Is it a new project or finishing an old one?

Hmm I can't decide. I am trying to use all my bags of stuff that have been organised into projects. Now I have three shelves of unfinished or planned projects and yet I also have tons in my head ready to start. This is a bag of orphan block - the photo is not good sorry.

sorting all the blocks on my bed

 Every-time I make a project and have bits left over I put them in this bag. I can see my taste change just through this bag. Last night I decided it was time to get rid of this bag. The main block of green half square triangles (hst) I made about 12 years ago. The square blocks were a quilt I started but from all my scraps about 10 years, but no progress was made and I decided to put them in the orphan block pile. Then lately my scraps have been a lot brighter and more white based from slightly more modern quilting.

looking coordinated now but maybe not later!!

So last night I sewed some of the blocks together and now it looks all coordinated - that is the end of the blocks from 12-9 years ago. Now I have modern bits and bobs to put around it. I think the quilt could end up looking quite confused but at least it will be another quilt for the charity I support - Hope Homes International.

So do I classify this as finishing something or starting something? As you can see, I am good at starting and not so good at finishing.

I link to these places and especially WIP Wednesday and Anne at Domesblissity.

Scrappy triangles are now all used.

Yes I made another cushion / pillow cover. I have been trying to change layouts and try different things. It is only by trying that you see what works. This is 22 inches square and I have decided to use it on the European pillows we have on our beds. They are feather and old and getting a bit saggy and the thicker quilted cover has made the pillow look new again. I made it slightly smaller than the feather inner in an aim to plump the cushion up again.

When I first patched the triangles with the borders in-between I did not like it at all - somehow the triangles got lost. I still think I would have preferred it if the material was black with white dots but I had run out and I am trying to only use my stash. But once the quilting in black thread went on the triangle look came back. Not the best job and not my favourite but it is a finish!!! I still have sitting in my quilting stuff some of the remainder triangles which I had sewn for another cushion may unpick and use on my new project. That is the end of this stash of triangles!!! yay.





As it is going to be used on the bed I just made a basic envelope opening for the back of the cover.  

I will be linking to several parties - their buttons are over here.

Molesworth Station

A few photos from our night camping on the Molesworth Station. The weather was not as hot as hoped so only Aaron did lots of swimming. View are spectacular. Then on the way home we did the Superbowl and hydroslide at Hanmer Springs for Jakobs 11th birthday.

The boys loved mucking around in the tent

Amazing scenery

Two tents as it is not a place to tow a caravan!

My fabulous Op Shop finds

Today we had a bit of a merry go round. Had to get the car checked at two different places, pick up one boy and take him to the emergency dentist, go to aquacise, do afterschool swimming but in amongst all that I managed to dash into the local Save the Children charity shop. Oh I was pleased I did.

A brooch that I see potential in. A bracelet that is gorgeous as is but I might pull apart and use in an embroidery, but think I will wear it in the meantime. $6

A gorgeous English pottery jug. Could not resist the shape and colour $4 

Some tupperware containers for Jakob this year as he is doing cooking at school. A coffee plunger that I will use for loose tea in the caravan.

Thrilled. I link to these places and especially the Op Shop Show off

No matter what you call it - it's scrumptious

 
Chocolate Pots, Chocolate Volcano, Chocolate fondants... no matter the name it is a delicious dessert. Until this weekend I had always made Rachel Khoo from the Little Paris Kitchen recipe. Hers had a caramel in the middle. But on the weekend our friends made Nigella Lawson's recipe. This is simple and straightforward. I do have to admit that I have made it a bit more simple and straightforward than she has it. BUT... Made in 5 minutes and cooked in 10. Lip smackingly good.

Nigella Chocolate Pots - Karen's Method
4 1/2 oz bittersweet choc (I used 70% cocoa solid)
4 oz butter
3 large eggs ( I used 4 as I only just now realised I read the recipe wrong)
3/4 Cup white sugar
1/4 Cup normal flour

Nigella says this makes four but it is very rich and my friends made it go around 8 - I made it today as 5, only because I had 5 dishes.

Turn oven on to get it up to heat - this is important - 400oF, 200oC (I used my fan function)

Prepare your ramekins 4-6 , by buttering and flouring them so the mixture does not stick.

In a microwave bowl put the chocolate and butter. Microwave on 60% power for 1.5 minutes until melted.

Out of the oven looking like this

In another bowl whisk together eggs, sugar and flour until just blended (again I did not read that and gave it a good beat). Gradually add the chocolate mixture to the eggs - I did it in two lots.

Pour into the greased ramekins and put on a tray and place in the oven for 10-13 minutes. It is ready when the tops are firm and cracking slightly around the edges.

Turn onto individual dishes and serve with runny cream. Eat while warm, do not delay!!!

I link to these places.

The last week of the holidays

I am rather late posting this but here is a wee set of photographs to show our wonderful last week of the school holidays.

Hair cutting in the bush. Getting ready for school

Eli

Underwater Aaron

Chess

Relaxing

Relaxing

A Refashion - was two shirts, now a skirt

It started with two shirts at a total cost of $2.50. The stripe being 100% linen man's XL and the white top being cotton/elastic woman's M.

