LOOPI... for you

Golden Half...

2011-07-24T17:08:00.000+10:00

I also got a new Golden Half camera... here are a few shots from the first roll of film using the Colorsplash Flash at the Wagons album launch at the Forum.

New Camera...

2011-07-08T19:14:00.002+10:00

I got myself a new Ultra Wide & Slim camera and these are a few shots from the first roll of film...

I'm happy with it, I just have to remember to remove my thumb from the frame!!!

xo

Hungary...

2011-06-20T20:05:00.000+10:00

I just checked my stats out for this blog and it turns out that most of the hits have come from Hungary! Hungary! Hooray for Hungary. I mean who doesn't love Salami? And what about vörösboros kóla (VBK)? It's red wine and coke... TRY IT! My friend Deano loves it.

Yellow...

2011-06-13T13:22:00.000+10:00

I love this necklace by Snug Studio on Etsy...

This print by Dear Colleen on Etsy always makes me smile...

A cute bunny rattle by Allana C on Madeit...

It's such a beautiful day today! Hope you're all enjoying the sunshine.

xo

Lewis...

2011-06-07T20:39:00.000+10:00

Hope you're all keeping warm this week! Lewis has been wearing his Drizabone jacket during the day and his polarfleece jacket at night. He really feels the cold, poor wee thing.

xo

My Holga...

2011-05-25T07:54:00.000+10:00

I took my Holga 120N to New Zealand for 5 weeks and came back with 7 rolls of film to develop (in both b&w & colour)! Mostly scenic photos with a few portraits thrown in... I didn't really read the instructions when I received it, thinking it was just a plastic toy camera so I could just load some 120 film and that would be it. After receiving 4 out of the 7 films back from mail order film processing I discovered I was very very wrong.

I didn't realise it had a zone-focus system.

I had it on 3ft the whole time.

Maybe I should have used infinity.

Here are my a few of my awful photos...

I think I might also have to tape up the back and add some Velcro to the inside where I lost my sponges. Fingers crossed for some half decent pictures next time.

Update...

2011-02-10T22:21:00.002+11:00

Sunday afternoon kite flying...

The view from Williamstown...

My old house in Christchurch...

Saturday night...

The coolest kid in Reservoir...

Aotearoa...

2011-01-04T14:10:00.001+11:00

ao = cloud, tea = white and roa = long

Milnthorpe, Golden Bay

Takaka Hill

Pancake Rocks, West Coast

Hokitika Gorge, West Coast

Lake we stopped at on our way to Jackson Bay

West Coast

Rail Trail, Central Otago

Scenic Route to Invercargill

Queenstown

Mt Cook

Sumner Beach, Christchurch

Wellington from the Interislander Ferry

Cable Bay

My parents driveway

Kaiteriteri Beach

New Koalas...

2010-11-18T20:20:00.000+11:00

I have just listed these lovelies in my Madeit shop.
Get in quick!!
I'll be in away Aotearoa from the 24th of this month until the 3rd of January which means I miss the whole crazy Christmas shopping month (a shame I know).
I'll be posting the my last orders next Wednesday, the 24th of November.

xo

The month or so that was...

2010-10-07T18:58:00.000+11:00

My car broke down.

A nice man towed her home.

A Sunday drive.

Cold shower anyone?

I turned 31.

We went camping to escape the Grand Final.

I got some bright new supplies.

A photo of Lewis for good measure.

Golden Days Treasury...

2010-09-09T22:15:00.001+10:00

My tote was featured on another treasury by the lovely PukaPuka!

New Project: Outdoor Bathtub...

2010-08-28T12:56:00.000+10:00

Lately I have been really missing a bath. This is the first house I've lived in for a long long time without one. Our backyard is very big and it has a nice and private little corner down the back which is overgrown with plants and trees offering the perfect spot for an outdoor bath.

I could hang some little lanterns from the tree branches...

On Etsy by treasureagain with a whole bunch of up-cycled goodness.

Read a book and have a glass of red using my Sustainable Bamboo Bath Caddy...

Found on Delight.com

This poster says it all...

by KeepCalmShop on Etsy

Hopefully it will look as lovely as this one...

