Kelly

Now that grabs your attention!

I’ve been experimenting with the shibori technique which is really fun and interesting. I was quite surprised when I unwrapped this yesterday after leaving it for hours in plastic in the hot baking sun.

I didn’t exactly get the fine lines I wanted but it certainly doesn’t lack for brightness! I’ll see how it looks as a skirt.

“Second Chance” book review

by Kelly 1 Comment

“Second Chance” by Sandra J Gerencher is a story based on the author’s own family and involves the adoption of a new dog – “Chance”. The tale is told through the eyes and perceptions of the Chance, who had been living in a shelter.

Chance has many adjustments to make to his new life. There are other dogs in the house and he also notices that there is something different about his owner, Ryan. As Chance learns more about his new family he finds that he and Ryan have a great deal in common.

“Second Chance” offers readers an interesting insight into both adoption and autism. The themes that really stand out in the book are love and hope.

Sandra Gerencher has extensive experience in special education and has also adopted a son who has autism and other special needs. Sandra has a personal mission to save dogs from high kill animal shelters through adoption. You can read more about Sandra here or at Tribute Books.

Just because it’s beautiful

by Kelly 1 Comment

I love the voice, humility and grace of this woman – a truly inspiring performer.

Another spiral skirt

by Kelly 4 Comments

This time I used really strong fuschia and turquoise to spiral dye this circle skirt.

To fit ages 5 -6 (more measurement details in the Etsy shop listing)

The last one sold within half an hour so I’m hoping for a similar outcome! I hope to stock my shop with lots of these and my market stall (if and when that happens!)

Aren’t I lucky to have such an obliging little model?

Sunflowers!

by Kelly 5 Comments

The very first sunflower of summer. The bees love them too!

This one hasn’t bloomed yet but is absolutely giant. I had to take this picture lying down on the path to fit it on the screen! The kids can’t wait until the seeds are ready to feast on.

My husband has quite a cactus collection, some in pots and some planted into the garden. This is the first time this one has flowered. The blooms usually last one to two days only. The scent is like freshly cut melon – beautiful!

A little secret for those who are unaware. Don’t waste your money on packets of sunflowers from a seed producer – you can get marvellous and massive blooms (like ours) from the supermarket by buying a bag of bird feed! Naturally, you want a bag with only sunflower seeds. I got hundreds of seeds for roughly $4 and planted them everywhere.

Etsy shop sale

by Kelly Leave a Comment

New year = out with the old, in with the new! I’m offering 10% off any order in my shop for the month of
January. Simply enter the coupon code DOLLSALE2011 when purchasing and the discount is automatically applied. Happy shopping!

Waldorf inspired rainbow doll 13 inch Lil' Mim doll, 13 inches, made from natural materials Lil' Mim and Tiny Mim - waldorf inspired Lil Mim 12 inch doll - waldorf inspired

Happy New Year!!

by Kelly 1 Comment

Wishing you all a very blessed and happy New Year!

Image credit

Red in the Flower Bed

by Kelly 2 Comments

“Red in the Flower Bed” by Andrea Nepa is a touching and beautifully crafted children’s book on the topic of interracial adoption.

The story follows a little seed from the beginning of it’s journey of uncertainty to the end where it becomes a flower with positive nurturing and care. The seed is an analogy for the child who is to be adopted and gives a gentle explanation for the adoptive child who may wonder why.

The illustrations are very simple yet emotive. The book would suit not only an interracially adoptive family but any adoptive family.

I am a great supporter of adoption and I lament the fact that the adoption process is made so difficult and sometimes inaccessible for so many. The author is an adoptive parent herself which is quite obvious as this is a book written from the heart.

You can learn more about Andrea Nepa or purchase her book here.

* I do not receive payment for reviews unless otherwise specified.

Easy peasy apricot jam

by Kelly 2 Comments

I’m so pleased with the amount of apricots we got from our tree this year – however, the birds and insects (consequences of an organic garden) left me with a lot of partially damaged fruit. What to do? Make jam of course!

Start by cutting up your apricots and de-stoning them. Weigh your cut up fruit. This determines your sugar quantity. Say I had 300grams of cut up fruit, then I would use 300 grams white sugar.

The juice of half a lemon, or thereabouts.

Place fruit, sugar and lemon juice on a low heat in a saucepan. Add a couple of tablespoons of water if it seems a little dry as the sugar starts to dissolve. Stir fairly often while it’s dissolving.

Leave on a lowish heat, it will start to simmer and bubble, then eventually foam. Stir occasionally and watch that it doesn’t foam over.

When the foam starts to subside and the jam looks glossier, do the saucer test.

What is the saucer test? Place a small amount of the liquid from the pot onto a saucer and pop in the fridge for a minute or two. If the liquid “sets” or is nice and thick and gloopy when you take it out then you’re ready to jar.

Have your sterilised jars ready. That means washed in hot soapy water and placed in a low oven (leave the door ajar) on newspaper to dry and sterilise.

While the jars are still hot, ladle your hot jam into them carefully and seal. I just use plastic jam covers as I’ve found them to be the most mold resistant.

With a recipe like this you can make huge or tiny quantities.