I chopped off the sleeves and took off pockets and the gorgeous labels. 

Unpicked the pockets and cut some more pockets from the sleeves.

Then I sewed new pockets onto the old back of the shirt and added back the details from the labels.

Used the white T-Shirt by cutting it just under the arms, doubling it over and stretching it to the top of the new skirt. It makes a lovely big easy to wear waistband. 

Voila a new skirt 

This is the fit on me (with my T-Shirt up a bit to show the waistband etc.

I finished this at 10pm last night and went to show Aaron. He then commented that it was not "quite right" and did not suit me. I had used a linen skirt with this type of waistband as the pattern but was a bit worried about it being to tight on me. 

So I went back to the mirror and I have to say - He is right - (he asked if I would confess on my blog). This skirt is OK. I can muck around in it at home etc but it is not flattering like the other skirt is. Tow reasons I think - 1. It is a stripe and the other is plain and I mainly wear plain - so something we are not used to 2. I have been trying to loose weight and am so far at 9kg loss BUT I still find myself looking at clothes thinking I am too big to fit the. This would have been a perfect fit if I was my 9kg heavier. So I might wear it for a while and then pass it on. But I will keep experimenting!!!

I link to these places.  

Yummmm - Homemade Hokey Pokey Icecream

Yesterday being the last day of the school holidays we did a bit of baking. I decided to make some Hokey Pokey (honeycomb) using the Edmonds recipe. It turned out really well but I obviously did not get it to a set enough point first so it was soft for a long long time.

Hmm - best use - add it to icecream. So today I made some of my icecream (see the 5 minute recipe here) and once it was mixed I added chunks of the Hokey Pokey. Let me tell you it was delicious.

Cheaper than shop bought, less sugar, used our chooks eggs, no additives or preservatives. I thought I had taken a photo of it served up but I forgot.

I link to these places

What is in my Trug today?

A String of garlic I plaited after drying for a few days, butter beans,
french green beans, baby carrots and Jersey Benne potatoes.

I picked all these delicious things from the garden intending to make a Salad Nicoise as I had some fresh salmon. Then Aaron rang to say he was late so the dinner kept the same ingredients but swapped out the salmon for chickpeas and berlotti beans (for me) and sausage for the boys.

The tomatoes were hiding underneath

They became my standby curry. I made a vegetarian version and a meat version so we could have what we wanted.

Standard Curry recipe.
This recipe comes from a lovely Indian lady I worked with in 2008. It was her family's go to curry recipe and she made it for us all on her last day at work.
1 medium onion chopped
2 fresh green chilli (optional and can be substituted with capsicum if you do not like hot)
2 medium tomatoes chopped
1tsp ground tumeric
1tsp ground cumin
1tsp ground coriander
2tsp chilli powder (depending on how hot you like it - I use curry powder instead )
1tsp crushed ginger
1tsp crushed garlic
60nl oil
salt to taste
2 potatoes - cooked and cut up into bit sizes
1 cup peas ( or as much vege as you want to add - I add about 4 cups veges)
500g meat (diced chicken, lamb or beef) or beans as you choose

Put oil in large pot followed by oinions and chilli/ capsicum on medium heat. Stir occasionally - do not brown the onions just sweat them. Add ginger, ginger and all the ground spices.Leave to cook for about a minute and then add the tomato. Stir well and add the meat (or beans) - raise the heat. Once meat is cooked add the potatoes and any vegetables. Add a cup of vege stock or the water from cooking the potatoes and allow all to simmer until cooked and ready. Serve on rice.

Tip - I buy chick peas in bulk and cook them all at once in a huge pot. Then I put them into meal sizes zip lock bags and freeze. Anytime I want them I can just pull them out of the freezer. 6 meals cost me $5 versus one tin of cooked chick peas at $2.89 per tin!

I link to these places

Another thing crossed off my list

Now all covered 

Little boy material - gone.

Well it has been over two years since I redecorated Eli's bedroom and I have finally recovered the squab on his side table. He chose the fabric a long time ago as it is NZ themed and looks like the All Blacks material. He decided on a red piping. I used the zip from the previous squab cover.

So he has finally purged all the little boy stuff from his bedroom.

I link to these places

Craft completions while camping

Over the Summer while we have been away I have been getting on with either finishing or starting various hand work projects.

I finished all the stitching blocks that I am going to do for a quilt that displays some of the kids Bible memory verses from school from last year. Yay, now onto the patchwork to put it all together. 

I started an applique using Asian woven fabrics  - eventually it will be the front of a  messenger style bag for me. 

I finished the hand piecing of these stretched look hexagons that I showed you when I started - here. I made a block big enough to make a new wallet and another little block to hold all my loyalty cards.

As you can see I am currently enjoying using my collection of Asian woven fabrics. So different to the normal American quilting cottons and such gorgeous textures.

I really enjoyed the hand stitching. Lately I have found myself reverting back to hand stitching things. I guess as the kids become older it is easier to do work by hand. 

I link to these places - I will be definitely linking this up to Finish it up Friday and WIP Wednesday.