Bake Your Groove Thing

Dear Kel,

I made the girlfriends some biscuit surprise the other week...did I post about that already? I can't remember, cause the ladeez r a craftin' postin' whirlwind - and I LOVE it!

Now, I am giving over my very own recipe for the biscuits and one day the ladeez might even send some to you...but not till you get home from overseas cause I don't think they'll last the journey to reach you over there.


Bee's Honeyed Jam Drops

125g butter
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 cup caster or raw sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1 1/4 cups self raising flour
Jam of your choice (although I don't recommend using my chilli jam)

Preheat the oven to 150 deg cel

Beat butter, essence, sugar and honey with an electric mixer (or a wooden spoon and very strong biceps) until light and fluffy. Now stir in the sifted flour (sift it lazy bones, no skipping steps).

Roll about 2 teaspoons of the dough into a ball and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Repeat till you use up all your mixture and have a tray full of biscuit dough balls.


Now get a wooden spoon with a round handle and use the end of the handle to press down into each biscuit and make a dent/hole (not all the way through though). Spoon some jam into a bowl and mix it up so it's smooth and easier to use. Now, half (or less) fill each hole with some jam.




Whack those puppies in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes. Cool them on a rack.


You can leave out the jam if you want and instead press a fork onto the biscuits to flatten them a bit - and you get lines on them when they're baked too.

Love Bee

You want my advice on bias binding?

Buy one of these...I just did.

It turns out they don't take very long...

I think the first one was better than this one...Third time lucky maybe.

Baby Kimono

Baby Kimono (I almost typed Camino) by request. From this angle it doesn't look too bad, but the devil is in the detail, and you don't want to get close! Major impediments included not being able to sew in a straight line and ironing the bias binding the first time I tried to use it...funny now but lead to some very 'adult language' while I tried to figure out what it was supposed to do. On the plus side I think the fabric's cute and it looks relatively in proportion.

Overall it can't have been too bad - I cut out 2 more!

Did I hear someone say coffee?

I would like to introduce my new coffee mug. It is not craft but it is damned cute so I had to post a picture.

I had dinner at Brown Pants, with her and Mr Brown Pants. Besides being absolutely yummy, I got to see Brown Pants completed Baby Kimono. It is really beautiful, she is a very clever seamstress, if she does say so herself!!! :) Hopefully she will post a picture because it is really beautiful, wish they had big people sized pattern.

Jumper is coming along. After the previous debacle, I am taking it slow and steady. Photos will be posted by the end of the week.

Cant wait to meet up with OCC this week. I am aiming to provide encouragement for her to start at least another two projects ASAP, that is my goal for the week! mwahahaha!!

Hello SnBers. I have finally pulled my finger out, stopped hating my computer and taken some photos of my crafting.

This is the cardi I made for Eliza...

This is the boots and hat I made for a friend at work...

And this is the knitted flower brooch I have been making a few of...

My current project is the frilled scarf Shazmina emailed us from Creative Knitting with the gorgeous wool from Bendigo Woollen Mills that I got at the craft show. It is knitting together really nicely, and is so nice to use. I'm going to give it to my sister for her birthday. That's the current plan anyway...

Will soon take on the japanese craft challenge (also from the craft show) and let you know how I go with it.

Weekend WIP

Hi All,

Just thought I would share some of my latest WIP!

This is the back piece of a pair of overalls i'm making for a friend who's about to become a first time aunty. We've had to do some guestimating about size and yarn as said baby is an Italiano bambina (I just made that up so apologies if anyone actually knows Italian). We eventually decided on Cotton (I have a bit of a fancy for Jo Sharp Cotton) which I think will make them a bit more versatile with the weather (would look very cute with a little orange top underneath in my opinion). I would definitely recommend this pattern, i've knitted this back piece over the last week and it's 6 month size, so they're quite quick to knit up. Pattern is from here, again (first one on the second row).
This is a baby kimono in progress. I didn't get any further than cutting out the pattern becuase I needed 'single fold bias tape' which i'm pretty sure I don't have, even thought I'm not 100% on what it is. When I figure out what it is i'll finish this off! I thought it would look cute with a pair of red pants with the trim at the bottom as inspired by the ones SadieandLance has posted (although that looks a bit too complex for me).
In amongst the starting of new projects and non-completion of others I decided I needed something pretty to store my ADC activities and put this together. I totally forgot how to do zips (der me) so it's pretty dodgy, but it will suffice as storage. I've just folded the zip over a bit so you can see the lining in case it looks confusing. Have a great weekend for those of you who remain bound to the work week! XXX

