So I managed to finish the tableware and the wall hanging.
I've 3/4 finished the Sashiko Cushion, need to unpick the lining I have sewn in as I've had another idea.
Have started the other piece of tableware, and had planned on doing some more tonight, but had a nap when I got home, so didn't get to it.
Have now decided to make 2 mug rugs and some little purses.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Ongoing Projects
So I have a number of projects on the go at present...
Am not doing much else this weekend as there is track work on the train line, and I will not be attempting to travel on the replacement bus service! I might even have some pics to share during the week, although they will have to be sneak peaks as these are Christmas presents.
Hope you all have a fun weekend planned!
- Japanese Lady Panel that needs: Sashiko stitching, sandwiching, shadow quilting & binding.
- Tableware that needs: Ditch-stiching, quilting & binding.
- Handbag that needs: Cutting out & sewing.
- Mug Rugs that need: Everything!
- Tablecloth that needs: Cutting out, piecing, backing, ditch stitching & finishing.
- Cross Stitch that needs: Colour stitching.
- 40th B'Day Quilt that needs: Cutting out.
- Pink Lap Quilt that needs: Ditch stitching, quilting & binding.
Am not doing much else this weekend as there is track work on the train line, and I will not be attempting to travel on the replacement bus service! I might even have some pics to share during the week, although they will have to be sneak peaks as these are Christmas presents.
Hope you all have a fun weekend planned!
 |
| Sweet Peas. |
Sunday, November 6, 2011
To Cook! Cinnamony Sugary Goodness!
Well I finally made this bread that I read about a long time ago. I read this on Baking My Way Through Germany and loved the thought of it. I was a little scared of trying a bread, seeing as the last time I attempted it, it was a disaster. The deciding factor in making this recipe yesterday was the heat of the day, a need to knead some frustration out, and a large stone bench! Thanks to Karen from The House of Wilson for lending me her bench, oven and the heat in her laundry! Oh and the help with eating it too!
I found this recipe fairly easy to follow, I just couldn't take the waiting! So I've included the recipe below, and some pictures of my results. Yes, the colouring on the top is seriously brown, almost burnt, but it made for a crispy cinnamony sugary goodness! :D
I think you should give this recipe a go, and enjoy the delicious results!
Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread
For the Dough:
2¾ cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour(Plain), divided
¼ cup caster sugar
2¼ teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup milk
¼ cup water
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Filling:
1 cup caster sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted until browned
1. In a large mixing bowl whisk together 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Set aside.
2. Whisk together eggs and set aside.
3. In a small saucepan, melt together milk and butter until butter has just melted. Remove from the heat and add water and vanilla extract. Let mixture stand for a minute or two, or until the mixture registers 115 to 125 degrees F.
4. Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula. Add the eggs and stir the mixture until the eggs are incorporated into the batter. The eggs will feel soupy and it’ll seem like the dough and the eggs are never going to come together. Keep stirring. Add the remaining ¾ cup of flour and stir with the spatula for about 2 minutes. The mixture will be sticky. That’s just right.
5. Place the dough is a large, greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel. Place in a warm space and allow to rest until doubled in size, about 1 hour. *The dough can be risen until doubled in size, then refrigerated overnight for use in the morning. If you’re using this method, just let the dough rest on the counter for 30 minutes before following the roll-out directions below.
6. While the dough rises, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon for the filling. Set aside. Melt 2 ounces of butter in a saucepan until browned. Set aside. Grease and flour a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Set that aside too.
7. Deflate the risen dough and knead the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour into the dough. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 5 minutes. On a lightly floured work surface, use a rolling pin to roll the dough out. The dough should be 12-inches tall and about 20-inches long. Use a pastry brush to spread melted butter across all of the dough. Sprinkle with all of the sugar and cinnamon mixture.
