Woyww #160 - food

I have abandoned my workdesk today for the kitchen! Tomorrow it is the last day at school for Smallest and the last but one day for Small before they break up for the loooonnnngggggg summer.

I made blueberry scones for their teachers. Huffle and I have also made boxes out of food boxes turned inside out and retaped together. Tomorrow the boys will decorate them and I will load them with scones.


Small also needed something for his class party tomorrow so he made some Maple Syrup flapjack. It just needs cutting up.

So that is on my desk. I wonder what is on everyone elses.

 

WOYWW #159 - flower, hair and a hot day

Wednesday's come round too quick. Each week I think, I'll post lots of entries this week and then suddenly it's Wednesday again and I've hardly done anything. So..... What's on my workdesk outside table and chair Wednesday?

 

My craft table is in the loft and as today has been in the 40's (with humidity), I couldn't even venture up there so decided to craft outside on the front porch. Still hot but nicer!

So on my 'desk' is my craft bag and a pile of Mollie Makes that my Mum brought over from England for me. Also there is my little handmade notebook (from Faded reverie) with a zentangle in. My crochet doll (from following Annaboo's House Crochet a Long) whose hair is not quite finished with a lovely crocheted flower I made using the giveaway on Mollie Makes. It's not quite right but easy enough to do. I need to make some more but concentrate this time! My IPad is also there helping me to follow the pattern for my dolls hair. It seems I've been doing this for ages, hoping to finish it this week (plus her dress - am wondering whether to crochet it or sew it!).

So that's me done. Off to enjoy a bit more outside crafting with a break here and there to look at everyone else's blog and see what they are up to.

Oh, in case you didn't see, I finished Small's sock monkey. He is very pleased and he called it Funky.

....and to celebrate my Mum (Moo) visiting we made American Pancakes for breakfast.

 

 

See you soon xxx

 

Finished on a Friday - funky

Yay - finally - I have finished Small's sock Monkey. He is so pleased.

He has named him already. Funky. He chose the buttons for his eyes (it wouldn't have been my choice but I really like them now!). I actually sewed this up upside down but it gives him some character!

We didn't have two socks the same so we chose similar ones (well Small did).

Now off to start a crochet flower. My mum arrived this week and bought with her four Mollie Makes. the crochet flower was in one of those magazines.

I am also going to try and finish my dolls hair and make her a dress.

You may have noticed I am crafting outside today. Ahhh I do like a bit of outside crafting. Lovely.

 

WOYWW #158 - a wig, stuffed sock and Manga

Hello woyww'ers. It is that time again where we show our desks. I had a bit of a tidy up. Good job you can't see the floor or the chair or the shelves or the boxes!

I know this is supposed to be a short post with one picture of my desk but I got carried away (as usual), so if all you want is a desk picture. Stop after this one, although the other pictures are only close ups of things on the desk (no excuses!).

On my desk today is my Doll, still without hair or dress but I am in the middle of making her wig. (funny, I once had a job as a receptionist in a Hair and Beauty clinic and they made wigs and weaves - never thought I'd making one all these years later!). I am finding it very therapeutic pulling strands of wool through a skull cap!

I made her hair too long but I am thinking I will make long bunches. I am still following Annaboo's CAL tutorial although I am a week behind now. I have finished her main hair and am now crocheting her middle parting.

Small's sock is half done. He has a body although I sewed it upside down so it has a big bottom. I'm sure it will be fine in the end.

 

I have been drawing from my Manga book again. I find drawing very calming. I got the 'how to' books out for one of Small's friends last week and thought I would have a go myself.

 

The middle one's mouth is the wrong angle. The one of the left's eyes are too close together and the girl on the end is too long, but I enjoyed doing them. What can I do with them now?

I have also been 'Zentangling' again. Lots of calming crafts this week.

I liked the BUSY and I like some elements of the Butterfingers but I rushed it a bit. I know the idea is when you start one of these that you don't know what it will look like but I had imagined it might look different. However, it calmed me, I enjoyed doing it and I learnt a few different techniques whilst I was doing it.

This week I was lucky enough to be sent a gift from the lovely Lunch Lady Jan. Some beautiful bunting.

I love it. Thank you LLJ. Am now thinking what I can make and send for you. X

Time to pop on over to see the other desks and what is on them. See you soon.

 

Lovely Gift

I don't normally empty the mailbox until my boys come home. They still find it exciting emptying the box. So I didn't find my gift until mid afternoon.

lunch Lady Jan sent me a beautiful gift.

