tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60737548208394719502024-03-13T07:58:52.663-07:00INSIDE and OUTMsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-78626615867229513082013-12-02T17:34:00.000-08:002013-12-02T17:34:51.679-08:00Sharing the love...You may have realised by now that knowing where my clothing comes from has been an increasingly important issue for me. And in a recent post I listed <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6073754820839471950#editor/target=post;postID=923910267324916681;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=5;src=postname" target="_blank">some ideas</a> that could help me become more ethical when it came to the action of dressing.<br />
Recently I met a fellow mum who sells beautiful clothing at markets in Sydney. I purchased a beautifully soft, <a href="http://readandbell.bigcartel.com/product/tassel-shirt-navy-print" target="_blank">cotton top</a> which has been simply too good to wear! (I stare at it lovingly in the wardrobe - but fear not, I'll get over this pretty soon) The label is <a href="http://www.readandbell.com/index.html" target="_blank">Read & Bell</a> (the surnames of the two women behind the clothing, accessories and homewares).<br />
The thing I love the most, apart from the fact that their stuff is gorgeous, is that it's not mass produced in a dungeon somewhere, it's made in a caring environment which you can read about <a href="http://www.readandbell.com/about.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
Something else I discovered over the weekend was a Fair Trade fashion website: <a href="http://www.eternalcreation.com/">http://www.eternalcreation.com/</a> They have some nice articles of clothing and you can meet the tailor, tour the workshop and watch 'how-to' demo's all on their website.<br />
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THE WORLD NEEDS MORE OF THIS!!!!<br />
HELP TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST SLAVE LABOUR, SWEAT SHOPS AND MASS PRODUCTION!!!MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-89300036822088309562013-11-24T21:49:00.000-08:002013-11-24T21:49:43.864-08:00Back to Old School Patterns...Last year I bought this pattern and made some plain black cotton pants in version A.<br />
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It was the first clothing pattern I'd followed in many years and probably the first I'd ever attempted alone. They turned out quite well and I was happy that I'd actually understood the instructions relatively easily (which means that I understood most of it but still had times where I had to read the step at least <strike>seven</strike> seventeen times before something clicked and I 'got it'). Apparently I'm not alone on that one. Recently I purchased a Megan Neilsen pattern and was mesmerised at the simplicity of the instructions - haven't made the skirt yet because I've been busy looking for the 'right' fabric, but while I was looking for some at the <a href="http://www.theremnantwarehouse.com.au/" target="_blank">Remnant Warehouse</a> I came across this lovely soft draping rayon:<br />
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And that brings me back to the pants pattern... I thought it would look great sewn into version B of the pants and after a short week of late-night sewing I made these:<br />
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This fabric works very well for this pattern and I'm really loving my new pants...MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-16406858504508518882013-11-01T04:26:00.000-07:002013-11-11T17:32:59.314-08:00Little Girl's DressesI've sometimes found that PDF patterns can be a bit of a paper-chase nightmare... One simple top can somehow become 50 pieces of A4 paper - that you have to cut-and-match-and-stick. All and all it somehow defeats that instant gratification you feel when sitting at your computer purchasing beautiful dress patterns without leaving the house!<br />
I do like the idea though. And I have found that many of the coolest patterns are now available this way. So I decided to make a compromise (of sorts!) and make my daughter clothes with PDF patterns instead of myself - since they are smaller I figured I wouldn't be needing so many pieces of A4.<br />
While wondering through the virtual shops of Etsy recently, I found just what I was looking for, an easy-to-make, comfortable, versatile and cool little number: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/au/listing/95602063/butterfly-breeze-peasant-dress-top?ref=related-1" target="_blank">The Butterfly Breeze Peasant Dress</a> by Wink Handmade. I've made three so far...<br />
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The top one is made with a light cotton fabric from Sydney's <a href="http://www.theremnantwarehouse.com.au/" target="_blank">Remnant Warehouse</a>. The floral is also a light cotton, purchased from <a href="http://www.sewingemporium.com.au/" target="_blank">Summer Hill Sewing Emporium</a> and the last was a winter number made with a soft denim found at Spotlight - looked great teamed up with tights and a cardi.<br />
These dresses are super comfortable (apparently) and work well whether you're playing in the sandpit or climbing a wall, you won't be restricted...<br />
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This dress is very quick and easy to make thanks to the simple instructions which accompany the pattern.MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-53880788196953956752013-07-24T18:35:00.000-07:002013-07-24T18:35:48.155-07:00Orange Marmalade...I don't have much time to read the paper. However every week my living room floor seems to inherit a copy of Saturday's Sydney Morning Herald and so, on Sunday I like to sit quietly and read the Spectrum. It was in this publication that I found Frank Camorra's recipe for <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/mildura-orange-marmalade-20130506-2j2bk.html" target="_blank">Mildura Orange Marmalade</a>. Gasping Softly to myself at the anticipated simplicity of the job - the recipe was quickly torn from its page and adhered to a conspicuous place on the fridge door.<br />
Another thing I've recently inherited is a lemon tree that is<i> bursting </i>with big juicy lemons. So all I really needed for the job of Marmalade making was a couple of oranges and some sugar. EASY! The Oranges I sourced from a small orchard in Dural, NSW and I decided to continue to go with the ethically-locally-sourced-flow and use some organic raw sugar.<br />
This is what I did:<br />
The first stage was to cut and soak the fruit overnight.<br />
