Kelly

I could never do that.

Then you probably never will!

So often I am asked about the various art and crafts I do. People want to know – “how do you find the time”, “Is it hard?” “Does it take a long time” or “You must be really talented!”

I don’t find the time, I make the time. This stuff is really important to me. So I make the time.

Is it hard? Most things are at the least quite challenging to begin with and become easy or easier over time. I have found most things are worth the effort.

Time? Yes, it takes time, just like watching the television for hours each night does. I know how I prefer to spend my time.

No, I’m not particularly talented. I just love what I do and make the time to do it. I research, I read, I watch tutorials, I talk to others who can help me to learn. This part of the process is so enjoyable!

If there is something you find interesting and would like to learn, instead of letting those defeating words of “I could never do that” slip out, how about changing it to “I’d love to learn that!”

Trust me, you can do it!

Curtains and spinning

by Kelly 2 Comments

I loved this colourway from the moment I unwrapped it after steaming. I started by spinning a single, then also did a single of black that I had dyed.

I plyed the coloured single with the black and it just popped straight away!

The end result is this gorgeously soft and squishy and dynamic skein, I can’t tell you how much I love it. My goal in learning to spin was to be able to spin something like this, so I’m very happy! I only wish I had 3 times the amount of yarn to weave into a shawl.

Another creative project I’ve been busy with is the makeover of my 14 year old son’s curtains. The little kiddy curtains that were old and faded have needed to be replaced for years but I was more than a little bit apprehensive about tackling curtains for the first time.

The best way to get my brain around the fabric amount I would need was to measure the existing curtains and add the allowances. This worked out really well, except they are a little shorter than I would have liked. I learned a lot making these. The new fabric was a lot heavier and stiffer than the former curtains, so next time I would sew weights into the hem. I also found this fabric a little bulky at the top, and have purchased some extra curtain rings to try and even that out.

I bought the fabric at 40% off – these would have cost a fortune to make otherwise, so it’s really worth waiting for a sale for a project like this.

Overall, I’m really happy with how the curtains look. The only trouble now is his bedspread looks faded, so it might be time for a new one of those too 🙂

Absent.

by Kelly Leave a Comment

Yes, I have been absent. Recent life events have meant that blogging has not been on my list of priorities.

I have a link for a donations page to share with you. My lovely sister has been going through a difficult time, you can read a little about it on the Ozcrowd page that a friend set up.

Many of my friends have donated already and for that I am so grateful. Many of you have prayed for her and I’m sure that it’s because of this that she is now out of ICU and back at home.

If you haven’t donated I hope you may consider doing so – even if it’s a very small amount, it all adds up and will contribute to their funeral costs for their darling baby girl as well as my sister’s possible ongoing medical costs as she works towards recovery.

Thank you all so much and God bless you 🙂

Dye, spin, weave!

by Kelly 3 Comments

My first 100% hand dyed, hand spun and hand woven item! I’ve been working up to this for a while, practicing my spinning to get a more consistent yarn.

I decided on a “long and skinny” style. It is a plain weave but the interplay of colours makes it appear more complicated than it is.

I used First Edition fibre to dye and then spin, it’s lovely and soft.

One of my dreams is to do many more of these types of items and be able to sell them. I love the authenticity of making the item from start to finish (OK, I didn’t shear the sheep!) But from my experience as a handmade artisan I seriously doubt that customers would be willing to pay the amount I would need to charge to cover the time invested – many, many hours. Still, I may just do the occasional piece and make it available for sale. I’d love to do some pieces for exhibition or competition as well.

This was the original yarn.

What’s next? Perhaps a shawl? Phew, that’s going to take a while, I’d better start spinning!

Charity auction Monday

by Kelly 1 Comment

My next charity auction for Mary’s Meals will take place on Monday 21st on my Facebook page. I’m offering these three 100gram skeins of 8ply superwash merino (I think they look fab together!)

The auction will start on Monday morning and finish up at 8pm. All you have to do is go to my page and bid, there will be a reserve price and you can go from there.

I hope we can raise some money for this beautiful charity!

Silverbeet and ricotta pie

by Kelly 2 Comments

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves crushed garlic

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 potato, finely chopped

300grams greens (silverbeet, spinach, kale, or a combination of greens)

450grams fresh ricotta

2 eggs

rind of 1/2 a lemon, grated

20grams grated parmesan

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

salt and pepper to taste

2 sheets puff pastry (shop bought or homemade)

Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius.

In a large frying pan, fry the onion in oil for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, celery, potato and silver beet (or greens). Continue frying until silver beet is wilting. Take off the heat and allow to cool a little.

Meanwhile, mash together in a large bowl the ricotta, eggs, lemon, parmesan, nutmeg and salt and pepper.

Grease your pie dish and lay a sheet of pastry as the base.

Mix the vegetables into the ricotta mixture until nicely blended. Place the mixture into the pie dish.

Cover with another sheet of pastry, pressing down around the edges of the dish. Slash a couple of slits in the top with a sharp knife.

