tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-106095262024-02-29T01:35:37.296+11:00Blue Mountain BlissThoughts on creativity : Think global, act localAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-88625034196699614002014-07-17T14:58:00.001+10:002014-07-17T15:06:36.832+10:00A camping kitchen in a small backpack<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBeIOJ23d97OwupgNoVLoi2pS4Ha6ofwn6gPe4-kSAXpdu0CBQDVVwgNE2nXVUrOEI1TNHJEQUsOEvh26piwQCk4iEbYSrhrcK8uHmII-yXeza0ruwgpkIQKcCuzV_3pvfXOk/s640/blogger-image--814726731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBeIOJ23d97OwupgNoVLoi2pS4Ha6ofwn6gPe4-kSAXpdu0CBQDVVwgNE2nXVUrOEI1TNHJEQUsOEvh26piwQCk4iEbYSrhrcK8uHmII-yXeza0ruwgpkIQKcCuzV_3pvfXOk/s640/blogger-image--814726731.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We are planning a trip to the Great Barrier Reef and leave in two weeks time. I was building a small camping trailer to take with us and then we found out that our small car, a Chery J1, can't have a row bar attached! When we discovered this there was much wailing and rending of garments I can tell you. Once the hysteria was over, thankfully my Captain Practical re asserted herself and I started planning how we would manage without the camping trailer. I went exploring the interwebs for interesting links and was really assisted by this great blog post Compact Car Camping on Zero Cost Living http://0costliving.blogspot.com.au/p/compact-car-camping.html From here I started the cull and here is my full camping kitchen in a backpack.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The back back is actually a travelling picnic set that we won many years ago, we use it for local picnics as it has plates, glasses, cutlery, chopping board, sharp knife, etc. So it was ready to be turned into our small car camping kitchen!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i>The a Wine bottle section </i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7z3vI6SsDVAvx8Ba1izg5D38oFtk7Tef7iRUh7T4mqGJPJXvMt7frDKcBnacYakTwyFl_35hx39iI60PBa5pLalT1EW6bCNuWyvuDI4CkqAM-Q7bKer7DstoqzgQj8eAqGaAs/s640/blogger-image--708315367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7z3vI6SsDVAvx8Ba1izg5D38oFtk7Tef7iRUh7T4mqGJPJXvMt7frDKcBnacYakTwyFl_35hx39iI60PBa5pLalT1EW6bCNuWyvuDI4CkqAM-Q7bKer7DstoqzgQj8eAqGaAs/s640/blogger-image--708315367.jpg"></a></div>The wine bottle section, where the wine bottle goes for day picnics. I have used put all my kitchen utensils in this space, luckily these are all small and some fold up. It holds: scissors, tin opener, spatula, egg flip, a biggish bowled spoon, a drainer, two glass holders that are pushed into the ground, bottle opener, Swiss Army knife, wooden spoon, cheese grater, small tongs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp4rdjuUwRV7PuVlQRBvrTx1hNntS0zanbNNQC2pU8J1mOuFBqDHAOOXg-LqYSY3yg6GqBy_5TBZLONvT0SIkKd10Fk7zfHrqohBTIOM_Aki5b7Afk-jL9P1O93Vnz2CIRC3a/s640/blogger-image-1925522136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp4rdjuUwRV7PuVlQRBvrTx1hNntS0zanbNNQC2pU8J1mOuFBqDHAOOXg-LqYSY3yg6GqBy_5TBZLONvT0SIkKd10Fk7zfHrqohBTIOM_Aki5b7Afk-jL9P1O93Vnz2CIRC3a/s640/blogger-image-1925522136.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b><i>The front pocket section</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The next section is the small front pouch holding: 3 tea towels, two enviro reusable sandwich wrappers, the table cloth and 2 napkins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYf_JMCCSZsLOGlbzlL-88rY8MXsyx25tnA_E-VnldZx_0wn6ebdjXbqYK8UWO9F2Cx6pL29iYc6ZGwThrdExc4VyEZ5CKiW0dEKUQURz5WSLou5rPGPupnvxsjG2vPRaSrllF/s640/blogger-image--2031460539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYf_JMCCSZsLOGlbzlL-88rY8MXsyx25tnA_E-VnldZx_0wn6ebdjXbqYK8UWO9F2Cx6pL29iYc6ZGwThrdExc4VyEZ5CKiW0dEKUQURz5WSLou5rPGPupnvxsjG2vPRaSrllF/s640/blogger-image--2031460539.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqOVApcoHI8pe_KHq1Yw1YcOg8jfyLaZqOFs7Q38CcZmitmSG1ZM6YURVyvho2B9KfP42x30RBEJwB9sMGk8ps7wSiJvTm9db6zUZbOLkRV4CgHhP2ChfUT-0-W7lHVDMDV-w/s640/blogger-image--1106375737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqOVApcoHI8pe_KHq1Yw1YcOg8jfyLaZqOFs7Q38CcZmitmSG1ZM6YURVyvho2B9KfP42x30RBEJwB9sMGk8ps7wSiJvTm9db6zUZbOLkRV4CgHhP2ChfUT-0-W7lHVDMDV-w/s640/blogger-image--1106375737.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i>The 'fridge' section</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next is the back section which is the 'fridge' compartment when picnicking, it contains our: cooking stove, a Trangia which has two pots and one frypan, a kettle and a handle, it's the best piece of camping equipment we have ever bought, a hand towel and some more napkins, plastic garbage bags, ziplock bags, another wooden spoon and a lemon juicer (bit of an indulgence but it fits, so why not, good for gin and tonics :) and the stove lighter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhn4XTkb9I4jfx3iXJLERNc9Wlj-AcSfE2IGPacTVXrk8ZeI2PChobet6T4YdZlhyXUQAQLfYMH-4Q4bHT-scL8roEBoQy0XrkHdQ33yX11zF-0xDn2CYOfckwZkBc44SsqTVa/s640/blogger-image-1503358155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhn4XTkb9I4jfx3iXJLERNc9Wlj-AcSfE2IGPacTVXrk8ZeI2PChobet6T4YdZlhyXUQAQLfYMH-4Q4bHT-scL8roEBoQy0XrkHdQ33yX11zF-0xDn2CYOfckwZkBc44SsqTVa/s640/blogger-image-1503358155.jpg"></a></span><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhn4XTkb9I4jfx3iXJLERNc9Wlj-AcSfE2IGPacTVXrk8ZeI2PChobet6T4YdZlhyXUQAQLfYMH-4Q4bHT-scL8roEBoQy0XrkHdQ33yX11zF-0xDn2CYOfckwZkBc44SsqTVa/s640/blogger-image-1503358155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighJEGPa6oFDpbm08chpRI-3FKcPBfICRdnDCfa7DyJCBDI6q6rjk7CmhxDP648RBh6M853S9uMJ1GO9uUTRuLK_Gl6zzwYtSZHqCqDgeIDoam4HCf5ia4e7IHsV6uD1afmFfV/s640/blogger-image--1166004285.jpg"></a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><i>The major compartment</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">I swapped out the original plates for our travel plate set as they have a plate, bowl, spork, cup and smaller bowl with lid all packed nearly together. Then there istwo plastic wine glasses, two tin mugs, two aluminium cups, the camp toaster, cutlery for two, three tiny chopping boards, miscellaneous small things such as clips for table cloth and bags, etc. Also, a small measuring jug, another set of fire lighters, matches and a lighter, our tea makers (we use these tea strainers instead of tea bags, one teaspoon of tea, place in cup, pour on boiling water, let seep for a delicious fresh cuppa, much better for the environment, the leaves go into the compost :) </span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_CD4NHx8GvA5pO2Lzyrg3r8rkKSSfjijO0bnYwLULmhpueGhjDGTO_ZCKz-jKFZQ3WiUUo4RP8e9apa8eY-rItVyyjxEgVPa6GG7NN0WDBfEFwjHnBAi-1aHzGRLcD2O3zIb/s640/blogger-image--1234746128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_CD4NHx8GvA5pO2Lzyrg3r8rkKSSfjijO0bnYwLULmhpueGhjDGTO_ZCKz-jKFZQ3WiUUo4RP8e9apa8eY-rItVyyjxEgVPa6GG7NN0WDBfEFwjHnBAi-1aHzGRLcD2O3zIb/s640/blogger-image--1234746128.jpg"></a></span><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_CD4NHx8GvA5pO2Lzyrg3r8rkKSSfjijO0bnYwLULmhpueGhjDGTO_ZCKz-jKFZQ3WiUUo4RP8e9apa8eY-rItVyyjxEgVPa6GG7NN0WDBfEFwjHnBAi-1aHzGRLcD2O3zIb/s640/blogger-image--1234746128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNwwr7G7GacGXYRI2eqhIsXeUJAm-Wxj1B3U7c1NmT7r9WMF2etoToUzw90rrJ4gnudCRz_yqa0uF7jw8bOceHbR6sfVbSSMkrCY5Yj5yhC6KZO9Ks7_Ko0JzQEr6lo2oKOzK/s640/blogger-image--590254662.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;">So, there you have it, a kitchen in a small backpack, I'm very pleased with this arrangement. The washing bowls are collapsible but don't fit into this, but that's fine, they can be slide into a small section of the car.</div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;">Happy small car camping!</div></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com0The Tailor's Apprentice Hazelbrook-33.723604 150.451905tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-37142461525236616692014-06-27T13:47:00.002+10:002014-06-27T14:24:27.717+10:00Fixing the trailer for rego for our Explorer BoxPart 1 can be found here <a href="http://ozquilter.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/building-compact-camping-trailer-using.html" target="_blank">http://ozquilter.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/building-compact-camping-trailer-using.html</a><br>
<br><b>Preparing for rego</b><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So we have been preparing the trailer to re-register, we pulled it apart, took away the rust, took of the heavy metal cage ...</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutUyqkOjA5bxtDZM6w9pz2DJ7Krsb4l7LTI9voMKELG5AfkIFjWC-GRMiIWqOb-Z8GR5QYMJqcA8fkTsw73wpAkMQFE4crTZuO5x_w40nHuRvnwdszY9F5ExC6BTCVq-SK5AU/s640/blogger-image--593795015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutUyqkOjA5bxtDZM6w9pz2DJ7Krsb4l7LTI9voMKELG5AfkIFjWC-GRMiIWqOb-Z8GR5QYMJqcA8fkTsw73wpAkMQFE4crTZuO5x_w40nHuRvnwdszY9F5ExC6BTCVq-SK5AU/s640/blogger-image--593795015.jpg"></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>Painted the cleaned up frame. </span></div><div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA25Tzff5rtAYcfBf0imo2amJLMGct2K2JeVn3DXxDFIGaVWOMrp1M-59xbJOyJMr9jxnCBzbz4B0ZN8W6aHvlhlomW_m-QXWXQpiyKN05UVQ_rDWKUcpPUZf1lA2nYezKQIQ-/s640/blogger-image--605533742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA25Tzff5rtAYcfBf0imo2amJLMGct2K2JeVn3DXxDFIGaVWOMrp1M-59xbJOyJMr9jxnCBzbz4B0ZN8W6aHvlhlomW_m-QXWXQpiyKN05UVQ_rDWKUcpPUZf1lA2nYezKQIQ-/s640/blogger-image--605533742.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Painted the sides for rego, a happy, bright yellow, as it was in the shed, waste not want not :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4TFrlXak1W6SUN4fducDWEDBpja7fn5NCqS1_VZEn1PJCvb_AMO70YdO5DAcXQd1fRfJetW4IP20KwMFvrfHwmha00uyH0TEAjnkdmwHfg1YdlveuYIgx4H9ELoPOcHGU2J5/s640/blogger-image-2118343143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4TFrlXak1W6SUN4fducDWEDBpja7fn5NCqS1_VZEn1PJCvb_AMO70YdO5DAcXQd1fRfJetW4IP20KwMFvrfHwmha00uyH0TEAjnkdmwHfg1YdlveuYIgx4H9ELoPOcHGU2J5/s640/blogger-image-2118343143.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Bought the marine ply for the whole Explorer Box, very pleased to get it on special as well, $215 for the whole lot! Bought new mud guards to attach to the trailer.</div><div><br></div><div>Cut the base.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaWwinX9Heivh0K9Q_Gh0MzgPfgbLrfeTv0a5J4vqpV5dRW8op3SRvUrGfe-dL9CpHOzVohTNOXF1uiuRUNJEGAm6Vkm0b5mIZBNlvmJBlDGNrSNPfwYubzDAd0e2k7gZZUf6/s640/blogger-image--400707605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaWwinX9Heivh0K9Q_Gh0MzgPfgbLrfeTv0a5J4vqpV5dRW8op3SRvUrGfe-dL9CpHOzVohTNOXF1uiuRUNJEGAm6Vkm0b5mIZBNlvmJBlDGNrSNPfwYubzDAd0e2k7gZZUf6/s640/blogger-image--400707605.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I'm now painting the base while A checks and fixes the electric system for indicators and lights. We hope to register the trailer next week.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Building a travel kitchen</b></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8uvh4hxIY63riH950mrPqS03zM3nBU9V1Qg7xd1-4wIq5TJS3MC3N-G2xlz2oV8OS_H47ynSY08QFKnSPuM-UjSejIhISWMJRtYf0R2Qw5g-FBmeYSYF7RIsW52LQ74DSG8B/s640/blogger-image-640773650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8uvh4hxIY63riH950mrPqS03zM3nBU9V1Qg7xd1-4wIq5TJS3MC3N-G2xlz2oV8OS_H47ynSY08QFKnSPuM-UjSejIhISWMJRtYf0R2Qw5g-FBmeYSYF7RIsW52LQ74DSG8B/s640/blogger-image-640773650.