4 More Weeks!

As of today, I have 4 weeks until I am off to visit Sadie and Lance and hang out with the cool kids! I am very excited, and looking forward to exploring Melbourne. Have already decided that I am going to have a look at the Picasso exhibition at the VGA (do I sound cool using the acronym? Like a local even!) and am trying to figure out if I can fit a trip to the zoo in. Just not sure how that will work with all the craft shopping I will be doing!!

Pirate Jumper Update: No photo as I had to frog it almost to the beginning due to my multiple needle size fiasco. I will be working on it over the weekend so will give a further update then.
AADC Update: Well now that OCC is in the fold, I will continue to work on her and make sure she has multiple projects on the boil. Who would have thought that I could be distracting!! ha ha ha ha!! :) (I think it is actually one of my talents).

Have a super duper weekend!

Kellie was a young girl looking in the mirror...

Woo Hoo Kel! We're going to see the Yeah Yeah Yeah's! I think you were gone when Show Your Bones became (part of) my high rotation, but it's a fantastic album. Anyway, this is relevant to you because Van She are supporting them. I'm usually too slack to go and see support bands, but i'll go and see these guys and sing along and think of you.
XXX

It is a 10 Biscuit day today!

Dear Kel,

Much weirdness on the train this morning made Shazmina a grumpy girl! (Yes, Yes, we all know that it does not take much for that to happen!!)

It all started when I was putting together my craft to take to work for my weekly catch up with Al (she really needs an alias). I realised that I had been knitting my Pirate jumper on one 8mm and one 9mm needle. This is exactly why I am the Social Secretary of the AADC. I can sabotage craft like no other, without even meaning to do it! So now I have to Frog it and start again......

Will this day get any better??????? Here is a biscuit to ponder that on!

3 Biscuits down, seven to go!

Shazmina

For the doubters

There's been some disturbing talk lately concerning my ADC status. Although I have been recently readmitted to the AADC, here is proof of my suitability. From top left: In bright pink, a pair of seedstitch booties that haven't progressed a third through the first one; a scarf in left over Noro for a little boy I know; in the middle, the back of a cardigan that was my bus knitting but has falled off the list; on the bottom left, the cardigan I first posted that I can't finish because I ran out of yarn and can't find anymore; and in the lavender a toddler's cardigan with seed stich border that I got really bored with (knit, purl, knit, purl x a million).
Yours in ADCness
XXX BrownPants

Not a baby cardigan

There's a new love in my craft life, it's called Noro. I can see now why Noro yarn has such a reputation, these colours are striking and beautiful (I don't think i've done a particularly good job capturing this, sorry). This is Kureyon 88, which neither shazmina or I were convinced by when we saw it in a ball, but it just comes together so beautifully once you start to knit it up. I was thinking that this would be great for the fingerless gloves you knitted last year too Kel, and I think that's actually what Shaz plans to do with hers now that I think of it. This scarf went to a friend as a 40th birthday present. I'm secretly glad that i'll still get to see it now and then! I also got a whole bunch of Kureyon 128 which was intended as a Clapotis that hasn't eventuated - See! I do have ADC! It's just that I have the variety that means things don't get started, rather than the variety where they remain unfinished...Anyway, i'm considering combining this yarn with some other Jo Sharp yarn I have that also didn't become the project it was intended for (if further proof was required) and make this vest. But if anyone knows of a better V-Neck vest pattern let me know.
BTW you can also see another big love of the moment in the background - my bulbs! I heart bulbs (I heart Zeusey too of course). I can't wait until they start to flower, i'll post some pic's if/when they do.
XXX

Yum in progress

Hi Kel,

I was wondering where you'd gotten too lately so it was great to see some comments from you this weekend!

