Blossom Cottage

Chocolate Cake

A lovely friend gave me this eggless chocolate cake recipe.  Yummo!  Its called Mud Pie Cake

1 1/2 cups plain flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon bi-carb soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/3 cup cooking oil, 3 teaspoons vinegar, 1 teaspoon vanilla essence, 1 cup water.

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, pour oil into a measuring device, add in vanilla and vinegar, pour the oil mixture onto dry ingredients, use the same device to measure one cup of water, add and mix ingredients.  Its easy peasy.. line a square or standard round cake tin, cook for approx 40 mins in 180 degree oven.

This one is for dh birthday today, Oscar and Bonnie are planning a trip to entertain and help out with the chores as poppy is on holidays.  They will be super excited to find a cake with trimmings fit for children and eggless, so Oscar can happily munch into it.

 

Sewing a Writing Compendium

This year I am trying to make at least one gift for friends..  as a not frequent sewing person, I tacked this writing compendium... a few mistakes but all good as the next one I make will be improved on. 

 
 

Handmade Silver Jewellery

 
What a terrific time I had learning silver jewellery making with Howard from RH Factor in Geeveston, Tasmania :) my home town.  Aren't we lucky to have talented artisans/tradespeople working in our town, with Howard and Rino next door to the sweet shop and a mix of artisans at Southern Design, School Road, Geeveston.. if you haven't visited Geeveston put it on your agenda to do list please. 

The pendant was the first piece I made - using a coping saw and filing the edges, making the pendant loop to thread the cord through, soldering.. nervous, but so much fun!

The silver plain ring was the second piece, I learnt to use the hammer to beat the metal, a few round beaten marks, along with some lines made with the back of hammer with a thick axe look about it!

The earrings were next, learning to apply copper tubing to a surface - tricky stuff!

The brooch had many facets to the learning experience, using a mould to curve the brass, learning how to reduce the copper, silver tubing through the sizing device, and making the entire fastening on the reverse. 

Last I made a casing to hold a stone, this was really fiddly, and the first one I managed to melt under the oxy, so a good learning exercise there, re-making from scratch.  Fixed to a pewter store bought ring body.

Wow so much in 3 days!!  I hope to return soon for another 3 lessons.   

Apple Ipod I love you

My apple Ipod has become a treasured addition, a birthday present, ty Malcolm :)  music to my ears you could say!  Nice to come home from work and relax to tunes.  I'm not a singer, I think I could be called tone deaf.. certainly enjoy a nice tune and piano music, yes I have some on my ipod.

 

Silver Jewellery

I've embarked on a new learning experience - it was a 2 year ago birthday pressie -- learning to make silver jewellery :)  In our small town there is a small gallery called the HR Factor tucked away next door to the lolly shop -- lots of treasures there.. glass jewellery and other glass pieces, fabric design for quilts.. and  fine quality silver jewellery.  

Yesterday I set off and my oh my, didn't realise how much is involved in producing a piece of jewellery. My own design, apparently I managed the saw well for a beginner..... no broken blades!  And at the end of the day I was boasting 2 lovely pieces of jewellery, shown in the photo below( like foil doesn't like the light of the camera).   Sawing, filing, polishing, bending, oh and heating, and using tools to indent the ring.. yah I can't wait to go again tomorrow and then a final day Wednesday. 

 

Easter

We headed off Friday morning to Launceston, via a stop at Campbell Town.. while we were there, we visited Low Head Lighthouses and the Monkey Park in the city centre..  The Park is beautiful especially now with the autumn leaves falling.

 
 

 

Hexagon Sewing Along

Well my little sister has inspired me again, Mel.. I really have to finish off some projects before starting any more!   Check out each Wednesday the hexagon progress on One Crafty Mumma's Blog.  Mine is going to be a small hexagon table centre, as I just know if I plan anything too big it will never develop.

 

Things I'd like to make

 
 

Blog looking, I often save a photo of an item that I see that I would like to make.  Whether I ever do is another thing!

 

Library Bags

Bonnie, Oscar and Georgia made a request for library bags.. so nanna got sewing this morning.

 
 
 
 

Etsy Favourites

What a wintery old day in Tassie today, good for looking at Etsy though

I couldn't resist buying the bottom print of the scooter, it may be a present for someone I know who is partial to scooters

The link is here

 

and in keeping with the scooter theme - what about some beautiful fabric

the link is here

 
 and some other lovely things.. these beautiful dishes and necklace

The link is here