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>I have also been looking at kitchen layouts, the Explore Box comes with a nice shelving set-up, but I want something that pulls out and my co-builder says we can do that. I<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> put together all my camp kitchen gear to see what why I needed to pack in this space.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaY9jO50xkbXJbHK87RGczbnyxRn2T6nw84phXKTPYoiA9RSlPJiLpvYpIVYswgseI-bp-20rLSaPkLez08KRKQEI7vTfpxqtEk08Ok5yX45kXP7sgRDbkFYUj7BwRba5Y4LES/s640/blogger-image-86314864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaY9jO50xkbXJbHK87RGczbnyxRn2T6nw84phXKTPYoiA9RSlPJiLpvYpIVYswgseI-bp-20rLSaPkLez08KRKQEI7vTfpxqtEk08Ok5yX45kXP7sgRDbkFYUj7BwRba5Y4LES/s640/blogger-image-86314864.jpg"></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>I then looked at various American style chuck boxes which are a clever system, developed by the scouting movement I believe. However, Americans, bless them, have huge cars and big trailers, I needed to model something created for a small car with limited pulling. I was quite taken with the layout below.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUrguKET2R15IZ41PrkVF6wYSUfzFedk_Ea58xiFhK3U_R8fmAlCx7bePL4ODXwDD9fnjvAkjsujV5p4hmW-5CQc_InL42bMdjHZCvUljRrghkxQBVX5ofWFEP2Y30NGfvJt5/s640/blogger-image-1473997828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUrguKET2R15IZ41PrkVF6wYSUfzFedk_Ea58xiFhK3U_R8fmAlCx7bePL4ODXwDD9fnjvAkjsujV5p4hmW-5CQc_InL42bMdjHZCvUljRrghkxQBVX5ofWFEP2Y30NGfvJt5/s640/blogger-image-1473997828.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I then looked to Europe and found just what I was looking for! It's called a Campinambulle and is designed for small European hatchbacks. It's really clever and I'm going to base my build on it's layout. I'll be using plastic boxes for lightness, but I am in love the pullout stove and cooking space and the table.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljEcnFKBEzoMZ_JdxTaLmufWks2Adg3Q3ZEYHfhIzdNq6mqAf83BxrPc45qd96Audj5QPhi42pPVXVs2TtmYg3fx5s4Xkov2QNglcDw3G1T8KUf0f2z8JsXsOomStBVNIE6sN/s640/blogger-image-2081227931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljEcnFKBEzoMZ_JdxTaLmufWks2Adg3Q3ZEYHfhIzdNq6mqAf83BxrPc45qd96Audj5QPhi42pPVXVs2TtmYg3fx5s4Xkov2QNglcDw3G1T8KUf0f2z8JsXsOomStBVNIE6sN/s640/blogger-image-2081227931.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-12280045704748103672014-06-10T17:47:00.000+10:002014-06-10T17:47:06.617+10:00Building a compact camping trailer using the Explorer Box instructions from Compact Camping Concepts<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_8NBdSKwpRkB0DcbhE3fAKGUsbH3S7fxItEcFoKJYW9pJVQE2cRWSDAZeUFHNvtsg-RoKtpVfGtIhJkMN0wFvIjVG8Njuc8Ep0hieHb5DtJNluB6o7Kn_aCEuU5_K77d4IlF/s1600/explorer-box-plans-manual.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_8NBdSKwpRkB0DcbhE3fAKGUsbH3S7fxItEcFoKJYW9pJVQE2cRWSDAZeUFHNvtsg-RoKtpVfGtIhJkMN0wFvIjVG8Njuc8Ep0hieHb5DtJNluB6o7Kn_aCEuU5_K77d4IlF/s1600/explorer-box-plans-manual.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://compactcampingconcepts.com/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My partner and I are planning a trip up the coast from the Blue Mountains, in NSW, to the Great Barrier Reef in Qld in August/September this year. We'll take 6 weeks to pootle up the coast, camping at nice places and relaxing and unwinding. We haven't had a real holiday for two years, so we are really looking forward to it.<br />
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We normally tent camp, but I have decided to make a light weight camping trailer for our trip in the next 6 weeks. Yes, mad as a cut snake, such a short space of time, but I work for myself and I can spend a good amount of time on it during the day.<br />
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The project is being funded by the contribution from friends. I recently had my 60th and they gifted me the money for a DIY project, well, the money was<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPX3-bUiXPv9TsfzfZxz7PhmNvD43AgZgHGYV8d0d2n9YndY4S8BMCfn4TtjUf50Yhr-TNaaxFb54H9kj_su0Fdd5Jf-X0I0PqB4h9xbYLOwqZ6Qx5OXPSinF8pzfWL9lrwtp/s1600/Chery+J1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPX3-bUiXPv9TsfzfZxz7PhmNvD43AgZgHGYV8d0d2n9YndY4S8BMCfn4TtjUf50Yhr-TNaaxFb54H9kj_su0Fdd5Jf-X0I0PqB4h9xbYLOwqZ6Qx5OXPSinF8pzfWL9lrwtp/s1600/Chery+J1.jpg" /></a></div>
for a shoe making workshop, but being a Gemini, that which was shiny 4 months ago, has lost its appeal :). After I decided to change to this project a builder friend then gifted her time to the project and she and I will build the small camping trailer using the Explorer Box instructions from <a href="http://compactcampingconcepts.com/" target="_blank">Compact Camping Concepts</a>. Our car is small, a Chery J1 1300, so we can't pull anything heavy, and nor do we want to. But the small car restricts adding camping gear, we would be packed to the gunnels, this way we will have space in the car and a travel home as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHPl_j-Od9Oj4uBU3XOfgf7U0xEH3C9DKfKyZv2zFkq-T2i-4Cw0nVBCH-mBc7hXVG6dwgwHaNAVQ7vV6BQcXld0aNEcTjbTeAe2vqO0cGRDKYGjLgnP2UFsCVGoaHPrwCqUZ/s1600/IMG_5578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHPl_j-Od9Oj4uBU3XOfgf7U0xEH3C9DKfKyZv2zFkq-T2i-4Cw0nVBCH-mBc7hXVG6dwgwHaNAVQ7vV6BQcXld0aNEcTjbTeAe2vqO0cGRDKYGjLgnP2UFsCVGoaHPrwCqUZ/s1600/IMG_5578.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
The trailer is second hand one, once someone's pride and joy, its made from old metal bed bases and currently weighs 150 kg, not really heavy but we intend to strip it of its heavy metal to lighten it and build our new camping trailer box on its frame. The lighter the better for our trip.<br />
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The plan that <a href="http://compactcampingconcepts.com/ex3.html" target="_blank">Scott of CCC</a> provides is really well put together, he uses inches and feet as he's American, but not an issue, easy to convert to metric. We also have to move the design to work with our Australian left hand driving. Each step is well outlined and its a relatively easy building project for an <a href="http://www.thetailorsapprentice.com/" target="_blank">historical costumer</a> and pattern maker, that's me, and carpenter and electrician, that's A, both very competant women!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusrzmXog8VnXiQrVJ9e7bx_cMrmj_fV9Xzcgh9FF7J-COxd3qFlw3s7JP81uJoPoNXllPQghv_FLGDjV__nRvFXyXChfN0LmnKWjLyqufOPJaw9MpfSubgz4VhLtXOO8OUgKc/s1600/doors-open.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusrzmXog8VnXiQrVJ9e7bx_cMrmj_fV9Xzcgh9FF7J-COxd3qFlw3s7JP81uJoPoNXllPQghv_FLGDjV__nRvFXyXChfN0LmnKWjLyqufOPJaw9MpfSubgz4VhLtXOO8OUgKc/s1600/doors-open.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://compactcampingconcepts.com/ex3.html">See the full build here ...</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The design provides kitchen storage and then the rest of the space in the trailer is for storage of camping gear, bags, food, gas bottle, esky or travel fridge, water, spare tire, etc. For sleeping a separate stand alone tent or, as we will do, add a roof top tent and annex and tarps for wet weather. <br />
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I'm thinking of putting the kitchen at the back and the storage at the front, having the kitchen near the trailer bar seems like a way to end up with a lot of bruised shins, especially at night. However, we will see, the trailer's wheels are closer to the back, so there is less space. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUz3pzygFHSFVhdYhsh8sFadRr9-JHG651JgR9zSXb0U7TVBomUZtVu7lr-EkQ6FtstcXORgB7m5Slm403oR_2ETUl34vwa6xjgjKeu6SKSjG984HiDtJtrn9wN4JADQDNCtBT/s1600/DIY+pull+out+camp+kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUz3pzygFHSFVhdYhsh8sFadRr9-JHG651JgR9zSXb0U7TVBomUZtVu7lr-EkQ6FtstcXORgB7m5Slm403oR_2ETUl34vwa6xjgjKeu6SKSjG984HiDtJtrn9wN4JADQDNCtBT/s1600/DIY+pull+out+camp+kitchen.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=19878.0" target="_blank">From a camping forum </a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've also thought of making a simple pull out kitchen like the one on the left. Just shelves and a bench top for the stove, food preparation, washing up, etc. at a good height to save the old and cranky back!This one hangs off the back door of the trailer, not sure how much weight bearing our wooden one will have, but the same layout could slide.<br />
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When we've finished it should look like Jay's set-up below on the left. Simple, but comfy. The Roof top tent <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLw6w-HIS-SfUU66Rgbk66Tz7Bb7b30kKvjQ8ZG4rtxPIE6C6qY-wBt7FCUwmZoFChcMi4eBVd3z3Tor4JTH3vfTe1aaLHVJ5S5XLnUZabnnbVlUAPeH7vl8aOFIWXmkBWLxF/s1600/jaysetup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLw6w-HIS-SfUU66Rgbk66Tz7Bb7b30kKvjQ8ZG4rtxPIE6C6qY-wBt7FCUwmZoFChcMi4eBVd3z3Tor4JTH3vfTe1aaLHVJ5S5XLnUZabnnbVlUAPeH7vl8aOFIWXmkBWLxF/s1600/jaysetup.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://Jay's set-up" target="_blank">Jay's set-up</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
and annex has been purchased and is on layby, well not really, but the owner of the second hand unit has kindly allowed me to pay it off over a few weeks. <br />
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So, watch this space, I will document the build here for you all to enjoy.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-65164920558062262572012-05-04T16:58:00.001+10:002012-05-04T16:58:53.554+10:00Sugar free - still after two months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_Fv2Tny52txRKOBhqxj8eTZ5_hIxyxRa0ra7__KN-RqDpKVDCn6CX_kppDsbGI3tdo8Y4SNUIMd4YHnHeIkJfFP-Byuz5H4yWe5vvF_Z7APgJz7ZR6OBldtg6tftHP4UYDnv/s1600/SugarWritteninSugar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_Fv2Tny52txRKOBhqxj8eTZ5_hIxyxRa0ra7__KN-RqDpKVDCn6CX_kppDsbGI3tdo8Y4SNUIMd4YHnHeIkJfFP-Byuz5H4yWe5vvF_Z7APgJz7ZR6OBldtg6tftHP4UYDnv/s320/SugarWritteninSugar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Our household has been sugar free for the last two months.<br />
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We experienced none of the issues that are written about in Sweet Poison, no withdrawal, or other unpleasant symptoms. We're grateful for this. <br />
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We have both lost weight, we are still losing weight, this is good, this was the objective. I suppose its the loss of sugar, but as we aren't eating cakes, biscuits, dried fruits, it could be this instead, how could I tell really?<br />
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I am enjoying eating butter and other so called 'bad' fats, as I do enjoy a bit of bread with my butter, lol!<br />
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We've returned to wheat, but only organic or old grains like spelt.<br />
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We will continue without sugar for the foreseeable future,hopefully continuing to lose weight.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-54710866131716064082012-04-05T19:33:00.000+10:002012-04-05T19:33:03.081+10:00Sugar free - week three<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJT5rleqmrHhgRG8mZrY7OJQQjExf6E4iJF9tra7vFg5F23usDSmEoiO7_xoSfUcA07vIe1iKDTriYRYhsbZVIHngmNUyhwhIqllFTnHMvZQzQmgf4rK1Y6JCGI9eBSAJG73W/s1600/url.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJT5rleqmrHhgRG8mZrY7OJQQjExf6E4iJF9tra7vFg5F23usDSmEoiO7_xoSfUcA07vIe1iKDTriYRYhsbZVIHngmNUyhwhIqllFTnHMvZQzQmgf4rK1Y6JCGI9eBSAJG73W/s320/url.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
