I saw a recent post on the facebook page for Chicken Ink. Creative. They were participating in a Pay It Forward chain and looking for people to continue it on.

The idea is simple – you stick your hand up and say you will continue on with the chain and you will get sent a fabulous handmade product. In return you need to write about it and send out something you have made to the first 5 people who say they will continue on the chain from you.

I hesitated for a bit as at the moment the majority of the items I make are for kids. I thought it would be nicer that the people continuing on the chain actually get something for themselves. The more I thought about it the more I liked the idea of making something a bit different that I wouldn’t normally make (it will be a nice break from making nappy wallets!). I have a few ideas already and can’t wait to get started on them.

If you would like to continue on with the chain please post a comment below (make sure I have your email address so I can contact you). The only rules for participating are that the items must be handmade by you and they need to be sent sometime in 2011.

I was so happy to see Tania from the Contemporary Handmade Alliance start posting again after a break.  Her posts have always been informative and interesting.

Her post today about Handmade Originality in the online world was no exception.  So thank you Tania for highlighting this issue and giving me the opportunity to take the Handmade Originality Pledge.

Well it has been a long break since I last wrote a blog post so I thought it would be a great idea to kick off a new post with a cool craft project for Easter.

I had come across the eggs in the link below made from wool, starch and balloons:

http://makemonthly.blogspot.com/2009/04/egg-molding.html

I thought they looked wonderful, and relatively easy to make.  I had visions of making a bunch of them to hang around the garden during our easter egg hunt.

After a wet, overcast morning the afternoon was lovely and sunny.  We gathered up our supplies and headed outside to make our eggs (in hindsight this was a very lucky decision!).

This is when it all went wrong – I was attempting to blow up a water balloon, a task I am now convinced is impossible.  My kids were getting impatient but I was not going to let the little balloon defeat me.  Unfortunately in my determination to get at least one water balloon inflated I did not notice my 19 month old leaning over the table to grab at the bowl of starch.  I looked over just in time to see Sebastian lean on the side of the starch bowl, which then tipped and threw him off balance off his chair, the starch ended up all over Arianes lap.

So I had 2 screaming kids – Sebastian because he had hurt his lip in the fall and Ariane because she was soaking wet.  We came inside to get cleaned up and our Easter craft for the afternoon became colouring some easter bunny pictures.

I still really want to have a go at making these eggs but I think it will have to be a weekend activity when my husband is also home to help (and to blow up the silly water balloons!).

About 6 months ago I packed away all of my CD’s.  I now listen to music using the ipod and dock and had no need to have the CD’s out anymore.  However this did leave me with a small problem.  For my 21st birthday my parents had given me a CD rack made out of NZ rimu.  I loved it (and still do).  After I packed the CD’s away I had no idea what to do with this now empty rack.  I could not bring myself to get rid of it so it has been sitting empty for the past 6 months.

A couple of days ago inspiration hit.  By adding a few bits of dowel I now have a great Bias Binding dispenser.  Also adding in some empty CD cases I have some extra storage for thread, bobbins and other bits and pieces.

1. Put the elastic band over your knee or another solid object.
2. Take a piece of tulle and fold it in half
3. Place the tulle under the elastic and open up the loop (figure a.)
4. Push the ends of the tulle through the loop (figure. b)
5. Pull the tulle until it is snug around the elastic (figure c)
6. After you have finished 10 tulle loops add a loop of the feature fabric
7. Continue steps 3 – 5 doing 10 tulle loops and 1 feature loop
8. Tie on the ribbons using a standard knot at even points around the tutu

Pictures coming soon

Well as I couldn’t make a decision I decided that I would let random.org decide for me.  You also all get 20% off vouchers!

1. Tlani Knuth

2. Renee Houston

3. Char Harrison

4. Lily Moegelberg

5. Belinda Howard

Congratulations Char!

This variation of ‘egg in the hole’ is one of our favourite breakfasts!

Jade isn’t a big fan of eggs but when she helps me make them looks like stars or hearts she thinks they’re great!

To make them all you need to do is butter a piece of bread on both sides and use a cookie cutter to cut a shape from the centre of the bread. Having 2 little girls the preference in my house is for stars and hearts!

Simply fry the bread in a pan or on the bbq. Crack the egg into the hole in the centre of the bread and wait until cooked. These work best when flipped over. If you don’t like your eggs flipped simply turn the bread before adding the egg to ensure both sides are browned.

We usually serve with a side of bacon for breakfast but can be served up with some veges at dinner time!

Hi Kim, a friend of ours made this for us and got Mattthew to help.  It was so simple and we all loved it

Dessert Pizzas

Ingredients:

4 small Pizza bases (ready-made or home-made) 250g sour cream

1/2 cup soft brown sugar (approx)

Bananas, sliced

Marshmallows

Choc chips

Instructions:

Mix sugar into sour cream until melted.  Adjust amount of sugar to taste.  Spread over pizza bases.  Decorate pizzas.  Bake for 15 mins.  Enjoy!

It’s our favourite because they’re easy; even my not-quite two year old can help and have a great time rolling the balls in corn flakes (making a mess!); and they’re really yummy!

250g butter or margarine

1 cup castor sugar

2 eggs

½ teaspoon vanilla

2 cups S.R. flour

5+ cups Corn Flakes

1 pkt Choc-Bits

½ cup sultanas

1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Add vanilla, blend.
3. Fold through sifted flour, choc-bits, sultanas and 2 cups Corn Flakes.
4. Form into walnut sized balls and roll in remaining (slightly crushed) Corn Flakes. Bake on greased oven trays in a moderate oven (180°C) for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden brown on underside.
5. Cool on racks. Store in airtight container. Makes 50.

1 kilo carrots (peeled and chopped)

40 grams butter or marg

300 gram tin of chickpeas

bunch of spring onions (6 in bunch)

1 tablespoon minced ginger

1 tablespoon minced garlic

7 cups of vegetable stock

Step 1 – Melt butter or margarine in large pot, not on full heat, add chopped spring onions, garlic and ginger. Cook for 5 mins to soften.

Step 2 – Add the chopped carrots, drained tin of chickpeas and vegetable stock.  Cover and simmer on low heat for 45 mins (or until carrots are soft)

Step 3 – When carrots and chickpeas are very soft, puree with hand blender or potato masher until smooth

Step 4 – Ladle into soup bowl, serve with crusty bread.

Some people like a bit of plain yoghurt with this.

Enjoy!