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(Having now made a couple of marmalade batches, I would like to mention here, that it's better to add <u>plenty</u> of water rather than just enough - otherwise you end up with too much rind and not enough 'jam'.)<br />
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The next day I boiled the fruit to soften the skin - this took at least 20 minutes.<br />
I made a few adjustments to the <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/mildura-orange-marmalade-20130506-2j2bk.html" target="_blank">initial recipe</a> at this stage, like measuring the pulp - quite important I believe. Basically you will need to add one cup of sugar to every cup of pulp. I also added 30 mls VSOP Cognac for a bit of extra bite... (next time I may try Cointreau)...<br />
Then I boiled briskly for about 45 mins and didn't forget to skim off the scum! <br />
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The thing I love most about this recipe is the amount it makes... Three oranges and just three lemons becomes seven good sized jars of delicious Marmalade!</div>
MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-53869925370920034902013-07-15T21:11:00.002-07:002013-07-15T21:11:43.538-07:00Cosy Cowls....I love to make them and I love to wear them... COWLS<br />
In the coming months I plan to open my Etsy shop...<br />
It will feature Cowls and Scarves such as these....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merino Cowl in Emerald Green</td></tr>
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Please tell me what you think...</div>
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MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-9239102673249166812013-06-29T06:50:00.000-07:002013-06-29T06:50:05.315-07:00On a Serious Note...Last week the program 60 Minutes did a <a href="http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8671286" target="_blank">report</a> on the troubled state of the garment industry in Bangladesh. Watching this report was disturbing and reinforced my desire for change to take place. Garment factory workers are being exploited and abused on a regular basis and yet nobody seems to want to take responsibility; in fact many do not even seem to care. Everybody has an excuse.<br />
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The consumer - wants a cheap bargain and many can not afford to buy quality. But then, does quality mean that it has been made fairly and ethically? Not necessarily. Retailers it seems, also want a cheap bargain and prefer to remain blissfully ignorant as to what is happening and when things really do go wrong, like a building collapses, they use excuses: 'It was just a one-off order.' 'We weren't aware that <i>that </i>was happening!' They want to make a profit, and they just don't feel accountable. Factory bosses flat out deny any trouble, rejecting that problems and abuse occur in the first place.<br />
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This is not a new problem, issues like <a href="http://www.veganpeace.com/sweatshops/sweatshops_and_child_labor.htm" target="_blank">child and slave labor</a> or <a href="http://www.cleanclothes.org/news/press-releases/2012/03/29/release-of-report-on-sandblasted-denim-and-its-fatal-effects-on-workers" target="_blank">deadly effects on workers</a> who sandblast denim have been shadowing the garment industry for some time now. We could choose to ignore it or we could each do something small to try and bring about change. For although we are each just individuals, we are also consumers and have the power <u>not</u> to consume if we so choose.<br />
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I have been thinking for some time now about things that I could personally do to help stop this shameful situation. This is what I came up with...<br />
#Make my own clothes - supportive networks like <a href="http://handmakersfactory.com.au/" target="_blank">Handmakers' Factory</a> and <a href="http://sewmakecreate.com.au/" target="_blank">Sew Make Create</a> or <a href="http://www.sewingemporium.com.au/" target="_blank">Summer Hill Sewing Emporium</a> can be of help.<br />
#Buy from <a href="http://www.ethicalclothingaustralia.org.au/consumer/accredited-brands" target="_blank">Ethical Traders</a>.<br />
#Buy handmade from websites like <a href="http://etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy</a> or <a href="http://madeit.com.au/">Madeit.</a><br />
#Discover my habitat - I have found shops like <a href="http://www.sandydesigns.com/about" target="_blank">Sandy Designs</a>, <a href="http://pipstars.bigcartel.com/about-pipstars" target="_blank">Pipstars</a>, who make their garments locally. And <a href="http://www.opshop.org/details/2569" target="_blank">Red Cent Charity Store</a> in NSW (who sell lovely knitted children's jumpers and crocheted items made and donated by elderly women just up the road).<br />
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I am by no means a saint and I do not proclaim to never having bought a cheap item from a large badly-lit department store. But I do want change. I want us to stop and think. Next time you pick a piece of clothing underneath a banner which reads - grab two for ten bucks! Where did it come from? Do I really need this? And do I really even want this... Chances are you may decide NO.MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-31067817261492046882013-05-25T20:07:00.000-07:002013-07-24T18:38:02.719-07:00Scones in Pictures...Last year I wrote about <a href="http://i-and-o.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/pat-cake-pat-cake-bakers-man.html" target="_blank">Lemonade Scones</a>.<br />
Yes, indeed they were very yummy.<br />
I have however since then, been whipping up a simpler version that I wanted to share. With pictures. Documenting my love for not only scones but also photo editing using <a href="http://pixlr.com/" target="_blank">Pixlr</a>. This recipe is ridiculously simple and the scones so tasty, it'll have you making them all the time. So here goes:<br />
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Set your oven to 225 degrees.<br />
The idea is to have two parts dry ingredients to one part wet so decide on a mug you'd prefer and stick with it (ie. it doesn't have to measure 1 cup in the metric sense)<br />
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Put two mugs of flour in a large bowl,<br />
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add a handful of currants.<br />
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Chop 100 grams butter and put in the mug.<br />
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Fill mug to half way with boiling water, leave butter to melt...<br />
