In Stitches

Last Week

2012-02-18T15:47:00.003+11:00

Last week was pretty hectic, but I'm sorry to say, I don't have much to show for it. No time for any sewing!

I spent a day minding my friends two gorgeous little boys, who are one and almost three. I had another friend over for morning tea and we had a great time playing with the boys. I even managed a few nappies!

I also spent a day as a relief teacher, which I really enjoy. While its hard work, its nice being able to walk away at the end of the day with no responsibility.

Sweetwater's Reunion rocked up on my doorstep while I was out yesterday, so I've listed that in the shop. Its a great range if you are looking for something for boys. I've been getting all my fabrics organised for next weekend's Mathilda's Market. I'm really looking forward to it!

I also attended a function at the airport, which was an interesting experience...not just because going to the airport to not catch a plane is a bit strange, but I didn't know a single person there. I had a great night though and meet a lovely group of people.

Now I have a bit pot of Spag Bol simmering on the stove...I'm looking forward to a quiet Saturday night with some great food and wine...

Ruby Revisited

2012-02-11T12:09:00.003+11:00

It's been a little while since I mentioned this little Ruby lap quilt. Last time I was talking borders...
I've got the white border on, and I like it, but I think it still needs a coloured border.

I'm thinking of using the gorgeous print I've circled in the photo below. Definitely my favourite in the range. Thoughts?

A Good Start to the Week

2012-02-06T12:21:00.001+11:00

Rows assembled one day, quilt assembled another...done!

Love the look; quite different to my usual colours but it's a bit fun. Just waiting on my backing to arrive.

Any suggestions for quilting?

Instagram

2012-02-02T14:48:00.004+11:00

I'm no photographer; I'm more of a point-and-shoot kinda girl. I also don't know my way around Photoshop; the only skill I have there is pimple-removing when I need an ID photo to look good.

So it's no suprise that I'm loving Instagram! Take a quick snap on my iPhone, pop it into Instagram and let it work its magic. These are a few shots I've taken over the last week or so...

I love a good cup of tea; I've been drinking it every morning since I was little. Usually I'm an English Breakfast girl, but Twinings bought out an Aussie blend in time for Australia Day and I really like it.

A quick meal one night: stir fried pork with beans, wombok and cashews served with rice.

Scones cooked in the Weber BBQ with lashings of that blackberry jam I made over the weekend and thick cream.

Summer fruits; we only got one fig on our little tree this year, but that wasn't a bad effort given we moved the tree over winter. I wasn't sure it would survive...

More homegrown goodness; tomatoes, bocconcini and basil with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Ensalada Caprese.

And of course a quick snap of Bella, who spends most of her time chilling on my bed. This little girl does not like the heat at all!

Still Skipping Squares

2012-01-30T14:59:00.004+11:00

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

2012-01-28T17:34:00.003+11:00

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

2012-01-25T13:32:00.003+11:00

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

2012-01-24T13:58:00.003+11:00

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

2012-01-22T12:12:00.004+11:00

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

2012-01-20T14:41:00.002+11:00

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

2012-01-17T14:29:00.003+11:00

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

2012-01-15T14:15:00.002+11:00

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...

2012-01-09T14:32:00.003+11:00

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

2012-01-05T19:57:00.003+11:00

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!

2012-01-01T11:09:00.004+11:00

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.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T16:09:00.002+11:00

Wishing everyone a merry christmas, and all the best for the year to come. Hope today is everything you want it to be.

I know we don't get a white Christmas in Australia, but it certainly isn't sunny in Melbourne right now...a hail storm is on the way! So the above seemed almost suitable.

Whew!

2011-12-20T13:07:00.003+11:00

Thanks to some hot weather on Saturday, the Pop Up Market turned into a bit of an endurance event. Between the direct sun streaming in at the back of my stall, and the heat collecting under the marquee, it was a rather unpleasant five hours. My mum and I took turns vacating to a shady spot outside of the market, and even some time in the car with the aircon running.

Despite the heat it was a very successful market, and I really enjoyed meeting new buyers and checking out all the stalls. One of my favourites is retrobub. All the clothing handmade and features gorgeous aplique such as this one (my fave!).

With all the sales last weekend it's been crazy this week re-stocking for the Mulgrave Market this Friday afternoon (5.30-8.30pm). There have been bunnies and owls, and some cute Dr Seuss rattle cushions to be made.

As always there is a little time for baking (before I get into the rush of christmas baking)...a yummy Lemony Peach Cake from the Donna Hay book "seasons". So yum eaten warm with some fresh fruit and yoghurt.

And I still need to get Swoon done by the end of the week!

Pop Up Market

2011-12-14T12:49:00.004+11:00

This Saturday I've got a stall at the Rock Your Stockings Pop-Up Market in Prahran, so I've been busy sewing this week after last Sunday's busy market.

I've got a few more Dr Seuss/Cat in the Hat cushions, as they seem to be extremely popular. And it seems to be adults buying them for themselves...

A couple more owls.

Outside of sewing things have been happening in the vegie patch. I found this enormous zucchini hiding yesterday; those scissors are a standard-sized kitchen pair, and this baby is over 1kg!

I was alerted to the ripening of the peaches yesterday by the wattlebirds. They're getting their share, but we have more than enough to go around. It's so nice to eat fruit that was picked only seconds earlier.

I've also just picked my first handful of butterbeans for the summer. These will be going in a stirfry tonight along with that zucchini and some home-grown roly poly carrots.

Lots of Little Things...

2011-12-09T14:10:00.004+11:00

There have been lots ot little bits of sewing going on at my house this week. Some of it are for christmas presents, so I can't show them off just yet.

But there are other things, like a Cat in the Hat throw pillow destined for this Sunday's market.

A custom make-up bag; I had a request for red and pink, and I think Ruby fits the bill perfectly. So much so I might need to make one for myself...

These aren't new (you might remember them from last year), but they have suddenly become hot-sellers at the market.

I can't even show you my christmas tree; it just isn't that fancy this year, lest a certain someone decide to crash-tackle it as has happened in the past. It's bad enough that each time I go out, I come home to find a small collection or ornaments tucked on the chair you can see in the photo...

If you've made it this far, I'd love for you to leave a comment...I seem to have been talking to myself a bit lately and I'm feeling a little lonely in here...

I Love Summer!

2011-12-06T13:54:00.005+11:00

After the coldest start to summer in over 20 years, the sun is finally shining! The cicadas are chirping and the parrots are certainly doing their bit in my feijoa trees. I'm trying hard to split my time between inside activities and outdoors jobs.

I stitched up all the offcuts from Swoon (I hate the wastage that comes from flying geese) into a big pile of HSTs....now I just need to decide what to do with them.

Swoon is basted and currently residing in the machine; my plan is to have it done by Christmas so I can hand stitch the binding while I'm away on holidays. My sewing machine has been giving me lots of trouble when I free-motion quilt (the bobbin thread catches), but apparently you can stipple with the feed-dogs up, and it seems to be working so far. The middle block is always the hardest!

The garden has completely come alive; the aggies provide a nice bit of colour against my in-need-of-a-paint fence.

Those tiny little tomato seedlings I rescued and planted have turned into mammoth plants, and they seem to be competing with a self-sown oregano plant.

There are little tomatoes hiding everywhere.

After no zucchinis last year, I've already got quite a few this year (and some of them are HUGE!).

My butter beans are already covered in flowers and tiny beans...hopefully they'll be ready by Christmas day.

My poor peach tree is so laden with fruit I've had to tie the branches to the fence to prevent them snapping off.

There are little figs tucked away.

