Monsters

Another birthday present finally finished. Had a hard time deciding what to embroider on this lovely minky blanket (purchased not handmade). Kids go thru their phases depending on what's popular at school, what current movies are showing and subsequent toys that are available in the shops. In the end I decided on a Monster theme. This blanket was quite large, 150cm x 150cm so I embroidery a name with a monster in the very middle and then one monster on each corner of the blanket. Needless to say this blanket was a huge hit and so I will be making one for each of the neices and nephews, all with a different theme of course!
Monsters were purchased from www.bunnycup.com

Cloth dolls and bears

Many years ago I had a passion for making cloth dolls and bears. Every craft or quilting store I visited I just had to buy a pattern and hence now I have a whole box full. I also purchased many of these patterns at Craft shows which tour the nation annually/bi annually so keep a look out for these, you can also buy kits as well saving you time and money searching for just the right fabrics!
These lovely dolls were made some years ago before I became hooked on sewing for little babies. They have decorated the beds and adorned the walls in my home until they found themselves a new home nestled in the lounge room. Do I have a favourite designer? Yes and no because there are so many talented ladies out there here's a few of my favourites, Judith Gray, Kaylene Atkins and Mum's Moments.

Angels

I just love Angels. I have many patterns both quilts and dolls in my stash but I just wanted to share with you this lovely stitchery I made some years back. It hangs above my sewing table keeping watch on all I do.
I also made a lovely treasury today titled "Angels" please feel free to have a look and leave a comment if you like.http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c1c1e3fbd2f8eef407c0868/angels

Machine embroidery designs

I just love appliques done on my embroidery sewing machine and I thought I would share with you some of my favourite designs.
If you are looking for a sea theme then you cannot go past Lynnie Pinnie designs on Etsy you will find lots of lovely fish, dophins, starfish and jellyfish to adorn any sewing project. Would look just lovely on a quilt don't you think?
In need of a gorgeous whale as seen on my bib then visit TheMerryRose on etsy for this and more gorgeous designs.
Don't forget you can also use these designs on library bags, pillowcases, quilts etc you are only limited by your imagination.

Rag or raggy quilts

Last winter I started making these lovely rag or raggy quilts and let me tell you I made plenty of them. They are quick and somewhat easy to make and once you have made one you are hooked! Don't say I didn't warn you!
Many of these quilts are now sold but I still have a few left for littles so please contact me if interested. Below is a collection of just some of the quilts I have made.

Time to prune

Yes it thats time again. Winter is upon us now in Australia and my fuchsia's all need to be prunned back. So I thought I would take some photos of the last remaining flowers from my collection of standards. Yes I have a few standards they are my favourite with just a couple of hanging baskets.
Fuchsia's will be cut back by about 2/3's and watered sparingly (maybe once a week) over winter. Then in August I will start feeding with Miracle Gro they love that stuff!

Gorgeous baby gift set finally finished for the latest member of the family, another boy Max. I have used gorgeous blues and brown for this set along with an appliqued and embroidered onesie/bodysuit. Onesie was an afterthought but I think it ties in nicely with the other items. Plan on making lots of these for my store so please keep an eye out for them in the coming weeks.

Monday again

Goodmorning everyone
Its a brand new week and we have a brand new baby in the family. Welcome to Max little brother to Fletcher. So I am busy sorting thru my fabric stash and all of my embroidery designs to make just a few things to send to the proud parents. Will post pics as soon as they are done.

The arrival of fabric

This week saw the arrival of much anticipated fabric from overseas. Gorgeous colours and some great new ideas saw me spending much of my time divided between the computer and the embroidery machine.
Eventually coming up with a design that I just love and is suitable for a whole range of fabrics so look out for plenty more designs like this. This bib is fully reversible featuring fabric on one side and an appliqued and embroidered name on the other side - just lovely!
I have included some photos of the new baby bib and as time permits I will update the fabric choices as I have an enormous range of quilting cottons and quilting flannels that can be used.
My latest listings on etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/48228785/handmade-baby-bib-stars-on-blue-flannel
http://www.etsy.com/listing/48229621/handmade-baby-bib-polka-dots-flannel

Chocolate Ripple Log

This recipe is a favourite in our household and usually all eaten in one night!
You can jazz this up a little by adding strawberries and kiwi fruit around the bottom but as time was against me whilst making this I left those off.

Chocolate Ripple Log

Chocolate ripple biscuits x 2 packets
Thickened cream 600ml
2 teaspoons sugar
I teaspoon vanilla essence

Open biscuits and place 4 aside for later. Do not eat them as you will need them to finish. Beat cream, sugar and vanilla essence together until well combined. Thick but not too thick if you know what I mean.
Place the dish you will be using to plate this on, in front of you.
Using a spatula and one biscuit cover the flat base of the biscuit with cream then add another biscuit and cover that base with cream and so on until you have finished either all the biscuits (expect those 4 you put aside earlier) or you have filled your dish/plate. Now cover the entire log with the leftover cream.
Now place those 4 biscuits in a freezer/plastic bag and using a rolling pin crush until you have fine crumbs. Now holding the dish/plate over the kitchen sink sprinkle those crumbs over the top and very gently on the sides. Tilt the dish ever so slightly to do this. Refrigerate until set. Just before serving cut some strawberries and kiwi fruit and place all around the bottom of the dish/plate. Enjoy!!!

Choc chip cookies

What a busy week it has been. I have had plenty of orders to make up so the housework has been neglected just a bit. The cupboards were looking a bit bare so I thought I would make some choc chip cookies. I always make two batches as I have two grown up children in the house nothing ever lasts for long. Heaps of recipes out there for these but here is mine. Remember this recipe is for 1 batch so double the ingredients for two.

Choc Chip Cookies

Ingredients
180gr unsulted butter
1/3 cup castor sugar
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups self raising flour (sifted)
3/4 cup milk choc bits
3/4 cup dark choc bits

Leave butter out overnight so it comes to room temperature. Using electric mixer, Beat butter and castor sugar until combined, add in condensed milk and flour and stir by hand until combined. Add both of the choc chips and mix well. If at this point your mixture is still quite wet add a little more self raising flour.

Roll teaspoons full of mixture into small balls, place on greased oven trays and then press gently with a fork. You can of course make these as small or as large as you like.
Bake in 180 degree oven for 15 minutes or until lightly golden brown and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.


Recipe

Hi everyone and welcome to my blog! Let me introduce myself and where I am from. I am a stay at home mother of two, a boy and a girl and have been married for, well lets just say a long time.
I live in Melbourne, Australia in a suburb called Wantirna. Its about a 30 minute drive from the city and I have two large shopping centres not too far away, a choice of primary and secondary schools nearby and a large private hospital within walking distance.
Sewing has been my passion for as long as I can remember. If I wasn't sewing it, then I was designing or creating it. I just love making baby items and with the addition of many neices and nephews to the family its just seemed like a good idea. Lets face it how many times have your purchased a present from a shop/store only to find someone else has purchased the exact same thing!
Handmade is exactly that, made with lots of tlc from my hands to yours so if you are having a baby or know someone who is please pop on by and browse my etsy store - http://www.etsy.com/shop/Thecabbagepatch