strawberry jam...

thanks to

spoon full of sugar
for their great strawberry jam recipe...

fresh strawberries...


mashing up the strawberries...yum...


this is the sugar and strawberry mixture
you let it sit for 10 minutes...


i mixed the hot mixture of jam setta and water
into the strawberries and sugar mixture

then pour it into the (jars)
here is the finished product...
as you can see i could not find a empty jar in the whole
house so takeaway containers it is...

for all the ingredients, measurement etc check out
spoon full of sugars post...
it was so quick and easy
just like they said...
now all i have to do is patiently wait for it to set......

just remember to go to my 100th post
and put a comment as it will be draw very soon...

bag and a mission...

After being very inspired
by the quilt show and all the girls work
i set myself a task of making up a bag
bigger than the others and incorporating yoyo's
i thought the yoyo's a bit tedious at first but soon
got the hang of it...
this could turn into a quilt blog soon
if i keep sewing like this
(ohhhhh no say the girls)
not that!!!!!!

now for my BTW mission
( really don't know what that stands for )

CLOTHES SHOP: ummmmm are there clothes shops where i live
maybe country target if i'm lucky...
FURNITURE SHOP: now were pushing it....
but i would love to go to ikea.
SWEET: yes i am....thanks for asking.
CITY: i so want to go to Paris...
DRINK: easy Tia and milk...
Music: really not fussed
i have constant noise around me...
TV SERIES: Gilmore girls...sex in the city...
FILM: love actually...
and a stack of mostly girly soppy or funny flicks
WORKOUT: now really who needs to workout...
i own a small dog just so i don't have to walk it...
PASTRIES: yum chocolate eclairs....
COFFEE: yuk...prefer a case of coke thanks...

THANKS TO BELLGIRL
AND FLOWER GARDEN FOR GIVING ME
THIS MISSION...
check out there great sites...

P.S LEAVE A COMMENT
on my 100th post to be in the running
for a great prize...

Quilt Show...

I took the royal sisters out to the quilt show and
even though the numbers were down on what were
hoped for it was wonderful to see the hall
with all the beautiful quilts hanging around...
Sharon did a more than amazing job at organizing the event...
and spent every second of the day making sure it was
looking lovely for all to see...
the winners on the day donated there prize money back to
the breast cancer organization which was truly thoughtful...

these are mine that i put in the small item section...
even though i did not win the 2 girls will be on sale at the
community centre and money going to the fundraiser...

Sharon won the open section with this amazing quilt
that has little yoyos on it and is the prettiest thing i have seen
in ages...
visit her new blog here...

and this lovely quilt...

it has got me to think i really need to finish mine...
don't forget the giveaway is still up and running
leave a comment on the post below to be in the draw...

100th post...

Well i feel almost a bit star treky
with this
Michelle's log... post 100...in a galaxy far, far, away...
or maybe not....
well it has been a bit between posts as i have
had a fair bit of work to get through...
one thing i really wanted to finish to put up
was this pizza carry bag...
as the story goes...
there is a very sweet old man that comes
to our business most nights
for the usual chat and social get together with his mates
and every sunday he gets me to make up a pizza
and he takes it home for him and his wife's dinner
it is rather sweet and he has always brought down
a very old and rather worn out "library bag"
to take his pizza home with him...

one night he had forgotten to bring down the "bag"
and it got me think i really need to stop and think
about other people and how spending a
bit of time and make something for someone else can
just make someone feel "thought of"

so here it is, the pizza carrier
complete with funky cowboy material
and handles positioned to insure that the pizza
sits flat for the walk home...

Now on
another
subject,
giveaway
time
i'm
not going to forget my fellow bloggers
and if you leave a comment and maybe even tell me of a "little joy"
you brought to someones day by making
or doing something for someone else...
it doesn't have to be earth shattering
just something sweet, i will put
you in my 100 giveaway to receive
this sweet babushka with the pretty blue eyes...


have a great weekend and i will post some pics after the
quilt show this weekend...

Cute and cuter...

WOW! what a productive week I'm having...
can't believe that the more
stress and work i have seems
to be when i make the most amazing "girls"...
I thought i would get a bit arty with the photos
i really need to organize a decent backdrop...

will be spending a bit of time this week
getting ready for the quilt show in October
I'm going to take the "girls" there and
hopefully they will find lovely homes
to go to...and lots of hugs...

this time of year is always busy.

the warm weather means more people out and about...
more meals to cook more drinks to serve...
hoping the sun stays around for a bit longer
and yes i think i don't need any more stress
i think if i tried really hard i can manage
to make a few more dolls without it...
honest...

