Kelly Casanova Weaving Lessons

Kelly

Roasted Pumpkin Soup

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We have a beautiful harvest of various types of pumpkins this year so I’ve been making soup. Here is my recipe that has evolved over years of soup making! It is simple and makes a big batch.
2.8 kg pumpkin
3 potatoes (medium)
1 leek
2 onions
garlic cloves to taste (as a guide use 4ish)
2 smoked bacon bones
5 – 8 cups chicken stock

Weigh out about 1.8 kg of the pumpkin and chop into large pieces (leave skin on). Put into a roasting dish and into the oven at 180 degrees (C) for approximately 40 minutes, turning once.

Meanwhile, chop your onions and fry in a stock pot in a little olive oil and butter. Add chopped leek and garlic and stir until sweating. Throw in the chopped and peeled potato and raw, peeled pumpkin. Now remove the skin from your roasted pieces and put them in the pot too.

Add the bacon bones, stock and season to your preference with salt and pepper. The stock should be about level with the vegetables for a nice thick soup.

Allow to simmer until vegetables are very soft. Turn off and leave until the soup is warm but not boiling hot! Puree in a food processor. Serve with a dob of cream and extra pepper if you wish.

Did I mention it’s perfect with homemade bread hot from the oven?

My Creative Space

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Our pumpkin harvest for this year. Some seeds were from the Lost Seed, some were saved from last year and others were given to us by other gardeners, so we have a good variety. The aroma of pumpkin soup is wafting through the house as we speak. 
Here are the linen/cotton napkins I mentioned in a previous post for the purposes of hand printing experimentation. 
A little messy, but not too bad!
This piece of robinia took ages to cut out as a stencil and I don’t think the results were worth it. Maybe I just need more cutting practice.
Head over to Kirsty’s for more Creative Spaces.

Hand printing

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I’ve been wanting to try screen printing for an awfully long time but haven’t due to the cost of setting up. Last year I was really inspired after reading Lena Corwin’s Printing by Hand and decided to give freezer paper a try. I didn’t get far. I think my designs were to intricate for a beginner and my head wasn’t in the right place.
Enter the new year and my new sense of trying to fulfill my creative inspirations! I’ve been very busy drawing designs, cutting (love you Xacto knife!) and experimenting with printing. I’ve been collecting a lot of folliage from the garden and various trees to take impressions from.
I bought some linen and will see what I can come up with!
There is something so special about hand printed fabric, don’t you think?
And I completed my first ever cross stitch! It has now joined the pile of other stitcheries that live in hope of being framed one day.
Happy, sunshiney, creative day to you all!

Few or many?

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I’m so grateful for my children, all 4 of them. I would be grateful for more too – there is simply nothing more important, challenging, joyful and priveleged as raising children.

You know there’s a but coming. Sometimes when I see what other parents of smaller families are able to provide for their children it leaves me wondering. Would my children be happier with their own playroom? Their own bedrooms? Brand new clothes instead of second hand or op shopped? Fancier foods? The list could go on.

But then I remember what my children have taught me about life and about them. That they need love. Lots of it. Attention, lots of that too. Positive interaction. And God takes care of the rest, so that we always have what we need but not always what we want.

The fact that the children are constantly asking me when their next sibling might appear and that they are all each other’s best friends confirms that a large family is a good thing for us and that our children do not want for anything.

Thanks be to God.

My Creative Space

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Almost finished embroidering this table cloth, just can’t decide on the border colour.

Re – hemming this dress I made for my sister when I was 14 – she was 5. It has been worn by my sister and 2 of my daughters (and will be worn by the 3rd) and has only ever needed the hem fixed.
I’m enjoying these books that Nell sent to me along with some soap and chocolates. Thanks so much Nell.
Speaking of my sister… she gave me this tapestry approximately 10 years ago! I have pulled out my original stitching that was done when I was clueless and am having another go at it. I’ll update you in another year (it’s very large!) and hopefully not in another 10.
Check out other creative spaces at Kootoyoo and have a very crafty day!

Autumn afternoon

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We went for a drive to the forest yesterday. It was a perfect autumn afternoon. My favourite time of year.
 The fly agarics were pushing up through the forest floor everywhere we looked.
Husband fished while the children and I explored and played games.
Some things must look so huge to little ones.
We stayed until after sunset, which was beautiful on the water.
We drove home with heavy hearts – there is no way the suburbs can compare with fresh, wide open spaces. One day.

Stumpwork!

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I had a marvelous day yesterday with the Embroiderer’s Guild doing a beginner’s stumpwork class with the talented Cecily Dow. This class is in preparation for the intermediate certificate I intend to do later in the year with Alison Cole (very excited about this!)
To give an indication of size, this is in a 4 inch hoop. Even though it’s very small it took many hours to complete, it is very fine and detailed work.
This is a really dynamic form of embroidery and I can’t wait to do more. I’m pretty pleased with my first attempt!

My Creative Space

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You’ll have to excuse my less than perfect photography, I just didn’t have time to pretty it up today.
The girls are happily playing with their new extra large silks.
G wanted a bright mandala so that’s what she got! As you can see, it is already well loved and in need of an iron.
M requested a blue and pink silk, so I dyed a pink butterfly on a turquoise background. Hers is long enough to “fly” with.
2 things I said I’d never try – scrapbooking and cross stitch. Well, what does this look like? Yep, I’m hooked. It’s a sickness, this stitching thing.
Yet another embroidery I’ve started. 
For other crafty obsessives and creative wonders visit here.

Abortion grief

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One thing that abortion centres don’t advise women of prior to the surgery is that having an abortion may end up being traumatic. You may regret the decision that the “counsellors” help you make. You may wish you could turn back time and undo what has been done.
Thankfully there are caring organisations who can help and won’t be more concerned about your fee payment than your emotional well being. Here are some Australian resources.

Rachel’s Vineyard

Open Doors

ProLife Victoria