Today I’ve got the privilege of guest posting over at Sew Delicious with a 'Beginner's Guide to Quilting'; as part of Ros's 'Back To Sewing basics Series' which has been running this month.
If you’re a beginner quilter then make sure you check out my post.
And if you’re not – just make sure you check out Ros's lovely blog anyway AND the rest of this amazingly informative series.
X
Sorry I haven’t been popping in here quite as regularly these last couple of weeks.
The truth is, I’ve been a bit pre-occupied with a pretty exciting, top secret project, that I’ll reveal to you at a later date.
In the meantime, here’s a look at what I’ve been working on today – a few more blocks of my cherry pie quilt.
Apart from that, I’ve been…
… roasting chicken, negotiating the custody of favourite toys, marvelling at how fast my kids grow, and trying to make a plan for the upcoming Kids Clothing Week Challenge.
Are you joining in this time round?
Jenny x
We had our church market this morning and I’m pretty happy with how it went.
[Me looking like a bit of a goon behind my stall]
I went in to it with low expectations, and was happy to make $95 (less the $10 fee of course.) My owls proved very popular but I only sold one skirt. (Never mind – my gift box/ Isabelle’s wardrobe has just had a boost).
I just love market atmosphere and it was fun to be part of it.
Andrew brought the kids down a bit later and they joined in the fun too. Isabelle got her face painted… (and I have to add that she was still wearing her PJ pants!! – although they passed as leggings.)
I managed to resist spending all my profits at other peoples’ stalls, but did buy one or two things… including this little bag and monster crayon holder for Noah from my friend Jo.
Don’t you just love how the crayons are the monster’s teeth? Noah thinks it’s pretty awesome too.
All in all, it was a fun day and I think they raised a decent amount for youth group – the face painting, car wash and sausage sizzle stands looked like they did pretty well.
What have you been up to this weekend? Gone to any good markets/ garage sales or fairs recently?
Jenny x
I wish I could say that what I’m wearing cost this much – but alas this is not the case.
If you remember this post, when I first featured this skirt – you may remember that I was taking the advice of my Gran to take $1 off a pricey item every time you wear it. This is my estimate of how much I think I’ve written off so far. (I still have a way to go, but love it and plan to wear it heaps more!)
Outfit breakdown: Skirt – Thrive (a NZ brand) from a shop in Havelock North,Salsa; belt (a gift from my Mum) – also from Salsa; cardi – glassons, singlet –? possibly farmers or glassons, scarf – dotti, sandals – number one shoe warehouse.
*By the way I know it’s actually Thursday now – I was busy yesterday making things for the market this Saturday and only got this post half written. As always my WW absence was noted by my bro-in-law Toby (I got a text from him at 9am yesterday morning asking where my Wardrobe Wednesday post was!) Here you go Toby – better late than never, huh?
Joining in over here and here.
Jen x
The other day I was picking up some groceries and I decided I really felt like a chicken and kumara (sweet potato) pie, so I picked up some chicken breast, kumara and pre-rolled pastry sheets.
I didn’t have a recipe in mind so I turned to Mr google… I found a couple of recipes but they all seemed to contain many obscure ingredients so I decided to come up with my own.
It doesn’t always work out when I go ‘off recipe’, but this time it did.
Ingredients:
About 500g chicken breast, cubed (thigh meat would also work here too)
1 onion, chopped
Oil for shallow frying
A handful of button mushrooms (sliced)
2 small or 1 large kumara, cubed(sweet potato)
1.5 cups of chicken stock
1 teaspoon of mustard powder
I added some broccoli (you could add zucchini or peas – for a little bit of green)
flour/ cornflour for thickening
grated parmesan cheese
Pastry (and egg wash)
Method:
Fry onions, chicken and mushrooms – when cooked put to one side.
Cook kumara in stock for around 10 mins. Now add the already cooked ingredients (above) and peas/broccoli or whatever, mustard powder and reduce for around 5 mins. Add flour/ cornflour to thicken.
(If you prefer it creamy – add sour cream or equivalent, once removed from the heat.)
Line a pie dish with pastry pour in filling and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Then top with pastry and brush with egg wash. Bake in oven at around 180 degrees Celsius for around 15-20 mins or until pastry is browned.
Enjoy!
x
I wasn’t intending doing kid style posts two weeks in a row. But when I took these photos last Friday they were so cute that I just couldn’t not. And besides, I’d been waiting for a while for Isabelle to grow into this gorgeous thrifted dress (almost a whole year); so I think it justifies it’s own blog post.
(Oh, and Noah features a little too – in an ensemble he picked out himself.)
I think at this point (in the photo above), she was showing me her shoes – she really loves her shoes, my girl.
I’m not one of those Mums who avoids dressing their little girl in pink (especially if it is a lovely dusky shade); but I really do like navy and white on a little girl – and gingham especially, it’s just so classic and timeless.
Noah’s Mama-made shorts unfortunately did not last the day – the crotch seam gave out – it was pretty strong but I made them too small, combined with the fact that he’s had a growth spurt recently and still in bulky(-ish) re-usable nappies! (We are doing a double toilet training adventure this Summer, I tell you – although Isabelle has shown more interest and success than he so far!)
