Long time no talk

I admit it, I've been slack. So so slack. No posts in nearly a month, hardly any reading of other blogs either. Where have I been - well, nowhere exciting but have been in the midst of a huge work project, including creating a new website for the company I work for. I hired website designers, yet still so much input has had to come from me that I've been a little snowed under. Fingers crossed the launch all goes well next week!!

I've not let the craftiness completely slide by though, that's been very much my downtime relaxation. I sold a wee hat on felt - love the colour combination don't you?

And I've been knitting again. It's been so long since I picked up needles, but I've tried something different - socks.... Such Fun!

And I've been making loads of jewellery. Only a few items ever made it into my felt shop as I tend to carry my box of goodies in my car, so it's come with me to a party, to book group, to work and so on and I've really done well selling it to friends. I've not even had to push it - it sells very easily. Lovely little earner for me!

And of course much of it has made it's way into my jewellery box too, I get so many positive comments that it's been very rewarding.

Since I've last blogged I've celebrated a birthday, must say it was one of the nicest birthdays ever. The other half sent me out shopping for the day and I came home to a beautifully tidy house, a yummy birthday cake and then some very good friends came around for dinner. 

I also found the cutest vintage pyrex dish and lid set at the op shop so I was rapt with that too!

 

My sister sent me the most fantastic cookbook, it's a NZ one - based on recipes from an Auckland Cafe. Real treat food, and we've made a fair few goodies from it already.

My garden is coming to the end of the summer goodness, the autumn fruits are in full harvest - apples, feijoas, jerusalem artichokes and I've been busy sowing seeds for some lovely Stock plants to add beautiful colour to dull winter days. The vege garden has been planted for winter so we're on track for a plentiful garden.

Anyway it's 7:30 Friday night and I have some more work to do. Sad isn't it. Kids are slowing drifting off to sleep so it's the most productive time for me to get through the list of "to-dos".

Have a great week xxx Kylie

Tea Party Sunday

Yesterday was my big girl's 7th Birthday, so of course we had a chintzy tea party to celebrate. Now my eclectic child "gets" my vintage love, she was so proud of it all - but I think the other children were really struggling with the time warp they walked into .... Oh it was so cute. Individual place settings with a handmade crepe flower each, charity shop glasses (perfect size for the girls), pink lemonade, sweet treats, doilies and anything else that made my heart skip a beat on the day.

One of the biggest successes was with a recipe called "Pink Passion Lemonade" that I found here (courtesy of Pinterest). It's essentially not lemonade at all, but lemon juice with a few other things. My big girl loved it!!

Pink Passion Lemonade
Juice of 4 lemons
Juice of 4 Passionfruit
3/4 cup unrefined sugar
3 cups water
2 -3 drops natural pink food colouring (mine was a bit darker than in the original recipe - kids liked it darker)
Ice cubes

Mix all together and serve (in vintage cups of course!)

The girls also loved these dipped marshmellows - no recipe required, but they did look fabulous on the lollipop sticks I found at Spotlight.

Honey rice bubble slice also went down well with the girls - lucky we have plenty left over as it's a treat we enjoy.


Now the crepe flowers were fun to make, I followed a few tutorials that I found on the internet but none of them worked well for me so here is my own mini tutorial.

Crepe flowers

Cut 2 widths (about 5cm - make sure both are the same width and about 1 metre (or just over 2 feet) in length) and place one on top of another.  Sew close to the edge with the longest stitch possible, and the loosest tension possible. The crepe with sort of gathers as you go.

Roll into a flower shape that you like, mine were fairly loose (tight rolling just didn't work out right) and glue with a glue gun as you go.

 Especially cute with contrasting crepe. You could make big or small - it wouldn't really matter.

Oh so gorgeous. My daughter was fascinated with them - even gave me a great big cuddle to say thank you for making all the beautiful flowers.

The birthday was simple, yet fun. So much Chocolate!!!

And the birthday girl herself, can't believe what a wee lady she is turning into.

Soothing

I've just had one kiddie for a couple of days (the other one has been at her grandparents for a mid school holiday break) and wow it's so peaceful with no sibling rivalry.

So I've been making good use of my time...