I have been sugar free for over three weeks now and have lost 5 kilos, I am extremely impressed and pleased.<br />
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I'm not hungry, I feel well, each meal I eat fills me up and I don't crave food during the day.<br />
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My David Gillespie, <a href="http://sweetpoison.com.au/" target="_blank">Sweet Poison</a> book arrived and I have been enjoying reading it and learning more. <br />
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My partner suffers from bad sinus and we know that wheat affects her, so for the next month we are removing wheat from our diet as well. Interestingly, on the day we decided to do this a friend posted this article on FB.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/09/20/on-the-evils-of-wheat-why-it-is-so-addictive-and-how-shunning-it-will-make-you-skinny/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">On the evils of wheat</span></a><br />
<div class="excerpt">
D<span style="font-size: small;">r. William Davis on why it is so addictive, and how shunning it will make you skinny</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong><em>Q:</em></strong> <em>How does wheat make us fat, exactly?</em></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong><em>A:</em></strong> It contains amylopectin A, which is more
efficiently converted to blood sugar than just about any other
carbohydrate, including table sugar. In fact, two slices of whole wheat
bread increase blood sugar to a higher level than a candy bar does. And
then, after about two hours, your blood sugar plunges and you get shaky,
your brain feels foggy, you’re hungry. So let’s say you have an English
muffin for breakfast. Two hours later you’re starving, so you have a
handful of crackers, and then some potato chips, and your blood sugar
rises again. That cycle of highs and lows just keeps going throughout
the day, so you’re constantly feeling hungry and constantly eating.
Dieticians have responded to this by advising that we graze throughout
the day, which is just nonsense. If you eliminate wheat from your diet,
you’re no longer hungry between meals because you’ve stopped that cycle.
You’ve cut out the appetite stimulant, and consequently you lose weight
very quickly. I’ve seen this with thousands of patients.</span></blockquote>
So, another week, let's see what happens sans wheat. <br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-32879746240943752302012-03-27T20:13:00.001+11:002012-03-27T20:13:24.683+11:00Eliminating sugar ~ week 1<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">So
my first week of removing sugar from my diet is going well, one week down of my three month trial *grin*. </span></span></div>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">I've had no side effects or cravings as yet and I am sure the lack of cakes,
biscuits, chocolate, bread and jam, ice cream etc. is good for me. </span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">No weight loss as yet however, but it is very early days.</span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Sadly my copy of <a href="http://www.howmuchsugar.com/" target="_blank">Sweet Poison</a> by David Gillispie hasn't arrived as yet but I have found another good book and website on removing sugar from your diet, by another Australian as well, Sarah Wilson of <a href="http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/i-quit-sugar-ebook/" target="_blank">I Quit Sugar</a>. As its an eBook, I was able to download it immediately and its a great read and its giving me great tips to help withdraw from sugar in my eating habits.</span></span></h6>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9m6k3d8s6yZxwZ7_4ATr831BOvzMquBAroMZ-e1gRrYd4RwZKVeKkD-WQ1hSGoZbCVfsBmMO4Qizhti01dvyW9P2CsjjTuL6qrWTthcTsh_2Y3U-Pj2szYbCl9LBe6ugTlE9T/s1600/Winebeingpouredfrombottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9m6k3d8s6yZxwZ7_4ATr831BOvzMquBAroMZ-e1gRrYd4RwZKVeKkD-WQ1hSGoZbCVfsBmMO4Qizhti01dvyW9P2CsjjTuL6qrWTthcTsh_2Y3U-Pj2szYbCl9LBe6ugTlE9T/s1600/Winebeingpouredfrombottle.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> One of the pleasant surprises is that wine
and strong spirits, in moderation of course, can remain in my diet as the sugar from the fruit is used up during the fermentation process.</span></span></h6>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Now that's a bonus, hic!</span></span></h6>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> </span></span></h6>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-24087705116473310692012-03-21T09:28:00.000+11:002012-03-27T19:47:13.206+11:00Sweet poison ~ taking sugar out of my diet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9wzjmbttVU4mh7VYRTxB93tI1i35rbhwjyYtB4pu6v8nvWcObFzZ4QhBLKjjeT3PkxDge7EmcAPHBInGaVT3F37sFuWQOHmrbcwXYrEv6m3LigMulZeEbz9LpPOJcEhURStV/s1600/sugarpouringfromspoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9wzjmbttVU4mh7VYRTxB93tI1i35rbhwjyYtB4pu6v8nvWcObFzZ4QhBLKjjeT3PkxDge7EmcAPHBInGaVT3F37sFuWQOHmrbcwXYrEv6m3LigMulZeEbz9LpPOJcEhURStV/s320/sugarpouringfromspoon.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
I heard David Gilliespie on Margaret Throsby's Midday <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/classic/content/2012/03/20/3456396.htm" target="_blank">program</a> on ABC Classic FM yesterday, he is the author of <a href="http://thetailorsapprentice.blogspot.com.au/">Sweet Poison</a> and I was very interested in what he had to say about sugar.<br />
<br />
His thesis is that sugar is the major cause of obesity today and on reviewing my food intake of sugar, I consume far more of it than I released. I thought I ate in a relatively health manner and couldn't understand why my weight kept increasing.<br />
<br />
For my health and age, I am way overweight at the moment, over the last three years, since I stopped commuting into Sydney, I have gone from 61k to 77k.<br />
<br />
It is partly because I'm no longer a gym junkie since stopping my city job, I still exercise, but not twice a day in the gym. Its also partly from munching on delicious home baked goods in my classes with <a href="http://thetailorsapprentice.blogspot.com.au/">The Tailor's Apprentice</a>.<br />
<br />
We always have a tea break with scrumptious treats fresh baked by my students. I eat them with pleasure, and the leftovers later. These cakes and other sweet treats are an almost daily occurrence. When I worked, such things were an occasional treat.
<br />
<br />
I don't want to get unwell due to being overweight, so I'm going to try taking sugar out of my diet for the next three months and see if doing that will enable me to reduce weight. <br />
<br />
I intend to blog about it as I go on Blue Mountains Bliss which has been silent since 2010. <br />
So come along with me on my journey!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-43303973554440982872010-11-15T15:12:00.000+11:002010-11-15T15:12:39.076+11:00Gypsy vegetable stew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe4PovuCYt1fBffQATf1I2LRDdVL-m3xqAhzxz-tnWZvJglAMKwZXoQOMsK-FBXf-E_rojK_xeNT4GcJ43ffU4MRBd-dz4kqY3h2T3wUBWpY8JVYXxsXWQgnHZ4ryRhOT0iAe/s1600/2279546380_e6182e4f63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe4PovuCYt1fBffQATf1I2LRDdVL-m3xqAhzxz-tnWZvJglAMKwZXoQOMsK-FBXf-E_rojK_xeNT4GcJ43ffU4MRBd-dz4kqY3h2T3wUBWpY8JVYXxsXWQgnHZ4ryRhOT0iAe/s200/2279546380_e6182e4f63.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I haven't posted a recipe for quite a while, I have been busy with establishing my new enterprise, <a href="http://thetailorsapprentice.blogspot.com/2010/11/make-your-dream-gown-courses-2010-2011.html">The Tailor's Apprentice</a>, where I mentor you over 10 weeks to make the gown of your dreams. I haven't stopped my love of cooking however, I just haven't blogged about it! Since I last wrote we have planted out our summer veggie garden and got a chook, still a youngster but growing fast and hopefully we will get our own eggs soon.<br />
<br />
Since I left my city job in April, I have been getting unfit, too much time enjoying myself in the studio and kitchen and not enough time exercising. So my friend Justine from <a href="http://empoweredbeginnings.com/">Empowered Beginnings</a>, is working with me to get back to my fit and healthy self, her motto is:<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong><em><strong><span style="color: #c1390a;"><em> </em></span></strong></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong><em><strong><span style="color: #c1390a;"><em>“Whether you’re planning on bringing a new life into the world, or improving your own – we all have a birthright to be healthy and happy!”</em></span></strong></em></strong></span><br />
<br />
Justine wants everyone to be empowered to eat well, healthily and to exercise to get the best potential out of their lives. She and her partner have started <a href="http://empoweredbeginnings.com/?page_id=1829">Friday Night Feasts</a> at their place where we all bring a home cooked meal made from fresh, organic ingredients and cooked from first principles and as seasonal as possible. I made Gypsy Vegetable Stew in my <a href="https://www.dreampot.com.au/">Dreampo</a>t Thermal Cooker, the recipe is by <a href="http://www.penguin.com.au/contributors/suzanne-gibbs">Suzanne Gibbs</a> from her <a href="http://www.bookoffers.com.au/the-pressure-cooker-recipe-book-suzanne-gibbs/">Pressure Cooker Recipe Book</a>, I adapted it slightly and added organic chicken to the mix.<br />
<br />
<div style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Gypsy Vegetable Stew</span></span></b> </div><br />
2 white or brown onions, sliced (I used whole spring onions)<br />
2 green or red capsicums, halved, white insides and seeds removed and then sliced into thick strips (i used red and yellow)<br />
3 zucchini, cut into chunks<br />
2-3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped (I left them whole)<br />
1 eggplant, cut into chunks (I didn't use this)<br />
2 tomatoes, cut into chunks<br />
1 x 400 g diced tomatoes or 1 punnet cherry tomatoes (I used tinned tomatoes)<br />
1 chicken breast, cut into chunks <br />
Salt and freshly ground black pwepper<br />
!/3 cup olive oil<br />
Juice of one lemon<br />
<br />
<i>I also used the following:</i><br />
1 large handful of Pumpkin, cubed<br />
1 large handful of Sweet potatoes, cubed<br />
1 large handful of Potatoes, cubed <br />
<br />
<i>All my ingredients were organic and locally sourced, some from my garden.</i><br />
<br />
1. Arrange the vegetables and chicken in separate layers, first the onions, then capsicum, zucchini, garlic, chicken, eggplant, lastly the fresh or tinned tomatoes, sprinkling each layer with pepper and salt. Pour over olive oil and lemon juice.<br />
<br />
2. Close the lid of your pressure cooker (I used my Dreampot as a thermal cooker, see below for details *), bring the cooker to high heat, once low pressure has been reached, reduce the heat to stablise pressure and cook 5 minutes.<br />
<br />
3. Release the pressure using the natural-release method and remove lid. Serve warm or at room temperature.<br />
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<div style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">* Dreampot method:</span></b></div><br />
