Upcycling a 45

My friend Eilleen and I very much enjoyed the Handmade market a few weekends ago here in Canberra. One clever possum was selling scrapbooks, journals, notebooks and photo albums made from old books. We were rather taken with these.

Eilleen bought several old records at the YMCA garage sale, and has done a great upcycle of these. One is blogged over here. I love the one she generously made for me -

It fits perfectly into my current handbag, with a pen snugly in the spine. I have my list of things to do on the page and my shopping lists, receipts, etc in the pockets. Thanks E - I have a pile of books ready to try my own!



The original EP is still in the back, which is a bonus if I can get hold of a record player! Master 6 wonders how to put it into the CD player.......


Our books ready for modifying! Where's that Stanley knife??

xx

Shrove Tuesday

Photo courtesy of bbcfood.

Ricotta and Fig Pancakes:

Ingredients

• 250g ricotta
• 2 tablespoons caster sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 20g butter, melted
• fig jam and whipped cream for serving

Method

1. Whisk the ricotta, sugar and egg together in a bowl. Stir in the milk, then the flour until well combined. Pour batter into a jug.
2. Brush a non-stick frying pan with some melted butter over a medium heat. While tilting the pan, pour in enough batter to coat the bottom. Cook until bubbles appear on surface, about 2 minutes, then flip over using a metal spatula and cook until golden. Stack pancakes and keep warm. Wipe the pan with paper towel and cook remaining batter.
3. Serve the pancakes warm with fig jam and whipped cream.
4. *Note: Because these pancakes are made with self-raising flour, there's no need to let the batter stand before cooking. That would cause the raising agent to fizz out, making the pancakes heavier. A plain flour batter needs to stand for about 30 minutes.

What is Shrove Tuesday? Traditionally it heralds the beginning of fasting for Lent. In my house though, it means we eat pancakes in any form, in great quantity, every meal. Enjoy!

xx

Fruits of our labour

Breakfast. Best meal of the day. Peaches from a local tree poached in cinnamon and vanilla bean, peeled and stoned, with home-made Greek yoghurt and sprinked with nuts. Delicious.



Tomorrow will be rockmelon (cantaloupe if you live south of the Murray), grown by Mr BB. They are not large, but they smell amazing!

Eat more Fruit!

xx

"Where do you go to my darling, when you're alone in your head?"

It's been a while since I posted. I've felt like I haven't much to say, and also have been overwhelmed by the Victorian Bushfires.

Thank you so much for the comments and encouragement after my last post. Leaving was easy, knowing what to do in the meantime has been the hardest. I have committed to doing things that make me happy. Drinking tea, walking, swimming, being with friends, knitting, cooking, reading, op-shop browsing.

I have been blessed by the Op-Shop fairies over the past couple of weeks, in a Big Way. Vintage, fully operational Fisher Price (mine not in the box) from '60s/70s:

This plays a gorgeous tune, 'In the good old summertime'. I love it. As I walked around the market I found it at, I kept winding it up to listen to the tune. The ferris wheel turns as the music plays. It makes me smile, so it's a keeper!

Today though I hit pay-dirt. In a big way. Trash and Treasure market near home, sitting on a tarp, I found this. Something I have coveted since childhood. Ready? You may have to sit down. Look!!

Again, it makes me smile. Grin. Grimace. Giggle. What I love the most though is Miss 2 playing so gleefully with it.


All the furniture and people are there, as well as the dog house! The lift works, and the closing meachanism works perfectly. Miss 2 carries the dog house around as it sits so neatly in her hands.


Now apart from a Holly Hobbie sewing machine, the only other item I seek with hope and trepidation was also discovered this weekend at a market:


I will be taking my morning coffee from this tomorrow! I had one identical as a child, and fondly remember taking soup to school in it. This one is in pristine condition, and is beautiful. (The bag - also a recent purchase and a new and firm fave - was a Salvos find that The Shopping Sherpa unearthed for me!)

Lots to play with - lots to share - lots to smile at.

xx

Resignation

So today despite the Global Financial Crisis, the impending Recession and my lack of other options, I nonetheless submitted my resignation. I am going to devote time to getting my life in order and getting healthy again. I have been granted an exemption from the two-weeks-notice-needed clause in my contract, so today is my last day! 3 hours and a bit to go!! Sanity here I come!

j

And the winner is.....

Thanks to Random.org and the computer at work, the winner is TLK!

