Happy New Year...

Happy New Year

And

All the best for 2013

12 Sided Star

This is a project I have been doing which is taught by Linda Woodfield, Textile Artist.

It is a 12 sided star which is a lovely.  I have done it in reds, greens and Christmas fabrics, which have been sewn together after being stuck down on cardboard.  I placed little bells in the centre of each star.

My next job is to make smaller ones so I can have a few about the room.  I am going to do them in reds and creams which are the colours of my lounge.

Tuesday 13th November

I have been tagged by Dreamer of Living a Slow and Simple Life.  Dreamer was tagged by Robyn  at EssexHebridean.  So just for fun we are passing this around and would like people to participate.

The rules of the game are as follows:

• Write 11 things about yourself.
• Answer the 11 questions set by the person who tagged you
• Set 11 questions for the people you will tag
• Tag other bloggers (with less than 200 followers)
• Don't back tag.

11 things about me

1  I have a HNC in Business and Finance as well as IT qualifications

2  I have only been composting and frugal living for about 2 years but am loving every moment of it

3  Although I have poor health I don't let it dictate to me and I live my life as best as I can

4  I am well traveled, Singapore and Malaysia being 2 of my favourite places to visit.  I have a son who 

    lives in Bermuda so I visit there as well.  We scrimp and save to enable us to travel.  I never had

    the chance when I was younger so I'm making up for it now that we are both retired

5  I can see spirits, feel spirits and hear spirits.  They used to scare me but I now feel privileged to

   have such a gift

6  I have 3 brothers, 3 sons and 1 grandson.  God has blessed me with 3 grandaughters

7  I am fascinated with the Napoleonic wars and the Duke of Wellington

8  I am an avid reader, love painting, although I haven't done any for a while and I love creating be it 

   either home made jewellery or working with fabrics

9  I am terrified of heights but have gone up on a rope to 500 meters twice and 1000 meters once.

   Never again!!

10 I used to teach children how to play guitar and we have appeared on stage.  

11 I did my family tree and got back to 1616, I also did my husbands who are all from Ireland. 

     Records are difficult to access in Ireland and I ended up paying for some research professionally

     done

Dreamers Questions for me

How many siblings do you have and what was your position in the family?
I have 3 brothers and I am second in the bunch
What is your favourite sandwich filling?
Egg Mayo
If you could invite anyone to tea who would it be, and why?
The Duke of Wellington: I have a fascination with the Napoleonic wars
What would you cook for them?
Fish Pie
Given the chance to choose a different name for yourself what would you choose?
Kathleen
What one thing would you not like to live without?
John and if he doesn't count, my car as I couldn't get out without it
Which zodiac sign are you?
Capricorn
Who is your favourite author?
Georgette Heyer
If you could be a character in a film who would you be and why?
Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks
Chocolate or crisps?
Crisps
What is your favourite Christmas film?
Scrooge

My Questions

1  Who is your favourite personality from history and why

2  Chocolate or Crisps

3  If you could live in another time in history, when would it be and why

4  If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why

5  what is your preference in music

6  Who is your favourite author

7  Do you collect anything

8  sweet or savoury 

9  Cat or dog

10 Do you have any children

11 Favourite food stuff

I have tagged Dan at  FrugalUK http://frugalityuk.blogspot.co.uk/

Lest we forget

A couple of special poems to bring the meaning of today into focus.  I have been saddened to read on a social network words of disrespect for our fallen HERO'S, two of which I claim as relatives

Ode to Rememberence

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

My First Marmalade

 I have helped my dear friend Dreamer to make marmalade but this is my first go on my own and I am really happy with the results.  I bought this tin online which was on offer, buy one get one free.    Love a bargain

 I added the ingredients of the tin to the pan, followed by 3/4 pint of water and 4lb of sugar.  Once it was at a rolling boil I reduced the temperature and after 15 minutes it had reached the setting point.

I bottled 7 jars, some of which I am using for Christmas presents with red onion chutney and pear chutney.  Before adding the lid I dropped some brandy into the marmalade.  Mummmm yummy. I know they will be welcomed as a lovely present

Red Onion Chutney

 

 I have decided to make a selection of Red Onion Chutney, Pear Chutney and Brandy Marmalade as Christmas presents for friends and family.  As I wanted a small jar for each of the preserves I decided to purchase ASDA Smart Price Mint Sauce as they were only 24p a jar, rather than spending a lot of money on jars.  