1.Organise ingredients as for Point 1 above.<br />
<br />
2. Place Dreampot saucepan on cooker, bring to a boil, boil gently for 15 minutes.<br />
<br />
3. Remove Dreampot saucepan from cooker and put into Dreampot thermal container.<br />
<br />
4. Leave for a minimum of 2 hours (mine was the full 7 hours as I made it in the morning)<br />
<br />
This recipes is simple, healthy and delicious, not much else you can ask for in a one-pot meal really.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-29111909048340022382010-06-02T22:52:00.000+10:002010-06-02T22:52:06.084+10:00Salzburger Nockerl<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kVuJ9SrI-9dg4FaKU2uC1HDWjwOuJ4O6nLGBxd9XEXiQJe1NikrVOhoDEVQmRhD_JXlcfYNTVjNXsJLqscwmYJrPCvZUNzyQ7Lf6UzJ99U8c1NSaZM86g_2d1yKUJ7uCUtCF/s1600/IMG_2203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kVuJ9SrI-9dg4FaKU2uC1HDWjwOuJ4O6nLGBxd9XEXiQJe1NikrVOhoDEVQmRhD_JXlcfYNTVjNXsJLqscwmYJrPCvZUNzyQ7Lf6UzJ99U8c1NSaZM86g_2d1yKUJ7uCUtCF/s320/IMG_2203.jpg" /></a>In February this year we had a a friend from Germany visiting us, we met years ago in a choral group and have remained good friends ever since, even with the world separating us. On this visit she made us this fabulous, delicious and super easy desert called Salzburger (as in Saltzburg) Nockerln (dumplings). She whipped it up without a recipe and I transcribed as she went and I meant to post it as soon as possible after her visit, but I lost the recipe and have been nagging her to send it to me and finally she has found the time, so now I am sharing it with you.<br />
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Salzburger Nockerl is a sweet dish typical of Austrian cuisine that is especially popular in Salzburg, as its name implies. <span class="dialects">Its a </span><span class="definition">Soufflé omelette baked in three’s on a large dish and served hot with a sweetened strawberry (or fruit of your choice) flavoured cream or jam sauce.</span><br />
<br />
<b>How to make Salzburger Nockerln</b><br />
Recipe is taken from <i>Kochen, Die grosse Schule“ by Arnold Zabert</i><br />
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Ingredients:<br />
6 large eggs (separate into 6 egg whites and 6 egg yolks)<br />
50g fine white sugar<br />
1 vanilla bean <br />
40g white wheat flour<br />
butter to grease the oven dish<br />
2 table spoons of icing sugar to sprinkle on top<br />
<br />
optional: fruits of your choice, like cherries, plums etc. (from a jar or tin)<br />
Preheat the oven to 200<br />
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In a large bowl beat the egg yolks with 30g of the sugar for 5 minutes with electric beaters until they are thick and creamy.<br />
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Cut the vanilla bean open and extract the pulp with a knife, then add the pulp to the egg yolks and spoon it in.<br />
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Beat the egg whites until they are very stiff, then add the rest of the sugar.<br />
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With a spatula carefully mix the stiff egg whites and the flour, spoon by spoon, into the egg yolks. Make sure you spoon as much air into the mixture as you can to make it very fluffy.<br />
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Grease an oven dish with a bit of butter. (Don´t choose the dish too big so the Nockerln will rise and don´t just cover the base.) With the spatula place 3 long pyramid shaped bits of the mixture into the dish (“Nockerln”), one next to the other, so they fill the whole dish.<br />
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Immediately put the Nockerln into the hot oven, bake for 15 minutes and don´t open the oven door in the process. The Nockerln are ready when they get a bit golden brown on top but are still soft inside.<br />
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Sprinkle the hot Nockerln with icing sugar (use a tea streamer) and serve immediately.<br />
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You can serve the Nockerln with heated up fruits (with a bit of their own juice) from a tin.<br />
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As I said above, this is an elegant, delicious and super easy dish to make for a dinner party, give it a try!<br />
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<br />
I was a NSW public servant, working in eBusiness, project managing the development of such things as websites, applications, and at the end, the move to social networking through Twitter, FaceBook, blogs, etc. I commuted from our Blue Mountain's cottage to the Sydney CBD, a three hour return journey for 9 years!<br />
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Last year, this commute, plus my growing unhappiness and lack of fulfillment in my work sent me searching for other career modes that would free me from both commute and 'working for the man'. I wanted something away from technology, I love using it, but was so tired of trying to convince managers that social networking wasn't 'risky'! A friend had become a marriage celebrant a few years earlier and so I investigated the idea and loved it, it suited me to a 'T'. So last year I returned to study and qualified as a registered Civil Marriage Celebrant and started the journey to my new business of <a href="http://www.offbeatceremonies.com.au/home.php">Offbeat Ceremonies</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKIfKW3tXgc2BgeEmajW_M-NTRu5zjzOGnctSFtFebNDp1uS3h72ehoTJ-r47hkX6xxbva85REAiXxrIop_VnO_SfOSnhvayANbjYu147K-5dkgUSU04rfUQHCRtXuCvaF20b/s1600/green02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKIfKW3tXgc2BgeEmajW_M-NTRu5zjzOGnctSFtFebNDp1uS3h72ehoTJ-r47hkX6xxbva85REAiXxrIop_VnO_SfOSnhvayANbjYu147K-5dkgUSU04rfUQHCRtXuCvaF20b/s200/green02.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Being a Celebrant is such a complex and important role, I strongly believe that birth, coming of age, death, menarche, menopause, marriage and commitment ceremonies are rites of passage that need to be thoughtfully and appropriately marked for us to fully transition into the next phase of our lives. Being a Celebrant means that I work with people so they can transition between one phase of their lives to the next. A Celebrant marks these important stages, we are a gatekeeper and shaman and ritual maker. Perfect for a woman who has reached her third age.<br />
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Instead of office politics, I get to be with people who want to reconnect to community, who take time to mark and celebrate each new season of life, its a role where I can celebrate important and significant parts of people's lives.<br />
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I'd never run a business, had no idea what to do, so I went in search of a business coach who would be my guide and '<i>shaman</i>' into this next phase of my working life. I found @TerriCook of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1135147452">SuccessZon</a><a href="http://www.successzone.com.au/">e</a> through Twitter and she has been helping me turn from a 'desk jockey' to a small business entrepreneur who runs <a href="http://www.offbeatceremonies.com.au/credentials.php">Offbeat Ceremonies</a>.<br />
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Through Terri I found my '<a href="http://www.sethgodin.com/purple/">Purple Cow</a>', Seth Godwin's groundbreaking idea of niche markets. Once I found it, I spent ages finding out the who, what, why and how of them, once this was locked down I could design my marketing strategy, graphics,website around my niche. This is what I've been working on rather than blogging!<br />
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All of this has been a revelation to me, I have learnt so many new skill sets and discovered strengths that I knew nothing about. I am loving my business coaching and I would highly recommend @TerriCook to anyone who wants to take the plunge and change their life around.<br />
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At Easter I left my job and took early retirement to further develop Offbeat Ceremonies. I was apprehensive and scared of this step, iis hard to move from the secure boundaries of a good fortnightly salary, not to mention holidays, long service leave and sick leave! After a holiday in Melbourne I came back and panicked, <i>'argh! what have I done</i>' but <a href="http://twitter.com/terricook">@TerriCook</a> worked me through it and while I'll be hit by these doubts again, being my own mistress and doing what I want to do is so empowering!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWY8a6UW2xF3Ae5j5VQhdcytwaMQ-bRoDFVwlQZWSsIUqovPXVuycPxi-HdRnRNUy8irRtKl4pH3W7PHy8BgjJkyJq9octuQPcwfsW0N-HeUUOcj76HDUBtQz212ccLYx1DU5/s1600/operatwirl01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWY8a6UW2xF3Ae5j5VQhdcytwaMQ-bRoDFVwlQZWSsIUqovPXVuycPxi-HdRnRNUy8irRtKl4pH3W7PHy8BgjJkyJq9octuQPcwfsW0N-HeUUOcj76HDUBtQz212ccLYx1DU5/s200/operatwirl01.jpg" width="112" /></a></div>Since I've been working from home, my life is enriched with so many wonderful community ventures, I've started to learn belly dancing and ukulele, get more into my yoga practice, create more in my studio, currently an 1880's 'saloon girl' outfit with a lovely bustle! I am volunteering at the BM Coop and have been offered a local job for two days a week with <a href="http://www.summitgear.com.au/">Summit Gear</a>, which I am enjoying immensely and gives me a weekly income as I build up the business.<br />
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I also spend time on my business, networking, reaching out, marketing and I'm running a competition at the moment:<br />
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<i>Join my FaceBook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Offbeat-Ceremonies/300802344249?ref=ts">Offbeat Ceremonies</a> fanpage by COB on 31 May and you could win a wedding, commitment or vow renewal ceremony valued at $650!</i><br />
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I am loving the freedom of my new life, I love my clients who are people in love with each other, with life and the world. I love that I have more time for the things that are important to me, my beloved partner, my friends and my business.<br />
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The most exciting thing of late is the creation of two videos about Offbeat Ceremonies by @jerelmani and @Lizzzzzzigal from <a href="http://whoneedsasecretary.com.au/">Who Needs a Secretary</a>, once again I met them both through Twitter. A wonderful and creative pair and to quote them<br />
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<i>We can handle all of your media requirements inhouse – including professionally produced corporate videos. Our video production team includes specialists in television production and interview techniques. Our team is ideal for working with media shy talent, helping bring out the best in our interview subjects. Take at look at Lorna McKenzie’s latest video, for her Blue Mountains based business, Offbeat Ceremonies.</i><br />
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So, as invited by <a href="http://whoneedsasecretary.com.au/?page_id=7">Who Needs a Secretary</a>, here's the link to my YouTube videos, go and find out about my passion for Offbeat Ceremonies<br />