8. Slice the dough vertically, into six equal-sized strips. Stack the strips on top of one another and slice the stack into six equal slices once again. You’ll have six stacks of six squares. Layer the dough squares in the loaf pan like a flip-book. Place a kitchen towel over the loaf pan and allow in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes or until almost doubled in size.
9. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place loaf in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is very golden brown. The top may be lightly browned, but the center may still be raw. A nice, dark, golden brown will ensure that the center is cooked as well.
10. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20 to 30 minutes. Run a butter knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the bread and invert onto a clean board. Place a cake stand or cake plate on top of the upside down loaf, and carefully invert so it’s right side up. Serve warm with coffee or tea.
11. The bread is best served the day it’s made, but it can also we wrapped and kept at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Yield: One 9×5-inch loaf
Prep Time: 3 hours | Bake Time: 30 to 35 minutes
Taken from : http://www.browneyedbaker.com/ and is a recipe adapted from :
http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/ who adapted it from: http://www.hungrygirlporvida.com/
I found this recipe fairly easy to follow, I just couldn't take the waiting! So I've included the recipe below, and some pictures of my results. Yes, the colouring on the top is seriously brown, almost burnt, but it made for a crispy cinnamony sugary goodness! :D
I think you should give this recipe a go, and enjoy the delicious results!
Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread
For the Dough:
2¾ cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour(Plain), divided
¼ cup caster sugar
2¼ teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup milk
¼ cup water
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extractFor the Filling:
1 cup caster sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted until browned
1. In a large mixing bowl whisk together 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Set aside.2. Whisk together eggs and set aside.
3. In a small saucepan, melt together milk and butter until butter has just melted. Remove from the heat and add water and vanilla extract. Let mixture stand for a minute or two, or until the mixture registers 115 to 125 degrees F.
4. Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula. Add the eggs and stir the mixture until the eggs are incorporated into the batter. The eggs will feel soupy and it’ll seem like the dough and the eggs are never going to come together. Keep stirring. Add the remaining ¾ cup of flour and stir with the spatula for about 2 minutes. The mixture will be sticky. That’s just right.
5. Place the dough is a large, greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel. Place in a warm space and allow to rest until doubled in size, about 1 hour. *The dough can be risen until doubled in size, then refrigerated overnight for use in the morning. If you’re using this method, just let the dough rest on the counter for 30 minutes before following the roll-out directions below.
6. While the dough rises, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon for the filling. Set aside. Melt 2 ounces of butter in a saucepan until browned. Set aside. Grease and flour a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Set that aside too.
7. Deflate the risen dough and knead the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour into the dough. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 5 minutes. On a lightly floured work surface, use a rolling pin to roll the dough out. The dough should be 12-inches tall and about 20-inches long. Use a pastry brush to spread melted butter across all of the dough. Sprinkle with all of the sugar and cinnamon mixture.
8. Slice the dough vertically, into six equal-sized strips. Stack the strips on top of one another and slice the stack into six equal slices once again. You’ll have six stacks of six squares. Layer the dough squares in the loaf pan like a flip-book. Place a kitchen towel over the loaf pan and allow in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes or until almost doubled in size.
9. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place loaf in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is very golden brown. The top may be lightly browned, but the center may still be raw. A nice, dark, golden brown will ensure that the center is cooked as well.
10. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20 to 30 minutes. Run a butter knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the bread and invert onto a clean board. Place a cake stand or cake plate on top of the upside down loaf, and carefully invert so it’s right side up. Serve warm with coffee or tea.
11. The bread is best served the day it’s made, but it can also we wrapped and kept at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Yield: One 9×5-inch loaf
Prep Time: 3 hours | Bake Time: 30 to 35 minutes
Taken from : http://www.browneyedbaker.com/ and is a recipe adapted from :
http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/ who adapted it from: http://www.hungrygirlporvida.com/
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Try As I Might...
I keep looking at all these blog posts by all these wonderful women, and get frustrated with myself.
