give the big box store the flick this weekend

Wherever you are on the planet, there may be a handmade market sprouting up somewhere (i hope).
You'll be sure to find a locally handmade gift.
Or shop online (there is much more than e-bay out there).
This is where I am going to be as a stall holder this weekend.

Come and visit if you are around in my part of the world, I would love see you.

If you live in Hobart, be sure to support this wonderful source of locally homegrown fruit and veg too.

http://www.tasfarmgate.com.au/

x

my creative space - bun in oven

Are you as obsessed by Masterchef as I am?  I sit glued to the screen every night, and with Sarah Carmichael 'walking' after last evening's restaurant challenge, it's so lovely to know her consolation prize is going to be another baby.
I really liked one judge's comments, saying it was 'the right dream, just not the right time'.
Ever feel like that?  Timing sometimes chooses us, I think.

Well onto the 'creative bit' I guess...we are making fruit buns at home this morning.   My eldest is at home sick, my little girl is getting over her croup, but now I have a sore throat threatening.  Hubbie is away on a last-minute trip to Canberra....and I have a BIG market to attend on the weekend - my first one in about 6 months, and despite months of sewing, (very, very part-timeish I might add) I still have tons of preparation to do.  Hope the pressure cooker holds up!
See some real creative spaces here.
(oh...just so you know...no real bun in oven for me)
x

Tuesday's architecture

I hope you enjoy my selection of a little of what I fancy today...enjoy!

I woke this morning with thoughts of my last dreams, and it was about architecture.

Country Barn by firstlightphoto's

Paris Blooming by AliciaBock

Miniature town by saysthetree

Mudgee Permanent camping by Casey Brown Architecture

Venice by traveljournals

Calle Jaen La Paz - Bolivia by James Brunker

Tepee by Ares

x

10 things I like about where I live.

To tip the balance, from my last post, and to be truly grateful for what I have, here are 10 things that I do like about where I live: - Actually I managed 12 in total, and it wasn't as hard as I thought.

It's close to school.

The kitchen has masses of storage.

The backyard is completely flat, which is great for the trampoline, kid's playing, and the hammock.

The windows in the bedrooms, and main living room are all north facing, lovely in the winter.

It has a pergola out the back, which has been great for entertaining, and extending the living in all seasons.

It's a small house, it's a cinch to clean.

It's close to a huge recreational area, close to an estuary, and kids playground, and walking tracks.

The lounge room is big enough to accommodate a craft / sewing wall for me.  (if only I could just keep it there!)

People I love live here. (my hubbie kindly just pointed out this should be numero uno on the list). Indeed.

Even though it's small, the lounge room is separate from the kitchen area.

Friends sometimes drop in.

Fair share of local op shop finds.

Home, sweet, home.

xx

my best ever ANZAC biscuit recipe

ANZAC biscuits

1 cup plain flour

1 cup rolled oats

3/4 cup desiccated coconut

1/3 cup sugar

125g (4 oz) butter

3 Tbs golden syrup

1/2 ts bicarb of soda (baking soda)

1 Tbs hot water

Preheat oven to 160 C (325 F).  Put oats, flour, sugar, coconut into a bowl.

Gently melt golden syrup and butter in a saucepan.

Mix bicarb of soda with water, and add to the butter mixture. 

 Pour the butter mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well.

Using your hands, put tablespoons of mixture onto a baking tray (lined with baking paper), allow a little room for biscuits to spread.   Flatten slightly.

Bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden.

Once cooked to your desired 'goldenness', leave biscuits on tray for about 5 minutes, before transferring to a wire rack.   Makes approximately 22 ish.

Find out why ANZAC's were invented here. 

Anzacs are great for lunch boxes (if they last the week!), are full of fibre due to the high oat and coconut content, and are egg free.

happy baking.

x

happy weekend

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Come back tomorrow, for my best ever ANZAC biscuit recipe.  It's really yummy, I promise.

And that I hope those of us in Australia that actually have a long weekend (sigh...we don't in Tassie!), enjoy it, and even though we won't be going to the dawn service, it's still a good time of reflection, LEST WE FORGET.

x

my creative space - happy Earth Day

On the weekend I enjoyed a screenprinting course...and loved it; we did an edition of tea towels.

I think I can see myself becoming seriously addicted to this gratifying medium.

I don't at all consider myself creative, but a dabbler...I would love to dabble more in this.

