Well this finish was really down to the last possible moment. Tomorrow I pack and then we have Anna and Mark's wedding on Saturday and then off camping on Sunday. So today i managed to finish the last five Christmas presents. Yes everyone pretty much got the same thing.
All this year when I have been away I have taken my stitching and stitched the names. Then over the last few weeks I have been sewing them into Zip purses etc. I am now practicing making little boxed zip pouches and love them. Easy to make and they look good finished. I found the tutorial here.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Gorgeous simple raspberry jam
Well inspite of all the Mayhem going on around here, some things just don't stop. The major thing that you cannot halt unless you are God is the garden growing. I have cauliflowers being prolific, strawberries and raspberries almost falling off their plants. And today I think we are going to have to have a good pick of the blackcurrants.
Anyway this week as you know I have had no stove, no washing machine, no kitchen at times while the floor is drying but I had raspberries. Now this could have all been a step too far, I fluctuated between making jam and putting the raspberries in the freezer. So I decided to make it- at least it would not be a job I had to do later.
I boiled water and put all the jars and lids into the boiling water to sterilise them. Normally I would just put them all in the oven. Then I used my camp stove to make the jam. I used my recipe (and have realised that I have not blogged it before.) It is all bottled, finished and washed up only 20 minutes later, so I was really pleased that I did it.
Anyway this week as you know I have had no stove, no washing machine, no kitchen at times while the floor is drying but I had raspberries. Now this could have all been a step too far, I fluctuated between making jam and putting the raspberries in the freezer. So I decided to make it- at least it would not be a job I had to do later.
put bottles in boiling water to sterilise |
Weigh your raspberries |
I boiled water and put all the jars and lids into the boiling water to sterilise them. Normally I would just put them all in the oven. Then I used my camp stove to make the jam. I used my recipe (and have realised that I have not blogged it before.) It is all bottled, finished and washed up only 20 minutes later, so I was really pleased that I did it.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Learn to use fondant icing - at the Make Cafe
Kirsty pouring cold drinks |
Everyone arriving and exclaiming |
The plain cupcakes to start with |
More of what I finished |
On Wednesday night I went to a fondant icing course - or cupcake icing course - at The Make Cafe. I had a lovely time along with 6 other women. I learnt alot. It was fun and look at how much we did in just the two hour session.
Not only did I learn a new thing but it was a real treat. Kirsty at The Make Cafe, puts incredible effort into her events with the aim to make you see it as a special time. All beautifully decorated and laid out but also lovely teas, coffee and something to nibble.
My boys were really impressed and took them to school in their lunch boxes.
the best ones |
Two boy washing machine
feet doing the washing |
great concentration |
My mother was amazing and helped heaps |
Anyway - what I realised on Thursday was that if I painted behind everything - the oven, the fridge, the washingmachine, the computer desk, the china cabinet while they were out now then we would not need to move them again when we finally could paint the room as a whole. Inspite of this being an excellent plan I do feel rather overdone and that I have just added yet another thing in to the juggle going on. So I am working on the puttying holes, sanding etc and even though I am a bit stressed I know that it will relieve a lot of stress later.
The twins!!! |
At the airport I parked beside another Will VI |
I link up to these places
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The need to blog
I have the most amazing photos to show you of the internet station Aaron has set up for me while he goes for a run. I have no floor, no table, no chair and almost no PC. (the motherboards BIOS chip is stuffed!!) Clever husband working on it like crazy.
But for some reason I cannot download my photos to show you the extreme lengths I go to for Blogging. Sigh. No craft has been done as the house has been moved out to do the floors. That along with a aunt's funeral on Friday and my Mother coming to stay, mix in a bit of work and it looks like as much as I may think about it a lot, blogging is on the back burner for a couple of weeks.
Will update the pictures when I can as you have to see it to believe it!!
But for some reason I cannot download my photos to show you the extreme lengths I go to for Blogging. Sigh. No craft has been done as the house has been moved out to do the floors. That along with a aunt's funeral on Friday and my Mother coming to stay, mix in a bit of work and it looks like as much as I may think about it a lot, blogging is on the back burner for a couple of weeks.
Will update the pictures when I can as you have to see it to believe it!!
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Hi Visibility Bridesmaid Dress
the gorgeous safety bridesmaid!!! (love the matching hat) |
Another title could be - make a bridesmaids dress from 2 T-shirts and a Hi Viz vest.
I overlocked most of the seams so it is really rough. All the neck and other edges were left raw as T-shirting does not really fray.
I turned up to the work do in the new Longsilver uniform and got a great reception. I told them all that it was a trial run for the wedding in two weeks time. (Anna and Mark run Longsilver Construction Ltd). Anna was not amused that I would wear it to the wedding - told me I would not be let out of the kitchen. But I AM going to wear it (well while we set up anyway).
Cutting it all up |
The begining - two t-shirts and a Hi Viz vest |
The two vests for my nephews |
I also join other link ups here
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
How to get a mess look nice
I am a bit slow blogging at the moment because our house is a big fat MESS. All the boys stuff is in the garage as we put new carpet in their rooms and I have to sort through their junk precious things before bringing them back into the house into new bookcases. It is taking a while as I am painting some of the bookcases.
The lounge has no carpet (until 20th Dec), The dining area is being packed ready to get wood put on the floor - ditto the kitchen and laundry. I will have no stove for 8 days up to Xmas so no baking etc for camping and Christmas.
Last night I took photos to show the mess and why I am not blogging. Today I decided that we could make a mess look good. So it is in the small things that are lovely that I can take pleasure and just ignore the rest.
The lounge has no carpet (until 20th Dec), The dining area is being packed ready to get wood put on the floor - ditto the kitchen and laundry. I will have no stove for 8 days up to Xmas so no baking etc for camping and Christmas.
Last night I took photos to show the mess and why I am not blogging. Today I decided that we could make a mess look good. So it is in the small things that are lovely that I can take pleasure and just ignore the rest.
Aaron looked like this (just how I feel) |
The dining room looks like this |
The lounge looks like this |
Our bedroom looks like this |
The dog has had enough and looks like this |
Jakobs room looks like this |
The lounge can be made pretty with these |
The bedroom smells gorgeous with these |
The kitchen looks awesome with this just picke |
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