something lined

Well I did it! At the start of April I planned to make a lined jacket but I didn't have a pattern, then I thought of a cape (but, Steph had that one covered!) but then I found a dress pattern that would work perfect with the fabric I purchased.  I worked tirelessly during the night to get this done and it was surprisingly easy and lots of fun!  I used an old Style Pattern that I had and even though the front shows a little girl in crushed velour (eek!) I wasn't put off knowing the the style would be perfect for a little herringbone dress.  It's been a while since I made some clothes, so it was a great challenge, and remembering how to put in an invisible zip also made the brain tick!  It's a little big, but will probably last my daughter two seasons!

Take a look...

Head over here to check out other creations

the winner is....

CARAPACE!!!

Congratulation Carapace - you have won my first giveaway consisting of an Oh So handy Key Fob and matching coin purse!  I will email you to get your details so I can post it to you.  Thankyou to all of you who entered by giveway...your feedback was lovely. 

last minute....

I signed up to the 12 in 12 months challenge, and in April we are to make something lined.  I have thought about heaps of things that I could make but of course have left it to the last minute!  Last night I sifted through my batch of patterns and started making some progress.... I am making a cute little herringbone dress for my daughter lined with a gorgeous oriental inspired cotton but will i make the deadline??

be sure to come back tomorrow so see if I finished in time! 

last chance to enter the giveaway

As I sit as have my morning cuppa (Earl Grey today) I remembered it is the last day of my giveaway competition, so if you haven't already heard - I am having a giveaway!  Today is the last day to enter so click here for the details!

Also - I have heavily reduced all my jewellery on Etsy as I have decided to no longer make jewellery!  It was something I enjoyed doing before children, and now, well, I think my passion for sewing and craft is too strong!  So grab a bargin just before mothers day!  Prices start at $4US!

Thank you to all who have already entered my giveaway competition.  It is so lovely to hear such wonderful feedback!  Good luck and I will announce the winner tomorrow!

olives

well, I finished off my olives the other day.  It was quite exciting and I am very happy with the results.
The final stage after setting them in salt water for 4 days was to remove the pip, give them a quick rinse then mix with sliced garlic (I used about 4 cloves), a few chillies, and dried oregano (again, no measuring, just until it looked enough!) I divided the olives into the sterilised jars and filled with vegetable oil.  Seal the jars and hey presto - you have marinated olives.

I did the handful of black olives too, but kept them separate to the green.  They turned out a bit softer and mushy but will be fine for mixing in burgers or for pizza! 

At my house .....

Today was spent travelling home from a weekend in North East Country Victoria.  It was lovely to pop into a cute little fabric shop - Sackville and Lane - for some more gorgeous fabric.  This was prior to spending 12 hours in emergency department with my 20 month old daughter with a suspected fracture in her leg - luckily no fracture, but it has been a long, long weekend and we are finally home and I am unpacking and was just delighted when I remembered my little fabric purchase!

Want to see what others are up to?  head over to Lou's  

parcels and packages...

My journey into the handmade market world has been exciting and fun from the word GO!  I have been making things ever since I can remember and used to give my school friends handmade stuff back in primary school and even high school when it wasn't popular.  This week has been a very successful week for MiraNarnie with five sales in four days...so I just thought I would share my excitement as last night I was packaging up purchased to post off all around the world.  It's strange to think that someone in another country will be receiving my handmade goodies very soon....

Here's a peek at stuff that sold recently... for similar items check out my Etsy store and Made It store. 

shower me with love

I've been working on some new little projects for my Made It and Etsy shop as well as items to take to along to markets.  This range is called "shower me with love" and is a mix of fabrics, machine stitching and embroidery.  It signals the love of a parent of their child.  I loved making them so much that I used one as my blog banner.  Now I just have to decide whether to turn these into canvas wall art or perhaps little pillows!  Decisions, decisions.....

at my house .....

Today is day 5 of my table olive production!  Nothing too exciting, but for the next few days I am still changing the water twice a day with the addition of adding salt to the water.  How much you ask?  When I asked my mother-in-law for a specific measurement, her reply was a typical "oh you know, a punch! What a classic - no written measurements, just a basic process handed down from generation to generation!

The olives are looking a little bruised and battered at the moment, but I am assured that they are fine!