At the Raglan Beach House, Cox Bay, Aotearoa

Relaxing...

Bath Soak Sachets by pauhana on Etsy

If I could afford it I would get a Dutchtub!

I think they're fantastic! But completely out of my price range as basic tubs start at $6,950 AUD.

I've been looking around for an old enamel tub and I could probably get one for $100, plus some insulated hose for getting the hot water from the laundry to the back of the yard, a tap, some timber to make a frame for it and maybe a few stepping stones would be nice. Aahhh.

In the meantime we'll just have to keep going back to the Peninsula Hot Springs down the road, which are super lovely and half price after 7pm!

Outback Sunset Treasury...

2010-07-19T17:30:00.001+10:00

My tote was featured in this lovely Treasury on Etsy by JamboChameleon...

A dress for my brothers wedding...

2010-07-10T10:32:00.000+10:00

My little brother's getting married in November and I need a dress...
I found these lovelies on Etsy.

Bree's 1950's Retro Empire Waist Picnic Dress by MichelleTan

Yellow Dress by Frillitary

Love Me Knot by MQuin

Sunshine's Bow by Nadinoo

Tuxedo Dress by Amanda Archer

Custom Ruffled Collar Dress by Ananya

Cotton and Silk Night Sky Dress by outofline

Latticed by MQuin

Plaid Silk and Ruffle Dress by Amanda Archer

A Koala for Solly...

2010-06-27T16:27:00.001+10:00

A good friend of mine's little friend was turning 2 and she wanted to give him a personalised Koala... I couldn't resist giving him denim jeans and a little gold felt buckle!

Apparently he was a huge hit!!

xo

Raid your Nana's cupboards...

2010-05-04T10:10:00.001+10:00

My souvenir tea towel supply is running dangerously low!

I need need tea towels to fill orders as soon as possible... please have a look through your mum's, aunt's and nana's cupboards!

All accepted: Australian / New Zealand / Irish / English / Linen / Cotton.

I'll send you an original handmade 'LOOPI... for you' item for your troubles.

Please help.

Email: hello@loopiforyou.com for more details.

Thank you. Thank you.

Muesli Bars / Granola Bars...

2010-04-21T09:59:00.001+10:00

I make these muesli bars on a weekly basis and alter the recipe each time so we don't get sick of them!

Heat the following in a saucepan on low for around 20 minutes:
200g Butter
1/2 C Honey
1 C Raw Sugar
Test a drop in a small bowl of cold water after 20 min. If you like your bars chewy then it's probably enough... if you like 'em crunchy you'll probably need to boil it for a wee bit longer.... do a test in another few minutes. Be very careful not to burn it!

In the meantime...

Combine the following in a large bowl:
1 1/4 C Rolled oats
1 C Coconut
1/4 C LSA
1/2 C Bran
1/4 C Pepitas
1/4 C Sunflower Seeds
2 T Sesame Seeds
1/4 C Chopped Almonds
1/4 C Chopped Pecans
1/4 C Raisins, Craisins or Sultanas
1/4 C Chopped Dried Apricots (Monkey's Ears as my mother calls them)
1/4 C Chopped Dates

Add your sweet buttery mixture to the dry ingredients and mix it all through.

Place mixture in a lined roasting pan. Get some more baking paper out (how good is that stuff!) and place it on top of the mixture and push it down with the palms of your hands. Leave on the bench to set and cut in to bars!

* If you've opted for the crunchy bars then make sure you cut them before they fully set...

Sometimes I leave out the fruit and add more seeds or different nuts, or no seeds or fruit and all mixed nuts. I have tried using more honey and less sugar but it doesn't work as well.

I have made 'healthier' muesli bars in the past but they never stay together... and surely the amount of roughage in these bars outweighs all that butter and sugar?

Enjoy!

xo

Ten Things...

2010-04-15T19:49:00.001+10:00

Following the lovely Pip's Ten Things...

Here are mine...

