Poppies

I absolutely love poppies. They are like contemporary dancers shifting and moving in such a beautiful way. 

This one has been growing in the garden now for many months and is finally opening. The colour splash, and the texture of the petals is quite amazing.

Poppies

A little unknown fact about myself.

Coffee Cup 

I absolutely adore Crown Lynn.

Sometimes I wonder what the attraction is. Retro design? Durability? I think perhaps it is more because of what it represents in our history.

Crown Lynn had humble beginnings as the Amalgamated Brick and Pipe company. During World War II there was a ban on unessential imported items into NZ hence the need for tableware made out of NZ clay. In 1942 Crown Lynn began production of tableware for New Zealanders.

The utilitarian features of Crown Lynn pottery gained the product the status of being "sturdy and reliable".

Crown Lynn reached it's peak in the 60's with it being an item in every household. It held it's popularity until the late 80's when the factory closed possibly due to the increase of cheap tableware from overseas.

This makes me sad. NZ was producing an item that was uniquely us. Strong and reliable, pretty, durable and ready to last the test of time.

Detail of Calyptus

The only place you can buy Crown Lynn now are garage sales, op shops, school fairs and antique shops. This everyday household item has become a national treasure. I get so excited when I find it. It's like I'm collecting my own little piece of NZ.

Trust me, despite it's increasing popularity and showcase properties I actually use my Crown Lynn for it's intended purpose (although I did oppose it being used as a cat bowl the other day!!) Some people may be shocked by this but hey whats the point of material possessions unless you use them?

Kiwi meal - Meat and Veg served on Crown Lynn Colourglaze

Below are some of my collection. If you see any of the styles below at a school fair over the summer for a couple of bucks please do buy them for me (I'll pay you back!)

A little unknown fact about myself.

Pīwakawaka

It's amazing what you can pick up in op shops!

This is a New Zealand made vest with pīwakawaka/fantail detail.

I get a little thrill when I find something in an op shop that I know is something special!

Pīwakawaka

Gingerbeer

I got the bug! The Gingerbeer bug that is!

At the Karori Normal School Fair a couple of weeks ago I purchased a gingerbeer bug and began to feed it (2 teaspoons of sugar and 2 teaspoons of ginger every day).

The gingerbeer itself was pretty simple to make. I simply drained liquid from the bug into a bowl, added 2 cups of hot water that had had 2 cups of sugar dissolved in it and then the juice of 2 lemons and 12 cups of cold water. Mixed it up and then put it into bottles which had 3 raisins in the bottle.

The instructions suggested I put the bottles in a sunny spot for a week (oh but where is the sun?) and then in a week's time put it in the fridge and then it's ready to drink.

I did a little bit of googling and found several different recipes for gingerbeer with most suggesting that you put the bottles outside incase they explode (good tip!).

I can't wait to try the fruits (rhizomes??) of my labour this weekend!

Gingerbeer

Sew Good

I had a little time up my sleeve today and I had promised my sister in law that I would make baby Amelia some bibs as she needed some more.

But the internet is full of exciting tutorials of how to make things and I could not resist making these booties!

So easy to make and cute too! A little bit too big for her right now but she can grow into them. I got the tutorial for the booties from www.stardustshoes.blogspot.com if you would like to make them too!

I can't wait to surprise Jane with them tomorrow!

Sew Good

I love laundry!

Yes I really do! But recently I have been a little disappointed in my laundry powder as it doesn't seem to dissolve and leaves white marks on the clothes.

But it's OK because I've found an extremely affordable, good for the environment laundry liquid to make! And it works even better than the powder.

I found it via Frugal Kiwi's website and have halved the recipe so that you can make it in a small bucket.

Laundry Liquid

1/2 Cup Borax
1/4 Cup of Washing Soda Crystals
1/2 bar of Sunlight soap or any other castile based soap
Essential oil

1. Grate the soap and melt it in 2 cups of water in a pot on a low heat. Avoid boiling it, it is ready when it has just melted.
2. Pour the melted soap mixture into a bucket and add 22 cups of warm water.
3. Add washing soda crystals and stir until dissolved.
4. Add borax and stir until dissolved.
5. Add essential oil to suit (I used about 20 drops of rose oil)
6. Cover the bucket with a towel or lid and let sit overnight.
7. In the morning the concoction should resemble a shiny globby gel. If there is water sitting on top simply mix it back in.
8. Pour the mixture via a funnel into clean milk bottles.
9. Use 1/2 cup per load.

This recipe made two 1.5L bottles full and one 2 litre bottle fill with a bit left over!!! Cost wise I think it works out to about 5c per load!!

Borax sounds like a horrible chemical but it is actually a mineral salt. You can read more about it here. As for buying it I sourced mine from Clorogene in Petone, Wellington for $13 for 2 litres. You can also buy it off Trademe and from Bin Inn but it is more expensive.

My clothes are clean and smell great!

I love laundry!

Spring seedlings

The weather has definately taken an upward "spring" and things are beginning to grow in the garden. Last week I spent hours pouring over the Kings Seeds catalogue planning what vegetables and flowers I'd like to grow.

This week my wonderful partner has spent time making our own newspaper pots and putting those seeds to bed. I can't wait to see these tiny seeds turn into beautiful plants...

We have planted from seed:
Kingfisher Daisy, Sunrise Lupin, Nemophila (penny black and snowstorm), Oriental Poppies, Cherry Baby Rudbeckia, Edible Violas and Gazania Daybreak.
This weekend we will plant:
Red bunching onions, Heirloom Rainbow Tomatoes, Lettuce (little gem), Zucchini (gold rush), Jalapeno Chillis, Gourmet Basil mix, Eggplant, Artichoke and Corn.

Spring seedlings