What a great school holiday project for a 5 year old who was really keen to use a sewing machine for the first time!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Say cheese!
My sister had asked if I could make her a calico bag to store her cheese in. This apparently stops the cheese from drying out.
What a great school holiday project for a 5 year old who was really keen to use a sewing machine for the first time!
What a great school holiday project for a 5 year old who was really keen to use a sewing machine for the first time!
Learning how to pin together fabric safely.
Back stitching manually to hold the stitches.
Using our hands to operate the foot pedal.
Cutting the thread.
Finishing the drawstring.
The finished bag!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Family Balm
As a Christmas gift I decided to make moisturising lotion/massage bars.
Coconut oil, I found out, is extremely good for the skin as is Almond oil. They are both edible and have nourishing properties externally and internally. To make them into a bar or balm they can be added to beeswax.
I made most of it in this heart mould but then put what was left into an old body butter container. It was actually easier to use this way. I gave this to my friends to use with their newborn child but realised that both of them could benefit from it too hence naming it family balm!
Uses include:
- moisturising hands
- cradle cap
- cuts and grazes
- acne healing
- massage
You can find the recipe here.
Now shall I make a salad dressing or a stir fry next?
Coconut oil, I found out, is extremely good for the skin as is Almond oil. They are both edible and have nourishing properties externally and internally. To make them into a bar or balm they can be added to beeswax.
I made most of it in this heart mould but then put what was left into an old body butter container. It was actually easier to use this way. I gave this to my friends to use with their newborn child but realised that both of them could benefit from it too hence naming it family balm!
Uses include:
- moisturising hands
- cradle cap
- cuts and grazes
- acne healing
- massage
You can find the recipe here.
Now shall I make a salad dressing or a stir fry next?
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Something for me
I have been busy clearing out the spare room so that I can have a well organised study space. The walls are very melancholy so to brighten them up I decided to make some festive bunting!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Organisation
School holidays always allow me a bit more time to get organised. I collected these ideas on my Pinterest account and then put them into action this week:
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| Braided wool for hanging earrings from. |
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| Shower curtain hooks to hang scarves |
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| Folding tshirts in a certain way to make more room |
Birdseed bars
This recipe I got from Annabel Langbeins "Simple Pleasures" TV show. It makes HEAPS and is frankly "just delicious!"
On a baking tray mix together:
- 2 cups of rolled oats
- 1 cup of sunflower seeds
- 1 cup of pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup of sesame seeds
Toast in an oven at 180deg C for 5 mins. I substituted half of the pumpkin seeds for some linseed. When done add 1 cup of dried fruit. I did half dried cranberries, half sultanas.
In a small pot, melt together:
- 120g butter
- 6 T Golden syrup or honey
- 8 T Raw sugar
- 1/3 C peanut butter or condensed milk
Stir as it heats and simmer for 5 mins on a low heat.
Add the hot caramel to the toasted seed mix. Work fast as it moulds quickly. Transfer the mixture into a lined Swiss roll tin or baking tray and press flat.
Let cool in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours. When cool, cut into bars. Store in an airtight container till all gone!! Haha.
On a baking tray mix together:
- 2 cups of rolled oats
- 1 cup of sunflower seeds
- 1 cup of pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup of sesame seeds
Toast in an oven at 180deg C for 5 mins. I substituted half of the pumpkin seeds for some linseed. When done add 1 cup of dried fruit. I did half dried cranberries, half sultanas.
In a small pot, melt together:
- 120g butter
- 6 T Golden syrup or honey
- 8 T Raw sugar
- 1/3 C peanut butter or condensed milk
Stir as it heats and simmer for 5 mins on a low heat.
Add the hot caramel to the toasted seed mix. Work fast as it moulds quickly. Transfer the mixture into a lined Swiss roll tin or baking tray and press flat.
Let cool in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours. When cool, cut into bars. Store in an airtight container till all gone!! Haha.
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| I couldn't believe how much it made! |
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Calendula Balm
Last year I planted Calendula in the garden as a companion plant and for a splash of colour.
In December I harvested some of the petals and steeped them in olive oil in a sunny spot for 6 months.
What evolved was a richly coloured oil concentrated with the medicinal qualities of this pretty flower.
The best use of this oil was to make a balm that could be used for cuts and grazes, nappy rash, chapped lips, dry skin etc.
Recipe:
Calendula oil - 1/4 cup of dried calendula petals steeped in 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil. Steep for a minimum of 2 weeks.
Balm - melt 1/8 cup of beeswax in a double boiler. Add the strained calendula oil to the mixture with 10-40 drops of lavender oil. Stir to combine then put into containers. Seal when cool.
Easy? Yes!
Messy? Potentially! Beeswax is like a waterproof casing on your pot so make sure you melt it in something set aside for making non-food items.
In December I harvested some of the petals and steeped them in olive oil in a sunny spot for 6 months.
What evolved was a richly coloured oil concentrated with the medicinal qualities of this pretty flower.
The best use of this oil was to make a balm that could be used for cuts and grazes, nappy rash, chapped lips, dry skin etc.
Recipe:
Calendula oil - 1/4 cup of dried calendula petals steeped in 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil. Steep for a minimum of 2 weeks.
Balm - melt 1/8 cup of beeswax in a double boiler. Add the strained calendula oil to the mixture with 10-40 drops of lavender oil. Stir to combine then put into containers. Seal when cool.
Easy? Yes!
Messy? Potentially! Beeswax is like a waterproof casing on your pot so make sure you melt it in something set aside for making non-food items.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
To Infinity and beyond!!
I spotted a tutorial for infinity scarves on Pinterest awhile back and pinned it with anticipation of one day making one.
With the budget a bit tight and families and friends having birthdays this month I decided that this could be a suitable present. Deciding on which fabric to use is the fun bit!
Bel would you like one??
With the budget a bit tight and families and friends having birthdays this month I decided that this could be a suitable present. Deciding on which fabric to use is the fun bit!
Bel would you like one??
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