I'm a Maker everyday bag

It has been a while since I last blogged. Life has been hectic and my blog was put to the side. I hope you and your family are well

I needed a new Everyday bag as my previous one had seen better days. Susan from Jumi Creations sent me a sweet piece of fabric with a little girl sitting on a wooden spool. The toadstools are cute! Last year I purchased some fabrics from the 'Maker' collection - Art Gallery Fabrics. Susan's piece of fabric was the perfect touch for my Everyday bag

The 'Maker' fabric has so many beautiful little details

Inside pieces of my bag. Cotton webbing with tape measure trim added to the bag strap. The patchwork pocket has 2 sections. One to hold my mobile. One to hold car keys, hand gel and pens

Front view

I did not use a pattern to make the bag. It was made free hand and a little bigger than my old bag. The basic shape was inspired by Anna Graham's 241 tote bag from Noodlehead

Back view

Hand stitching, adding a cotton 'handmade' patch and zakka details were inspired by Amy Sinibaldi from nanaCompany

Inside view

I love my new Everyday bag!

The 'Maker' fabrics are beautiful

I used Scrumptious (by Bonnie and Camille for Moda fabrics) hexies to cover the stitching of the bag strap to the bag and the frayed ends of the cotton webbing

I'm a Maker everyday bag is complete

Red ribbon to accentuate the red on the fabric from Susan

Back view

I used cotton lace trim to cover the stitching of the bag strap to the bag. This idea was inspired by Wynn from zakka Art. Tiny embellishments add beauty!

I finished this project just before school pick up yesterday. I threw my old bag in the bin and happily filled pockets and the main section with my everyday necessities. I love my new bag!! 

Left pocket - floral key fob wristlet by Asako from Piggledee. I use it everyday

Main section - green floral purse and simple zipper patchwork pouch (pattern from Sweetly Stitched Handmades book) both made by me

Have you created something out of necessity? Please share. I would like to hear about it

I hope you all have a great weekend, Julia xx

Crochet patchwork blanket

Over 20 weeks ago, I started crocheting another blanket. On my long list of things to make was a patchwork crochet blanket. I worked on it in spare moments, however, other projects with priority came first. 

I finished this sweet blanket last week. The wide border was inspired by Bec at @handmadebec (Instagram). I made the border up as I was crocheting. I tried to keep the corners neat and sitting flat. I like the rounded corners! 

Made from Bendigo Woollen Mills cotton yarn. A soft and cuddly blanket!

Are you creating something or have you just finished a project? I would like to hear what it is. Please leave a comment below.

It’s almost Friday! I hope you all have a relaxing weekend.

Julia xx

Banana, Strawberry & White Chocolate Cake

Today was a day for baking a cake!

I needed to use up some bananas as they were starting to ripen. I had a punnet of strawberries in the fridge. I used my Mum's Banana Cake recipe and altered it a little. As I was adding strawberries and chocolate I didn't want it too sweet

Banana, Strawberry & White Chocolate Cake

1/2 cup (125g) butter

1/2 cup raw sugar

2 eggs

2 bananas, mashed

250g punnet fresh strawberries, roughly diced

1 cup white chocolate chips (dark chocolate would be delicious)

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 cups SR flour (my container has 1/2 SR plain & 1/2 SR Wholemeal flour)

1 tsp bi-carb soda dissolved in 2 tbsp milk

Preheat oven 180 oC. Line cake tin with baking paper

With an electric hand beater cream the butter and sugar

Add the eggs and beat again

Add bananas, strawberries, chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon and flour

Mix together with a spatula

Add the bi-carb soda and milk mixture to the cake batter

Mix all ingredients 

Pour into cake tin. Bake for approximately 40 - 45 minutes 

Allow to cool on a wire rack

Turn out of cake tin onto a pretty plate

Sprinkle with icing sugar

Cut, serve and Enjoy! 

The cake was moist with a crunchy outer layer

Hope you're having a lovely Spring day

Julia xx

Patchwork drawstring bags

A few weeks ago I started making s.o.t.a.k handmade patchwork drawstring bags. I'm making 3. One for each of our children's foster mother's for when we go to Korea later this year

First bag finished

Front view

Back view

These are the links to Svetlana's tutorials - drawstring bag tutorial, patchwork drawstring bag

Today I finished the last 2 bags!! As soon as I finished, my sewjo flew out the window. Time for more crochet!

Can't wait for Spring. My favourite season of the year. Flowers are already blossoming in our local area

Have a beautiful day, Julia xx

Lissy's Pumpkin Choc Chip Loaf

This recipe is from my dear friend, Elisabeth Bell, who moved to USA many years ago. I miss her! So glad we have Facebook to keep in touch and see photos of her beautiful children. 

Elisabeth is a very talented illustrator. Have a look at her beautiful artwork Elisabeth Bell Designs

Little Josephine Picking Strawberries

Pat-a-Cakes

Both illustrations are from the Simpler Times collection. Such sweet illustrations!

You're welcome to download Elisabeth's Creative eBook. It is free, and comes with some lovely colouring pages, and a simple drawing tutorial which teaches how to draw a cute puppy

The Creative eBook also comes with free creative newsletters, filled with more freebies and bonuses that you and your kids can enjoy. Please feel free to share the link with your family and friends too so they can grab these free offers and enjoy them for themselves

It's Elisabeth's way to give back to the world, and to help bless and further each person's personal creative genius

Here's the link below to grab the Creative eBook:

>> http://ebell.sendlane.com/view/your-creative-genius

Getting back to the recipe. I love pumpkin! I haven't made this recipe for a long time. Last Friday was a cold Winter's day, perfect for warming up the kitchen. Our home smelt delicious filled with the aroma of cloves and cinnamon

Lissy's Pumpkin Choc Chip Loaf 

Makes 2 cakes

3 cups SR flour

1 cup sugar (recipe said 3 cups, I used less sugar)

2 tsp bi-carb soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 tsp ground cloves

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 cup oil or butter

4 eggs

2/3 cup water

2 cups pumpkin, mashed

340g or 2 cups choc chips

Preheat oven to 180 oC. Line cake tins with baking paper. Boil pumpkin, mash and cool a little before adding to the cake mixture 

Mix together all ingredients, except pumpkin and choc chips. Blend well 

Add pumpkin. Fold in choc chips 

Pour cake mixture into 2 loaf/ bread tins 

Bake for approx 1 hour

Remove from oven. Cool slightly. Cut into, and EAT!

So yummy! You won't be disappointed. When we came home from school the kids smelt the aroma and asked what I had baked

As the recipe makes 2 loaves, I sliced up one loaf and stored in the freezer for the kids lunch boxes. Guess what they're having at school today? 

Have you baked anything delicious lately? 

Have a beautiful day, Julia xx