Friday, January 27, 2012

Gingernut Balls

Happy Australia Day! (Ok... so I missed the mark yesterday)
Our day was spent with the Mr. taking the boys to Bunnings for a few items in the morning while I got some sewing done. :) Yippee! I actually got something finished, so I can't wait to show soon! (Soon, soon, I promise!)
They came home with these cute Australian Flags.


Apparently they went driving around the neighbourhood so they could fly their flags - and had a total blast!

But I digress... I was going to share with you the gingernut ball recipe that I used for when we had friends over for dinner. I adapted it to suit since I have made it before.




Gingernut Balls

Ingredients:

250g packet gingernut biscuits (some brands crush better than others)
4 1/2 Sanitarium Weet-bix
½ cup chopped crystallised ginger
½ cup chopped dried apricots
½ cup sultanas
400g can Skim sweetened condensed milk (I use Nestle, I find other brands taste odd to me)
Dessicated coconut for rolling balls in.



Method:

Throw gingernuts in a food processor and process till there are small lumps. Place in bowl
Crush Weet-Bix, and add to bowl.


Add all other ingredients except coconut. Mix thoroughly.
Form into balls and roll in coconut. Refrigerate (this helps them to hold their shape, and I like the taste of them better when they are cool... it's up to you really!)


Bon appetit!

S xxx

Original recipe can be found on the Sanitarium website, or in their book "Best of Vegetarian".

Friday, January 20, 2012

Small Crochet Moments.

A little face washer to send to a loved family member.


I used Sullivans Bamboo cotton mix yarn. I don't know what the colour was... the wrapper got thrown out when we were cleaning up last week. I can tell you that I picked it up while I was wandering through Lincraft the other day looking for non-roll elastic.


I wasn't sure about it at first, but I really like the way the variegated colour worked up in the pattern (Lion brand Bark Sedge Stitch washcloth... you have to sign in to view it). I think I might even have to go back to get some more at some stage. I am getting a bit particular about what yarn I use... so the fact that this one didn't split much, felt wonderful to use, and wasn't as expensive as some of the bamboo/cotton blends I have worked with was a lovely surprise.

The pattern was fairly simple, although after I did a few rows I pulled it undone and worked my own thing on the ends and beginnings of each row. Then I used single crochet around the edge for extra strength. I also used a bigger hook (6mm/J) to make it a bit softer.

So that's it!

Hope you all have a splendid weekend - I'm thinking it might just be beach weather!

S xox

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Something for the boys...

This afternoon I have spent a little time with my trusty roller cutter, cutting mat, patterns and pins to work on a little something for the boys (while they are taking a short nap!).

This is what I'm currently working with. Both lots of fabric were gifted to me.


Cutting fabric still scares me silly sometimes. I can be a perfectionist - or maybe it's just that I am scared silly of making a mistake (sewing machines and roller cutters still have that effect on me I'm afraid). Then there is the possibility of breaking out the "new to me" sewing machine that I received from Hubby's Grandmother a couple of months ago. That too will be a learning curve. Anyway, I'm hoping to have some of it done by the weekend.

For more productive creations, have a look here...

And stop by tomorrow for a little completed hookey! :)

S xox

Friday, January 13, 2012

My Creative Space - Knitting and Stitching

You may well have seen that I haven't been around these parts much lately, but all is not entirely still on the creative front. I've been a bit quiet I guess, and (as you know if you read my previous post) there are good reasons for that. Right now I want to share a couple of projects that have been waiting for some attention for a while now.

First up is a little knitted throw that I made for my sister for her birthday (it's living at her home now - so I can show you ).



I used an acrylic blend of yarn that was in a boxed kit... not normally what I would go looking for, but I stumbled across it and thought it was cool (there were also a pair of 12mm knitting needles in the kit, and I didn't have a set of those, so I grabbed it!). I knitted it with one of the 12mm knitting needles, and the other was a 3/4 inch knitting needled that I borrowed from my MIL some time ago.

The second thing is a reversible bag I made for my SIL for her b'day a while back, and I just haven't shared it yet. I used some Emily Bloom Designer collection fabric for the pink side of the bag and some blue paisley vintage cotton that used to be a skirt belonging to my MIL - so it already has family history. ;)



The pattern is the same one I used here.

I have a few other projects in the works that I will (hopefully) share with you in the next week or so.
Hope your day is a marvellous one - I'm off to enjoy some sunshine with the boys while it's around (We've had such a wet Summer lately, that any bit on sun and warmth is welcome!).

S xox 


Sunday, January 1, 2012

New Beginnings

Image Via

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It's been a while... too long really, since I have popped in to say hi. I have visited a few of you at your blogs - but not as much as I would have liked. It wouldn't surprise me if you got completely sick of the lack of action here at Seaweed & Raine, and left - but I have a good reason (kind of) for my absence. You see, a little person is coming to live at our place in mid June, and we are pretty excited about it! :)

The nausea wasn't pleasant - so between trying to run a house hold, spend time with the boys, plan Little C's party, and then the lead up to Christmas, I had absolutely no energy left for blogging. Never mind. All my lovely plans for ideas and tutorials for Christmas will have to wait for next year I guess.

Being that the baby will arrive in winter, I'm keen to start on some winter woollies for it. My other two were Spring babies, so we were moving into warmer weather. This means I will have to re-think what the little bean will wear for those first 4 months or so. If you have any suggestion for patterns (ones that you have tried or ones that look fab) please let me know. I'm not the fastest at either knit or crochet, and I still tremble a little when using my sewing machine (guess I'd better get on with that while I can still get close enough to the machine to actually sew!!! LOL)

Anyway I just wanted to share our news, and wish you all a wonderful start to 2012. May your creativity find new levels and your relationships with your family bloom.

Blessings,

S xox