Isn't it amazing. What a lovely, thoughtful, clever lady. All because I have followed her from almost the beginning of her blog (because I like it, it's fun, she has lovely pictures and I love what she makes).

I love all the fabrics she has used, the colours, everything. Even Huffle loves it.

THANKS LLJ. x

Woyww #157 - two socks and a nudey doll

It's Wednesday (well it is in the UK - not here yet). On my desk this week............

A pack of hot pink wool which I picked up at the Thrifty Store (I am planning to make a crochet monkey with some of it for my niece). A finished "Inky Monkey" and a nearly finished "doll" - I can't give her a name until she has hair and a dress - it wouldn't be right!

A pile of buttons which Small was searching through for eyes for his sock monkey (no I haven't done it yet but I am starting it tonight!). A crochet magazine (as I can now read a pattern thanks to the lovely Annaboo! Or so I thought (that I could read a pattern, not that she wasn't lovely, she is!). I got a bit too confident after making Monkey and Doll and thought I would try one of Annaboo's Christmas Trees (I won some from her in a giveaway and they are amazing). I tried two, one of them is on my desk, not at all Christmas tree looking , more like toadstool looking! However, I will try again.

Anyway, back to the magazine, there is a pattern in there for a Turkish Bracelet with beads on. I love bracelets and I love beads and I love crochet - simple. Let's hope so. I love looking at it but that is all I have done so far!

I have just stamped on a heart stone that I got for Huffle for valentines day at the beach, and then whilst small was rifling through the buttons, his sleeve smudged the ink. AGHH!

Last but not least is the sock monkey to do, with his lovely yellow buttons for eyes. Oh there is a start of a Zentangle too, a leg of Huffle's sock monkey, my sewing box and various books.

Now, I suggest you go and grab a handful of biscuits and a cup, no make it a pot, of tea and have a look at all the other desks that take part in What's on your workdesk Wednesday.

There are so many people that take part in this that I cannot possibly get around all the desks, so my tip is, whatever number I happen to be on the Linky list i.e. #123, I visit all the people ending in the same number ie 3, 13, 23 etc, I'm sure you understand. That way I get to see different people each week. I always pop in to my favourites as well and the people that comment on mine of course. Then if I find I have more time, I go back and do some in between. I know that some people look at every single desk, I even had someone comment on last weeks, today! mad, crazy people!

 

Finished Cakes and Scones

Yesterday we went to a Jubilee Party held by our lovely neighbours, The Royals.

I made a Victoria Sponge based on a recipe found at http://mennonitegirlscancook.ca

1 cup all purpose flour

1.5 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup sugar

1 cup butter (I used salted but didn't add extra salt)

2 large eggs

1/4 cup milk (plus extra if needed)

1 teaspoon of vanilla essence

Bake at 350*F for 15 minutes or until cake tester is clear




The butter icing is just icing sugar sifted and soft butter with a few drops of vanilla. No weighing for this, I just add until I am happy.

With a generous layer of Strawberry Jam.

The sugarcraft queen was made using fondant, sugarcraft or rollable icing (whatever it is called where you are from). I have actually been asked to do a "how-to" so I will do this soon I promise.




The boys cake.......

....was made using half the ingredients above but a couple of spoons of cocoa powder. The butter icing on top was same as above but with a big chunk of chocolate melted in (it makes it fudge-like). Again the decorations they made were from sugarcraft/fondant etc.

The scones were English Scones, Blueberry Canadian Scones and Cranberry and Orange Canadian Scones.

Canadian Scones Recipe for the Blueberry ones. For the Cranberry and Orange, I used 1 cup dried cranberries (fresh would be better) and the grated rind of one orange plus a generous squeeze of half an orange.

The English ones were actually made by my Huffle but the Recipe we kind of made up, of our old English Recipe with a bit of Canadian. This is it.



450g all purposes flour

100 g salted butter

1/2 pint milk

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon baking powder

400*F 8-10 mins.




I would love to know if you use these recipes and how you got on.

Finished on a Friday

Last night I finished all the appendages for my monkey.

Then I stitched him all together..................

...........And named him Inky Monkey. One of legs is inside out and I have no idea how this happened. For those of you that don't know, I have been following Annaboo's Crochet-A-Long which has been great because I now feel confident enough to tackle a grown up pattern. Yay.

I still have to crochet some arms, make a dress and grow some hair on my doll.

Also today I have been busy with the sugarcraft and made The Queen and her little doggies for the Jubilee party we are going to. I am also making a cake but not sure where the Queen will go as I was asked to make a simple Victoria Sponge. I'm sure I'll work it out. I also have some Cranberry and Oragne scones and Blueberry scones to make - all for Sunday. I will post the recipes soon.