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When melted, top up with milk. Add to the flour.<br />
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Mix into a ball and knead lightly. The dough should be slightly sticky.<br />
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Push down onto a floured tray and cut but don't separate,<br />
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Scones need each other to rise. Bake.<br />
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Eat with Orange Marmalade... (Recipe found <a href="http://i-and-o.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/orange-marmalade.html" target="_blank">here</a>)<br />
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Enjoy. Not only the scones but the compliments you'll receive from your friends :-)<br />
<br />MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-79758123143257041982013-04-20T22:19:00.005-07:002013-04-20T22:19:48.357-07:00More Knitting, While Not Much Blogging...Sadly, there is <i>never </i>time for everything. No matter how hard we try something always has to slip.<br />
For me, the return to my study has meant that I haven't had the time to ponder over ideas for blog posts. And then, most importantly, write them.<br />
It's not all bad though... I've still been managing to knit. Here is the finished Emerald Green Cowl that I made for a 30th birthday present.<br />
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It's made from 100% Merino wool and feels chunky and warm. The stitch I found in my stitch bible, the name: purse stitch. 'Tis excellent for cowls and such things as it looks the same on both right and wrong sides. It's a simple pattern - multiple of 2. All rows: *M1 (wrn), p 2 tog*<br />
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<br />MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-85571814642357012922013-02-02T19:25:00.000-08:002013-02-02T19:25:33.013-08:00Patchwork Bag...I've been interested in making bags for quite a while now. And it has been that interest and desire that has led me back into the wonderful world of sewing. Sparking new comprehension in things like warp and weft - concepts that I couldn't be bothered to try and understand as a youngster!<br />
A couple of years ago I came across one of the best bloggers around (I think so anyway!) during a search for a bag pattern. Sooz has some <a href="http://soozs.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/things-ive-learned-about-making-bags.html" target="_blank">fantastic information</a> and ideas in her blog about all sorts of things. And BAGS are one of those things.Unfortunately the tutorial I once followed is no longer there, but the bag I have recently completed is a derivative of her original pattern for a reversible beach bag.<br />
I decided to make it 'patchwork style' so I could up-cycle garments of clothing and use up scrapes of interesting fabric...<br />
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For this bag I've used an old skirt (red & brown flowers), some curtain off-cuts (cream fabric) and some red satin. I then used a creamy-fawn coloured satin for the bag lining...<br />
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I've made a few different bags since my bag mission began including a nappy bag which I use everyday without fail. My only real obstacles so far have been the lack of a) an industrial sewing machine to sew handles on and b) a walker foot - in some situations with certain fabrics).<br />
I've found bags relatively easy to make while also being very rewarding and useful...MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-61872606027463599082013-01-14T01:37:00.001-08:002022-03-24T23:01:21.630-07:00Honeycomb Stitch Baby VestI've been knitting in the round again... Still finishing off all those <a href="http://i-and-o.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/pretty-knitted-things_13.html">loose-ends</a> I told you about. And I think it's safe to say that everything is finally finished.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is the second baby's vest I've designed and made in this style. (And baby loves them...)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The lower stitching is 'Honeycomb' which is as follows:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Round 1: knit</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Round 2: purl 1, slip 1</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Round 3: knit</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Round 4: slip 1, purl 1</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The top is simply knitted in Stockinette Stitch with a little eyelet hole for a button on one side.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The wool is <a href="http://morrisandsons.com.au/c1_341_1549/?page=3" target="_blank">Morris Empire 8ply in 'Candy Twis</a><a href="http://morrisandsons.com.au/c1_341_1549/?page=3" target="_blank">t'</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Everything is now completed, which means I'm all ready for the newest moon of this new year! Time to sow the seeds of intention and set some goals. A great website that I love to visit, <a href="http://mooncircles.com/">http://mooncircles.com/</a> reminds me that there is magic to be found in everyday - sometimes I forget. There is some very interesting infomation there on using moon phases to enhance our projects and everyday life in general. The following extract is about the time during a new moon and is from the website. (Thank you Dana!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><i>'The moon travels with the sun, rising and setting as one. At first she’s lost in the bright solar light… bathing there perhaps. It’s how the moon makes herself new. And you? It’s your chance to become new now too. Lose yourself in possibilities. Forget your history: your likes and dislikes… even those goals you say you want but never seem to achieve. <b>Refresh instead your animal nature, senses awake, happily, simply aware of being alive.</b>When the moon starts to gently lag behind the sun, pulling away from her bath; you’ll see a thin crescent in the west, just after sunset. Make a wish. In the days ahead, realize there are invitations all around you, arriving in ways you might mistake if you’re not open. Your task is to say yes to an invitation you’ve never said yes to before. Embark on a big or little <b>adventure</b>. Start something <b>new</b>.'</i></span></div>