I was born in a hydro-town called Twizel
I got a car when I was 14, my learner's permit when I was 15 and my drivers license at 16
My name had an E on the end until we moved to Australia when I was 5 and my parents realised they forgot to put it on my Birth Certificate (my brothers birth certificate has a mistake on it too)
I am a qualified Signwriter
I live right by the beach but hardly ever go there
Both of my parents have motorcycles and tattoos
I'm 30, but people always think I'm 22
I lived in Thornbury for 8 years and it's the longest I've lived anywhere
I have 3 sewing machines and 2 overlockers
I always laugh at things other people don't find funny

For the love of felt...

2010-04-14T07:56:00.000+10:00

Super bright Spectrum Bubbles by The Rainbow Room on Etsy

Beautifully simple Felt Circle Garland by Lovemonkey on Etsy

Just lovely Felt finger puppet collection of 5 by thumbly on Etsy

Adorable Ham Sandwich Lunch Felt Play Food Set by bugbitesplayfood on Etsy

Earthfriendly 5mm Virgin Merino Wool Color Sampler by feltplanet on Etsy

Wool Felt Balls - Multicolour pack of 150 balls by krita on Etsy

A Coast Life...

2010-03-23T15:00:00.000+11:00

Waves...

Fish 'n' Chips...

and Sunsets...

Boardgames...

2010-03-23T14:30:00.002+11:00

I collect a lot of things; egg cups, melamine tea cups, souvenir trays, enamel bowls, picnic baskets, old suitcases, ramekins, old tins and boardgames!

My boardgame collection began when a good friend of mine gave me 'Save the World' eight years ago as a housewarming present, then 'Stop the Press' from another friend. I started looking for games too and well you get the picture. Some lucky scores so far have been an unopened 'Perfect Match' and the fantastic 'Idiot Box'.

Today I managed to find a well cared for 'Celebrity Head'!

... and this little game of Monopoly for $2... but to my surprise I actually have 2 games in 1! It seems the previous owners may have got bored with the standard old Earth real estate Monopoly and made 'Space Monopoly'. Chance cards have been replaced with Satellite cards (You discover a new planet collect $200), Community Chest has become Space Mission (You invent rocket booster receive $100) and instead of the old Pall Mall etc, you can buy Space Stations on planets! The cost of a Primary Space Station on Uranus is $65, and Super Space Station: $130 but it only costs $3 to land on it.

Just noticed it didn't come with an actual board... oh well... I have one already. But it did come with 7 dice, a stack of $10,000 notes and a heap of space stations!

Procrastination...

2010-03-04T13:48:00.002+11:00

I have been procrastinating all week. I think it's my new job, waitressing 5 nights a week. I just need to get used to it and I'll be back in to it... won't I? This week all I've managed to do is give my studio a much needed tidy up and organise, upload some new stuff to my shop and sort these buttons ready to make in to bracelets. And it's Thursday today!!!! What? Come on.
Well I did manage to clean out the fridge, paint the outside of the fridge with blackboard paint, put my Kinder Surprise shelves up, make a Key Lime Pie, set up the guest room for our house/dog sitters this weekend (we're off to play in the mud at Golden Plains), write copious amounts of lists: to do, to buy, to make etc. etc.

So it ain't all that bad I guess.

xo

Curious Oyster...

2010-03-01T13:53:00.002+11:00

Loopi is now stocked in my old hood, Thornbury!

Stocking: Pouches, Purses, Card Wallets, Koala Softies, Melways Necklaces, Magnets and Accessories!!

Curious Oyster Shoppe is located on High Street (up the Preston end) and is packed full of handmade goodness.

776 High Street, Thornbury 3071 VIC Ph. +61 3 9484 3018

http://www.curiousoyster.com.au

xo

My first ever giveaway...

2010-02-27T17:22:00.001+11:00

Up for grabs is this cute little set of polka dot accessories!

A pair of button earrings, a button ring and a yo-yo hair elastic.

All you have to do is:

Comment on this post
Follow my blog
Follow my tweets on Twitter

Entries close on Friday 5th March at 10.00pm (AEST).

Winner will be notified via email.

Good Luck!

Kombi Stall...

2010-02-23T09:45:00.000+11:00

Who needs a marquee when you have a Kombi?
Saw this guy selling his wares in San Remo, then again at Boneo Community Market.
xo

Little Shop of Handmade...

