A Work in Progress

apple burlap placemats tutorial

Gorgeous burlap placemats tutorial from BK Kids Craft Projects blog. They're super easy using freezer paper, some fabric inks and a few other items that you would have around the home. My daughter would definitely love to give this a try (maybe me too!)

go make me: little lemon curd tartlets recipe

Here's a super easy and delicious recipe to make with maximum flavour. Lemon curd or butter is an all time favourite, reminiscent of school fairs, recipes my Gran used to make, and a good old-fashioned essential ingredient. Great to have in the refrigerator especially on toast, in a sponge or just when you're hanging out for something to tantalise the taste-buds. I love the curd in these tiny wafer thin tartlet shells with a wee pile of meringue atop

I'm in the process of making 150 little bite-sized desserts for a function next week. I have cheated though, with purchasing a commercial quantity of pastry shells from Skycrest in Sydney. A mere 4 cm wide, they are ever so cute. I've included in the recipe the directions for baking from scratch. There goes the diet!

 

lil' hoots: a new printable from the Go Make Me shop

Hot off the computer, a new printable from Go Make Me! Mum and lil' Owl are up for a snuggle with wings that rotate to hug or hide a favourite toy. Able to stand upright with a wee log stand and fold flat for posting. Perfect for a 'Woodlands' themed party or even if you just like owls and scrap booking. Included in the pdf: 3d card, envelope, gift tags, favors, thank you cards, wrapping or scrap booking paper and the cutest cupcake wrappers

Above shows the base repeat pattern used throughout the pdf templates. What a hoot! PS: I'll be posting the cupcake recipe soon

fun pillows are now available in bags from Bonjour Mon Coussin

 

Great to see these fun pillows now in bags from the French Company, Bonjour Mon Coussin. Witty and graphic, they will always entice me to have a piece of cake or travel to distant places

movember: grow a mo for charity

It's that time of year again, where the fella's get to 'Grow a mo' during the month of November and we girls refrain from kissing hairy upper lips. It's all in the name of charity and my husband is a very keen participant. Such a great concept that started in Australia to benefit Prostate Cancer Research and Beyond Blue (Mental Health). So how do you get involved? Now open to many countries worldwide and if you're capable of growing something on your face, simply sign-up and help change the face of Men's health. Above is the Style Guide and rules, duly noted that a Goatee doesn't constitute acceptance in Movember much to my husband's dismay

For a bit of fun, see what you look like with a Mo. Upload a photo and Schick will donate a $1 to Movember

ghost cookies are devilishly good

 
Just in time for Halloween, here's a simple recipe to make Halloween Sugar Cookies. Choose ghosts, witches, goblins or zombie shapes. Baked onto skewers, these cookies are easy to display. Insert into florist's oasis foam to give the impression of floating ghosts or wrap in a cellophane bag and hand out as favors. Yummy for all the little devils in your life. Recipe below...

Happy Halloween!

free twitter icon

I've finally taken the plunge into Twitter-land. You can find me here. Happy to share my little birdie twitter icon to use on your blog or website. Tweet on!

To save image to your hard drive, simply right click or control click for Mac users

go make me: taffy crabapples

Want a fun and easy recipe for Halloween! Taffy Crabapples...it can't be too bad for you? It's fruit, right!

I've been looking for a dainty treat for the little girls coming to our Halloween craft party this Friday. These would be a healthier alternative to a pile of candy...my conscience would be clear. You can find the recipe on the beautiful Tartelette blog as part of the Trick or Eat project

giveaway: white freshwater pearl earrings

It's time for another give-away! Up for grabs are these gorgeous white freshwater pearl earrings on sterling silver elongated ear wires from my Cate Holst jewelry shop on Etsy.

If you'd like to win these earrings, simply press 'Subscribe' button to the left and your email will automatically enter you into the draw or leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you. If you Tweet it, I'll love you forever. Only one entry per person please and I'll subscribe you to my Shop News featuring great do-it-yourself projects, fab deals and new products. Entries are open internationally and close 11pm pst, 8th November, 2009

halloween decorations part one

Our household is getting VERY excited with Halloween fast approaching. With a Halloween craft party for little girls next Friday, we've started to decorate the front door with 'BOO' letters purchased from our local art shop and then painted in bright orange acrylic paint. The gorgeous flouro green witch is from Middleburg on Etsy. 'Witchie' is hand-made from papier mache over wood with red wool hair that my daughter plaited and looking quite green around the gills!