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MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-64101777974327211972013-01-08T03:40:00.000-08:002013-01-08T03:40:26.903-08:00My Blog Turns... 1 Today!!A year ago I decided, as part of my new year's resolution, to start this blog... I'd been thinking of starting a blog for so long but couldn't decide what my theme would be.<br />
In the end, or the beginning, I decided to just sit down at the computer and start writing.<br />
So I did.<br />
And I was surprised about how quickly my blog evolved into a 'crafty' blog documenting mainly, what I have been making over the year. And about the wealth of ideas and information on others' blogs available at the tip of the finger.<br />
There are just so many things to make and do!<br />
Here's a round up of what I've been making during 2012 - my first year of blogging.<br />
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I'm excited to see what 2013 will bring...MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-19948711736244281972012-12-21T01:54:00.000-08:002012-12-26T13:41:37.008-08:00Choc-a-licious Truffles...It's Christmas time again and as usual I have had the food processor out, busily whizzing up Chocolate Truffles on the kitchen bench. Batches and batches of them. It was the summer of 1994 when I first came across this recipe in a New Zealand Food Plus magazine... You know, one of those free ones which accompany the weekend newspaper.<br />
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Although the magazine looks very dated now, the Truffles taste <i>so good</i> that I've kept referring back to it at Christmas for close to 20 years. This recipe calls for Brandy and walnut, however I often omit the walnuts altogether; or add apricots soaked in Brandy or raisins soaked in honey rum.<br />
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They are the perfect Christmas gift, either wrapped in cellophane with ribbon or in boxed in muffin cases... They are also the perfect thing just to have in the fridge for when you're passing by searching for a late night snack!<br />
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Merry Christmas!!</div>
MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-51203646799527255092012-11-10T13:22:00.002-08:002012-11-10T13:31:42.809-08:00The Wondrous Effects of Vinegar...When I was in my 20s feeling young and free my motto was: life's too short for cleaning. Employ a cleaner, I would say, for who <i>really</i> has the time?! So if you'd have told me then, that in ten years' time I'd be excited about the wondrous effects of white vinegar, I'd never have believed a word...<br />
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But fast forward a decade. Add two beautiful children to the mix of life and low and behold I spend more than just a few hours a week cleaning! And I'm surprised to find that it occasionally induces a meditative state. That it feels<i> so good</i> when everything, or most things... O.K more than half - are in their places; dust and debris vacuumed away; surfaces wiped and sparkling. But the high is fleeting. Someone, ALWAYS! Undoubtedly! Walks in with muddy boots on and wreaks everything...<br />
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My brother demonstrated for me a few years ago (when I was still in the transition stage - with young child but still loathed cleaning) just how well you could remove limescale from a glass shower door using vinegar. I was never really moved much by this, my heart was never in it in the first place, however I <i>did</i> file it in the depths of my brain for later use.<br />
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I came across vinegar in the non-edible sense again recently when reading about cloth nappies. The thing with cloth nappies is that although it's important to sanitise them properly you can't start using lots of bleaches and softeners as it stops them absorbing properly and it's no good either, for a soft tender bottom! I was directed to <a href="http://vinegartips.com/">vinegartips.com</a> and was pleasantly elated to find out that vinegar is not only a fabric softener but it also helps remove soap residue while removing stains and odours. It really works brilliantly, it's cheap <i>and</i> is good for our planet. What more could one want?<br />
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With the weather getting warmer it's been time for a dot of spring cleaning. I needed to clean some wooden window sills. A mix of warm water, olive oil and vinegar (yes it sounds like a salad dressing) did wonders and that was really what prompted me into writing this. The sills actually looked like they had been re-varnished. The next one on my list to try will be the oven door.<br />
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There are many uses for vinegar, 1001 of them apparently. So please get going and try them. You won't be disappointed - I'm sure of it!<br />
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<br />MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-27957785819575067852012-10-13T17:31:00.003-07:002012-10-13T17:31:47.891-07:00Pretty Knitted Things....<br />
Recently I have been making a conscious effort to tidy up loose ends - in the literal sense! The many unfinished projects that I have had on the go have been making me feel a bit jumbled up. So to begin clearing some space, both mental and physical, I finally finished knitting the i-cord for a Hearts Garland...<br />
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This has been a very long time in the making, but I am so pleased with the outcome...<br />
You can find the pattern for this <a href="http://www.katydidandkid.com/2010/01/st-valentines-knitted-heart-garland.html">here.</a><br />
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It's very simple to make and great for using up small amounts of yarn.</div>
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MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-38809183618318987882012-09-12T05:23:00.004-07:002012-09-12T05:24:59.712-07:00Dyeing Yarn In a MicrowaveWhile blog surfing many moons ago, I came across a <a href="http://www.nikkishell.typepad.com/nikkishell/page/8/" target="_blank">post</a> on dyeing yarn with food colouring using a microwave. Intrigued, I vowed to one day try it.<br />
That was about a year ago and during the interim I picked up a microwave on <a href="http://i-and-o.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/one-womans-trash-is-another-womans.html" target="_blank">Freecycle</a>, found a <a href="http://icedaffair.com.au/index.html" target="_blank">cake shop</a> selling a vast array of paste and liquid food colour, did a bit of homework on the subject of dyeing and inherited a <i>big bag </i>of plain coloured wool.<br />