A little concotion for my littlest ones eczema flare up - Chamomile and Calendula cream. Using Grapeseed oil and beeswax as a base, with glycerine, vitamin C, emulsifying wax and a infusion of organic Calendula and Chamomile Flowers. Chamomile flowers have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-allergenic properties, Calendula has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and the oil just helps keep the moisture in the skin. It seemed to soothe her skin well the first night I tried we tried it.

Making Cupcakes, pink by request of course, lovingly topped by my big girl. Hmmmm I think she ate more than she put on the cakes.

It's sitting on a lovely Paragon plate I picked up at the Hospice shop yesterday (as well as a matching saucer - now I just need the cup to make a set). It made me feel a little bit happier after I broke a saucer and a cup of two totally seperate trios yesterday. I can't believe how clumsy I was. Kicking myself now.

 I am so excited.... I have been searching for these jars everywhere, and now I have finally found them. I have no idea what I will keep in them (they are pretty large) but I saw them in a magazine and I just had to have them. I hunted high and low in my city but no luck, but yesterday I headed over to the in-laws little town and I couldn't believe it when I spotted them in a gift shop. Fairly inexpensive as well which is an extra bonus!

The new cat, Tootu, has settled in completely. The Chief isn't so fussed on her but I think she's pretty cute - except for when I spot her trying to catch the goldfish. She will learn when she falls in I guess.

So many spring bulbs out at the moment - and it's only halfway through winter.

It's really mild outside today so I'm sure I will have a garden full of Daffodils soon!

I've got my Tangelos and lemons soaking at the moment so I can make my annual batch of Marmalade tommorrow. We have so many Tangelos this year though that I think I'll have to make a few batches.

Speaking of Tangelo, I have some new (but old) retro Tupperware for the caravan. Isn't it just so kitch but perfect for the 70's style.

My hooks and yarn are calling now. More hats, a cowl or more work on the granny blanket????

Special treasure

I've been having a bit of a linen cupboard sort out today, and I came across my Nan's tablecloth. Oh the emotions that washed over me when I re-found this. Every single morning this table cloth was laid on her table and removed for each and every meal. It's only now that I appreciate why she loved it so. Even 17 years after her death I am sure I can still smell the comforting smell that was Nan and Grandads house on it. I just wish I had a table that would fit it - but mine are just too large. One day I'll have a special spot just for it, but until then it'll remain my special treasure.

I made some yummy Rice Bubble Slice the other day. Big girl and the Chief gobbled it up. Little one wasn't so sure about the idea of cereal in her baked goods (what does she think Afghans are made from then I wonder?). I thought it was pretty good, and so so easy!

We got two new chickens to join the flock the other day. We had 5 but only one laying at a time, and I resent paying for eggs, so we got some good egg producers. Brown Shavers - well known for their egg laying prowess (we've had them before but these are the best condition ones I have ever got). This is the best shot (above) of one of them - they were a bit camera shy over the first few days.  The old girls look a bit grumpy about their new pen mates don't you think?

And after a bit of a full on, at a times stressful, week I needed a little luxury... My lovely soap lady - www.justsoaps.co.nz  - dropped off some bars to keep us stocked. Her soaps are amazing! They are all natural - including the amazing fragrances. I have such super sensitive skin on my hands that I can't use anything else. These bars last well longer than the horrible chemical filled commercial ones. Don't you love how they looked all stacked in a pile? My girls certainly love smelling them when they arrive.

I've also found a terrific product for my girls who LOVE sprinkles on anything (well, what child doesn't? ) - natural colour ones! I'm not a huge fan of artificial colours so this really made me happy. Don't you just love them in all their colourful goodness.

I made a crochet pot mat this week, it was just a random design that I experimented with but it sure does the trick. Have been busy though making a whole heap of hats for friends babies now that the winter has hit us.

First little frost for the year - only a light one but it's certainly cooler in the mornings!

 Off to a musical with some friends tonight - can't wait!

Have a lovely weekend  xx Kylie

And we went walking

We took the children walking on Sunday, before a promised lunch treat. You often miss the beauty of your own town and take it for granted all too often.  Granted the weather wasn't too clear but it still made for the most lovely family day in a long time.

I had fun shopping for a friend's birthday present the other day - I found exactly what I was looking for (see below) and filled it with chocolate. It was the last one in the shop, now I'm on a hunt for another one for me!
 

