Stitching.

I started on my embroidery tonight, was hoping to finish the last E but I'm so tired, thought I'd give up before my eyes give up. I spent time looking for a design to use yesterday, searched the net but I kept getting the vision of this design in my head. It was from one of my many magazines but which one? I have piles of mags under my desk and in other places around the house. There was a small pile in the dining room and the second one I picked up was the right one. It's from Australian countrythreads. special stitchery edition VOL 4 No 1. There are few other designs in this editon that I want to as well.

The picture below is of my light table, I gutted an old scanner and put a small fluoro lamp inside. Works really well. And pulling apart the scanner gave me a tiny but very powerful magnifying glass much like a jewellers one. I've put that good use, from checking out my finger print, looking at my jewellery as well as being useful for crafting.

It's only just after midnight, I'm trying to watch a tv as well as typing this but it's hard seeing as I am so tired, which is unusual I can usually last til 2 am or more if crafting. The reason is that David and I went out on a bike ride this afternoon. I've recently taken to riding the bike more, haven't done any real major riding since before Cassie was born, we used to enjoy touring on the bikes. We did about 19 kms today, which is a lot more than I've done for ages, riding along new and old local bike paths. They run along a green belt area and it's like riding along country lanes along creeks and by horse paddocks. The newer paths aren't finished yet and have alot of gravel which is a bit scary to ride over. On the way back I slowed down to let another cycling couple past and basically my get up and go got up and went, that was at the 16 km mark. I managed to get moving by telling myself over and again to keep moving. I was so glad when we got home, but happy with what I had done.

WHO BREAD.

Thanks to Rhonda-Jean posting a link tosoulemama's blog I now have a loaf of who bread in the oven, it smells devine. I used the bread machine to mix the dough, taking it out before the rising started. Put it in a bowl, covered it and took it out to the car, which was the warmest spot I could think of. An hour later I punched down a well risen bowl of dough. Transferred it to a lightly oiled baking tin and put it in warm spot in the family room for another hour.

Haven't been doing any sewing or craft over the past few days, have been working on my sewing/craftroom. I've been sewing on the dining room table because the room was in such a mess. I decided that one of the cupboards in there could go into the kitchen to replace one that was too big to go next the fridge. It was too big in the first place, David just turned it sideways which meant I couldn't use the cupboard but could throw things through a gap onto the upper shelves. Getting stuff out was another story, I asked him to put wheels on which he actually bought but never got around to putting on. Doesn't need to do it now. I moved the cupboard out of the craftroom but had to get his help to move the other in, it's heavy. Tonight I will get in there and do some more, the desk and table needs clearing off and I'll be able to put the machine and overlocker back in place.

Right now I have an urge to do some embroidery, nothing elaborate I have a christmas stitchery that's been sitting there for 2 christmases but I'll have to locate the stitching chart for it. I'm thinking of pulling out some linen and finding a quick and easy niave design. Actually I am thinking about making some cushions for the solarium, I tossed out the old ones (saved the zippers) when they started falling to bits, there's still one or two laying around with torn seams spilling lumpy stuffing out. There's only so many times you can restitch something before throwing your hands up in disgust. And that goes for pulling the lumps in the stuffing apart as well.

I'm being very good I got the bread out of the oven while I was working on this message and I've let it stand resisting the urge to cut a slice, I'm about to give in to the urge. But first I need to bring the laundry off the line, just heard thunder and I don't want to leave it til just before the storm hits.

Brought in the washing, it's finishing up in the dryer, even if it doesn't rain it wasn't going to get any dryer outside now. Emptied the kitchen bins as well before washing my hands and cutting into the bread. The results are in, Cassie was first to taste, "it tastes like hot cross buns", got a thumbs up from Thomas and David said it was very nice. David usually hates homemade bread because he can taste the yeast, but there is no yeast taste to this. Very Yummy.

OH MY

I'm getting chickens!!

I just blurted it out to David that I wanted chickens and he didn't come back with the normal "you can't have chickens", he asked why so I just said it was because I wanted some bantams. He did ask what bantams were and I had to remind him that they were the type we had a few years back. Then he asked where I'd put them and told me I'll need to get chicken wire. He didn't say no and I am recording this here to prove it to him for when I bring them home and he says "but I said no". Didn't work the last time, even though that time I didn't ask and just brought chickens home. Had to give them away when we moved here, had nowhere for them then.

