Time to Dust Off the Cobwebs

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 Enough is enough!

Time to brush off the cobwebs and get this blog back into action.

I can't believe it has been almost 4 weeks since my last post.
Where have those weeks gone?

Can I let you in on a little secret?

I did have a thought that perhaps this little blog had run its race and 
that maybe it was time to close the door.............

But I know just how much I would miss it.

I have finally come to realise that this blog truly feeds my soul and gives me something 
to aspire to. 

It allows me to dream big dreams, indulge my creativity, share my joy
and then put it all on paper to share with whoever may be 
passing by. 


Without it - I know I would not have the incentive to try different things or discover new projects. 
The days would simply merge from one to another without any real 
sense of achievement or accomplishment.  

It is what keeps me alive and fresh and current. 
(Who would have thought a little ol' blog could do all that!) 

 

 So I have given my header a bit of a revamp -
Revealed my face for all to see (Hmm... I kinda liked hiding behind that kookaburra!) - 
and 
Injected some re-newed energy into these ramblings.



Hi everyone - can't wait to see what you have all been up to. 


It feels good to be back!
 

Put a Little Twinkle in your Life

Here's a super easy little project I put together over the Christmas holidays using my ever growing stash of "used" candle jars.

This little display of twinkling tea light lanterns positively lit up our festive season and provided the perfect backdrop for long leisurely family dinners out on the verandah.

Now I make no excuse for the fact that I am an absolute candleholic!  Along with fresh flowers - scented candles are the one thing I cannot live without.

Glasshouse Candles are my absolute favourite.

At the moment beautiful "Miami" with its unmistakable pomelo and grapefruit fragrance is wafting its way through the house.  Ah, bliss.....

A vase of flowers and a scented candle -  all is well in my world!

Equally as beautiful (and a good bit cheaper!) are the range of Glade scented candles which are available in most supermarkets. 

I usually have a couple of these on the go as well.  

"Vanilla" - "Wild Raspberry" - positively scrumptious!

Problem is - what to do with the jars once the candles have finished burning?

So this is where my little tea light lantern project was hatched.

I have put together this  tutorial as a perfect New Year recycling project.  

Step 1 :  So for this project you will need an empty candle jar (or 2 or 3);  wire; jute (string); pair of pliers/wire cutters; scissors, tealight candle.  (Gosh - my father's old pliers look positively antique!)

Step 2 :  Cut a piece of wire long enough to wrap around the base of your jar and cross over at the side.  

Step 3 :  Grab your pliers and twist the wire until the wire is firmly secured around the base of the jar.  

Tip :  Because the jar is slightly tapered, i.e. smaller circumference at the bottom than the top - if you secure it firmly at the base it won't slip up over the top of the jar.

Step 4 :  Snip off an excess wire with a pair of wire cutters and then twist your little wire knot slightly towards the top.

Step 5 :   Cut 3 lengths of jute/string depending on how long you want your lanterns to hang.   I staggered mine so that some lanterns were slightly shorter than others.   Hmm... not sure about the colour? of this string but it was all I could find at the time and it does look slightly festive looking - don't you think?

Step 6:  Remove the wire cradle from the jar and tie lengths of string equi-distant around the circumference of the cradle.

Step 7 :  Place your jar back in its wire cradle.

Step 8 :   Now gather your lengths of string together and hold at the top.  Lift off your surface to make sure it is hanging straight.  Adjust your string lengths if needed.  (Last thing you want is a crooked candle!)

Step 9:   Once you are happy that your lantern is hanging straight - tie a knot with the three lengths of string around 5-10 cm from the end.

Step 10 :    Then tie another knot right at the end. 

Step 11 :   Snip off the excess string

Step 12 :  Grab your tea light.  (I picked up a box of 100 tea lights from Target for $7)

Step 13 :    Place tea light in the base of the jar.

