Cup of tea??

The woollen jumper felted up quite well after a long hot wash and a spin in the dryer. It shrank by about 50% I estimate.

Here it is made up into a recycled woollen jumper tea cosy. I hope it does the job.

Softies

AnnieB came over on Friday night to sew a softie. We decided to do the same one (beetle bug), but they are still quite different. Mine is the one with the unstuffed legs.
Here is AnnieB arranging them for the all important "photo for the blog".




I would like to have a go at making a felted tea cosy, maybe like this one. Apparently you can make felt from old woollen jumpers, there are lots of tutorials about how to do this on the net.
As I type this I have an old jumper and cardigan in the machine on HOT to have a go. I am hoping it works.

Lisa's "goo".

This stuff is so delicious, you must try it. It can be served hot or cold, with roast lamb YUM!! or part of a mezze plate, with anything really..........
Lisa (my SIL) has given me the "recipe" so here it is. There are no exact ammounts, do it to taste/size of what you have.

Sataras pronounced 'Sat Tarash'

Slowly caramelise red onions, garlic with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Add red capsicum (fresh and bottled if available) and continue to cook on low temperature to soften
(best if you grill capsicums and remove skin)
Add tomatoes, zucchini and carrot (the capsicum and tomatoes make up ~ 2/3 of the total volume)
Cook for 2-3 hrs over low heat till carrot is tender
Add parsley if desired
Serve with crusty bread or ...........

Sunday afternoon..

A bit of cooking. Jamie Oliver's slow roasted lamb shoulder.
It was delicious served with Aunty Lisa's "goo" (recipe to come).
A bit of swimming.

A bit of craft. We found this idea in Issue #1 of Mixtape Zine.
And an extension of the chook pen. Dave is hoping the little tractors will help clean up the veggie patch.

Op Shop Treasures

A couple of days ago we discovered a fantastic op-shop in Sydney. If only I had been without Dave I could have bought so much more..........
I spent $11 and got a pattern (to make myself some PJ bottoms), 2 sewing mags, a crochet book (one of my NY's resolutions is to learn to crochet), an Australian geography textbook (I am doing a major in Geog at Uni), 2 great kids books (one of which I had as a child: I was reminiscing all the way home) and this GORGEOUS fabric!! (it was actually a curtain)
I love it!!, Dave thinks it is vile. Not sure what to use it for, maybe some cushion covers for the playroom, a bag for me.......

On a roll.........

These Pencil Rolls are addictive, I have made 4 in the last day.
They are really easy. I have seen them here and here, and on many other craft blogs. I think I will try one with Rik Rak next.

I got spoilt!!

I thought I would share a few of my more crafty Christmas presents.
This book which has the most gorgeous clever soft toys to make.

Issue #1 and #2 of Mixtape Zine.

A vintage sewing book by Enid Gilchrist, with lots of patterns for boys and girls.

Two new CD's from Dave, Paul Kelly and The Whitlams. I love having music on when I sew.

(And of course my new sewing machine, I was lucky really to get anything else at all....)