I re-heated the mint sauce to boiling and re-bottled the sauce in steralised jars to be used later.  My son and daughter in law will have a large jar as they use quite a bit of it.


Here is the recipe I used

2kg Red Onions
I cooking apple grated
375 mls red wine vinegar
375 g sugar
3 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar
100 g sultanas
2 teaspoons of mixed or all spice
Salt & Pepper
Olive oil about 3 tablespoons for frying

I (or rather the OH) chopped up the red onions and fried them in the olive oil for about 1 hour.  I added all the other ingredients and brought it to the boil and reduced it to a simmer for a further 1 hour or until the liquid has reduced and the mixture has thickened.

When the the chutney is ready I bottled it and I managed to get 7 jars of chutney.  When they have cooled I will label them and they'll go away until Christmas.  Lovely with cheeses, cold cuts or even added to gravy.  I am rather pleased with myself as this is my first attempt and I know it tastes lovely.

Bird Mobile

I had come across this template for a bird in one of my friends sewing book and as we have two babies, in the family, due in the near future, I decided to make my first bird mobile.

I found, in a charity shop, a baby lamp shade so I sacrificed the large ring to make my mobile.  

I cut out the template, making sure I had a few.

I then cut out different fabrics using the templates, including wadding ensuring I had 24 sides to make 12 birds.  I sewed the wings on with a zigzag stitch, using this to also attach the wadding.

Once I had done this with all 24 sides, I attached the birds right side to right side and sewed them leaving a small opening to enable me to turn them right side out.  I hand sewed the opening, adding ribbon for them to dangler by and made eyes using a sequin and a bead on both sides.

To finish the mobile I hand sewed ribbon around the hoop, setting the birds in place and did the same across the hoop, leaving extra ribbon to allow for hanging.  I am very pleased with my first attempt and I may make another for the other baby

Cinnamon Apple Butter

 

 Part Two....

To recap...we received a bag of windfall apples, peeled and cored them, sliced them into the slow cooker and placed the peelings etc in a large pan.

To the apples was added sugar, cinnamon, all spice, cloves, a dash of nutmeg and a small amount of water.

 The apples were set on high in the slow cooker and left to soften down, with the lid on and occasionally stirring them.

When the apples were dropping they were whisked with an electric hand whisk and left on low for a few hours with the lid raised.  

When ready we put the jars through a dishwasher cycle to steralise them.  When they were ready we bottled the Cinnamon Apple butter and we got 4 large jars out of a bag of free windfall apples.  All we paid for was sugar and the spices which were already in the cupboard.....yum!!!!!!!!

Posted 1 minute ago by Holiday Girl

Economic Apples 

 I have been in Scotland for a few days and someone gave my friend a bag of windfall apples.  My friend decided to make apple butter (instructions to follow) and apple jelly and as I haven't made either of these before I was interested in the technique.

The apples were peeled and cored, and then chopped up, added to a slow cooker with sugar, cinnamon, small amount of water and nutmeg.  This has to be left overnight to cook slowly.

Apple jelly is so economic, costs very little and is really lovely either as a jam or with pork or cold cuts.  It is a very versatile preserve.

The peelings and cores were placed into a large pan and covered with water on a high heat.  They were left, stirring occasionally until they were very soft and the fluid had started to reduce. 

 The apple mixture is then poured into a jam making stand with a large bag attached, over a large bowl and left to drip.  Occasionally press the mixture down but DO NOT squeeze the bag as this makes the jam cloudy.  When the mixture has ceased to drip, discard the peelings mixture and pour the liquid back into the pan a pint at a time.    

 Add a lb of sugar for ever pint of liquid.  Then add 100 mls of lemon juice.  Stir the mixture until the sugar has desolved and let it come to a rolling boil, stirring regularly.










Place a small plate or saucer into the fridge for a few moments until cool and spoon some of the jam onto it to see if it has reached setting point.  You will know if the jam is set as it will wrinkle on the plate when you move it with your finger.

Ensure that your jars are steralised by putting them through a dishwasher cycle or heating them in an oven or microwave.  Fill each of the jars and ensure that the lids are fastened very tightly.  Be very careful as the jars will be very hot.  The jam will be ready to eat in a couple of days and can be stored unopened in the a cool dark place for as long as you wish.  We got 7 jars of apple jam out of the cores and peel of apples which is usually thrown away or composted.  It cost just the price of 3lb sugar and some lemon juice.

Instructions for the apple butter to follow.

