Browsing Category

Make It Perfect

Make It Perfect, Slumber Party Jammies

.The long awaited Easter PJs!.

 The Easter PJs were a little slow in the making this year around.  And then it took me another couple of weeks to photograph them!  I was waiting for an unrushed morning to capture them jumping on the bed in the lovely morning light…as if that is going to happen!!  We work with what we have, so after bath tonight it was a quick line-up on the green wall.

 
 

I made myself work solely from the stash.  The stash is getting a bit out of control.  It is pretty much choc-a-block full now and I have more fabric on order.  I’m ready to admit that I do have a fabric purchasing problem, the real problem is that there are more lovely fabrics being released in the next few weeks and I’m not sure I can say no…looks like I just need to do some more sewing!

SUPPLIES:
Make It Perfect, Slumber Party Jammies Pattern
PJs in first photo – from Left to Right:
David Walker, Oh Boy!, Dinos on Blue with Robert Kaufman, Unknown trim.
Michael Miller, Tweet Tweet, Birdcage on White with Tanya Wheelan, Darla Rose, Picnic in Damask trim.
Dan Stiles, Marine, Sub Stripe with Dan Stiles, Marine, Urchin Forest, Daylight trim.

May 10, 2011
Make It Perfect

.See you at Darling Harbour?.

Are you planning on going to the Craft and Quilt Fair this year?

 
They are run all around Australia and New Zealand – the next one is in Perth from the 18th-22nd May.  I was contacted by the Craft and Quilt Fair team earlier this year to see if I would be able to give presentations on my patterns at any of the fairs.  Obviously I couldn’t be at all the fairs so have decided to attend the Sydney and Melbourne fairs.   
Sydney is just around the corner – coming up on the 22nd-26th June.  As far as preparation goes, I’ve booked my flights and that’s about all!  So, if you are planning on visiting the fair at Darling Harbour next month, make sure you pop by and say hello.  I’m sure I’ll  be super nervous and have no idea what I’m going to say, but hoping to make it a casual environment where I can share more about my patterns with you and would love to spend some time chatting and answering any questions.  
At this stage, I’ll be giving two presentations a day but will keep you posted on times and other details.  For the rest of the time I’ll be keeping my friends at Kelani Fabric company, working as a staff member on their stand.

Kelani have an awesome selection of fabrics and patterns and I’m excited to be a part of it all – so if you find it hard to choose fabric for patterns or want to come by and ask for a bit of advice, you know where to find me!

I’m really looking forward to the fairs, I don’t have much of an opportunity to meet face to face with people who buy and use my patterns so this is the perfect opportunity for me.  If you live in Sydney or will be in the area next month, make sure you come and say hello, I’d love to meet you!

And if you attend any of the other fairs, I’ve sent a showcase of pattern samples off that will be on display in my absence so if you want to see any patterns up close and personal, go and have a look!

May 6, 2011
Make It Perfect

.bibs for boys.

I have a feeling that after seeing the big pile of baby bibs on my sewing table yesterday a few of you are expecting an announcement…

Sorry to disappoint!  They are not for me – although Tommy has already claimed a couple!  It seems that all of my friends are having boy babies lately.  Four years ago I went bib crazy and made a whole heap (remember those, friends?!) with intentions to sell them.  It kinda fizzled but did mean that I had a BIG pile of bibs to give out for baby presents for the next few years.  I’ve got a little selection of girly-style ones still sitting in the present box, but nothing for the boys.  So, I went a little bit bib crazy again and made another 20.  Friends – stop having boys.  I want these to last me at least 1 year!

I like having a little stash of homemade gifts in the “present box” (do you have one of those?)…it means I can give a thoughtful, handmade gift without the last minute hassle of making something on the spot.

The bibs are lined with polar fleece (soft and absorbent) and I made the bottom of the bib a little wider than usual to cover the clothes better.  They are more suited to older babies/toddlers who make a mess when they are eating.

So that’s the story behind the bibs.  If any of my friends reading this have (or have had recently) a baby boy in the next little while – this is what you will be getting!

 

P.S. I LOVED hearing that pretty much everyone else has a messy sewing table!!  If your table is nice and tidy – you are totally the odd one out (and we are all really jealous!)

April 15, 2011
Make It Perfect

.No so rosy.

Do you ever sew on a sewing table like this?

 Embarrassingly, sometimes I do.

You do too, right?

It’s easy to make things look rosy on a blog but here’s a bit of reality for your Thursday morning!  The sewing table always ends up being the dumping ground for all of my crafting endeavors…time for a clean up, I think!  (At least the kitchen bench is clean today!!)

April 14, 2011
Make It Perfect

.Thermomix Cooking – Chicken Kiev.

I’m trying really hard to use my Thermomix more for main meals – I’m getting pretty good at making sweets in it now but really want to work it (i.e. get my money’s worth!) and make dinner in it all the time.  I’m building up a collection of tried and tested meals – if anyone reading this post has recipes to share, send them over to me!  Cookbooks are good, but I prefer cooking something with a good review behind it!  
I was hunting around for some Thermomix main meal recipes a couple of weeks ago and came across this one for chicken kiev, then as I read the blog a little more I realised that I kind of knew the woman from my playgroup!  Small world, huh?!  I pretty much followed the recipe given, my version is below.  The kievs are SO easy and delicious…most of mine leaked during cooking time, but were still yummy and well received by the whole family, which is always a bonus!
Chicken Kiev

For Kievs:
50g parmesan cheese
500g chicken breast (cut into medium sized pieces)
1 egg
20g plain flour
1/2 tsp salt

For Garlic Butter:
small handful of fresh parsley
3-4 cloves of garlic
80g butter

Coating:
1 egg, beaten
Breadcrumbs
Olive oil

Grate parmesan for 10 seconds on speed 9.  Set aside.

Turn TM onto speed 7.  Drop parsley and garlic through hole in lid.  Scrape down bowl.
Add butter and combine at speed 5 for 30 seconds.
Scrape garlic butter from bowl and divide into 6 portions.  Set aside.

Place chicken into TM bowl and mince for 30 seconds on speed 4.
Add parmesan, egg, flour and salt.  Mix for 30 seconds on speed 4.
Divide chicken mixture into 12 portions.  Flatten out each into a small disc.

Place a portion of garlic butter into the middle of 6 of the chicken discs.  Place another chicken disc on top of each and sandwich butter in the middle, making 6 kievs.  Squeeze edges closed so that the butter (hopefully) won’t leak out during baking.  (I made mine into more of an oval shape so they resembled a regular kiev).

Dip kievs into beaten egg and then roll in breadcrumbs to coat.  
Place kievs onto a tray lined with oil-brushed baking paper. 
Spray top of kievs with oil.
Cook in 180 degree Celsius oven for 30 minutes, turning after 15 minutes.

April 11, 2011