The trouble with dabbling is, it has the ability to distract and I end up with a whole lot of (nah, that's not really me!) unfinished projects, not to mention, supplies!

Thanks to Rosie from Notions for these shots....you can see some of the lovely work she produced on her blog!

I don't have time today for a long thought provoking Earth Day post...my little girl is sick, and this is being done on the hop.

But, please do check out these blogs for well thought out posts--

http://dottieangel.blogspot.com/

http://ecomilf.blogspot.com/

I am going to save up for a Bokashi bucket, even though it doesn't really comply with my 'Challenge of the Utmost Kind', I'm mostly sure that I can't thrift one.  

Other creative spaces here at Kootoyoo.

x

Root 'n' Vine Soup

Earthy Autumn Soup...

I always start my soups sweating off with a base of onion and celery in a little olive oil.

Garlic optional.

I love this time of year, and I love soups. 

 You can get a whole lot of fibre and veg into your kids in one easy peasy hit too!

We simply adore plain ol' garden variety pumpkin soup in our household, but for an earthy soup with more complex flavours, use lots of root vegetables....

Swede, carrot, parsnip, sweet potato, potato, etc

Add vine vegies such as, pumpkin, zucchini, tomatoes (last food reminder of summer!)

Spice it up how you like it.  And stock it up good.

Any combination, any quantity = guaranteed delicious.

One of my favourite pumpkin soups was made with orange, also a combination of coriander, cumin, ginger is divine with pumpkin soup.

Happy experimental souping.

x

this is my voice of truth

time to fess up...I'm a Christian.  Don't know why exactly that is so hard to express at times.  I'm quite ashamed of feeling ashamed.  Silly, really.  But being authentic is important, si? That is what I am trying to do.
I've been neglecting my spiritual side lately, and it's showing.
Make of this post whatever you will, just needed to get that off my self-doubting chest!  And perhaps, today, thanks to my beautiful friend Gail, I can turn a corner, and catch a glimse of that trouble free, joyous eternal life I am very keen to know one day.

"Voice Of Truth" - Casting Crowns

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me

Time and time again. 'Boy, you'll never win!'
"You'll never win"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"

Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant

With just a Sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again "boy, you'll never win!

"You'll never win"
But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

listen to this song here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwsvqVmFV6Y
x

Etsy over and out?

I sell stuff....see it on the side bar? And I love Etsy, I really, really do.
But I'm not sure how much longer I go about flogging a dead horse?
I have had one sale this year (!)
Does anyone have any suggestions?...What about MadeIt in Australia for you Aussie peeps, do you have better luck there?...or does anyone use Bigcartel?

Thought for the day

I'd rather live in a small house humbly decorated with love, patience, and kind words, than a grand house with fine things, and a manicured garden, but only contempt and disharmony within it's borders.

What's for breakfast at your place?

At our house, with mornings becoming decidedly chillier, the breakfast of choice is porridge.

I like mine with cranberries, sunflower seeds, pinenuts, and pepitas,

 a sprinkling of cinnamon, organic natural yoghurt,

and a drizzle of local leatherwood honey.

yum!

I wonder what's for breakfast at your house?

xx

Natural Kids on Storque

It's here!
Etsy's Storque article - yipee!...I am so thrilled to be part of this team of talented artisans!
check it out here:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/with-natural-kids-earth-day-is-every-day-7442/

Well done to Jen from Sewn Natural who wrote the article.  Many thanks for other members for all your hard work behind the 'scenes'!

by rumpos

Now, hundreds more people will know about the beautiful work by this talented bunch.  This is good.
xx
ps...there is a give-away on the Natural Kids Blog too.

my creative space - felty leaves

Using my current favourite colour combo of green and yellow (this is supposed to be a mustardy yellow, unfortunately my camera seems to have interpreted this as golden yellow), last night I was fiddling around cutting out leaves from some felted wool. 

 'Felted wool' is wool that is woven and then felted, as opposed to 'wool felt' that is just wool fibres just smooshed together and pressed out.   I learnt that from Leonie who one of the proprietor's of a wonderful quilt shop in Hobart, called the Quilted Crow. 

They have a luscious array of felted wool.

I think this is destined for a cushion, and I'm still thinking of the best way of attaching the leaves....either using a running stitch like the ribbon shown, or machine stitched down their middles.  Any other suggestions?

I just need to keep the symmetry.

