Kelly Casanova Weaving Lessons

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Felt food and wrist warmers

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It’s cold. It’s wet. It’s the perfect weather for working with wool! I knit these wrist warmers for myself originally, but they fit my eldest daughter better. In fact, the morning after I finished them they had disappeared from my sewing table and were seen on the wrists of a smiling lassy šŸ˜‰
These were a really easy knit from leftover yarn. The pattern is in “Learn to knit love to knit” by Anna Wilkinson.

Today is also our youngest daughter’s 4th birthday and I found myself in a bit of a panic 2 days ago when I realised I didn’t have any hand made gifts for her and my sewing machine is still being serviced. It’s a bit of a tradition now for me to give at least one Mama made gift.
I went through my wool felt drawer and thankfully found some pieces big enough to make some donuts. Since my eldest daughter started sewing and embroidering, my wool felt stores have been seriously depleted!

What’s your favourite flavour, strawberry?

Choc?

Or vanilla? 
Once again, if you would like a tutorial on how to make these, just let me know. I don’t mind doing tutorials and sharing patterns but I mostly only do tutorials nowadays if somebody asks.

Wool felt playscape

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I made this playscape for my animal loving Mary’s 6th birthday next week, but it’s turned out so well I had to share it early!

I dyed the wool felt myself to get the depth of shades I wanted.

I needle felted, then embroidered a nest that fits either kitty or Mother Duck and her 3 ducklings.

It took a lot longer in the planning than in the making, I was so indecisive about what to do.

But I’m so happy with it and I think she’ll love it!
The patterns for the knitted animals came from “Knitted Animals” by Anne-Dorthe Grigaff. I used either merino or alpaca yarn.

Chocolate crunchy slice

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I suddenly remembered this recipe yesterday. It is one of my Mum’s old recipes and now that she is gone I have her recipe book which is largely hand written.
As a girl I would make it for my Dad while he was working – I’d take him a cup of coffee and some slice and his most common response was “Goody!” while rubbing his hands together.
It’s really easy for kids to make too, my 5 year old made this one with me.
2 cups dessicated coconut
250 grams butter
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 cups self raising flour
1 cup sugar
Pre heat oven to 180 degrees. (C)
Melt butter and add to the dry ingredients. Mix well. If mixture seems a little dry add a little milk.
Press into a lightly greased slice tray. Bake for 25 minutes.
When cool you may ice the slice if you wish. I make a simple icing with soft icing sugar, cocoa powder and milk. Spread this on and sprinkle with extra coconut.

Busy, making

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I’ve started on the felt play mat for an upcoming birthday. I hand dyed the wool felt and it came up a bit blotchy, but doesn’t really matter seeing as it’s grass.
I’m not sure what else I’ll add in at this point, I tried some trees but they looked silly. Some mushrooms may be my next attempt.

Needle felting a nest for Mother duck and her ducklings (also in progress, nearly finished).

I’ve also turned some of our screen prints into cushions and bags.

I love the way my hobo style bags came out so I’ll probably sew more in this design.

More updates to come, and if you’re interested in a tutorial or how to for how to make the play mat, just let me know šŸ™‚

Gossamer Dreams tomorrow night

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I’m a guest with Gossamer Dreams this month and have some special Winter treats up for grabs. You can see previews of my items and all the other beautiful handmade goodies from some very talented artisans tonight from 8pm. This gives you time to “window shop” before the listings open. 
The shop goes live at 8pm Saturday 15th June, tomorrow night.
I hope you find something you love and happy shopping!

Coconut Cakelets

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They don’t look like much. You will have to trust me on this one – they taste a lot better than they look. I made some and the kids gobbled them and begged for more.
This recipe is slightly adapted from the Primus Rice Paper recipe for cakelets.
120g dessicated coconut
220g white sugar
1/2 cup white flour
2 large eggs
Enough milk to make it mushy!
2 sheets of rice paper
Set oven to preheat 180 degrees (C)
Mix all dry ingredients together, then work in the wet. Adjust the milk so that your mixture is moist and thick but not too wet or sloppy.
Lay 2 sheets of rice paper on a baking tray. Place blobs (1 dessertspoon full for large cakelets or teaspoon fulls for little cakelets) onto rice paper.
Bake in the oven until golden brown (around 15 minutes)
These are really delicious if eaten while still warm but very nice cold as well.
Enjoy!

I didn’t have time…

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I didn’t have time to finish the ironing today. I didn’t have time to clean the toilet. Or to scrub that desperately dirty shower. Or to dust the layers of built up dust. Or to tidy my sewing table. Nope, no time to vacuum out the van either.

But I did have time to do art and craft with the children. I had time to take them to the playground to play in the sun. I had time to make them tasty and wholesome meals. I had time to wash and hand their clothes. I had time to respond to the seemingly endless “watch me Mum!”s and smile and laugh where appropriate. I had lots of time for hugs and kisses.

And the day is not over yet! I will have time to bathe them and wash their hair. We will all pray together. We will read books and snuggle together.

I’m annoyed and disappointed that I didn’t have time to do everything that I could have today. But I’m so grateful that I made time to do all the things I should.


Cast on, cast off!

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The knitting bug hasn’t left me and isn’t likely to any time soon. Likewise, the yarn dyeing bug šŸ™‚
The pattern is Granny’s Favourite by Tikki. The yarn is hand dyed by me, merino 8ply.

It’s my first attempt at lace knitting, and though I had to enlist a little help from Tas to read the instructions properly, it wasn’t hard in the end.

I got some lovely little heart buttons from here.

It’s a snug fit on Gem, but luckily her 2 younger sisters will be more than willing to take it off her hands next season šŸ™‚
I’ve been working on so much stuff lately it makes me giddy to think of it all! You could say I’m well and truly immersed in everything handmade. There isn’t much I can show you yet, but before too long I can reveal what’s been taking up my creative time.

Been sewing a little..

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The cooler weather brings not only the urge to sew but the necessity as little girls become less little and need new, warm clothes.
This pattern is called Burda kids t-shirt, which seems rather drab to me – it’s more of a crossover top. The fabric is a stripy Japanese knit from Spotlight which I was keen to test out. I found it a little slippery under the machine, not too bad, but I prefer the Euro and Australian knits I usually buy. Yes, they’re more expensive, but you get what you pay for.
Gem loves the top šŸ™‚

Funky pants – pattern and beautiful velour fabric both from Crafty Mamas.
The pants were too long, so I cut them off, hemmed them and made a matching headband from the excess.

I have plans for more leggings and long sleeved tops, of, and guess what?! I finished another cardigan, it just has to blocked and buttoned now šŸ™‚

This has been a bit of a staple breakfast here of late – porridge with maple syrup and double cream. Yum!
Now I’m off to bake my bread and make a large pot of minestrone for dinner. Who says cold weather is dull?!