Friday, June 29, 2012

A market afternoon


It feels like it's been a while since I've packed my car for a trip to town for a market outing.
So, I'm looking forward to a mid Winter trip to the city for this fund raising event for the Royal Children's Hospital.
Not only a good cause, but a hall full to the brim with great stuff, and I have plenty of things to see you through the rest of this cold, cold Winter.
What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

In the shop


I've had a bit of interest in these woolly warm lovelies, so because it was just too cold in my workroom today - even with the heater on! - I've listed some in the shop. 
Follow the link here!
I'll be taking whatever I have off to market this coming weekend, so if they're not there if you pop in on Friday or Saturday, I'll be putting any leftovers back again on Sunday.


Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Fresh batch


In the cold, nothing is nicer than a soft woolly scarf.
I've been wearing them indoors and out.
It's like being snug under the hairdresser's cape, only better!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Pucker up

Well, what a grey, wet, cold, drab week we've had!
At least we're past the shortest day today. Over the hump!
Even though I hate the cold, I love Winter food.
This week we've had slow roasted greek style lamb shoulder, pea & ham soup, barley risotto with leeks and lamb shanks, amazing beef, lemon, and parsley pies from our local deli and coffee house, Wickens Providore. 
Tonight I'm going to make a red chicken and pumpkin curry.
Hot chocolate in the afternoons....


Our lemon tree has come good this year after being a bit touch and go since it went in a few years ago.
We've got a bumper crop coming on.
I love their yellow glow in this cold weather.


I pulled out my favourite cookbook for a bit of guidance on what to do with all that fruit.


So far, I've made the best lemon cordial ever.
It's sweet and sour and tangy all at the same time, and perhaps the best words might come from Stephanie herself.
'Lemon cordial is an old-fashioned drink that gains added sophistication if mixed with bruised mint leaves and soda water or a measure of gin and soda. It keeps for months.'
Cheers!

Stephanie Alexander's Lemon Cordial

2kg castor sugar
1 litre water
30g citric acid
30g tartaric acid
juice of 6 lemons, strained
finely grated zest of 2 lemons

Dissolve sugar in water over heat in a stockpot. Add citric and tartaric acids. Stir to ensure that all is completely dissolved. Cool. Stir in juice and zest, and bottle.
Dilute to taste with water, lemonade, soda water or mineral water.
(and don't forget the gin)


Friday, June 15, 2012

Winter

Have you noticed the way the light is changing?
It's getting closer to the shortest day, and Winter is here.


I'm no fan of this season, but at least a sunny day or two makes it a bit easier.
In the city I could almost get through Winter in a bit of denial, but down here there's no central heating to take the chill off the house in the morning before I poke my toes out from under my doona, my workroom is a walk in fridge until I put the heater on down there and go away for half an hour, and the morning walk sees me heading out of the house rugged up in several layers, and a hat, gloves, and scarf are absolutely essential.
I'm slowly learning to dress properly for life down here in the chilly south, and much to my own amusement I've taken to wearing a singlet!
All that nagging I used to get as a child...


The days of June seem to have settled into a nice routine.
Mornings I've been pre-heating my workroom and getting a shirt or two made.
It's nice to be slowly building a good number of these gorgeous tops to be ready for a couple of markets in the next month, and then for Spring beyond, when the air will be a little warmer.
This one is another custom order - a total pleasure to make up in a fabric that is totally not in my usual colour palette, but so delicate and feminine.


Then in the afternoon I can happily come upstairs to keep knitting with the fire burning, and enjoy a bit of afternoon sunshine if I'm lucky!

Friday, June 8, 2012

Long weekend


There's something wonderful about a Winter long weekend on the coast.
Think fires and walks on the beach, and big hearty dinners with visiting friends. Maybe if we're lucky we might even get an early visit from a whale or two.
It's cold this week, no doubt about it, but I'm going to rug up in lots of layers and pop down to the foreshore for the Saturday morning local market tomorrow. We might be extra lucky and get a bit of Winter sunshine!
If you're down the coast this weekend, come down and say hello!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

The shirt off my back


Noticing a theme over here?
I can't seem to stay away from shirts, especially when I came home from the city with a bag of more Liberty from the fabulous Amitie Textiles store.
My afternoon spent chatting in there surrounded by bolts of colour and pattern proved too much for my willpower.
I was lucky enough to be a last minute dinner guest to farewell some friends of my hostess who are, as we speak, enjoying some Summer in Italy. That's hard to take on this freezing cold, gloomy, and wet afternoon, but I digress....
I happened to be wearing my little shirt with a cardi, and the girl leaving the very next day on a jet plane was so taken with it, she talked me into buying it from me. Literally, I've sold the shirt off my back!
I'm getting a little thrill thinking of it and she having happy times on a European Summer holiday.
This new one is a custom order, destined for the mail this week, but I'm loving the colours and combination so much, a twin may have to be my replacement.