Wedding Cake Anyone...

I you are after a more than imaginative wedding cake/party cake

your in luck...

our sister is now back in Australia
and baking her heart out.
with already a successful market stall and many
wedding expos organized
she is on a roll...
you can find her blog here "sugarrushconfections"
you may remember her from the turtle cake we blogged about before...
i still think it looked like she went
to the local zoo and nicked one...it's amazing.

This Month

I'm following a bit of a theme here and

thought i would include three things i
LOVE this monthabove is a pic from lino forest
i love all the wonderful creations Betty Jo makes
and the reason i wanted to post this mosaic
was the beautiful set of "flying ducks"
i so love them and this is on my Christmas list...
its amazing how she transforms this material into
pieces of art that are decorative and even
wearable like her brooches
check out her great blog here "lino forest"

above and below are my blackapple
prints that i now own
the "waiting room" print i was lucky enough
to buy on Emily's sale and cost me next to nothing
i have my eye on the next one i want
and then the wall will be complete...
Emily sells her prints here "theblackapple etsy"

Belinda has two as well
and i think we are both a bit obsessed.
and number three is SPRING
its about time it arrivednow I've noticed that everyone lawn needs a mow...

Vintage Material...

today i decided i have been
getting of the beaten track a bit.
and thought i should sit down and at least
paint a couple of faces...
well of course once the face is done
i can't leave it for another day,
just waiting patiently for me.
no, it says, finish me...
so after looking at my very low material pile.
i spotted this fabric...
now of course i have know it was always there but...
this material was my grandmothers and is very "special"
and after a bit of convincing my self that the wee girls
don't use up much, i carefully arranged
the pattern as to not use to much.
it is after all original 50's fabric...
and feels so soft.
her legs are made out of felt!
i really like the way it worked..
this "royal sister" will not be for sale as you can imagine
but i thought i would share her with you.

Little drawing.

I'm slightly obsessed with these little drawings
at the moment.
As you may have noticed by the new header.
My material stash is dangerously low and in need
of re-stocking.
My closest "big" material shop is 2 hours
away and work and kids and well
everything
don't allow a shopping trip in the equation.
So at the moment i have to be content!

Also for trivia sake. Three thing about me.
1. If i eat chocolate before i go to bed i have nightmares.
2.I eat about 1/2 a bag of raw mushrooms a day.
3.And for the amount of coca-cola i drink per day i should own the company by now.
yes, yes i know you all really wanted to know that.
see yah soon...

Three Ducks

This poem is about my nanna
these flying ducks were hers
and now they are mine.
i think that sometimes i feel like her
now "the oldest and dearest"
has flown the nest.
but yet in nearly every way we are nothing alike
(not something i will go into)
she had three sons
and i think the poem
is getting back to that whole feeling...
Well read into it what you will
but hopefully you will feel something...

Three Ducks

The tellies on
but talks to itself.
She says to herself and stares.

The lino’s become
old and worn,
She scrubs it still
thou no-one’s home.
The washings hung,
in neat little rows.
Mend the holes, scrub the toes.
She says to herself and stares.

The Dahlia’s are pretty
this time of year.
Thorns and prickles
in her hands.
Grass as high as her knee.
It’s going to be hot
this summer she says.
She says to herself and stares.

Dinners cooked
and going cold.
Remembering things, apron strings.
The kids will be home,
maybe next week.
A cup of tea,
and a biscuit for me.
She smiles and stares.

By Michelle…

op shop bargains

went to the op shop today
and scored big time
got a Colorado skirt and a
blouse with a little ruffle front which
i think is a Myer brand.
and a very cute jumper that is a yarra trail
i can't believe it only cost $5 to fill a bag
(there on the right day of course) so to add i got
a nice grey waist length jacket.
i know a darling shot
but the best i could do with the timer on,
and putting it on the tank stand to get a pic.

over the range...

I had to venture "over the range"
today which was quiet funny when
I found this fabric in a very small (back in time)
craft shop.
they were having 50% off so that's why I bought it.
I have no idea what I would use something
this intense for, but it had the kitsch value.
giddy up cowboy...

Kate and Samuel.

Voyage Told.

Kate loves Samuel,
Samuel loves Kate.
They sailed across the ocean,
to escape their mistakes.
Kate stole some bread,
Samuel stole a cow.
While living by the crown,
was hard to be around.