<i> </i><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/OffbeatCeremonies#p/a/u/1/s4OHVmCX9-Q"><i>Why Offbeat</i></a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/OffbeatCeremonies#p/a/u/0/67Tz-zaXbME"><i>Rites of Passage</i></a><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>May good fortune rule over you,<br />
Peace live in your heart,<br />
And the stars watch over you.</b></span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-39472640000704042532010-04-12T16:40:00.000+10:002010-04-12T16:40:23.010+10:00Link love ~ blogs I loveA page of link love, this page will grow<b> </b>and change, so visit often.<b><br />
</b><br />
<br />
<b>Australian women</b><br />
<a href="http://tinagray.me/">Tina Gray.me</a> Used to be Mummified Times Five, but has recently changed names. Tina and I met on Twitter and her blog is informative, amusing and down to Earth and I like that a lot.<br />
<br />
<b>Foodies</b><br />
<a href="http://insidecuisine.com/">Inside Cuisine </a>Rebecca Varidel & guests sharing recipes & more from Celebrity Chefs, restaurants, food producers & farmers, travellers, friends … another Twitter find @frombecca<br />
A page of link love, these are bloggers that I admire and enjoy, the list will grow<b> </b>and change, so visit often.<b><br />
</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-38460493992980379612010-04-02T23:14:00.001+11:002010-04-02T23:50:18.564+11:00Five minutes a day fresh bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQupBPJPwm0WcKzMwsDNQ-iwY9empFAEPEWVT4y6gvwKwurvBQ5ZDW0wa1LSkBIfzOaZYPOc6edwoT-IS7Pzq0JAgeDtxkvodQh42c1JF5IMWtx2JobN_5GNs0GPgfQ4ENrsu/s1600/IMG_2241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQupBPJPwm0WcKzMwsDNQ-iwY9empFAEPEWVT4y6gvwKwurvBQ5ZDW0wa1LSkBIfzOaZYPOc6edwoT-IS7Pzq0JAgeDtxkvodQh42c1JF5IMWtx2JobN_5GNs0GPgfQ4ENrsu/s200/IMG_2241.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>I've been baking bread again this year, I've even set up a blog about it <a href="http://breadwithelizabeth.blogspot.com/">Bread with Elizabeth</a> and I'm working my way through recipes I like from Elizabeth David's Bread and Yeast Cookery<br />
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All the bread recipes I read say that the bread making should work around your schedule, not that of the bread's, but starting from scratch each time can be time consuming and it can be hard to resist the temptation to 'pop out and buy some bread'<br />
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So when I came across this <a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/Artisan-Bread-In-Five-Minutes-A-Day.aspx">five minutes a day fresh bread recipe</a> in the Mother Earth Newsletter, I was delighted. The method allows you to mix up a big batch of bread mixture, store it in the fridge and it requires NO kneading, saving time and still providing good quality bread. <br />
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<a href="https://www.motherearthnews.com/order/order.aspx?promocode=MMEIN9Z2">Jeff Hertzberg and Zoë François</a> created the method "When you want fresh-baked crusty bread, take some dough, shape it into a loaf, let it rise for about 20 minutes, then bake. Your house will smell like a bakery, and your family and friends will love you for it."<br />
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I'm hooked and have been using this method to bake our bread throughout March as its so darn 'easy peasy'!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXd3fQ5P62ZWN8i4HzBLwBCFBC64d4IacPvZvZc7erI3Aj7VAFiq-D4GoB5g3wXvIMqSq2cc3XSSzGI85DzqXNfN0xEQPY0HFucws0A9kPnP3O5nFLqijvWQ3KDtkSSxaIQYsP/s1600/IMG_2242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXd3fQ5P62ZWN8i4HzBLwBCFBC64d4IacPvZvZc7erI3Aj7VAFiq-D4GoB5g3wXvIMqSq2cc3XSSzGI85DzqXNfN0xEQPY0HFucws0A9kPnP3O5nFLqijvWQ3KDtkSSxaIQYsP/s200/IMG_2242.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>I'm not going to reproduce the recipe here as you can either buy their book or follow the method outlined on the <a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/Artisan-Bread-In-Five-Minutes-A-Day.aspx">Mother Earth </a>website. Let me know how you go with it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-1494596253569775272010-03-29T17:47:00.001+11:002010-03-29T17:50:44.172+11:00Making yogurtAlong with bread making, I've been hunting out the perfect home yogurt recipe over the last few weeks. As with bread, I used to make my own yogurt, but then delicious organic yogurt became available and it seemed easier to buy it. <br />
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Of late, we've been looking at ways of reducing our income, I'm working less at the day job so I can spend more time doing the things that make my heart sing and therefore we need to reduce our spending. The cost of our delicious organic yogurt is quite expensive, plus the cost to the environment of every plastic pot makes me less than comfortable. <br />
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Last year we bought an EasiYo kit, sadly, the yogurt made from their packets wasn't that pleasant, not like the thick delicious yogurt that we preferred, so I abandoned making it. However, the EasiYo kit has been brought back as its the perfect environment to incubate delicious, creamy, thick, yogurt. <br />
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I asked RL, Twitter, FB friends how they made their yogurt and the consensus was the same, use good organic full cream milk, the addition of dried milk powder and a good yogurt starter to start the first batch and then go on with your own.<br />
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So, here's the mix I gleaned from everyone and after a few attempts I now get perfect thick, creamy, rich and healthy yogurt.<br />
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3 and a half cups organic unhomogenised milk<br />
1/2 a cup of organic milk powder<br />
2 large tablespoons of good quality yogurt culture - bring up to room temperature<br />
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Mix liquid and powdered milk together and then heat the milk till just under boiling point. Heating the milk both assists the yogurt in thickening and kills nasty bacteria that you don't want to incubate. Let it cool to around 42 - 39 C. Once cool, mix in the two tablespoons of yogurt, then pour into your container to incubate. I put it into the EasiYo plastic bottle, then pour hot water into the EasiYo incubater but only up to the bottom of the red stopper. Put your bottle in and leave for at least 6 hours (I leave overnight), then refrigerate, and once cool, enjoy.<br />
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If you don't have an EasiYo incubator you can use a wide mouth thermos for exactly the same result.<br />
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So we are saving money, enjoying the pleasure of creating something ourselves and have reduced our plastic intake.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-26107576944128479622010-01-24T22:13:00.004+11:002010-01-26T14:41:35.737+11:00Pickled onions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShsEVb8HBn-VUGaiCECJg27SItMf5u5Ij-JpUbbIEXmkVY1xCxCcbcKp24S4QhyphenhyphenElksVTY7GXf4d01QIhvLGEuI0FA8ZUmILifq3E2c7FtyjTu_0l-52Sth7m7oQBI0sWDLCX/s1600-h/IMG_2137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShsEVb8HBn-VUGaiCECJg27SItMf5u5Ij-JpUbbIEXmkVY1xCxCcbcKp24S4QhyphenhyphenElksVTY7GXf4d01QIhvLGEuI0FA8ZUmILifq3E2c7FtyjTu_0l-52Sth7m7oQBI0sWDLCX/s200/IMG_2137.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
</div>We are going back to basics in our house, trying to reduce the household budget. We're baking bread and making yogurt, cooking 'two dinners for one' meals, taking our lunch, eschewing cafes and bought coffees, making our own Saturday special breakfasts, having dinner parties at each others houses rather than going to restaurants. We are 'making do and mending' and its damned enjoyable. <br />
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We made pickled onions today, they're actually not my favorite pickle, but they are the wife's, and as she came home with pickling onions on Saturday, what could a home cook do but pickle them? <br />
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We looked at a few recipes, chose the method and recipe from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Food-Preserving-Home-John-Gross/dp/0947277498">Food Preserving at Home</a> p.56 by John Gross, then adapted the recipe to our memories of our mother's pickled onions and what we had available on hand.<br />
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<i><b>Pickled onions a la Azure Hills</b></i><br />
Made three 500 ml jars (1) of pickled onions<br />
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1 kg pickling onions<br />
1 cup sugar<br />
1/2 cup salt <br />
500 mls white vinegar<br />
500 mls apple cider vinegar<br />
1/8 cup Panch phoran (a Bengali spice seed mix)<br />
15 peppercorns<br />
6 cardamon pods<br />
6 cloves garlic<br />
6 bay leaves<br />
3 nutmeg cloves<br />
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Peel your onions, easy way to do this is put them in a bowl and cover them with boiling water, leave for 2 minutes and then transfer to a bowl of cold water. Leave the ends of the onions on as it keeps them from coming apart.<br />
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Place the peeled onions in a bowl, cover with the cup of salt, cover with cold water, leave for a minimum of 12 - 18 hours in a cool place, fridge is good. Drain onions, then rinse and drain again.<br />
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While your draining the onions, put your vinegar, sugar and Panch phoran into a saucepan, bring to a simmer, simmer for 15 minutes.<br />
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Pack your onions into hot, clean 500 ml jars (heat jars in the oven), leaving 13 ml headspace. Add 5 peppercorns, 1 garlic clove, 2 bay leaves, 2 cardamon pods, and 1 nutmeg clove to each jar. Heat pickling liquid to a boil. Pour boiling liquid over onions in bottles, make sure the Panch phoran is distributed between the jars, leaving 13 ml headspace for expansion. Remove the air bubbles from the bottles.<br />
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Remove air bubbles, wipe rims and seal jars. We had left over pickling vinegar and we will use it as a lovely flavoured vinegar for salad dressings etc., an extra bonus.<br />
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Use a boiling water bath for 10 minutes, to process the filled and sealed jars, for the safest of preserves.<br />
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Leave the pickles for a minimum of 24 hours before opening, the longer you leave them, the more the flavours will mature. <br />
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<i><b>Boiling water bath</b></i><br />
Fill a big pot, deep enough for your bottles to fit in and be covered by water 25cm deep above the lids.<br />
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Fill the pot with water, bring to the boil, when just under boiling, place jars into pot, make sure they are covered by 25cm water above the lids, then bring to the boil. Keep boiling for 10 minutes, then remove jars from hot water, place on a tea towel and let cool. The lids will 'pop' and fully seal the pickles as the bottles start to cool down. Don't leave pickles in the water bath as it will cook them and remove their crunch.<br />
