Sneak Peek...

I have started my "project"

Take a sneak peek....

Its exciting, Im excited and The best thing of all is my girl is excited and it has become OUR project together. She is helping all along the way and this time together is super lovely.

The only tricky thing is she would love it to be done like 5 minutes ago! 

We picked the backing fabrics for the different sections together today, which I have just finished cutting up and We can do a little more together tomorrow.....

The White Chocolate and Nectarine Tart

 I love Dessert. And this is a quick and easy desert that looks and taste really good.

Why not give it a go.....

Biscuit Base - 200g malt biscuits 100g butter melted

Filing - 180g white chocolate, 3 teaspoons powdered gelatine, 1/3 cup boiling water, 125g cream cheese, 1/2 cup castor sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 300ml thickened cream.

Syrup - 1 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup apricot jam, 3 nectarines

HOW TO:

1.To make base process biscuits till their crumbs. Add butter & process till combined. Press mixture into base of 22cm springform pan + 2cm up sides with a glass. Refrigerate while preparing filling.

2.To make filling - melt chocolate and set aside.

3. Sprinkle gelatine over boiling water in a jug and stir until dissolved. allow to cool slightly.

4. Put cream cheese, sugar & vanilla extract into a bowl & beat till light and creamy. Add cream & beat until combined and just beginning to thicken. Add choc & gelatine mixture & beat until combined. pour onto base & into fridge for 3-4 hours or overnight.

5. to make syrup - put water, sugar & jam into small saucepan over medium heat & whisk till jam and sugar dissolved. bring to a simmer & without stirring allow to simmer 8-10 mins (it took longer for me) till thick and syrupy. cut nectarines into thin slices and arrange ontop of tart and drizzle syrup before serving.

YUM

little ideas and a big idea

How pretty is this little skirt. I am in love with this material and wish I had purchased more but better to have loved than never bought them! Its same design as the one I previously made for Skye though slightly smaller. I am learning along the way to make more notes and make them clearer! Though its a slow lesson. First time I made it I measured up a skirt Skye already had and hoped for the best. This time I tried to find my notes and couldnt make heads or tails of my numbers and pictures! So back to the drawing board.... measure measure .... and of course I forgot to make clear notes again! Got to get more organised. Maybe that can be next weeks weekly goal.

Finally I made a doorstep for our door after numerous slamings! I decided to use the colours from the chair in the front room to try and make some flow effect! I used the same principle of building a dice out of paper with six squares - t formation, adding handle on first piece, and when I turned it inside out and filled it, the flaws were everywhere but I love it and there has been no slamings since!

And finally after some small creations I have decided to takle a bigger project. I have been inspired  by my colour on the go - especially the fancy version I made for Skye. We took it on holidays and it was so wonderful. Sitting at the airport was a dream with her little purse full of colouring in imagination.
So,  This material above is the start of the next "project". Exciting Exciting :)

Dressed for Christmas

Christmas seemed so busy and flew by didn't it?!

I didn't get to show off the Christmas PJ's.

My sweet heart chose her material and the boys enjoyed wearing matching shorts. 

Big Boy's shorts were maybe a little tighter than would have ordered but bless him, he still wore them and with a smile.

It just added to all the fun we were having.

Seems so long ago now..... nearly back to school!

Puppy Love

One Puppy is so cute. but Ten is Love!

These were the beautiful pups we met on our holiday, only weeks old, but so very very cute.

Little, but with lots of personality all ready and it was all we could do to keep Miss Skye away from them, she was in Love!

They will soon all be going to new loving homes - even one is coming back to Sydney for a lucky couple on the northern beaches. So our time with them was precious, lots of licking and playing before they fell to sleep exhausted from all the play!

hopefully one day we can have a doggie of our own... maybe

girls day out - in NZ

We spent a lovely 2 weeks in NZ visiting family. It was so relaxing and fun. We didn't do much tourist things, but with the amazing currency exchange I managed to do a bit (and a bit more!) of shopping.

Mid week we decided to have a girls day - act like ladies! And started the day with a spot of High Tea, which was simply delightful.

My girl had her very own tiered selection completely nut and egg free - so special. Though I forgot to mention that you start with the bottom tier and my sweet went straight for the chocolate pot on the top and made herself a wee bit sick!

I was taken with the presentation especially the added extra twigs of lavendar and selected blooms beside the treats making it feel even more special. I think I am going to add this into my tea party I have been dreaming of hosting.

This was followed by a fabulous afternoon trawling Christchurchs fabric stores, buying whatever caught my eye. Below is a sneak peek at some of the range I couldn't leave without purchasing!

 The last store was amazing and I could have spent hours in there. But my credit card was done for the day and I couldn't really complain with the selection I had chosen. 

My mind is going much quicker then my body can as I try and come out of holiday mode. I just made another Colour-on-the-go and after seeing some of the fabrics matched together I am enthused to make more.

Aloha - Our Hawaiian Luau

The day started sunny and bright. Beyond belief by lunch it was hailing in our backyard! CONTINGENCY PLAN!

We rearranged the furniture and I had to quickly revise party games for inside (I was not brave enough to still have water balloon races!)
I made the sign above, placed it near the door with colours and glitter, so the party guests could write her a happy birthday message or draw her a pic as they arrived (after receiving their lei!).

And sure enough just before the first guest arrived, Out came the sun! This was lovely but I had set up everything inside and was then a little cheesed there was no time for an outside move!

The coconut ice we made was delish and went very fast.

I felt out of my depth as the party became an indoor/outdoor affair but I pulled my hawaiian self together and the games began. We started with water ballloon races while it was still nice outside, followed by hot potato though the boys seemed more interested at dropping the potatoes and watching them burst.

Then a little Limbo, a few games of statues and an old favourite - pass the parcel, even wrapped in old fashioned newspaper!

It rained in the middle of the party but near the end we were lucky to have a ray of sun for the pinatta. We had lots of ideas for the shape this year,with the final decision being the number 7 (Thank you to my gorgeous man for making and decorating xx)

The cake worked. An icecream frangipani.

I served it into cones for everyone which was fun and saved on plates and washing up!

All in all, everyone had a lot of fun and most importantly Miss Skye had a ball.

Happy New Year with new resolutions

 **HAPPY NEW YEAR**

I am filled with enthusiasm and great expectations for this new year. I am refreshed, motivated and ready to go.
I usually make resolutions at the beginning of the year and sooner than later they slip to the side and daily life gets in the way.  Then the new year begins again and the cycle continues.
I was thinking about it and realised my resolutions were always so similar and vague and unmotivating.

SO. this year I have come up with something new. Instead I have decided to make weekly goals to stick to.  Last week was drink more water - which was a good start especially with this heat, and I feel so good for it and more motivated about my next goal.
Along with my weekly goals I have decided to make a list of things I also want to accomplish over the year - for example, make a quilt for my girl. I thought I also needed something longer term to go with my weekly goals.

This week I am working on my posture - sitting up straight while Im writing this! I really need to work on this, I am such a sloucher!
and for next week? Stay tuned

more aprons of the frilly sort

Some custom orders for christmas and aren't they gorgeous.

I love aprons. 

the mix of fun colours is delightful.