Why? I hear you ask? Because I want to do so many things at once, and just don't have the time or the funds to do so. I have to keep reminding myself that most of these ladies are either retired or stay at home Mum's, so in essence have slightly more time than I do to complete all their sewing/quilting projects. Also they are generally faster/have been doing these things a long time, and I am just learning to do them. I suppose if they were to see how quickly I design jewellery pieces or work bead patterns, the tables would be turned.
Don't get me wrong I love learning new things and creating pieces made with love to give away. Just sometimes, like today, the frustration gets the better of me and makes me sad and overwhelmed with all the ideas I have.
I currently have 3 projects on the go, and a list for about 6 more new projects to start ... all before Christmas! This is not including the 4 Sashiko panels I have already completed that need turning into cushions/wall hangings!
So frustrated I will stay! :P
Why? I hear you ask? Because I want to do so many things at once, and just don't have the time or the funds to do so. I have to keep reminding myself that most of these ladies are either retired or stay at home Mum's, so in essence have slightly more time than I do to complete all their sewing/quilting projects. Also they are generally faster/have been doing these things a long time, and I am just learning to do them. I suppose if they were to see how quickly I design jewellery pieces or work bead patterns, the tables would be turned.
Don't get me wrong I love learning new things and creating pieces made with love to give away. Just sometimes, like today, the frustration gets the better of me and makes me sad and overwhelmed with all the ideas I have.
I currently have 3 projects on the go, and a list for about 6 more new projects to start ... all before Christmas! This is not including the 4 Sashiko panels I have already completed that need turning into cushions/wall hangings!
So frustrated I will stay! :P
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
To Craft!
So it's my Mum's Birthday this week. YAY!!
In April when I went to the AQC with her I bought a panel that was a cute applique of Poppies on a bag. The kit only contained the materials for the panel, but came with the pattern for the bag too. I had every intention of making the bag in time for Mum's Birthday, but as usual I had completely forgotten about it until it was too late to purchase the materials I wanted to use. So I ended up making the panel up and deciding to make it into a cushion cover instead.
So this is the panel all put together. I used DMC embroidery cotton for the detail on the poppies and the blanket stitching around the shapes. The stems on the poppies were sewn using a green variegated thread and the smallest stitch on my sewing machine.
On the weekend just gone I tea dyed 5 metres of calico. So I decided to use the dyed calico to make up the front and back of the cushion. I had also decided to pad the front panel with some iron pelon, so lined the inside with regular coloured calico. I only ditch stitched around the black part of the internal panel then again around the red edge next to the calico. I also had a strip of red left over from the inner panel, so I decided to try and use it for piping along the outside of the cushion. Which worked I might add! Although it's not perfect I'm so proud of myself!! :D The back of the cushion is also the tea dyed calico & lined with regular calico, it also has a fold over opening so you can slip in a cushion insert .
This Birthday present is now winging it's way to my sister's house in Brisbane for my Mum to open on her Birthday!
In April when I went to the AQC with her I bought a panel that was a cute applique of Poppies on a bag. The kit only contained the materials for the panel, but came with the pattern for the bag too. I had every intention of making the bag in time for Mum's Birthday, but as usual I had completely forgotten about it until it was too late to purchase the materials I wanted to use. So I ended up making the panel up and deciding to make it into a cushion cover instead.
So this is the panel all put together. I used DMC embroidery cotton for the detail on the poppies and the blanket stitching around the shapes. The stems on the poppies were sewn using a green variegated thread and the smallest stitch on my sewing machine.
On the weekend just gone I tea dyed 5 metres of calico. So I decided to use the dyed calico to make up the front and back of the cushion. I had also decided to pad the front panel with some iron pelon, so lined the inside with regular coloured calico. I only ditch stitched around the black part of the internal panel then again around the red edge next to the calico. I also had a strip of red left over from the inner panel, so I decided to try and use it for piping along the outside of the cushion. Which worked I might add! Although it's not perfect I'm so proud of myself!! :D The back of the cushion is also the tea dyed calico & lined with regular calico, it also has a fold over opening so you can slip in a cushion insert .
