Here's a picture from way back of my surprise package from Justine at the august mixtape get-together. The pencil case fabric is one of my fave's (i'm very impressed with the zip! so neat! so proffessional!) and I'm keeping the journal for something special. And lo and behold, it's almost october and a new project looms for the next mix-tape event. Bettter get cracking!
Below is a selection of fabrics for a very exciting quilt. As i don't think the recipient has time nor the inclination to read this blog, i'm not giving away too much. I come from a not very large family but with two sisters, 1 daughter, 4 nieces, and 2 Great nieces, the women-folk out number the men! And with my nephew's nuptials on the horizen, looks like we're gaining another top sheila. Hence (Sister) Gina and i have come up with a wedding quilt plan. Lots of lovely Liberty, some new Denise Scmidt and some from the stash. We're keeping the design very simple so we can have it finished by the end of October. The sunday quiet is about to be disturbed by the noisy revving of not one, but two sewing machines!!

Craft HQ

This is it: the hub of crafting, the cortex of creativity, the nerve-centre of making + doing etc. It's bloody unreal to have this space for the specific purpose of getting crafty. And i have been. My first ever hand bound quilt is finished! It's a project for work and i'm pleased to have completed it, in amongst all the recent disruptions. And, having the sewing machine set up permanently means i can whip something together in between doing other more mundane things. Lots of stoking of the crafty coals, lots of ideas to explore and many projects to finish. Busy!

dead flies

That's what the currants look like in these 'dead fly' biscuits! But boy are they yum!
Here's the recipe:

350g Plain Flour
pinch of salt
250g Butter
175g Caster sugar
Grated lemon rind (or orange)
1 egg
175g currants and crystalised ginger or any other glace/dried fruit that takes your fancy!

Sift flour + salt together. Rinse + dry fruit, chop if too big. Cream butter + sugar, stir in rind.
Mix egg + beat into butter mixture. Add half sifted flour, mixing until smooth. Add remaining flour + fruit, then mix to a smooth dough. Divide in half, shaping into a 2inch diameter roll. Wrap in cling film + refrigerate, chilling for several hours (or up to 4 days)
Preheat oven to 190.C. Unwrap dough + cut into 1/4inch thick slices. Bake on ungreased trays for 10-20 minutes then cool on a wire rack. Eat em quick!

happy landing

Has it been a month, why yes, it has! That's how long it takes to pack up and move and unpack and relax into a new home.......and get the computer sorted. And the camera tech stuff! Finally! And now i sit, tapping away, looking out at the little lemon tree happily fruiting away, next to a blossoming orange tree (that fragrance!) from the comfort of a designated bloody craft room. It's chock to the rafters with boxes but so much space to spread out and get crafty! The op-shop gods were very generous and we have a new huge desk for the computer and a new large table for the sewing machine etc. I feel lucky to have a specific room to work in.... it's been a long time coming. As for the rest of the house, it really feels like home, we're all enjoying it. And i have been busy on the craft front, hand quilting and rag rug assembling (well sort of)... (oh-oh! My times run out, i have a threatening teenager standing over me because it's her turn on the computer! I better skedaddle, back with more of everything later.. if i'm lucky...)