2010-02-11T08:41:00.001+11:00

LOOPI... for you is now stocked at the wonderful Little Shop of Handmade!
There you will find my coin purses, zipper pouches, totes and door stops, all made from vintage souvenir tea towels amongst a shop full of handmade goodness... and the bonus is that it's all under $50!

Little Shop of Handmade - 8 Woorayl St, Carnegie VIC
Opening Hours
• Sun - Tues ~ Closed
• Wed - Fri ~ 11am - 6pm
• Sat ~ 10am - 4.30pm

xo

The week or so that was...

2010-02-01T14:07:00.002+11:00

I started on some new Melway pendants...

and made some new resin earrings...

whipped up a few sets of coasters...

went camping in beautiful Gippsland...

Lewis had a relaxing time...

we went on a leisurely Saturday afternoon drive and ended up in the lovely Hastings...

wearing red shoes...

BOGO Sale...

2010-01-27T17:22:00.001+11:00

Next Wednesday I'm having a big BOGO SALE* at Mornington Main Street Market!

I need clear out some stock in order to make room for new stuff. Come along and grab yourself a bargain!!

: Tote Bags : Messengers : Coin Purses : Card Wallets : Yo Yo Hairties : Button Hairties : Brooches : Button Earrings : Button Bracelets : Button Brooches : Headbands : Zipper Pouches : Door Stops :

I'll be outside the ANZ from 8am - 3pmish (Mel Ref 104 E11)

Spread the word!!

* Excludes Melways, badges, magnets and resin ranges

A belt buckle...

2010-01-20T21:22:00.002+11:00

I declared Christmas 2009 a handmade one, not that I needed to make many presents anyway.
My family is in NZ, I don't give presents to my friends except some small foodie things such as Plum Chutney if the plums have dropped or Dukkah if they haven't.
Kris Kringle for Christmas Day had a limit of $20 and had to appeal to everyone as we have a thieving Kris Kringle and it's nice to see the gift you contributed being stolen at least once, so I decided to make a picnic blanket and if the person who opened it didn't really like it then I could count on Francis stealing it as it's actually something we don't have. But as it turned out Francis' mother opened it and wouldn't give it up for anything (even the bucket of cocktail mix I had).
I made a pencil wrap for G (aged 2) with a tin of Steiner Crayon Blocks instead of pencils, Em (aged 2mths) got a cute birdie from Bill Boy & Mia, swapped for some custom Melways magnets.
Last but not least I made this belt buckle for Francis!! I ordered the pewter buckle blank and lovely brown leather belt from Maxine, Dear but when it arrived I realised it would be harder than first anticipated as the buckle is curved and I was filling it with resin, which would spill over the sides. The first attempt was a disaster... map not sealed so the resin leaked through the paper, bubbles came up over night and yes, the resin spilled over the sides. So, before it cured completely I scraped the resin out, soaked it in hot soapy water and scraped it out again. Before I attempted a new one I had to find a new map o Canada (2 days before Christmas on a 40C day) As luck would have it I found an old Jacaranda Atlas in an Op Shop in Mornington as it was closing for the day. So along with entertaining Canadian visitors, grocery shopping and Christmas organising I had to finish this buckle and allow it to set before wrapping it for Christmas morning... after doing some on-line research I found that I could use my Diamond Glaze to seal the map instead of trying to find some Mod Podge. I then did the resin in 2 layers to combat the over-flow. It came out well, but if I do another one I'll do it a little different. It's all trial and error in this little studio!

xo

My Neighbourhood...

2010-01-19T10:18:00.002+11:00

This is my neighbourhood.
Houses vary from beach shacks to concrete mansions.
There aren't any footpaths.
Demolition, construction and planned extensions are all over the place.
There's lots of trees, large lawns and easy-care gardens.
I love that big white house with lace curtains and party lights hanging up outside.
The bare lot used to be a block of flats, they literally disappeared overnight.
I discovered the underpass today while walking Lewis.
I live at No. 33.

Mornington Peninsula Brown Owls...

