Oooh, my mouth is watering just looking at these photos! I have always loved hummus, but since I started making my own from scratch I love it even more. I have stocked the pantry with cans of chickpeas and find myself making this all the time. The only problem is that Jaron doesn’t like it and won’t come near me for about 12 hours after I have eaten it because of my stinky garlic breath – hehe!
Hommus
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1-3 cloves of garlic (depending on how much you like garlic…I lean more towards 3!)
50ml olive oil
2 Tbs tahini paste
1 tsp ground cumin
juice of 1 lemon
water
salt & pepper
Place the chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, tahini paste, cumin and lemon juice in a food processor and process until well combined. (Because it is such a small amount, I use the food processor attachment that came with my stick blender and it works a treat!)
Add a few tablespoons of water and process until really smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
At this point I taste the hummus and usually add a bit more lemon juice if it is a little bland. Sometimes a little extra salt and pepper too. Depending on the day and how juicy your lemon is, you might need to add some more water to make a smooth and “dippable” consistency. You don’t want it to be too thick, but you don’t want it runny either. Make sure you process it heaps until it is really smooth and creamy.
Yummo! Enjoy with crackers, vegie sticks, on sandwiches or just off the spoon 🙂
The boys in the house might not think it is that good, but at least the girls approve 🙂
Thanks for your kind feedback about my new pattern, A+ Skirts. I loved hearing about your favourites and was surprised that all four of the skirt variations were equally loved – hopefully you will agree that this pattern is one you will be using over and over again!
The winner of the A+ Skirts giveaway is Ditzy and Dotty. Congratulations! Send me your postal details and I’ll get your copy of the pattern off to you in the mail.
I’ve had a few people email me asking where they can buy the pattern right now…you can either ask your favourite store to order you one in, or if you want to purchase right away, Kelani Fabric have them in store now.
Not surprisingly, she’s done it again. I’m a sucker for Amy Butler books (and fabric and patterns…) and am very impressed with her new book, Style Stitches.
I’m pretty picky when it comes to bag patterns and find it quite difficult to find ones that suit my needs. They need to be big (I have tried small bags and they don’t work!), a bit stylish – not too “cute”, easy to carry, a big pocket or two and quick and easy to make. Previously, Amy’s Nappy Bag and Birdie Sling patterns have been my “go-to” bag patterns. But after a few years of using these bags, they are turning up everywhere and I have been ready to try a new bag pattern for awhile. Enter Style Stitches…a book full of BAG patterns!
It really is a great book – there are at least 4 patterns I am very sure I will be trying out, which is a good indicator of a worthwhile purchase! Just after I received the book, I got an email from Quilt Home with a newsletter special of 40% off their Home Dec fabrics. A few of the bags I wanted to make specified Home Dec fabric, so I made the most of the special and purchased some.
There has been a bit of a sewing-lull around here lately. I’ve got a lot of projects on my “to-do” list but the motivation just isn’t there. I get like this from time to time and just have to wait for the desire to resurface – not so good when Quilt Market is just around the corner though and I really need to get designing some new patterns and sewing some new samples for it!
Last night a little window of desire surfaced though…Jaron was out at basket ball, the kids went to bed (AND sleep) early and the house was mostly tidy so I pulled out my sewing supplies and spent the evening sewing the Reversible Everyday Shopper.
I was very pleased that this bag only took me two hours from the time I traced and cut out the pattern pieces to the end! It was very simple to sew, gotta love an instant-gratification sewing project!
And, yep, it ticks all of the boxes…big (in fact, it is massive!), stylish, easy to carry, pockets and quick and easy to make! My intention for this bag is to carry all of the “kid stuff” that goes with me from day to day. They are a bit old for nappy bag attire now and I find that my bag is stuffed with 3 lunchboxes, 3 drink bottles, 3 hats, 3 jumpers, some wipes, a nappy as well as my essentials. My bag is always overflowing, but this one is definitely going to fit the mould! It will also be perfect for taking to church and filling with colouring books, pencils, books, snacks and bits and pieces to keep the kids quiet.
Other Style Stiches projects that have caught my eye…
Cosmo Bag (another good, big, carry-all) – I’ve selected my fabric for this one already and am looking forward to making it:
And the Blossom Handbag. This one is really cute – roomy, but less “Motherly” than my other bags! Good for when I am going out without all of the kid paraphernalia!! I want to make it using Home Dec fabric so that it is nice and sturdy so will have to keep my eye out for the perfect fabric to use:
And, I’m happy to say that I think the sewing-bug is slowly creeping back – phew!