Step 14 :  Secure (between the two end knots) to a nail or hook.   Yes, that is a jungle out there!

And then once dusk comes.......

Light up and enjoy!

(I love my little lanterns so much that they are staying up ALL year).

I hope you manage to get a little twinkle in your life in 2012!

Linking up with

Hard to Let Go

Well, the time has finally come!

Time to take down the decorations and pack them away for another year.

Time to put an end to the procrastinating.

Why do I find it so hard to let go?

To be honest - I have been in two minds about continuing with this little blog in 2012.

My blogging mojo seems to have taken a bit of a battering over the holidays.

Surprising really - because the creative juices have been well and truly in overdrive these past couple of weeks and my "To Do" list (which was looking rather daunting at the start of the holidays) is now looking extremely achievable.   Yah!

I have had heaps I could have blogged about - but for whatever reason - couldn't be bothered really.

(Come on Sharyne - snap out of it!)

On top of  all this - Picasa 3 seems to have had a bit of a hissy spack attack over the holidays and now all my photos seem to have disappeared!!??##

Hmmm....time for a deep breath and reawakening of some positive energy.

Time to re-energise this little blog and get going.  (I know just how much I would really miss you if you were no longer around.)

Time to take down the festive header and put up some new photos (luckily I had these ones saved on a USB!)

Time to re-focus and start making plans.

Time to start taking lots more photos!!

Welcome 2012 - can't wait to see what you have in store! 

It's all About the Wrapping

There was a time when the wrapping of Christmas gifts was something that was done at flash point speed on Christmas Eve.  Safely secured behind closed doors, I would randomly chop through huge rolls of paper - hurriedly wrap it a couple of times around the item in question and then firmly secure it with lengths of masking tape!  

At the height of my "speed" gift wrapping phase I could wrap 8 gifts (and attach gift cards) all during the commercial breaks of the Christmas Eve Carols by Candlelight on Channel 9!   These were manic times.

To this day - Adam, Matthew and Kendall had no idea what I was up to or the production line process that was happening in the bedroom.   It was a massive undertaking.  

However the joy in their eyes on Christmas morning when they woke and gazed upon the piles of colourfully wrapped gifts under the tree -  is something I will never forget.   The fact that the gifts were wrapped in cheap, flimsy paper (literally) held securely with layers of masking tape was of no consequence to them.   It was the promise of what lay beneath!

These days my Christmas gift wrapping is a lot more civilised.

I delight in deciding the particular theme I am going to use and spend hours carefully folding and turning little rounds of paper to make cute little music rosettes.

Or gently crocheting gorgeous little twinkle stars to make individual gift cards 

to adorn my (custom designed) gift wrapped gifts.  

Even some sheets of pretty card stock and a dab of glitter glue can be turned into unique gift embellishments.

With a perfume candle wafting away and Michael Buble gently crooning in the background - this whole gift wrapping process has turned into something............

Blissful ..... and calming ...... almost therapeutic

 Ah yes......  as I dunk another biscotti into my nespresso. 

Hmm......

But something is missing?

Something just doesn't feel quite right?

Does anyone need a speed wrapper out there?

Best Biscotti Ever!

Now that's a bold statement!

Honestly - this has to be one of the best Almond Biscotti recipes I have EVER tried and I can't believe how simple it is. 

This is the fourth batch I have made in the past 2 weeks.  We just can't seem to get enough of it around this place.  Crisp and crunchy with just a slight hint of lemon.  Perfect for dunking into an espresso or even by itself.    

A perfect Christmas gift - glass jar/ribbon around the top - how easy it that!

Here's the recipe - full credit to Delicious magazine (May 2004).  I can't believe it's taken me this long to find you!

