The Week That Was...

A few images from my week. Cooking...


With my beautiful sous chef at my side...


Reading... Always! I've got rather a stack of books to get through at the moment!

Wondering at all the varieties of tomatoes Liam has grown. Who knew there were so many different kinds? Look at all those wonderful colours!

Washing.

Being showered with love by the exuberant Zac, who is rarely still enough to take any sort of photo!

Loving this dress sent to me by my best friend Anna.

Remembering when Isla was this little and wondering how she grew just so fast?

Feeling pretty pleased with my first attempt at upholstery. Thanks Dad for the lend of the staple gun!

Making use of my Amy Butler fabric.

And very much enjoying meeting a new friend! The beautiful Rhiannon had Kyan and I over for afternoon tea today-it's so nice to meet a fellow crafty-blogger (and her two gorgeous boys!). So all in all a rather good week!

Ginger Love

I swore I wouldn't do it again, not until I'd regained my pre-Kyan body. But my husband came home last night with a bag full of ingredients and a yearning look in his big green eyes. So I made Ginger Crunch. Not as decadent as this one-in order to lessen the postgingercrunchguilt I used a slightly simpler recipe, adapting it only to add 1 cup of crushed mixed nuts to the base.

Look how beautiful and golden it is...

Aaaaah... Bliss!

Hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend!

Teddies and Daisy Chains

First there was the train, then the kiwi, and now this teddy. The first teddy I've ever made actually. Three vintage-print kiwiana teatowel comission projects featuring Whakatane, as prominently placed as possible.

They've been really great challenging projects, but now I'm ready to move on from tea towels and on to other things, because I've got this gorgeous Amy Butler Daisy Chain fabric (a little birthday gift I bought for myself!) just dying to be stitched into things.

Isn't it beautiful!

I've got a sharp needle and a head full of ideas so I'm off! It may be a few days before I resurface from under this fabric.

Getting Organised.

Getting organised early this year. Because last year Isla's birthday party flew by in such a rush that I didn't get a chance to take many (any?) photos and I definitely didn't feel as though I had the time to relax and enjoy it.

Sharing celebrations with my children is one of my favourite favourite things about being a Mum, and I want to savour this time where it's not too uncool for them to hand out Mummy-made, cupcake shaped invitations to their friends at preschool...

And to plan, and discuss the upcoming party for months in advance.

It's going to be a blast! I think I'm almost as excited as she is!

Lucky Me

Ooooooh I was so lucky! Craft supplies and a new sewing box to cart around my latest project. Yay! How cool are those felt butterflies?

Amber beads, a lovely new red lasagna dish, a gorgeous hanging owl...

A delicious cake decorated by Isla (we ate half of it, then Zac helped himself to the rest from the bench, breaking my plate in the process. Then Isla-sweet little girl-said "it's ok Mummy, it's going to be my birthday next and we can make another cake exactly the same and I'll share it with you.")

Hurrah! A lamp for bedtime reading!

My favourite perfume...

So as you can imagine, I'm feeling very very lucky xx

Twenty Seven

Twent Seven today. Gosh, how grown up am I! I'll be back tomorrow to show you my presents!

Hello 2010

I have a feeling that 2010 is going to be wonderful... Just wonderful. I'm so grateful for all that I have.
Bugger the resolutions this year. I just want to wish peace, love, health and contentment to everyone and say a big Thank You to all those who have been following my blog, reading my words, encouraging me and offering me so many fabulous opportunities to extend myself beyond what I ever imagined.
Here's to a fantastic year xx
P.S- can anyone identify those flowers? Are they Tiger Lilies?

Baking

I'm suffering from complete crafter's block. My symptoms include-inability to follow a pattern, lack of inspiration, poor time management skills, shortened attention span and extreme exhaustion. Thank Goodness I can still bake-phew! It's my only creative outlet currently and apparently, the only project I can see through from start to finish... So let's celebrate that!

With the BEST chocolate brownie recipe I've found yet... Originally it was from an old Women's Weekly magazine, but I've tweaked it slightly over time.

Ingredients

1 cup of Castor Sugar

175g butter

2 Tablespoons Cocoa

175g dark chocolate-Whittakers is best

4 eggs

½ cup plain flour

1 large bag crushed Malteasers

Icing sugar to dust

Method

Heat oven to 160°C.

Melt butter and chocolate together in the microwave-or carefully in a saucepan. Whisk, then add the eggs and the sugar.

Sift the flour and cocoa into this mixture, stir (not heaps, just enough to mix together) then add the Malteasers.

Pour into your tin, lined with baking paper. Cook until a knife comes out cleanly-usually between 20-30 minutes. This recipe is pretty hard to burn- overcooked just means it's more chewy, which is a good thing! Store in an airtight container and enjoy!