I netted the blueberries this year and I actually get to eat these yummy little morsels.

The quinces are putting on weight, so we should have a nice winter crop.

The hibiscus are also adding a nice bit of colour against all the green.

So that's what is happening in my world at the moment. It's only 19 days till Christmas and I still have three markets to get through, and a bit of baking. Ive already baked (and eaten) a batch of shortbread....

Free Shipping

2011-12-01T10:35:00.003+11:00

I'm in the mood to celebrate the first day of summer (though apparently the weather is not)....so for today only, free shipping!

Pop the code XMAS11 into the checkout over at Bella's Patchwork to receive free shipping.

Please note that this is for standard postage only (not express) and for Australia only.

Farmer's Wife 3

2011-11-29T15:32:00.003+11:00

A few more blocks to add to the collection. I'm not sure I'll do all 111; I think I'll just play it by ear.

Block 12: Broken Sugar Dish

Block 14: Butterfly at the Crossroads

Block 13: Buckwheat

Block 15: Buzzard's Roost

Markets and Birthdays

2011-11-27T17:27:00.004+11:00

This weekend has been one of my busiest ever, and it's safe to say I'm actually looking forward to Monday just to have a break!

First off I visited AQM on Saturday, where I got the chance to check out all the new fabrics and patterns heading our way. There are so many gorgeous new things that it's hard not to be overwhelmed.

I ordered some of Natalie Lymer's Woodland which I'm really looking forward to, got my hands on some A Walk in the Woods jelly rolls ahead of time, and bought some patterns from a newish Aussie designer, Lenora Jenkins. I also said hello to Clare's Squiddley and am now stocking kits of this gorgeous softie.

After market I headed home for a quick tidy up, then off to celebrate the 1st birthday of my friend's little boy. How gorgeous is the cake! My friend is a very talented pastry chef. Inside is a yummy layered mudcake.

Today I headed off for the November Maker's Market; while the weather wasn't too great to start with, it cleared up and there was even some sunshine by the end. I had a great day with lots of customers, and had an opportunity to try out my newest product; some little zipped makeup bags.

Now I think I'm owed some sleep!

A Spoonful of Swoon

2011-11-23T14:43:00.002+11:00

Done!

Now I just need to find my quilting mojo...

A Winner and Some Markets

2011-11-22T11:40:00.004+11:00

Thanks for all the entries and messages for my 300th post giveaway! It was interesting to see what everyone picked.

Random.org did its thing and my winner is Chookyblue! I shall be in touch.

In other news, I have a tonne of markets booked for the near future. First up we have the Mulgrave Maker's Market.

First up is Sunday 27th of November, then Sunday 11th December, then a twilight market on Friday 23rd December for last minute Christmas shopping.

I also got an invite to be part of the Pop Up Markets, so I'll be at the Rock Your Stockings christmas market on Saturday 17th December.

Lucky last, and most excitingly, I finally got into Mathilda's Market after trying for almost 18 months. So I shall be at the Malvern Town Hall on Sunday 26th February.

Farmer's Wife 2

2011-11-19T14:09:00.003+11:00

A few more Farmer's Wife Sampler blocks. It's a gloomy day in Melbourne so the photos haven't turned out too well (and the second one is blurry, sorry).

Block 6: Big Dipper

Block 7: Birds in the Air. Not much contrast in this block so I may redo it...

Block 9: Box

Block 10: Bowtie

Block 11: Broken Dishes. Snuck a bit of Bliss into this one and I love it.

Just a reminder, if you haven't already entered my givaway, you have until 5pm tomorrow (AEDST) to enter to win a pattern of your choice.

Swoon Blocks 8 & 9

2011-11-15T16:44:00.004+11:00

Block 8; love the contrast of the blue and yellow.

Block 9: Lucky last! Was worried there wouldn't be enough contrast, but it has turned out way better than I expected.

300th Post Giveaway!

2011-11-15T14:40:00.003+11:00

While babbling on about Swoon last week, I knocked up my 300th post! It really doesn't suprise me, I do talk a bit.... so a giveaway is in order!

I'm offering up the pattern of your choice from Bella's Patchwork. So whether your a Thimble Blossoms girl, a Schnibbles fan, or into Cluck Cluck Sew, there is sure to be a pattern to suit you.

Pop on in here, take a look, then come back and tell me which pattern you'd like to win and why. Entries will close 5pm Australian Daylight Savings time on Sunday, and I'll pick a winner soon after.

Strawberry Twist

2011-11-14T13:43:00.003+11:00

The last of the binding has been stitched down, and the sun is out, perfect for her photo shoot.

She is now "Strawberry Twist".

A gorgeous red, strawberry-covered backing. And I love how the red binding really zings!

Pattern: Sugar Twist by The Pattern Basket

Fabric: Strawberry Fields by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda

Farmer's Wife Sampler

2011-11-13T13:52:00.006+11:00

Have you heard about the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt-a-Long? It's been buzzing all over the net for months and I finally decided to bit the bullet and buy the book. If you do some googleing, you'll find where it all started, and plenty of examples of gorgeous blocks.

After seeing Camille's blocks, I had to do mine in Ruby...plus I needed a little break from Swoon.

Block 1: Attic Windows

Block 2: Autumn Tints

Block 4: Basket Weave

Block 34: Flock. I skipped ahead to this one as I liked the look of it.

Swoon Blocks 6 & 7

2011-11-11T11:58:00.006+11:00

Block 6, a yellow and green combo (and that spot on the yellow near the top is just some water from the iron)

Block 7; purple and blue combo. That purple is my favourite fabric from the collection.

Swoon Block 5

2011-11-10T09:20:00.001+11:00

Another day, another block. I really do love the purple & orange combo.

Seam-Pressing
Like a lot of patterns, Swoon doesn't have any instructions on how to press the seams. If you're an experienced quilter it's not too bad, but if your a bit of a newbie, it can be a bit daunting. These are my tips.

HSTs: For the blocks that are half colour/half white, press towards the coloured triangle. For the block that is colour 1/colour 2, press towards colour 2 (the colour of your centre star). That way your seams will go together nicely when you make the corner blocks (shown below).

This gives you an idea of how I pressed the seams, starting with the HSTs as described above. I tended to press the seams in the direction they wanted to fall which helps minimise bulk.

The other component is the unit made of of the flying geese and solid rectangle. No matter which way you press the seams, they don't fit with the corner units. So I found it easier to press them open. There is still enough bulk in the seam to allow the seams to butt up against each other fairly well, without being too bulky.

Swoon Blocks 3 & 4

2011-11-09T10:58:00.003+11:00

Block 3; not such a striking contrast but I love it anyway.

Block 4...its so sunny!

Swoon Block 2

2011-11-08T11:20:00.002+11:00

Another block, and I LOVE this one. I'm not usually a fan of orange but it's quite striking against the deep purple.

Do you think Bella could be any more of a sticky beak?

Swoon Block 1

2011-11-07T13:52:00.004+11:00

Boy is this block bigger than I expected! Lots of seams, and no pressing directions, but it seems to go together pretty well.

And it looks like this is my 300th post! I see a giveaway in the future...

Colour

2011-11-03T16:00:00.005+11:00

The bit I find hardest about quilting is choosing colour combinations, even within a line of fabric. Sometimes I think two fabrics will go together, I stitch them up, and it just doesn't work. It's hard to visualise how the fabrics will look in a particular block before you've seen it.

I'm trying to pick 18 Central Park fat quarters for Swoon, and I'm finding that I'm really drawn to the purples and blues, but not so much a fan of the greens.

This is the first combination I had, but thought it might be too much yellow.