This Birthday present is now winging it's way to my sister's house in Brisbane for my Mum to open on her Birthday!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
To Eat!
A couple of weeks ago (as I forgot to post this at the time!) a friend from Sydney and I went to Maha for dinner. The style & cuisine of this restaurant is Mediterranean/Middle Eastern.
Now I had been there before, as I had booked there for our office Christmas Lunch 2010, and had been impressed with it then. So we both chose the 5 course Soufra with wines to match. As Anthony is vegetarian, I chose to have the vege option as well. Upon reflection I don't think I would have eaten as well with the meat dishes!
It was superb! We started with a pumpkin soup, but not just any old pumpkin soup! In the bottom of the rather large bowl/dish, were roasted pine nuts and something green (which I can't remember what it was), and a small swirl of feta cheese. There was also a small roll made with cinnamon filled with feta cheese on the side. The soup was them poured over the nuts & greenery. It was absolutely delish!!
The second course was an antipasto style, there were bowls of olives marinated in chilli and a Maltese cheese (Name of which I didn't catch), a bowl of white cannelli beans with olive oil & garlic, a bowl with thinly sliced zucchini, olive oil & spices and a beetroot & sour cream dip, all served with individual Turkish bread rolls.
While we were still eating that, out came course No.3. This was a spring roll filled with roasted red onion and garlic, and a tahini sauce (I think!), a bowl of lentil in olive oil with caramelised onion and feta crumbled over the top. They were beyond words yummy!
By this point we were onto the double glasses of wine with the food. I cannot even remember what I was drinking! I know they were white wines and were very good. The main course was accompanied by 2 reds, one of which happened to be a Shiraz. I cannot drink Shiraz or any blends with that grape variety, as it just doesn't like me. So not wishing to ruin my meal, I asked them to take it away. The somelier then gave me some VERY nice Pinot Noir which also suited what we were about to eat.
So main course was pumpkin & feta (me thinks) ravioli, with a nutty foam of some sort. I tell you it was a different taste sensation! Some fatoush, and a rice dish with apricots, pine nuts and something else. The final dish of the mains was turnip & mushrooms, cooked I think on the grill with some sea salt and olive oil. I'm not really sure what else was with it, because at this point I'm enjoying the food too much to pay attention to what our attendant is telling us about it!
After all that, we still had the dessert/sweets to come. We opted to wait for about 30 mins before even contemplating eating again! So we sat and chatted and finished our wine.
I tell you it was worth the wait! Out came a board with 3 small dishes/glasses. The first was a cone of very fine pastry, made by piping and swirling it around to create the cone shape. It was filled with a white chocolate mousse, that I think m ay have had some sort of nut in it. Drizzled over this was an orange syrup. OMG YUM!!! It was but a mere mouthful, but it was heaven. The second was a shot glass, and according the the attendant was their version of a 'Golden Gaytime' ice cream. The inside of the glass was smeared with salted chocolate and nuts and roasted cous cous, yes you did read that right. At the bottom of the glass was a layer of salted caramel, on top of that was a dark chocolate mousse, and on top of that was a foam of some sort. It was toe curlingly yummy. The last was the signature sweet for Maha, Greek style donuts filled with Turkish Delight, and drizzled with Turkish Delight syrup. We also had 2 dessert wines to go with them, but I only managed to finish one of them, the other wine was way too sweet for me.
After all that we waddled home! It was a great dinner! I cannot recommend Maha enough, so if you come down to visit Melbourne, see if you can go for lunch or dinner!
Now I had been there before, as I had booked there for our office Christmas Lunch 2010, and had been impressed with it then. So we both chose the 5 course Soufra with wines to match. As Anthony is vegetarian, I chose to have the vege option as well. Upon reflection I don't think I would have eaten as well with the meat dishes!