2010-01-17T11:42:00.001+11:00

GUESS WHAT?? Mornington Peninsula Brown Owls is actually coming to together thanks to the lovely Steph! ...and the lovely Pip for allowing us to form a chapter! ~~(actually I think it's still pending)~~
If you or anyone you know wants to join, check out the blog! We'll be having our first official meeting next month! YAY!

Image borrowed from Mama Lisa

100 ideas...

2010-01-17T10:01:00.000+11:00

I downloaded Keri Smith's 100 ideas a long time ago and they have been pinned to my cork board since, so last night I cut all 100 of the little squares out (with a really blunt guillotine) and placed them in an old pickle jar...

I'm going to try and do one of these every day for the next 100 days...

Gosh, I might even do a post every time I get one out of the jar!

xo

Roundiness...

2010-01-17T09:18:00.002+11:00

Sixteen photos of round things in my studio, it would have been a lot harder if it was another shape, triangles near impossible, squares just as hard.
I literally snapped these pictures in about two minutes, grabbing anything within arms reach to start with then moving to other things such as my fan, a lamp, sewing machine.
Not sure what I'll do next... any ideas?
HAPPY SUNDAY!!
xo

The Lemonade Stand Award...

2010-01-14T11:33:00.005+11:00

Art by Wiley gave us this cute little award so we, too, are passing on the love.

Thanks so much!!

The Lemonade Award is given to bloggers who show great attitude and gratitude. The rules

for accepting this award:

:: Put the Lemonade Stand logo on your blog or within your post.

:: Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.

:: Link the nominees within your post.

:: Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

:: Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

So here are my nominees for the Lemonade Stand Award in no particular order. Hope you check them out and enjoy!

Shagpile

She Sees Red

The Candystripers

The Cupcake Wrapper Co.

Much Love

Bill Boy & Mia

Dandy Long-Legs

Fen & Ned

Little Lost Love

Lino Creative

Living by the sea...

2009-12-30T20:40:00.000+11:00

I had NO idea this place would change so much over Summer when I moved here in September this year.

Our local plaza has opened what seems like a 'Holiday Shop' stocking necessary items such as magazines, chips, sunscreen and blow up beach toys
We now have to ride our bicycles EVERYWHERE as driving takes far too long (planning a movie at the drive-in soon, we'll call it the ride-in)
It's acceptable to wear bikinis/boardshorts at anytime in any place
Swimming in the sea is like swimming in a public pool
People park their Land Rover Discoveries in the garage and drive their Mini Moke's instead
Every house on our street had put their bin out for kerbside collection
The carnival AND circus is in town!

But it's still a beautiful place to live... just really really busy.

Rich Hazelnut Fruit Cake...

2009-12-29T14:00:00.001+11:00

I made this cake for Christmas hoping to please both traditional Christmas Cake lovers and haters... and it worked! This cake is very dense and moist, it is full of fruit, nuts and has a chocolate flavour.
No glace cherries either!!
It can be made up to 6 months ahead (I made it a month ago).

Ingredients:
2 1/3 C sultanas
2 1/4 C chopped raisins
1 1/2 C chopped seeded dates
1 1/4 C chopped seeded prunes
2 T raspberry jam, warmed, seived
2/3 C Franjelico
185g butter, chopped
1/3 C Nutella
1 C firmly packed brown sugar
4 eggs
1 3/4 C plain flour
1/4 C cocoa powder
1 t ground nutmeg
1 t ground cinnamon
1 C roasted hazelnuts, chopped
1/4 C Franjelico, extra (for pouring over)

Combine fruit, jam, liquor in a large bowl, cover, stand at room temperature overnight or up to one week.
Line base and side of deep 18cm square cake tin with about 3 layers of baking paper, bringing it up 5cm above tin.
Beat butter, Nutella and sugar in a bowl until just combined. Add egss, one at a time, beating until just combined between additions. Stir butter mixture with fruit mixture along with sifted dry ingredients and nuts.
Spread mixture in to prepared tin.
Bake in slow oven for about 3.5 hours.
Brush hot cake with extra Franjelico.
Cover hot cake with foil; allow to cool in pan.

Enjoy!