I subbed out one of the yellows for a brown.

Thoughts? Is there too much or two little of any of the colours? Do the combinations work?

Update: my latest combination...I think this works a lot better.

Swoon

2011-10-31T17:44:00.004+11:00

Who doesn't love Swoon? This quilt has been popping up all over the internet since the pattern was released...and it's next on my list. I've had a bundle of Central Park stashed away and I think this might just be the right combination.

Sugar Twist is all quilted up (with no thanks to my stubborn machine) and ready to be bound....the end is in sight!

Road Trippin'

2011-10-23T16:48:00.004+11:00

This week I went on a bit of a road trip around the state, with interviews scheduled in a couple of distant country towns. It was nice to check out some new places, and spend a little time just chilling under a tree.

But as much as I love being in the car, singing along to my music, road trips are really made for more than one person. And being rung before I even got home to say I didn't get one of the jobs was pretty sucky.

On the upside, I've started quilting Sugar Twist. My plan was to get it done by today, but my little road trip of 800km kinda got in the way.

I also had the October Maker's Market today; despite pouring rain for the past couple of days, the weather gods turned on some gorgeous sunshine today. After posting a pic on Facebook, I had quite a few people enquiring about my Dr Seuss cushion, but one lucky lady snapped it up very quickly!

I also managed to pick up some heirloom tomato plants, just $1.50 each! There's a purple russian, a black krim, and an ox heart. I've never grown any of these so I'm looking forward to a yummy summer bounty.

Baking a Rainbow

2011-10-18T20:50:00.007+11:00

They've become all the rage on the internet, and felt it was time I had a go....it's a Rainbow Cake!
I used the recipe from over here; a single quantity for the two layers, though I would have been better doubling it.

So, I started with the mix divided over 6 bowls.

Added my colours; I used the gel dyes, though I really need to get a Red Red rather than the Christmas Red, which comes out quite pinkish. You can also add more gel to make the colours more intense.

Then I layered the mix into the pans. I worked from red to purple in one pan, and purple to red in the other. Use 2/3 of the mix for the first three colours in each pan, and the remaining 1/3 for the last three colours in each.

Six empty bowls of cake mix to lick!

Straight out of the oven.

Stack one on top of the other, using a thin layer of icing to join. Then ice... the pink peril! Not my neatest effort but its a good test-run.

The moment of truth!

Supper!
Gone!

Now I just need to find an excuse to bake a 6 layer rainbow!

The Week That Was

2011-10-15T16:23:00.005+11:00

Such a busy week, but so little crafting!

I basted Sugar Twist, and it's been sitting beside the machine ever since.

Did some experiementing in the kitchen...

...chicken tacos with homemade tortillas...

...and spinach ricotta dumplings with tomato.

Tried out a new cafe; Mart 130, which is in an old tram stop.

Had a job interview in the country

And played around with Ruby.

What did you do this week?

Ruby by Bonnie and Camille for Moda

2011-10-10T12:46:00.005+11:00

She's arrived! And a little earlier than I expected too! I have approximately half the range, with a mix of gorgeous reds, pinks, greys, greens and creams. I also have all the charm packs, layer cakes and jelly rolls.

Pop on in to Bella's Patchwork to check her out, as well as all the Thimble Blossoms patterns to go with the range.

New York

2011-10-04T17:43:00.006+11:00

Finally getting my act together and getting my New York photos uploaded....these are just a tiny selection.

Fifth Avenue; home of awesome shopping, including Tiffanys.

FAO Schwarz, awesome toy shop. Love the guy on the door too.

My favourite part of Central Park; Fountain of Bethesda.

Strawberry Fields, Central Park.

Times Square at night, just as busy as during the day.

One of the reflection pools at the 9/11 memorial.

Washington Square.

The best caramel sunday ever! From Serendipity (apparently made famous by the movie of the same name, but I haven't seen it). And yes, I ate the whole thing myself (minus the cream)...yummy butter pecan ice-cream. In the background is my friend's frozen hot chocolate.

The Empire State Building just after the sun has gone down, taken from the Top of the Rock observation deck. We went up before sunset and watched the city lights come on.

Pizza at Grimaldi's in Brooklyn; this is their "small" six-slice pizza. Hate to see what the large looks like!

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge back into Manhattan.

The Flatiron Building; one of my favourites along with the Chrysler Building.

I have heaps more photos, but there is no way I could possibly load them all up, especially as Blogger only lets me do 3 at a time... hope you enjoyed!

My (Not So) Storybook Life

2011-09-30T11:55:00.003+10:00

Liz Owen of Mabel's House is giving away a handful of advance copies of her new book; head on over to check it out!

***
Once one has breathed in the deep pungent aroma of sewage, you never again forget the nose-hair singeing, eye clawing, throat gagging experience. It comes over you slowly. You begin to feel like a character in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest as your muscles involuntarily jerk and you run screaming and blowing raspberries. Anything to get away from the mind-numbing stench.

But let me explain.
It was 6:30 a.m. I was standing in my retro pink tiled bathroom trying to open my bleary eyes and ready myself for work. As I stood there, peering into the mirror and wondering what demented nighttime fairy had planted four new wrinkles on my face, I paused and sniffed.
“Matt… what’s that smell?”

Matt staggered from the bedroom in his underwear, eyes half shut. “I don’t smell anything.”
I pointed my nose into the air like a hunting dog. “Seriously? You can’t smell that? Did you go to the bathroom in here earlier? I told you to use the room spray when you do things like that.”
Matt puffed out his bare chest and gathered his pride as best a man can with sleep in his eyes and a small hole in the side of his underwear. “I just woke up!”

I frowned, catching a glimpse of my makeup-less hot-rollers-in-hair state and tried not to think about the fact that I looked fifty instead of twenty-nine. “Well, help me figure this out. Because something smells ripe.”

We sniffed the sink drain and ruled it out as a suspect.
“Is it coming from the toilet?” Matt asked, examining it from top to bottom.
“No, that’s not it,” I snapped. I’m not known for my milk of human kindness in a disaster. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a survivor. I plan on eating my radish like Scarlet and clawing my way out of the nuclear dust while dragging my loved ones with me. But I won’t be doing it with positive phrases and a smile.
“Hon, I just don’t know. We’ll call a plumber after work, maybe it’s coming from under the house.” Matt staggered a little, trying to get past me and out of our tiny bathroom.
“Well, that’s just great,” I moved aside and pulled the shower curtain back so I could perch on the side of the tub and give Matt room to move out the door.

That’s when the full brunt of nastiness filled the air around us, a swirling mix of excrement and acrid stench that would have brought the sewer dwelling Ninja Turtles to their knees. Where the normally slightly-clean-with-a-hint-of-soap-scum bottom of the tub should have been, there sloshed gallons and gallons of brown sewage.

I clutched the front of my sweatshirt and held my breath. Matt began to dry heave.
“Get out and shut the door!” I screamed as we bumbled into the hallway.
“I’ll deal with this,” Matt grabbed my shoulders, trying to talk and hold his breath at the same time.

I could feel my eyes glaze over, the horrors of typhoid and hepatitis in our bathtub filling my mind. But more importantly, I could envision our evaporated savings account. In my mind’s eye I could see the long, gray hallway at the bank. A worker shrouded in a black suit pulled a set of keys from his pocket and unlatched a small locker labeled “Owen Bank Account.” Inside were two small stacks of quarters and a few crumpled dollar bills. It was bleak, not only because the banker with an unimaginative wardrobe gazed at me with an expression that could only be interpreted as “You’re a Big Fat Loser,” but also there was a very definite possibility we wouldn’t be able to pay for a plumber.

