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).