It was superb! We started with a pumpkin soup, but not just any old pumpkin soup! In the bottom of the rather large bowl/dish, were roasted pine nuts and something green (which I can't remember what it was), and a small swirl of feta cheese. There was also a small roll made with cinnamon filled with feta cheese on the side. The soup was them poured over the nuts & greenery. It was absolutely delish!!
The second course was an antipasto style, there were bowls of olives marinated in chilli and a Maltese cheese (Name of which I didn't catch), a bowl of white cannelli beans with olive oil & garlic, a bowl with thinly sliced zucchini, olive oil & spices and a beetroot & sour cream dip, all served with individual Turkish bread rolls.
While we were still eating that, out came course No.3. This was a spring roll filled with roasted red onion and garlic, and a tahini sauce (I think!), a bowl of lentil in olive oil with caramelised onion and feta crumbled over the top. They were beyond words yummy!
By this point we were onto the double glasses of wine with the food. I cannot even remember what I was drinking! I know they were white wines and were very good. The main course was accompanied by 2 reds, one of which happened to be a Shiraz. I cannot drink Shiraz or any blends with that grape variety, as it just doesn't like me. So not wishing to ruin my meal, I asked them to take it away. The somelier then gave me some VERY nice Pinot Noir which also suited what we were about to eat.
So main course was pumpkin & feta (me thinks) ravioli, with a nutty foam of some sort. I tell you it was a different taste sensation! Some fatoush, and a rice dish with apricots, pine nuts and something else. The final dish of the mains was turnip & mushrooms, cooked I think on the grill with some sea salt and olive oil. I'm not really sure what else was with it, because at this point I'm enjoying the food too much to pay attention to what our attendant is telling us about it!
After all that, we still had the dessert/sweets to come. We opted to wait for about 30 mins before even contemplating eating again! So we sat and chatted and finished our wine.
I tell you it was worth the wait! Out came a board with 3 small dishes/glasses. The first was a cone of very fine pastry, made by piping and swirling it around to create the cone shape. It was filled with a white chocolate mousse, that I think m ay have had some sort of nut in it. Drizzled over this was an orange syrup. OMG YUM!!! It was but a mere mouthful, but it was heaven. The second was a shot glass, and according the the attendant was their version of a 'Golden Gaytime' ice cream. The inside of the glass was smeared with salted chocolate and nuts and roasted cous cous, yes you did read that right. At the bottom of the glass was a layer of salted caramel, on top of that was a dark chocolate mousse, and on top of that was a foam of some sort. It was toe curlingly yummy. The last was the signature sweet for Maha, Greek style donuts filled with Turkish Delight, and drizzled with Turkish Delight syrup. We also had 2 dessert wines to go with them, but I only managed to finish one of them, the other wine was way too sweet for me.
After all that we waddled home! It was a great dinner! I cannot recommend Maha enough, so if you come down to visit Melbourne, see if you can go for lunch or dinner!
To Craft at the last minute!
So it's Godboffin's Birthday on Monday next week. Time got completely away from me and I failed to make the fun bag I was going to do. So was in a panic at the beginning of this week, as I had no idea what to get her! I remember Karen showing me a few "Mug Rug's" she had made. So I went searching the internet for inspiration. I found it here.
I found some scrap pieces that were already sewn together and cut them up, and put them together as shown below. Now my 1st Mug Rug is a little longer than was advised in the instructions, but I think it adds character! :D
It took me just over 4 hours due to the ironing and cutting then sewing the decorative quilting and the binding. The instructions said the sew the binding on by machine, and I would have happily done that, had I not decided to try something different. And by different I mean sewing on all 4 side as separate pieces. Note to self - DON'T DO THAT AGAIN!!!
I did however, have fun putting it together and may make some more later on.
I did however, have fun putting it together and may make some more later on.
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