I wasn’t necessarily a spend thrift. In fact, I was downright frugal when it came to decorating with thrift store furniture and rewired vintage lamps. But the fact was, we were poor. We were starting out at starter jobs with starter salaries. We were starter adults with a starter bank account.
“Okay,” I nodded numbly, thankful that Matt was taking the lead on such a disastrous biohazard. “But make sure the plumber is super cheap. We don’t have much money!”

I left for work like a wino stumbling through a fog, not really remembering my commute, not really doing any work as I sipped my coffee and stared blankly at the computer screen. A disaster of such gargantuan proportions had previously been unthinkable in my life, and now I found myself attempting to push the image of a vast sea of bathtub poop from my mind. But I was sure of one thing: Anne Shirley never had to get ready for work while breathing raw sewage.

Maker's Market Wrap-Up

2011-09-26T16:12:00.003+10:00

We had gorgeous weather for yesterday's Mulgrave Makers Market; a little cool to start with but the sun was soon out and shining. Now that it's Spring, the market has moved back outdoors and the crowds just poured in all day!

I was positioned in between two other regular stall holders which made for some great conversation throughout the day. I also picked up these gorgeous booties from Wendy of Little Tree Kids; all her stuff is upcycled and gorgeous!).

Funnily enough, I had two people enquire about doorstops yesterday. So I had a bit of a hunt around for ideas, and whipped one up in some decorator-weight fabric I had stashed away. Not bad if I may say so my self! I'll get a couple more done in time for the October market.

Lumberjack Cake

2011-09-24T17:47:00.005+10:00

Something I'd never made before, but I had my baking mojo going and needed to get into the kitchen. The recipe is from last week's Epicure in The Age newspaper.

Ingredients

125g butter
2 medium granny smith apples
185g dates
1tsp bicarb soda
1 cup boiling water
1 cup sugar (I used 3/4)
1 large egg
1tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/2 tsp salt

Topping
1/2 cup brown sugar
60g butter
1/3 cup milk
60g shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 180C; butter and line 14x24cm loaf tin.
Peel and core apple, dice into small pieces. Chop dates, add to apple and bicarb, and pour boiling water over the top. Allow water to cool until lukewarm.
Cream butter and sugar, add vanilla and egg.
Alternate adding sifted flour/salt and apple/date mix (don't add the water).
Pour into tin and bake for 1 hour or until cooked (test with skewer).
Mix topping ingredients and heat over low heat in a small saucepan. Spread over cake, then return to oven for 15 min or until golden and crunchy (took about 25 mins for me).

We were a little impatient and sliced it while it was still warm, but it was yum! Easily made without the topping too if you want to cut the fat down a little (but who does?!)

New York Fabric Stash

2011-09-23T14:52:00.002+10:00

While I was in New York City I popped into The City Quilter; the only quilt shop I managed to get to during my 5 week trip. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, but found a few fabrics that I thought would fit nicely in my stash, so grabbed a half yard of each. It's a bad habit of mine; one day I'll actually need to start using things from my stash!

The print at the back is a Sandi Henderson (Meadowsweet), I'm not sure about the other two as I don't have that bit of the selvedge. I also picked up a couple of fat quarters from It's a Hoot and Sherbet Pips.

Hopefully next week I'll get back to the sewing machine; my Sugar Twist quilt needs quilting! I'd also like to have a go at Swoon using Central Park....eventually!

Spring has Sprung!

2011-09-22T13:14:00.005+10:00

Between the jet lag and the chest infection, there's been no sewing going on at my place. Luckily I did all my market sewing before I went away. But, there are signs of spring everywhere and I'm loving it! It certainly makes it easier to come home from a very hot US summer.

The cherry blossoms; I'm so glad I didn't miss them.

Ranunculus.

Bottle brush.

Peas! They were only just flowering when I left, and now they are bowing down under the weight of plump pods. Pea and prosciutto pasta for dinner tomorrow!

Quince tree.

Even the chives are flowering.

Home

2011-09-19T10:18:00.007+10:00

After four weeks travelling across 22 states of the USA from Los Angeles to New York City, I'm finally home.

So many amazing places, it's just not possible to share everything. I loved seeing how the country, and the people, changed as we headed east, then into the deep south. And I loved trying all the different food!

I loved meeting the 50 or so new people whom I travelled with.

I loved the nightlife of Vegas.

I love seeing the Grand Canyon again.

I loved the majesty of Monument Valley (this is the view seen in Forest Gump).

I loved that everything was bigger in Texas! (and I bought awesome cowboy boots).

I loved seeing Memphis (and Graceland) and New Orleans.

Harry Potter World!

I loved the glitz of Miami.

I loved visiting the Kennedy Space Centre.

I loved the old buildings in Savannah; I want to live there. Charleston was amazing too...Aussie McMansions have nothing on their houses.

I loved all the monuments in Washington DC, and being there for 9/11 was an honour, as was visiting Arlington Cemetary for the changing of the guard. I also loved being there for my birthday.

And of course I loved New York, but I haven't sorted out those photos yet...

Afternoon Tea

2011-08-15T10:51:00.003+10:00

I love a good excuse to get in the kitchen and bake up a storm, so I invited a few friends and family around yesterday for afternoon tea; the perfect opportunity to see everyone before I head overseas (tomorrow!).

I went for the classics:

Lemon tart

Pavlova

and Rocky road!

There was almost nothing left by the end of the afternoon, and plenty of tea and champers were drunk along the way.

I'm not sure if I'll get the chance to blog while I'm away, so if I don't, see you in 5 weeks!

Hometown by Sweetwater

2011-08-11T11:31:00.003+10:00

The latest arrival at Bella's Patchwork is Hometown by Sweetwater for Moda. It's a cute range with some great "boy prints".

Due to staggered shipping I've got Charm Packs and a cute spot print in stock at the moment, with Jelly Rolls and a few other prints due to arrive by the end of the month.

My overseas trip has almost arrived; I leave next Tuesday! I've left a very reliable family member in charge of packing and shipping orders, and I'll still be checking and answering emails while I'm gone. I can't wait to escape this gloomy weather for a little bit of summer sun.

First Signs of Spring

2011-08-02T20:10:00.004+10:00

It might only be the start of the last month of winter, but those little signs of spring are starting to appear around the garden...

My blueberry shrub

Cherry blossom buds

Ranunculus

Grevillea

I'm quite pleased to see these little signs before I go away, as I love the start of Spring.

Sugar Twist

2011-07-26T13:55:00.003+10:00

To celebrate my day off today, my power company decided that we should be without power for most of the day. Fortunately they were a little later than planned when turning it off, and I worked quickly to get the border on my Sugar Twist quilt.

Doesn't she look cute! The weather is a little dull, so the colours don't come out that well, but I guarantee she looks great in real life.

I've chosen a gorgeous red print for the backing, and another red for the binding.

Doing the Twist

2011-07-20T17:59:00.002+10:00

Finally some progress! With a free day between work commitments, I've managed to assemble the centre of Sugar Twist. Only the border to go.

A Proper Winter's Morning

2011-07-15T15:36:00.002+10:00

I woke this morning to a heavy fog and a frosty front lawn; perfect for spotting spider webs all over my yard.

It cleared to a gorgeous sunny day, but it's still freezing! I'm definitely looking forward to the warmer weather in the USA...only a few weeks to go.

More Sugar Twist Blocks

2011-07-12T16:07:00.003+10:00

I've been slowly working away at these blocks, usually just four a day. They are looking pretty sweet! The funny thing is that by following the directions, you get blocks that point the opposite way to the picture on the cover of the pattern....

