I like trying chocolate cake recipes that are a bit different

I find myself very torn when it comes to chocolate cakes... I really love chocolate, and I really am just not fussed with cake. I do not like the texture and it seems such a waste of good chocolate... But still I persist, and occasionally I come across a rich decadent chocolate cake that, well, takes the cake!

I like trying chocolate cake recipes that are a bit different. I think I'll give this one a go this weekend as the chocolate cake I promised to make for our Stitch n Bitch - See previous post.

 Your guide to the nasty ingredients in your beauty products and Beetroot Chocolate Cake Recipe

My Mum will be up on the weekend to help facilitate the Stitch n Bitch, so keep an eye out for updates on an extended family version of chocolate cake baking.

This blog which is by one of my Mothers group friends, also includes great tips on running a chemical free household too. I am definitely going to try the vinegar as fabric softener one, especially as hubby objects so much to the purchasing of the store bought ones.


 "The odour from the vinegar disappears in the final rinse cycle and once the washing is dry.  It is non toxic and a very cost effective fabric softener."


In other news, I seem to have "google plus shared" a blog and it has resulted in a blog entry on my behalf... I likes it!! And must try it out some more, I love sharing good ideas.

Dropped Stitch in the 'Loo

A dropped stitch in life's rich tapestry. Because we all drop a stitch every now and then in this tapestry called life.

We will be knitting and crocheting beanies, gloves, blankets and anything else we can think of and our efforts from our first meetup will go the homeless people around the Loo. 

"People with mental illnesses and drug problems who are also homeless deserve better than sleeping rough on our streets." Clover Moore

You do not need to know how to knit or crochet as there will be lots of help. Come along, learn a new skill or pattern, have a cup of tea or a glass of *insert favourite beverage here* and a good ol Stitch n Bitch!

Please bring along a ball of yarn or two if you can get your hands on them and knitting needles or crocheting hooks if you have them. We will bring along plenty of spares.

Needle sizes = 4 to 5mm
Crochet hook = 4 to 5mm

Vicki Saunders - Self Taught Crochet Master
Lesley Gruit - Dropped Stitch consultant/Crochet Student Demonstrator
Maureen Tuck-Lee - Knitting Extraordinaire

Project: Beanies
Where: East Sydney Hotel, cnr Crown and Cathedral Sts Woolloomooloo
When: Sunday 3rd August 2014, 2.30pm onwards
For more information contact lesley.gruit@gmail.com or myself

"a City of Sydney homelessness count found about 118 people were sleeping out in the Woolloomooloo area, a rise of almost 40 per cent on last year."
Read more: www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life/bold approach to homelessness will take 70 most vulnerable off streets

Yarn Bombing

This could be interesting...

how-to-yarn-bomb

Apparently I've missed International yarn Bombing day... But I think I should give this a try anyway and be ready for next June!

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfG_BlLujAj4e4awsjhfl-4Th-hcOzexkY9_nRksBToe9y8Be09g40xs0SXmFm606o-fyigIhdPwAM4SNIfE17ZFEvS8q23L-TjcFlzRfSLhyphenhyphenh2vHrFaBivAQ3AW5EIkIoN7WEZmtZAk/s350/granny.jpg

EDIT

no scrap this, it looks pretty which is nice, but seems a bit of a waste. a friend and I have decided to start a stitch and bitch group to knit for those who are a bit down in life

Loving the Vintage!

My Dad

Well, my Aunty has moved full time into a nursing home, its very nice and she is happy there but it's sad to see her house being sold. We spent many a memorable Christmas there, with all 30 something cousins, lots of presents, the race to find the sixpence in the pudding and the obligatory paper fight at the end where my Dad would walk around with a big garbage bag picking up the paper and pretending to be cross and not notice the big hole we had ripped in the bag...

Vintage Childrens Jumpers

We went over there on the weekend and to pick up a couple of pieces of memorabilia, only to come home with a car full of stuff that we could not bare to throw out. My Aunty is a self confessed hoarder, and there was two or three of just about anything you could imagine in her house!

But the one thing I came home and poured through and lovingly caress were the stack of old crochet and knitting patterns....