"Oh come along doggie, get out from under my cloak"

 

Woyww #156 - armless monkey, one and half legged doll and two socks

That's exactly what's on my very hot, airless workdesk today........

My IPad is sitting there with instructions, a new bag of buttons which I love, some free knitting patterns I picked up at Michaels when I went today to get some more stuffing, stitch markers, two new stamps (for stamping on stones found at the beach). Sewing box, Skinky the sock monkey, knitting needle bag, and a puppet that Smallest bought for himself (how simple - maybe I could make some myself!). My knitting bag (honestly it is sooooo hot and humid up here, I normally just stuff everything I need into my bag and wander over the house and outside till I find a nice place to sit and crochet).

I have been following the very talented Annaboo @ Annaboo's House where she has been doing a weekly Crochet A Long. It's been great fun, I have learnt so much and I have created a Monkey that, at the moment, has no arms or ears and a doll that has half a leg and two arms and hair missing. That's the next part which I haven't started yet.

I made the Monkey on a size 5mm hook and cotton wool (not the kind you wipe your eye make up off with obviously, a wool that is cotton!) and the doll is much more dainty on a size 4mm hook. I can't wait to get on with the rest. Poor Small has been waiting for his sock monkey for ages, he's the only one not got one. His socks are there on the desk waiting. Just a bit longer Small, I promise.

What's on your workdesk? This wonderful weekly get together of lots of desk from all around the world is brought to you by Julia @ Stamping Ground? Grab your coffee and a biscuit and have a good blog hop - honestly, I pick up lots of tips and ideas from doing it - takes hours though.

 

Woyww #155

My desk for "What's on your workdesk Wednesday"..........

A bag of stuffing. Some origami from last week. Socks awaiting transformation into another sock monkey, this time for Small. Needles bag. Sewing Box. Knitting bag. The main things this week are my crocheted monkey and doll. I am following the tutorial over at Annaboo's House. She has started a CAL (crochet a long) and does a bit each week. It's very exciting and I have learnt so much as she uses good descriptions and detailed photos. The green one with the purple face is going to be a monkey. (we like monkies in this house) and the cream one is going to be a doll. I noticed this week she added a mouse, now she is adorable and I will have to make of of those soon too. If only there were more days in the week.

Some things I have finished lately.......

 

An origami elephant in pyjamas, Skunky, Smallest's sock monkey and two origami pecking birds.

And that's it. What do I do with my time? Well Smallest has been off school for a week and Huffle for an extra day and no-one can do crafting with them around unless the whole family is involved. Oh yeah, I did make brownies and gingerbread.

Pop on over to Julia's and see the never ending list of people prepared to show you their desks this Wednesday.

 

Triple Choclate Brownies and Gingerbread Mickey Mouses

For a picnic we went on yesterday I made some Triple Chocolate Brownies. I have made these before in England and they were delicious. Now we are here in Canada, and my baking is suffering, I thought I would try again.

Wahooo. They worked. Wow did they work!!!!

 

They went down well at the picnic too. In fact I didn't take enough.

The recipe? Here you go. This was originally from the BBC Good Food book.

185g plain chocolate chips

185g butter

3 eggs

275g sugar

85g all purpose flour

40g cocoa powder

50g white chocolate roughly chopped (I added a handful more)

50g milk chocolate roughly chopped

Oven 180*C. Grease and line square 8" tin. Melt plain choc and butter and cool. Whisk eggs and sugar till double the size. Pour over melted choc/butter and fold in. Sift in flour and cocoa and fold in. Stir in chopped choc.

Pour into tin pushing into sides and corners. Bake for 20-25 mins until shiny and papery on top with no wobbles in the middle. It should start to come away from the sides. It will be squishy in the middle so a cake tester won't work!

Leave until completely cool, turn out and cut up. It is very moussey in the middle but melts in your mouth. Yum yum!!

****************************************

I also made some gingerbread. A foolproof recipe. One I always use. Huffle and I chose the cutter. We told the kids it was a Mickey Mouse shape (it's more like a club without the stalk! - but they loved it).

 

These didn't go down as well as the brownies but to be honest, not much can compare really. However they do go rather nice with a cup of tea.

The recipe? Okay, here goes. This one is originally from an Usborne Baking Book.

