Sensational Sewing Challenge- Fantastic Felt!

This month at sensational sewing challenge the theme is Fantastic Felt! I made felt hearts!

My hearts!

Please try and enter, it is open until the 29^th of February. You can enter here

Love Nancy

Sensational Sewing Challenge - Something Useful

This month at 'Sensational Sewing Challenge' the theme was Something Useful.  I made a felt bedside holdall. My mom found this idea while browsing on the web.  She cannot remember where though, so our apologies for not acknowledging this lovely idea.  The original holdall was made in material, but felt is so much easier and quicker to work with and this time of year, that worked for me!

This bedside holdall has a pocket for a bottle, toy, book or notebook and pencil. It is such an easy thing to make. I just taped 3 A4 Pieces of paper together for a pattern cut it out with mom's zigzag scissors and hand-stitched all the pockets and embellishments.  I am very pleased with how it turned out and will give it to my little sister, Gabrielle, as a Christmas present!

The new theme at Sensational Sewing Challenge is ‘Christmas’. So please hop over to Kelly's blog to enter your Christmas makes!

Love Nancy

Kelly's Sewing Challenge - Accessories

This month at Kelly-Anne's Sewing Challenge, the theme is Accessories!!

I made a Button Necklace.

It was very easy to make!!

I have heard of this idea before, so I decided to give it a try!

Love, Nancy

Heidi’s Baking Challenge - Puddings and Desserts

This week at Heidi’s baking challenge the theme is ‘puddings and desserts’ so I decided to make a Malva pudding!



Malva pudding

10 servings

1 cup (250ml) caster sugar

2 eggs, at room temperature

1 tbsp (15ml) smooth apricot jam

1 ¼ cups (312ml) flour

1 tsp (5ml) bicarbonate of soda

Pinch of salt

2 tbsp (30ml) butter

1 tsp (5ml) vinegar

½ cup (125ml)

SAUCE

 1 cup (250ml) cream

½ cup (125ml) butter

½ cup (125ml) sager

½ cup (125ml) water, orange juice, sherry or brandy (I used orange juice)

Method   

Using a medium-sized mixing bowl and an electric or hand beater, beat eggs and caster sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in the apricot jam.

Sift the dry ingredients three times.

Melt the butter and add to the vinegar and milk.

Fold the dry ingredients and milk mixture alternately into the egg mixture.

Pour the batter into a medium-large greased, ovenproof casserole dish.

Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 45 minutes.

                                                                                                                                                            

 Melt the sauce ingredients together and pour over the pudding as soon as it is taken from the oven. Pierce the pudding with a fork to aid the absorption of the sauce.

Serve hot or cold with cream or custard.

Please hop over to Heidi’s blog to see if you can take part in her challenge!

Love Nancy

Heidi’s Fortnightly Baking Challenge - Cupcakes!

This week at Heidi’s fortnightly baking challenge the theme is Cupcakes! I made some chocolate cupcakes with crumbled flake and a half a cherry on the top.  

The little’s enjoying their cupcakes!

Love Nancy

Kelly’s Sewing Challenge – Bags!!!

My sister, Kelly-Anne from Beautiful Girlhood has started a new sewing challenge!

Her first theme is: ‘It’s a Girl thing- bags’! I decided to make a ribbon bag.

I got this idea from a book my mom and dad gave me for Christmas 2009. It’s called ‘Made by Me’ by Jane Bull.

Please hop over to Kelly-Anne’s sewing challenge and see if you can take part!!!

Love, Nancy

Heidi’s Baking Challenge – Melting Moments

This week Heidi’s baking challenge is ‘something for a tea’. I decided to make some delicious ‘Melting Moments’.  Here is the recipe:

120g butter

60ml icing sugar

5ml almond essence

Pinch salt

240ml flour

2.5ml baking powder

Cream butter, sugar, almond essence and salt until light and fluffy.  Add the flour and baking powder and mix. Chill in fridge. Form into balls and place on a greased baking tray. Flatten with a fork dipped in flour. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for about 8 to 10 minutes. Cool before removing from pan.  Ice if desired.

Makes 24

Love, Nancy