Please contact me to organise getting your parcel to you! Congratulations and thank you for all your support.

xx

Felt like it

Pip is having a felty craft along. I thought I'd share one of our favourite felty toys - little Steiner finger puppets. Lovely craft to do with felt. I love the plait at the back of her head! Miss 2 thinks she is a treasure, so keeps her up on a shelf, only to play with at special times. She's lovely. We call her Daisy. For a great tutorial to make your own Steiner doll, go here!

j

TV is not all bad...

Master 6 and Miss 2 were playing beautifully with TLK's kids and some empty boxes. That is, until a disagrement. Inevitable amongst kids really, but this was one we've not had before.

Master 6 and Master 5 were putting on a TV show for the Misses 2... problem was, should they be the News or the 7:30 Report?! Gotta love the minds of these little lads!

j

Crotchety...

More crocheting here. When I am feeling anxious, it's the best thing ever. This little bag needs a button. It's a bamboo blend and super-soft. Only one question - how do I stop the sides curling? Hmm. I have also been making more washcloths. Turns out they are also great for cleaning the shower! Enjo no more! I have hook-power!


Another thing that helps calm me down is a quick visit to an Op-Shop! Latest finds:

Beaded shoes for Miss 2 for $1! She loves these "Prinpress" shoes! Dress-ups are a hit here.


Buckles for more brooches, and a Tassie teatowel to for Cam to make one of these ;P

The best news is that the Holly Hobbie Mix-Master cover, fits perfectly over the coffee machine! Hooray! Kitschen looks great!


j

Pineapple Sorbet

Lego version of the Big Pineapple, as seen at Brickvention 09 in Melb earlier this month.

Mr BB is well-renowned for his ice-creams and sorbets amongst our family and friends. At the market on the weekend he bought 2 super-ripe pineapples for a song. If you were at Fyshwick you may have seen a super-excited family? We know how good his sorbet is!!

I also thought that for the benefit these ladies, I'd share the recipe and process.

Use as much pineapple as you can blend up to 2.5 cups of fruit pulp.


Be patient, it will blend without the addition of extra liquid. Give it a poke with a utensil to move it about.


In the meantime, mix sugar, water and lime juice to make a sugar syrup. Stir it over the stove on a low heat until the sugar has melted. This needs to be chilled in the fridge.


Mix the two together and freeze as per insructions of your ice-cream machine. Simple, no?



Add it to Mr BB's premium vanilla ice cream for a "Splice" you can't get enough of! YUM. It's worth having a hot day for this. Trust me. You're welcome to come over and sample it, but it will be all gone in a day or so!!

j

Lego hat for Master 6

Master 6 (soon to be Master 7), loves this version we made of the Lego Cap, sighted at Brickvention 09 in Melbourne last month. It took us less than 20 minutes, and is fully interchangeable. The people can be replaced by "mobiles", and despite it fragility, it's quite a hit.

I am thinking it would make a good party craft for the boys later in the month actually...




j

1980s remembered

TLK was a professional photographer in her past life (i.e. pre-kids). Maybe she should start up again? All you Canberrans need a portrait don't you?!

She has a classic collection of photography from the 1980s as she appreciates a good Kodak moment. In the fashion vein, TLK has a set of books which are worth grabbing if you see them at a thrift store/op-shop. Here is the selection that had me grinning! These will be last of the retro fashion photos - I promise. Returning to Craft Blog Status shortly.


Look for these at your local oppy - they are well worth a browse.


Nautical? I think the rope around the neck is a little much, however the sail dress is oh-so-practical!


Wedding again - The sleeves, the bows in hair. You guessed it - 1983!

Unsure why there are bodies on the ground... Nothing flattering about these outfits, nothing at all. Thankfully we all made it through 1985!

j

Victims of fashion or trend setters??

I have been enjoying the comments on the fashion-doyenne post from last week, and have had some lovely links and photos sent my way.

A dear friend has sent through this lovely shot (weddings seem to score well in the "what was I thinking?" stakes - perhaps a message there for any Bridezillas out there...

I love the make up, the hair, the 'cocktail hats', the frills, the lace gloves, and the colour. Excellent example of the genre. Eyes had to be obscured for permission to print - there are reputations to uphold!


Also in the wedding style, circa 1990. These lovelies are related to me, so I can comment that at the time these dresses were superb! Taffeta shot with blue and red and fresh perms too!


Carnation bouquets with some gyp to fill them out. Classic. 'Twas a great wedding too!!

I will draw the Giveaway tomorrow - don't forget to comment here to be in the 300th post and One Year Blogaversary draw.

j