Monday, February 6, 2012

A domestic goddess : sewing and cooking

The Mouthy Stitches swap is producing some absolutely beautiful pouches and ideas. I just hope my partner likes mine.
I've sewn all the paper pieced bits together, next step, to sew it to the front of the pouch.
Paper piecing for pouch

I ordered zips from Zipit, they haven't arrived yet, but they're not going to be any help as I didn't order zips that are long enough for this one.    *#@!

Paper piecing for pouch
I've had a look at my local store but they have a limited range of colours, and not really anything that I want to use with this, so it looks like I'll be trekking to Spotlight for a zip hunt.

In the meantime, I've finished the Name Game Swap mini quilt. I'm really happy with it, despite having very little idea of what my partner would like as she has been very very quiet. I've blurred the name just in case, as I want it to be a surprise. I hope it's not too much of a surprise.


Name Game Swap

It's inspired by an Orla Kiely design, and has my partner's blog name on the front, well part of her blog name. The bit that matters. The blog name is long and it would have taken up most of the quilt space if I had used the full blog name. I hope she likes it.
Name Game Swap
A close up of the leaves and quilting, I echo quilted around the applique letters and leaves.  Argh there's a bit of fluff below the orange leaf. Why is it that you never see things like that until after you've taken the photo and loaded it to the computer, oh well. that dark speck is a bit of fluff not a mark on the quilt.

I still have to make a label for the back but otherwise it's all ready to go.

Yesterday afternoon, Shay and I had a cooking session a few thousand kilometres apart. Shay found the recipe and suggested we both try it.  We made Peppermint Patties.
Let's just say they were good, but I'm not sure whether I'd bother making them again. Especially in the middle of a Queensland summer! High humidity and heat are not great for confectionery making.  They had to go in the freezer after each step, but that still didn't help much. As you can see from the following photos it's lucky I don't aspire to be a food blogger!
After kneading the fondant

Cutting the fondant rounds, aren't they pretty













Not so pretty afterwards. These were the best looking. The dipping them in chocolate part didn't go very well, they either started melting and stuck to the fork or they drooped over the edge. It wasn't that the chocolate was too hot, it was the temperature of the house and the humidity.  As soon as I took them out of the fridge to take the final photo, they started sweating.  They taste great though.


BP was home for the weekend, hmmm, let me just say, I'm quite very happy that she is living in Brisbane.             Teenagers!


23 comments:

  1. Look at that little pouch, can't wait to see the finished item. Your swap partner is going to love it. And the name game quilt, beautiful. That echo quilting around the applique looks fab.

    It has been as hot and humid as Hades here as well, you did good getting that far in this heat.

    Kids...can't live with them, can't live without them :-)

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  2. Cute sneak peek of the pouch--hope you find a zip you like. And your swap quilt looks adorable, fluff and all. And yes, you never notice these things until after you upload!

    I would never attempt anything with fondant as I detest it, but clearly you two are way above my level of interest (and skill!) in kitchen activities :)

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  3. Love the pouch and your name game quilt. Sorry the weather didn't help your baking any :(

    After some time apart, it is hard for moms and daughters to work out sharing the same space again. I'm afraid over the holidays I ended up sounding whinier than I wanted to..."You're going out again... :("

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  4. i am loving that pouch - and your orla keily inspired swap item - it looks fabulous.

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  5. Great sewing - my pouch has got a boring zip in it as well but it was my only choice, and it does match. Could you just send one one of the sweeties over so that I can taste test.

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  6. Both projects are looking good!!! The Orla Kelly influenced design is very cool!!! Good luck with your search for the perfect zip. Those mint patties look so unbelievably tasty!!

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  7. Love the mini quilt, I am sure your partner will too.
    I have to put zip in to my pouch next..........

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  8. Love the mini quilt! You have me thinking about who it might be for- a blog with a long name! Interesting! Good luck at Spotlight-- their colour range is pretty limited!

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  9. Thanks for your tip re perle instead of stranded thread for tying - IF I ever make another quilt I'll bear it in mind! You are so clever with all your lovely quilts and applique work - lucky blogger to receive one of your creations - very Orla Kierly. Glad you are OK with BP living away now!!!

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  10. Your paper piecing is just perfect, cant wait to see it finished and the Orla Kiely inspired mini turned out great! I bet those peppermint patties tasted orright too!

    x

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  11. Well Goddess, it all looks delicious. I think the patties look fab and I would have scarfed them down without pause. Really love the swap makes, the colours are gorgeous. Can't wait to see the top one complete. Good luck with the zipper hunting!

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  12. I really love that mini quilt, and the peaks on the pouch are beautiful! Good on you to try baking at all when it is hot and humid.

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  13. Your Name Swap mini quilt is fantastic! I bet your partner loves it. :-)

    HA! You crazy gals making confections in summer. They do look tasty though.

    Good luck on the zip hunt!

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  14. Your projects are beautiful. The paper piecing looks wonderful and the appliqué quilt is really eye catching. I think your peppermint patties are what we call peppermint creams - are they just icing sugar and mint flavouring - I've forgotten what you bind it with, was it water or glycerine I used to use??? Hmmm, can't remember - anyhow - they look rather sweet (no pun intended lol)

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  15. Ps - you're a brave and true friend having a cooking session with Shay! (wink)

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  16. Im loving the sneak peek of the mouthy stitches swap goodie. Very pretty!

    How could your partner not love their wall hanging from the name game swap. It’s lovely!

    And damn those peppermint patties. Mine look even worse than yours . At least Mr. P didnt die eating them. I must get a blog post up to show I cant work with chocolate either. You can choose our next joint cooking project.

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  17. Ha, ha, ha! That last comment really made me laugh ! There comes a time when we are ready for our kids to move away. If you are lucky it happens at the same time they are ready to go !
    Love all the quilty projects, they are all lovely. Clever girl, I bet they are very well recieved.
    Those peppermint patties looked pretty good to me and I know they would not have lasted any time around here but what were you thinking of in all that heat. I was prostrate in front of the TV with my phone playing scrabble most of the time. Lucky we've not had too many of those type of days this Summer.
    Cheers

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  18. Beautiful projects Marg and what a woman with the peppermint patties. I have decided that my role is to appreciate everyone else's cullinary efforts rather than attempt it myself. Aren't I a wimp.

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  19. oh what lovely projects!! I really like what I see of your Mouthy Stitches! And too bad about the zips, but zip-it IS a great source! And I see you are a foodie too! Would love if you ever feel like linking up with Tuesday at the Table! ;-)

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  20. Beautiful swap projects! Your Name Game Block is beatiful!

    Love your floral shaped patties. Very cute!

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