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<b><i>(1) Don't buy new jars, recycle old ones and buy new lids, go to <a href="http://www.greenlivingaustralia.com.au/index.html">Green Living Australia</a> for more information.</i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-38077313358786288842009-12-28T15:43:00.004+11:002009-12-28T16:17:28.269+11:00Bread baking<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMu14aD5RIf3ho-FzmnSwGX3O8WBirPUpo2sRPNgMY_T2JTfI3e4TwQ6ECjMMzd1hhakcDPB3SccM-KOnF-E5n0ODVLLHBNDNyiZ_XIDS9BggCUFeaN9xe8Uwh3xV5XUqAD0z0/s1600-h/IMG_2003.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMu14aD5RIf3ho-FzmnSwGX3O8WBirPUpo2sRPNgMY_T2JTfI3e4TwQ6ECjMMzd1hhakcDPB3SccM-KOnF-E5n0ODVLLHBNDNyiZ_XIDS9BggCUFeaN9xe8Uwh3xV5XUqAD0z0/s320/IMG_2003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420144193482939042" /></a>Baking bread is something I haven't done for a while, I used to do it lots as I couldn't buy the bread I liked, but the introduction of Artisan bread in Australia over the last few years has made me drop the habit. This morning however we had run out of bread and as today is a public holiday, getting decent fresh bread is not really possible, I decided to dust of my bread making skills and make us some.<br /><br />I used a simple wholemeal recipe from Delia's How to Cook, Book One, Quick and easy wholemeal loaf, p. 82. If you've never made bread I recommend this recipe as it is easy and delicious.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Quick and easy wholemeal loaf</span><br />Makes 1 large or two small loaves<br />1 lb 4 oz (570g) 100% organically produced wholewheat flour, plus a little extra for the top of the bread (I used bread flour which has more gluten and provides a better structure)<br />2 teaspoons salt<br />1 teaspoon soft light brown sugar<br />2 teaspoons dried yeast<br />about 14 floz (400 ml) hand-hot water<br /><br />You will also need a 2lb (900 g) loaf tin or two q lb (450 g) loaf tins, well buttered.<br /><br /><br />Begin by warming the flour slightly in the oven for about 10 mins, turn oven off for now.<br /><br />Next, tip the warm flour into a large mixing bowl and sprinkle the salt, sugar, yeast into it and mix together.<br /><br />Make a well in the centre of your mixed flour and add the water. Mix this in with a wooden spoon until it forms a dough; the exact amount of water you need depends on the flour. Finish off by mixing with your hands until you have a smooth dough that leaves the bowl clean - there should be no bits of flour or dough remaining on the sides of the bowl and unlike pastry, its better to have too much water than too little. (NB: I use my Kenword dough mixing hook for this but hand mixing is just as good and more authentic).<br /><br />Transfer your dough to a flat surface (your clean kitchen table is fine) stretch the dough into an oblong, then fold one edge into the centre and the other over that. Now fit the dough into the tin, pressing it firmly all round the edges, so that the top will be slightly rounded. Next, sprinkle the surface with a generous dusting of flour, then cover with a damp, clean tea towel and leave to rise in a warm place for 30 - 40 minutes or at room temperature for about an hour. If your making two loaves, divide the dough in half before following the steps above and folding it into two tins.<br /><br />Meanwhile, pre-eat the oven to 200oC. When the dough is risen to the top of your tin/s, bake the bread for 40 minutes for the 2 lb or 30 mins for the two 1 lb loaves. When the bread is cooked, turn it out of its tin/s, turn it out on a cloth to protect your hands - it will sound hollow when wrapped underneath with your knuckles. Then return the bread, out of its tin/s, upside-down to the oven for a further5 - 10 minutes to crisp the base and sides.<br /><br />Cool the bread on a wire rack, and never put it away or freeze it until its absolutely cold!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtl1E9PhuPqSs22RuYVJVmoSc0ojyoLqeCuJKyTh1G8DHIAjtc89y4qvnCCrqbeiYwH9i2SIhgrkIPIB9JgHA3r9mM8tjYheooAaN95MCHGTzbC8FGAIp5MdcR_g8YgHDXV7CU/s1600-h/IMG_2004.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtl1E9PhuPqSs22RuYVJVmoSc0ojyoLqeCuJKyTh1G8DHIAjtc89y4qvnCCrqbeiYwH9i2SIhgrkIPIB9JgHA3r9mM8tjYheooAaN95MCHGTzbC8FGAIp5MdcR_g8YgHDXV7CU/s320/IMG_2004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420144187542589874" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGBgDAi1ZqMLyqjJMcp_vQJrpLkNcbsEMDbNSJcoTjwLOHfE6wluBynLsoIV6TLcae_a4ebhYjsERUE6Co6CVppACpKrsV2LQNjLxmmuXGQEsEFWZw75ho53MSOgnOHbDsArc/s1600-h/IMG_2008.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGBgDAi1ZqMLyqjJMcp_vQJrpLkNcbsEMDbNSJcoTjwLOHfE6wluBynLsoIV6TLcae_a4ebhYjsERUE6Co6CVppACpKrsV2LQNjLxmmuXGQEsEFWZw75ho53MSOgnOHbDsArc/s320/IMG_2008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420144190933921714" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-69987294296842616502009-12-22T13:21:00.005+11:002009-12-28T15:43:44.870+11:00Summer Solstice - the end of a busy yearThis year we celebrated Summer Solstice, or Litha, before the 21st December, last Saturday in fact, with our friends, a lovely BBQ under the oak tree, until it rained! That's the Blue Mountains and Climate Change for you LOL. I must admit that the rain pleases me, living so close to the <a href="http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx">Blue Mountains World Heritage National Park</a>, hot summers make me twitchy about bush fire.<br /><br />Summer Solstice signals the end of the year in Australia, school has finished, so has uni, nervous students are awaiting the results of their end of year exams on the beach while their parents madly scrabble to organise Christmas or Chanukah (Hanukkah). We all go to end of year parties, catch up with people we haven't seen all year because our lives are stupidly busy; and say good bye to another year with the hope that the next one will be different than the last. <br /><br />Everyone is gearing up for some sort of summer break, though much less than in the past as Australians work <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/small-business/managing/all-work-and-no-extra-pay-20091117-ikcf.html">far more </a>than they should, its depressing that so many let the summer slide by without paying it any attention.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to our two week holiday as this has been a huge year for us. We sold our house, bought a new one, packed, moved, both of us studied part-time and our work places were incredibly busy and not that fun to be in. I became a registered Civil Marriage Celebrant and got a business coach, Terri Cook of <a href="http://www.successzone.com.au/">SuccessZone</a>, to help me get the business up and running. <br /><br />We hope to spend our summer holiday in the garden destroying the jasmine that the former owners let take over the garden. We have cleared at least half, but as our garden is big, there's still loads to do. We hope to create a small pond and build our own small stone henge from rocks taken from our former garden. Not sure if we'll achieve all of this as I also hope to get back into the studio to continue my <a href+"http://ozquilter.blogspot.com/2009/11/saloon-girl-outfit.html">Saloon Girl </a>outfit. Really need three months, not two weeks!<br /><br />I wish everyone a fabulous end of year festivity, whatever you may be celebrating, I hope the new year brings the joy, success, prosperity and happiness that you are looking for.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-37871372926654785262009-12-14T11:03:00.008+11:002009-12-14T12:41:34.052+11:00Something old, new, borrowed and blue - A marriage registry cover<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnRm1fR99tKG2DXGX3HPS-6fRL2IHNj9waxNjkVMYVKfwpoLZ_Ry_hdJVDGdXWN6TqN8cr8F1ePBLPIK_C7qH2dDDfiDRjxUHKH6271P610439fYkIq0YOs8GwbmoSJv01K7b/s1600-h/IMG_1852.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnRm1fR99tKG2DXGX3HPS-6fRL2IHNj9waxNjkVMYVKfwpoLZ_Ry_hdJVDGdXWN6TqN8cr8F1ePBLPIK_C7qH2dDDfiDRjxUHKH6271P610439fYkIq0YOs8GwbmoSJv01K7b/s320/IMG_1852.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414880853248664034" /></a>I'm working with a business coach for the next year to help establish Blue Mountains Celebrations, I'm using Terri Cook (<a href="http://twitter.com/TerriCook">@TerriCook </a> on Twitter) of <a href="http://www.successzone.com.au/">SuccessZone </a> and she is brilliant, I am learning lots and gaining confidence as I go. Terri sets me many tasks each week, all based around getting me into the Blue Mountains Celebrations business mode. Some of them are extremely practical but others are creative projects.<br /><br />Terri set me the task to create something for my business using the creative skills I use for quilting and costuming. I thought about an item of clothing, but it didn't excite me and then at a GTG yum cha with my celebrant group <a href="http://www.uniquecelebrations.com.au/">Janette </a> mentioned that she'd like a Marriage Registry cover, both to protect it and to make it special. My heart said, 'that's it' and I went on to create it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirONvtQhid4UioO-jL-Fi_OAGV4DmzGOf4D7JyTUPXXfAkMqnbHhBZkgubeSdGEAveNiLgddN1KZY0MJJFiIJGmrRMpetD1x7NOAVj7IKhERpRmGuS6gL7BDktJ83ZjAJol07S/s1600-h/IMG_1850.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirONvtQhid4UioO-jL-Fi_OAGV4DmzGOf4D7JyTUPXXfAkMqnbHhBZkgubeSdGEAveNiLgddN1KZY0MJJFiIJGmrRMpetD1x7NOAVj7IKhERpRmGuS6gL7BDktJ83ZjAJol07S/s320/IMG_1850.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414879192489206082" /></a>For those of you who don't know, the Marriage Register is where your marriage details are entered and kept for posterity, once full, its returned to Birth Deaths and Marriages and kept for ever. If you have ever done family history searches, you may have used one in your search. The Register will out live me and all my couples, so it needs to be protected and kept clean and safe. <br /><br />I went to my fabric stash and had a hunt for suitable fabrics, I have lots of fabric, laces, ribbons, braids, left over from my mother's wedding and ball gown couturier business, amongst them I found some perfect fabric and trims. As I'm a quilter, I decided to use these skills to make the cover. As this is my first cover I chose a traditional theme 'Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue'. I also made a book mark/place holder from a lovely blue woven braid and tassels.<br /><br />It was a great project and gave me much pleasure. I know a business plan is more practical, but making this cover made my heart sing and let me see how my creativity could be used to enhance the business. <br /><br />The positive thing from this is that Janette has commissioned me to make one, which is a bonus, and I will investigate interest and maybe there is a handmade product for <a href="http://www.etsy.com/category/weddings">Etsy</a> so 'watch this space'!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9s0syJSdFW4EbWyDdqIry989NyOfpsPOPYcB_1MJyTmmx8KOnS-DKQJvajkI5c884cEKEJlZt7ypA17GhV1_jk9ayWAnRMg1dF5jHof_EGArbiAMEOJkorNvWSBFSrdCdM3V/s1600-h/IMG_1845.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9s0syJSdFW4EbWyDdqIry989NyOfpsPOPYcB_1MJyTmmx8KOnS-DKQJvajkI5c884cEKEJlZt7ypA17GhV1_jk9ayWAnRMg1dF5jHof_EGArbiAMEOJkorNvWSBFSrdCdM3V/s320/IMG_1845.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414880847368279298" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-92199626254026376642009-12-01T18:45:00.005+11:002009-12-01T19:09:07.092+11:00Tipsy Christmas cake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNO_WZlFvJehJXNuFUbcCQRHyh7oprMpjmEC1EvlAT5-22i4n3IG5t3uiiczj1fKQpZRMoKYNbRdjhUTHP18qPs3BCuYT5-GFzYOhwCuTLqH7cywok5H8IDDCRVGlpeU18UbJ/s1600/IMG_1794.