Revisiting the Scrappytripalong

What else is there to do on a freezing cold Sunday....... I gave all the blocks a good press and laid it out and realised I was one block short. 

What a pain and then decided it needed another row.  So 6 blocks half way there and I might be able to finish this one off....  

I'm a bit worried about the colour choices from today but hopefully they fit in ok.

Happy sewing all.
K x

Queens Birthday - Queens everywhere

Well the Queens Birthday weekend has come and gone in the blink of an eye.  

My weekend was spent locally in Wollongong and Sydney with a friend up from Melbourne to share my world and what I get up to in the "Gong".

It all started at brunch on Friday for us with fresh coffee, a mezze platter and ricotta pancakes with raspberry butter at the Fireworks Cafe in Austinmer.  The Fireworks Cafe is a little hidden gem off the main street with a couple of quirky little shops where the cook was happy to share how to get the raspberry butter going.  

The pancakes where sensational and got us thinking that we could make our own.  So we headed in to the local Friday farmers market in Wollongong and bought the most amazing raspberries and found a ricotta pancake recipe from Nigella Lawson  and whipped them up for breaky on Saturday.   

Saturday was spent pottering down to Berry, NSW to explore and find some little hidden treasures. 
Camellias in bloom.

From Berry we headed back to the The School House in Gerringong for lunch.   Kirsten delivered her fresh handmade cheese selections and relishes which were absolutely amazing.  If you get the chance stop by for a visit the coffee is great and it is relaxing watching Kirsten working through her kitchen on the premises which is in full view of the dinners.  

  

  
 We grabbed some beef cheeks in Berry at the local butchery the staff are more then happy to assist.  3 hours of baking in the oven and sweet potato mash with broccolini for dinner.  You know it was fab.  

Really needed a big walk on Sunday.  Is there too much of a good thing?  too much good food, wine and company I would say.

Clear blue winter sky, Wollongong Lighthouse and harbour.

 As it goes...  Beautiful sunny morning in Wollongong to a rainy Sydney evening...  Not that it bothered us.  

Pre Dinner drinks at the Darlo.

Vanilla Rum with ginger - yum..  went down very nicely  

From the Darlo we headed down to The Food Society where it truly was choose your own adventure.  To start we had fried cauliflower with paprika & Suberec' fried pastry filled with pumpkin, sheep's milk cheese and sage.   Followed up with mains of crispy skin pork belly, fried potatoes and warm lamb shoulder, braised spinach and rosemary yoghurt.  Followed by honey cake and caramel vodka.  

As always the company was great and we celebrated friendships, life, personal triumphs and  just taking the time to catch up with each other.

The ambiance at the food society was relaxed with engaged friendly staff and live music.  The bar is well stocked with wonderfully flavoured vodkas to finish off any meal choices. 

 Very cute little jugs for the caramel vodka.  

We followed dinner up with Sunday night at the Stonewall Hotel on Oxford Street Sydney. OMG massive photo opportunity with the "Carlotta".  Who I would like to say looks amazing and who was gracious enough to have a photo with me.  Couldn't think of a better way to wrap up a  Queens Birthday Weekend.  

This quilt is finally bound and finished. Woo hoo and has gone off to live with it's new owner.  Thanks for giving it a loving home Jen Jen.  

Well that is about it.  A snapshot of a couple of days in the "Gong" with a 20 hour rush of life in Sydney.  

I'm looking forward to doing it all again sooner rather then later. But until then it's on with life as we know it in this neck of the woods.
Have a great week all.  
Kath  x x x x x

PS:  Things I've learnt this weekend?  
         1   Organic butter is the bomb - stock it in your fridge
         2   Ginger works well with Rum
         3   Even when peeps say NO CAKE...  they will heap you eat it & love it too.  :)

Have you lost your sewing mojo?

Cause I certainly have. 

I walk into my craft room and shuffle stuff about for 10 mins (if i'm lucky) and then get totally overwhelmed and walk out rather quickly with nothing done.

I stand in the doorway thinking about how much I have invested in one room, from machines, to fabric and all of the paraphernalia that goes with it not to mention the space itself.  I want to get into it but there just doesn't seem to be any room in there for anything else in particular ME.  

Reading blogs of industrious others with fabulous spaces all laid out in all of their finery I struggle to just be in mine.  Perhaps it is time to stop reading about what others are doing in their beautiful spaces and start focusing on what I want to do.   

Image stolen off a Google search..... of organised craft rooms...

I would love my space to look like this but oddly it doesn't.  

You know I did my usual trick again this morning with just one small exception.  I picked up a quilt top gave it a little press, popped it into a ziplock bag, tucked it under my arm and headed off to the quilters to get it quilted.  It will take about 6 weeks to come back and you know that's ok because then I will be able to actually bind it and finish it.  Y E A.....  roars the crowd fancy that. Something actually finished.