When Life Gives You Lemons...

2011-07-11T10:05:00.002+10:00

...I ask for suggestions!

My little lemon tree is heaving under the weight of all the fruit, and a little light pruning means I have 30-odd lemons in my kitchen waiting to be used.

My cupboard is already stocked with lemon marmalade and preserved lemons, and my freezer with lots of frozen juice. I've made chicken and lemon pie, lemon and yoghurt cake, and lemon delicious.

Any idea as to what I can do with the rest? Lemon butter isn't something that we use, and my mum is diabetic so we try to keep the sugar down as much as possible...and I've run out of ideas.

Sugar Twist Test Block

2011-07-07T16:09:00.003+10:00

Yesterday I cut up my Strawberry Fields Layer Cake, then read the instructions for the Sugar Twist pattern. Talk about an unusual piecing method!

I thought I'd better test a block before I dive into it, so I cut out my background squares for one block (I've elected to use white to really show off the fabrics), then off I went. I reckon it turned out pretty well, and its actually not too difficult once you get the hang of it.

Sunday, Sausage Rolls and Strawberry Fields

2011-07-04T12:43:00.007+10:00

I spent a lovely Sunday chilling at home yesterday, catching up with my best friend and her gorgeous 7 month old boy. He is at that gorgeous age where he is all smiles and giggles.

For lunch I made us some chicken sausage rolls that were so good they were eaten before the camera got anywhere near them. But they were a yummy mix of chicken, lemon, rocket and feta.

Now that the BOM is quilted and done, I've found myself a new project to fill in the time before I go away. I've decided on the Sugar Twist pattern (by The Pattern Basket), and a Strawberry Fields layer cake. I'm all ready for this months market so I'm looking forward to doing a bit of sewing just for me...

Glace Stars

2011-06-29T15:21:00.004+10:00

She's all done! One year to piece, but only two weeks to quilt and bind. And I only had to unpick the borders and sashing in one corner, not once, but twice to deal with a bit of excess.

It's another gorgeous sunny day in Melbourne, but the grass is still damp, so we did a very quick photo shoot on the front lawn. Apologies for the little spots of bright sunshine.

Each block and the centre star are quilted with a fleur de lys type design, a similar four-pointed design in the cornerstone blocks and some feathery stuff around the center medallion. Stippling in the sashing and border.

Seriously

2011-06-27T15:11:00.004+10:00

I thought I'd be pushing my luck to get the BOM quilted before I go away in August...and just two weeks later, she's finished! The binding in ready to go, so it won't be long until she gets a proper photo shoot.

Bella is loving the opportunity to check it out and curl up for a nap.

The Mulgrave Maker's Market was on yesterday. Though a lovely sunny day, it was very windy, and I was glad we were indoors. The only downside was less traffic than usual, and therefore less sales. However, my new little Scotty Dogs proved to be very popular. I just need to work on making more toys in "boy friendly" fabrics.

I was also surprised at the number of people who thought it was OK to bring their dogs (some as large as golden retrievers) into an indoor market, particularly when there are so many babies and kids around.

It's another gorgeous day today; it might be winter but it's sunny again, and all the jonquils are flowering.

Free-Form Fruit Tarts

2011-06-24T09:43:00.004+10:00

I had a little pastry left over after making that yummy chicken pie, so I made dessert! You can put any fruit you like into these tarts; the standard is apple, but I used some gorgeous ripe pears.

You need some shortcrust pastry; roll out some small, rough circles. I put some almond meal in the centre to soak up the fruit juices and stop the pastry going soggy. Then pile in some peeled, thinly-sliced fruit. Gather the pastry around (leave the fruit showing in the middle), brush with some egg or milk, and sprinkle a little sugar over the top. Then bake for 25-30 min at 180-200 degrees.

Serve with a dollop of cream or yoghurt....they are yum!

Stocktake Sale

2011-06-23T08:46:00.003+10:00

Help me clear out the shelves to make way for all the gorgeous new fabrics due out soon. Take 15% off all stock, including sale stock, from now until June 30.

Discount calculated at checkout.

Chicken Pie

2011-06-20T10:22:00.004+10:00

Maggie Beer's Chicken, Lemon and Olive Pie was the perfect sunday night dinner for a cool and windy evening. A few steps involved, but pretty simple overall, and very yum!

The chicken is baked in the oven with lemon, garlic and thyme.

Then combined with a rosemary sauce.

And encased in a yummy sour cream pastry.

A Walk in the Park

2011-06-17T13:13:00.004+10:00

Plan C is all finished; quilted, bound and ready to use. Thanks for all the comments about the binding.

I've also finished the central block of the BOM. As yet I haven't decided if I'm quilting the red border or not...I'm open to your thoughts and suggestions.

I've quilted the first of the sashing; stipple for the green section, and a matching flower-type design in the centre of the stars. I'm leaving the star points unquilted.

I finally upgraded my camera yesterday; hopefully you can see the difference! The macro function is just amazing, particularly for taking pics of flowers.

Getting Started

2011-06-15T15:19:00.003+10:00

A few months ago, I asked for suggestions for quilting the 2009 Mystery BOM. 13 months after putting the quilt together, I'm finally making a start!

Last night I sat down with a print out of the quilt and a few coloured pens, and tried to plot out what I wanted to do. I took on board the suggestions I got, as well as a fleur-based quilt stencil I found a few months back. I wanted to move away from the feather designs I've used on my previous large quilts. I decided to use the fleur stencil in the 12 monthly blocks, as well as the medium centre star.

Then I went looking for some similar stencils that I could use in the triangles of the largest centre star, and found some really nice ones. I'd almost forgotten how hard it is to manoeuvre a large quilt around in the machine; the middle is always the hardest.

But I've made a start; the centre fleur is done, as are the points on one side....and I'm loving it! Now I just need to try to get it finished before I head to the US.

Warming Up

2011-06-14T15:24:00.004+10:00

It's been so long since I've done any quilting (as opposed to sewing), that I'm suprised I hadn't forgotten how! I've had the 2009 Mystery Bom sitting basted and waiting for ages, but haven't had the time until now.

So I did a little warming up, quilting my Central Park Plan C Schnibble. 30 mins and I was done! Though my Janome seems to be having a few speed issues...

I'm after suggestions for the binding too: I'm thinking either the purple dandelion print, or the blue and purple flower print...thoughts?

Update: I've chosen the blue and purple flowers. Photos coming soon!

Oasis by Umbrella Prints

2011-06-14T12:30:00.002+10:00

These lovelies have just arrived! Umbrella Prints are a little Australian textile house run by Amy Prior & Carly Schwerdt.

I've got just 2m of each print in stock so they are limited to first in, first served. For more info on Umbrella Prints, check out their website.

Long Weekend

2011-06-13T16:26:00.002+10:00

The bureau may have forecast a wet weekend, but we've had three days of foggy mornings and gorgeously sunny days.

It's been a super productive few days. I finally bought myself a netbook computer to take on my trip to the USA; it'll allow me to keep in touch with home, and keep track of my business as well.

We also decided this weekend was a good opportunity to do all the pruning we've been meaning to do for months; our backyard has been disappearing under the growth of quite a few native bottlebrush plants. This is the result of all that work, piled up on our naturestrip.

Now we just need to organise someone to come and collect it all!

Door Snake

2011-06-09T12:37:00.004+10:00

With the weather turning cold and windy this week, it seemed like a good a time as any to make a new door snake. The old one was starting to look its age, particularly as it's been patched due to Millie using it as a chew toy when she was a puppy. It's been relegated to the laundry door to keep the dogs warmer at night, and I've made a cute Whimsy one for the front door.