I wonder what other lovely creative people are up to today? - I am heading over here to Kirsty's to have a look.   I missed last weeks Creative Space, Thursday just came and went without me even realising it. It's been lots of fun to particpate so far this year.

xx

Autumnal evening skies

One of my favourite times of year, Autumn skies are sublime, aren't they?
 I dashed inside to get my camera, because our view was changing by the second, the low clouds were moving so fast and low across the sky.  It was stunning.
Hope your getting some lovely skies wherever you are.
xx

Natural Kids Earth Day Promo

The Natural Kids team {of Etsy} is having a BIG promotion for Earth Day (officially the 22nd April), but lots of interesting things are happening all month.

And, just who are the Natural Kids Team exactly, I hear you ask?

 'We are a group of artisans from around the world who share a love for handcrafting eco friendly & all-natural toys, clothing, decor and more for kids, and kids at heart.

We all have shops on Etsy, and among us are doll-makers, woodworkers, painters, quilters, clothing designers and textile artists. Each makes sweet, safe and wholesome toys and gear to inspire creativity in our young ones, using exclusively natural, often organic materials.

We're committed to offering alternatives to mass produced, plastic toys and we share a love for open-ended tools to help kids discover what is new and interesting in the world.'

There are 55 shops from the team participating in this promotion (including yours truly).

Each shop has a special sale, promotion or give-away {click on the link}.

I'll personally be giving away some beautiful handmade paper, with every rainbow bunting sold through my Etsy store, in the month of April. 

 Plus, anyone who finds a picture of a little gnome hiding in one of these shop listings, contacts the shop seller, will receive a FREE e-book filled with free recipes, tutorials and crafts with kids.

How good is that!?

Watch our for Etsy's Storque article this Thursday too!

Natural Kids Team {Etsy} is also great for getting treasuries - like this one!
Thanks to The Sitting Tree for featuring me in her beautiful treasury.

I  have personally shopped from the Natural Kids Team, and am always really excited by the beauty of these 'toys', I wouldn't hesistate to recommend these shops to anyone who is seeking a quality item for a gift or your own child.  It would just be so lovely if we had a few more Aussie members though.
xx

belated thanks to ecoMILF!

This gorgeous package full of love came to me a couple of weeks ago from Meagan, after 1 won a lucky {second chance!} draw in a give-away by her blog, ecoMILF.

I have to say, I was quite sick with excitement!

Thank you Meagan!

As you know I have been hankering for this book 'handmade home' for a while now, and I have been relishing every page since it arrived....

She also sent lovely snippets of sweet fabrics, (I have plans for that great strawberry print!)  and I have already used most of a reel of vintage cotton finishing a dress for my little girl.  I had never used vintage cotton thread before (it always felt a little sacrosanct!), but I have to say using it was sublime.

It stitched like a dream, and my jolly janome and I lapped it up.  I liked how it was nice and thick, and just all round better quality than the modern cotton and polyester thread nowadays.  I'll never be in doubt about using vintage cotton thread again.  I also loved the name of the colour - eau-de-nil.  

EcoMILF has a really lovely blog, I find myself visiting often!  A great mix of yummy vegetarian food, family and thrifty living.  You should head over there.

xx

fabric drool

I still can't load any photos from my albums - anyone kind out there have any suggestions?
Hip hooray, problem resolved! Thank you so much to those lovely people who responded.
x

"There's a breach in the warp core, Scottie!"

Just to let you know I haven't vanished from the planet or been stranded on Bruny Island (actually that would be quite desirable), it's just the photo upload thingy on blogger has been misbehaving again, which is very annoying as I've lots of nice things to show you.

Bruny Island
actually, this is a view from Bruny Island, looking over at the 'mainland'

I wonder what has been happening in your world?  I do hope everyone out there is well.

I have been playing stash-busters, rummy, monopoly, and chequers this past week.  We've also had lots of catch ups with people over the Easter break, which has been lovely. 

Routines such as back to school, resume tomorrow, I do hope I'll be able to post a little more often.

xx

Happy Easter!

image

'...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.'

John 10:10

 Wishing you all a happy and hope filled Easter.  We have broken with tradition this year, and are spending Easter at home, rather than head up north to see my family, tough call, but our family really needs some rest time.   The plan for the day is to head along to church, and then in the afternoon visit some friends for afternoon tea, and an egg hunt for the kids.

Hope your day is a good one.

xx

my creative space - movement, colour and light

The moon is almost full....

What a beautiful sky this morning!

{stillness}

and this project is almost finished

{movement}

Can you guess what it's going to be?

more creative spaces here

xx