These chooks are gonna fly............

Busy day today.  Tomorrow my quilt group is due for our regular meeting at my place so i provide the morning tea and lunch.  It can be as simple or fussy as you like to make it.  We mostly make it simple and that is what it is going to be this time.  Today I did the baking.
First up Passionfruit Slice.  It doesn't look much in the tin but it has a coconutty biscuit base and a really yummy tangy lemon and passionfruit topping.  Yum!   Super easy too!

PASSIONFRUIT SLICE

150g (1 cup) SR flour

85g ( 1 cup) desiccated coconut

100g (1/2 cup) caster sugar

100g butter melted

1 x 395g can sweetened condensed milk

125ml (1/2cup) fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons passion fruit pulp

Preheat oven to 180°C.  Brush a 16 x 26cm slab pan with melted butter to lightly grease.  Line the base and two long sides with non-stick baking powder, allowing the sides to overhang.

Use a wooden spoon to combine the flour, coconut, sugar and butter in a large bowl.  Transfer to the prepared pan.  Use a metal spoon to press firmly over the base.  Bake for 12 minutes or until light golden.  Set aside to cool.  Reduce oven temperature to 150°C. 

Use a balloon whisk to mix together  the condensed milk, lemon juice and passion fruit pulp in a large bowl until smooth and well combined.  Pour into the pan and spread evenly over the base.  Bake in oven for 15 minutes til just firm to touch.  Set aside to cool completely.  Cut into slices to serve.

Then I made a recipe that I learned in my High School cooking class - it is still a goodie.  Boiled Fruit Cake.

I wish you could smell this as it is laced with cinnamon, mixed spice and ground ginger. Mmmmmm!

BOILED FRUITCAKE

½ cup sugar

½ cup cold water

1 cup mixed fruit

½ cup plain flour

¼ cup boiling water

½ cup SR flour

½ cup plain flour

¼ teasp salt

1 teasp cinnamon

1 teasp mixed spice

1 teasp ground ginger

½ teasp bicarb soda

30g marg

Put fruit, butter, sugar, salt and ginger, spices and cold water into a saucepan and bring to boil, stirring till margarine melts.  Allow to cook 3 minutes.  Sieve plain flour and SR flour together and mix in bicarb soda.  Check boiling water.  Line and grease tin.  Allow mixture to cool slightly.  Add flour and stir in ½ at a time.  Measure water and stir in carb soda.  Add to saucepan.  Bake in moderate oven 375°F approx 30 minutes

And finally, mostly coz I needed some more cookies for the lunch boxes (and miraculously my boys are actually eating them at the moment!) I made chocolate chip cookies.  I would have made cookies anyway but the lunch box decision was chocolate chip.  You will find the recipe here.

Now I bet you are wondering about the flying chooks!  Well, after saying I was going to finish off the chook quilt and getting stuck into it tonight I received a call from a dear friend of mine today and she said she would LOVE to finish the chook quilt as she loves it.  How could I say no?  This is one UFO that I do not want to keep and it is going to someone who really loves it and who is really LOVELY!  It is my pleasure to give it to her.  I don't mind giving away all that work if it is going to s special friend.

I needed something easy to sew tonight so I decided to sew more of my pinwheels for my Irish Charity Bazaar Pot Holders.  I finished off 8 pairs but what I have realized is that I need a better spread of colours. Maybe some more red, blue and less pink and green.  And I need some more Christmas ones.  That is a job for another night!

Till next time......happy stitching!

OK I won't chicken out!

OK!  you all talked me into it!  I am going to finish the chook quilt!  I know that is not the proper name for it and I apologise to the designer but that is what I am calling it.  I do love the colours in it but I just can't see it on a wall anywhere here.  I will make it and then see what I think.  Maybe ebay, maybe a charity..........

So, in order to finish it I have decided that I will put my stars away and work on this every night till they are done.  Putting the blocks together is going to be a challenge in concentration because there is lots of piecing involved - ahhh- whatever I will worry about that AFTER I have finished all the blocks!  These are the ones I completed tonight.

Don't applaud too loud.  A lot of the stitching was already done!  Hope you are not sick of the chicks before I finish!  Just remember you all encouraged me to keep going so you get to watch me go!

Now before I get sidetracked - someone out there is anonymous! It is really frustrating for me but it also means that you, oh anonymous one, are missing out on the delight of reply emails from me!  So here is what you need to do - Check out the instructions in this post from Sweet Simplicity.  That should set you on the right path to coming out of anonymity so that we can all talk to you!

Till next time.......happy stitching!

What was I thinking!

I spent a bit of time tidying my office/sewing room today and boy does it feel good to NOT look at the messy clutter than had accumulated on some of my shelves!  Unfortunately I located a couple more UFO's  - it doesn't pay to look too closely in my cupboards!  Anyway that reminded me that I was going to show you this UFO!

