Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Much Happier!


I started stitching my design for my pincushion belt (as mentioned in previous post) on Saturday, but I wasn't at all happy with my thread colours and unpicked so many times...and thought the best thing to do was to just put it aside. As I had planned to visit Mum today, I decided to take it with me, so pleased I did as my sister also came and suggested that I stich a contrast colour next to the already stitched yellow centre. It makes the centres stand out so much more now and I am so much happier with it! The colours arn't quite true in this pic, the threads have came out a bit darker than they actually are.



Still lots more stitching to do on this one as it's nearly 15 inches long! I did have a couple of pictures but I have learnt that if you press the delete button one too many times, you will delete photos! lol!

I hope you are all enjoying your week!

Lisa
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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Pincushion....

I have been making a little pincushion today...a practice one as I have a stitchery design drawn to go around the outside. And my problem now is that I have another idea to use the stitchery as a belt to wrap around the pincushion and tie it together in place with ribbons. (does this make sense?) Maybe I'm going to have to do them both and see which one looks the best!



One of my crochet motifs on top that I made some time back. I must make some more as they are handy to add to pincushions and for scrapbooking.

I hope you are all having a great week!

Lisa





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Sunday, May 22, 2011

Sticky Cinnamon Rolls

I purchased a new bread machine on Friday and have been busy trying a few recipes. Yesterdays bread was so nice, but todays Cinnamon Rolls were delicious!
I have had a few bread machines over the years and tried a few different recipes and would have to say this is the most successful.












My new machine is a Breville, but I am sure it could be made in any machine, so here's the recipe if you would like to give it a try...


285ml Water, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 1/2 teaspoons sugar, 4 cups bread flour, 2 eggs, 60g softened and chopped Butter and
3 teaspoons Tandaco yeast............Place all these ingredients in bread machine (in this order) on dough setting


Filling......2 tablespoons melted Butter, 4 Tablespoons Brown sugar, 1/2 cup pecans finely chopped (I used walnuts)
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon


Handshaping procedure....
1. Roll dough into a 40cm x 40cm square. Brush dough with half the melted butter. Sprinkle with combined sugar, pecans and cinnamon.

2. Drizzle remaining butter over sugar mixture . Roll up width-wise and cut into 2cm thick slices.

3. Place 5cm apart, on a lightly greased baking tray. Cover loosely with lightly greased plastic wrap and stand in a warm area for 20 minutes or until doubled in size. Remove plastic wrap.

4. Bake in a pre heated oven at 180 C for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with Gelatine glaze whilst still hot, then drizzle with vanilla glaze.

Gelatine Glaze..... 3 Tablespoons water, 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, 3 teaspoons gelatine,
Place ingredients into small saucepan, stir over low heat until sugar and gelatine dissolves.

Vanilla glaze....... 1/2 cup icing sugar sifted, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence, 2 tablespoons milk

I hope you enjoy this recipe too!

Lisa
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Saturday, May 21, 2011

Photo Playing



I am not the most computer confident person, but I believe the best thing to do is just have a play....and thats what I have been doing this arvo and discovered this pretty daisy frame. Looking forward to playing some more when I have a bit more time

Now it's time to organize the Tea

Enjoy your weekend!

Lisa


Edit...photo editing done in picnik


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Thursday, May 19, 2011

In The Kitchen

As the weekend is nearly here, I like to prepare meals later in the week that I can also have for the weekend...making more time for sewing!
A chook in the slow cooker, for some chicken and mayo sandwiches. I like to add a sprinkle of McCormick Season-All to my chicken and mayo sangers...also a good sprinkle of Season all to the chicken when cooking


I always put egg rings on the bottom of my slow cooker when cooking meats...allows the fat to drain


I have been wanting to share this recipe for Curry Chicken for some time as it's so easy and so yum! But the challenge has been to get a good pic of it! It's still not a great pic, but take my word for it...it's delish!

Cook Chicken and cut up...(I use a couple of fillets) Place in bottom of casserole dish
Combine 1 can Cream of chicken soup with 1 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon curry powder and 1 diced onion.
Pour this mixture over cooked chicken and sprinkle with grated cheese and paprika.
(you can also add florets Broccoli if you like)
Cook for 1 hour in moderate oven


I usually double the recipe and any leftovers I make into pies in my pie maker. The kids love them!

Bye For Now

Lisa
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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

A few things...

