it. Don’t you think, Mum?’

‘Yes love, and the red roses one could be for the sticky toffee. Do you like the green ribbon or the red on that?’

‘Hmm.’ Rachel rubbed her chin, as she considered.

‘I think I’d go green,’ Eve commented. ‘I’m thinking countryside, farming colours.’

‘Yes, I’d agree,’ said Jill buoyantly.

‘Just to warn you though, I may not always be able to get exactly the same material prints,’ added Eve. ‘To keep the costs down initially for you, I’ve bought remnants and samples, but they are all new material. I know you made it clear you can’t have anything pre-used to wrap food. But, I’ll get online as soon as poss now that you’ve chosen, and see if I can order some more of these two patterns at least. I’ve enough to last for a while anyhow.’