Almond Biscotti (Makes about 40)


Ingredients :


1 cup (220g) caster sugar
2 eggs
Finely grated rind of 1 lemon
2 cups (300g) plain flour, sifted
1/2 tsp baking power
150g whole almonds (leave the skins on)


Method :
Preheat oven to 170 degrees (Celsius).  Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
Place sugar, eggs and grated lemon rind in a large bowl.  Beat with electric beaters until pale and thick.
Fold in sifted flour, baking power and almonds, then use your hands to lightly knead dough on a floured work surface until the dough is smooth.  (It is a little sticky - so just dip your hands into some extra plain flour so that the mixture doesn't stick to your fingers too much.)


Divide the mixture in half.   Form 2 long logs about 25cm long x 5 cm wide and place on prepared baking tray, leaving space between logs.  Bake for 20-25 minutes until the dough is firm to the touch and slightly golden.  Remove from the oven and set aside to cool completely (about an hour).


Preheat the oven to 140 degrees (Celsius).


Once dough is cool, use a small serrated knife to cut each log on the diagonal in 0.5cm slices. 
Lay slices flat on the baking tray and return to oven for 15-20 minutes, turning once, until completely dried out.


Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.  Store in an airtight container for 2-3 weeks.  (OR 1-2 days in our case!)

Yum-O - give it a try.    I  guarantee you won't be disappointed.

I'm off now to try out this latest batch

All the interests of Quality Control of course! 

A Tale of Three Cushions

Last day of term - yah!!   I can't believe how neglectful I have been of this little blog.  The last 4 weeks of the school year have been so incredibly hectic - I have barely had time to even keep track with what my favourite bloggers have been up to let alone find time to actually blog.  

Can't wait to get stuck into all the projects I have planned for the summer holidays.  Hopefully I will also be able to find some time for a bit of R&R. and lots of  blogland "catch up."

In the midst of all the end of year craziness however, I did find time to whip up a little trio of cushions to give as Christmas gifts to three of my very favourite work colleagues.   I had such fun sorting through my ever growing fabric stash and deciding which fabrics would suit who?  In the end, the fabrics spoke to me and the choice became very easy.

So, let me introduce you to "Michelle"

Now a couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to receive a fabric grab bag from the girls at Fabric Traders.Co in response to a blog I posted about their fabulous new on line fabric store.  You can read about it HERE.

Amongst the gorgeous fabrics in the grab bag was this lovely autumn toned floral print which Michelle immediately fell in love with when I did my little "show and tell" at work, after the parcel arrived.   I knew immediately what I was going to do with it......

I had just enough for a 16" x 16" front and then backed it with a left over piece of painter's drop cloth (from my dining room chairs project) and added a contrast binding.  Aren't these just the most perfect buttons?   I couldn't have got a more perfect match.  I actually picked them up at Beach Vintage when Kendall and I flew down to see DOLLY at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre a couple of weeks ago.
So this truly is a Fabric Traders/Beach Vintage inspired cushion!   Thanks heaps Simone and Jodie.

Next we have "Linda"

There was just something about this pretty blue and yellow fabric that just shouted "Linda" the minute I saw it.  Sweet and gentle - just like her.    Fortunately she loved it just as much as I hoped she would.

Again, I had just enough fabric to make a 16" x 16" cushion and trimmed it with a piece of matching stripe (which for some reason strangely reminds me of Bananas in Pyjamas??)  The floral and stripe were both Spotlight finds.

I then sorted through my button tin and found these rather interesting blue buttons.  I love the fact that they are mismatched.   For a person who lives and breathes symmetry, they were a bit of an odd choice but I'm really happy with the way they look.

And finally, we have Julie

This was such a tough one.  I adore this gorgeous blue and white fabric (again, from Fabric  Traders. Com) and only had just enough to make one only cushion.  I was SO tempted to keep it for myself.   Hopefully Julie will get just as much pleasure from it as I did in making it for her.

I think the gorgeous little bobble trim and crisp white buttons really sets it off.  It was SO hard to let this one go - but I know it is going to good home.  Merry Christmas Julie!

Oh, and by the way........

