Feeling Flat

To begin with, the camera batteries (yes, all 3 sets) are flat, so no new photos, unless you wish to view the old bed we are trying to palm off on Trademe. In which case you can veiw it there.

My very last machine sewing needle is bent. I think that speaks for itself really.

I made some Yo-Yo’s, of the biscuit variety. There are very fast and gratifying to make, provided you SOFTEN, no no, not melt, SOFTEN the butter. They still taste ok, just not the same.

YOYO’s (Courtuesy of Edmond- A Kiwi Institution) 

175g butter

1/4 C icing sugar

few drops vanilla essence

1 1/2 C flour

1/4 C custard powder

SOFTEN the butter and cream with the sugar. Add everything else and mix well. Roll into little balls and flatten onto the tray. Bake for 15-20 mins at 180 deg C.

When cool fill with:

50g butter, softened

1/2 C icing sugar

2 T custard powder    Beaten all together.

NOTES

*For a recipie with this much butter you really expect more biscuits out of it. They really are very good though.

** This is surely enough filling for a double batch. Or you can leave it in the fridge for the next time you make it. Or I guess you could just make half.

Go and put the oven on now, by the time it heats up you’ll be ready to put the biscuits in. Seriously. Just remember to SOFTEN the butter only!

Crochet Bonsai

Yesterday, while on our weekly ramble through town Michael and I walked past a little gallery I had never sat up and taken any notice of before.

“Hey, wait a minute, I think that’s crochet!” said I, while walking quickly backwards, and I got in the door before he could protest too loudly.

Yes, thats a crappy photo of a postcard, but the website has much better photos.

And yes, the tiger was life sized and coming out of the floor. Very cool.

Nuttnbunny and I would love for anyone else keen to make Ester with us to please sing out and do so, we will be the motivation we all need to keep going when times get tough and the pattern increases to a million stitches!

Taking the Plunge

I tentatively suggested a KAL with Nuttnbunny to knit Ester about a week ago. Prehaps a mild rush of blood to the head, or a deep longing to actually knit Ester, or a combination of both, but today I went out and bought some wool!

This is unusal in itself, because I think the last time I bought wool was to make a hat for 5th form sewing- I’ve taken to spinning my own.

When I got the wool shop at 9:30 my heart sunk as I saw it was closed, then I realised it opened at 10, so I had half an hour to kill. I headed over to the main street, and found most of the shops I wanted to go into there- antiquey type places- were also closed!
I went into a little grocers- staked high to the roof with goods, and one of those wheely ladders, where I bought this little jar jam packed with sweets. The perfect mix of sweet and tangy, hard and that gooey centre which sticks to your back teeth, Yum!

When I got back to the yarn store it was already humming- and not quite 10:00! I didnt think it would be such a bustling place. The lady behind the counter was helpful- and pointed me in the direction of the right weight yarn, then helped me work out how many balls I would need.

The wool I chose is a dark purply red- a little different to what I would normally wear.

So Nuttnbunny- as soon as I get gauge (read: after tonight) I’m ready to go!!! As you can see, you’ve been a great motivation already!

All the Pretty Little…Unicorns

Yesterday’s paper unicorn has leapt out of the page and onto two drawstring bags,

On the left I used a thrifted pillowcase and some iron-on fixative, which I got all over my ironing board and iron.

I think next time I need to iron on a big piece of fabric, then cut it out out, not iron on my cut out piece! I then blanket stitched around it with some shiny pink thread.

On the right is our good friend freezer paper stencil, who, once again, has not failed us! I then running stitched around the inside of the paint with afore mentioned shiny pink thread.

They are just a basic drawstring bag with a fold at the bottom, a seam up either side and a folded over bit at the top.

No pins were employed in the construction of this product : )

NOT a Spotty Hoody

So…I was going to make a spotty hoody…and I will one of these days….

BUT I couldn’t find all my pattern pieces, and was getting bogged down in the fact that the “spare room” needs a very big clean out, but that most of it is recycling and washing, and that the recycling bin is full and rubbish day isn’t till thursday, and that the washing line was full……

So I abandoned that project and once Michael left for uni I commenced work on top-secret-birthday-stuff.

With Pedro literally asleep at my feet I created 3 photo blocks from mini canvases, with “Pedro words” on the sides.

To go with the photos I (quite literally- the lady at the overpriced Scrapbooking shop on the corner would be horrified, I cut them out with scissors and everything!) stuck on the front.

And then, I cut out a unicorn.

I may or may not have regained my crafting mojo.

Inspiration / Motivation

::Inspiration:: I’m feeling very inspired…tote bags with freezer stencils, sleeveless hoodies for autumn, merino vests for over collared shirts, Ester (I suspect many people are linking to this one)- with a tentative KAL with Nuttnbunny (I havent forgotten you, I’m just collecting my thoughts), my quilt, which is s..l..o..w..l..y progressing……….

::Motivation:: But I can’t seem to get my mind around it all or a straight run at anything!

Here’s hoping for more motivation next week.

A really big stick

Well its all relative really….

hey…look…I found a stick…

It’s actually kinda heavy…..

And I can’t get past this pillar…..

(In leiu of crafting content, of which there has been minimal amounts)

Mountains of Quilts

  

I have two quilts. Kind of.

One is from my mother from my grandmother….and no it’s not a family heirloom. It was left at one of my grandparents staff houses when the staff moved on. It has a rip in it and I even think its kinda ugly. (But I didn’t just tell you that.)

I am grateful for the extra warmth it has provided over the last few particularly chilly nights.

The main feature panels of this quilt are quilted but not pieced, which I think is why I find it unappealing- I find it deceptive.

The other quilt is not really mine either. Michael’s Grandmother is a quilter and made it either for him or his mother. Anyway it came to Christchurch with us and roams around, usually making it onto the guest bed. It has a woman’s face in the middle of it.

I have decided to make a quilt I can legitimately call mine. It’s not going to be patchwork, but will utilise two of my more beautiful peices of fabric, one of which has featured very recently, (but this time in brown) and the other (also linen) I have been toting around and not cutting into for too long. Now I wont have to cut it!

Today I pinned them together with some beautiful batting inside (80/20 wool/cotton, but I can’t remember which way round!) and started basting them together.

 I plan to hand stitch it, but not sure yet if I want to freehand it or sew more of a pattern. Any suggestions?

Finally….

Its been ready for a while and I’ve even worn it a couple of times, but taking a photo ad blogging about it is another matter all together!

The photos are a little crappy, and as you can see its nothing like the original!

 I made the back longer and added ties to keep it closed and give me back my figure!

I hope to make another (more!) and think I would make it into two pattern pieces with curvy side seams to add to the feminine look.

Also keeping me busy has been a small attempt at patchwork for my sister and baking…which will follow as I need to get roast in the oven.

 

(That’s a house in the corner, with a heart in it)

(Home is where the Heart is <3)

The Linen Smock

Linen is my favourtie fabric. It is cool and slippery in summer, and has very pure feel about it.

What could be better than linen with leaves on it? In a smock? That would fit me?

A little handsewing…and we’re good to go!