Want to see what others are up to?  Head over to visit Lou

flea market finds

I set out this morning to do a bit of garage-sale hopping in the hope to find some props that I can use in my up coming markets but instead was getting disappointed as i left each one empty handed.  I had one more left on my list and I contemplated not going and heading home, but I went and at first I didn't notice the two of them just sitting there, and they were piled with toys, pillows and a very pregnant owner sitting on one.  She got up to assist someone else with a sale and I had a closer look.  I took a seat (oh how comfortable).  I quickly looked for a price - nothing, so I casually walked over to very pregnant lady.
"How much are you selling those chairs for?" (i bet they are over my budget)
"Um...$15 each"
(me squealling on the inside - calm down - poker face!)
"Oh, i see"  I say glancing back over pretending to contemplating whether they are worth that much!
"I'll give you $20 for both" I say, toddler on hip.
"Oh I don't know.."
"$25 then."
"Ok!"

 They are beautiful and with a bit of sprucing up with a clean and some new cushion covers they will come up a treat!  There is no original label so I don't know what year or who made them but they are sturdy, comfy and all the springs are still in great condition. Very Danish Parker style, which will go nicely with my dining room Eiffel chairs.  I can use the existing covers as a pattern for the new ones - now i just have to decide what fabric!  Probably something from Ink and Spindle that will match my new couch cushions i made yesterday! check out the perhaps original fabric used when I took of the current cover!

Check out more flea market finds at Sophies

ink and spindle cushions

I was delighted to get the chance to get to the open studio at Ink and Spindle this morning.  Although I would have loved to see the screen-printing demonstration, my 20 month old daughter had other ideas soaking herself in water just as we got there and then she got stuck into the apricot and choc chip cookies.  So i decided to get some gorgeous fabric and make a quick exit before her little chocolate hands got onto anything.
So from this....

I made these...

and i have heaps of fabric left for some other small projects, but for now I am just going to sit on the couch with my new cushions and enjoy them!

my creative space...

Today my creative space finds me in the kitchen.  Yesterday a good friend off-loaded a huge bag of freshly picked green olives and last night I called my mother-in-law (who comes from southern Italy) and knows about how to preserve fresh produce. The process of turning fresh picked green olives into edible marinated table olives will take eight days.  So day one is - smashing all the green olives (omit any black olives) to create an opening as in the latter stages it will be easier to remove the pip and cover with  cold water which i will have to change twice a day for four days!

Take a look how divine the olives look!

Head over to kootoyoo to see the creative space of others! 

Giveaway!

I have been wanting to have a giveaway for quite a while as everyone loves a bit of a competition especially when entry is free and the item is handmade!  I am giving away an 'oh so handy key fob with a matching fabric purse'.  You could keep this for yourself or pass it onto someone else - Mothers' Day is approaching remember!

Below are two combinations (only one will be given away).  For entry into this Giveaway just follow my blog (not necessary for existing followers) and write a comment letting me know which one you would like if you are the winner. For an extra entries head over to my Etsy store and heart my shop or link this giveaway on your own blog and then come back and let me know that you have done so!

Thanks and good luck
Entry will be drawn 29th April 2010

right - Disco Diva
left - Pretty Paisley

Inspiration

Now that my crazy market preparation nights are over....phew....i can get back to some old unfinished projects like my daughters quilt and a my crochet winter blanket.  But I am also looking forward to making a crochet cushion for my dear friend over at pod and three peas for her upcoming birthday.  So, as a beginner crocheter I have been looking around for inspiration. Here are some of the cushions I love.  I know that I will have to stick to the basic granny square pattern, but haven't yet decided on colours and whether to do one big squre or create a patchwork look.  What do you think??

at my house .....

Monday's is a busy day....my son has Kinder first thing in the morning and then me and my daughter (20 months) set off for her swimming lesson.  Its fun to do something just with her, and although she protested when it was time to float on her back, the one on one time is precious. Today was a cold Melbourne morning, so as we got out of the pool the teeth were chattering and we were glad to hit the hot shower.

What are you up to today?  Join in with Buttons by lou lou to see what everyone else was up to.