What was I thinking.  This is "Chanitcleer and Friends".  I bought the pattern YEARS ago - maybe about ten, when I was on a Country heritage QUilt Tour of Oregon, the highlight of which was the Sisters of Oregon Quilt Show.  The tour lasted a week and in those seven days we covered 12 (yes 12) quilt shops.  At one of them I bought this pattern.

 Not long after, while my husband toiled away in the city I took our boys away for a month and stayed in an on-site cabin, beside a lake in a camp ground.  The boys had a great time during the day playing in the playground, swimming in the lake and so on but at night while they slept I needed something to do so I took this pattern along with me and did all the cutting and fusing to make the blocks.  Imagine my delight on arriving in the tiny little town to find a lovely little quilt shop!  It was meant to be.  This was about June July of the year of 911.  Not long after our return home we got news that we would not be staying in the States and would be moving back to Oz with my hubby's job.  Suddenly there were lots of other things to do, rather than quilt, and the blocks, fused and ready got put away.  I should say that at the same time I also prepared all the blocks for this quilt and this has been finished for years and I love it!  It hangs in the kitchen where I can see it every day.

All the blocks are fused and ready.  

 I have even done some of the applique with a smallish satin stitch!

 The problem is that it is a big quilt - 6ft by 8ft and I have nowhere to hang it and it just isn't a snuggle quilt to me.  So, can anybody think of a use for it?  Would anybody like it to finish?  Is there anybody out there who just loves chickens or wants to make a charity quilt for..........their local chicken rescue centre perhaps?  Just let me know!  I would be happy to send it to you!

I just had to show you a pic of Fly Boy and Snickers - poor dog - I actually think she is quite hot but at least she can't say she is neglected!

He is off to school tomorrow and his brother starts the day after - yippee!!!

Till next time...happy stitching!

And the winner is............

 Yep, it is that time.......tonight's the night.  Time for me to announce the winner of my Giveaway.  Thanks to everyone for entering but the one and only winner is Mary from  Fleur De Lis Quilts.  Congratulations!  Hope you like the fabrics.  Now all you have to do is email me your address so that I can send the goodies off to you!

I have had an exciting evening tonight!  I have been covering two sets of Year 11 text books and work books for my boys - oh what fun.  A few people have asked me why I was doing it and not my boys doing their own but basically it is a case of self preservation for my sanity.  You see the text books have to last TWO YEARS and I just have to hope the contact will help hold them together!  Also it is harder for the less honest child at school to misappropriate the text books if the name is under the contact plastic!  And the work books survive a lot better if they are covered too and I have to look at them.

I also so had a little spare time to do some sewing but then these two happened.  Look at those faces!

Could they look any more pathetic!!!

I guess they need a bit of attention too.  I can always sew tomorrow!

Till next time..............happy stitching!

last chance.....

One last reminder.....

 for you

 to enter 

 my giveaway

So nip on over here and leave a comment if you are interested!

Till next time..happy stitching!

oh my stars....again

I am enjoying making more mini stars but I an not pleased with this one!  The red bled!!!!  Poop! And the puppy was really cute too!

 Then I made few of my bigger stars - these are not as scrappy as the others .......

 I don't like them as much as the scrappy ones but they are not too bad and I will keep making them .........

 I think I like this better 

 I didn't realise I had put two pinks in this one till I ironed it at the end!  Hmph.  I must be tired. Time to stop sewing!

I won't be keeping this one - ugh - not a good print for this pattern!  You live and learn!

I am off to bed!  Sweet dreams all...

Till next time........happy stitching!

Happy Australia Day

I hope you have all had a lovely Australia Day.  I decided to start my day with a little patriotic sewing!

I did a bit of quilting for AHQ and then I started quilting this monster.  It is the biggest quilt I have quilted for a while.

I had a little bit of time to night so I stitched a few more stars for myself.  

Hmm.  I quite like these - I do love scrappy and I think this will definitely be for me!

And before I go, don't forget to check out my giveaway if you haven't already.  I found a couple of extra things to add to it - no hints tonight - maybe tomorrow.  You need to go here to check it out and leave a comment to be in the draw!  Good luck.

Till next time......happy stitching!

Don't forget my giveaway

Psssst!  I keep forgetting to remind you to check out my giveaway - my thank you to my followers giveaway.

Isn't she cute?  She could be yours!

You need to go here to check out the details and leave a comment if you are a follower and want to enter.  And be warned.... I am in the process of tidying up my sewing room/office and I am being ruthless about getting rid of things that I have been hanging onto for too long - so there will be more giveaways in the future!

Oh, and by the way.....is there anyone out there who really loves chickens?

Till next time....happy stitching!

Yay! A Finish!!!

It has been a really rainy day today - the perfect day for sewing and staying inside and that is what I did for most of the day.  Those vertical lines in the photo are actually rain!  It was so heavy all day.  My swimming pool is really full and it is so lovely to sit inside and listen to it.

 Tonight I finally finished the place mats I have been making as a belated gift for my niece!  She loves blue so hopefully she will like these.  They are off to find her in London on Friday's post, tomorrow being a public holiday for Australia day.

