Grrrr

Just a little gripe that I need to get off my chest...

I LOVE etsy. I have only made a couple of purchases, but yesterday I tried again, and paypal seems to have disinherited me! I am not even getting emails back from them regarding my issues!!

GRRR

OK. Done now. I'm all for direct deposits anyway...

j

For the baby

I went to school with a Most Lovely Gal who introduced me to the delights of Williamstown, and miss her very much now we don't live in Melbourne.

She is about to become Mum for a second time, and I am very thrilled to be making some little lovelies for the baby.

She has always loved kids' books, and so I want to make singlets for the baby based on The Very Hungry Caterpillar. (Click for cool links for kids' craft).

I am working on 'On Tuesday he ate through two pears' in embroidery and with applique. I love it! Maybe every birthday and Christmas I can do the next page in the book in the appropriate size!?

Photos to come when it's finished.

I'm also finishing this quilt for the baby, my first proper attempt at quilting (photo from a previous post). It's just going to be a pram one or a floor quilt as I was using fabrics in the stash:


I have to read some tutorials and discover how to bind it... Maybe I can be Beki when I grow up! Her quilting makes it all seem so easy... And maybe I'll finally use the Clover Bias Tape Maker Curlypops inspired me to buy!!


x

Ethical sewing

It has been a while since I blogged about anything, I am spending less time doing craft, and more time being Mum.

This morning I read a post here that rang my bell (anyone remember Collette/Colleen? 'you can ring my be--ee---ell, you can ring my bell'!)

Sherrin does amazing craft, and I think I want to be focussed like her when I grow up. I love her fabric designs that she is developing and her original designs. I was in the Oprah a-ha trance when I read about her quest to source ethical craft goods and cotton in particular.

I have often referred to the ethical arguments concisely put by Eilleen on her blog, (link to one of her series on Made In China), and am really interested to read that others are having similar experiences.

I am also really interested that I don't know the answer to Sherrin's question.

Do you? Does it interest you? Do you think about these issues? Do you try and source Fair Trade chocolate and coffee? What about other crops?


What do you think?



j

Mum's Sticky Date Pudding for Lois

I am more than happy Lois to provide you with Mum's sticky date pudding recipe. It is delicious. The secret is that mum does hers in an old, lidded, pudding steamer. This steamer has magical powers and produces brilliant results. I have memories of a long-ago jam pudding in this steamer. Mmm. I could each steamed pudding EVERY night.....!

Please note that Australian Metric Measurements vary slightly from USA and UK ones. This article cleverly discusses and summarises this.

"The moist, sticky texture is as important as the taste of this nostalgic pudding. The sauce should be poured over the top when the pudding comes out of the oven so that a little seeps into the cake and forms a glaze on top. Serves 6.

185g dates, pitted and cut into small, even pieces (I use my kitchen scissors to do this)
1 teaspoon bicarb soda
1 cup boiling water
45g butter
3/4 cup caster sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup self raising flour
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Sticky caramel sauce:
3/4 cup brown sugar
45g unsalted butter, cut into tiny pieces
1/2 cup cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence

Grease a cake tin about 16-17cm square or 6 ramekins and preheat oven to 180 degrees.

(Mum cooks hers as a steamed pudding, in a steamer, in a saucepan of boiling water for about 45 minutes, then she turns it out and immediately covers it with 1/3 of the sauce).

Pour the boiling water over the dates and stir in the bicarb soda. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar.

Beat in eggs, one at a time.

Sift the flour over the top and add vanilla and dates, stirring well. The mixture will be quite wet.

Pour into prepared tin and bake for 30 minutes, or until just firm to the touch on top. It is important not to over-cook it.

To make the sauce: put all ingredients into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Simmer very gently for around 3 minutes, then serve over squares or wedges of date pudding with thick cream. The sauce can be reheated.

Yum.

j

Results of Swap/giveaway

I had a few respondents to the swap, and I think there are some of us up for a swap of pre-loved craft and sewing stuff.

I'll put the names together, and be in touch.

I have made a controversial decision though regarding the giveaway. I've kinda rigged it, as a woman in the community runs a craft group for young mums (like 12-20 kind of young) to connect them to others, make them feel like they are productive, and they are socialising, and learning skills, and she needs resources.

I gave her a box full of fabric, threads, books, patterns, etc, in the hope that these will be useful, and then kinda remembered I had said I'd send them to YOU....

Is this OK???!! I can rustle up some more if you are really put out but I kinda thought you'd understand...

:-)

j

Mirabel Softie

Mirabel softie completed and sent (unsure if it arrived), and although it's rather clunky, it's cuddly and soft and not too ugly!! Go to Mikes to see lots and lots of others, or details to do your own contribution. Great cause, thanks for co-ordinating it Pip.

x

Miss 2 turns.... 2!

Miss 2 has finally had the birthday, and turned 2! Master 6 had a pyjama party at school that day, hence he is in his jammies at the park! The cake was a cat (no reason, just that it was do-able).


She loved her vintage wooden puzzles and all the attention. She had Granny visiting for the birthday as well which was super-special!

Happy Birthday Bubba!!

x