Mira Narnie @ the North Melbourne Market

I did it!  I had my very first stall at a market - something I have been wanting to do for a very long time.  The experience was great as I set off early in the morning and picked up my good friend Sarah for help and support.  We arrived at the Lithuaniun Club with a boot full of goodies and props to help display the items and set about trying to achieve a visually appealing stall.  I was amazed at all the other talented stall holders and the array of products and items offered for sale.  Luckily I only allowed myself a quick browse at the other stalls otherwise I could have spent a small fortune.  It was delightful to meet Lauralai who was in the stall next to me and sells beautiful children's and baby wear.  I also met Jessica from Truth Be Told who sells adorable illustrations and stationary and enjoyed stopping by The Rabbit and the Duck to see their gorgeous items!  

I only took a few photos of my stall and even these turned about a bit blurry.  It was a fun day and thank you to all of you that stopped by my store and made some purchases!

Motto

This was my first Etsy purchase and it now is framed (it took me 6 months to find the right frame and then get a matt board made up) and it is hung in my hallway for me to look at and admire whenever I walk to the front door or to my children's room.  The motto was was originally commissioned during WWII as assurance from King George VI that all necessary measures were being taken to protect the people. Today it seems just as relevant and reassuring. 

I love the colour as its bright and fresh and it puts a smile on my face every time I read it. 

purchased from: pressureless

Our Easter Feast....

We had a lovely quiet Easter at home this year (usually we pack up the car and head north to Country Victoria to stay with family) but having just got back from holidays it was nice just to have four days at home.  I still wanted to make Easter a special festivity, so I planned some yummy meals and thought I would share some recipe's and photos with you - just to prove I do leave my sewing machine sometime!

 Here are two of my favourites.

Good Friday Prawns Chermoula Prawns

2 tsp sweet paprika
1tsp ground ginger
1tsp chilli powder
1tsp ground cumin
1tsp ground corriander
1tsp ground white pepper
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1tsp salt
2tbsp lemon juice
60ml olive oil
1kg green prawns
skewers, soaked in water.

Mix all the spices, salt and lemon juice and olive oil to form a smooth paste.  Shell and de-vain the prawns and coat with the chermoula prawns and marinate for 30 minutes. Thread prawns onto skewers.  You can put one prawn on each skewer length wise if you are serving to a lot of people, but I just put 3-4 on each one. Cook on a hot bbq for 2 minutes on each side.
Serve with simple salad and tzatkiki.

The prawns were amazing as were the crumbed calamari....yum yum yum!

On Easter Sunday I cooked quail for only the second time.  The first time I cooked quail I made a very intricate stuffing and it involved lots of processes, but this time I chose a simple glaze...

Easter Shiraz-glazed quail

4 quails (2 each)

1/2 cup of Shiraz

1/4 cup Caster sugar

1/4 cup of sherry vinegar (I couldn't find Sherry Vinegar, so i substituted it for a little Red Wine Vinegar and a dash of port)
pinch of salt
oil

Spatchcock each quail by inserting a sharp knife into the cavity and to through the neck.  Hold the point of the knife and cut through next to the backbone pressing down firmly.  Trim backbone away and any excess skin.

Make the glaze first - this can be done well ahead of time if you like. Place shiraz, sugar, vinegar and salt into a small saucepan and bring to the boil, then simmer for 4-6 minutes until it has reduced slightly and is syrup-y. allow to cool.

brush the quails with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  place the quails either on a bbq grill (or I did mine on a saucepan.  Brush the quails liberally with the glaze while cooking.  Turn the quails over and keep adding the glaze.  The quails should only need 5-6 minutes each side.  I actually finished mine off in a hot oven just to brown it up a little more.  Served with cous cous and roasted asparagus, cherry tomatoes and red onion.   Take a look!

to market to market....

well well well, finally i can take a breath....ahhh...sip my coffee..hmmm, and thank heavens I have my computer back (yes its been away getting fixed).  I can also share with you that I am going to to hold a stall at the North Melbourne Market which will be my very first!  So I am super excited, not to mention super busy making, designing, sewing, cutting, un-picking, re-sewing, starting from scratch, planning my stall, gathering things from around the home to ensure a visually pleasing environment and did i forget to mention sewing, sewing and more sewing!  phew!  So what will I have in my stall??  Well, all the things you find in my Etsy store plus a couple of new items that have not made it on there (time being the main issue!) such as cards from bits of offcuts (never one to waste), fabric purses, accessories and baby gifts.  So if you are a regular stall holder, I would love to hear from you and about your experiences so if you have some tips, send them on through!