fabric cushion sewing kits

it's been a while in coming, but here they are, my first collection of fabric craft kits!

i have created these so that even the most inexperienced sewer (even kids) can make them.

these cushions come in front and back panels, all you need to sew is the 3 sides and turn out. you can insert your own zip if you are a bit more experienced or simply stitch closed. They are covers for a standard 16 x 16 inch, 40 x 40 cm cushion inner.

I am awaiting fist panels so i wont be adding them to my etsy shop till then (a couple of weeks)

I am working on costings and will let you know that soon too,

i hope you like them!

I would love to hear if you have a particular print in my shop that you would like as a cushion,

my dear sister Jutta was busy organizing the flowers for her church when I visited yesterday,

i couldn't get over how beautiful they looked each in a bunch,

such eye candy!

Easy Easter treat recipe!

you may find it rather odd to be celebrating Easter in Autumn, but that's what we do here on the bottom of the planet.

It's a changeable time of they year as you can see from my shots of Days Bay and Eastbourne,

sunny one minute rainy the next, i guess that's a bit like spring!

i have heard that it's been very summery in Britain and now it's snowing! you  poor thinks, you must be getting fed up!

Having only boys it's always a bit challenging finding crafty things to engage them, one thing that always works is anything involving sweets, so I thought Louis (my youngest )and his 2 friends might like to decorate some Easter cookies. as you can see they really enjoyed it, so i am posting this very easy recipe that you might like to try!

EASTER BISCUITS

You will need;

250gm butter

100gm sugar

a few drops of vanilla essence

1 large egg

500gm flour

Simply cream butter and sugar,

add vanilla essence and egg,

add Flour,

mix, and roll out on a flour covered surface,

cut out shapes, place on baking paper covered tray,

bake for about 15 minutes at 180 degrees,

decorate with icing sugar mixed with enough water to spread easily (I brush on with a pastry brush) you could use lemon juice instead of water.

now let the kids have fun decorating them with a variety of sweets,

enjoy!

and HAPPY EASTER!!

new craft kit availabe on etsy

here they are!

for sale on etsy!

party animals craft kit

it's been a bit of a challenge but here they are!

my new craft kit "party animals"

i still have a few tweaks to do (the ears on the elephant need to be a bit darker)

 but all going well, they'll be available on etsy on monday.

thanks for your great suggestions, i can see a whole zoo coming on!

competition winner!

what a clever clogs you are alice!

they are indeed cosmos!!!!

a giraffe is on it's way!

well done,

I like the tiger and lion idea!

Mr Giraffe competition!

as you can see, i've made a few wee improvements to mr giraffe, his body is not quite so long (an improvement my son austin insisted on!) and i've given him a cute little star on his party hat.

a party on your own isn't so much fun so i am inviting mr elephant in the next few days!

as you can see, he's already on his way.

suggestions on other party guests would be greatly appreciated!

name the flowers above and be in the draw to have mr giraffe come to live with you!

i don't know if this ever happens to you,

you'll be busy doing one thing, in my case working on my new houses kit, when suddenly another idea literally pops into your head.

this happened to my last week, i decided i'd give it a go to see if it would indeed work and here it is!

i always wanted to create animals but have always made them to complicated, as you know whilst i'm a big fan of decorative i still like shapes to be simple,

i'd love your feed back! if i sell them as kits, would you want one?

best, easiest, quickest cake recipe!

i don't know about you, i think that any bought cakes of biscuits pale in comparison with home made.

traditionally Sunday is backing day. i turn up my fave radio station in the kitchen and boogie away while i bake.

recently i went to my German friend Gudrun's birthday party and she presented us with a lovely variety of German treats, one of which was an especially moist delicious cake.

when she told me how easy it is to make i tried it and i have to say it really is the quickest, loveliest recipe i have ever come across!

it literally involves throwing all these ingredients in a bowl;

1 cup oil (not olive oil)

1 cup sugar

3 cups flour

1 cup milk

4 eggs

5 teaspoons baking powder

in any random order, mixing it for a minute, pouring it into a large roasting pan lined with baking paper, about;

15inches-39cm x 12inches-30cm x 1.5inches-3cm deep 

and baking it for about 20-25 minutes at 180 degrees.

It is brilliant if you need quite a large amount for a party etc.

i freeze half of it.

you can change it every time by adding choc chips,lemon, coconut, nuts, choco powder,fresh berries, dried fruit etc etc,

you could ice it, however the quickest way is to simply dust with icing sugar.

if you never bake, try this! you'll be a hit!
i would love to hear from you if you have tried it!

 well done rachel of rainbow vintage home,   http://myrainbowvintagehome.blogspot.co.nz/

you won! as you can see it is indeed blue,

please email me with your address and a set will be on it's way!
   

competition!

phew! at last, here they are! i must say, they look quite cute all in a row,

the first person to guess what colour the round wing on the bird on the other side of the tall house is will receive a gift of a set of the new houses from me, a clue: it isn't the same colour as the one visible but the main colour of the bird is also yellow,
i'll have them in my etsy shop on monday,
have a lovely, happy, relaxing weekend!

here are a few more images of my dear friend annie's beautiful home,

the top image is of her fabulous studio,

i have nearly finished my new set of houses, I should have them up later today,yipee!

new houses kit!

it's been so lovely receiving so many orders for my craft kits from around New Zealand,

my little houses have been such a hit that i am creating another set of 3, these will look great together or added to the first set,

 i am working very hard to get them done today!

my dear friend annie has just opened her very own shop in the village. she will be selling her art works and vintage treasurers, if her amazing home is anything to go by it will be absolutely fabulous, i'll send some picks tomorrow!
 

How adorable!

what a treat to be featured in this months "your home & garden"

i love the way they filled the little birds with eggs!

what a lovely easter spread.

 

i must say it's been a bit of an "on and off" summer here in New Zealand.

this saturday was defiantly an "on" day so i decided to go for a walk (one of my fav past times)

i couldn't help but photograph the hydrangeas i met along the way, i especially like the blue toned ones, having said that i have one growing in my garden,it is  beautifully speckled, i don't know which one i love more, they really are the ultimate flower eye candy!

annie hayward artist

i popped in to see my dear friend annie hayward today and as always was spell bound by the love, joy, colour and fabulously unique style of her home.

i grabbed my camera and took photo after photo,

i have so many that i have decided to post a few every day, i hope you enjoy them too!

i have a sweet little book that is full of lovely quotes to do with my favorite word JOYFUL.

i have added some of my faves to the series of spring flowers.

what do you think!

i'll have them for sale in my etsy shop tomorrow!

i'm back!

i have spent this last week working on 2 new books and i'm pleased to say i managed to finish the spreads Templar required for the up and coming Barcelona trade show.

we have a fabulous magazine here in New Zealand called "your home & garden"

it features quirky house from all around NZ. i'm excited to see that they will be featuring my houses and birds in Aprils Easter issue.

A lovely lady Kay McGregor sent me this photo of a piece she has stitched using my pohutukawa lady as inspiration,

i think she's done a lovely job, I especially like her colour choices,

well done!