My strategy is to move things along through the process.  Package up the completed quilt tops to be quilted and start planning out when I can get them off to the quilters. Maybe then I can put my energies into what I want to finish next and start planning out my next quilting adventure.  

What do you do when you get bogged down with your crafting?  Do you have a plan? or get a plan to get things moving?

Happy crafting all.
K x  

MELBOURNE WEEKEND SHENANIGANS

Only one part of this years Birthday shenanigans - M E L B O U R N E  

Someone asked me on the plane if I was a local of Melbourne and if I had any tips of where to eat.  Not quite but I do love the place, my home away from home so to speak, so I thought I would share my adventures.  While there are some good treasures in Lygon Street I personally find it a bit of a tourist trap.  It doesn't really showcase the amazing eateries in and around Melbourne. The coffee and cafe culture is ingrained in Melbourne's essence of a city and is one that needs to be explored and treasured at your own leisure.  I have a hidden advantage (lol) meet Jen Jen.  A local for many years who is a foodie from way back.   Who somehow manages not only to find but book for some foodie adventures that are beyond words, not to mention she can sniff out a good coffee at 50 paces.  This is a synopsis of our weekend and what we managed to fit in in a couple of days.  Our experiences this weekend were on the shared table options rather then individual serves and keep in mind this was a treat weekend for us as we were celebrating both of our birthdays with a weekend in the city. 

Take it or leave it....  choose your own adventure as the saying goes and remember, if you don't like the look of it.  Just walk around the corner you are bound to find another place.  Particularly in Melbourne, the lane ways are thriving and fabulous food and places with ambiance that you may wish to never leave. Rooftop bars have sprung up everywhere with different cityscape views & amazing cocktails.

We started at the Spice Temple Bar - Southbank.  
We managed to get out of there for about $50 each with alcohol included for lunch.  
Loved the 豬 Pig  - Zubrowka vodka, sake, nashi pear juice and green tea (carafe) refreshing for a hot Melbourne lunchtime.
King Prawn wontons with aged black vinegar dressing & the Tea smoked duck with Mandarin pancakes cucumbers, spring onion, hoisin sauce were the favorites from around the table.

Walking off lunch.  We headed to graffiti lane just up off Federation Square.  You never know what you might see.  The colourful bridal party looked gorgeous against the graffiti work.

Cookies for dinner - in a revamped old building at the topish of Swanston Street.  We managed to get on a terrace which was great on a hot night.  This is one hip and happening place.  The food is Asian inspired and booking is a must otherwise you could be up for a wait - it is popular.  The food was fabulous soft shell crab and the 5 spice chicken is to die for.  


With wine about $50 a head.  Local hangout with lots going on in the building.   If you get a chance go and explore the other levels.  The service here was great.

This is what I'm talking about just turn down the next corner.  Strolling to Vic Markets we noticed this shop as we rounded the corner coffee filled the air and we stumbled upon A Little Bird Told Me cafe @  29 Little LaTrobe Street.  Worth a visit if you are about and in need of coffee and/or cake.  

Too true.  European Bar on Exhibition Street had a great rooftop bar with water mist to cool off the space.  Great place to meet up and have a drink.  Caribbean punch - for a pre dinner drink.

  

San Telmo for dinner - again book as it is popular with the locals. Argentinian themed.  We had fried polenta chips and broccoli to start followed by potatoes cooked in duck fat, steak off the grill, pork belly and the fennel and asparagus salad with blue cheese sprinkled through it.   We finished with a chocolate tart and handmade ice cream.  

Sensational food, the service here was ridiculously good nothing like a bit of attention to detail.  With wine about $60-70 a head.  I would highly recommend this place.  You could get out of it cheaper if you really wanted to and apparently they do a mid week special.  For maximum enjoyment go with friends and do the share options.

There is a rooftop bar in this lane too I missed the name thou.  Be ready for the stairs.   Great atmosphere and the drinks slip down easily with city skyline views.  

Well this weekend flew by.  Melbourne never ceases to amaze me subtle changes throughout the city however the same essence with a modern cutting groove going on.  Heaps of inner city apartments going in so the city itself is busy with life, shopping and things to do. If you haven't been for a while get booking and plan out some places to have your own little experience.  

I didn't get to catch up with as many friends as what I had hoped this time, but this just gives me an excuse to go back sooner rather then later.   

Have a great week all.
K x x x 

It's raining apples and oranges

Someone gave me one of these babies a while ago and it's been sitting in the cupboard as most appliances tend to do at my place.  My fruit basket has been overflowing with apples and oranges, I just don't seem to get to them.  So I pulled out this baby and put it through its paces.  

Messy but nice.  I will have to try out a few other different flavors and see how I go.

