This year...

Wow another year nearly over. How the time has flown. And what a year it has been, I started this little blog, and have gotten to know so many wonderful fellow bloggers thorough their delightful blogs. It's lovely to know there's so many others out there with interests so similar to my own.
This year also saw the completion of three years of Uni, all those hours spent researching and essay writing, all the travel and weeks away on practical, all the time spent focusing on Uni, with 'life' pushed to the side has finally been made worthwhile.

The new year will bring with it new beginnings- a new house, in a new area, and a new job. I'm so excited at it all, but a little bit overwhelmed too.

Currently, I'm a bit stuck between the winding down of the year, and all the packing and organising that's required with moving. I'm going with the plan of packing a couple of boxes every day, and slowly but surely we're getting there.

 

 A spot of reading, am loving 'Decorate'.

 

 

Living out of boxes

 Putting to good use this Christmas present, with a batch of roast pumpkin soup, and several banana and mango smoothies

 The cleaning and organising has yielded some long lost treasures

So to all of you that have commented, emailed and/or sent mail throughout the year, I wish to say thank you so very much, it means a lot. I know especially with comments, it means so much to know that my post's are being read and acknowledged. I hope to improve my commenting on your posts this coming year, as I'm sure you feel the same receiving them too. 

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year. x

Happy Christmas Eve

I thought I better get at least one Christmasy post up before it's all over for another year. There's not too many decorations adorning our rooms this year, but I have managed to add a bit of festive decor to a couple of corners.

Now for an early Christmas prezzie I received

This beautiful Christmas stocking is thanks to Jacinta of Embracing It All. I won her lovely give-away a little while back. She also included some delightful fabrics, some of which I have included in my current sewing project, a queen sized quilt. So once again thank you Jacinta.

There's been a spot of baking, more Melting Moments using this recipe. All that buttery goodness, it is Christmas time after all so I figure if there's one time you can stuff your face and not feel so guilty it's now.

And finally here's one of me, quite a few years back now, sporting the nautical look, and with quite a firm looking grip on that present too.

So I'd like to wish each and every one of you an enjoyable Christmas, may it be spent with the one's you hold dear and being thankful for all that you have.

Vintage Sheet Creativity

Last week the Internet was playing up big time, which was a darn nuisance not being able to view all your lovely blogs and comment on your delightful posts, but on the bright side the sewing machine got plenty of use with no Internet distraction. I began piecing together my first quilt, a basic patchwork design using solely thrifted and vintage linens, many from the sheet swap at green tea and red nails, of which there is going to be another in the new year, I can't wait.

I'm starting to wonder why I chose to make a queen size quilt as my first, it really is quiet large and awkward to handle.
I'm planning on using a thrifted woollen blanket as the batting in the middle, and more vintage sheets as the backing, all in all 240 squares worth to make the front. It's now all ready for the three layers to be pinned together, but I've hit a bit of a brick wall, I think I've already packed the safety pins, and I'm not sure which of the few dozen boxes they're in.

Now I need a spot of advice, so I'm all set for when I find the safety pins; any of you experienced in quilting, I'm thinking just quilting it by stitching along the seam lines of each of the squares (like along each row, then along each column, if you get what I mean), is this the easiest way, and will I be able to do it on an average sewing machine?


P.S. I spied this lovely quilt on Dee's blog Dee Construction and if mine turns even out half as good as this beauty I'll be very happy.

Op-shopping

A pretty floral saucer or three, 50c each

A couple of childrens books for 20c each

How sweet is Leo the lop.

And lastly a couple of pieces of milk glass, both from the same op-shop and both $2 each.

Blueberries

Earlier in the week we made the 45 minute trip to Waitui to Brackenridge Blueberry Farm. I'd been years ago, but the other half hadn't so we thought we'd make the drive before the big move. On arrival you're given a bucket each and pointed in the direction of the blueberry paddock and you can pick as many or as few as you like.

Between the both of us we collected 4 litres of berries at only $5/litre of chemical free berries I think that's a pretty good deal.

And they have been put to good use- 

2 blueberry crumble slices

Jam, using just over a kg of fruit. The big jar was full, but it quickly disappeared when the fresh bread came out of the oven. This was my first ever attempt at making jam, it set and is edible so I'll take that as a success.

 

Blueberry bushes have now been added to the list of plants that I hope to one day have growing on a place of my own.

Baking Time

Having done a spot of midday op-shopping, an afternoon treat was in order. Melting Moments fitted the bill- simple, sweet and quick. These biscuits use only basic pantry staples, but turned out oh so delicious.

Melting Moments

250g softened butter, cubed

1/3 cup icing sugar, sifted

1 1/2 tsp vanilla essence

1 3/4 cups plain flour

1/3 cup cornflour

Filling

60g butter, at room temperature

1 tsp vanilla essence

2/3 cup icing sugar, sifted

Preheat oven to 160°C. Line baking trays with non-stick baking paper.

