Get ready for the Festive season!

Yesterday I went to do some holiday shopping in Cape Town. I couldn't believe that all the shops were completely decked out with all their Christmas decorations already! Wow! And Christmas is only 2 months away!

Well I guess everyone is getting ready for the Festive season. I've been helping my mom with some Christmas sewing kits she is making to sell. She is going to sell them at the Cape Embroiders Guild Exhibition. She has created the cutest little Christmas stocking pattern & has made up kits with all the stitch instructions & diagrams to help beginners (like me!)

When my stocking is finished it is going to look like this little one here - how cute! Good luck with the sale of the kits, Mom!

Visit my Mom's page here (and then you may need to scroll up a bit....)

Cot bumpers

As Jakey grew older & more mobile, the poor boy would bump his head against the bars and get his legs stuck through the cot bars when he slept!
I realised I would need to put some soft cushions ('cot bumpers') around his cot.

So I made some with fabric I bought in Cape Town - it has little animals on the fabric. Here's a piccie so you can see too... excuse the very odd picture but it was tricky to get him in the cot & lying still - I think he was mid change when I grabbed the camera & took the pic! x x

Sewing success! (thanks Mom)

While on holiday with my folks, I decided to make use of my mom's extensive sewing knowledge. So we decided on a sewing project - to make a tracksuit for a 6-9 month baby. (I figured that way I would have at least 4 months to finish it before Jake outgrew it!)

It took some juggling to try and sew at every opportunity (not easy with a baby and in between all the holiday activities!) but I did it. I'm very proud to say it was a huge success and I sewed a tracksuit top AND bottom - in ONLY ONE WEEK! WOW!

I learnt lots of new techniques - like how to sew stretchy ribtrim around the neck. I also picked up little tricks and tips from my mom. They really are fantastic time savers and also make the finish of the sewing beautiful. The best trick was sewing with a double needle. Who knew a double needle even existed!? It means you can sew once around the neck/ arms etc and it makes a beautiful finish and it's really easy too! (see photo on the left)

So I'm feeling very proud of myself with my sewing success! Now I'm going to find a little sewing table and set up a sewing work area in Jake's room and start another little sewing project..... I'll keep you posted! x x

Eggster surprises - postcards!

Hope everyone had a good easter! And enjoyed the Royal wedding xx Stunning! Ofcourse needed to tie things into craft club so decided to make family and friend Eggster cards.
See above.
With Fimo, enamel paint and a little design inspiration it took a day to create. I watched a load of films on the TV on an unusal rainy day. And it has been great weather ever since.

Fran xx

Emma wedding fascinators and earrings

I have created two identical head pieces for the bridesmaids at Emma's wedding (one of those would be me) and also two pairs of earrings to match.
buying feathers, beads and decoration leaves and flowers in metalic colours. Then fixing all to a comb, has enabled hair positioning to be flexible on the day (this saturday 16th April)
My first fascinator!!
Fran xx

Spinach and feta filo pie

My favourite savoury dish at the moment:

5x eggs

300g feta

100g pine nuts

400g prewashed spinach (I used frozen spinach cooked and drained!)

50g cheese

pinch of dried oregano

Zest of 1xlemon

a knob of butter

1x270g pack of filo pastry

cayenns pepper

1xwole nutmeg for grating (I used powered nutmeg!

Preheat Oven 200 degrees C / 400 degrees F

It is from Jamie's 30 Minute meals series.......toast pinenuts off in dry heated pan, meanwhile put 5x eggs and crumble all feta with cheese, pinch of pepper and dried oregano, zest of lemon and lug of olive oil. Add toasted pine nuts to the bowl of ingredients and mix well.

Put the empty frying pan on the heat and cook the spinach (drain of spare water) and add to bowl with the grated / powered nutmeg. Meanwhile 50cm layout baking sheet paper and add four sheets of overlapping filo pastry to cover the 50cm squared, sprinkle cayenne pepper and a spray of olive oil +salt and pepper and repeat, untill all pastry layers are used.

Move the greaseproof paper and filo pastry into the frying pan so the edges spill over. Push down at the sides, then pour in all of the mixture and spread out. Fold the filo sheets over the top and let them fall where they will. Put the pan back on the heat medium for a couple of minutes to get the bottom cooking.

place frying pan in Preheated oven for 18 - 20mins, or until golden brown or crispy.

Take out off the oven when finished and serve hot with a cherry tomato salad..............

Yum xx

Fran xx

Canvas montage wedding dress designing

After 3yrs since my wedding I have been keen to create a montage of my wedding dress design development in canvas form.
Having gathered and saved research material at the time of development, I was able to plot the layout, photoshop and intergrate the images with fabric gathered and embellishment.

Seeing it together, brought back great memories and gave me great satisfaction to thank Michelle for all the time she gave to me and andrew during the preparation to our wedding.
Fran x