100 days happy- Day 74

yaarrgh, I'm pleased with myself- I've made my first pair of granny square slippers- each slipper is made from 6 granny squares, and they're blanket stitched together.
(I posted a tutorial for this last year- but I've finally got the ability to make granny squares)

I'm not sure I've picked the best model- Traff has the widest feet ever! but you get the idea.

Floral crown instructions- From etsy

You will need:
Flowers of your choice and clippers. The pliable flowers are best to work with for the base of the crown. Try bending the stem first to make sure it doesn’t crack. If it does, consider trying something else. For this floral crown, I used black dahlias, tidsel (the greenery for the base), astilbe (the pink), craspedia (the yellow balls), and virburnum berries (the turquoise and purple).

Cut and line up the first round of flowers for the base of your crown. Ideally, the stems should be 5-9″ long each. You can cut them down but it’s harder to work with shorter stems. I suggest using greenery first and then adding the colors into it.

Lay one stem perpendicular on top of another.

Bend the stem under.

Bring the stem up to the top and then press it down so it lies next to the first.

While holding the two stems in place with your left hand, place another stem on top and bend it under.

Bring the stem up again and then place it parallel with the others.

Repeat the process until it’s the size of the circumference of the head. I added some different greenery into the middle to create more of a focal point when it’s worn.

When you get to the end, wrap the last stem tightly around the others to secure them in place, making sure that it doesn’t break.

To finish off the circle, weave the last stems into the beginning of the crown by tucking them in.

Now you can start adding in other flowers. I added longer pieces first so that the shorter flowers can be seen at the end.

Place your show-stopper flowers evenly around the crown. I used black dahlias as my main piece.

Finishing touches: Continue adding in your flowers evenly around the crown. I added in berries at the end for some exclamation marks.

There are several different versions to a floral crown. You can switch off flowers for the base of the crown instead of adding the flowers in at the end, or you can keep it simple and just use one variety. After completing one, you’ll want to turn every flower you see into a crown. Good luck!

Shibori dying - From etsy

I wish I'd seen this before we did our tie dying!
However now that I know I'll be dying at least one more duvet cover- for use in our home- and a few man sized t-shirts I'll try this!
I don't think a woman's top would be big enough to get a good pattern- this tutorial is making a table runner- Which would make a very cool present, but unfortunately, we don't have a dinner table, so do not require a table runner!

I still stand by the dylon advice from the tie dying- 3l of water, not 4 for a more vibrant colour and leave the fabric in 15-20 minutes otherwise the colour seeps under the bands.

Photo by House of Earnest

Story by House of Earnest

Published on Apr 01, 2014 in Make

Learning a new dyeing technique is an easy and fun way to get custom linens. A grown-up take on tie dye, Japanese shibori is one of the prettiest things you can do to a spare piece of fabric. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to transform a basic sheet into a large-scale geometric table runner that is sure to make your spring table pop with personality.

You will need:
Disposable plastic container
Flat white twin sheet
A packet of fabric dye (I like Dylon because they have some pretty, modern colors)
Scrap cardboard and string
Rubber gloves

Step 1: Cut the twin sheet in half lengthwise.

Step 2: Fold in half lengthwise, then fold again, lengthwise.

Step 3: Fold one corner of the strip over to the opposite side of the strip, forming a triangle. Flip the triangle underneath, and then repeat the fold all of the way down the length of the fabric. The fold resembles a flag-fold, but instead of staying on top of the fabric, you’re folding under, then over — like an accordion fold.

Step 4: Sandwich the folded triangle between two pieces of scrap cardboard cut to the shape of the folded sheet. Tie the bundle tightly with string. The tighter you tie, the more white space you’ll have.

Step 5: Mix the dye according to the instructions on the packet.

Step 6: Dunk just one side of the folded sheet bundle into the dye. You will immediately see the dye start to crawl up the fabric. Let it seep up about 3/4 of the way, then rinse the sheet bundle in cold water until the water runs clear. Undo the bundle; then wash and dry your sheet on the delicate cycle.

Once the sheet is dry, your runner is ready to use. You can experiment with the other half of your sheet by folding it in unique ways, or by using other shibori dying techniques like twisting, rolling or banding. It’s an ancient technique that can yield fun, modern results, so give it a try!

100 Days happy Day 55

The knitted bikini! Traff's mum made it for me- His parents arrived yesterday and presented me with this..
:D
Malaysia here I come!

I was a bit worried about posting this, but looking at other blogs there are plenty of people who are far less dressed than me- this is a very modest bikini! I guess it's the "spring break" effect!

