A dress

I decided the other day, that with the on-set of summer, I should sew a dress. I wanted something that was comfy, semi casual, and that didn't need a zip. I did succeed in all these things. And it even looks good on. I just need to hem it, and then I can wear it. (oh, and the weather actually needs to be warm enough too).

Did you notice the red insides to the pockets. Quite excited about pockets.

It looks quite squat, but with a belt it looks great. I guess I should get onto hemming it, and maybe pressing it too. That could help I guess!

~Liz.

What we cooked:

A smorgasbord!
And I totally didn't prepare any of it. I read the newspaper, while Jon cut up a heap of different things for lunch. I suggested things which we had run out of. (oops)

What we ate: Spicy Salsa with carrot, and celery, Bruschetta, Iced coffees with ice-cream! It was all super tasty! And on the extra plus side, I prepared none of it! Thanks Jon.

~Liz.

Clocks

Jon and I were given this clock as a wedding present. I like clocks. I especially like reading clocks. As they are functional things, that tell you the time and such. This clock has frustrated me for almost a year now, due to its.... Silver, on Silver, on Silver, with a shiny face. It is a beautiful clock... It just didn't live up to my function of readability. So finally Jon allowed me to 'have a go at fixing it'. I say it came out quite well. Check out my before and after pictures.

I just un-screwed the glass front, painted, and re-attached the front again. Now I am happy! :D
~Liz

What we cooked:

Baked Eggs.

This is Jon's favourite breakfast. It does mean that by the time we get up on Saturday, and then cook it, it is usually Lunch time.... But who says I'm complaining!

Ingredients: Natural Yoghurt (or cream), chives, salami (or similar), parsley, chives, pepper, feta, and egg.
Method: Combine in layers the ingredients. Crack the eggs on top. Bake for 20ish minutes, or until the eggs are as you like them. Consume with toast.

~Liz

Summer staples

Well, actually maybe the staples of life!

I finally got around to using some of my stash of fabric, turning it into some t-shirts. Seeing as I don't own an overlocker, it was a little more creative sewing than your average t-shirt. But they turned out super. I can tell, because so often when I go looking to wear them I find that they are in the washing pile. So either I wear them often, or I don't do my washing often enough!? (Is both an answer?)

I traced around an old tshirt that I like, and know how it fits, and adjusted it as I cut. This tshirt has no sleeves, so bargain easy! :D

I cut it on the fold, with the t-shirt also folded in half, cutting out the front, and then the back, as the front and back pieces are not the same.

I sewed the shoulders together, then the sides. (I sewed it using a stretch straight stitch). Adjusted any hems and sleeves that didn't match in length with a pair of scissors, and hemmed with a zig-zag stitch. I also folded 5mm over and zig-zagged around the sleeves, and neck. The joy of sewing with stetch fabric is that is won't fray! YAY.

 And this is what they turned out like:

I definately plan on making more. Who says you can't fill your wardrobe with one cut of tshirt!
~Liz

Making buisness cards

I thought I'd post my method of making business cards. It is very easy. It is also the method I put my details on the back of cards I screen print.

I designed a stamp in photoshop, just black imaging on a white background, then I took it to Office works, and had them make just the rubber section of the stamp. I stuck it onto a piece of timber, (which took me 45min to cut with a hand saw, because I chose red gum to cut!) I stuck the stamp on, and proceeded to stamp everything, everywhere! Or maybe just lots of them.

Things I might do differently... Make sure the timber has a truely very flat surface, because the slightest dent means that the stamp on that section won't print. Also maybe have slightly bolder letters for some words. The thinner words are more easily stuffed up with too much ink/movement etc.

That is all.
~Liz.

An attempt

I recently attempted making my own screen using drawing fluid and screen filler. Let just say.... I learnt a lot!

I painted on the drawing fluid, quite thick, (perhaps a little too thick, as then it ran when i put the screen filler over the top).

I then poured, and squeegied the screen filler over the drawing fluid. You can only do one (1) swipe of the screen filler, as the drawing fluid starts to dissolve into the screen filler, and makes your images not so crisp and clear. I have not yet perfected the method of using either the screen filler or drawing fluid. I will need to practice some more. But I will let you know my results as I go. (note the small hole just next to the flame of the candle)

And then this happened. No it will most likely not happen to you, unless you also put your scissors through your screen, but decided to proceed with adding drawing fluid, and then screen filler over the top, because really it can't get any worse right.... wrong. My screen spilt in two. What was a small hole, over night (I pressume as the filler dried, and tightened the screen) became a massive tear. So I rinsed out the drawing fluid, just to see what it had done, and left my screen to die in a corner of my house for the next month or so. It looked ok... (not tested with printing) except for the massive tear. I would have liked my images to be a little more crisp around the edges. So next time I trial this, I will attempt to not put too much, nor too little blue drawing fluid on. (too much runs, too little is just covered up with the red screen filler).

And so the moral of this story is... Don't stick scissors through screens.... it doesn't end well.

~Liz.

This is some fabric I bought recently. (from left to right) lycra for bathers, stretch knit for tshirt, linen for tea towels (for me to practice screen printing on), more tshirt, and more tea towels. There is more I forgot to include in the photo. Mostly just cottons, and a nice satin, that I have grand Grand plans for, but don't want to stuff up, so maybe one day, (in like 10 years) I might actually sew what I have planned for it!

Hope you are enjoying sewing. (it is much more fun sewing in summer and summer is almost here)

~Liz

Wood work

Every Tuesday evening, Jon and I go to woodwork. Woodwork is a group (predominantly men) who meet, talk, and do woodwork.

Jon and I are making a tv unit. We have been making it for 2 terms so far, and are just about ready to start piecing it together. It started off as a pile of fence posts, and other dodgy looking wood, that when we took it in, most of our fellow woodworkers said 'its good for firewood'. But we planed the edges to make them square, and cut them into planks, then joined some, and cut them down to length, and glued them into larger boards. And this is what it currently looks like.

It should progress reasonably quickly from here. But I will update with more photos when it gets done.

~Liz.

What we cooked:

POPCORN! :D

I decided to get creative in the kitchen... yes this happens always, but this was a particular success. Jon ate most of it, so I didn't have to worry about me being that person this time.

So.... Honey, Mustard (wholegrain), and popcorn.

Make popcorn.
Add 1 desert spoon of mustard (I used wholegrain) straight out the jar, and 1 Tablespoon of honey. Mix in the hot pan (while not on the burner) (or else IT WILL BURN), so the honey melts. Stir until all covered, and there are no more lumps of mustard or honey.
Consume. Straight out of the saucepan, while watching Singing in the Rain.

This recipe will be repeated.
~Liz

Harvesting

I picked a couple of heads of broccoli the other day. We ate them in lamb risotto. Quite yummy.
~ Liz