They both made their trade,
in a life now paid.
By the tears that were spilled,
their life simple yet fulfilled.
Children played, music serenade.
Hand in hand now they lay,
side by side each day.
They are now as one in dust,
Looking over their legacy we entrust.

Many renditions are told,
by generations that hold,
this couple as a keepsake of the past.
When you struggle through,
Love is always true.
An unassuming tale of the heart.

By Michelle…

this poem came about as little miss named my latest
doll "kiss me Kate" because she said the cross
on the mouth was a kiss...
it made me think about my ancestors "Kate and Samuel"
who came out together on the 3rd fleet.
and next minute i knew i was putting
this poem together in my head.
now I'm by no means a poetry buff.
I'm sure that anyone with any writing background
might cringe but i like coming up with these little poems,
and it keeps me happy.
so that's just how it is...

through necessity.

Yes I've been at it again
another bag...only through necessity thou
really..?
mum spotted my last bag today and as a result
she wanted one just like it.
of course when i got home i realized that i didn't
have any burgundy paisley print left.
so to the material stash i went..
boy i seems to have a mess there.
and after much sorting i found this combo.
much to my surprise i quiet like it and i somehow made the strap
a bit longer which suits me fine..
so I'm very much hoping that mum still really likes
the last one and i get to keep this one instead...
but of course i couldn't stop there
i have drawn a few pics of another doll
and last night i managed to sit down and try
and make one up that resemble my drawings.
yes she is faceless at the moment
as I'm trying to decide what to do.
and I'm really undecided which way to go.
as per usual the picture doesn't do her justice,
there are some nice double seams around her head
and around her coat that look every classy and
the colour is a lot softer in real life
but you get the idea anyway.

oh well knowing me she could be totally different by next time
or maybe the same?
edit....thought i would add a last minute sketch
that i had of the doll .i don't scan well (if you know what i mean)
but you can get the general idea.
sometimes i really wish i got past year 8 art..
i think i missed so much.
one day I'll have time and go to some classes and work out
how to make sometimg out of my ideas...

from basket to bag.

While it has been very wet and raining
for our last day of winter.
i decided to have another go at the basket pattern
and turn it into a shoulder bag.
it was so much easier to do the second time around
and i can think of lots of nice bags for summer
in the making.

i did each side slightly different
and a nice long handle to cross over my shoulder
so it doesn't slip off every time i lean over.
it has rained here so much in the past 24 hours that the creek
only 500 metres or so for our place, is already over the 2 metre mark.
unfortunately it is pitch black outside at the moment
so i though i would post a pic of last time it was that high so you can get a idea.
there is a road that runs parallel to the bridge and is about 2 and a bit metres
below the bottom of this bridge somewhere......

it's so amazing that by tomorrow it will have already reseeded
by more than half...and will be heading down stream...

favorite plate.

this is one of my favorite plates

it's by J & G Meakin
and it's from the sunshine series
and called "lost horizon"
i really know nothing about it
so if anyone does could you leave me a comment
that would be great...
the detail is magnificent and I'm thinking it
was a war time series thing as there is the plane at the top
of the plate and the man in the picture looks
like he has a uniform on.
i think they would have been made
for displaying not using as square plates
would have not be that "in" back then.
that's not to say i haven't seen a lot,
because i have seen some really nice square ones but i really
don't recall my grandmother using square plates on a daily bases.

tonight i still have our fire going
and it is rather nippy to say the least.
if spring is in 3 days time i think it's having a memory
laps or something.

comfort food?

This is tonight's dinner
fryed veggies on toast...
now I'm not a vegetarian but over the past 6 years
or so since I've ran our restaurant
i have a great appreciation for the good old veg...
i par cook mine in the microwave first
in freezer bags (speeds up the time)
but do remember to pierce holes in the bags!!!
it only takes about 3-5 mins depending on the size and type etc
i heat up some olive oil in a fry pan
toss in some wedges of onion then the par cooked veggies
add some chopped fresh mint and when almost ready
splash in some balsamic vinegar
serve on toast with feta cheese and more mint on top
done...
this only takes about 10 - 15 mins from start to finish
now the reason i question why it's comfort food is that the strange
thing is i do tend not to eat when i have a lot happening
or "stressing me" at the time...
my oldest and dearest has flown the coup so to speak
(well he is 19 after all)
but of course like all sudden move outs it was due to a tiff, initially...
of course i drove down today and delivered the first of what will
be many a "mummy" care package, you know the usual
more towels, clothes, kitchen utensils,
and the stop off at the supermarket
bread, milk, noodles, chicken tonight,
flour, sugar, something to cook for dinner
for the next few days.......
I'm sure it was cheaper to have him at home!!!