Extracted from The Australian Women's Weekly - The Christmas Book.

MoniKa with a K...

2009-12-28T08:36:00.002+11:00

Monika's mother has always spun wool, so it was only natural for her to pursue something creative involving beautiful linens, natural fibres, vintage fabrics and wooden buttons... walking in to Monika's Wednesday stall in Mornington is like walking in to a natural wonderland. A large red 'K' stands outside and her wares sit in front of hessian lined walls.
In the Summer months you'll find adorable one of a kind hair clips, zip pouches, aprons, pillows, knitted softies, back packs, felt journals, head bands and big roomy sling bags. In Winter her line changes slightly and she adds hand knitted clothing and baby blankets but the pièce de résistance: her mother hand spins wool as part of the stall.
You can find Monika on her stool, making hair clips every Wednesday outside Fat Williams, Main Street, Mornington from 9am to 3pmish.

12 totes...

2009-12-10T12:12:00.003+11:00

Just sent these totes off to the lovely Local Shop in Northcote!
Check out the tote at the front, the map of Australia seems to be missing ACT.
Nice.
Local Shop is at 262 High Street, Northcote VIC Ph: 03 9489 8651

Dromana...

2009-12-01T15:22:00.000+11:00

A couple of weekends ago I had a little stall at the Dromana Primary School Christmas Market...
The night was a total fizzer and my stall looked exactly the same at the end of the night as it did at the start.

Oh well.

sign...

2009-11-10T17:46:00.000+11:00

Shhhhh... don't tell anyone but I decided to temporarily come out of signwriting retirement to make a little sign for my market stall.
It's made from indigo denim backed with my favourite red/white polka dot material, I appliqued some hand-cut white vinyl lettering (sans Teflon foot) and it's all held together with some super cute candy striped bias binding (found in the quilting department at the super Spotlight in Frankston).

Birdie...

2009-11-04T17:06:00.001+11:00

Okay, so this blog seems to be more about what I receive in the mail than what I make but I really had to share this one! Last week I sent some old lino to the lovely Liz of Betty Jo. I repainted my old kitchen hutch a couple of months ago and when I went to pull the lino out of the cupboards for a good scrub it broke in to pieces!

She made me a beautiful brooch using the lino I sent...

I've been a fan of her brooches for some time now.

Thank you Liz! I'll treasure this sweet brooch forever.

Squirrel...

2009-10-29T08:14:00.000+11:00

Yesterday I received this little guy in the mail from the lovely Andria of Shagpile! I had my eye on it at In.Cube8r, but when I went in to re-stock my cube a few weeks ago it was gone!! I tried to forget about it, but he just kept popping back in to my brain. I decided to have a little look in Shagpile's Etsy Shop and there he was, just hanging out with cute brooches, scarves and necklaces...
He's super cute in real life and so was the packaging!
Love it.

Kevin...

2009-10-22T11:41:00.001+11:00

So after procrastinating for AGES I have finally made Kevin (or Kylie)! I'm pretty pleased with him and I will be making more in the next week or so.

Materials:
Torso - Souvenir Tea Towel (of course)
Arms, Legs & Head - Grey upholstery fabric I picked up on sale at Lincraft earlier this year
Eyes and Nose - Wool felt
Ear and tail fluff - Grey Sheltand fleece (from Hovis in the UK)
Filling - Crest-a-lon Fibre Fill

I was wondering... Does it need a mouth?

xo

Mornington Wednesday Main Street Market...

2009-10-08T11:48:00.001+11:00

I did the Mornington Wednesday Main Street Market yesterday... very cold and a bit windy but at least it didn't rain! Another BONUS is that one side of the street (the side I was on) is FREE until December!!!! So I'll be there every Wednesday outside the Dry Cleaners - rain, hail or shine. If you're interested in having a stall, email the lovely Alison at Mornington Chamber of Commerce.

New Studio...

2009-09-28T12:01:00.000+10:00

Here are a few photos of my new studio in McCrae on The Mornington Peninsula. I love my big window and natural light! Oh, and check out those built-in lamps - awesome.

The Lovely Things...