I'm changing the subject again, this time to cooking, seeing as I have been coooking all day today and having fun doing it too I might add. I made:

• roasted pumpkin and sweet potato soup
• veggie soup with purl (hee hee) barley and split peas
  
• homemade sausage rolls
• Corned beef with mash, steamed veggies and cabbage
  
• And Nigella's lemon syrup cake:

I even managed to clean as I went (much to Mr SadieandLance's delight) and so the kitchen is just as clean as when I started (even though every single saucepan and spoon is in the dishwasher.

Love Bee xxx

Changing the subject

I'm changing the subject to sewing.

I finished these this week, all that was holding me up was being a cheap skate cause all I needed to do was fork out some dough to buy non el-cheap cotton so that it wouldn't catch in my machine and crap up.

Success...




Bee x

Shepherd 4 play just keeps going!

Hi All,
I promise i'll get bored of knitting baby cardigans soon, but until then this is the latest instalment. This is the same Shepherd Yarn that Miss B sent to me, in the same pattern as the cardigan in the previous post. I managed to figure out what the pattern meant when it told me to pick up stitches around the edges this time, so it's a lot neater. Unlike the others, this one's going to a good home for a new baby girl called Frances (Shayne's). I thought i'd post up a photo of this fabric as a 'before' shot of the quilt that i'm making over the weekend thanks to a tute organised with Shaz's mum. Hope you're all well, it's past my beer o'clock so must dash.
XXX

Fabric porn

I confessed to Brownpants and Shazmina my weekend of undoing in the fabric departments of both Lincraft and Ikea. I am in the process of going from this


to this


Wish me luck, I hate ironing at the best of times.

I like this one

Hi All,
This is another pattern from the 10 simple baby knits book, but I knitted this one in Jo Sharp SoHo summer cotton instead. I had to pick up the purple around the edges at the end, which wasn't particularly successful. I do like the pattern though, it's pretty funky for a baby top. My eBay purchases arrived, so here's some more fabric porn for those of you so inclined. XX

Over achiever's, dont you hate them!

So Kel, it has been a while since I posted on here. Those damn craft over acheiver's have been putting me off! :) I have been stuck on two projects, the blanket and a knitted bag, and as I am trying to be a completer finisher, I have been forcing myself to complete before I pick up a new project. They say persistence pays off, and it seems to be working for me, however slowly! The good news is that I am going to knit my first big person project, a knitted chunky pirate jumper! Hopefully I will start on the weekend.

As I dont have a craft picture for you, here is a picture of my favorite biscuit!

Yours in Biscuits,
Shazmina

"I promise to love, honour and eBay"

I heard this little piece of gold on Thank God You're Here,
a new comedy show much like theatresports that I think you'd really enjoy Kel (WARNING: they will not close at midnight and kick you out). Unfortunately it reminded me of that little addiction I had a couple of months ago, you remember it, the one I had managed to quell just before an intervention/cutting up of credit card was necessary. Anyway, I had a spare 5 minutes and thought i'd get back on and have a bit of a browse and see what was about (I hadn't even gone to the website for 2 months, honest!) But then I found this. The eBay godess had shined on me - at last an excuse for all of the Amy Butler fabric I had purchased with the intention of one day finding the perfect project for it. So of course I bought it. Nevermind that my sewing skills /pattern reading skills are nowhere near the level they need to be to actually complete this project (or start it). They might be one day. At some stage. Anyway, it was all very innocent - no need for alarm or talk of regression. It's just a pattern...and some fabric. Don't groan! It's only a little bit of fabric! And I really needed it, it's for my quilting tutorial with Shaz's mum. You need a lot of fabric for quilting and I didn't want to my stash to run low. It was a pre-emtive strike. Yeah, they're in fashion now, right? Could you resist this, or this, or this? No, I didn't think so...