I might take the cups in a bit and sew the front section up a bit more- but otherwise, we are beach ready.
Just not for swimming...

Normal people take these kinds of photos in the morning, when they're looking their most flat stomached. I did this after dinner at franky and bennys yesterday.

Ah well, I never said I was the brightest!

I posted the pattern for this last year, it's available online for free- but as it's a 70s pattern, I'd suggest going up a size or two for "modern" measurements!

Easter egg making tutorial (Sprinklebakes for Etsy)

OK, I'm going to preface this by admitting that I have no interest in making easter eggs any time in the next 2 weeks!
I have too many other mental projects on the go for xmas (Yes, I know it's April, I'm just a very slow crafter) and too many social calls to make.

That said, I will have a go at moulding chocolate and I have made easter eggs before- My mum went through a phase in the 90s of making easter eggs. I really enjoyed making them and eating the end products- spreading the chocolate over the inside of the mould is weirdly therapeutic- even if you're about 8. She used to leave them hollow and tie the sides together with ribbon. I assumed for people other than family she put them into boxes but I can't remember.
She also used to make lemon cake for easter, and we'd make little marzipan chicks to decorate the cake board- and mini eggs obviously. My vegetarianism is clearly deep seated as I remember being about 4 and crying because we couldn't eat the chicks incase it made them sad. This was usually accompanied by "marzipan can't get sad, eat your dinner" type comments- I'm pretty sure we had similar conversations about gingerbread men and animal shaped biscuits (and once, as my mother and Aunt enjoy reminding me, a conversation about how chickens would be cold if you took all their feathers away and made them live in the chiller section in safeway- followed by closer inspection of the chickens and asking where their heads were). 

I wish I'd seen something like this tutorial and been "inspired" last year- then I'd have rescued all my mum's old chocolate moulding stuff when they moved house- as it is some luck person will have gotten a chocolate moulding bargain from the animal shelter charity shop in Didcot. Damn you!
Arcadia sells eggs like this, but they're £15 each, so this would be a cheaper and more personal way to give an easter present!

Traff's parents arrive today for 3 weeks, so I can't see me having time or energy to make easter eggs, and I think he'd kill me if I made a mess in the kitchen.
I'm frightened to move at the moment- everything is so tidy it's like living in a show home!

Anyway, for a time when I don't have a show home and do have some easter egg moulds, here are the instructions:

Chocolate Surprise Egg
Yield: One 8-inch egg

You will need:
2 Large egg molds
1 lb chocolate bark or chocolate candy coating
2 Craft brushes, each 2-inches wide
Cellophane bags
Plastic basket shred or plastic grass
Ribbon, or an extra tailor’s tape measure if making the sewing-themed egg
Cellophane wrap
Small gifts and treats

Note: This egg holds spools of thread, candy buttons, an embroidered daisy handkerchief, candy-coated chocolates, a pin cushion, a thimble, a fabric quarter, and a tailor’s tape measure.

Place the egg molds in a large baking pan so that they are level. You can also use crumpled aluminum foil on a baking sheet as a support if you don’t have a large enough pan.

Heat the chocolate bark in the microwave in 30 second intervals. Stir well between intervals until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.

Pour about one-quarter of the melted chocolate bark into one of the egg molds.

Remove the mold from the baking pan and use a craft brush to paint the chocolate bark inside the egg cavity.

Work from the center outward. Pay special attention to coating the top edges of the mold, as this area is easy to miss with the paintbrush. When the egg is evenly covered in chocolate, return it to the baking pan and repeat the process with the second egg mold. Place the chocolate-coated egg molds in the freezer for 5-10 minutes, or until they are set and have a matte surface appearance.

Reheat the remaining chocolate bark (if necessary). Pour another quarter of the chocolate bark in one of the molds and spread it on with the second paint brush (at this point, the first paintbrush you used will be unusable with thick, set chocolate, so it’s handy to have a second). Hold the egg mold up to the light and look for any thin spots. They’ll be instantly illuminated and you can see where the chocolate needs to be spread. Repeat these steps with remaining egg mold. Place the molds in the baking pan and freeze until the chocolate is set.

Before removing the eggs halves from the molds, run a small knife around the top edge of the mold to remove excess chocolate. The chocolate candy shells are delicate, so be particularly gentle.

Remove the chocolate shells by gently picking them up in the center.

Lay the chocolate egg halves on a cool dry surface and allow them to come to room temperature.

Gather together the small gifts and candy you wish to put inside the egg.

Small pieces like plastic buttons and snaps should be put in small cellophane bags. If you’re concerned that the egg may be exposed to heat or melt during transit, you may choose to put all of the contents into small cellophane bags for extra insurance.