Beat butter, icing sugar and vanilla essence in a medium bowl with electric beaters until pale and creamy. Sift together the flour and cornflour, add to the butter mixture and mix with the beaters on the lowest possible speed until just combined and a soft dough forms.

Lightly flour hands then roll the mixture into small balls. Place on the prepared baking tray allowing room to spread. Use a fork that has been dipped in flour, flatten each ball to about 3cm in diameter and 1 cm thick.

Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until cooked through. Cool on baking tray.

At this stage a spot of quality control may be required.

Next for the filling, beat the butter and vanilla essence in a small bowl with electric beaters until pale and creamy. Add the icing sugar and beat until combined. .

Spread the base of a biscuit with filling and then join with another biscuit. Repeat with remaining biscuits and filling.

Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days, not that they will last that long.


What sweet treats have you been baking? 

Thrifted...

Only a couple of thrifted finds this week as the packing continues.

The sweetest hand luggage, still with its key. It needs a bit of a clean, but for $1.50 how could I go wrong.

 

 

And another Pyrex mug, 50c. 

Happy thrifting. x

My Creative Space...

The sewing machine is yet to be packed, and I'm making the most of it. Today I whipped up another length of bunting. I love how quick and easy it is to sew and how pretty the result is.

For this bunting I used a thrifted tablecloth. I'm loving yellow at the moment, so this fits the bill perfectly. Unfortunately this one along with the others is straight into a box, patiently waiting until it can be hung up and admired in all its beauty in our new house.

More creative spaces here.

Op-Shopped

A few goodies found this week...

An 8 piece Johnson set, $8, in a new to me design.

And a bit more Johnson, 50c a piece.

The softest crochet blanket, in the prettiest pastels, for 50c.

Wooden cotton spools, $1.50. 

The packing is getting serious as the move gets all the more closer, the kitchen cupboards are looking very bare, a vast change from this, the bookshelves are empty, and nearly every surface looks like the minimalist approach to decorating is being taken, in stark contrast to the usual style.

Happy thrifting to you in the coming week. x

My Creative Space & a Give-away Winner

Today a second cushion was added to the first from last week, using the same construction and elements, and another bird tea towel. This one too came in at under $2. At this rate I'll have to set up shop.

Add your creative creations here.

Now for the winner of my little give-away. Firstly thank you to everyone of you lovely bloggers who entered. To draw the winner the tried and tested method of names in a hat, or in this case a colander, was used.

And the winner is...

 Tammi of Little Poppa. Congratulations Tammi!

And I thought why not have a second prize, of which will be another string of handmade bunting. And so the next name drawn...

Annie of artistica domestica. Congratulations to Annie!

If you two could email me your details I shall get your goodies packaged up and in the post ASAP.

zara-117(at)hotmail(dot)com

Thanks again to everyone who entered and hopefully another give-away wont be too far off.

This and That

The amount of free time since finishing Uni is taking some getting used to, as is being able to get stuff done guilt free without Uni assessments in the back of my mind. Friday saw a night out with my Uni class mates to celebrate completion of our degree. It was nice seeing everyone one last time before we all head our separate ways.

My documents are posted off, so registration as a nurse is not far off, it's scary and exciting all at the same time, getting out into the real world putting all that theory into practice, and finally getting paid for it.

I've recently started a Pinterest account (Zar Anne), and my gosh is it addictive. There is so much crafty, gardening, baking and home inspiration out there. My 'to make' list has tripled as has my shopping list.

With the big move looming ever closer I've began digging up and potting a few garden plants to make the relocation with us, rhubarb, garlic chives, avocados and lemon grass.

The rhubarb, which I wasn't sure how it would handle being dug out of the garden, really surprised me, within a couple of days it had a new leaf sprouting and it now looks like this just over a week after being potted up. At this rate we'll be harvesting before the new year.

Also on the gardening front the avocado plants are doing well. After getting off to a slow start when transplanted from their germination place in the compost pile, they are now looking healthy and sprouting new leaves.

Our cat Tilly is back to her normal self after our other cat went missing. She went through a bit of a grieving phase with lots of pacing the house and meowing, calling for her friend I guess. She is quite enjoying the packing process now and all the cardboard box cubbies it provides.

And just a little reminder that tomorrow is your last chance to enter my little give-away which includes a splash of yellow bunting, vintage tea towels and a personalised wall hanging. I'll draw the winner on Thursday.

 

Thrifted Crockery

This weeks thrifted finds have a bit of a kitchen theme going on.

This stack of Johnson plates, 5 for $1.

This boxed Johnson plate, $2. The first to be found in its original packaging.

And these two little pretty floral plates, 20c each.

Check out all the thrifted goodness here.