Umm we just smelt what we thought was burning toast - checked the stove to see if it was on and realised I had rice in the microwave, I accidently set it to the wrong time and the rice burnt. I pulled out the container and the base of it was left behind on the turntable ooops. Oh well I've been wanting to replace my microwave plastic with glass, been replacing it bit by bit.

Oh and the fridge we picked up on Sunday worked for 8 hours before setting the safety switch off in the meterbox. We are hoping it's a loose wire or something easy to fix. So right now I have the old fridge sitting in the middle of the kitchen with the new not working fridge in place.

It's my son's birthday today, he is 13. He is such a lovely boy and a great help to me, he helps with the housework usually eagerly, his sister is much more reluctant. We bought him a couple of toys that he wanted, cricket stumps and cricket balls. He was given an old good quality cricket bat a few weeks back, all it needed was a new grip. The new grip was bought and David tried getting it on but couldn't so had to buy some tool. Which he left in the family room unused, he said he had to work out how to get the grip on it. A couple of days later I decided to try and worked it out, I was really proud of myself too, especially seeing that I am not sports minded at all. Thomas didn't even believe I had done it.

I have been doing some more sewing too, finished another apron today and I also pulled out a 2 year old UFO over the weekend. It was a shortened kimono coat, I wanted it as a pj top so made it shorter. It needed binding and hemming. I hadn't gotten around to getting a pattern for the pants and found the simplicity pj pants were perfect. So I finally finished them and now have another lot of fabric out of my stash.

HAPPY EASTER!

I woke this morning and rushed out to start a batch of Rhonds'a Hot cross buns before returning to bed. When the dough was ready I got up to make the buns and used 1 cup of flour and 2 tablespoons of water mixed to a dough to make the crosses. Also started a second batch without crosses. Some of these are going to be frozen for eating later on. I did have to bake the first batch an extra 10 mins, my oven temp isn't always constant.



I boiled eggs for Cassie and Thomas, surpising them by adding shrink plastic designs to the eggs. I bought these 2 or 3 years ago but hadn't used them.






A few days ago I decided I needed an apron after getting covered in flour, found some ticking fabric in my stash and used this pattern to make one. I did find that the top part wasn't wide enough for me, I adjusted the pattern and have cut out a second apron. The first apron has been put to very good use. It's making good use of my stash too. I wanted to watch tv while sewing so used the 85 year old handcranked machine in the photo. I bought it at the Salvation Army store a couple of years ago, after replacing the needle the right way around it sews perfectly. My son Thomas loves using it and has made several pairs of boxers shorts on it.

We are heading out later this afternoon to pick up a fridge that David got on eBay, we are hoping it works better than the one we have now. The fan in the freezer section has recently frozen over, after weeks of making very loud noises. It doesn't evaporate the water/condensation from the cooling element so it overflows, floods the bottom and pours out over the floor. We knew it did it when we got it but it was a freebie and has lasted a couple of years.

Anzac Biscuits and HMAS Sydney.

Tonight's craft went really well, the girls liked the crosses. The craft session was cut in 2 by a Church service, usually we have devotions in the church before going onto activities. They made 2 crosses, the paper and card one I made up and a paddlepop stick one. I manned the hot glue gun so no one got burnt, not even me.

After I got home I decided to put another loaf of bread on, it'll be ready a little before 2 am ooops. David was watching a dvd that I haven't seen yet so instead of sitting with him I decided to bake some Anzac biscuits. Anzacs are an Aussie icon, the word itself stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and the biscuits were developed during wartime shortages to be sent over to the boys fighting either that or it originated on the frontlines using what was on hand. These are my favourite biscuits to make, so easy and tasty. Eating the uncooked mix is heaven (there's no eggs so it's safe). I started thinking of a news story that broke here yesterday, a mystery finally solved with the discovery of the final resting place of HMAS Sydney which was lost 66 years ago with 645 souls on board. These brave young men were lost while defending Australia, the ship was found just 250 km off the Western Australian coastline. Close by was the wreckage of the German raider Kormoran. A memorial is going to be set up to honor both sides. Lest we forget.

