birthday jewels

October really is the start of the silly season in our house, there have been birthdays, travel, exams, rugby games and extreme weather to keep us busy. I will update you on all of the above over the next few days (hurrah for the long weekend!).

The pic above is of my wee homemade gift for the early-Libran Amy-Jane. To match her style I created a little brooch from satin and a other bits and pieces I had in the cupboard. It really reminds of the 40s style cocktail evening dresses.

Source: ebay.com via Wayward on Pinterest

My mind is all-things-vintage after the Love Vintage fair in Sydney last week. I was just so lucky to go and it coincided with my birthday trip with my beautiful mum to visit some relatives over there. We spent 5(!) hours at the show where I just drooled my way down the aisles resisting the temptation to purchase everything in my path (I did pick up some wee treats though).

The real highlight of the fair was attending one of Kelly Doust's workshops and meeting her in person - I did a terrible impression of a star-struck fan at the time and will not put up the pic of us because I look like a stunned possum! It was a total delight meeting her though and I picked up a signed copy of her latest (and like always) fantastic book 'Minxy Vintage'.

The ladies from the Lindy Charm School for Girls

Spending some time in Sydney with mum was great, we wandered the streets of Newtown and Glebe and even did a mission out to Bondi. It was a strange experience to be in a CBD after not being in one for so long now.

Oh and finally - until my next post - if you have the chance, go see Submarine, the new Richard Ayoade (of IT Crowd and Mighty Boosh fame) film. Great acting and styling in a coming of age story.

ginger

 

I love this ginger loaf, when smeared with butter and consumed alongside a hot cup of tea it is the ultimate heart-warmer. It's super simple to throw together too!

This recipe is enough for a small loaf.

50g butter

1tbsp golden syrup

1 egg

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup flour

1tsp baking powder

2tsp ginger

1tsp mixed spice

1tsp baking soda

3/4 cup milk

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees celcius.

Melt your butter and golden syrup on a low heat in a small saucepan. Pour into a mixing bowl.

Add the egg and sugar and mix well.

Add all the dry ingredients except the baking soda and mix well.

Mix the soda in the milk and then slowly stir into the rest of the mix.

Pour your mixture into a baking paper-lined loaf tin.

Bake for 30-40min until a skewer comes out cleanly. Leave on a rack to cool.

Also featured in the pics is my new blanket that I picked up from Retropolitan. I love the colours and is perfect for sitting on in the sun with a good book (which I did this afternoon!).

turquoise spring

Yes yes I have been lacking on the crafty updates of late but that's because I was saving up for something big! Here is my project from the weekend - my new spring dress. It has my colour of the moment - turquoise. If I were to perform a post-mortem of the project I would have to say that I would be less generous with my sizing as I do have some trimming to do. I have the perfect (you guessed it!) turquoise belt to go with it too. (It wouldn't sit on the dress for pictures). Also theres a pic of my latest turquoise purchase - button earrings by Ella Amalie! Picked those babies up from Encraftment a couple of weeks back.

In other news I have found a stockist of Frankie in Christchurch. The lovely gentlemen (honestly, just adorable) at Canterbury Magazines in Addington keep each edition aside for me to pick up at my leisure. I think I've gone cover to cover with this issue about six times and counting. And look who's featured:

Vicky Lang from Follow the White Rabbit has a chat about trying to keep her business moving through the quakes.

Promise to pump out the posts more frequently as now life/bills/work/lack of motivation is reducing and vitality is increasing. Love blossoms, love daylight savings, love spring!!

peace

Source: weheartit.com via Wayward on Pinterest

Now that I'm prepared to write about the joy that I'm currently getting from my new yoga classes I'm almost at a loss for words. Words that do spring to mind are; calm, control, patience, tolerance, compassion, strength.

If you live in Christchurch I sincerely recommend you try Pavitra's classes at Yoga for You. The classes are Satyananda yoga which integrate breath, mind and body in the pratices. If you're not sure about the 10 week investment for the Introductory Course there are community classes in the weekends by donation.

I'm such a diligent student I am now practicing daily and have purchased Asana Panayama Mudra Bandha by Swami Satyananda Saraswati and am gradually building my skill base. Hoping to visit the Anahata Retreat in the near future too.

Better go pack, am off across the ditch tomorrow to Melbourne. For work, not play.

steam bake

Warm, crusty, hot-from-the-oven loaf. Yep, it sounds amazing and in real life it was rather darn good too. Here is Wendyl's recipe that I tried:

25g butter
1 tblspn salt
1 tblspn sugar
400ml boiling water
1 tblspn active dried yeast granules (not Surebake)
100ml water - blood temperature
6 cups white flour

Put butter, salt and sugar in a large bowl and pour over boiling water.
Stir in the butter until it has melted and leave to the side to cool down.
Sprinkle the yeast over the lukewarm water and whisk with a fork. Set aside for 10 mins until the yeast goes frothy.
Stir yeast mixture into the butter mixture and stir in nearly all of the flour (the rest goes on the bench). Your dough should be able to be kneaded easily and leaves the bowl clean.
Knead for 10 mins by pushing it away from you with the heel of your hand and then rolling back towards you.
Rinse your bowl out with hot water so that it heats up, dry and coat with oil then put the dough into the bowl and pop it in a warm place for around an hour until it has doubled in size.
Push the dough down gently (don't punch!) then cut it in half and mould it into two oval shapes.
Put your loaves side by side on a greased tray and leave to rise for 5 mins.
Slash the tops with five deep cuts and put on the middle rung of the oven. Boil a jug of water and fill a roasting pan and put this on the rung directly under the loaves. Close the oven door and set the temp to 200 celcius. Bake for 40 - 45mins. Eat with butter and honey straight from the oven.

Next post I'm going to rave about my new Yoga classes. Be prepared.

chewy oats

These little treats are the easiest afternoon tea snack and lunchbox addition.

75g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda
75g brown sugar
75g porridge oats
75g polyunsaturated margarine
1 tablespoon golden syrup
cooking spray


Put your oven on to 170 celcius.
Sift the flour and bicarb soda together then add the sugar and oats
Melt the marg and golden syrup in a saucepan then turn off the heat and add the dry mixture
Mix it all together and put tablespoon size dots on a baking sheet sprayed with the cooking spray
Be careful to leave enough space between each biscuit so they can spread out. Flatten them down a little bit with your fingers.

After 15 min or when they're golden brown take them out and let them cool on a rack.


What a crazy week at work. It has been exhausting and has meant that I have severely neglected my blogging!

place. mat.

Sun! Spring is here and is very very welcome. I whipped up these placemats today as a small gift. I used The Crafty Minx pattern but would recommend increasing the sizes from the recommendation in the book.

Glad for a sleep-in this morning and some domestic duties. Hopefully if the sun continues tomorrow we will be out on the water enjoying a brisk morning.