It’s ok – I’ll just make some more shorts in a larger size.
Noah wears: Thermal – a hand-me-down from my cousin, Tank - made by me, (now deceased) shorts – also made by me, gumboots – T&T.
Isabelle wears: Vintage gingham dress – local op shop, onesie – hand-me-down from Noah, shoes – hand-me-down from a friend, hair clip – one of mine.
Sorry for bombarding you with so much cuteness (I really can’t help it!)
Jen x
I think my first association with bunting flags was when I doing backstroke for school swimming and those little flags were meant to remind that the end of the pool was near so I didn’t bump my head. (I still managed to bump it most times anyway – I like running and most sports, but I’m not a naturally talented swimmer!)
Fast forward (quite) a few years and bunting flags are everywhere, especially used as decoration in baby’s nurseries and kid’s bedrooms.
I’m still plodding away at making stuff for the upcoming market, including a few strings of bunting.
So far I’ve made nautical, pirate and tea-party bunting and have some vintage sheet bunting cut out and ready to go.
I looked around our house and thought I’d show you some of the bunting we have round here…
One of two buntings in Isabelle’s room!
… And one of two in Noah’s room as well! This was one of the first things I sewed for him.
Here are some other bunting related products I found on Felt …
Brass Bunting necklace from Sly Fox Jewellery
I WANT one of these sooo bad!
Spring Tote Bags with bunting design
and of course … DIY Mini bunting made by the super clever Stella
There are a heap more – see for yourself
Do you have a bunting collecting habit/ obsession like me?
Jenny x
It seems I haven’t joined in with 'Things I'm Loving', in like forever… and since there a few things I’m loving at the moment (most of which are related to sunshine, yay!); I’ve decided to join in today.
I’m loving…
Kiddie picnics (and these two critters obviously!)…
Eating iceblocks from The Icebar Co (lemonade is best) in the sunshine.
(Please try to ignore that large bit of snot mingling with Noah’s iceblock! What’s that? You didn’t notice it until I pointed it out, but now you can’t take your eyes of it? Whoops sorry about that!
I love the hidden messages on the sticks almost as much as the iceblocks… especially this one. We live in the Hawkes Bay so I’ll say ‘hello’ to the lemons on your behalf.
“Hello Lemons”
I’m also loving … wearing summery sandals – Spring must have well and truly sprung here and it is definitely starting to feel like Summer’s on it’s way!
… and receiving these gorgeous handcrafted stamps in the mail from here.
Now I can’t wait to try out this awesome tutorial!
…
And lastly, have you seen this awesome (17 minute) mini-movie of the animated history of Lego? It’s well worth a watch!
Joining in with 'Things I'm Loving' over at MNMs
x
As I mentioned here, I caught up with my sis, Holly in the weekend and we had dinner, a good chat and played dress-ups. Well actually I was the one who played dress-ups and she was my photographer and stylist. She works for World and has great taste, so has lovely clothes and knows how to style and wear them. (I also sometimes have the benefit of getting her hand-me-downs.)
We had a lot of fun – it turns out the joy of playing dress-ups is not just for little kids.
[Everything I’m wearing is Holly’s, the dress is World, shoes from Overland and I’m not sure about the belt.]
Can you tell we had a lot of fun? And please can I assure you, we weren’t taking ourselves very seriously!
For the record, this is the first time I’ve cooked in sequins.
This is my attempt at a pout, I look pretty mad!
I also tried on Holly’s budgie pants. The fabric is 100% silk and the budgie print is adorable.
Did anyone else have a pet budgie or two as a kid? I can’t remember the whole story, but I’m pretty sure when it was our turn to look after the kindy budgie, our cat got it!
[Coat and pants from World]
I want some of this fabric so bad!
Thanks Holly for a great night! (I also left with a very generous parting gift from Holly that I will most likely be rocking in a future WW post very soon.)
Have you played dress-ups in your/ your sister’s wardrobe recently?
I thoroughly recommend it.
Joining in with…
over at it’s new home on Miriam's blog… and,
also with WIWW at the pleated poppy and here too
Jen x
I love unique and quirky kids clothing and supporting NZ businesses and hand/NZ made – and when you can achieve all of this in one, all the better.
I got the Squidgyums owl hoodie (made by Kristin) on sale almost exactly one year ago. (Look at how wee Isabelle is in that pic!) It’s really lasted so well as she’s grown.
I bought the fox hoodie from Peppin recently. It was on sale also, but even so was a bit more than I normally spend on kids clothes (especially since I make and thrift a lot of their stuff!) But it’s nice to splash out every once and a while.
I proved impossible to get both kids to look at the camera at the same time, but candid shots are often nicer, I think; … and I was also treated to another Ballet performance from Noah.
Noah wears: Fox hoodie – Peppin, T-shirt – thrifted, black jeans – T&T, shoes – JK outlet store.
Isabelle wears: Owl hoodie – Squidgyums (made by Kristin), T-shirt – thrifted, shorts - made by me, Shoes – thrifted (Hoof), hair clip – from a local craft market.
Joining in with …
Jenny xox