Yet another cardigan

Hiya. As those of you not sunning yourself in Spain would be aware, it's been getting pretty chilly lately (probably more so for those down south!) The change of weather has lead to the emergence of the oil heater, which means it's well and truly knitting season. This is the best explanation I can come up with for the rush of baby cardigans coming off the needles at the moment. Here's another, just finished, sitting on some of my favourite Amy Butler fabric. This one took a week of sitting on the couch watching the news (and the 7.30 report, and American Dad, and Family Guy, and Scrubs, and Arrested Development, and Lateline) to get through, which isn't too bad. It's always awkward at this time of the year when it's cold and dark when you leave work, it just makes me want to sit at home and knit all day. Sigh. Anyway, the pattern's from Cleckheaton's 10 Simple Baby Knits in 8 ply, knitted in country naturals. The pattern's pretty straight forward, although I wasn't much of a fan of the sleeve seems, but maybe that's just because i'm not very good at them. It needs buttons, but I don't have any, so that will have to wait until I get a chance to go up to the button shop. I might just drop in to Leo Monk for a drool while i'm up there Kel!
Oh, and since we're on strike against Spotlight until they stop using nasty legislation to exploit their staff (Shame Spotlights Shame!), thought I would let you know that Tapestry Craft is having a May Sale! Wooo Hoooo!
Wow, have just realised that's a lot of TV...
XXX

Shame Spotlight Shame

No doubt you guys have heard about Spotlights recent antics around workplace relations? Today I cut up my membership card (not that being a member was all that rewarding anyway), unsubsribed from the mailing list and sent the Management this message, cause I can easily get by without scum bags like Spotlight in my life.

**************************************
Dear Mr Fraid and Mr Fried,

I am a long time customer who has spent a great deal of money at
Spotlight over the years pursuing my craft related hobbies.

I am appalled at your recent decision to remove access to penalty
rates, rest breaks and overtime payments in return for a measley 2 cents
an hour payrise. This is a blatant rip off of workers rights and a great
insight for me into the nature of your management and the values of
your company. You had the opportunity to be a leader and an employer of
choice for your workers and a retailer of choice for me, but your recent
decisions have influenced my decision to no longer shop at Spotlight.

I refuse to support your money grabbing actions and I happily advise
you that I will no longer shop with Spotlight and have cut up my
membership card.

Shame Spotlight Shame.

****************************

Get over to the ACTU Workplace Relations Campaign page and give Spotlight a hard kick up the arse, bastards - like you already haven't!

*stepping down off the soapbox*

The actual colours of the SadieandLance cardigan

Hi again all (wow, 2 posts in one day). Following a reference to blue and white sections of the cardigan, here are the actual colours of said cardinan, using a camera not associated with my phone.
Love and kisses

The SadieandLance cardigan

Hi all,
Here is my latest cardigan! I don't really like it. I had grand plans when I received it as a package in the post from SadieandLance, as it's the same colours she's using for Fruit Tingles, which looks terrific. When I was planning it I was inspired by the thought of the coloured blocks I used to play with as a kid, it's kind of Lego colours, so I thought it would all sort of fit together. But there's something that's just not right...I can't put my finger on it. Any advice or thoughts, anyone? This is very much a SadieandLance inspired project - it's also the pattern you gave me! Now, the other thing I need some advice on is how to fasten it. The pattern says to sew on a couple of pieces of ribbon, but I don't have/can't find any the right colour. I thought maybe a button, but I didn't put in button holes...What a dilemma. Sorry about the crappy picture quality, taking pictures at work again. XXX

Peanut Butter Love

No craft to report cause as you know I've been in Noo Zeelund 'ey bro. But on the way home I did drop by Sydney and visit the fam...and was treated to breakkie and a play in the park with our nephew. It was fun, he now knows where all the obligatory body parts are and will enthusiastically show you - hair, eyes, teeth, ears etc and when you ask where his nose is, he sticks his finger right up one nostrol and if you're lucky pulls out a big green booger! You have such snot joys to look forward to with your own nephew Kel!

He also decided that this weekend he would have a small travel pack of peanut butter as his companion of choice - that little packet could not be prised from his little fist for love nor...well peanut butter.


Last time we saw him his companion of choice was a big ugly gardening glove. He is a boy with taste this one.

Score cont...

I was also given a WHOLE HEAP of fabric. Apparently this relative travelled a lot thought India, Nepal and Malaysia and was a bit of a fabric horder (not at all like anyone else who uses this blog...) But she wasn't a fabric horder in the sense that she picked up a metre here and there intending to make a bag, or a skirt...oh no!... I have about 3-4 metres of these fabrics! Apparently fabric was brought with the intention of being able to make a full suit out of it - YIKES. The first two are cotton batik prints, and I have grand plans to make long wrap skirts out of them for Summer. I'll just copy the pattern of the ones I have now. The other three are silk, SILK! Can you picture me in a lemon silk suit? No...I might rethink that one. I really like the brown and blue silk fabric, the brown's almost copper and the blue is really vibrant. I have no idea what i'm going to do with it yet, so any suggestions are welcome! I also inhereted some really lovely silk scarves which I use as head wraps, naturally. I've got a new project on the go at the moment and should be able to finish it off over the weekend - i'm using the wool you sent me B! Take Care, XX

Score!

