Trying something new....

Well, I really should have been studying but the temptation to sew was too great.  A visit to the fabric shop had resulted in a nice remnant that I paid the princely sum of 1p for! I just thought it would make a great bag and a good friend of mine has got me obsessed somewhat on the bag front.  So late one evening I began trawling the net for a design I liked.  Amy Butler's sweet harmony handbag:

 http://www.sewmamasew.com/store/media/ecom/prodlg/sweetharmonyhandbagtote400.jpg

was my favoured pattern, but at 9.30pm not much chance of going to buy one! I quickly drafted something similar based on the image and a couple of vague measurements that I found on the Amy Butler website.

All day Wednesday and two hours sewing on all the buttons and this is the result (not bad without a pattern and total sewing time of about 4 hrs!!!)

Summer specials

Felt like creating myself a couple of summery things...

A reversible hat and

an upcycled shirt.....

as a new suntop!

Biscotti and Crowdie

Despite it being the warmest sunniest day of the year so far, I find myself virtually chained to the kitchen sink... A lamb roast in progress, I thought I would lighten the mood by making a couple of different things.  Biscotti - I have ALWAYS wanted to make my own and happened upon a recipe by James Martin the other day.  I changed it a little (as I would always do!) and then off I went and the results really are better than ANYTHING I have ever bought:

Then I thought I would have a go at an old favourite of mine - Crowdie.  With the help of an able assistant (my 6 yr old) I set about making it but with Yogurt and Creme Fraiche as opposed to Double Cream.  We did top it off with Double cream though, just for a bit of indulgence!!!

The lamb is nearly cooked and I can enjoy a nice Crowdie, suffice to say, the Biscotti have already been hit hard!

Sanitary Heaven

So, they're finished, tried and tested.  Success enjoyed!  These are enough for two (a friend and I have chosen the naturel route) and really are the ONLY alternative!  (see March Post for the pics of the original patterns and beginnings of the homemade sanitary towels!)

Going all mother Earth

Ok, so I have had a few hairbrain ideas in my time but my latest will undoubtedly turn a few heads. So, here it is...
The reusable sanitary pad.  Yup, that's right, reusable!  Inspired by the likes of
http://www.lunawolf.co.uk
http://manymoonsalternatives.com/make_your_own_pads.php
http://www.downsizer.net/Projects/A_sustainable_home/How_to_make_your_own_washable_menstrual_pads/

I set about having a go myself and these pics give you some idea of my progress! (it is a work-in-progress!)

So, rough paper patterns, Design ideas, final paper patterns and the mountains of fabric from my stash!

There will be more coming soon - looking forward to my latest project!

PERFECT!!!

It seems I have perfected the art of the bagel - hoorah! Thank GOD for bake-o-glide, works every time!!

So now its official - I actually make ALL our bread, all of it! Its just great to think that I don't have to buy any of that commercial rubbish (which btw contains all sorts of nasties) - I don't even know what some of them are:

Wheat Flour,Water ,Rye Flour ,Sugar ,Salt ,Yeast ,Vegetable Oil ,Wheat Gluten , Preservative (Calcium Propionate) ,Malted Barley Flour , Emulsifier (Mono- and Di-Acetyltartaric Esters of Mono- and Di-Glycerides of Fatty Acids) , Flour Treatment Agent (Ascorbic Acid) ,Corn Grits.
So that is what you will find in a standard bagel, compared to mine - Organic flour, water, honey and yeast, is there any contest? No!

Bakewell Tart

Joe has created a veritable masterpiece at school today and frankly he must take after his mother (grandmother/great grandmother) as nothing he cooks seems to go wrong.  In his words he told me that it was 'a series of successful flukes'.  I think not dear boy.  Thing is they don't actually taste his goods and the teacher gave him 8.5 out of 10, now, I am biased I know, but in my book it would've been 11 out of 10.  The pastry was better than my own (not difficult), no actually better than my mother's (hard to beat) and the actually filling bit was just delicious.  Sadly the big gap in the tart has been eaten by myself and Fran, more by me I think.  I am SUCH a sucker for something sweet and this was just DELICIOUS! Well done Joe, you've definitely got more than one of my genes...

Dr Seuss

I wasn't sure what to do for Betsy's Birthday Cake.  She is however a little obsessed with Dr. Seuss so I thought I would do her a book, Dr Seuss, Cat in the Hat and it seemed to go down pretty well!

Happy Birthday to you

A little number I created this morning for Fran - who is 8 today! Where has the time gone?