SUPPLIES:
Amy Butler August Fields, Fresh Start in Tangerine
You have filled the last 5 years of our lives with much laughter, surprise, fun and happiness. From one obsession to the next…we’ve had trains, Duplo, Lego, inventions, experiments…always making, making, making!
And the birthday cake request this year proved to be a near disaster…how has the pinata cake worked perfectly for others? Perhaps it is because I used a plastic bowl instead of metal? We had to re-melt the chocolate, line the bowl with glad wrap and go for take two which ended up in a crinkly, plastic-laced, chocolate shell!
And no hammer to smash it with (except Dad’s dirty one in the shed!) so we went with a big metal spoon instead which worked a treat!!!
The other birthday cake request has been “Freckles” – our fictitious Lego man who stars in all of our made up Lego stories! Printed out, laminated and stuck on the top of a black forest cake – yum!
With the weather slowly making a warmer change here in Australia at the moment, it is with much excitement that I introduce my newest pattern to you…A+ Skirts…
“The classic A-Line skirt is a staple to every skirt lover’s wardrobe. A+ Skirts gives you the classic A-Line plus a range of fun variations to create beautiful, one of a kind skirts for everyday elegance.
Sized to fit “tween” girls to the larger woman and with easy, peasy instructions for zipper insertion, A+ Skirts are a beginner-friendly pattern that you’ll find yourself making again and again.”
You can’t go wrong with a good A-Line…it suits so many body shapes and sizes and the waistband on this pattern helps to make it that little bit more flattering.
One of the things I especially love about this skirt is that you can make up as many as you like and because the design is so simple, you can let the fabric shine and each skirt will look totally unique.
I like to think of the A+ Skirts pattern as a “drawing board” to help you custom-make unique, one-of-a-kind skirts…the pattern offers 4 variations, and with a little creativity you can easily sew up a skirt like none other before. Try joining fabric in a patchwork-style before cutting out the patten pieces, embellish the skirt with ribbon and buttons or try your hand at a bit of applique to make a statement! The possibilities are endless.
Lets take a look at some of the variations offered in A+ Skirts…
VIEW A = No-Frills, Basic A-Line Version.
“Ideal when you want to showcase that special fabric or if you just want to make a more subtle skirt. Use this design as a “drawing board” to create funky skirts by adding ribbon or lace embellishment (see View D) or jazz it up with some cool applique!”
VIEW B = A-Line with Pockets.
“A funky, retro-style A-Line with deep-set pockets and contrasting fabric detail.”
VIEW C = A-Line with Buttons.
“Made with a “fake” front opening so that you don’t have to worry about your skirt flying open and revealing all! Buttons down the front add a bit of extra fancy detail for a hip skirt!”
VIEW D = Lace Embellished.
“A twist on the basic A-Line, add lace or ribbon to the skirt for a classy, feminine look.”
I have had so many requests from Mothers asking me to create patterns for their “tween” aged daughters. You know, that stage that girls go through when they are a bit too old for kids clothes, but not quite mature enough for store-bought women’s clothing. I thought this pattern would be perfect for these girls…as you can see from the pictures I have shared, the fabric used really gives the skirt a different feel so you can easily make a “younger” looking skirt just by selecting fabric that your “tween” feels comfortable in!
To see more A+ Skirts pictures and check out the fabric requirements, visit the Make It Perfect website. My lovely model is my cute little sister, Filipa – she is the best, with her twiggy legs (yes, I am jealous!) and crazy poses!!! Thanks Fatty 🙂
If you have a store and want to stock this or any other Make It Perfect patterns, contact Creative Abundance to place an order.
If you would like to purchase a copy of A+ Skirts for yourself, they should be popping up in retail stores very soon. Ask your favourite store to get one in for you!
It has been awhile since I have released a new pattern, so I’m excited to be having the regular give away! To win copy of A+ Skirts, leave a comment on this post to be in the running! For bonus entries you can:
Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave another comment telling me you have blogged about it.
Become a Make It Perfect follower and leave me another comment telling me you are (or already are).
(Giveaway will close Sunday 10th October and winner will be drawn via a random number generator.)
SUPPLIES:
Make It Perfect, A+ Skirts pattern
View A – Saffron Craig, Bird Tree, Bird Trees in Magenta
View B – Saffron Craig, Bird Tree, Bird Spot in Green
Pink homespun
View C – Saffron Craig, Bird Tree, Blossom Patch in Green
Saffron Craig, Bird Tree, Bird Trees in Magenta
VIEW D – Grey Cotton Drill