Fabric Traders.Com are having a little sale at the moment - 17% off for the next 3 days.



 I can hear all those beautiful fabrics calling my name.  Yes, you can hear them too!!

Three Simple Secrets for a Happy Life

From time to time I come across words of inspiration which really strike a chord with me.   The sort of thing that really makes me analyse the way I live my life or respond to those around me.   Mostly,  I keep these thoughts to myself.   I choose to do this because often they involve very personal feelings and moments of critical self analysis.  Even though I like to think of my blog as a place where I can journal my life (warts and all!) - somehow the idea of completely bearing my vulnerability to the entire world is well....... a little awkward to be perfectly honest. In the back of my mind I can also hear Matthew (jokingly) saying to me : "Gee Mum - sounds like you're trying to be Oprah or something!" However,  something I read recently was just so simple and so true that I just had to journal it here.  Not just to share with anyone who might happen to stumble across my ramblings but also so that I can have it for ever more.     My Mantra for Life. It was written by Serge King.  Now I have never heard of Serge King?  However Mr Google tells me that  "Serge King PhD is an author, humanitarian, speaker, scholar and speaker and has published the world's largest selection of books and tapes on Huna, the Polynesian philosophy and practice of effective living, and on the spirit of Aloha, the attitude of love and peace for which the Hawaiian Islands are so famous."   From what I have read,  his philosophy on life seems to be very uncomplicated with a good dose of common sense thrown in for good measure.  In fact, it's a wonder he hasn't got his own television show somewhere in the world!    I just love his Three Simple Simple Secrets for a Happy Life : Bless the present Trust yourself Expect the best   How powerful are those three little statements? Imagine if your lived your life according to them! - Bless the Present In a previous "Oprah" moment (sorry Matthew!) -  I did a posting on "Being Present".   BEING present means that we are aware of the present - not bringing the past in to taint the moment. Not worrying about things that haven't happened yet. Not focusing on how bad things are, because you are too busy blessing this moment as perfect - for whatever reason.  Just because IT IS! ‘Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.’ ~Thich Nhat Hanh Anger, resentment, fear, jealousy, disappointment, frustration and other negative emotions are what we bring from the past.   They are not relevant to this moment. The first time I read this little quote - it was like a real lightbulb moment :- "after 3 minutes, whatever happened is in the past and should be let go!"    Yes!  Time to embrace where we are now and put an end to all the negative thoughts of the past and future. BE present and  in being present - be thankful! - Trust Yourself I have always been a big believer in "listening to that little voice" deep inside me.   It was something I also taught my children from when they were very young and over the years they have (individually) related stories to me of how that "little voice" has got them out of some tricky situations.   It's a bit like the stories I used to tell Kendall (when she first got her licence) about the dangers of picking up hitchhikers!   My stories traumatised her so much that I doubt she would even pick ME up if I was stuck by the side of the road with a flat tyre!    Have you ever had a sense of KNOWING something is true or the right thing to do?  It is almost like an intuitive wisdom.  I guess that is what "Trusting Yourself" is all about.   It really is your truth.  It truly is something to treasure. - Expect the Best My dear Mum's favourite saying used to be  "with my luck....," "I'll never win anything".  OR "I'm such a Jonah....nothing works out for me".    Yet, in so many ways she was one of the most positive people I have ever known. There are so many people who succumb to negative thinking.  Goodness knows how it has come about or whether they have been so used to using negative language that they can't break the habit.  Maybe we also only see what we expect to see. How much more uplifting would it be if in every situation, in every person, in every relationship - we expected the best! I'm definitely going to give it a try.  What about you?

So thank you Serge King.  You have given me such a lot to think about and to have it condensed into just 3 simple secrets - quite inspirational.

and yes, dear family (particularly Matthew!).........

I will be back to my regular postings about cushions, and flowers, and gardens and Mickey and Buffy  and other pretty stuff -

but maybe tomorrow......