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So what was once this:<br />
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Quite quickly became this:
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A vibrant mass of green. Much more interesting, don't you think?<br />
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The process was relatively simple and strangely, not too messy either.<br />
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Firstly, I wound the wool into a long skein using two chairs and then left it to soak in some cold water and white vinegar for about 24 hours (although an hour or two will do). I used about 1/4 cup of vinegar in a tub of about five litres of water. I then laid the wool out on a large piece of plastic wrap and using <a href="http://creativecakedecorating.com.au/Colours.html" target="_blank">'Creative' Jade</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span>in paste form, began applying the dye at intervals around the skein; wearing rubber gloves I <u>gently</u> worked it into the wool - being very careful not to begin felting.</div>
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Once the colour was applied I began cooking. The trick here is not to set your wool alight so a slowly-slowly approach was imperative...<br />
I wrapped the skein tightly in the plastic wrap and placed it into the microwave with a cup of water in the middle.<br />
I then cooked it on high for a minute, let it cool for five then cooked it for another two minutes and let it cool again. Following this pattern I cooked it for nine minutes in total. When it had cooled I rinsed it under cold water and then hung it out to dry.<br />
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I used 40grams of food colouring to about 100 grams of yarn.<br />
This method produces a mottled, slightly uneven result and that was the effect that I was looking for.
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I plan to start knitting with it sometime soon!<br />
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MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-32854960539954769812012-08-07T03:39:00.000-07:002012-08-22T03:35:02.954-07:00One Woman's Trash Is Another Woman's Treasure...A couple of weeks ago our television died. It just stopped working mid way through a sports game. I don't really like television watching much but by the same token sometimes I really enjoy it. This meant that I didn't feel I needed a state-of-the-art LCD flat screen or anything large and fancy just something with a picture would do. Suddenly a brilliant idea popped into my head - I'd join <a href="http://www.freecycle.org/" target="_blank">Freecycle™</a><span style="background-color: white;"> and pick one up for free! </span><br />
<a href="http://www.freecycle.org/" target="_blank">Freecycle™</a> is the ingenious idea of Deron Beal, who in 2003 sent out the first Freecycle email to a few friends. It has now spread to about 85 countries with thousands of local groups. The aim is to keep 'stuff' out of the landfill, it's about people helping each other. The concept: changing the world one gift at a time. The golden rule: everything MUST be FREE!! You just join your local group, which may take 24 hours and then start receiving emails with things on offer or things wanted. If and when you have stuff to give you just post a quick message...<br />
It's great for getting rid of unwanted items (a new owner will come and take it off your hands). And even better for picking up much needed (and often unusual) treasure!<br />
I had a new Television within the first few days and then stumbled across a set of beautiful German wine glasses.... Brand new and still in the box.<br />
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Everyone should be a member of this fantastic movement. But also be warned - it's very addictive!MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-59103352755817863622012-06-04T04:43:00.000-07:002012-06-04T17:36:11.986-07:00Knitting In The Round...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Inspired by a soft toy in a cute knitted number,<br />
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I designed and knitted in the round...<br />
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And made this:<br />
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For the very special girl in my life...<br />
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I made the dress with Moda Vera 'Bamboo Cotton' which feels soft and silky to the touch and plan to make another right away with pure wool for extra warmth over the winter months...</div>
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<br /></div>MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-21447814021213110812012-05-21T19:43:00.002-07:002014-07-13T15:44:51.887-07:00Red Grape Jelly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's red globe grape season once more. Luckily this has coincided with a request for: 'more grape jelly please.' The reason that globe grapes are desirable when it comes to jelly making is because of the pips. Apparently this makes them deliciously flavoursome, which in turn makes a mouth watering jelly...<br />
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Now I made Grape Jelly last year and did encounter a few problems. The first batch didn't set - it was more like a coulis. So I made a second batch and completely overcompensated and ended up with toffee. Yum you may say, yet toffee in a jar is not much fun and I think I had to throw it out. That's when I bought a sugar thermometer and I've never looked back. It makes things quick(ish) and easy. There are none of those ambiguous jam-setting tests like: just put some on a plate - put that in the freezer and wait for five minutes (mean while the toffee thickens) - then run your finger through and if it ripples then it's ready (my coulis,<i> I had</i> <i>thought</i>, passed that one). You just lower the thermometer into the bubbling mix and when it's 105 degrees you know it'll be spot-on. This takes around 15 minutes of rapid boiling.</div>
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The recipe I've been using is from <a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/7606/grape-jelly" target="_blank">here</a> and I'm proud to say that recently I turned my kilo of grapes into...</div>
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And we opened it at breakfast the very next morning...</div>
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As you can see the consistency is just right. And the taste is delectable!