Public domain image found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Sydney_(1934)

Anzac Biscuits


1 cup plain flour, sifted
1 cup rolled oats (regular oatmeal) uncooked
1 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 tbsp golden syrup
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tbsp boiling water


Combine the flour, oats, coconut and sugar in a bowl.
Melt the butter and Golden Syrup in a saucepan over a low heat..
Mix the bicarbonate of soda with the water and add to the butter and Golden Syrup.
Pour the liquids into the dry ingredients and mix well.
Spoon dollops of mixture, about the size of a walnut shell, onto a greased tin leaving as much space again between to allow for spreading.
Bake in a moderate oven, 180C / 350F, for 15-20 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack and seal in airtight containers.

Honey can be substituted for Golden syrup, but I've never tried.

Dusted off the breadmaker

Been thinking about baking bread for ages, have been reading blogs such as down to earth along with many others, they are all so inspiring.

Usually I buy bread mixes but wanted to try it from scratch, so last night got into the pantry to look for ingredients, first one I found was an unopened pack of yeast that was dated best before 2005. Hmmm, bought some more today along with wholemeal flour. I found a recipe for wholemeal bread and baked a small loaf tonight, it turned out wonderful. Couldn't wait the whole 15 minutes standing time and cut myself a slice, so yummy. Making bread is going to become a daily tradition, so much nicer than the plastic stuff that we get at the shop. Now if only I can get my husband to eat homebaked bread, he says he can taste yeast in homebaked bread and prefers the tasteless plastic stuff.

Wholemeal Bread

All ingredients go into the the machine in order, it's important not to let the yeast get wet until the water has heated up, make a little well in the dry flour to put it in.

Cold tap water (for small loaf) 250 ml (for large loaf) 290 ml

wholemeal flour 315 g 420 g

Sugar 2 teaspoons 1 tablespoon

Salt 1 teaspoon 1.5 teaspoon

Milk powder 1 tablespoon 1.5 tablespoons

oil 1 tablespoon 1.5 tablespoons

dry yeast 1.5 teaspoon 2 teaspoon

Also had to work out a craft for tomorrow night, it's Holy Week and the craft had to have a cross theme. I was inspired by iconic jewelled crosses, but we don't have time to do something elaborate. I printed out cross shapes on firm paper for the girls to glue gold wrapping paper on and then cut out, these are glued onto a slightly larger cross in black card. Stickers or jewels are glued to the cross to complete, I'll let the girls do as little or as much as they want.

Birthdays, Handmade cards and Jewellery

Had a couple of birthdays this week, my daughter's 16th today and a SIL's 50th. We had a party for my SIL last night, took Cassie out for dinner tonight. Bought SIL a carved wooden box that she could use a jewellery box and decided to make a crystal bracelet to go in it. She really loved both and put the bracelet on right away. The party was a quiet family affair, the kids played soccer and ran theirselves ragged.



















On Friday Cassie and I went to Penrith to shop for gifts, called into 2beadornot2bead and found they had a 20% off sale, I bought crystal beads, bendalon wire and Sculpey doll face molds. Had never used the Bendalon wire before, I usually buy the tigertail from Spotlight and found it kinks easily, the Bendalon doesn't kink so easily, I had to pinch it together to do so. Had to use the face molds as soon as I got home and soon had an assortment of faces, was wondering how to use them. Decided to use a large one on a card for my SIL. Mixed metallic gold and brown paint together to make a bronze look, painted lace with the same colour and glued it around the face. I lightly stamped cardstock with a flower stamp and glued the face onto it. The background is purple and it went onto a cream/yellow background. Added metal corners from my stash to finish the look, really liked the result.
For my daughter I used a photo of her at 3 and put it into a metal heart frame, which I hotglued onto cardstock, again purple and print out on a vellum completed the card. Do need to find glue that won't be seen through vellum, it's noticeable in the picture.