Crochet Summer Top

They are just lovely, crocheted vests and jumpers, motif and berets! Books and magazine offering to help me be fashionable and modern by crocheting outfits!! So I obviously had to share these treasures with the world of Etsy. To me they are priceless and I would never let go of the originals, but sharing them, whilst a little time consuming at first, cost me little. 

chunky knits cable

So please, go have a look, I've put up free instructions and how to's as well, cos everyone should know the joy of crochet!! 

Anywho, gotta go, I've gotta get to spotlight, I'm under instructions to buy more yarn for my Aunty, she's edging hankies :)

The Cushions Ban

I love cushions! but I'm not allowed to buy any more...

so I've been making my own. I've made a heart shaped cushion out of a brightly coloured stripy fabric remnant for Lexi 


and a nice rectangle one out of a lovely teal remnant, for me!

crochet and upcycled

I also turned what was going to be a crocheted blanket for Lexi that I never finished into a cushion that even hubby agreed was actually a lot nicer then the one I covered.


I've been fascinated by the idea of turning old jumpers into "knitted" cushions and have finally made two, both of which hubby liked and one he "really quite liked". I'm loving the upcycled factor as well as the shabby chic/vintage look, and now I'm thinking the plainer one could do with some crocheted flowers...


I received a "suggestion" from my Mum that I make a very Mum looking cushion with crocheted flowers on it, so guess what she got for Mothers day?! You guessed, some crocheted flowers, and a suggested layout! Lucky lady. 

Cushion topper layout suggestion

I think I'm on a winner here, I can make as many cushion covers as I like, as long as I'm covering existing cushions or giving them away! Do you think he would notice if I snuck in a few new cushion inserts..?


next...

Kiss Goodbye to MS

Once again I am going to do my bit to raise aware so we can Kiss Goodbye to MS!

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IS A DISEASE THAT AFFECTS OVER 23,000 AUSTRALIANS.

WHAT IS KISS GOODBYE TO MS?

An initiative of MS Research Australia, Kiss Goodbye to MS calls on people with multiple sclerosis (MS), their friends, family and colleagues to raise funds for vital research into the cause and cure of MS.

The campaign calls on supporters to wear, dare or share to fundraise in May each year: Get sponsored to WEAR red lipstick (or anything red!) in May,DARE: get sponsored to do a Kiss Goodbye to MS dare, SHARE by holding a Kiss Goodbye to MS fundraising event and spread the word on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using #kissgoodbyetoms. - Taken from www.kissgoodbyetoms.org/about 

We are going to do a cupcake event at work, cos everyone loves cupcakes! and hopefully my friend Penny can come and have a chat to everyone about living with MS.

(actual cupcakes may vary from picture ;))

I've also found a "picture a day" list in the kiss goodbye to MS May list.

So if anyone wants to join me in the photo a day or do your own event, please feel free! and if you have any questions just ask me or go to www.kissgoodbyetoms.org

WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)?

MS is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system (the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves). The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS can not be predicted. MS is a lifelong disease for which a cause and a cure are yet to be found; however, doctors and scientists are making discoveries about the treatment and management of MS everyday.

Over 23,000 Australians have MS and the average age of diagnosis is 30 years old. MS affects three times as many women as men.

MS is the result of damage to myelin – a protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres of the central nervous system. When myelin is damaged this interferes with messages between the brain and other parts of the body.

The symptoms of MS are different for each person. Sometimes they even vary within the same person. For some people, MS is characterised by periods of relapse and remission while for others it has a progressive pattern. For everyone it makes life unpredictable.

WHAT DOES MY DONATION GO TOWARDS?

The Kiss Goodbye to MS campaign is an initiative of MS Research Australia whose mission is to accelerate Australian research targeting the prevention, better treatments and cure for MS. Australian scientists are optimistic that a cure can be found and it is your support that will make this happen.

For more information about MS Research Australia and the research projects we support, please visit www.msra.org.au.

If you would like to kelp find a cure for MS, please leave a donation at https://www.kissgoodbyetoms.org/fundraisers/individuals/vicki-saunders

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” ― Dr. Seuss

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” 

― Dr. Seuss

“A person's a person, no matter how small.” 

― Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who!

for my nephew