350g all purpose flour

4 teaspoons ground ginger (we like to taste it so our teaspoons are well rounded, original Recipe is half of this)

1 teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda

100g butter (in chunks)

90g light soft brown sugar

45g Demerara sugar

40g castor sugar

(original recipe just calls for 175g soft light brown sugar but we ran out and using the sugars above made it melt in the mouth!)

1 egg

4 tablespoons golden syrup (I have used maple syrup and it worked well too but Golden Syrup is always better)

Oven 190*C. Mix the flour, ginger and bicarbonate together. Add the butter and rub together till breadcrumb texture. Stir in sugars. In another bowl, whisk egg and syrup. Add to flour mix. Mix with a metal spoon until it forms a dough (you may have to bring it together with hands. On a floured surface, stretch the dough, pushing it away and folding it until it is smooth. Roll out (I split it into two normally) to about 1/2" thickness. This makes it soft in the middle and crunchy on the outside, any thinner and it is very crunchy.

Cut out shapes and place on a greased baking sheet with room for biscuits to spread slightly. Bake for 8-12 mins depending on size and thickness.

I take them off the tray as soon as they are out of the own because I normally need the baking tray for more. The kids love making these too. They are really nice iced and decorated too.



I would love to know if you use the recipe and how they turned out.

Skunky, Scones and a Head

Yesterday I finished Smallest's sock monkey. He was made using a pair of old socks and looks old, worn, loved and really quite 'Skunky' whatever that means. This morning I handed him to Smallest who instantly smelt him! Anyone that knows my Smallest, knows that if he smells something, he loves it. It is what gets him to sleep (normally sniffing his elephant called 'Smelly').

 

The edges were quite frayed and it wasn't a neat sewing job, but I wanted him to look worn. These socks were originally Small's and then passed to Smallest, so they have had plenty of wear. That undeniable dirty heel that you can't ever get really clean.

I made it in two days. He loves it. Now I have to make one for Small. Thank goodness I only have two children and one husband.

Smallest helped me to make some Canadian Scones yesterday. I have had trouble baking since we came here. I blame the cooker (old, came with the house, only one cooking shelf, too hot), and the ingredients (no self raising flour here, need to use baking powder and baking soda, all purpose flour or cake and pastry flour). Anyway a lady at the Garden Centre where I work gave me this fool proof recipe.

4 cups flour (I used all purpose)

1 cup sugar

1 cup butter

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon baking powder

Mix it all up together.

Add 2 cups of buttermilk

1 cup fruit (I used blueberries)

Bake (I put them at the top) 400* for 12-15 mins.

They look like rock cakes but they do taste like scones. They are quite moist so you don't need butter or jam, especially with the blueberries in them.




I joined in with Annaboo's CAL (Crochet a long) to attempt to crochet a monkey, doll or cat. I chose a monkey - you can never have too many monkies in one house!!!!

Sorry Annaboo, I don't know why this picture is so small

She is blogging step by step instructions, which is great because I finally understand a pattern and she gives pictures to show you what it should look like. Fabulous. I started it Tuesday Evening and it didn't go well and then tried again the next day and it worked.

It isn't perfect. I didn't always have the correct number of stitches. The face is a bit wonky. But I kind of like him/her already. The kids have already asked me "who is that one for?". FOR ME, IT IS FOR ME!!!

There will be more of this CAL next week. How exciting. Maybe I will make a start on a doll while I am waiting. Or maybe I should get on with Small's sock monkey. or maybe I should finish my Granny Blanket, or perhaps I will try some more baking now I have some confidence back.

Woyww #154 a new monkey

Yay it's Wednesday, the time to share what is on work desks all around the world. Started by Julia over at http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com.

This was my desk this morning when Smallest decided he wanted to do some crafting

He is decorating Easter hangings! He started them at Easter and then forgot about them, I put them away, he remembered he hadn't finished so I had to find them! He made a lovely job.

......and this is my desk after some work. A pile of books and magazines, an old photo of me and my mum (I was showing Smallest), my sewing basket and Huffle's Skinky (sock monkey)........,,,,,,

Huffle bought me this book for Mothers Day. I love it. I have made a Dollar Bill Vikings Helmet and a leaping leopard frog. It really leaps too! What will I make next?

Two more socks ready to make another sock monkey for Small, he chose his own socks to use, not a pair but they kind of go, and my new wool and crochet hook ready for Annaboo's CAL (Crochet a long).

This is the sock monkey I am making for Smallest. He chose the socks and the buttons and has already named him Skunky and he loves him so!

Grab yourself a cup of tea/coffee and go and see what you can find on other people's desk. It may take a while though, there are a lot out there.