Had left my cardmaking and jewellery supplies out so set to cleaning them up after we got back from the party, when I got to the jewellery I felt inspired to make something else. Thought Cassie would like a necklace made from my precious Malachite beads, this was in the wee hours of the morning and I eventually dragged myself to bed at 4.57 am after wrapping her gifts and putting them by the bed. She came in, woke us up at 8.30 , happily opened her gifts, she got a playstation game and a dvd she wanted. Was able to sleep a couple more hours. She was wearing the necklace and I asked her if she wanted a matching bracelet. Made it for her and decided to make another bracelet using tigereye this time, turned out so nice I had to make a matching necklace. These are mainly for me but I'll let her share it too.

We went out for dinner tonight, Cassie wanted ribs so we went to Lonestar. She is very shy and we had to keep mum on the birthday, she didn't want the embarrassment of being sung to by the staff. Should have seen her as we left the party, her cousins realised it was after 12 so loudly wished her a happy birthday, she raced out to the car in a flash. She doesn't really know a lot of her cousins, they are a lot older, she has none her age or close to it. Her brother was luckier, he has one cousin and several second cousins close to his age.

Sad this week.

We lost a friend on Sunday morning and said our final goodbyes today. He was very well liked and respected, the numbers at the service showed that. Didn't even attempt to get in the chapel, they opened the side doors and the overflow stood outside. He was well known as an organiser and always had lists for everything, even for weekends away. He was teased mercilessly over it - good heartedly of course. The service was good and laughs were had over the antedotes recounted from his life, he really was a fun guy and will be sorely missed.

We will be ending the week with celebrations, on Saturday there is a surprise party for one of my SIL's birthdays and then on Sunday my daughter turns sweet 16, we won't be having a major celebration, just a quiet family one, might go out for dinner. I have to head to the shops tomorrow to look for gifts for both of them. I haven't finished the pj pants for my daughter, haven't much been in the mood for sewing but did get one pair stitched together for a fitting. They fit well. I did buy some more fabric to make 2 more pairs, cotton with butterfly prints. I'll do them tomorrow night and over the weekend.

Got the fabric at Spotlight, everything was 20% off. Also got some great vintage looking bowls that had been marked down 50% and then had the 20% off as well. Bargain. Found a Mother's are Angels garden plaque that will do nicely for Mother's day. $43 later I left the store, so much for only looking for a cheap craft idea to do with the girls on Tuesday night.

Have also been looking after mum's dog this week, she and Dad left for a holiday early Sunday morning. We picked their car up from the church later in the morning, which was an experience in itself. Car wouldn't start and I ended up ringing them only to be told "oh didn't we tell you it has a kill switch?" When DH jumped out of our car and got in theirs I noticed that one couple who were leaving the church watching him closely. I knew who they were, the husband was one of my childhood Sunday school teachers so got out of the car to let them know what we were doing. It's good knowing that they were keeping an eye out. Mum rang yesterday worried about her dog, I was over at her place at the time she was worried he wouldn't be eating but I had just fed him and looked down to find an empty bowl.

Free sewing patterns

Pyjamas, pajamas, jammies, pjs whatever way you spell it.

I love free sewing patterns, especially full sized patterns. They combine my love of sewing and the fun of putting together a jigsaw. I just found a pattern for pj pants over at simplicity . Winter is not far around the corner for us, we mainly wear the pants with a tshirt so this pattern is perfect. My daughter is probably in the most desperate need, all of her old ones are now at crop pants length. It's her birthday on the 16th so I am making a couple of pairs as part of her gift. Then it's my son's birthday on the 26th - yes very close but better than the same day as they were supposed to be. CJ will be 16 and Tom will be 13. I do have some fabric tucked away.


I made myself some a few years ago and they are still good enough to last another season or 2. David should have enough too. So I only have to worry about the members of the family who are actually growing upwards as opposed to those who are growing sideways.

The pattern has printed up fine, now comes the fun part of putting it together. Before I do that I'm off to see what other freebies are at the site.

EDIT - putting the pattern together was a tad of a hassel, the marks for matching each piece are quite small and you need to trim a couple of the sides to help with matching, I found it quite easy to cut off the marks without realising but there is a very faint grid. Honestly I had to go and lay down after doing just some of them - I blame the pattern and not the fact I've not been well since Sunday.

Oh and my dear dear daughter told me she doesn't like flannelette fabric. Too bad for her, I'm still going to make it up - even if it's just to see how it fits, she'll be thankful on cold nights.