Vintage style glass jar

What's your favourite household product? Odd question I know, but I have been meaning to share mine. I love Soapnuts for the laundry. I have extremely sensitive skin and commercial washing powder really causes a reaction, so about 18 months ago I discovered Soapnuts and I was won over by how great they are. Completely natural, great for the our septic tank system (which can't cope with too many chemicals) and fab for our Skin. about 4 soapnuts in a calico bag in with the wash (which lasts about 8 washes) and a drop of essential oil (if desired) in the rinse cycle. A $20 bag of soapnuts lasts about 9 months for us, which is certainly cheaper than powders/liquids ever were.

It's not so warm here today, so I'm off to think about winter warmers for dinner.

x Kylie

Good things

I thought I'd share a few of my vintage china pieces, just because I like them. I was dusting around them today and thought what a great chance to get them down and appreciate them for a few minutes. 

I've never discovered Quinces until a trip down the Island to my parents. They have a laden tree, and I had some yummy Quince Jelly and Quince paste that Mum made so I squirreled a few away and got preserving once we got home again. I chose to make mine in the slow cooker, mainly as with two smaller children around I can't spend all day stirring a pot on the stove and also because I can't stand the sugar splatter mess. This was was just so easy... Cook the quinces skin and all for about two hours, cool slightly then peel the skin off and cut out the cores (pretty mushy so it's more like extract the cores). Then measure the amount of fruit pulp and add an equal amount of sugar. Cook away in the slow cooker again until a deep change in colour (about 3-4 hours later). I then spooned into muffin tins and left to set. Serve with cheese and crackers. Amazing!!! I've frozen most of the portions. So so divine.

I've also been busy hooking a few more hats for my girls and one for a gift. Using the McKinleys Springtime Hat as I have used before, with a few tweaks to make it suit my style. http://mckinleyscloset.blogspot.com

Caramello Brownie

Easy to make, and awfully good, lovers of the chocolate caramel combo will go weak at the knees. Serve cold as a sweet treat or warmed with ice cream as an after dinner delight.


150 g butter
3 eggs
1 ½ cups sugar
150 g dark chocolate
¼ cup cocoa
¾ cup flour
1 tsp vanilla essence

For the caramel
55 g butter
3/4 cup condensed milk
1 tbsp golden syrup

Preheat oven to 180°
Line a sponge roll tin with non stick baking paper.
In a medium saucepan melt 150 g butter. Stir in the sugar then remove from the heat and add the chocolate and vanilla. Beat in the eggs one at a time then sift in the flour and cocoa mixing well after each addition.
In a small saucepan melt the 55 g butter with the condensed milk and syrup. When melted and combined remove from the heat and pour into a jug.
Pour some of the chocolate mixture into a greased sponge roll tin then alternately pour in some of the caramel mixture, so the two are randomly spread about the tin. Use a meat skewer to swirl the caramel into the chocolate mix.
Bake at 180° for around 30 minutes. A knife inserted into the cake should come out clean but the texture should still be slightly fudgey. Allow to cool before cutting.

My girls have little colds at the moment, and my throat started to scratch a bit today so I made a hot herbal tea of Basil, Sage and Lemon Balm. All those Anti bacterial/Antiseptic properties in those herbs should knock any germs out, plus it tasted yum too.

 Have a lovely evening xxxx

Hooks, books, some jars and a cup of tea

Ahhh. The kids are in bed, time now for a sit down with my favourite Tea.  Working lots currently so not much time to crochet but I did make this Cowl (Simple speedy cowl by Melissa Mall pattern here ) the other day for someone special. This one is smaller than I think would be ideal though - oh well, good excuse to get the hook out again.

My favourite thing at the moment has to be Feijoas. Mmmmmm the aroma is divine, we are lucky as our wonderful neighbours tree ripens before ours so we get tons from them and then our ripen once theirs are gone. I spent the weekend bottling and baking them. Feijoa Loaf, Feijoa Ice-Cream. Delicious!!!

We got a good second hand score as well, a collection of little classics for $10. All my old favourites like Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice and a few to keep The Chief happy like Treasure Island. They look great all on top of the bookcase in the study.

Crochet hook calling - bye for now x