Some days are just like this!

School Holiday Creating

Thought I would share with you all what my 8 year old son and his cousin, 9, made with cereal packets, plastic bottles, foil, scrap paper and a glue gun yesterday!



They are both aeroplane crazy and know a fair bit about aircraft! I am very proud of their achievements. This particular one is has a jet engine in the front!


Here is my boy proudly showing off the finished model!


As a mum, I get so excited to see the creative side coming out - especially as I only have boys!

Remember this quilt?

I think this would have to be the quickest I have ever made a quilt - it's all been pieced, hand quilted and delivered to a dear little baby boy.


I am really pleased with how it turned out - especially as the only thing I had to buy was the batting! A true scrappy quilt!

PJ Day

Yesterday I had a sewing class for two 15 year old girls. They made a pair of pj bottoms as their project!


Sarah had never sewn or used a sewing machine before, Holly had used a sewing machine before but had never made any clothing.


Have a look at what they made - very impressive! I had the best day with them - it was just so wonderful to see their enthusiasm and to see the joy on their faces when they tried their pjs on and they liked what they saw!

Too cute!

They want to make tote bags next time .................

Another Yummy and Easy Cake To Make!

Stumbled across this brilliant cake/dessert the other day which ticked all my boxes - simple, all pantry staples (for me anyway) , kids loved it, and it is absolutely delicious! I found it in the Stephanie Alexander 'bible' - The Cook's Companion!

Thought I might share it with you as it is so good - I have made it three times this week already. It's perfect for a dessert or afternoon tea - or anytime! And there isn't that much butter in it - it tastes like it should be very sinful - but it only has a small amount of butter in it.

We have renamed it 'Cizza's Lemon Cake' - (after my almost 13 year old son who now begs me to make it all the time and to name it after him)

filling
2 large eggs
1 cup castor sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons plain flour
base
75 g plain flour
2 tablespoons castor sugar
65 g cold butter, roughly chopped

Preheat oven to 160C. Butter 18 cm springform tin. To make the base, briefly mix flour and sugar in a food processor, then add butter and process until mixture starts to form a ball. Press dough into tin with your fingers. Bake for 20 minutes until golden.
When base is nearly cooked, whisk eggs and sugar until well mixed but not thick. Stir in lemon juice, then sift in flour and whisk gently to combine. Remove base from oven and reset temperature to 150C. Pour lemon mixture onto base and bake for about 35 minutes until top is golden and feels a little springy. Cool completely before cutting into 3 cm wide slices. Serve dusted with icing sugar and with a dollop of cream on the side.

Challenge - To Make a Quilt Entirely From My Existing Stash!

I gave myself a challenge this week to make a quilt entirely from my stash. No new fabric allowed!

Here is how it is going so far - not sure what it will turn out like - I quite like the colours though.

It's for a brand new baby boy!

Back to the Real World

My family and I enjoyed a wonderful trips the USA last month. We met lots of lovely people and did some fantastic things.

We flew to Los Angeles and stayed with friends in Pasadena. A very beautiful suburb and place to live. We based ourselves there for a few days and then headed off to see Disneyland. My boys hadn't been before so they were at a great age to really enjoy all the rides. A very expensive day but well worth the visit. Now I don't need to ever go again. Twice is enough for me!




We also went to Hollywood which was not what I was expecting at all - I was a little disappointed, but I am glad I have seen it.





We then headed out to Las Vegas to stay at the Monte Carlo Hotel, only a small hotel with about 3000 rooms!! It is right on the strip so the view from our window was pretty sensational. Met up with my brother and his family there and had two days of just hanging around.




We then drove to my brother's house which is in Clarkdale Arizona - a pretty nondescript drive, but we drove over the Hoover Dam which my boys thought was pretty amazing.





The next two weeks we spent in Clarkdale with my brother and his family, and had a lovely time with all the kids. Sedona is quite close to them, and it really is a beautiful place to visit. There is another little town right near there as well, called Jerome which is set in the side of the hill - very historical and had some beautiful galleries.





It was a lovely relaxing visit and I am finding it very hard to get back into the normal routine of life back home. I haven't sewn or even looked at anybodies blogs! Hopefully it will all come back to me soon, as I am so behind with so many things.



This McDonalds is in Sedona Arizona - it is the only one in the world with different coloured arches! Of course, we had to go and visit!

I am going to try and catch up on reading what everybody has been up to, and I am hoping that it will inspire me to get sewing again!