Bella's already keeping an eye on it.

I cut the material 6.5" by 34", stitched, flipped, then filled with wheat. Sand also works well, but wheat was what I had on hand. Ta da!

(Scuse the colour of the carpet)

Run Scotty Run

2011-06-05T13:20:00.004+10:00

With only one week of uni to go (!!!) I've been finding a little more time to do some sewing over the last few days. I've been playing around with a new softie: this cute little scotty dog. I'm thinking a little ribbon around the next might be the perfect way to finish him off.

I've also done a couple of custom-order wheat bags.

And half-way through some more little squeaky owls.

Miss Bella has been taking advantage of a monster pile of quilts in the dining room, using them for a high-up snooze in the winter sun.

What's going on in your world?

Surviving Camp

2011-05-28T10:42:00.004+10:00

I made it home from Year 7 camp safe and sound, though I was hit with a pretty bad cold on the last day. It was cold, foggy, and very wet and muddy, but it was a great learning experience.

The kids got to do all sorts of activities, from caving and rock climbing, to canoeing and high ropes.

I learnt a lot of new skills when it comes to being a teacher, and even scored myself a family size bag of lollies when some of the boys decided to have a late night snack in their room. The camp provided the most amazing food, so I have no idea why they thought they needed to eat more.

The next two weeks are going to be a little hectic, as I juggle uni with four more days of teaching placement, in addition to my nasty chest cold (apparently viral, so nothing I can do about it), and making more softies for the next market. After that though, I've got a good 5 weeks to myself before I take on some work at my previous uni, then head overseas. Definitely something to look forward to.

To Market

2011-05-22T19:02:00.004+10:00

The Mulgrave Maker's Market was today, and we were lucky that the rain held off until the last hour....before then it was a little chilly, but the crowds were still out in force. This month I had my very own marquee, and it went up so easily. As usual, I fiddled around with my set-up a little (mostly due to forgetting one of my baskets), and it was simple and (hopefully) eye-catching. It definitely looked fab once the sun came up and out.

I facebooked a photo once I'd set up, and the cot quilt was quickly "snapped up" by a friend of mine all the way over in WA...it's now making its way over to her. I sold a couple of my newest bunnies and owls, a wheat bag, lots of fabric, and even a couple of throw cushions.

Overall I'd say it was a pretty successful day, and my best to date. The markets are moving indoors for winter which will be a bit of a change, but nice not to have to dash around in the rain.

(Pre-market dining room chaos)

Tomorrow morning I'm off on school camp (!!!) with a group of year 7 students, so there will be no posts for a few days. Hopefully I'll get some good photos to share. As a result, I'm closing Bella's for a few days, but any orders that come in will be dealt with when I get home on Thursday arvo.

Hope everyone has a fab week.

Preparation

2011-05-14T11:42:00.003+10:00

My teaching placement is coming along really well, but it certainly is keeping me busy. I have no idea where other teachers find the time to do any serious crafting. At this point, the preparation for each class takes up quite a bit of time...

But, I have managed to get a bit of stuff ready for next weekends Mulgrave Maker's Market. I've stuffed and stitched those bunnies I started over a month ago...

And made a few wheat bags to test out...with the weather being the way it is, I'm hoping these will be a popular product.

There has also been a bit of preparation going on for my trip to the US in August; my friend and I are excitedly planning what we want to do and see, and have booked tickets to see Cirque de Soleil's O when we are in Las Vegas.

A Pumpkin Soup Kind of Day

2011-05-07T11:19:00.005+10:00

The cooler weather is really kicking in, the trees have mostly lost their leaves, and the lights need to be switched on in the early afternoon. Winter is definitely on its way! One of my favourite things about this time of year is pumpkin soup. This is my recipe:

Ingredients:

butter

1 diced onion

pumpkin, cut into chunks (I use about 1/3 of a pumpkin)

1L chicken or vegetable stock

Melt the butter, then add the diced onion and potato. Saute until onion is soft, then add pumpkin and stock. Simmer until the vegies are soft, then puree with a bar mix. Divine served hot with a dollop of cream, sour cream, or yoghurt if you want to keep it healthy.

Sorry for the lack of content lately; I started my teaching placement this week and I've been busy finding my feet. I'm in a really good school right around the corner from my house and really enjoying it so far. I don't imagine there will be much sewing time; I've got a huge pile of tests to mark this weekend!

Easter Wrap-Up

2011-04-27T12:34:00.005+10:00

As is tradition, I spent the Easter long-weekend in Beechworth with my mum This is just a snap-shot of the 5 day break.

As we left town on Monday afternoon, the sky looked fantastic, and was followed later by a gorgeous sunset.

We spent the weekend watching planes coming and going across the sky, leaving behind magnificent jet trails.

A few beautiful sunsets viewed from the loungroom.

The town came alive for the Easter Saturday markets.

On Monday, we happened to be in town as the Anzac Day march went through. We followed, and observed a very moving service in the gardens. Most appropriately, a cockatoo screeched overhead.

We visited one of the many local wineries, and I spotted this little catterpillar hiding amongst the vines.

The grape vines are all changing colour, and the hills looked great with all the red and gold.

On one of our regular afternoon walks (have to walk off all the wine and chocolate), I spotted some King Parrots hiding in one of the trees.

And further along, this kookaburra keeping an eye on things.

I've come home all rested and refreshed, and with a to-do list a mile long. I start my next teaching placement on Monday, so for the rest of this week I'm hoping to be very productive! Hope everyone had a lovely easter.

Easter Feast

2011-04-23T19:27:00.005+10:00

I've escaped the city this Easter, as is tradition for my mum and I. While it's a lot cooler here at night than at home, the days have been beautiful (though still requiring a jumper). Even the later afternoon on Thursday as we were heading away looked magnificent, and morphed into a beautiful sunset.

Today we checked out the Easter Market, then made our way to Brown Brother's for their Easter Festival lunch. It was amazing! We started out with some fresh breads before embarking on a four course feast. Each course came with a matched wine, making for a very yummy lunch.

I forgot to take a photo of the appetizer, but it consisted of oysters, melon and some veal "cigars".

The entree followed with tempura zucchini, fresh pate, heirloom beetroot with goat's curd, and blood pudding (which I won't eat) with chickpeas.

Then the main; I chose the gnocchi with pear, walnuts and blue cheese, while my Mum went for duck with quince.

Last up, I had a chocolate mousse with poached pear for dessert while my Mum had an apple tart.

Dinner tonight is just a few light nibbles; I couldn't possibly eat much after all that food.

Plan C in Central Park

2011-04-19T14:55:00.003+10:00

A couple of afternoons and this little Schnibbles is done. I'm totally in love with the Central Park fabrics, and look forward to making a bigger quilt once I have a bit more free time.

A New Friend

2011-04-15T12:14:00.003+10:00

I seem to have made myself a new friend lately, and while I sit at the dining table sewing, the juvenile Magpie sits on our outdoor table and sings for me.

I've finally found a little time to do some sewing for myself; between uni and market stuff, there has been very little of that lately. But with only one day of uni left before the Easter break, I've got a little more free time and I'm making the most of it!

The Plan C schnibbles has been on my mind for a while, as has Central Park...the perfect project to work on in my spare time.

Cats, Owls and Pasta

2011-04-12T16:44:00.002+10:00

I had a delivery today that came in a long, narrow box; it didn't take Bella too long to make herself at home, right down the very end.

I'm making progress on my market sewing for next month; I've finished big owls, bunnies, and now a pack of little owls. Since I took the photo, they've been stuffed and had their squeaker inserted...just need to stitch them closed now.

