Week 7 - Compost

For those of you who know me - you will know I DO NOT GARDEN! Simple as that... it's not in my make up and I have beautiful nails - so why would I?! Part of me would love too, simply to be outside getting a tan - however, that isn't even enough of a pull!

However, one of the properties work owns was looking rather over grown and run down so on a whim I decided to clean it up - what was I thinking right!?!

These are the before shots! Even the dog joined in the fun - by running around and keeping watch!

After spending 2 days at this property, I had a mountain of weeds and no where to put them! I couldn't even fit them in my car.. that is when the idea of a compost bin was born! I must admit - I cheated a little and brought it from Bunnings - I did however, put it together with a little help from Kay - although I think she was more interested in playing games rather than constructing a compost bin!! What do you think!?



Not sure if you can see in the photo - but the WHITE dog ended up BROWN after playing in the garden! Naughty Miss Gizmo! Just after these photos were taken the skys opened up and we thought we were saved by the rain - however, it wasn't mean to be - the rain stopped and we had to pick up all the weeds and actually put them in the compost bin!

Can you spot the compost bin in amongst the excess weeds? I think I should have brought three of them! 1 was clearly not enough! While I was doing the gardening I did discover the worms in Aotea are like small snakes!! See photos below for finished result - what do you think? Who knew there was actually plants in amongst the mess! I'm pretty pleased with myself! (And I didn't break a nail!!)

Don't forget to leave a comment!

Until next time!

Broni

Week 6 - The Veil

One of my oldest friends (length of time known NOT age wise!) is getting married and I helped to arrange her hens night - it ended up being an epic night with lots of fun had by everyone! How we managed to keep 20 odd people entertained and laughing I have no idea - but we did it!

Every bride needs a veil so I decided rather than buying a cheapy that would ruined by night's end - I would make her one! Off to Spotlight I go! I purchased some white sparkly fabric - every bride needs sparkle right! and a hair slide (comb?) and of course some cotton. The next 2 weeks flew by and next thing I know it's the night before the hens party and I still had the bits in the spotlight bag!

So after 2 or 3 beers out they all came and I proceeded to make a veil! Not much can be said for how I made it apart from - I MADE IT! and it looked pretty darn good I think! See photos below!

What do you think? She loved it and it made her look like a Bride! Her 3 year old daughter was wearing it the next day - I think it was a hit!

Don't forget to leave a comment!

Until next week

Broni

Week 5 - Plum Jam

Last week I got a phone call from my mum asking if I wanted any plums and of course, given I don't really like plums I said no thanks... then I thought hang on.. I can make plum jam! So my lovely mother went and hand picked 2 shopping bags full of plums for me to make jam! I have to admit, mum did tell me what I had to do: pre-sterilise the jars, keep the windows and doors closed (why?!), make sure there is a tea towel on the bench to put jars on and of course you need to seal them with cellophane not a lid - who knew!

Another friend of mine causally mentioned last night that I should get Jam Sugar - he husband told her about it. Again, who knew! So off to Karori shops I trek to get my cellophane and Jam Sugar.

Surprisingly, it was easy to make the actual jam. Even I can't muck up add plums, add sugar and stir occasionally! I guess the proof will be in the jam if it's set! I only make three jars last night, so will head to the shops today to get some more sugar and make some more today.

I am yet to make the material covers for the tops, but see below!

The jars waiting to be sterilised

The ingredients

Sterilising the jars in oven

Dissolving the sugar over a low heat

Boiling the mixture on high



The finished product - note the tea towel




The Jam up close! check out the seals!



What do you think? Have you ever made Jam? Next time I might try Raspberry Jam! As a kid I have fond memories of mum making jams and pickles etc and I always thought it was super hard and it make truckloads but this has shown me it's not too hard (although I am sure my mum did it differently back then!) and it doesn't make 500 jars that I can't store anywhere!

Hope your week goes well with a Public Holiday to start! Mine is exciting: extra day off work then my sister arrives then we are going to Napier for a girls weekend!

Until next week

Broni

Week 4 - Pavlova

Hi to each and every one of you!

Well what a week it has been! Very up and down and flat out! However, I did get some baking done and it was right at the beginning of the week! Sunday night MIL called to invite us for dinner the next night - well I'm not one to turn down a dinner invite so I eagerly accepted thinking hmmmm maybe I will try my hand at a Pav. Knowing that I had never made one, I figured I shouldn't mention it - just in case!

So out came good old KenWood and Mr Edmonds!

And then hubby got interested in what I was doing and decided to help me by measuring out the suger and putting it in the bowl.

Slowly but surely the egg white/sugar mix got stiffer and shinier just like Mr Edmonds said! I was having faith in this! This is going to work totally! Finally after at least 15 minutes of high speed beating we got the pav onto baking paper - it was a team effort - I think I slightly over beat the mix as it was rather sticky but we got a perfect circle formed!

Into the oven the master peice went!  I couldn't stop looking at it and checking it! My mum has a histoy of making the bestest pavs EVER and hers tend to get that big they take up the oven tray! I was secretly hoping that it would happen with my pav - however, as you can see from the photo - it didn't happen! Oh well they say practise makes perfect right!

