Snippets

According to Wikepedia, a Snippet is a small piece of something. Here are a few Snippets from my week....

Crafting

I have been working on a few projects for a magazine. Here is a peak at one of the projects..

Shopping

I couldn't pass up with lovely Kokka print from Hot Possum

Entertaining

I made up a versatile cream cheese and herb filling which was piped onto cucumbers and mini toasts to make two different savouries. 

Quitlting

I have been working on my String Quilt - 32 blocks done, 16 to go!!

School holidays start next week and I have a week off from my day job. Looking forward to sleep in's, family time, and lots of crafting.

Posted by Lisa

A Winning Recipe..

I am a big fan of the Australian Series of Master Chef. Mum and I watch it every night. I was inspired by the Scones they made in Master Class this week so made up a batch for my family (minus the dates!) -perfect for the wet and cold weekend we are having.

We had friends for dinner on Friday night so I decided to whip up a quick dessert after school. I made these caramel tarts.

I used some scrap booking supplies to decorate a little notebook for my handbag. I am now looking forward to the school holidays which start in one week!

Posted by Sarah

Lavender Sachets

Life has been very hectic this week with work, deadlines etc so I haven't had much time for crafting or blogging. As I don't have anything new to show you, I thought I would share another project that I made from Silver.

Scented Sachets

These lavender scented sachets are perfect for the change table or tucked in drawers between baby’s clothing. The simple embroidered pictures, natural fabrics, and buttons, make a pretty accent for the nursery and are a lovely baby shower gift. 

Sachet measures 10 x 13 cm.

Materials:

• Osnaburg or Natural linen
• Printed linen
• Cotton twill tape in natural (12 mm wide)
• Assorted cream Buttons
• Embroidery thread
• Polyester fibrefill
• Dried lavender

Cut a piece of osnaburg and a piece of printed linen that measure 11 x 14 cm. Draw a simple design such as a heart, flower, butterfly onto the osnaburg with an erasable fabric pencil. Embroider the design using a backstitch with two strands of embroidery floss. Attach buttons as desired. Cut a piece of twill tape that measures 9 cm in length. Embroider a running stitch down the centre of the tape. Centre the tape at the top edge of the osnaburg and baste in place. Place the osnaburg and the linen with right sides together, and stitch around the outside, leaving a 5 cm gap for turning on one side. Clip the corners and turn the right side out. Press. Stuff gently with the fibrefill. Add a tablespoon of dried lavender. Hand stitch the opening closed using a slip stitch. 

I have made a very small start on a new quilt this week. I have finally taken the plunge and cut into my Amy Butlet Midwest Modern stash to make a foundation pieced, strippy quilt. I have only made 5 blocks so far so have a way to go but I am loving how it is shaping up!

Posted by Lisa

IKEA Frame - 4 Ways

IKEA is one of my favourite stores - I always manage to find something I can't live without. One of the most versatile items I have bought is the IKEA Ribba Frame. I used some recently for a project for Silver Magazine. I framed some pieces of scrap booking paper, and added a small toy car to a deep frame, to make some nursery art. This would also make a great background for a treasured photo, and can be easily updated as your child grows.

I realised that I have many of these frames in other corners of my home. I have framed some old LP Movie Soundtracks and they hang in the Theatre.

Sarah made a flower picture that hangs in her bedroom.

I have framed vintage patterns in the sewing room.

Kylie has done an amazing job on some framed art this week. Check out the technique she used - this one is on my must do list!

I apologise for the photos in this post - I need to read up on the best way to take photos of glass. Any tips would be most appreciated!

Posted by Lisa

Craft Hope

This week I have been most inspired by a new blog I discovered - Craft Hope. According to Jade, the founder,  "Craft Hope is a faith-based, love inspired project designed to share handmade crafts with those less fortunate. It is our hope to combine our love for crafting and desire to help others into a project to make a difference around the world". Well they certainly make a difference! So far the projects have included: making pillowcase dresses for orphanages in Brazil and Mexico; and making gorgeous handmade dolls for orphanages in Nicaragua. Truly inspirational!!  Crafters from all over the world are getting on board. They will be announcing the next project soon.

