M.I.A.

To make a long story short, we decided a couple of weeks ago to move to a new house and I've taken on a lot more responsibility at work. Between the two I'm waaaay too tired to blog of a night. But now we've found a new place (that's it above) and I' settling in at work, expect a return to the usual programming!

Also, it's less than a week until I go to Sydney. I'm super pumped to be helping out at the show, and since I've spent all my money getting a new house expect lots of inspiration pictures and no pictures of things that I've bought!

One last thing. The new house has a sun room, and it's going to be all mine! So we're starting the move on the 26th, so be expecting My Creative Space to get good and interesting after that. I have been making things too. I'll try to get some photos up in between the packing this weekend.

- Jemma

My celebrity crush.

Is a middle aged, potty mouthed, out of shape former chef. I really think that you should take the hour to watch this. I'm in love with Anthony Bourdain. And I think you should be too!



















I loved how I am still able to learn things about Australia. My favourite from the episode include, seeing Anthony eating a sausage roll, Sydney Road, trams and the fact that it's all in Victoia! I hope you enjoy it.

- Jemma

Tags.

So, it seems that everyone is is cuckoo over my new labels. I know, they're pretty good right? I got them from this etsy store. I got 300 for what worked out to be around 40AUD. A bargain I thought. The service was really good too. You tell them what you want, they'll email you a draft for you to approve and then when that's all done they'll print them. You can also use any free font, this includes open source fonts I think. So there's lots of variety! And I'm pretty sure that if you choose some of the other options they can do pictures and everything. I didn't really look at them though.

And as for the pressing ham, I was going to do a tutorial maybe? But it was so easy that I felt silly. I'll just tell you. I asked my dressmaking teacher about them, because like a lot of you I'm sure I have the "why buy when you can make" philosophy. I pretty much just cut 2 pieces of fabric into a rough ham shape (let me know if you'd like me to post the template) and sewed them right sides together. With no real strong understanding, I figured that you would need to use stronger fabrics. So one side is calico, and the other is some nice sturdy linen from Amy.

To stuff it you can pretty much use anything that won't melt. The one in my class is stuffed with sand and saw dust, so it's super sturdy. For mine I bought a cot sized piece of natural fiber quilt wadding. Bamboo or cotton should do. Then I just cut it up into little chunks and stuffed in as many as I could. And I do mean that literally. It should be a struggle to sew up the gap because it needs to be as firm as possible!

Hope you enjoy!

-Jemma

My Creative Space

I've been working on my dress making things this week. I made a pressing ham last Saturday to iron my darts and princess seams. And I also got this new whiz bang iron on Sunday on the way home from the fair. It's great! There's not even any wadding melted on it yet. And can I say, "Quilt basting spray, where have you been all my life?!". I got some on the cheap at the fair. And it's the best! I always screw up the basting, and have puckers and things. Now, can anyone teach me how to quilt well please?



More creative spaces over with Kirsty!

-Jemma

P.S. I used one of my fancy tags for the first time too!

Craft & Quilt Fair

I know, I've been M.I.A. again. I've been way too busy at the real job to have any energy for blogging. I've still been crafting though! Sewing class is going good. And I have plenty of inspiration brewing from the fair.

-Jemma

My Creative Space.

I've not been feeling too motivated this last week or so. I got my new car, so I've been spending a lot of time just driving nice places. And last week the light in my sewing room broke. And lamp light isn't really doing it for me. I haven't used the machine in a while. But I did go back to sewing class after a 3 week break last weekend. It was great! I'd missed it, and I'm pumped to get my dress done. I think that this weekend I'll finish my final calico dress and be ready to start with the good fabric. Fun!



And last weekend I had a go at making some knitting needle bracelets. They came up a treat!
More creative spaces as always at Kootoyoo.

-Jemma

Beep Beep!

I got a new car today. Exciting! Since I've had NO car for 2 weeks. And before that I had a car with no working horn. And boy, do I love to beep people! Watch out for me! I'll be the one beeping you.

-Jemma

Recipe Monday

It seems like Recipe Monday is a fortnightly thing. I don't mean it to be, promise! So this week is Bakewell Slice. Or coconut slice as some people call it.

Ingredients

90g butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup self-raising flour
2/3 cup plain flour
1 tablespoon custard powder
2/3 cup raspberry jam (you can use whatever you want though)

Coconut Topping

2 Cups desiccated coconut
1/4 cup caster sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten

Method

Preheat oven to 180c. Grease lamington pan and line with paper, leaving a small overhang

Beat butter, sugar and egg until light and fluffy. Then stir in sifted flours and custard powder. Spread evenly into the pan and then spread jam evenly over the top.

Combine ingredients for the coconut topping in a small bowl and sprinkle over the jam. Bake for about 40 minutes and allow to cool completely in the pan.

Cut into bars, and then eat lots of them!

Add you're link if you're playing along!

-Jemma

Sunday Stash

I'm sure that you all know by now that Amy has started selling fabric over at Badskirt.
These are the beauties that I picked up. She has a nice little selection of stuff that might be a little bit more rare in Australia, and very good prices! You should definitely go have a look.

-Jemma

Handmade Help

In case you haven't seen it all over the internet yet, the Handmade Recipe book is available for pre-order! I'm sure that everyone knows what a great cause it is by now. And what great quality the recipes will be of course! I'm ordering mine now. Very exciting!

-Jemma