screen printing

This week was my final class of the screen printing course I've been doing at TAFE for the past couple of months. I loved every part of the printing process. It is a bit sad it is finished, but I've come away with lots of ideas and bought some materials so I can start producing from home. Very exciting!

vintage patterns

I was recently given this pile of vintage children's clothing patterns from Rae, a gorgeous lady in Nanna's craft group. One of her first jobs as a teenager was to develop the sizing charts for Simplicity Patterns. The patterns are from the early 70's. I love the classic posed illustrations of the perfect happy children. So gorgeous. I can't wait to start making

happy birthday alli

Crocheted, felted wool slippers for my cousin. I'm starting to get the hang of the felting now. It can be a bit hit and miss. Throwing a pair of wool slippers in the washing machine always seems a bit risky, and often they shrink more than I intend them to. Like Cinderella and the glass slipper, who ever the slipper fits best... Luckily these ones I crocheted for Alli fitted her perfectly. Happy Birthday.

dutch pickled red cabbage

This is one of Mum's favourite recipes and something I remember eating lots of as a kid. Spiced sweet and sour. Traditionally is is served warm with fish, but also venison or other red meat.

Ingredients:
1 red cabbage
3 green apples
3 small onions
1 tspn cinnamon
3 bay leaves
3 tspn sugar
1/3 cup vinegar or to taste
pinch cloves
1 or 2 tspn salt
pinch pepper
2 tbsn corn flour
1 litre water

Slice red cabbage thinly. Chop onion. Peel, chop and core apples. Layer the cabbage, onion, apple and spices into a pot. Pour over water and steam for 1/2 hour to 3/4 hour. Stir after 20 minutes to check. Cabbage should be soft when cooked. Add more sugar/salt/vinegar to taste depending if you prefer it more sweet or more sour. Dissolve cornflour in half a cup of water and quickly stir though cabbage. Cook on stove for a couple of minutes to cook the cornflour and thicken the liquid, stiring constantly.