I've also made some yummy home made pasta this afternoon which I'm looking forward to having for dinner. Simple and easy to make, and my recipe makes two adult serves plus a small serve of leftovers for lunch, or serves 4-5 as a side dish for something like beef stroganoff.

To make my pasta, blitz in a mixer 2 cups plain flour, 2 eggs, pinch of salt and a few slugs of olive oil. Then add some warm water and blitz till it resembles bread crumbs (the amount will vary depending on your flour). Tip onto your bench, knead until smooth, then wrap and pop in the fridge for an hour. Then use a pasta roller to roll out and cut as desired; I make mine into fettuccine.

New Arrivals

2011-04-06T19:54:00.003+10:00

I've had a couple of new Moda ranges arrive in the last week that are so pretty I have to share. If only I actually had time to do something with them!

Strawberry Fields by Fig Tree; pre-cuts only are available, as this line has not yet been released in full.

And Hullabaloo by Urban Chicks; I've got charm packs and a couple of fabrics including a cute animal print.

I won't be at the April Mulgrave Maker's Market, but I will be back for the May market and will have a selection of these fabrics with me. Otherwise, pop on over to Bella's.

Quince and Almond Cake

2011-04-02T20:05:00.005+11:00

If summer is all about peaches and raspberries, then autumn must surely be about quinces. Last year my tree gave us one lonely fruit, but this year a bounty has been slowly growing.

My usual kitchen activity is quince jelly and poached quinces, but I thought I'd do something a little different today. Quince and Almond Cake!

100g softened unsalted butter

1/2 cup castor sugar

2 eggs

1/3 cup plain flour

1 tsp baking powder1 cup almond meal

1 cup poached quinces, plus more slices for the top of the cakefew tablespoons of liquid from the poached quinces, or jam, for glazing

Heat oven to 170°C. Line a springform baking tin or a tin with a removable base.

Cream butter and sugar together until pale and creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time.

Sift together the flour and baking powder, and stir in the almond meal.

Slice the cup of quinces into thinnish slices (about 3 or 4 mm thick) and then fold into cake mixture.

Pour batter into prepared tin and smooth the surface a little. Slice remaining quinces to an equal thickness and arrange (patterned or as you please) on the top of the batter.

Bake for 40 minutes or until it can be cleanly skewered (in my case it was 45 min). Let cool for a few minutes before removing the outside of the tin.

Warm the quince liquid or jam in a small saucepan and brush over the top of the cake to glaze. (I used a bit of quince jelly)

Absolutely divine served warm with a big dollop of greek yoghurt.

Owlapalooza

2011-03-29T13:41:00.004+11:00

Market was so busy Sunday that I've started to run out of my handmade toys; no more squeaky owls, and only two bunnies left. Although I won't be back at the market until May (owing to easter), I thought I'd better get a head start on the sewing before uni and my teaching placement takes up all of my time.

A couple of new owls in progress. There will be matching bunnies for these too, just need to stitch their faces on before I finish them off.

(Bliss, Sunkissed, Central Park)

I've also just ordered in some pre-cuts of Strawberry Fields by Fig Tree; they should be in sometime this week.

Mulgrave Maker's Market

2011-03-27T14:12:00.004+11:00

Another month, another market. Fortunately we made is through a whole market without a speck of rain, and despite it being a bit cool, the crowds really were out in force this month.

(so early that it was still dark in the pic above)

I also had my first Blogger meet, with Renee popping by with her gorgeous baby girl.

The only disappointment was another stall holder wandering around at the end of the market complaining about the lack of business, and trying to get others to complain. I had a really successful day, and I love going to the market each month and spending the morning amongst other crafters, as they are a fab bunch.

Quilting Ideas: 2009 FQS Mystery BOM

2011-03-21T13:35:00.004+11:00

I've been sitting on the quilt for quite some time, and I've even had the backing and batting sitting by also. But I just haven't had the mojo to quilt it! I've pieced the backing today so I'm getting closer to being ready.

Any suggestions for quilting design? I was thinking a feather design or similar for each of the blocks, stipple in the green sashing...but what for the little stars and the centre? I've only seen one other quilted so I'm a bit lost for inspiration, and this quilt really deserves to be finished.

Maker's Market

2011-03-19T15:48:00.003+11:00

The next Mulgrave Maker's Market is next Sunday, 27th March, from 8am till 1pm. I'll be there with the usual handmade goodies and lots of fabric, including bundles of fat quarters, Charm packs, and Jelly Rolls. My market prices are usually a little lower than my online prices too.

I've also been lucky enough to be 'spotlighted' in time for this months market...so if you have no idea what I look like, this is your chance. Though I will admit, that photo was taken a few years ago, and I was in full bridesmaid makeup.

Fabric Busting!

2011-03-14T19:51:00.005+11:00

I've got my eye on some cute new fabrics, but I need to make some space! I've reduced the price of Riley Blake's Bloom & Grow down to almost wholesale price.

I've also listed in the store fat quarter bundles for Bliss and Central Park. The Bliss bundles are done by colour (pink, red, blue, green), and the Central Park bundle is all 7 fabrics I have in stock.

Tote Bag

2011-03-12T16:47:00.003+11:00

Just what every girl needs to lug her books around uni (plus someone commented the other day that I always use the same black freebie bag). The pattern is from the Moda Bake Shop, but I elected to make the outer bag from one fabric, and the lining from another (both Central Park by Kate Spain).

All up it requires only 1 meter of fabric plus interfacing. I probably should have used a stiffer interfacing, but the bag can be folded up and shoved in my handbag whenever I go to a farmer's market in case of unexpected purchases.

Fried Rice and iPhones

2011-03-11T10:52:00.004+11:00

I've been a bit of a slack blogger; I started back at uni last week and the sewing machine has pretty much sat idle since then, as I comprehend the number of assignments I need to complete over the next three months.

Last night for dinner I whipped up a quick and easy fried rice. For this one all you need is some cooked rice (preferably cooled), and whatever "filling" you want. I use bacon, some cooked egg, peas, carrot (pre-cooked) and corn kernals. Mix the whole lot together in a frying pan until warmed through then glug over some soy sauce and serve! Bean shoots are a nice addition too, but mine was a 'what's in the fridge?' dinner.

I have been doing a little bit of sewing; some iPhone/iPod pouches for my next market. Just a handful to see if there is any interest, though I'm finding that what sells well one market can sit untouched the next.

Carrot Cake

2011-03-01T13:54:00.003+11:00

First day of autumn (or fall); its cool and windy. Summer vanished under clouds of rain. Perfect weather for baking, and with uni starting tomorrow I need to plan snacks for my 11 hour days.

I've always liked carrot cake, but never been fond of adding such large quantities of oil. Instead I decided to use some sour cream thinned out with a bit of milk to create the same softness without the fat overload. Recipe here.

I also halved the recipe and baked it in a small loaf tin for 45 min. Turned out super yummy!

Market Wrap-Up

2011-02-28T10:12:00.003+11:00

Melbourne turned on its best wet weather for the last market of summer yesterday. It rained all night Saturday, and continued to rain for the duration of the market, only stopping when it was time to pack up for the day.

I only managed one quick photo of the stall right at the start of the day, before the sun had even begun to show itself.

The market received quite a few visitors despite the rain, but being on the grass put quite a few off heading over towards my stall. However, I was lucky to still cover my costs, met lots more wonderful people and will be back there again next month.