I have been working on a few "secret" projects this weekend. More will be revealed soon.

Posted by Lisa

Cookies + Chocolate

I love to bake with chocolate! This is what I have been making this week to take to school.

First up another batch of my Best Ever Choc Chip Cookies. Here is the recipe Janelle as requested!

250g butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup brown sugar
1 cup castor sugar
1 egg
2 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon bicarb soda
1 cup milk choc chips

Preheat oven to 180 deg C. Line baking trays with paper. 
Beat butter, extract, sugar, and egg in a small bowl until light and fluffy.
Stir in sifted flour and soda. Sir in choc chips.
Roll into small balls. Place about 5 cm apart on trays. Bake for approx 12 mins.

Makes 48.

I have also made these M & M Cookies.

250 g butter
1 ¼ cup icing sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups plain flour
½ cup rice flour
1/3 cup cornflour
2 tablespoons milk
2/3 cup mini M &M’s

Beat butter, sifted icing sugar, and extract in a small bowl until light and fluffy. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in sifted flour and then milk. Stir in M & M’s.
Divide mixture in half. Knead each half on a floured surface until smooth. Roll each half into 25 cm logs. Wrap each log in baking paper, refrigerate about 1 hour until firm.
Preheat oven to 160 deg C. Line baking trays with baking paper.
Cut the logs into 1 cm slices. Place about 3 cm apart on trays. Bake approx 20 minutes.

Makes 48.

The recipes are both from this book (although I have adapted the choc chip recipe). I am really looking forward to the weekend. I am going horse riding tomorrow with some friends.

Posted by Sarah

Baby Love

The latest issue of Silver magazine hits the news stands in Perth tomorrow. It features 12 of my quick craft projects for babies.

One of my favourite projects was the Embellished Jeans. I thought I would share the instructions with you, in case you would like to make some for your little ones. I have been adding these crocheted flowers to everything is sight lately - they are fun and quick to crochet up. (you may need to click on the photo to enlarge it!)

Embellished Jeans

Transform a pair of chain store jeans into designer baby wear with a few embellishments. 


Materials:

Pair of jeans
DMC perle thread 5 ply
Embroidery thread
1 m of woven ribbon

Using a size 2 crochet hook, crochet three flowers according to the pattern below. Stitch the flowers to the jeans using embroidery thread in a matching colour. Position two on the front and one on the back pocket. Echo stitch around each flower. Thread the woven ribbon through the belt loops.

Flower Medallion
Work 5 ch. And join into a ring with sl. st.
1st Round: 2 ch., work 23 d.c. into ring, join with sl.st. to 2 ch.
2nd Round: 4 ch., 1 d.c. into same st. as sl.st., 1 ch.,* miss 2 sts., (1 d.c., 2 ch., 1 d.c) into next st., 1 ch.; rep from * 6 times, sl.st. to 2 ch. at beg. of round.
3rd Round: 2 ch., (1 d.c., 2 ch., 2 d.c.) into first 2 ch.sp., *1 s.c into 1 ch., sp., (2 d.c., 2 ch., 2 d.c.) into next 2 ch.sp., rep, from * 6 times, 1 s.c. into last 1 ch.sp., sl.st. to 2nd ch. of first 2 ch.
4th round: *(3 d.c., 1 ch., 3 d.c.) into 2 ch sp., 1 s.c. on s.c. of previous round; rep. from *7 times, sl st. to join. Fasten Off. 

Here are a couple of other projects -

I had a wonderful lunch on Friday with Janelle, Kylie, Katherine, and Susan at the Margaret River Chocolate Factory in the Swan Valley. So nice to get together with fellow bloggers and share a good laugh and a love of crafty things. Thanks also for Susan and Jenni for giving us an award this week!

Posted by Lisa