cake!!

A couple of months ago Stephanie drew a picture of her ideal birthday cake for her rapidly approaching 6th birthday. Since she drew it I have been considering how to make it. I came up with an idea and needed to try it, so what better excuse than my sister coming to stay with us not long before her 30th birthday. Above is her blowing out her candles.

The best part is Stephanie took one look and said it's exactly what she wants for her birthday- RESULT! as it was very simple to make.

All aboard it's time for the Spring Fair

Remember a little while ago I said I had signed up for Mum's virtual Spring fair planning to hold a sewing stall.

Well it's time for the spring fair link up! I'm a little early with my post due to a family invasion I suspect I may not have opportunity during the day tomorrow

Here's what I managed to sew in time;

A little girls dress, these can come in a variety of colours and patterns. Since making this one I have had several orders placed ;-)

This is one of the aprons I have made. These are child sized aprons perfect for an upcoming crafty birthday party all they require is the personalisation, an initial is appliqued on the front to complete them.

Maxi skirts for the ladies, I am planning on tweaking the pattern at some point in the future to see if it also works for little girls (so watch this space)

And some little bags in a perfect size for little people to carry around with a handful of their favourite things in.

These are my offerings for the spring fair, I am going to head over to mum's blog tomorrow to see what others have contributed- see you there!

Independence day challenge #7

Here's the 7th(!) time is flying, Independence days challenge.

1. plant something
this week I have planted just a few seeds
-a few pea seeds in jars with cotton wool so that when I go back to work after the Easter break I will have some roots etc to show the children as many of the class were very interested in the the just-about-to-shoot peas in the digging area.
-coriander
-basil
- butterfly lower mix- this is a children's seed packet intending to attract butterflies Stephanie chose in the garden centre
- I also up-potted some garden plants

2. harvest something
hopefully very soon I will be able to add an entry here

3. preserve something
I froze some milk as I had more than we can use, I have never done this before so hope it is OK.

4. waste not
see above
watering the garden with rain water collected in the water butt over the winter
planted seeds etc using our compost from the compost bin in the garden

5. want not
I have bought home some milk again as they were going to throw it out

6. eat the food
We have been eating the curly kale and savoy cabbage I harvested last month and froze as well as lots of the yellow label goodies I have picked up on trips to the shops.
I have made a birthday cake for my sister who is coming to stay for a few days starting tomorrow, it is a practise run for Stephanie's birthday. Thankfully it has gone very well and Stephanie took one look and asked for one like it for her birthday :-)

7. build community food systems
I gave my very grateful neighbour some milk as I am not sure I can use as much as I was donated.
When making the cake for my sister I had some left over, I got the children to share it with the neighbours children they were out playing with this evening, and every evening this week. I love listening to them all out playing and laughing together. My house has been the chosen clubhouse this week :-)

8. skill up
I learnt how to make a shaped birthday cake- this will be revealed in it's own  blog post once my sister has seen it.

So there you have it my striving for more independence ( I don't see that I could ever be totally independent) post for this week, how have you been getting on?

Independence day challenge #6

The weeks seem to be flying by, have a look at what I have been doing this week;

1. plant something
this week I have planted
cauliflower
broccoli
peas
sweetcorn

2. harvest something
compost from the garden to plant in

3. preserve something
nothing preserved this week

4. waste not
the seeds are planted in empty food containers which would have otherwise gone in the bin.
I have been watering my plants using water collected in the water butt over the winter.

5. want not
I have bought yellow stickered items- bread, veg, books as birthday presents for Stephanie's friends, items for Stephanie's up coming birthday

6. eat the food
we have been very unfrugal this week and have eaten out twice. We had a family meal out on Sunday as it was mother's day and then last night we had an impromptu bowling trip for my nephews birthday so we ate out.
Today Stephanie asked for pizza hut, we made home pizza hut;

complete with pizza, salad and nachos.

7. build community food systems
Nothing this week

8. skill up
This week I made myself a new item of clothing using an existing item as the basis for my template, I'm not going to tell you anymore now- all will my revealed in the spring fair.

Mothers day

I have been thoroughly spoilt this Mother's day, my beautiful children got me lots of lovely presents. We went out for a meal with family; super food and good company. Even if I did end up sharing my dessert with someone who was "too full for dessert Mum"

Participation in the virtual spring fair

I was directed over to mum's blog for the spring fair by Green flag as she quite rightly though it would suit me.

I have lots of projects involving sewing on the go/planned, the spring fair is just what I need to organise myself. I completed 2 projects ready to showcase at the spring fair on 31st March. I'm not going to show them before the fair. I will tease you with the pics of the fabrics I used in today's creations;

I wonder who this pink fabric may be destined for??

I love this fabric, there are 2 claimants for something made with this one...

These are the pieces cut ready to go, in the book in the corner is my sketched design for the end product.

You'll have to pop back at the end of the month to see what I made with these, see you at the spring fair

Independence day challeneg #5

This week I have been poorly so I have a feeling this weeks post will be slightly on the lean side.

1. Plant something
I planted lots at the weekend;
tomato- yellow stuffer
spinach beet
carrot- early nantes
onion
cucumber
pea
lettuce
sweetpea- old fashioned mix
pea- meteor
lobelia- crystal palace
cauliflower- all year round
sweetcron
brocolli- autumn
parsnip- hollow crown
beetroot- boltardy
early pea- kelvedon wonder
flax- scarlet

2. harvest something
nothing this week

3. preserve something
nothing this week

4. waste not
I used compost out of the home compost bin and empty pots that would have gone in the recycling to plant the seeds.

5. want not
I have been given some bananas and milk from a colleague as they would go to waste over the weekend

6. eat the food
we had an apple pie I had made from last years apples and frozen for pudding. Not much cooking happened this week as I wasn't feeling up to it I have came home from work and collapsed everyday except today.

7. build community food systems
I am planning on sharing the milk and bananas I was given with family as I won't be able to use it all.

8. skill up
Erm can't think of anything I have learnt this week. Will have to see if I can manage to find something for next time.


On waste news, I had no rubbish to put out this week. Our council runs waste collection on the system that general household waste is collected weekly, recycling on fortnight A and garden/food waste wheeliebin on fortnight B. this week was fortnight B, and as there is barely anythign in the wheelie bin I didn't put it out. I had no general waste at all again  <<smug feeling emoticon>>.