A little while ago Mr Brown Pants' fabulous Aunt was cleaning out a relatives house and came across some fabulous items she bequeathed to me, and I thought I would show off my loot! Firstly, I love, love, love this dress! The photo doesn't really show the depth of the green, but it's gorgeous. It's 100% Silk and pretty much brand new. Apparently her daughters weren't too keen on it, other than as a drama constume, but she thought that I would wear it (she thought right!) I get a lot of my clothes from Dress Up bins at Vinnies, so it's noting new to me!

Cardigan Completo!

Hi All! In celebration of Kel finishing her Camino, I managed to finish my own (mini) challenge - my first baby cardigan! I found this pattern on a website, here, and used some 12-ply cotton I liberated from the bargain bin at Lincraft. I reckon it's a bit cute, and the pattern was pretty straight forward, although I think I stuffed up the seed stitch pattern a couple of times when I wasn't paying enough attention. I haven't seen very many bulky knit baby patterns around, so I decided to knit this one because it's a bit different. However now it's done I was thinking maybe the reason there aren't too many bluky knit patterns around is because they're quite heavy once they're finished. Not sure...will have to test it out. Had another friend tell me they were pregnant the other day, so it looks like I'll have plenty of opportunity to test out new baby patterns...

Accomplished

I am an almost finisher completer, here I am nearly finished


And hear is the pretty much finished product.


They're baby pants. Do you know of any new born babies who would be willing to try these out size and fit wise before I cut and sew up a bunch of them?

Shamed

Hi Kel - these ladeez here are puttin me to craftin shame! I had a total finisher completer complex last week and do you know what I did??? Started 4 new projects (AGH) AND bought new supplies. HOPELESS.

On the upside I did finish a pair of slippers for the recipient of the baby square blanket (not sure if we can say who just yet - but YOU know Kel). PLUS I baked 2 more batches of cupcakes. This time I really did use Nigella's recipe and they turned out lovely - well lovely tsting...I had to do some more experimenting with the patty cases to get the right size. You see Princess Nigella likes to cut the tops off her cakes so the icing sits flat - who am I to argue? Turns out while I am not an icing rebel I am a butter rebel - didn't even soften it - yep that's right I committed a cake sin and I don't even care cause the taste buds approved. Hardcore rebel.

And now for some fabric porn...



And just cause you did Brownpants, here's Caccie keeping my lap warm a couple of weeks ago while I was on the computer. See how she squeezed herself on my lap and wedged herself under the desk. Willful cat that.



By the way can we please visit this place next time I'm in town. Don't go without me though or I'll cry. Bel from Taylor Street told me about it and it sounds like mine and your idea of heaven.

I know it's not strictly craft...

Buzzie often thought 'If only I had fingers...I'd show that BrownPants girl how it's done.' Or at least that's what I think she's thinking...who knows!

Brown Pants Rocks!

Hiya

Well Brown pants, you are definately my craft guru this week! The shawl is wonderful and the booties are coolio!

As Brown Pants mentioned, she was very hungover at S'n'B. I had alot of sympathy for her, becuase she was not a happy/well camper. I have never seen her like it, quiet and not crafting, it was a shock!

It was such a great day, Kimba, Sam and Carmen are awesome and hopefully they will be regular crafty ladies. Carmen misses you alot, and I get the feeling she is really proud of you and what you are doing (I think we all are!). She told some great stories about the Dance world, a couple of Sabiha stories (not as good as the ones you have told!). It was alot of fun!

I promise I will post again soon, and upload some photos as well.

hogs and quiches

Shazmina

And finally...

This is my most recent shawl, for The Boss. Shaz wanted me to post it so she could see how it turned out. I love this pattern, and I think this one worked well with the 12 ply mohair - most of the other ones have been 8 ply, but I like that this one is a bit chunkier. The Boss tells me she wears it all the time, which is all you really want when you make something for someone else, isn't it!
Am off to crack the whip on Drunk-Boy's punishment (dishes and vacuuming, mwa ha ha!).

