Fox & Co travelling band

Fox & Co travelling band

I went shopping for a family birthday present, on the weekend. This consisted of a stop in rural victoria at a fabulous market in Castlemaine. It probably comes as no surprise to you that the shopping trip resulted in the discovery of yet another very talented crafter with so many things I liked that I just had to buy myself a present instead.

 I

The very foxy lady who made this item has a stall on Etsy with only a very small sample of what fabulous treasures she had on display in her market stall.

Oh yes and as you can see her shop is called Fox & Co Travelling band

While you are on Etsy you just have to pop over and Check out Radish and Ruth with her fabulous felted creations. 

Crochet BLT and cheese sandwich anyone?

I received another parcel today. This time from my Mum.

It is so fantastic, I just love it!

Hold the mayo!

 

She will be listing them for sale on her Made it site next week so keep a look out for it if you want to own your very own crochet sandwich! They would make a wonderful gift for a little girl to encourage imaginary play skills. I’ll put a link in next week when they are listed.

 

Keep crafting everyone!

 

An old mens shirt? No a new Ladies top.

Check out this link

http://chicenvelopements.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/diy-shirt-refashion

 

Wow, I love this.

When I think of all the fantastic mens shirt fabrics I have seen in my op-shop obsession from stripes, checks, flannel, all of those times I put it back because although I loved it I just couldn’t think exactly what to do with it. (yes I am getting better at reducing my stash rather than adding to it…sometimes). After reading this link all I can think of now is missed opportunities of those shirts I put back. I am already picturing few new items I can create for my wardrobe.  I love refashion ideas, and this lady seems to have loads of them!  I can’t wait to try this one….only 6 more weeks until holidays and a break from homework, which means more time for sewing. Yeah!

Screen Printing

I spent a day screen printing with a 5 year old. This is what he made.

Have sewn this onto a t-shirt which is currently being worn with lots of pride!

This what I made

Not sure what to do with mine yet, any ideas?

….I think his is better.

 

Love a parcel!

It is so exciting when a parcel comes even when you are expecting it. Actually in this case especially because I was expecting it.

Yes I am pleased to announce my boning arrived yesterday, all the way from New Zealand with some extra added New Zealand goodies. Thanks Leimomi!

Now all I have to do is try and remember what all the final steps to finishing off my corset were!!

Cakes, Weddings and Womboota.

I was asked to create a 70th birthday cake for my uncle’s 70th. I wanted to make something that captured some of the things that were significant in his life and look like a bit of fun too. After too many different ideas to mention, I settled on an A-Frame Caravan just like he uses when he goes on holidays, with a map of Australia with places he has been marked on it. It was heaps of fun to make but I think a number of the nephews were very sad that we cut it and ate it, I was informed that they wanted to play with it first. I am just not sure that taking a cake for a test run with a bunch of 5 year olds is ever going to be a good idea if you want to eat it later!

Well believe it or not all of my brothers are now married so I have decorated  my last wedding cake for a while.

Unfortunately the final photo is a bit blurry so if anyone has a better copy of it at the reception please email it to me!! Thanks

It was a fabulous day and the location was stunning. Have you ever heard of a place called Womboota? It is a tiny town in NSW not to far from Echuca, I must say I couldn’t think of a better setting for a good old fashion wedding.  I even popped in to the local winery, sampled and purchased some fantastic mead. We even got a demonstration of how to make a throw pot in the ceramics workshop. My only regret was not purchasing the handmade viking replica mugs they would have made great presents for a few people I know. Ah well if I am ever up that way again I  will have to stop in.

A great gorilla knitting find in Echuca!

Have you visited the town of Echuca lately? If you have then you might have seen that craft is alive and well in rural victoria! This has to be my favourite gorilla corchet/knitting yet!

Did a workshop with the Dreamstress

I took the opportunity these easter holidays to do a workshop to learn how to make a corset. The course was run at Thread Den and the teacher was Leimomi Oakes who is the Dreamstress, a textile historian, seamstress, designer, speaker and museum professional. Oh and of course she is a very cool chic! There is a photo of me and the girls doing the workshop with her, check it out! You know it’s going to be good fun when you see sewing machines and hammers all being used at the same time. Now all I have to do is wait for a parcel to arrive in the mail so that I can finish it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I helped a friend put the straw bales into the walls for the house they are building, which I might add looks amazing.  It is built with reclaimed timber framing so most of it is stunning hard wood. The view from the main living room is spectacular and the addition of a composting toilet and great cellar is going to make it a fantastic low environmental impact home. It was fun and inspirational.

The holidays finished with a fantastic new addition to my sewing tools in the form of my new friend diana and even though she has no arms of legs I can see she is certainly still going to be a big help!

Moon Cake Free tutorial..

I had said I would make a cake for the fete.

I forgot until the last moment.

I realised I would have just enough time if I just got started straight away.

I mixed a chocolate cake got it in the oven and it baked perfectly, with time to spare.

I carefully got it out of the oven and then disaster……some of the cake stuck in the tin, Noooo!

 

The following is an instructional for anyone to do, if the same thing ever happens to them.

 

Step 1) Mix a chocolate cake and bake in a round tin.

Step 2) Cook cake, then tip out of the tin leave some behind…..don’t panic.

Oh No! My cake!!

Step 3) Cool cake on a wire rack.

Step 4) Cut cake into a half moon shape and fill any cracks with orchard icing.

If you want a smoother finish you can do a thicker layer of icing!

Step 5) Using food dye, make up a small portion of pink, blue and a large portion of yellow orchard icing.

Use a few drops and mix it in well until you get the desired shade.

Step 6) Using a large rolling pin roll out the yellow icing to cover the whole cake.

You need a large even surface to work on, the size of the icing needs be able to fully cover the cake.

Step 7) Cover the cake with the yellow icing and then using the other colours add, eyes, and a mouth.

One finished moon cake for the fete!! Yeah!

There you go the perfect solution to what to do with a cake that stuck in the tin!

Wedding!

There has been a wedding in the family and it was wonderful. I love weddings, I love the way it can bring a family together to celebrate and think about the good things in life. I also like chocolate cake!!!

Bride, Groom and baby!!

I was lucky enough to be asked to make and decorate the cake, cushions for the rings, some hair pieces for the bride and her mother and the wedding dress. Needless to say I have been very very very busy!!

Carried on the day by baby!