After what felt like ALL day, an hour later it was ready to come out the oven and we were ready to go off on a our merry way with a cooked (hopefully!) pavlova to have for dessert at the inlaws! Because it was still a little warm, we decided to wait til we got there for the final dressing of it! Whipped cream and fresh raspberries! Yummo!

When bitten into it was crispy on the outside and soft in the middle - just how my dad likes it! I guess I learned something from my mum after all! It was delish!!!

Don't forget to let me know what you think... random spot prizes for people who comment :) You never know you could be invited for dessert!

Hope you have a fabulous week!

Broni

Week 3 - Kindle Cover

Well, what an interesting week I have had. I got a fantastic Kindle for my birthday (along with some other gifts that made me SUPER spoilt) however, Dick Smith do not have a cover for my kindle until mid February. With that in mind - another project was thought up! I will just make one for myself in the mean time. I had a very clear idea of what I wanted!

Given the amount of curtain fabric I have left over - I thought to myself - hmmm well.... I may as well use it up! So project make my own kindle cover commenced... it went straight in the bin. Day 2: same deal... day 3 we had a winner - or so I thought. It was way too big and I had forgotten to hem the top so it kinda defeated the purpose. Another attempt the next day: fail! So another day and another shot - it was abit more like what I wanted, but still not right. Sooo I have to admit - week 3 is Project Handmade FAIL!

Please see below for Day 3 and Day 5 photos. I do have a wee treat for you though - a good friend came over today to do some crafting - not only did she give me some advise how to make the cover work (might try it one day!) but we also created some fantastic cards! Check out the photos below and let me know which one is your favourite. If your name features on my calendar then you will get a birthday card in the mail this year! If you would like to receive a home made card then simply email me to broni.carey@gmail.com with your name and address and of course your birthday and you just never know what might turn up in the post. A couple of the cards below are made especially for certain people with birthdays coming up!

Day 3 - no hem - way tooooo big!



Day 5 - just wrong on all levels!



  

So what do you think? Do you have a favourite?

Until next week, have a great week and don't forget to comment!

Broni

Week 2 - Quilt

A wee while ago now (hmmmm at least 18 months ago) I was told by a friend that she was pregnant - my first thought was WOW that is awesome - my second thought was I am going to make her a quilt for the baby. When she was 6 months pregnant (about 15 months ago) I went out and brought all the fabric and cotton that I needed and got a little help to cut out all the squares. Bare in mind here I have NEVER made a quilt in my life, in fact I don't even really know how to sew! But I was determined. I borrowed a friends sewing machine (which kinda broke at least 3 times).. clearly that wasn't working for me! I then enlisted another friend to give me "supervised" sewing help! A few rows were created and I was on cloud 9! I then spoke to DH and he agreed that instead of trucking out each week to borrow a sewing machine I should just buy my own... well give a girl an inch... GONE in a flash - I was at Spotlight doing some research into sewing machines! I settled on a Brother and home with me it came. I learnt pretty quickly how to thread it and to get cotton on the bobbin!

I went like a bat out of hell and got the front finished and the batting done and attached to the backing then stopped! (note: at this stage the baby has been born and is about 6 months old!) I went to a quilting night class with a friend and grasped the concept of putting the binding on and knew I could get this quilt finished!

Well another wee while went by and still the quilt stayed put. After the idea of this whole website and my DH comment on finishing something I start was playing on my mind abit - so out came my laptop and You Tube became my friend. Then out came the quilt and I have FINISHED it! I am well pleased with how the quilt turned out. Even though, I couldn't sew in a straight line and my hand sewing is shocking - I am hoping my friend likes it and even more that her now 9 1/2 month old baby gets some use out of it!!! I enjoyed making the quilt and will be doing another one at some point in the not too distant future... I would love to say watch this space, alas, I cannot put another quilt on here - you better keep an eye on Facebook!

Anyway, enough blurb - here are some pics!!


The front

The back







Flat Front



Let me know what you think! I only couriered the quilt yesterday so I'm hoping she gets it by the time she reads the blog!

Until next week, take care and hope you enjoy the project! Don't forget to leave a comment! There will be spot prizes for comments on blog! You never know what you might get in the post!

Broni

Week 1 - Curtains

Who knew that week 1 would be something as extravagant as curtains! Well that's me - once the seed is sewn.... so we now have new curtains for our spare room at the house in Tawa!

What a journery it's been - the decision was made on Monday; fabric purchased on Tuesday; cutting, pinning and sewing commenced on Wednesday; more pinning and sewing completed on Thursday before the finale on Friday with the help of DH! I have to say, a friend also helped me hem one on Wednesday.

On Saturday will be the BIG test of hanging them and ensuring they are actually straight - we'll see! I have a tonne of fabric left - go the man at Spotlight who clearly miscalculated how much fabric we would need - so you can expect to see matching cushions, table cloth, placemats and maybe even an apron out of the matching fabric!!

Fast forward to Saturday.... even the dog assisted in making curtains - well actually she slept while we did the hard work.

Derek put all the tracks up and after a quick trip to spot light for additional hook thingys (oh and 5 new patterns! eeek) I got to put the curtains up and they look FANTASTIC!!!! Because they are against a window (obviously!) it was hard to take a proper photo, however here is one of the windows (the smallest one actually)!!

So, what do you think? Leave me a comment below!

See you next Sunday.

Broni