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNO_WZlFvJehJXNuFUbcCQRHyh7oprMpjmEC1EvlAT5-22i4n3IG5t3uiiczj1fKQpZRMoKYNbRdjhUTHP18qPs3BCuYT5-GFzYOhwCuTLqH7cywok5H8IDDCRVGlpeU18UbJ/s320/IMG_1794.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410171492826795826" /></a>I missed <a href="http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/xmas/stirup.htm">Stir-Up Sunday </a>this year but I did get my Christmas cake made before December. I use my mother's recipe and I have blogged about it on <a href="http://recipesfromedna.blogspot.com/2009/11/tipsy-christmas-cake.html">Edna's Recipe's</a>, the blog I have set up for my mum's recipes. <br /><br />I love this recipe, I stray from it occasionally but always return, as it is such a delicious and no fuss recipe. Try it, you will enjoy it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNudlGUu6BNSAfekuymO2Aij_BEuw1dbCHlxBq4OCuzaALoOfibKviwKuH0hje0qXIK-Ma_XNd8eRV4G_RWenVkrP9Im5OEyxrjWagqUtNHBcO4jA79G2Q-OOX7_I1n9iVqujr/s1600/IMG_1802.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNudlGUu6BNSAfekuymO2Aij_BEuw1dbCHlxBq4OCuzaALoOfibKviwKuH0hje0qXIK-Ma_XNd8eRV4G_RWenVkrP9Im5OEyxrjWagqUtNHBcO4jA79G2Q-OOX7_I1n9iVqujr/s320/IMG_1802.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410171720896306834" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-49534118299516224902009-11-25T16:12:00.004+11:002009-11-26T21:11:06.559+11:00Saloon Girl outfit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDKnGumzoNRRlDUl_bZyFt3d-gpx799YHEnx8MSkDnhVtecieCNZoTAgeqDdYrMruN3S0PAq8_eTJgToHkF-CYIU2Z3WAFt5exqzrPKnxnCsobsXmWCuOJQ3KN2M8tkdGQVCH/s1600/IMG_1780.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDKnGumzoNRRlDUl_bZyFt3d-gpx799YHEnx8MSkDnhVtecieCNZoTAgeqDdYrMruN3S0PAq8_eTJgToHkF-CYIU2Z3WAFt5exqzrPKnxnCsobsXmWCuOJQ3KN2M8tkdGQVCH/s320/IMG_1780.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408348791701033666" /></a><br />With the <a href="http://ozquilter.blogspot.com/2009/11/italian-renaiisance-gown-update-hemming.html">renaissance </a>gown completed, well almost, certainly my part is done, M is finishing off the trimming and embroidery, I'm now moving onto the Victorian era and am making up Laughing Moon's <a href="http://www.lafnmoon.com/saloon_girl.htm">Saloon Girl </a>outfit as a precursor to making a bustle gown. I'm making it for an event next year, but also to get a feel of the fitted style of the time in an easy manner.<br /><br />Women entertainers, Hurdy Girls, Soiled Doves and other Ladies of the Evening were mostly making their way in the oldest profession open to women with no money, prostitution. With my outfit I am aiming for entertainer, actress and professional beauty (read courtesan). To quote <a href="http://www.shootingstarhistory.com/library/soileddoves.html"> Shooting Star History </a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"These women could move amongst the "proper women" in town. They would dress everyday or on the street, much as a well-to-do lady "back east" would dress. On stage however, they had some rather "racy" costumes for the time. These were often featured on "tobacco cards" found in cigarettes in the 1880-early 1900's."</span><br /><br />So I'm making a 'racy' costume for the stage and will attempt not to lower my moral stance as I do so.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-27190763081760417942009-11-24T22:48:00.003+11:002009-11-24T23:08:40.121+11:00Italian renaiisance gown update - hemming metres of fabric<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaIsAeE0HHzAF9TywmLofcqlLIWdCR_ChrulJWVbNjbt3Y93INch7pp5yvHnIEH54piEKFiQgIBff9fxK3ntp2Z-aOoNq7cgwRHrLscuXO-iOBIq0kbarWny8bFjKwVZg8jBa/s1600/IMG_1770.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaIsAeE0HHzAF9TywmLofcqlLIWdCR_ChrulJWVbNjbt3Y93INch7pp5yvHnIEH54piEKFiQgIBff9fxK3ntp2Z-aOoNq7cgwRHrLscuXO-iOBIq0kbarWny8bFjKwVZg8jBa/s320/IMG_1770.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407636203105748274" /></a>The project is coming to an end, on Sunday, in the 41oC heat, we sat and hemmed the under gown, the over gown and the lining, over 15 metres of hemming. It was a lovely day, doing a task that women have done for over a thousand years, hand stitching a gown to wear, dreaming of completion, looking forward to a new gown and the pleasure of wearing it. <br /><br />Earlier posts on the creation of this gown at <a href="http://ozquilter.blogspot.com/2009/08/italian-renaiisance-gown-update.html">underpinnings</a>, <a href="http://ozquilter.blogspot.com/2009/08/italian-renaisance-gown-update-bodice.html">bodice</a>, <a href="http://ozquilter.blogspot.com/2009/11/italian-renaissance-gown-sleeves-and.html">sleeves and under gown</a>, <a href="http://ozquilter.blogspot.com/2009/11/cartridge-pleats-for-italian-renaisance.html">cartridge pleats</a>.<br /><br />Here a few pictures we took on the day:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXKvAApU9Wxu-ODmKfmhCj61d3OyOjLKTtNS7EvMM2Y7egFNLa9SWqt4r43xdFVqqSImsSymcohPj03QTpmG7KwTahHj4IfcPv1Nd-VRqRTQ5fIfrjwUnr97Lwn5jDWcDfw-u/s1600/IMG_1766.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXKvAApU9Wxu-ODmKfmhCj61d3OyOjLKTtNS7EvMM2Y7egFNLa9SWqt4r43xdFVqqSImsSymcohPj03QTpmG7KwTahHj4IfcPv1Nd-VRqRTQ5fIfrjwUnr97Lwn5jDWcDfw-u/s320/IMG_1766.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407637955614296690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BIpxTeQ5kwgd5GFKBD8TH7Da-DeSJZjfU1HDHxKhAtcNqk86lnEFUaw8iWia98L9DkHOiJDUbNf7xk8PcEHoD9zkT33W239zv-LRntrFBe81c8Gg7xaZ3sXacNatKChNm9Iz/s1600/IMG_1764.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BIpxTeQ5kwgd5GFKBD8TH7Da-DeSJZjfU1HDHxKhAtcNqk86lnEFUaw8iWia98L9DkHOiJDUbNf7xk8PcEHoD9zkT33W239zv-LRntrFBe81c8Gg7xaZ3sXacNatKChNm9Iz/s320/IMG_1764.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407637949735667298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAHMR8AUApKVGZi5heYDTskCSrqEo2XKCufg9l2LwZYwMhBadc79DL5WrXzsCJb7MAc3zMRvrhVGjmAlQXugdvA4Jyrk0f1uCdikJY2_A2gB4ECFd9ZnLVR5aBJhF-B6MhEN1/s1600/IMG_1768.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAHMR8AUApKVGZi5heYDTskCSrqEo2XKCufg9l2LwZYwMhBadc79DL5WrXzsCJb7MAc3zMRvrhVGjmAlQXugdvA4Jyrk0f1uCdikJY2_A2gB4ECFd9ZnLVR5aBJhF-B6MhEN1/s320/IMG_1768.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407637956535072530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQfQnUe-YVyn1Me0d9wTCSDUO1Cfk0UV2w94pjm27AU5A7Q85SWH_YevvFztgfOONYil8cbdb2p_MCZN78hWi_3aZjSfE6n2sHiMTtcshG9nsFyoEGLhXN0RDF-ZYMT6ZIS5f/s1600/IMG_1769.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQfQnUe-YVyn1Me0d9wTCSDUO1Cfk0UV2w94pjm27AU5A7Q85SWH_YevvFztgfOONYil8cbdb2p_MCZN78hWi_3aZjSfE6n2sHiMTtcshG9nsFyoEGLhXN0RDF-ZYMT6ZIS5f/s320/IMG_1769.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407637963982132754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYrpvSN2vcPyJDSkrmL_WwgPkjkUPsEytXZYld6doj0KwXpzWDsX0VYkYtVwUXA1viS0jCk73XsD90bu1NrSB_7Vk0AdrSXBbbMso721bcpKs0grZm5EYGTZARYkLssEfI0ZT/s1600/IMG_1771.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYrpvSN2vcPyJDSkrmL_WwgPkjkUPsEytXZYld6doj0KwXpzWDsX0VYkYtVwUXA1viS0jCk73XsD90bu1NrSB_7Vk0AdrSXBbbMso721bcpKs0grZm5EYGTZARYkLssEfI0ZT/s320/IMG_1771.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407637965290938050" /></a><br /><br />There will be one more post on the gown, with photos of its presentation at the event it has been created for.....Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-69604927033979598612009-11-23T20:30:00.005+11:002009-11-24T23:01:48.382+11:00Cartridge pleats for the Italian Renaisance gown<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QkgjdrSmc65bo2FZc4JMaQLuQhmGQ2MwF29NFF0FjlA4AJzStIiBxViUhmciSZ-2pfhCm4w7TU-sSobWlnkpnmX1HC4u8mhWJYLwSsLYp_soTEAbgtV5LO_GizvYyttzpxjp/s1600/IMG_1763.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QkgjdrSmc65bo2FZc4JMaQLuQhmGQ2MwF29NFF0FjlA4AJzStIiBxViUhmciSZ-2pfhCm4w7TU-sSobWlnkpnmX1HC4u8mhWJYLwSsLYp_soTEAbgtV5LO_GizvYyttzpxjp/s320/IMG_1763.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407229595573801218" /></a>We are on the final leg of making this gown, we are onto the outer skirt, creating the cartridge pleats and attaching it to the bodice. For those of you who have arrived via google you can find the rest of the posts on the gown creation at <a href="http://ozquilter.blogspot.com/2009/08/italian-renaiisance-gown-update.html">underpinnings</a>, <a href="http://ozquilter.blogspot.com/2009/08/italian-renaisance-gown-update-bodice.html">bodice</a>, <a href="http://ozquilter.blogspot.com/2009/11/italian-renaissance-gown-sleeves-and.html">sleeves and under gown</a>.<br /><br />I hadn't made cartridge pleats before, my gowns so far have been much earlier in the period and only box pleats were required, so I went hunting for a good tutorials and found a number of them, but two stand out, <a href="http://www.elizabethancostume.net/cartpleat/">Elizabethan Costume </a> and <a href="https://www.reconstructinghistory.com/beginners.php?s=&c=8&d=141&e=&f=&g=&a=143&w=2">Reconstructing History </a>. I found them really easy to do, in fact, its the way I was taught to gather by my mum, two rows of gathering, three if you want a really good finish. The difference with cartridge pleats is that the gathering stitches are much wider, the width of my thumb.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQK2NhyvNoM0Akw9eiN63T3CnXGfjY10cp5xvC0BbMNWct5XgNIb6PpGLO6NQKitVpv8qShu21ewLuHjGxPR_eqOlEgSyXX1si0-vDlCvFXRGAvZtx_iyxwJEWKRO_c3PZVnv/s1600/IMG_1757.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQK2NhyvNoM0Akw9eiN63T3CnXGfjY10cp5xvC0BbMNWct5XgNIb6PpGLO6NQKitVpv8qShu21ewLuHjGxPR_eqOlEgSyXX1si0-vDlCvFXRGAvZtx_iyxwJEWKRO_c3PZVnv/s320/IMG_1757.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407234593577302418" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb32Ii3w_dnwujtkEgp7TZlQ4jj_lltcQTiXlBTivzLO9GViePLH_ge-7gNptm6qTBZu7gkIVgqqSkzuYvUHrmkglbLPbmDrIgBtZGc9gfX8L-tvYMbJ2wuj2wKIHU57474XN/s1600/IMG_1759.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb32Ii3w_dnwujtkEgp7TZlQ4jj_lltcQTiXlBTivzLO9GViePLH_ge-7gNptm6qTBZu7gkIVgqqSkzuYvUHrmkglbLPbmDrIgBtZGc9gfX8L-tvYMbJ2wuj2wKIHU57474XN/s320/IMG_1759.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407234601738936946" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFI5iv7KaIx0lua5j7LnmWrJLPpNTcx-WGAnCdQlA0OOSoUiHGeXh_2d0d2drDjAMFioCpFv4h_-UbnZdG4gzLDS9ZrAO8yQot0a3yXQ9jj-DP5py2wN_OMtSuuvHd_VrHSa4/s1600/IMG_1758.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFI5iv7KaIx0lua5j7LnmWrJLPpNTcx-WGAnCdQlA0OOSoUiHGeXh_2d0d2drDjAMFioCpFv4h_-UbnZdG4gzLDS9ZrAO8yQot0a3yXQ9jj-DP5py2wN_OMtSuuvHd_VrHSa4/s320/IMG_1758.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407234601972791250" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsfnoQr3Xnyvd1KD2PY9a6YhkORURT4L275ZSVAmUBJVTqdZ18NP4rBXyAFjry8rke7mO9W6cZiEbh1A-JLLMgg8gALWFoIk2f4Nv_a9qF63XwEOfjYmf1n62nYON0yAz56-y/s1600/IMG_1762.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsfnoQr3Xnyvd1KD2PY9a6YhkORURT4L275ZSVAmUBJVTqdZ18NP4rBXyAFjry8rke7mO9W6cZiEbh1A-JLLMgg8gALWFoIk2f4Nv_a9qF63XwEOfjYmf1n62nYON0yAz56-y/s320/IMG_1762.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407234609194816066" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitX8uPFBACUksXAuEK85LePQynKHlnTvFi7BRXzKtJOr071SIidh0Bxf5qvspoHvh40WpxcmFK7SNOaEKs0bs32pu4-RihdZCxXk9rH91Ii_yqGhfOWbBFfT8oIOjZ4-4WFy5A/s1600/IMG_1761.