plus this is one of many things happening in my life at the moment
not all of which are sad
some really exciting thing are happening as well.

but i think any mum's out there who have sons
realize that when they leave home something different happens
and that is because you feel that someone else
(namely a girlfriend or special life partner - can't discriminate)
will now replace you and when you have daughters
they seem to stay around, ask advise, show you what their doing etc.
(i suppose not always thou) but in most cases!!!

I'm not ready to be replaced
and as much as i know my son loves me lots
and cares about me even more
he is now growing into a man...
and one minute I'm so proud and the next i want to cry...
(i don't know i think I'm prattling now)

anyway its something i needed to just say...
thanks for listening it means a lot.

stirfry

made up a stir fry last night
and haven't got a after shot as it went that quick
here's how i do mine

fry up some chicken (or beef)
in a little olive oil until brown then
chuck in some veggies
(capsicum, Spanish onion,broccoli, zucchini, etc)
fry up a bit more but not till its mushie
pour in some oyster sauce, soy sauce and honey
now how much you put in is a bit rough as i will test as i go
but as a gauge
2-3 tablespoons oyster sauce, 3-4 teaspoons soy sauce
and about 1-2 tablespoons of honey
at the same time cook up your udon noodles
and drain and throw them in at the last minute

hakubaku are the ultimate
and only take 8 mins in hot water
they taste very real...
i bought mine at woolworthsso happy cooking...

muffins

what to do on a freezing cold day?
crank up the oven and cook a batch of muffins
i found this recipe on nigella

chocolate chip muffins
2 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon bi-carb soda
2 tablespoons quality cocoa
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup choc chips
put into bowl mix up
250mls milk 90 ml veg oil
1 egg
1 tspn vanilla essence
whisk up and pour into dry ingredients
mix both together
bake at 180 degrees for about 20 mins
makes 12

little miss prefers to lick the bowl...yum.
the finished muffins...
didn't last long though!

basket

i made this little basket after finding it on
spoon full of sugar

i then went to their link and found the tutorial
on pink penguin
it was very easy to follow
and the only thing i would change for my next one
would be to shorten the handles
and use something lighter to pad it.
i used cotton batting which while beautiful to touch
it did made it quiet thick and hard to sew through all the layers.
so i ended up putting a very funky trim around the top.

photo fun

i found this really fun site
here
and you can easily upload your
pics and place them in their "scenes"
i really like minis as our parents had one when we were young.
totally impractical having 2 kids
and the only mode of transport is a mini
very cozy as you can imagine.

and a billboard with your very own "ad"

check it out its lots of fun ...

Aunty cookie

where to start?

except!!!
I'm so loving these little cuties.
after receiving the fab material from
my new favorite designer
AUNTY COOKIE
i, begin the doll maker i am.
could not help myself but
take her wonderful design and inspiration
and turn it into a little treasure to hold.
of course this will only be for auntycookie and myself
as after all the true design is and will always be hers.this one in red is for auntycookie
as i know from many reads of her blog
that red is a favorite of hers.
she is now in the "safe?" hands of Aussie post

the burgundy is my little treasure
and takes pride of place in the house.
what i mean by this is she tends to get moved
around the house to where ever I'm plonking myself
down.
its always so nice to find original things
and fabric is something that is so mass produced
that sometimes we think its easier to pop into
a shop and grad whatever takes our fancy at the time.
but if we took a bit of time and sourced creative designers out
it turns a good project into something that is not only
treasured by the maker but the designer of it as well.

i love making my dolls but i will admit
that usually i start and they turn out the way they want to.
but as i made these i felt a need to represent the true unique
quality of someone else's creation,
which while tricky made it so much more rewarding.
so grad some fabric that really "makes your day"
and start sewing....

mail

just got some brilliant mail
i ordered these wonderful
things from
aunty cookie
she not only makes these fab screen prints
but she is very witty
and her blog is a must read
she was even in real living mag recently
and also has great flickr pics that you can check out.
and i love this little printed strip

can't think of what to put it
on as i want to put it on everything!!!

all of the little girls are just the cutest ever!!!

she is based in Melbourne and has a store on etsy

and ordering was very easy
and fast.