I should be sewing but gosh it has been hot in this neck of the woods.  I for one am looking forward to some cooler days to sneak into the sewing room and get some stuff done.

K x x x x 

Protein Ball Trial

Gosh I've been lacking some energy of late...  

Thought I'd have a crack at some protein balls.  

I sort of made it up as I went along you know.  As one does. The basis of these babies is dates, raw nuts and protein.  The following recipe is a rough guide ONLY.

Dry: 
Raw Cashews (150g bag) & walnuts (small packet) Blitzed
60g protein powder.  I used the one in the pic but really you could use whatever you can find.
Pinch of salt
couple of dashes of cinnamon

Mix all of the dry ingredients together

Wet:
Medjool Dates - 12-14ish, pitted, you know the fresh ones in the fruit and veg section 
Big dollop of honey
Tablespoon tahini
Big Tablespoon peanut butter
couple of spoons of coconut oil - Just because I had some in the cupboard.

All blitzed together to form a paste and break down the dates.  I actually popped it in the microwave for about 30 seconds to help loosen it up.

Then mix the wet to the dry.  Roll into balls and there you go your very first protein balls.   
My mid afternoon snack is all sorted.

Have a great week.
K x

2013 - That's a wrap

Its been a long time between visits into this space.

Not much sewing going on.  I've been getting my hexagons on thou.  Pic to follow later when I've made more progress.  I've picked up some fabulous tips and tricks on free tutorials online which has helped immensely.  

Uni is all done and dusted not just for the year I am finished.  Yea me.  Amazing how working at something and chipping away actually pays off.   I remember thinking (stressing) about it and if I could do it. Well it is now done.  The saying "passes = degrees" is true.  I found one subject to be a bit of a waste of time I have the mark to prove it and a nasty letter to the Dean, however for the main part, time well invested.  I did get a distinction on my last subject which I'm immensely chuffed about.   Being a mature age student has pros and cons but you know I can happily tick off another personal bucket list goal and be satisfied of my personal achievement.  If I had another opportunity to study I would probably go and do undergrad psychology.  Extremely interesting and great to do some self reflection.

Christmas has been a pretty quite affair in this neck of the woods this year.  Good just quite.  Things have shifted with the loss of another dear soul from my life.  Someone who has been a constant for over 25 years and who is being dearly missed.

Its time to get the passport renewed, dust off the suitcase and find a destination to visit and to pull out the bucket list and start hitting the next one.

May 2014 be a more joyous year for all.

Kath x

2nd attempt at beef bourguignon

I had a crack at the Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon last winter and goodness me it was extremely rich, beautiful but rich.  It was too much for me I ended up giving it to my mum - you know she loved it.  

Well Rachel Khoo did a version last week on her BBC TV show - cooking her modern day French food in her little restaurant/flat in Paris.  So I thought I would have another go.  Yum Yum Yum - Totally delicious on this particularly chilly Sunday.  

The latest #scrappytripalong I've been adding to it slowly.  It is coming together..  My sisters fabric has slipped in nicely you can't and has given it a different dimension.  I think i may have another 3 - 6 to go.

Have a great week all.

Kath x

Family affair of sorts....

Winter my style.  You wouldn't believe it was May.

Early morning walk - just wonderful.  Sun on my skin just to warm up a bit.

My sister sent me a little parcel last week of 
2 1/2 inch strips to add into this #scraptripalong.  

It just amazes me what you can sneak into it.  

It was great to have someone else's scraps. She chooses different fabrics to me batiks and a few  brights. This will tweak the overall look of the quilt.  

Not to mention that she had them all cut at the 2 1/2 inches for me. Thanks Sis.

3 blocks done, 10 more in progress.  

I might have to start cutting into some fat quarters to bulk it out a bit.  Or maybe just a big border of some sorts.  Will just have to wait and see.

My brother and his girlfriend went to Japan recently. Lucky for me they just happened along a trash and treasure market (LOL as one does). Some of what they managed to find for me.  Bless them. Nice huh. I really like the top one.  

Oh to go to Japan... November - Yokohama quilt show..... Could I get there.
I have had a little change to my plans for the year. I've missed uni for this session class was booked out. So I have a couple of weeks to fill up with what ever I like. 

Which means my last subject will just be finishing up in the week in November for when the show is planned. Oh well. I will just have to wait and see what I can get organised.

Anyway that's about it.  Happy sewing/stitching and crafting..  

Kath x x x x
  

Wedding shananigans

Another wedding this year.  I'm loving sharing friends special days.  

Purple everywhere.  
Gosh it was chilly on the beach.

The Derby Girl got her man.. . . . . 

Not a dry eye from all those gathered. The recognition of love and shared moments in ones life.

Skating into the reception the Bride and Groom had a great night and partied on with friends and family.

Vamped up - and looking beautiful as only she can.

Love you both
Kath x x x