Posted 13 minutes ago by Holiday Girl

Bread and Butter Pickles

 Today I decided to make my bread and butter pickles.  I cut up 4 onions, 2 cucumbers and 3 mixed peppers, red, yellow and green.

I covered them in salt and left them to settle for a couple of hours with a weighted plate on top.

In a pan I put white pickling vinegar (I used a mixture of red wine and pickling vinegar because I had loads of red wine vinegar to use up).

To the vinegar I added mixed pepper corns, a few cloves, mustard seeds and coriander seeds.  Rather than trying to find the pickling spices in a box, I bought each of the ingredients in bottles at less than a pound each and I get quite a lot out of them.  I let the vinegar and spices warm a little and then I added the sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolved.  At this point I added the veggies and brought them to the boil slowly and gently cooked them for a few minutes.  When ready I bottled them into sterilised jars and fastened the lids tightly.  They now need to go away for a week or so when they can be eaten.  I can assure you that they will not last very long.  I have been having complaints about the smell of vinegar throughout the house.

Chutney, Chutney and more Chutney.......

 I found a recipe for apple chutney and decided to have a go.  I have never made chutney before but by the time I had finished it I realised just how easy it was to make it.  The chutney includes apples, onions, sultanas, red wine vinegar, mixed spice and sugar.  The tasting was good before I bottled it.

 I managed to get 7 bottles of tasty apple chutney, some for us, some as presents and one to my friend for providing the jars.  Can't wait!!!!!!!!

 I now had the chutney bug so decided to make green tomato chutney with the homegrown tomatoes which hadn't ripened.  Besides the green toms I included onions, sultanas, pickling spices, sugar and vinegar.  It tastes gorgeous.

I managed to bottle up 6 jars of chutney and again some of this will go as presents.  Roll on Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!




Tomorrow I aim to make some bread and butter pickles using onions, cucumbers and peppers

Christmas Goodies in September...

 This is the time of the year that I start to make goodies "not to be open till Christmas".  

They include Christmas cake and piccalilli.  I did the piccalilli at the weekend whilst the family were away to different parts of the UK.  Peace....

The ingredients for the piccalilli included cauliflower, cucumber, onions and green beans, tumeric, ground ginger, garlic, mustard powder, salt, sugar, cornflour and pickling vinegar.

I placed all the veggies in a large bowl and covered with the salt, stirring to make sure all the veggies are covered.  I left them to stand for a good few hours.

When ready I washed all the veggies and left them to drain.  I added all the other ingredients, except the cornflour, to the pan and heated gently until the sugar had dissolved. I added the veggies and let them cook gently until they reached the consistency I wanted.  When ready I bottled them and low and behold 11 jars of golden yumminess.  Roll on Christmas LOL.

I also took the opportunity to make my Christmas cake, or rather cakes.  I made one for us, one for my son and daughter -in - law and some small sample cakes.  As I have a gluten intolerance I substituted the flour for gluten free flour.  They are now away in the freezer after receiving a good drink of brandy.

Laura's Quilt..

This is quilt no.4, my youngest granddaughters.  

I used a 3" square design, using blue as my center square and using other colours to build the square.  I added a border all around and then 2 more borders at the top and the bottom to give it some length.

I have 2 other quilts to do, one for a 4 year old and another for a new baby due next year.

I get great pleasure out of making the patchwork quilts but I also think that I am looking forward to a break from them and will do the other 2 in a few weeks time

Sophie's Quilt

I have been making quilts for my 4 grand children and I have just completed no.3.  Sophie wanted a red quilt and rather than just produce something that was red I decided to add a mix of different colours ensuring that there was some red in it.  I cut out 3" squares and sewed them together in this pattern.  It was a little confusing at first but I soon picked it up.

Again keeping the red in I added mint greens ans whites

Blues this time with pink and white stripes

Here I added pink.  I needed to  make 4 squares and would join them together with pink material.

All the squares added.  I just need to add a border, wadding and backing

The finished article.  I added a home made butterfly to the center, borders around the square and then jelly roll to lengthen the top and bottom.  I am sure she will love her new quilt

End of Season Sale..

 My son introduced me to a new garden center last week where I managed to purchase a lovely healthy apple tree for £10 reduced from £34.99.  The tree is a James Grieve variety, but the fruit is no longer sold in the shops.  It is a dwarf variety of apple tree which now stands quite happily in the corner of my back garden.

