94, 95, & 96

ZippyZippy Sale Number 94

Whale Bunting

Heading to Brisbane

ZippyZippy Sale Number 95

Star Bunting

Heading to Brisbane

ZippyZippy Sale Number 96

Name Garland for Tess

Heading to Melbourne

I really love creating for people

I'm thrilled you want to by my products

Hope you enjoy your purchases as

Much as I've enjoyed creating them

Hope you have a great weekend

Jacqueline :)

Paper Beads - projects for little people

This morning the second born wanted a project.

We decided to make a paper bead necklace.

It's Pa's birthday today,

he thought it would be a great present for Pa.

This is a quick and easy project,

thought I would share,

in case any stressed mums are looking to fill in 30 mins

of the last of the school holidays.

You will need

coloured paper, glue stick, ribbon and a pencil.

Cut the paper into strips about 3 cm wide.

Leave about 3cm of paper at one end without glue,

spread glue along the length of paper,

make sure it goes right to the other end though.

Then wind the paper, starting at the non glued end,

around the pencil.

If you start at the glued end,

the pencil will stick to the paper.

Then slide the bead off the pencil.

It will dry as a hard little bead,

you don't need to wait till it dry's ,

you can start threading them straight away.

Ta Daa! 1 Bead. Now make a heap more.

Start threading the beads onto ribbon,

until the desired lenght is reached.

Second born used a wool needle,

but this is not required.

And here is the finished product.

Nice and easy.

And minimal mess - yay

He also made a paper handbag for Pa to keep his necklace in.

Pa will look very dashing on his next trip to town!

Enjoy your Australia Day

Jacqueline :)

Zucchini Soup

This recipe is a favorite in our house.

I make lots of it at this time of year

when the zucchini's and basil

are prolific in the patch.

(and it freezes really well)

Zucchini Soup

1/4 cup olive oil

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/4 cup chopped basil leaves

1 kg zucchini chopped

1 teasp sea salt

3 cups reduced salt chicken stock

1 tin light evaporated milk

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese.

Heat oil in a large saucepan

Add garlic, basil, zucchini and salt

Cook stiring over a low heat until zucchini is tender

Add stock, bring to boil

Then simmer partially covered for 15 mins

Blend or process until smooth

Return to pan, add evaporated milk

Stir until hot

Stir in parmesan cheese.

Enjoy.

I've also been making Basil Butter, Pesto

and more cucumber pickles.

Jacqueline :)

Mum and 2nd Born Make A Cake

A few days ago, the 2nd born charged into the kitchen

requesting eggs, baking powder and plain flour.

When asked what these items would be used for,

his reply was "I'm going to make a cake".

I said "hang on, I will get a recipe"

He said "I don't need one, I'm going to make it up"

After a lot of effort on my part, I won and convinced him to use a recipe.

I chose a marble cake, a recipe I had not used before.

We went about our business of making the cake, having a jolly time,

popped it in the oven and set the timer.

After an hour, the cake was still gewy inside and looked,

well you can see what it looked like.

That is an inch width of butter bubbling around the outside of the cake.

We gave it another 30 mins, but it did not seem to get any better.

Took it out of the oven anyway.

Once cooled we cut it, it was sort of a rubbery texture inside.

The boys did not seem to mind.

Dont know what happened, must have been an error in the recipe!

Could not have been my mistake, could it?

Maybe I should have let him make up the reciepe after all -

Could not have been any worse.

Jacqueline :)

December Depatures

Custom made Little Whale Bunting

Buntings for the Bells

Annie Name Garland went to South Australia

Ruby Name Garland went to South Australia

Christmas Present for a niece

Another Christmas Present

A gift for a new little relative

Jacqueline :)

Half Way To 90/ New Family Member

It's Peters birthday today,

last week,

the boys and I had an excursion to some scrap metal yards

to find treasures to create a gift for him.

I would highly recommend an excursion to a scrap metal yard,

I think it has been one of the high-lights of the holidays.

I have put together a few old pics of Peter :)

The completed birthday present is down below.

For those that don't know, Peter is a twin

Happy Birthday to Michael as well!

