Purple Pom Poms and Prizes

Its all about High Teas and micro planning at our house this week.  The count down to our Purple Day Epilespy Fundraiser  is on!   All over the house I have piles of stuff preened and puffed all ready to go.

Tea Pots. Would you believe it was cheaper to buy them than to hire?
I got them marked down in Target and I am still under budget. 
 It seems people don't buy many tea pots these days.  

Tissue paper Pom Poms always a favourite.

Although we got halfway through a ream of paper then realised
 it would be far more sensible to leave them unfluffed for transporting.
I think we just got carried away because they are so satisfying to make.

Lots and lots and lots of prizes.
Thank-you to the very generous business owners in our neck of the woods
who donated all sorts of treasures. 

Handmade 40th Gifts

You know that party life cycle that begins with 18th parties, then 21st's, then engagements, weddings, christenings  then followed by a few quiet years then the 40ths begin?  Well I am there, the 40ths have begun.  My friend Ms S turned 40 and marked the occasion with what seemed like nearly 40 girlfriends (Ms S's Superpower is the ability to make and keep friends forever.)  Because I live miles away it was decided I should have a sleep over and then in the morning we would go fabric shopping.  It was so exciting, my children were so incredulous that I should be able to have a life sleep over.

A fabulous night was had, much wine was drunk and I had a lovely nights sleep sharing my bed with no one.   After a somewhat sluggish start to the morning we then managed to power on and brought metres of beautiful fabric (more on the fabric another day.)  Ms S is a girl after my own heart and loves all things handmade and wool.  So here's what I gave her, I know its a bit weird for a 40th but it is very her.

A beautiful ball of her very own Noro, a crochet pin cushion 
and a crochet soap bag.

I love this crochet pin cushion design and have been
 keen to make one ever since I was lucky enough to
 receive one in a craft swap.  

This is a little soap bag I am playing with the design
and might even write up the pattern one day.
You can hang it from the tap and it holds all those little bits
 of soap and you can also use like a face washer.

And as you can see I was also working the Purple Day colour scheme.

Sweet Potato, Brown Rice, Chick Pea Salad and Lots More Salad

Its funny how as an adult I am very partial to a good Hippy salad, as a younger person I would have rather eaten my elbow.  I found this awesome Hippy salad in a hospital food court a few years ago.

Have you ever been to a hospital food court?  They are funny places, all the options have to be healthy choices, low fat, low sugar and sodium etc. They also have to be able to fit in take away packaging, be cheap and able to offer some comfort when most people there are looking for some comfort food action.  Many people from all walks of life use a hospital food court and it is very very difficult for some people to make a choice.    A bit like having to eat street food in an exotic Asian country 10 years ago before we were introduced to those food through TV foodies.   Needless to say the Hot Chip queue in a Hospital Food court is always long.   I digress.

I thought this was one of the best salads ever and raced straight home to make my own version.

Sweet Potato, Brown Rice, Chick Pea and Lots More Salad

5 cups cooked Brown Rice - I like to over cook my rice slightly
4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled brushed with a good oil and roasted till cooked
1  245g can of Chick Peas
1/2 cup pine nuts roasted - I just pop them in the oven for a few mins while I cook the potato
1 green onion, sliced
3 tea spoons of a nice yummy oil, like macadamia, rice bran, avocado
2 table spoons of balsamic vinegar
1 table spoon of mustard, seeded or dijon

Mix it all together.

I like to let it all sit for a while to let all the ingredients to meld, then taste and add more Balsamic or mustard if needed.   Really nice warm or cold and sometimes even better the next day when more flavour fusion happens.

Purple Day High Tea

Together with the most AMAZING group of women I am putting on this event for Purple Day 2013

If your in the area please come and join us for a Purple afternoon tea.

 Wear purple and enjoy a purple afternoon, what fun!!!

Granny Square Crochet Shrug

In my Creative Space I have this little baby in progress - Granny Square Shrug from the Crochet Modern Vintage Book I think its by Panda. It's my kind of easy pattern.  The hard part was choosing the colours.

I think this square is my favourite colour combo.

This is what I am supposed it look like when its finished.
 I cant wait till I look all Anglo/Asian like this, quite like the hair too.

Baby Apples

We have had our first fruit from the apple tree, how exciting is that.  I wasn't sure when to pick them, how do you know when an apple is ripe?  I googled it, and the advice was to pick and taste test regularly or when the apples start to fall from the tree.  As I only had two apples from two trees they were too precious to taste test, so I thought I would wait for them to fall.  Then all the crazy QLD weather came along and blew them off the tree.

On the tree in late Dec.

Feb, how perfect do they look!!!

With a small domestic Granny Smith.

The cutest apple ever.

It is a Tropical Anna Apple bred for a sub tropical climate, I would like to say it was delicious but I have to say I give it about a 5 out of ten.  But for a first effort they were amazing, can't wait too see what we get next year.

Yarn Jokes

Because its all about wool/yarn and crochet at our house...