2009-09-28T11:54:00.000+10:00

Just received a parcel in the post (birthday present to myself!) from Where The Lovely Things Are! Two beautiful necklaces... the wrapping was so nice I was tempted to just keep them wrapped for a while! They are just so lovely in real life, I can't wait to wear them!

Sea Change...

2009-09-03T22:47:00.000+10:00

I have finally made my sea change! Well, I'm still in transit in Rye but we're moving in to our new house in McCrae on the 10th of September (in ONE WEEEK!)

New CUBE...

2009-09-03T22:42:00.000+10:00

So, I spruced up my cube a few weeks ago and forgot to put this new picture up! I think it looks better... so did Isy :o)

Lewis...

2009-08-06T07:00:00.000+10:00

My furry baby, Lewis, is at the beach this week and I really miss him.

2009-07-11T16:33:00.000+10:00

Today I have been busy making stock for Georgie Love & Local Shop...

Using my lovely Swiss made Bernina 830...

But I managed to break this many needles...

I'm not sure why, but it looks like the plane trip my sewing machine took at Christmas time may not have done it any good. I really didn't want to check it in, but it was WAY too heavy for hand luggage, I wouldn't want to sit under it. I had been looking for a Bernina 830 for a while, but they were all too expensive or in need of attention. Then one day while I was browsing TradeMe (NZ's answer to eBay) I found one! It was in perfect condition in the original case with the accessories box (full of feet!) and the guy who was selling it was a Sewing Machine Mechanic! So I put a bid on and won the auction (there were no other bidders - very odd). The only problem was that it was in Auckland. So I arranged my Aunt to pick it up for me and take it to Nelson for Christmas in exchange for a bottle of Duty Free Bombay... easy. Well not really, because I hadn't yet figured out how to get it back to Melbourne. I stuffed the case with clothes and wrapped fragile tape all over it, I wore my big winter boots, my heavy winter coat and a dress for the plane trip and packed the rest of my clothes in to a Green Bag for carry-on luggage. So it made it back to Melbourne in one piece, but now I'm thinking it may need another service. The needle must be hitting something in or around the bobbin case as it goes down... something for a Sewing Machine Mechanic I think. Know of any good one's? I just don't want to be without it for too long as I might get separation anxiety.

A New Cube...

2009-07-11T16:16:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I moved in to a 400mm2 cube at In.Cube8r in Fitzroy. I love having a cube but I'm not completely happy with my display or stock selection, but it's okay as I have the cube for 3 months and I can change it around as much as I like! I think it's needs a bit of height, maybe at the back... also I didn't have time to finish some 10cm zipper coin purses... which is a shame as they are quite popular. But I made a heap of them today so I will pop them in on Friday.

In.Cube8r, 321 Smith Street (near Johnston Street) Fitzroy, VIC.

xo

Custard Tarts...

2009-05-06T13:01:00.000+10:00

A few weeks ago I made these Portuguese Custard Tarts for a picnic at the Zoo with my friends... they went down such a treat! Here's the recipe...

Portuguese Custard Tarts

Ingredients:
1 1/3 sheets of puff pastry
3 egg yolks
1/2 C caster sugar
2 T cornflour
3/4 C cream
1/2 C milk
Strip of lemon zest
2 t vanilla extract

Method:
Preheat oven to 200C. Spray a 12-hole muffin tin with oil. Cut sheets of pastry in to 12 squares and press in to muffin tin, then chill in the fridge. Put yolks, sugar and cornflour in to a bowl and whisk. Heat cream & milk in a pot until it just comes to boil, pour over eggs & stir in zest & vanilla. Return to the pot & stir over medium heat until mixture almost comes to the boil. DO NOT BOIL. Remove from heat immediately and take the zest out. Divide your custard between the 12 pastry cases and bake fro around 20 minutes or until tops are browned and pastry is crisp. Cool on a wire rack. Take to a picnic to impress your friends.

Thanks Kate McGhie!

Chair Bag Empire...

2009-03-21T05:39:00.000+11:00

A good friend of mine is a school teacher, and she asked me if I could make her students some chair-bags... so, I have been making chair-bags! A lot of chair bags actually, I even had to start my own production line.