Bake in the oven for about 45 minutes or until the pie is golden brown and layers of the pastry are separating slightly.

I think this pie would be wonderful with filo pastry as well, maybe some feta cheese crumbled in? Next time!

And, just for fun and because I do love pie!

Everyday bread

by Kelly 2 Comments

This is the recipe I make for a delicious yet not too time consuming bread for every day use. Makes 2 large loaves.

100g wholemeal flour

900g unbleached plain flour

2.5 teaspoons dried yeast

2.5 teaspoons salt

3 tablespoons sunflower oil

Approx 700ml warm water (varies with temp, dryness of flour etc)

Place all dry ingredients into your mixmaster’s mixing bowl with the dough hook fitted. Start machine on low and drizzle most of the water in. Allow to mix for a minute or so, then add more water if needed. The dough should be really moist but not so sticky it can’t be handled.

Keep mixing on low for at least 5 minutes. Turn out of bowl onto an oiled bench and oil the bottom and inside of the bowl. Place the dough back in the bowl, oil the top lightly and cover with plastic wrap. Leave for 1.5 hours or until double in size. In cooler weather this will take longer.

Turn the dough out onto a bench and cut in half with a sharp knife. Knead each piece lightly then shape into required shape. You can do freeform loaves or use bread tins – I do either depending on my mood 🙂 Freeform loaves can be placed on baking trays. Cover loaves with plastic wrap to rest.

Preheat your oven to 250 degrees (C). Allow the loaves to sit for 30 minutes. Slash the tops with a sharp knife and place in the oven. Set the timer for 5 minutes. When timer goes off, turn the temperature down to 230 degrees and set the timer to 30 minutes.

Remove from oven when done and cool on a baking rack.

Linking up with Creative Friday.

3 ways to save money today – Volume 8

by Kelly 5 Comments

1. Don’t buy cereal.
I’ve noticed a real drive by cereal companies for us to mimic American culture in our pursuit for cereal. It’s really expensive, usually unhealthy and really unnecessary! The only type of cereal I buy on a regular basis is Vita Brits, which I find affordable, nutritious and tasty. Occasionally I buy cereal for the kids for a birthday or treat, but I find the novelty wears off pretty quickly anyway.
Oats are fantastic. If you buy a generic brand they are cheap and really versatile. I’ve been making my own muesli, toasted and natural for years.
There are so many alternatives to cereal that are healthier and will cost a fraction of the price. Get googling and find some new, simple breakfast dishes.

2. Make your own bread.
Commercial bread is increasing in price constantly. Yes, you can still buy a cheap white loaf for around a dollar but I find these akin to eating fluff, not nice.
It’s not hard to make bread. It’s a time investment but once you get into a routine it’s very do-able. I’d like to say that I fully supply our family with home made bread but I’m not quite there yet. I’m happy to say that most of the time there is homemade bread in the pantry or freezer.
I have quite a few bread recipes right here on my blog:

Apple and Walnut bread
Wholemeal, rye and linseed bread
Spelt, honey and Linseed bread
Honey and Oat bread
My basic bread
My Everyday bread recipe

3. Make your own toilet spray.
We pay a lot of money for the privilege of spraying chemicals around in our home and it’s not at all necessary! A small spray bottle, some water and some essential oil that you like the scent of, and you’re done. Experiment with quantities of oil to water to get the ratio that suits you. A good essential oil can be a bit of an investment in terms of dollars, but when you consider how long one bottle will last you it’s much cheaper than buying a chemical laden spray.

Completed cardi and more spinning!

by Kelly 2 Comments

Hooray, the cardigan is finally done! And it’s perfect, there is room to grow and she is just so warm in it. It’s hard to believe this little sweetie is turning 5 on Sunday, can’t I wind back the clock just a little?

I knit this with my hand dyed 8ply merino. The buttons are from Buttons by Benji, and though it’s hard to see from the photo, they are totally gorgeous. The pattern is “Annie” by Tikki.

On the wheel currently is my “By the shores of Lake Violet” colour way on merino roving. Loving these colours!

And here is an idea of what it looks like randomly spun and plyed.

Brrr, it’s cold!

by Kelly 2 Comments

Yes, Winter is well and truly here but thankfully I have many activities to keep busy and warm. This is my last handspun skein.

I used my hand dyed “Mixed Berry” roving and employed the fractal spinning technique and it worked out beautifully!

The garden has slowed down but we are harvesting all those lovely winter veg now. Our son and I (so lovely to have a kitchen helper!) cooked up a big pot of garden harvested veggie soup with barley tonight.

And garlic bread made from scratch was the perfect accompaniment.

This is my newest colour way, now in the Etsy shop.

And I dyed some of that gorgeous First Edition roving in the same colour way. This is now on my spinning wheel and looking splendid.

So, Winter isn’t all cold hands and noses, there are many delightful things about it too 🙂

What about you. Cool weather? Or warm?