 I also did a bit of baking this morning.  I made ANZAC Biscuits (recipe here) and added cranberries and they are yummy.  I think I will have to give most of them away though, or put them in the freezer, as my boys don't eat cookies with dried fruit in them and I don't need to eat them all.

 Snickers had a very stressful day - supervising!

I think now that my niece's place mats are complete and ready to post I might spend some time sewing some more of these stars using up scraps and recycling my old curtains!  I am ready to have a bit of a play!

Till next time......happy stitching!

Gorgeous! Just gorgeous!

This is Jess - she is the gorgeous one but the quilt is too!  Tarja and Jess came over today and we worked hard on the blocks for the two quilts for the two grandmas.  All fifty nine patch blocks were finished today AND as of tonight all fifty have been cut and trimmed into 200 blocks!  Phew!  Before Tarja and Jess left we got one quilt up onto the design wall so they could fiddle with the layout and tonight I took the rows down and numbered them all ready for sewing.

This is all 200 blocks - half ready to sew into rows and half waiting their turn on the design wall.

 Of course Snickers made sure everything was done properly!  As usual!

 And here is a first worth celebrating.  My boys were offered work as laborers with a friend of mine - today they spent 8 hours working together in his backyard, toting really heavy pavers (according to them), weeding and carting clay!  These two kids who spend all their days sitting on their computers!  Aren't they cute!  If you knew my kids you would understand that my two, working together is a big achievement!  I am so proud of them.  I asked them if they enjoyed themselves and Fly Boy said "Nope" but Guitar Hero said "I got paid!!"

 Just in case you can't tell, Guitar Hero's T shirt used to be white!

 And those jeans used to be blue and the boots were black - hee hee!!!  

 And they didn't know that their muscles, all 6ft of them, could hurt that bad either!  Yep!  This job is going to be good for them!!!

I have another sewing day tomorrow - guess they won't give me any trouble - they will be too sore!

Till next time.....happy stitching!

Pot holder dreaming

This may not look very exciting at the moment - but soon enough this is going to be a pile of 18 pot holders!!!  Well, eventually.........

Tarja and Jess are back tomorrow for another sewing fest.  Time for me to go to bed to rest up ready to keep them on their toes!

Again, don't forget to check out my Giveaway.

Till next time........happy stitching!

Scrunchies and Pinwheels

It was time today to pack up my little niece's birthday parcel and send it off but not before I made her some scrunchies to wear to her new school the week after next.  I had already made her a paint smock and book bag and bought some paper doll book and activity books to include but today I made the scrunchies.  I used this tutorial and made up three.  My SIL had included one of the purchased ones from the school and asked that the new ones be a little smaller.  I have only made three - I will wait and see what feedback I get.

 This is also going in the parcel.  The hubby of one of the Gumnuts works with a lady whose mother knits these toys for charity.  She does such a beautiful job!!!  And certainly doesn't charge enough.  This one is going along with the other gifts to look after the Scrunchies!  I think he will do a good job!

I spent a lot of time again today (when I wasn't playing taxi driver again) quilting and binding for AHQ so by the time I sat down to do some sewing for me there was no way I wanted to quilt the remaining tumbler place mats.  All I was up for was a little simple sewing so I got a start on some more pin wheels for pot holders for Ireland.  I am going to make a bunch of pinwheels, then I will layer them all - with the off cuts from the Aussie Hero Quilts - and then will bind them all at once.  I got this much done tonight.

 and picked out a few more to sew.

So far these squares have all come out of my scrap square drawers - it is a good way to use them up.  I thought I might make some nine patch blocks as well.  I want to make all the pot holders in pairs so people are encouraged to buy sets.

Till next time....happy stitching!

Sewing for me Saturday Night!

I have been madly quilting for AHQ today and I am taking the night off to sew for me.  But before I show you what I have sewn I will show you some recent retail therapy.  First up thirtyfive 10 1/2 inch squares in 1930's fabric.  These are for use later in the year but it was a good chance to get them.

 I really love these bunnies!

 And then I ordered a scrap bag of golden sunshine - - yummy yellows.  As it turns out about half of them will be good in guys' quilts

 and the other half are definitely more feminine.

Last last night I started these mini stars.  I left them on the machine so that I finished them before I did anything else this morning.  

 I really love the little details that you can include.

I got a little more done on my tumbler placemats today.  Two quilted, two to go.

And I made a trial pinwheel block too.  I have to make pot holders and other bits for the Irish Charity Bazaar this year for the last time.  My friend who runs the Australian Embassy Stall, Glenda, and I decided that we need lots of Christmassy stuff.  This is my first pinwheel.  Now that I have made it I have decided that I like the size so I will make more the same.  In the next few days I will try to get a bunch cut out so that they are ready to sew when I have time.  I might do some star blocks as well.  

Before I go - don't forget to leave a comment on this post if you want to be in the draw for my follower giveaway.  You know the saying - you have to be in it to win it!

Till next time......happy stitching!