applique attack

How to revitalise hand-me-downs?

APPLIQUE!!

Bye bye butterflies!

Later, love hearts.







I went a little crazy with this idea (I have only shown a few of those completed) but how could I resist such a quick-fix sewing project?

flying turtles

I spent a couple of evenings this week preparing a custom order for a new baby living in Hong Kong. The specs were for a dress that was fairly plain on the outside but with an animal theme.

Voila! Green cotton dress with turtle lining, trim and buttons.

[Yes! I do custom orders! If you like my style but don't see anything suiting your needs on etsy, please contact me! :-) ]

vegan gingerbread men recipe

These gingerbread men are a veganised, easier-fied version of the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Unit recipe. I made them for a playgroup Christmas party and they were very popular with the kids but unfortunately the dog liked them too, and the kids hadn't learned how to defend themselves yet. Ah well.

Ingredients
1/2 cup soy or non-dairy margarine
2 Tablespoons golden syrup
3/4 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon powdered egg replacer
100g soy or rice milk
315g SR flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground ginger
decorations (eg currants, glace cherries, candied peel, sprinkles, icing, whatever!)

Method
1. Preheat oven to 150 degrees C
2. Melt margarine and golden syrup in mixing bowl in microwave
3. Add sugar and soy milk.
4. Add sifted flour, salt, ginger and egg replacer. Mix well.
5. Knead lightly and roll out to 1cm thickness on a floured board.
6. Use cutter to shape and place on a greased tray.
7. Decorate with fruit.
8. Bake 15-20 minutes
9. When cool, add icing if desired.

pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?

After taking five weeks off in the middle of semester to go gallivanting around the globe, I was very behind on my Design homework for TAFE. So with the memory of first semester's mad rush to get everything done on time fresh in my mind, I packed up my sewing machine and vowed not to touch it until I was finished.

I also found myself going to bed super-duper early every day, thanks to pregnancy number three. I was keeping it quiet to begin with because after a loss, the easiest way to avoid the anxiety (otherwise known as constant panic attacks!) is to avoid thinking about it. But now here I am at 23 weeks and I still haven't become particularly attached to the new little miss. Olive, on the other hand, seems very excited and is giving my belly lots of kisses and hugs. Sweet.

So, with no crafting to blog about and no time to do it, I have been noticeably absent of late. But with the homework done, the sewing machine back in action, and a (partially) homemade Christmas on the way, I suspect that is about to change.

See you soon!
Leona