Tuesday 31 December 2013

New Toy

I was in a local store looking for a gadget for chopping onions and chillis when I found this instead.......

Years ago I had my Mother's preserving kit but had to let it go due to space constraints as well as work and a young family at the time. From time to time I've made jams and pickles and frozen summer fruits for the dull time of year when choice is limited but now with more time on my hands and surplus produce from the garden (and a new kitchen in planning) it seems like time to get back to it in earnest.......



The kit is for the 'waterbath' method of preserving. It's not suitable for all kinds of produce - it apparently depends on acidity....(more research required here)......

With cucumbers popping out everywhere, 'Bread and Butter pickles' seemed a logical starting point - and here are the results. (They look like they are supposed to look - the proof will be in the eating in a few weeks time....)



(Actually I thought I would fill 3 jars but they squished down a little more than I expected.)

I have also discovered a link to a website that sells new lids for your existing jars which is a win/win for preserving seasonal bounty, reusing perfectly good jars and ensuring the produce is safe to keep longer term as well as a number of environmental considerations. (There is also a wealth of information there on making cheese and yoghurt, preserving all kinds of food and recipes.)

I have the jars so I'm off to order some lids......

Sue xxxx



Friday 27 December 2013

Season's Greetings

For those who celebrate Christmas I hope your day was everything you wanted it to be. Ours was full of family and good food (and not one, but three dogs).......

For now, the guests have all gone - bar one large dog - most of the washing is done, there isn't too much leftover food and the sun has come out.

All of this AND the flannel quilt is FINISHED!!! and ready to hand over.......






So what's next? So many plans.......

Sue xxxx

Friday 20 December 2013

Howzat???

....to use a cricketing term.....

The machines are packed away......


I can see the furniture and breathe without choking on dust  .......

I can even see out of the window.......

But don't worry - it will only last til the Christmas guests go home because quietly waiting in the wings is this box the postie brought yesterday.......I do love parcels in the mail...........


So, we are ready for more dyeing, with an 'e' when we begin our online class in January with Elizabeth Barton.........

Just add water.......(plus a few other bits)

Let the fun begin.....................

Sue xxxx

Thursday 19 December 2013

The Perils of 5 Minute Shopping

On my way to an appointment I had to go past my local art shop so I thought I would squeeze in 5 minutes of shopping. I knew what I wanted - some grey Inktense pencils to tone down some of the other colours and make the kinds of eucalyptus greens I need for a current project.

I know where the pencils are kept (you might say it's a well worn track) so I went straight there, spotted some beautiful greys, grabbed half a dozen and paid up. When I got home and began to take the price tags off I discovered I had picked up Graphitint pencils by mistake. (These are tinted graphite pencils which can be used as a drawing pencil or wet to create a watercolour like wash - for use on paper, not fabric - also made by Derwent.)


I could have taken them back and exchanged them but I figured I might as well try them since I had heard of them and now I had some to hand......the colours are more subdued than Inktense and perfect for my little project.

It's probably just as well I only had 5 minutes because there's a big sale on for Christmas and it could have been a much more expensive exercise than coming home with six pencils.

I just hope this isn't the beginning of a new, must-have collection - though I suspect it may be.......

Sue xxxx

Wednesday 11 December 2013

Not Much Sewing But........

Two Christmas cakes and a pudding - and - wait for it - dusting and polishing. (Yes, we're having guests over Christmas......)



Also, settling in the newest houseguest.....

Meet the grand-dog......


Who was also sprung..........

The top border......

The top border has gone on but the other end will be more problematic. There will be quite a bit of fudging to come but the overall impact is pleasing.....

Sue xxxx



Friday 6 December 2013

Dogsitting

Lucky me - as a thank you for dogsitting my friend gave me these......

Proper binding clips in 2 sizes and pins I have never seen before.....

The chicken stand-off......


TV with Dan

She really didn't like that lion.........


When we got home from an evening out - at least she was in her own bed.........

Sprung - while I was in the shower....
We collect the next customer tomorrow - I think you'll notice the difference.

Sue xxxx