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitX8uPFBACUksXAuEK85LePQynKHlnTvFi7BRXzKtJOr071SIidh0Bxf5qvspoHvh40WpxcmFK7SNOaEKs0bs32pu4-RihdZCxXk9rH91Ii_yqGhfOWbBFfT8oIOjZ4-4WFy5A/s320/IMG_1761.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407234606591001458" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />To stitch the skirt to the bodice I used a waxed linen thread that I found amongst my mother's old sewing notions, it's brand name is Barbour's, the packet says they have been making linen thread since 1784. I went and googled it and you can still buy it today, pretty amazing, that's 225 years of linen thread making for hand stitching.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPa51db4GWEoXyNB2dTWOaw6EtIArTxbLJnwIUCyu1Jsswk0SaqV8s-5JjeFPdotO-Bh78vHYa0UdTjtsrCCO_2PUUcjBjwqF6njMdhKJKb3ltyE4jM52sCd7UL3d2j0P-cY7x/s1600/IMG_1776.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPa51db4GWEoXyNB2dTWOaw6EtIArTxbLJnwIUCyu1Jsswk0SaqV8s-5JjeFPdotO-Bh78vHYa0UdTjtsrCCO_2PUUcjBjwqF6njMdhKJKb3ltyE4jM52sCd7UL3d2j0P-cY7x/s320/IMG_1776.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407238038202538354" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-61599228336938549262009-11-04T20:10:00.008+11:002009-11-23T21:34:06.597+11:00Italian renaissance gown: the sleeves and under gown<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoTOAQqGihPoNj6geTmDT7PGoGAQwBVMIJr4AuVRJKYB6idS7zHBwbX-JNJ6iqxbSscbL6Yl-8Zz-fT1bRfzq-rqmuYFivSYzH0ETsndd9rC3S7rSpjDZd3embgWYegBunWB4/s1600-h/IMG_1674.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoTOAQqGihPoNj6geTmDT7PGoGAQwBVMIJr4AuVRJKYB6idS7zHBwbX-JNJ6iqxbSscbL6Yl-8Zz-fT1bRfzq-rqmuYFivSYzH0ETsndd9rC3S7rSpjDZd3embgWYegBunWB4/s320/IMG_1674.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400175214155127426" /></a>The next installment in M's renaissance gown has been the creation of the sleeves and the under gown/skirt over winter. Both of us have been extremely busy and so its taken us a while to find time to work on our project.<br /><br />For the creation of the <a href="http://ozquilter.blogspot.com/2009/08/italian-renaiisance-gown-update.html"> underpinnings </a> and <a href="http://ozquilter.blogspot.com/2009/08/italian-renaisance-gown-update-bodice.html">bodice </a> just use the links.<br /><br />The sleeves were based on a set of mine that I had drafted and constructed last year for a gown of my own, you can see the 'how to' in <a href="http://ozquilter.blogspot.com/2008/07/sleeves-for-gown.html">Sleeves for the Gown</a>. These sleeves are still a work in progress, more beading and embroidery will be added by M who is a first class embroiderer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPusWhrpLxCjoIVYngWgVzMf22nTjYZDuQlkoRq5q8AcEPaz8E52an0EFdrTwxuXrYFeGgKyfXmioVDg-BxNKwuRBupnkQyWP3bAbfvKkwY-m9YYdaawaOdp7bEdSekCoCxWO/s1600-h/IMG_1673.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPusWhrpLxCjoIVYngWgVzMf22nTjYZDuQlkoRq5q8AcEPaz8E52an0EFdrTwxuXrYFeGgKyfXmioVDg-BxNKwuRBupnkQyWP3bAbfvKkwY-m9YYdaawaOdp7bEdSekCoCxWO/s320/IMG_1673.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400176755164556242" /></a><br /><br />The under gown has been created from a lovely piece of silk gold damask, the top skirt will be split to expose this lovely fabric. We didn't have enough to make the whole skirt so we used a lovely yellow linen found in a second hand shop, it had just the right hand for the tiny pleating at the back and the heavy damask took the box pleating well. We had enough damask to put around the back so if the top skirt lifts, the gold will show, not the yellow linen. The gown has side plackets and fabric ties for fastening. The skirt has a lovely structure over the farthingale. You can see these details in the following images.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNx-SoExwp0Tiadamr4KJ-A4ILi7ZPRLBTq2em1tzeS4Ca-FgNxrQiuynfmadckGvmLExTxFDtaVgwZKXiLDzKz02QEM_CrQ0t9oFvJfQfvT-qGWg_GUo0uK1BYJ87WcPCEisu/s1600-h/IMG_1668.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNx-SoExwp0Tiadamr4KJ-A4ILi7ZPRLBTq2em1tzeS4Ca-FgNxrQiuynfmadckGvmLExTxFDtaVgwZKXiLDzKz02QEM_CrQ0t9oFvJfQfvT-qGWg_GUo0uK1BYJ87WcPCEisu/s320/IMG_1668.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400181428230028162" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjP2Ym0VfKzH6NMqOQzzntNFKpjrWOsataH8k2tq8ccCp-gzU1hG9fPcMQ72ljbuj0sFSBlk4aJQ-L2n0ueoftk8gaMI7mMIfN-oy0DYaQYEG6WxRxR-0nUkGH98t0RLHk3Jxh/s1600-h/IMG_1669.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjP2Ym0VfKzH6NMqOQzzntNFKpjrWOsataH8k2tq8ccCp-gzU1hG9fPcMQ72ljbuj0sFSBlk4aJQ-L2n0ueoftk8gaMI7mMIfN-oy0DYaQYEG6WxRxR-0nUkGH98t0RLHk3Jxh/s320/IMG_1669.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400181685830141362" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyF35TOBDl3_Q-xydlKktUpHJ8iFAQYvGtxt0fn4pD0avSwQFHkChbiNJX-ACrfuq9sG3eejvyPoPf2InVBDl64GISET_X_7rKt-Y1KHGisPWIQATCjV6pB8Ptr4iHhSpNR9WN/s1600-h/IMG_1670.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyF35TOBDl3_Q-xydlKktUpHJ8iFAQYvGtxt0fn4pD0avSwQFHkChbiNJX-ACrfuq9sG3eejvyPoPf2InVBDl64GISET_X_7rKt-Y1KHGisPWIQATCjV6pB8Ptr4iHhSpNR9WN/s320/IMG_1670.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400181873291409746" /></a><br /><br />Onto the <a href="http://ozquilter.blogspot.com/2009/11/cartridge-pleats-for-italian-renaisance.html">cartridge pleats </a> post --->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-28613255264780567852009-10-30T21:02:00.004+11:002009-10-30T21:34:52.409+11:00Beltane NOT halloween<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodtCiN3SlfRPsbWBSQM0wV3A5gcsRvK2pkd4dpvnngIyOJJbPCuIL0SRBHq3kvmBQfEDXp3_QFpM0MkuGMQjSlp4uQ3vBcbu2de2gTJ34c987fBMaUiXpKM4PerppVOnYHweN/s1600-h/IMG_1585.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodtCiN3SlfRPsbWBSQM0wV3A5gcsRvK2pkd4dpvnngIyOJJbPCuIL0SRBHq3kvmBQfEDXp3_QFpM0MkuGMQjSlp4uQ3vBcbu2de2gTJ34c987fBMaUiXpKM4PerppVOnYHweN/s320/IMG_1585.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398337276844199570" /></a>Tomorrow is the 31st October and many Australians are preparing for Halloween, preparing to dress ghoulishly and to go 'trick or treating' but in Australia the great wheel of the seasons has turned to spring, the start of summer and the season of heat, light and fire and Saturday is Beltane - the festival of fire - summer, fertility and renewal, not that of autumn and endings.<br /><br />The loss of understanding of seasonal festivities to commercialism is sad and depressing. If we lose our understanding of the seasons and the great turning of the wheel of the year, we lose our sense of the natural world in which we live.<br /><br />So tomorrow, we will be celebrating Beltane, with fire, candles and champagne cocktails and a house warming - we will celebrate the god and goddess's great marriage, welcoming new growth, fertility, love and light into our house and our lives. <br /><br />Why not do the same?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-14838855084626073532009-10-14T14:57:00.003+11:002009-10-14T15:19:19.675+11:00National Ride to Work Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjWq6W1Y-w9U1dePrs3shcs95KfUcWu0WTcc1PtSZHsr_VNzyjZGaTpQIxR6L-Xsr2a69Xne1MqdtIycwixJVu3YNk08ozB4YlZNlGgZtTmc7siAnTK3rXRS4rCoxEDgeMxxa/s1600-h/P1020429.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjWq6W1Y-w9U1dePrs3shcs95KfUcWu0WTcc1PtSZHsr_VNzyjZGaTpQIxR6L-Xsr2a69Xne1MqdtIycwixJVu3YNk08ozB4YlZNlGgZtTmc7siAnTK3rXRS4rCoxEDgeMxxa/s320/P1020429.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392305122387360738" /></a><br />'I rode my bike, I'm free today', to misquote <a href="http://www.myspace.com/oldmanluedecke">Old Man Luedecke</a>. <br /><br />Today is <a href+"http://www.bv.com.au/ride-to-work/">National Ride to Work Day</a>, a day to celebrate sustainability and getting to work under your own steam by bike. I ride my bike a lot, particularly for any distance under 5 kilometres because that's the distance we most drive in our cars and its also the distance easiest to cycle in the same amount of time, well almost.<br /><br />I don't work on Wednesday, well not at my day job, Wednesday is for study, my celebrant business, Blue Mountains Celebrations, and breaking up the commuting week into Sydney. So I caught the train up to Katoomba, met a twitter friend for brunch, did some food shopping and cycled home, through sleet, rain, fierce winds and finally sunshine. It was a terrific ride, I was well protected by my rain gear and it was blissful riding in the elements as opposed to out of them in a car. <br /><br />You know your alive when the wind whips your face and you breath comes hard as you climb a hill. Cycling is as close to heaven as it gets for me, yes, I curse the hills at times and the weather, but to get someplace with your legs and bike wheels, its a perfect human/machine interface.<br /><br />So, get on your bike, discover the joys of riding someplace under your own steam, when you get there you can feast on cake and hot chocolate because you've earned it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10609526.post-10342961966543061732009-09-26T15:07:00.006+10:002009-10-06T16:42:25.436+11:00Moving house<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmli4sKZ5VVS6lLLCrxvpP-g1de1jaf-YzvtxsaFRXBYF7qTk0GnMaEdjMKbclzKBn4nEb-r6GL8Q1ATB9miF2VHCKWaFlDLz7KC2MlQE2Y6jZd4Vt7G9_sfy2TahGOHu_xw4/s1600-h/P1000095.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmli4sKZ5VVS6lLLCrxvpP-g1de1jaf-YzvtxsaFRXBYF7qTk0GnMaEdjMKbclzKBn4nEb-r6GL8Q1ATB9miF2VHCKWaFlDLz7KC2MlQE2Y6jZd4Vt7G9_sfy2TahGOHu_xw4/s320/P1000095.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385654984867459218" /></a>Spring has sprung and the weather is windy and changeable and full of the scent of wild flowers and all the garden flowers coming into bud and I have been absent from Blue Mountain Bliss while we moved house. <br /><br />We have moved further 'up the hill' to a small two bedroom cottage, we wanted to reduce our household footprint and we have done just that, however, deciding what to bring, what to sell and what to give away, has taken a considerable amount of decision making. Then packing everything up that remained, packing, packing, packing until we were heartily sick of it all! Finally the moving day and the excitement of unpacking everything and putting everything in its new place in the new space. <br /><br />Thankfully we had two weeks of leave to do it all and it has meant that apart from our books, which need a wall bookcase made for them (we have over 100 book boxes), everything is unpacked (well mostly) and we are nicely settled in our new home.<br /><br />The new house is a 1950's fibro cottage, it was originally built as a company holiday home, which is probably why it feels so joyful and happy. The cottage has a lovely sun room that is perfect for cold winter days, a good sized lounge room with a slow combustion fire, an original 1950's kitchen that we love, two reasonably sized bedrooms and a bathroom. The laundry is outside, functional, with old fashioned cement tubs, great for dyeing fabric, plus there is a small 'bloke's shed' and outbuildings for the bikes. Even better, we have retained our studio space as there is a large two room studio at the back of the block for all our arts and crafts and for the occasional guest to come for a visit. Perfect!<br /><br />The cats settled in immediately, helped by the fact that we were here everyday in the first two weeks I think. We are extremely happy, we are much closer to our friends and the mid-mountains suits us much better.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285873564550568786noreply@blogger.com0