Not a great start to the day with the school phoning to say that master 12 has had a little accident at recess time and needs stitches above his eye! He was so very brave though, and ended up having 4 stitches and the afternoon off school...which I think he was pretty pleased about!!


This is what I made on Sunday, to complete my computer set...a pouch for a note pad

This little owl was keeping me awake last night...my mind was busy designing when I should have been sleeping! I hope to share more on my owl later in the week or weekend if all goes to plan!

The colour of Autum leaves...just so beautiful! This is the Weeping Cherry outside my sewing room window.

I hope you have all had a great start to the week!

Lisa
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Saturday, May 14, 2011

Laptop Set!

The temperature has really dropped here this week, with an average daytime temperature of about 12 degrees! But making it great sewing weather.
I have been thinking about making a bag for my new laptop for a little while now, but as I already have a few bagsI could use, decided to just make a protective pouch.

just kept it nice and simple

A jar cover to hold all my pens and pencils.

A little purse for my usb modem

And a mouse pad



I hope where ever you are that you are keeping warm and finding some sewing time too!

Lisa
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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Good Mail!

I couldn't wait until Christmas to hang my new wallhanging, and it just fits perfectly under my mannequin shelf in the sewing room.


I have received lots of gorgeous things in the post this week....

My mothers Day gift from the kids(thanks Hubby!).....a bundle of yummy 'Where The Wind Blows' fabric purchased from Perri
Stitches From The Bush online store.

Another box today...some more lovely bright fabrics to add to my stash
And some gorgeous books...pics not very clear as I have them still in their plastic bags. Any books that you would like to see any 'inside the pages' pics just let me know. I am looking forward to curling up on the couch in my thermal P/J's tonight with my new books. (yes is VERY cold here)

Now its time to organize some Tea!

Lisa
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Sunday, May 8, 2011

Tis The Season Wallhanging

Back again today to show you my finished project as promised...a Wall Hanging from Nat Bird Tis The season book.

such cute stitcheries!





and some newly purchased fabric from our local craft shop...can you tell my favourite colours are now blue and red! lol!

I hope you have all had a lovely Mothers Day!

Lisa
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Saturday, May 7, 2011

Big Week!

Firstly can I say a big thankyou to everyone who left a comment on my previous post... I feel very lucky to have so many lovely blogging friends!!

Lots to celebrate this week, yesterday was mine and hubbies wedding anniversary and hubbies birthday, we did go out last night (no kids) something we don't do very often and had a beautiful meal. No fancy restaurant, just went up the road on the Lake Leake highway (1/2 hours drive) to a place called Lake Leake chalet. I did take my camera incase we saw a deer, but it was too dark to see...plenty of wildlife on the road though, and I saw my first spotted Quoll!


Unsure of the name of this one, but the pink berry has opened up to reveal a very pretty coloured red berry centre inside!




So hard to know what to make mum for mothers day, I have already made her quilts, bags, tablerunners and pot holders, so this year I have made her one of my jar covers (in mums colours) and a quilted coaster.




At the start of the week I finished 2 more Tis the Season blocks for May...so I am early this month!




I have also completed 3 more stitcheries to make a project from the book



love this stitchery




And this one is pretty cute too! The thread looks a bit different in some of the pics, but the same colour blue has been used in all three!

As tomorrow is Mothers Day, I get a day out in the sewing room and hope to make up my Tis The Season project...my mothers day pressie!

I will be back tomorrow for show you my finished project! Off to make another apple Crumble for desert tonight!

Lisa


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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

I have A Secret....


A Secret Garden....in this months issue of Homespun magazine Vol 12 no. 5 (Go Green Issue)!! Quite excited to receive my Homespun today, so I can now share with you my project in Homespun
A set of Jar Covers!!! I took these pics before I sent them off to Homespun...one set in greens

And another colour combination in pinks/blue.

I haven't taken any photos from inside the pages of Homespun, but I really loved how they were photographed!

My little secret now revealed! Lol!

I hope you enjoy the rest of your week, think I might be doing a bit of celebrating tonight!

Lisa
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Sunday, May 1, 2011

A bit of cooking and new toy!

All our apples had to be picked as the parrots were having a field day. I did promise hubby apple crumble a few weeks back, and like a little kid...he hadn't forgotten! So after his hint today...
here's his huge bowl of apple crumble! I don't usually eat desert, but I tried some and it was yummy! Hubby has put his order in for next Saturday night, good thing it's so easy to make!


I now have my new toy...no need for me to come out of the sewing room at all now! lol!

Bye for Now

Lisa
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