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MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-54102588320678362822012-05-12T04:34:00.000-07:002012-05-14T03:24:21.467-07:00I Love Applique :-)After talking with <a href="http://i-and-o.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/pipstars.html" target="_blank">Jenny</a> the other day I felt really inspired and was reminded of just how much I love applique. It's a great way to turn something plain into something...cool...remarkable...gorgeous!<br />
My baby daughter has been crawling everywhere for months and has managed to put a small hole in a pair of tights - so my first job was to add a little patch...<br />
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Then I got more adventurous and turned a plain white vest into...<br />
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A little bird shirt.<br />
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Baby was super pleased - she loves birds...<br />
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I used some left over fabric from the <a href="http://i-and-o.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/blogging-universe.html" target="_blank">pillowcase dress</a>, some bright yellow satin for the beak from my bright-coloured-satin-stash (you never know when you're going to need it ;-)). And used fusible webbing to attach the fabrics to the vest. I then hand stitched the beak and used the machine to zigzag around the body and found a little button for the eye.<br />
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I love the result and plan to try making my first quilt sometime soon. Watch this space!<br />
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<br />MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-83346066755308062462012-05-01T05:07:00.000-07:002012-05-12T04:36:43.423-07:00Pipstars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was sitting in a doctors' waiting room today scanning the display shelves for something interesting to read when suddenly a little sparkle of fun jumped out at me... it was this:<br />
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It is not something that one would expect to find in such a place and a tingle of anticipation rushed over me.<br />
The back of the card read: ORIGINAL CLOTHING FOR KIDS + beautiful things for you and your home.<br />
Quite excited by this and the fact that the shop was only a few doors away at <a href="http://pipstars.bigcartel.com/pop-up-shop" target="_blank">112 Percival Rd, Stanmore</a> we popped on down after our appointment to find a beautiful little shop filled with lovely little things. I got chatting with Jenny the owner and found out that she does all her own screen printing and applique, while also sewing up many of the garments out the back! (So inspiring. But how do these people find the time? I've got to sleep less!) There were bunting kits, the most amazing quilts that I have ever seen (made by another local woman), earrings and much much more... And everything was so clean, tidy and organised... I LOVED it and so did my four-year-old who busied himself at the kids' activity table - something all shops should have!<br />
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So if you're in the area, be sure to stop by.<br />
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<br />MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-26507910843046660432012-04-04T03:31:00.000-07:002012-05-12T04:37:33.459-07:00Wondering About Banana Bread...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm going to make a new list. It's going to be titled: Seven Wonders of The Baking World and wonder number one is going to be, café style banana bread - I really <i>WONDER</i> how they make it!!?<br />
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It's not like I haven't been doing anything lately, but this has been one of life's mysteries for me for quite some time now. Why is café style banana bread six hundred times better than the kind you make at home? Annoying. And why does every single café seem to use the same recipe?!#! Even more annoying. What is in it? Where are they getting it from? How do they get it so sticky, dense and moist? Do you think that I've actually asked anyone...? That's a rhetorical question by the way and the answer is no - it's far better just to sit here and speculate on Blogger.<br />
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I have tried a few different recipes over the recent past that professed to be banana bread but I remained somewhat unmoved and dissatisfied by the results - they certainly did not produce the banana bread that I knew. So I did the trusty 'café style banana bread' search and found myself <a href="http://www.frankieandnicole.com/blog1725/My-Cafe-Style-Banana-Bread.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I was excited. Then last Friday I gathered my nuts <i>and </i>bananas, which I'd been storing in the freezer (a great way to keep your over-ripe bananas by the way)...<br />
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I left them to brown for a while (apparently a trick of the café).<br />
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I mixed all the dry ingredients and all the wet in separate bowls...<br />
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Then mixed them together and baked for a little over the specified time and ended up with this:<br />
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Yes, it is very loaf like and <i>was</i> quite tasty but sadly it just was <u>not</u> like at the café!<br />
