Still Skipping Squares

Still working on the Skipping Squares blocks; these square-in-a-square blocks....

And these cuties as well.

Only one more block group to go.

Blackberry Jam

One of my lovely friends invited me over for dinner and blackberry picking on Australia day. Not a bad way to spend the evening!

I topped up my haul with another picking session along my local train line, so I had enough to make a yummy batch of jam (plus save some to eat).

My jam recipe is super simple:
1kg berries (works for blackberries or raspberries)
40-50ml lemon juice
750g sugar

Get your berries and juice into a big pan (as in the pic above), then cook until they have broken right down and are super juicy.

Then add your sugar, stir until it's all disolved, then bring to the boil. I love that gorgeous purple colour!

Boil rapidly until the jam reaches setting point (about 10 mins), then bottle it up.


How awesome is the colour? I'm making a batch of scones later...its going to be divine!

Skipping Squares

A few months back I picked up a quilt kit from the FQS called Always You and Me; the Cluck Cluck Sew pattern Skipping Squares kitted out in Circa 1934. And I've finally got around to starting it!

The pattern is simple and easy to follow which is great! So far I've done two of the different blocks (easiest first). These little squares....


and the larger squares...

I am loving that alphabet print; the left-overs make great personalised magnets!

Good Fortune by Kate Spain for Moda

I love fabric deliveries! Today's unexpected suprises were Kate Spain's Good Fortune...

both charm packs...

and jelly rolls...


And Cosmo Cricket's Salt Air, two months ahead of schedule.

Button Magnets and Other Bits

My magnets arrived this week, and I quickly turned those fabric buttons into button magnets. I bought a cute metal tree from Typo so it will be easy to display the magnets at markets. I might have to keep a few for my own fridge!

I've also been sorting out end-of-bolt bits of fabric, rolled them in to bundles and displayed them in my soda box. I'll be putting some bundles in the other compartments....perfect!

This is the little cot quilt I've been working on; quick and easy. It'll be coming to market as well, but I've also listed it for sale on my website.



I'm hoping to start a project for myself this week, a quilt using Circa 1934. Hopefully I get some time this arvo to start cutting it all out...

Portobello Market Fat Quarters

I've just done a bit of a de-stash and found a pile of fat quarters left over from a bundle of Moda's Portobello Market.

There are 15 fat quarters, mostly brown with a couple of blue/green/red/cream.

$50 including postage within Australia if any one would like them.

Summer Dessert

This dessert is great for summer; it's pretty light, has little-to-no sugar in it, and you can use whatever fruit you have on hand. This one has nectarines and blueberries in it, and the last one I made had apricots in it. Berries or cherries would be great too!

50g unsalted butter
¾ cup plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
Caster sugar
¾ cup milk
Fruit of choice

Preheat oven to 220C. Put butter in 2L dish then place in the oven to melt while you make the batter.
Place flour, baking powder, a pinch of salt, and up to ¼ cup sugar in bowl (I only use 1 tablespoon of sugar).
Add milk and mix until smooth.
Pour into casserole dish (don’t stir!), then arrange your fruit on top. Sprinkle with a little extra sugar.
Place in oven, reduce temperature to 180C, bake for up to an hour (mine usually take 45-50mins) until caramelised around the edges.
Dust with icing sugar then serve with cream, yoghurt or ice cream.

So yum!

The recipe comes from an issue of delicious magazine (Dec11/Jan12).

Meh

Post-hospital, I've been feeling a little Meh the past week. No motivation to do much more than veg on the couch and watch old episodes of Gimore Girls (season 6, just in case you're interested).

My major crafting achievement for the week was making a pile of fabric-covered buttons, which are destined to become magnets in time for my next market. I love how focusing on a tiny bit of a pattern makes the fabric look so different! There is some Bliss and Ruby tucked in there, and even a sneaky Cat in the Hat.

I went for a wander around the shops yesterday and stumbled on this gorgeous box/tray; I think its new but made to look old, but it's perfect for keeping sewing notions in, or for displaying fabrics at markets. It was on sale too which is always a plus.

Another one of my lucky finds this weekend; a canvas print of the Brooklyn Bridge for the tidy sum of $5! It's now hanging in my room as motivation for another trip to The Big Apple.


I'm off to do a little sewing; a cot quilt which I hope to sell....I'm dipping my toes in those waters again.

Best Laid Plans...

I spend an hour or so Friday night shuffling all the blocks around, trying to find an arrangement that made me happy.

Then spent the weekend in hospital hooked up to an IV and not allowed to eat (stomach ache, nothing major).

Came home late yesterday with instructions to take it easy for a week. I figure some simple sewing counts as easy, so here is my little Ruby lap quilt.

I think she still needs a couple of borders; probably a thin white one then a thicker coloured one...just need to decide which fabric to use.

Changing My Mind

Is it safe to admit I lost interest in the Farmer's Wife Quilt? I really did give it a go, but I wasn't really feeling the love, so I packed it in before I got too invested. I really do love the blocks I've seen out on the web, but it was doing my head in trying to decide which fabrics to use in each block....

So I've cut all my bits of Ruby into squares instead, and I'm going to make a little lap quilt out of her. Quick and easy, and it might get my mojo rebooted for the year ahead!

It's a little while until this years markets get up and running, so I'm hoping to get this little gem done, then perhaps start on my Circa 1934 quilt.

Oh, and have you seen this years Designer Mystery BOM? I've already signed up....will you? I really enjoyed sewing along with everyone in 2009 and look forward to doing the same again this year.

Hello 2012!

Whether you've already arrived in 2012, or are just a little behind, I want to wish you all the best for the new year. 2011 was a bit of a mixed bag, so here's hoping 2012 is so much better.

I've been away in the country this week; a little quiet time to rest and reflect on the year just gone. We've visited a few of our favourite wineries for some amazing food and wine. Even the views are pretty spectacular.

We've had some lovely visitors this week, including the very noisy Galahs. The babies make quite a racket!

On Boxing Day I was lucky to spot this furry fellow in the tree outside our cottage. He hung around till night time, then moved on under cover of darkness.

I also finished the binding on Swoon. I'm really chuffed with how it turned out. Pity it's going to be so hot now, I'll have to tuck it away until winter....


I'll be heading home tomorrow, then kicking things off with Bella's Patchwork again. I've got some exciting new markets lined up, and am looking for more opportunities to get out there. If you know of any markets that would have me, I'd love to hear about them.