New Bootie Pattern

I've mentioned to ya'll my new found bootie pattern, and this is my first pair (am V proud). These went to a cousin of MrBrownPants, who I did try and be cranky at, but he just laughed at me and said 'you can't stay mad at me'. Damn him and his infectious smile! I so could have had the higher moral ground for the rest of the day. I find this pattern very quick to knit and I like them because they look like little shoes, rather than tiny little doll socks. I tried to start making another pair of these yesterday, but was so disgracefully hung over that I kept effing it up and frogging it and then effing it up again. By the end of the day, after about 5 hours, I had about 3 rows done. Carmen and Kim were very funny - they kept wanting me to have booze so I felt better (I think your mum really misses you Kel, having a young drunkard around must have reminded her!) All in all a disgraceful craft effort.

Blanket O' Love

Hi Ya'll!
As promised here is the photographic evidence of the Great Blanket Lay-Out Day. I couldn't remember which one we decided on, or if we did at all, so here's 3 versions. Please cast your votes, laaadies. Shazmina and I picked up the backing from Kimba yesterday, and it looks fantastic! Patchwork squares sown together in a similarly eclectic way. Speaking of Kimba, Congratulations Aunty Kel! Bianca, 5 weeks (or was it 8?) and 7th January. Looks like Blankets O' Love are all the go at the moment. I think that the most current update on our next project is that it would be great for Bee to get the wool, Shaz will determine what size needles and the cast on/number of rows. How does that suit everyone? Looks like Mr Brown Pants has finally fallen woken up (out with the rugby boys last night) so I must go and scowl at him.
XXX

I think i've figured out how to do this

Heya Kel!
I think i've finally managed to figure out how to post on this thing. This is a picture of the cardigan i'm knitting at the moment. I never thought it would happen, but knitting the rectangle squares got me a bit addicted to the small needles. Sorry for the crappy picture quality, I took this on my phone yesterday to send to MsBee and I thought I would add it in for you. Not sure who this one is for, but it may take a while to finish given that I suspect I lost one of the needles at the pub last night (totally shameful, I know, I'm a knit sinner). Drinks were for netball end of season and we had a big cheers for you! Love Brown Pants

I have finally made it!

Dear Kel,

Just a quick post, I am at work and am feeling a bit knackered. I am so busy in this new role, busier than I have been in a long time. Feel like I am cramming 2 days into one every day! which makes a good change.

I have the feeling that lots of good things are around the corner for me personallly and professionally, so stay tuned!!!

Things I promise to do for you this weekend:

1. Appreciate living in Sydney, it is so beautiful here at the moment. And yes, Kel, I will have a beer for you!! :)
2. Start a Blog of my very own
3. Bake. That Sadie and Lance girl is putting me to shame!
4. upload some photos for the lovely Sabiha

I will keep you posted with how I progress with my goals for the weekend!

Shazmina

Not much...

Hey Kel,

It's been great keeping up with your blog...hope you liked my mini Japanese lesson...really I was just looking for an excuse to say mirukusheeki!

I am in Sydney and don't have any photos downloaded but...I did make a banana cake in my mixer last week - first baking project. My next baking adventure will be fairy cakes!

While we're talking about baking...here's one I prepared earlier, hummingbird cake (terrible photo)



Craft:

• squares almost finished
• Fruit tingles back cast off
• new fabric bought for first quilt experiment
• Wool purchased for first adult sized cardigan...

Love Bee

PS I think I learned a new blogging skill ??

Ch ch ch changes

Dear Kel,

A few changes will be happening round here from now on. First up the biggest change is that you are walking up and down mountains across Spain and Craftastic misses you terribley. We miss ou so much that we want to make sure we can keep you in the craft loop. So (change 2), this here blog is no longer Dear Kel Luv B, it's now simply Dear Kel and the wonderful Brownpants and Shazmina Bendi are now joining the Dear Kel team. We will be sure to keep you up to date with our crafty progress, near misses and super fun adventures.

Hope you're having fun in the rainy hills!

Love SadieandLance, BrownPants and Shazmina Bendi xxx