My most interesting visitors were two pairs of young girls who returned to my table over and over to play with my squeaky owls; while the girls at the next stall and myself found it quite funny to start with, it got a bit annoying when they started dropping them on the ground, and they never did come back to actually purchase one. I guess thats just something that happens when you have cute toys on your table, and if I'd charged per squeak I'd have done quite well.

1301

2011-02-24T12:01:00.004+11:00

Yes, there are 1301 pieces in Rosettes, and I'm finally finished! Talk about a marathon effort.

It's a gorgeous day outside today, perhaps a little too sunny for a photo shoot. I'm not usually a fan of orange, but I thought it worked for the border given the dominance of blues and greens in the quilt.

Just a reminder that the Mulgrave Maker's Market is on this Sunday (8am-1pm), so if you're in the area I'd love to see you there. I'll have handmade goods as well as a selection of fabrics.

One Step at a Time

2011-02-15T13:21:00.003+11:00

I've found that the easiest way to tackle Rosettes is to break it down into small chunks; you feel like you're making progress and it's more managable. I cut all the 2" squares one day, drew the diagonal lines the next, then stitched them all to the rectangles the following day. Another day was for trimming and ironing. Within each of those tasks, I break down the fabric into groups, and take a break between each. It's the only way to maintain my sanity!

Today I've finally got around to piecing the blocks, working two at a time. I've done eight of the 16 so far and I think they're looking pretty spiffy. I'm finally getting the hang of those points, too.

Whenever I leave the ironing board "alone" for too long, Miss Bella steps in to keep it company, and promptly falls asleep.

I also thought todays sunshine might be a good opportunity for a photoshoot with Millie, but she was far more intent on rolling around on the grass, or eating it, to pose for me.

Zucchini Fritters

2011-02-10T14:16:00.003+11:00

Summer usually brings with it an overload of zucchini, and sometimes it can be a bit of a struggle coming up with new and creative ways to use up the abundance.

Today I turned a few zucchini nearing the end of their shelf-life into fritters; these will be yummy for lunch with a bit of home-made aioli. I used normal milk rather than buttermilk, chedder instead of feta and some parsley and oregano instead of thyme. I also squeezed as much water as possible from the zucchini, and added a handful extra flour.

Recipe and pic from taste.com.au

Ingredients

2 eggs, lightly whisked
75g (1/2 cup) self-raising flour
2 tbs buttermilk
3 (about 400g) green zucchini, ends trimmed, coarsely grated
100g feta, crumbled
1 red onion, halved, thinly sliced
1 tbs finely chopped fresh thyme
1 garlic clove, crushed
Sea salt flakes & freshly ground black pepper
125ml (1/2 cup) vegetable oil
Lemon wedges, to serve

Method

Combine egg, flour and buttermilk in a bowl. Add zucchini, feta, onion, thyme and garlic, and gently stir to combine. Season with sea salt flakes and pepper.
Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Place 4 heaped tablespoonfuls of zucchini mixture around edge of the pan, allowing room for spreading, and use an egg lifter to flatten slightly. Shallow-fry for 1-2 minutes each side or until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel. Repeat, in 2 more batches, with the remaining zucchini mixture, reheating oil between batches.

The Fandango Tango Goes On

2011-02-08T10:59:00.003+11:00

After a bit of a break, I'm back taking another stab at Rosettes. Today's mission is to cut out the 320 2" squares required to put the second "ring" around the blocks. It's like a never-ending quilt, this one.

Central Park by Kate Spain came in yesterday and it is yummy! I bought myself a FQB using some Christmas money, so if anyone has any pattern suggestions for that one, I'm all ears.

It's now six months till my trip to the US and I took the big step of booking my flights over the weekend thanks to a well-timed Qantas sale. I just need to survive a semester of uni then I can really start getting excited.

Wacky Weather!

2011-02-04T21:14:00.003+11:00

No pictures unfortunately, but the south eastern suburbs have just experience a major dumping of rain, right as I was travelling home from my grandmas house. It took us almost 30 min to travel from the next suburb over, with a detour via another suburb; all the roads to my house are under water and there are dead cars bobbing all over the place. Apparently it's a results of the cyclone that's just battered QLD.

I'm very glad we were in my mum's Forrester otherwise we would have had a lot more trouble, though we did have to use the footpath to get down one street. Outside the local restaurants, cars are up to their windows in water.

Australia Day

2011-01-26T16:13:00.004+11:00

A quiet Australia Day this year; the weather is less then ideal. Overcast and a bit drizzly. Perfect for having a nosey around in the veggie patch for a bit of a mid-summer update.

The zucchinis are finally flowering, though no fruit yet.

My self-seeded pumpkins are staging a mini takeover of the wood heap.

The butter beans are finally making an appearance.

Beetroot ready to be picked.

A mango tree (!) which appeared in my compost heap (and a self-seeded tomato plant behind it). I'm not so sure it'll survive in Melbourne, but I'm going to give it a go.

Todays bounty of beetroot, red onions and butter beans.

And some yummy bruschetta with homemade parsley pesto and boccocini. I do love homegrown!

Raffle Winner

2011-01-26T13:38:00.003+11:00

The raffle has come to a close. Thank you for all your entries, and your donations. We had 25 entries, with donations ranging from $5 through to $1000!

The random number generator has chosen number 5!

Marg said...
Thank you so much for your help, I live in Queensland but wasn't affected by the floods, I think we are all blown away by how generous the quilting community have been.My receipt is #3220416

There will be a wrap-up of our donation totals over on Toni's blog later tonight, so head on over to see all the good work you've done.

And if you were still interested in Schnibbles, you are welcome to 10% off using the code FLOOD10 from now until the end of January.

Raffle - One Day to Go

2011-01-25T09:16:00.003+11:00

If you haven't already entered the flood raffle, you have one more day to get your entries in. The raffle closes at Midday tomorrow, 26th January (Australia Day!).

Don't forget to also hop on over to Toni's blog to view the master list of raffles still running.

Rosettes Round 1

2011-01-19T14:29:00.002+11:00

I've finally finished putting the first "ring" on the Rosettes blocks. Only one more round to go! These blocks are already made up of around 40 pieces.

They are fiddly! Getting those points to match up is a pain in the you-know-what. It's safe to say there are as many imperfect points as there are perfect, but that's ok.

Just a reminder about the Flood Raffle; the closing date has been extended to next Wednesday (Australia day), and I have't yet had any entries which is a bit disappointing. A single $5 donation could get you a Schnibbles kit worth around $60, so pop on over to have a look.

Raffle - Premiers Flood Relief

2011-01-12T17:44:00.005+11:00

With the devastating floods currently occuring in Queensland, the bloggers of Australia are uniting to raise as much money as possible for the Premiers Flood Relief. These auctions and raffles are the brainchild of Toni from Make It Perfect, who will have a list of all the auctions etc on her blog in the coming days.

So here's how we're going to do it. I'm offering up a Schnibbles kit of the winners choice; you will get to choose both the pattern and fabrics from my store. The kit will include the pattern, charm packs, background fabric and binding as per a standard kit. This kit is worth approximately $60.

(just a couple of patterns from which you can choose)

To take part:

You need to donate $5 to the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal.
You may enter as many times as you like but each entry/donation must have a separate receipt number. (eg: donate $5 ten times if you want to donate $50- then comment ten times with your receipt number, so I can keep track of your entries)
Once you've donated, come back here and leave a comment with your receipt number.
Postage within Australia will be paid by me, however if you are from overseas there will be a small contribution required.

You have until midday Wednesday 26th January to enter. Just think about it, your $5 contribution may not seem like much, but every dollar counts. There are estimates that 75% of Queensland is being affected by this flood.