Hello Winter

Well, it's officially the last day of Autumn, and while there are still a few signs of coloured leaves around, the weather has taken a turn for the frosty...

Perfect for wrapping the children up in all their woolies, braving the elements and then spending time in front of the fire with family and great conversation. Happy long weekend everyone

Fabric Flower Tutorial

I've received a few emails lately asking how I make the fabric flowers that I like to put on... almost everything! They've become a bit of a signature touch for Speckled Egg. The original inspiration came from this book, where they are used to decorate Temari Balls. I've adapted the idea a bit to suit. So here is my first ever tutorial!
Cut 5 circles. Exact diameter is not particularly important but I'd say about 2 to 2.5cms. A thin cotton fabric works well, but I've used satin and a few others as well, just play around a bit. If using a thicker fabric, make your circles bigger and use a strong thread. Also-it doesn't matter if one of the circles has a bit of a wonky edge or some selvedge showing, this is part of what makes this such a great project for using up your scraps.

Fold circle in half, making sure your wonky bit (here a bit of selvedge) is on one side. Then fold your circle in half again.

A couple of stitches along the bottom edge.

Pull the stitches tight.

Repeat with the other circles. These are your petals.

Join the first and the last petals together.

There is your flower! Now choose something to sew onto the centre.

I chose a button this time, but in the past I've used sequins and beads, a circle of fabric covered cardboard, a circle of felt blanket-stitched around the edge...

These are great for adding a three-dimensional touch to embroidery, for sewing onto dresses or baby shoes, as fridge magnets, in your hair, on your bag... I'd love to see how you use them. Enjoy!

Pow! Zap! Zap!

Ahem... I know Kyans' 1st bithday was all the way back on May 1st, but I just finished his special present from me. K-Man, Kyans' own personal superhero. K-Man has powers including but not limited to-Nocturnal Superenergy-the power to stay up all night and never get tired, and the ability to dazzle a whole room of people with a single flash of his Wondergrin...
At first he didn't want to have his photo taken and said he was busy, looking out for danger...
But I convinced him to turn around eventually.

Even superheroes need a bit of encouragement sometimes.

Sweetness

It's all about cupcakes round here at the moment. Lots of little people have been having birthdays. The beauty of a batch of cupcakes as opposed to one big birthday cake is threefold. Firstly-I find cupcakes harder to stuff up, both in baking and decorating. Secondly-you can make different variations within one batch. Thirdly-they still look pretty the next day...
I made these ones for a friends' daughters first birthday. See that, there in the middle? My first fondant rose ever! They're much harder than they look I tell ya...

I can't take the credit for these awesome jungle ones, a friend made them for her gorgeous son.

I made these ones for Kyans' Teddy Bears Picnic, which we had to celebrate his birthday.

I've found heaps of inspiration in this wonderful book. The Crabapple Cupcake Bakery was a beautiful little shop in Melbourne, where they would serve the cupcakes on vintage china, with a cup of tea in a silver Robur teapot. Sadly, the bakery went into voluntary receivership early in 2008 (bloody recession!)

But the recipes live on in this lovely book, filled with delicious example like this; Church Picnic Carrot Cupcakes.

Coconut Marshmallow Cloud Cupcakes. even the name sounds delicious right?

Christmas Cupcakes.

And Islas' request for her 4th Birthday Cake (good grief, didn't we just have her 3rd birthday? The girl plans early for these things. What can I say? She's her mothers' daughter!)

My favourite thing about the book is that, along with all the marvellous recipes for the cakes themselves, it also has recipes for many different kinds of cupcake frosting and fillings. Coconut ice frosting anyone? Dark chocolate ganache? Rich tangy lemon curd filling?

Here is the recipe for the Marshmallow Frosting

3 egg whites

480g white sugar

3 tsp light corn syrup

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

150ml water

3/4 tsp vanilla extract

3 drops pink food colouring

In a metal bowl, combine the egg whites, sugar, corn syrup, cream of tartar and water. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water, and beat continuously until the mixture is light and fluffy and forms soft peaks, Take the bowl off the heat and add the vanilla and the food colouring. Whisk the mixture until it forms stiff peaks. Use immediately.

Stripes

I was hanging out the washing this morning, trying to make the most of some sunshine. Isla was dancing in the garden, singing a sweet song.

And it occured to me...

That we really like stripes in our family! I pointed this out to Isla...

"Oh yes Mummy", she said. "Even our house is stripey!"

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, about 20 years ago, a boy saved up his pocket money and bought his Mum a little plant, for Mothers Day.
She cared for the plant carefully, and it grew and grew, flowering every subsequent Mothers Day.
Years passed, and the little boy grew up, and had children of his own...
The woman took a cutting from the plant and gave it to her Daughter in Law, in a pretty blue pot, to celebrate her first Mothers Day.

The plant grew and grew, as did the womans' grandchildren-two of them now.

And today-two little buds.

Happy Mothers Day

Garage Sale Goodness

Recently I have resumed my all-time favourite activity for a Saturday morning. I grab a girlfriend, get up early, dress warmly, leave the children with Liam and go Garage Sale-ing. The garage sales in this little town are true-blue, genuine Kiwi ones;often there is a plate of home baking sitting on a table, or sausages sizzling on a little barbecue, a heater running to keep customers warm, old ladies who press a box of sewing bits into your hand, or kind gentlemen who give you a ladder for free because they couldn't possibly take money for a ladder that shouldn't really be climbed on...
But I think it looks lovely in Kyans' room, holding blankets, shoes and other bits and pieces.

This little wooden desk started life in a local rural primary school. It brought back so many memories for Liam and I. Do you remember the desks like that? With the little groove for your pencil so that it wouldn't roll away? (And maybe some contraband hidden inside?)

Hand painted wooden tray. I'm a bit of a sucker for Pansies.

I'm hoping this tray will be carrying a special breakfast for Mothers' day tomorrow...

And these two enormous curtains. I adore the print, and for practical purposes they will be wonderful at blocking out light, and are thermal backed for warmth.

All in all, a wonderful start to my Garage Sale-ing season.