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Yesterday, while perusing through a small pile of recipe books I came across Apple & Banana Bread so I thought I'd give it a whirl, having done a quick scan of the ingredients and realising I had everything, we got started.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I-vClmUENGA/T3rkCoR1XjI/AAAAAAAAADM/x3MapvtD7e4/s1600/Vanessa's+camera+262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I-vClmUENGA/T3rkCoR1XjI/AAAAAAAAADM/x3MapvtD7e4/s320/Vanessa's+camera+262.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apples, bananas and cinnamon basking in the morning sunlight...</td></tr>
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As my son mixed away, creaming the butter and sugar and then adding the eggs slowly I couldn't really see much difference between a cake recipe and this one and I could feel wonder number two coming on.... what<i> is</i> the difference apart from the obvious shape of the pan. This wondering was followed by more not-so-trusty google searching, yielding many differences of opinion and thus I have been left, still wondering.<br />
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On a brighter note, the <strike>bread</strike> cake turned out nicely - it's lovely and sweet with the apple.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thehabygoddess.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Linking up with Jodie The Haby Goddess</a></td></tr>
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</div>MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-15067134625042157362012-03-26T15:47:00.000-07:002012-05-12T04:38:48.604-07:00Recycle Your Junk Mail...Finally.... a CHEAP addiction! It's not wine, it's not wool... it's folding paper.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I4YHlSOYyWI/T3DlgN6sEqI/AAAAAAAAACY/L9Ojnx6224w/s1600/work+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I4YHlSOYyWI/T3DlgN6sEqI/AAAAAAAAACY/L9Ojnx6224w/s320/work+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Origami Boxes... beautiful!</td></tr>
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I've had origami boxes on my list of things-to-do, but had not made the time to sit down and make one (or five) until yesterday. And now there's no looking back! My son and I mastered the box and then spent a good couple of hours happily folding and cutting all the unwanted junk mail - which is forever being thrust upon us, even with a 'no junk' sign. We found a great tutorial <a href="http://prudentbaby.com/2010/01/hot-mess/tips/diy-origami-gift-boxes-2/" target="_blank">here</a>. This is what we made:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T-_uQ8leLA8/T3DlGvGh_DI/AAAAAAAAACA/6wmw1z29LvY/s1600/phone+309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T-_uQ8leLA8/T3DlGvGh_DI/AAAAAAAAACA/6wmw1z29LvY/s320/phone+309.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, like with any good addiction, we woke up this morning and got started... But this time brimming with confidence we felt a bit more up market, and so made this:<br />
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We have more boxes planned for later in the day...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehabygoddess.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Linking up with Jodie The Haby Goddess</a></td></tr>
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<br />MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-19012994697600948282012-03-12T03:18:00.002-07:002012-05-12T04:40:20.901-07:00Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake, Baker's Man...My late Nana, Thelma Doris was forever making scones. I spent a lot of time at her place as a child and to commence each visit our ritual went something like this: Nana would say "Shall we make some scones dear?" and I'd nod, wide eyed in agreement and anticipation while following her toward the back of the house to a dark poky kitchen. There we'd huddle around the small formica topped table where she'd mix and knead lightly... I'm not sure I partook in much of the actual <i>making</i> part, however I vividly remember the result: a warm batch of lightly crusted scones wrapped in a clean tea towel.<br />
It wasn't until recently that my love for scones really came about and I learned while on a trip back to my home land that Nana used to make her scones with <i>lemonade</i>. (My four-year-old was very impressed by this little factoid due to his current infatuation with the stuff.) So I've been very busy experimenting and investigating and made these over the weekend:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemonade Scones with Dates</td></tr>
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The recipe is:<br />
2 cups self raising flour<br />
1 tsp mixed spice<br />
1/2 cup cream<br />
1/2 cup lemonade<br />
Bake at 220 degrees for 10 mins<br />
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The things I love about scones (apart from their taste) is that they are super quick, extremely easy to make, <i>can be</i> very healthy - made with wholemeal flour sans lemonade! And you normally have all the ingredients on-hand (for a <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_493012187"></span>simple version<span id="goog_493012188"></span></a> anyway) to make a batch when needed... Which for me is most mornings!<br />
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Scone tips:<br />
+cook close together to help rise<br />
+don't over handle<br />
+pat the dough lightly - instead of kneading<br />
+wrap in tea towel when cooked to give thin soft crust<br />
+although wholemeal is a healthy option I find that white flour seems to produce a lighter scone...<br />
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So Nana, where ever you may be, I hope you're watching... Because I know how thrilled you'd be to see that all that scone making finally rubbed off...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1019356047"><img border="0" src="http://sewschool.com.au/images/makegrowthrift200.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thehabygoddess.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Linking up with Jodie The Haby Goddess</a></td></tr>