Don't ask me which is which

The 21st (Peter left)

At the rifle range

Robe in the 80's

Tassie in the 90's

The Mo in the 80's/ 90's

Lorne in the 90's

Backpacker hair 2000 (Peter left, Michael right)

Deckhand at the Whitsindays

Wineglass Bay 2000

Life now 2009

Happy Birthday Peter!

And, wecome to Rusty the robot scarecrow.

If you look carefully, you will see that Rusty

is also a boy,

The boys wanted to have a "boy" robot

Jacqueline :)

Sweet Cucumber Pickles

A little while ago I had too many cucumbers,

started looking though the books and
thought I would try this recipe.

It has turned out really well,

so thought I would share with other
vegie gardeners in the same predicament.

They taste a bit like the little green things
in the hamburgers at McDonalds.

They are also really yummy in a ham sandwich
and served as a condiment.

Sweet Cucumber Pickle (makes 2 ½ cups)
 3 large onions
3 large cucumbers
50g fine sea salt
450g caster sugar
600ml white wine vinegar
1 Tabsp mustard seeds

Slice the onions and cucumbers (fairly finely)
In a large colander layer the vegetables,
Sprinkling the salt between the layers.
Place a plate on top and press down with a heavy weight.
Leave for at least 2 hours,
Then squeeze out as much of the remaining liquid as possible.
In a large pan, stir the sugar into the vinegar with the mustard seeds,
Until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Bring slowly to the boil.
Add drained vegetables, and again bring to the boil.
Simmer uncovered for 1 minute.
Remove from heat and drain the vegetables,
Reserving the liquid,
Then spoon into hot sterilised jars.
Return the liquid to the pan and boil for 15 minutes, uncovered.
Pour liquid over vegetables in jars & seal.
Recipe courtesy of “The Ultimate Mixer Cookbook” (KitchenAid cook book)

We still have lots of baby cucumbers coming on in the patch,

I expect to have a few more batches done soon.

Jacqueline :)

Rocket Cushion for 2nd Born

Not much making has been going on around here.

Amusing the boys has taken up most of my time and energy.

Although, I have managed to complete a project

I have been wanting to try for a while.

I printed this tutorial from Dont Look Now,

planning to make each of the 3 boys a cushion,

to match their new quilts I created for them.

2nd borns quilt has still not been completed -

It is ready to pin and be quilted though,

just have to be in the right mood.

I just needed a small project and easy to complete,

so the rocket tutorial was it.

It came together really quickly,

and I finished it this afternoon while the house slept.

I really liked how the back looked too.

Not that it will be seen, as it will be inside the cushion.

It's a great tutorial, tested out my stipple skill, I used my

walking foot, and 2 things that I avoid

button holes and buttons.

The 2nd born (almost a school boy now)

 is now up and loves his new cushion!

Have a nice HOT weekend and keep COOL

Jacqueline :)

Thai Green Curry

We had Thai Green Curry for dinner tonight,

thought I would share this simple easy recipe.

Thai Green Curry

1 tabsp fish sauce

1 tabsp sweet chilli sauce (usually I put 2)

1 tabsp green curry paste

2 bunches fresh basil

1 bunch fresh coriander

1 chopped onion

2 large cans coconut cream

Place all ingredients in a blender

Blend until combined

Cut 3 chicken breasts into cubes (serves 3)

Cook ckicken in a non stick pan or wok

Add blended sauce & heat through

Serve with natural yoghurt.

We have a glut of basil at the moment,

this is one recipe that uses a lot of basil.

I can never seem to get basil and coriander

growing at the same time though.

The sauce makes enough for 2 evenings meals

(plus Peters lunch for the next day)

I divide the sauce in half,

use 1portion and freeze the other portion for another time.

I cook enough rice for 2 evenings also and freeze

it in a zip lock bag.

So, next time I only have to dice the chicken, cook and done

Nice and easy :)

The down side is that only 1 boy likes it

so the boys usually have some thing different on Green Curry Night.

The up side, the house smells amazing when I cook this.

Jacqueline :)