Pillowcase Dress Update

I had a super crafty afternoon and made my first pillowcase dress in preperation to going to a sewing party next week where we will be making lots of these.

Embroidered Cards: Update

I have got abit carried away with making embroidered cards. I found some cards I had made a few years ago and decided to cheer them up abit with some paper and embroidery.

I thought you would like to have a look...

Heart and flower shadows

The other day the sun was shining and I noticed the shadows it created in our kitchen.

I have some paper hearts on the window frame and a plant on the window sill.

I like the shadow it created....

In our kitchen

Heart and flower shadow

My paper hearts

Dinner for 15 people!

Tonight we are hosting 15 friends for dinner. So I am soing something easy and simple. I don't mind cooking for so many but more bothered about how we are going to squeeze everyone in!

So I am going to cook chilli con carne. Heres my recipe:

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp vegetable oil
• 500g/1lb 2oz good-quality beef mince
• 2 onions, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 red peppers, diced
• 1 heaped tsp chilli powder
• 1 heaped tsp ground cumin
• 1 heaped tsp ground cinnamon
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 x 400g/14oz can red kidney beans, drained
• 2 x 400g/14oz cans chopped tomatoes

To serve

• soured cream
• chopped fresh coriander leaves
• lime wedges
• nachos

Preparation method

1. Heat two tablespoons of the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the mince and fry until golden-brown all over.
2. Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a saucepan over a medium to high heat. Add the onions, garlic, carrots, celery and peppers and fry until softened.
3. Add the chilli powder, cumin and cinnamon and season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Fry for a further 4-5 minutes, stirring well.
4. Remove the mince from the pan using a slotted spoon and add to the vegetable mixture.
5. Add the drained kidney beans and the chopped tinned tomatoes and bring the mixture to the boil. Reduce the heat until the mixture is simmering, then half-cover the pan with a lid and simmer for about an hour, stirring every now and again to stop it from catching on the bottom of the pan.
6. To serve, ladle the chilli into four serving bowls. Drizzle over the soured cream. Sprinkle with the chopped coriander. Garnish with the lime wedges and serve with nachos alongside.

Pillowcase Dress

I am looking forward to doing this in a few weeks time with some friends.

Making pillowcases for kids in Africa. Its fun and easy. Why dont you have a pillowcase dress party.

Go to this website for a good pattern and tutorial.

Wedding dresses

Wedding dress shopping is very exciting.

I got married a few years ago and loved my dress.

In my wedding dress with my Prince

My sister is getting married next summer and I am looking forward to going wedding dress shopping with her, my daughter and a family friend this weekend.

Its a big thing to buy, it has to be just right and as you imagined. But how do you imagine your dress to be: long, short, lots of detail and sequins, a vail, or hair piece, a 'big' dress?? So many questions. I knew which dress I wanted when I tried it on and it felt so right.

So I wonder which dress my sister will choose.

I have been thing at this so have a look at some dresses, here are a few:

I wonder what she will go for?

Well actually, I already know, but you will have to wait and see!

Embroidered Card

Hello November!

I have tried out embroidery onto cut out pictures to make a card. I love the affect it has, very unique.

Here it is, what do you think?