Yarny Flowery Goodness

Last night was week 3 of the 4 week crochet class that I'm teaching at Benedict House. It's been so satisfying seeing the ladies pick it up and enjoying it. Our project last night was these two flowers. Most of them had mastered the first one (left) and done a second within about 40min. So we moved onto the harder one (right) and they just flew through it. They could all read the pattern and were moving along at there own pace without much assistance from me. It was a bit exciting! I felt like a proud Mum on Graduation Day. One more week to go still - half double crochet wrist cuffs are on the lesson plan.


The left flower is a Lincraft pattern - SUPER easy. And on the right is my 'easified' version (see pattern below if you're interested) of this super cutie pattern from Rosehip blog.

CHUNKY PETAL FLOWER

Ch 4, join with slst to first chain to form a ring.

1st round Ch1, work 15sc into circle. Slst into first ch.

2nd round Ch4, * skip 1sc, 1dc into next sc, ch1, rep from * 6 times more. Join with a slst into the 3rd of the first 4ch. Break off the first colour.

3rd round Join the colour you wish to use for the petals to first ch loop (big space) with a slst, ch1. Into same ch loop, work 4dc, 1sc, * into next ch loop, work 1sc, 4dc, 1sc, rep from * into each ch loop, making 8 petals. Join with a slst into first ch.

4th round Working behind the petals made in the 3rd round (it’s easier to do this if you turn the work) so ch3 then turn, * slst between next 2 petals, ch3, rep from * to end. The ch loops made lie behind the petals of the previous row. Join with a slst into first ch.

5th round Ch1, turn the flower back to the front. Make the next row of petals by working 1sc, 5dc, 1sc into each ch loop. Join with a slst into first sc.

6th round Working again behind the petals made in the previous round, Ch4 and then turn the flower,  * 1slst between the next 2 petals, ch 4, rep from * to end. Join with a slst into first ch.

7th round Ch1, turn the flower back to the front. Into each ch loop, work 1sc, 5dc, 1sc. Join with a slst into first sc. Fasten off, weave in ends or use them to stitch to your desired garment/brooch pin etc.

Baby Succulents

My Little Miss and I spent the morning lovingly giving homes to some new succulent cuttings. I have a little collection of potted succulents on the back deck that I like to expand on from time to time. Often I end up just replacing the ones I lost from frost the previous winter so my overall collection is only slowly increasing. I have no idea of the correct names for any of them except the flapjack (that's the big one on the left). I just love the look of them and the fact that you can cut a piece off, put it in dirt and BAM! New plant. Here are the babies we planted this morning.

Georgie Love Giveaway - YAY!

Have you seen the Georgie Love online shop? Have you seen the Georgie Love blog? It's a pretty fab site with some pretty fab handmade goodness for sale but surely the most exciting fab thing about Georgie Love at the mo' is this massively awesome giveaway. And to be in with a chance to win it all I have to do is tell you what I'd spend $50 on in the Georgie Love shop. Seems a bit too easy! So here are my super picks... I LOVE THEM. I love red. I love red with yellow. (ps. you can enter too! Do it!)

Autumn Brooch $35 by Emma Grace

Geometric-Ness Print $15 by Allira Tee

Vintage Girls Dress $20

There is a crack...

I decided to get my 'creative' on this week and do a canvas for my Mister for V day. I am a complete novice at painting but was inspired by two different projects on the Beautiful Mess blog. This one and this one. A form planned in my little head... and this is how I did it.

1. First I divided the 8 inch canvas into a grid and began painting random squares in the first colour. 2. I ended up using 4 different colours to ensure I didn't have the same colour in touching squares. 3. I then applied a light white wash the entire surface. I did a couple of layers of this in an attempt to tone down the super brightness of the coloured squares.


Finally, I added my Mister's favourite lyric from Leonard Cohen's song The Anthem. And Ta Da! Tis done. I gave it to him last night, I think he was chuffed.

Photo Friday : Work snaps...

Had a little bit of fun yesterday snapping some product shots for my lovely boss lady. Among her many talents she makes these beads from hand blown Venetian glass. Her original post is here. There was this perfect little spot in front of the window where the light was just divine.

Bubbles

My Mister snapped this pic of me last weekend. Little Critter and I were blowing bubbles in the back yard. MASSIVE bubbles...

Plum Jam

I have been making this plum jam recipe for several years now and it is dead set YUM!(I got it from taste.com.au and have added a couple of my own notes in pink)

Ingredients

• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 1 tsp anise seeds
• 6 cloves
• 1/2 cinnamon stick
• 2 dried bay leaves, crumbled
• 2 cups dry red wine
• 1.25kg white sugar
• 2 kg plums (try amber or blood plums), quartered, stoned
• 1/3 cup (80ml) lemon juice

Method
Place a couple of small saucers in the freezer to chill. Place
spices, bay leaves, wine and 1 cup sugar in a large, wide, heavy-based saucepan and stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil then simmer for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and leave to cool. When cool, strain though a fine sieve over a bowl.

Return strained syrup to pan with 1 cup water and plums. Bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and simmer over low-medium heat for 35 minutes. This is where I get the stick blender out and give it a good whiz. I don't like 'lumpy' jam.

Uncover pan. Add lemon juice and remaining sugar. Cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil then simmer, uncovered, over medium heat, skimming any scum from top, for 45-50 minutes or until jam jells when tested. To test, place a small spoonful on a chilled saucer then return to freezer for 1 minute. Run your finger through chilled jam; it should be the consistency of honey and wrinkle slightly when pushed. (I use a candy thermometer and just wait till its at 104 degrees)

Once at this stage, pour into hot sterilised jars and seal.