 

 On Tuesday I made a return journey to see if they had any fruit bushes for sale, particularly blackcurrant and gooseberry.  I have one of each of these in my back garden but I had read that to ensure a bigger and better crop it was best to have more than one bush.  I came across this lovely blackcurrant bush which has a good few years of growth on it and it was a snip at £4.99 reduced from £9.99.  It is twice the size of the one bush I already had.

I haven't had much luck with gooseberry bushes.  I bought 2 earlier in the year but they lost all their foliage and are now brown sticks.  I have them in pots but I am going to plant them in the garden to see if they take off next year.  I bought a third bush 3 months ago which is rather tiny and although it has it's foliage it produced no fruit.  So I decided to buy another bush.  This one has plenty of growth on it and with any luck I should get fruit from it next year.  It is about 4 times bigger than my others so fingers crossed.  Again another great bargain at £4.99 reduced from £9.99.  In fact it is cheaper that all the 3 others I bought.

Quilted Table Mats....

I aquired a new table and chair set and needed some new table mats to protect it.  Rather than buy mats I decided to make my own.

To start off I sewed pieces of material edge to edge, about an inch wide and then wove them together.  Here I have secured them using pins. 

 

I tacked all the pieces together then added wadding and backing.  I stitched the pieces together going across, therefore ensuring that all the pieces were stitched together.

Finally I hand sewed the borders.  The pattern is very effective and will be thick enough to protect my table from hot plates.

I now have coasters to make to match

Lemon Curd Cake

My friend made me some lemon curd and as we hadn't eaten it all I decided to make a lemon curd cake.  I found the recipe on the internet

6ozs marge/butter
4ozs sugar
4 eggs
3 tablespoons of Lemon Curd
8ozs Gluten Free Self Raising Flour

Gas Mark 3 for 75 minutes
Grease and flour a cake or 2lb loaf tin.  I used mini loaf tins




Cream the marge/butter and sugar together until creamy.  Add the lemon curd and beat well.  Add the eggs, one at a time with some flour and beat in well.  Fold in the remaining flour and place in the tin.

When the cake is ready, allow to cool in the tin and place on a wire rack.  The cake can be iced if you require.

I used gluten free flour as I have gluten sensitivity but you can use any self raising flour

enjoy.......

Little Girls Cot Quilt

 A friend asked me to make a second cot quilt for her grand daughter in little girl pinks.  I decided to use the disappearing 9 square pattern so I collected 9 different fabrics and cut them into 6" squares.  The size I used was 2 squares across and 3 down, therefore using 54 6" squares.

 Making sure that I had the dark pink fabric as the center square, I joined 9 squares together. I tried to make sure I had the same pattern of squares throughout.

 Once I had sewn the squares together I cut through the center of the middle of the nine squares twice, leaving me with a dark pink small square, two oblongs and a large square.  I then rearranged the pieces together so the dark pink squares were on an angle to each other and re-constructed the squares

 These are all the squares rearranged ensuring that they follow a pattern.  I placed the backing, wadding and the front of the quilt onto a table and pined them together.  This is the hardest part as the backing material tends to ride up and can get caught.

Here is the finished article.  I sewed a little butterfly in the corner and sewed around the squares in sequence.  I attached the border to the back by machining it and then stitched the border to the front by hand.  Very laborous work but worth every minute.  I love the finished quilt and it was received well.  My friend loved it.  The next one is for my grandson, for a single bed and will be in red, black and gold colours

Girly Pink Quilt on a Budget......

 

I had made a cot quilt for my friend's grand daughter a couple of months ago and as the little girl's mum loves it so much she has asked could I make her a girly pink one.  So I think I will do another disappearing 9 square pattern using 2  blocks across and 3 down.  Each square will be 6".  This should be big enough as each square should measure 16" square, so therefore it will be 32" across and 58" long approximately.  This is the bundle I have amassed

 This is the first of my fabrics I am using.  It is dark and pink striped and cost me nothing.

This is a single quilt which cost me £2.99.  There is enough fabric to make a couple of quilts.  Value for money and as the pinks are broken up it will give a bit more depth to the quilt

This fabric cost me £1.70 from the local material shop

They sell fabrics in a any size including 1/4 meter's

This lovely quilt cover is covered in butterfly's of all sizes on the front and small dark pink ones on light pink background on the back.  It cost me £2.00 and I will use the back for the backing. 







  



I have also some white material, once again a freebie.  I am looking forward to starting the quilt tomorrow by cutting out my squares.  I have everything else I need and once I have finished it, I can start on my grand son's