Line the egg with some of the plastic grass and place the gifts on top of the grass. Place a little more plastic grass on top of the presents to pad them and hold them securely inside the egg.

Place the second chocolate egg half on top of the filled shell so that they meet evenly. Tuck in any stray pieces of plastic grass.

Place the closed egg on a large sheet of cellophane wrap and, holding it together with your hands, stand it upright, pointed-end-up. Still holding it together with one hand, gather the cellophane around the egg and cinch it at the top just above the egg’s pointed tip. Tie the cellophane wrap with a ribbon or with a tailor’s tape measure.

Note: You may choose to lightly fuse the two halves together with a little melted chocolate bark. Just paint a small amount on the edge of one chocolate half and close with the second egg half. Store the eggs in a cool, dry place.

100 days happy- Day 52

righty ho- I'm in holiday mode- I was all set to go for a swim this morning- having replaced my bikini bottoms which caused me so much humiliation last time I went to Aqua aerobics in january!
I was all ready to leave and did my last "bag check" and realised that my bottoms still had the labels and hygiene sticker on them- the labels came off no problem, buy the hygiene sticker was a pain, and left loads of sticky residue on the inside of my bottoms.
So, Swimming postponed until tomorrow, as combination swimming and hoo-ha waxing doesn't sound like an ideal start to a Tuesday. Or any day, If I'm being honest.

I've put them in the wash so am hoping for the best- and I got a new pair in Debenhams for £4 this morning just in case they need a few washes.
So either way, I'm going swimming tomorrow and Thursday (Maybe even friday).
Who knew swimming would be so stressful- and I haven't even made it to the pool yet!

I picked up the biscuit ingredients from tesco in town too- so I did get a bit of a walk out of it- and a flapjack! woop! I wore my denim shorts out today- which was perhaps a little premature as although it's really sunny, it's also quite windy.
I might put them away for a few more weeks yet!

Then I came back and made biscuits for The arrival of Traff's parents. This is the recipe I used- it says it makes 20 quite large biscuits and they're not far wrong...
Whilst the biscuits were cooling I did some more work on my crochet projects. just to make myself feel even more accomplished. Short wearing- buscuit baking- crochet making excellence. If you ignore the slightly burnt edges (I have some suspicions about the reliablity of the thermostat in our oven..)

Obviously, in the interest of quality control I had to eat the burnt ones before moving on to the icing stage of this project.

The end product: 1 large jar of cookies!

• Basic biscuit
• 125g softened butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• pinch salt
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 cup self raising flour
• 1 egg
• splash of milk

---

Directions

Preparation:10min  ›  Cook:8min  ›  Extra time:2min  ›  Ready in:20min 

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
2. Mix the butter and sugar until you get a soft creamy mixture.
3. Add the salt and mix; add the egg and mix.
4. Add the flour 1/2 cup at a time, and mix with each addition.
5. Add splash of milk if needed and mix.
6. Knead the dough until it is not messy and is supple, then roll it out until about 5mm or so thick. The thickness doesn't really matter - 10mm thick if you want - the biscuit will expand a lot.
7. Cut using a cookie cutter shape to suit yourself.
8. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes – for a lesser time for a nice soft biscuit, longer time for a harder biscuit - just keep an eye on them.

Changes and Variations

9. For a sweet biscuit, add a tablespoon of hundreds and thousands to the mix.
10. You could also add: cinnamon or nutmeg or Pureblends Sweetspice or ginger or allspice or star anise or whatever you want in the way of spices.
11. Also try adding peanut butter or almonds.
12. Just prior to cooking, sprinkle some coarse sugar on top, and they will end up like "Nice" biscuits.

I made the normal mix with vanilla essence in- they're the flower shaped ones.
Then I added mixed spice to the dough- those are the heart shaped ones.
I wanted to make a 3rd variation to use my xmas hippo cookie cutter (He came in a box of plastic christmas cookie cutters I bought from notcuts for the brownies to use to make xmas tree decorations- they kept asking how a hippo is festive, and he was universally rejected. there were no hippo shaped salt dough xmas tree decorations) but we didn't have anything else that I could add. Expect some pan dan extract, but I'm really not sure about pan dan and mixed spice!

After all my cooking I played the violin for the first time in forever- Inspired by listening to pentangle- and I found the sheet music for matty groves! 

In the evening, Emma and I are going  to watch the boys play football. I haven't seen Emma for ages so it'll be nice to catch up- I've also never met Traff's football team mates before.

:D

Have now!