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<br />MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-11803228661092145512012-02-13T02:57:00.000-08:002012-05-12T04:41:29.617-07:00The Blogging UniverseWhat did we do before blogging was invented? Since embarking upon my new journey as a blogger a few weeks ago, I have been little able to do anything but: read blogs, bookmark blogs, marvel at blogs and generally be inspired by blogs... Do you get the picture? It's like I've been sucked into this blogging vortex and am unable to pull myself free. Any spare minute (and there are not many of those with young children about), I'm there at the computer...I've come across some amazing sites though like <a href="http://poppytalk.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Poppytalk</a>, <a href="http://craftgawker.com/" target="_blank">Craftgawker</a> (you could spend hours here) and<a href="http://pixlr.com/" target="_blank"> Pixlr </a>(here too) and I'm brimming with ideas and inspiration... My only problem is I haven't had much time or inkling to actually <i>do </i>anything else (this includes even writing in the blog!!) except...<br />
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Pillowcase dresses... I love them and they are so quick and easy to make. My baby daughter has been in dire need of a cool, comfy dress to cruise the furniture in and I had some pretty material which I purchased from <a href="http://www.kelanifabric.com.au/" target="_blank">Kelani Fabric</a> previously for the occasion. I got some ideas and instructions from <a href="http://prudentbaby.com/2010/03/baby-kid/diy-pillowcase-baby-dress-pattern-2/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://thehabygoddess.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/todays-sewing-shirred-pillowcase-dress.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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So thanks (from baby and I) to all you great bloggers out there - I could have never made this without you!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://sewschool.com.au/images/makegrowthrift200.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thehabygoddess.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/make-grow-thrift_13.html" target="_blank">Linking up with Jodie The Haby Goddess</a></td></tr>
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</div>MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073754820839471950.post-26340248513204841212012-01-23T04:42:00.000-08:002012-05-14T03:07:15.647-07:00Plum Jam... And Fruit-AholicsMy sister from New Zealand recently brought our mutual four-year-old nephew over for a holiday to see us, most importantly his cousin - Son. So we had two lovely boys playing ever so nicely for a few days (choke choke - no not the boys). Every morning I like to restock my fruit bowl, it's a plate really, bringing fruit from the fridge so it's there on the bench - easy access for hungry mouths. One particular morning the two four-year-olds polished off most of it in just one sitting. My sister looked on in horror and disbelief as the ample supply was ravaged and rampaged by the hungry but cute little beasts. "I'd ration it" was her answer to this 'problem' of quickly disappearing food. But you can't really I feel, as it's all good healthy food and <i>is</i> part of a balanced diet - you should see what else they can eat. I'm used to this sort of thing so I wasn't at all surprised when the two kilos of plums I bought at the market became this...<br />
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I had meant to make the jam <i>much </i>earlier and had given Son a bit of a hard time when I caught him eating them. (I'd put the plum bowl in a high cupboard and stuff like that -petty, I know.) So when they started getting soft I thought that I had really best get on to the jam making even though there was such a small amount left. Jam making is a great way to recycle your old jars and that's what I did last year but since the amount was so small I thought I'd make two little ramekins to put straight in the fridge - give one away and keep the other. I'm not sure how long it will keep in the fridge but as nothing lasts long in this house I don't think we're in much danger of it going off. I'll keep you updated. So after a little while those plums became this...<br />
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Who said Jam making was tricky? Don't be scared. Here's the recipe:<br />
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6 plums halved and stoned<br />
1 3/4 cups caster sugar<br />
1/3 cup water<br />
1 tablespoon Cognac<br />
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1)Put plums and water into a heavy based pot. Boil until soft and pulpy.<br />
2)Add sugar slowly and stir until dissolved. Add Cognac.<br />
3)Boil rapidly for 15 mins*, skimming off any scum as it appears.<br />
4)Your jam should be ready to pour into a hot sterilised jar or straight into a ramekin!<br />
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*For jam to set it needs to reach a temperature of 105 degrees. Ripeness of fruit, size of pan and boiling speed are all factors in determining this. As Plums are rich in pectin and acid - they naturally have a good setting quality.<br />
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And a serving suggestion...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wholemeal Cranberry & Raisin Scone served with a big dollop of Plum Jam... A great way to start the day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehabygoddess.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Linking up with Jodie The Haby Goddess</a></td></tr>
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<br /></div>MsDriverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00963722896626819941noreply@blogger.com4