Passion-Fruit Butter (Curd)

Feeling in the mood for some deliciously decadent passion-fruit butter to fill some homemade shortbread tarts I raided my freezer for a bag of pulp and set to work making a small batch of 'crowd pleasing' passion-fruit butter....

Here's the Recipe.....

Ingredients - 10 passion-fruit (pulped), 1 & 1/2 cups of white sugar, 3 eggs (lightly beaten), 180g butter.

Method - Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and whisk over a very low heat until the mixture thickens and resembles honey. Do not allow the mixture to boil or it will curdle and you'll have something that looks more like 'scrambled' eggs, not honey.

Pour the mixture into sterilised jars and seal immediately. Keep in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.

This is delicious spread on toast or my favorite way to eat it is spooned into pastry cases and topped with freshly whipped cream - YUM-MO!!!!

Also, when scanning through the books on Sale at my favorite on-line book store last week I came across this little gem....

Having heard great things of this Author I quickly snapped this book up and now that its arrived I am so pleased that I did.....

It's just gorgeous!!!!! Filled to the brim with fantastic doodles, inspiring quotes and awesome activities - all to help fuel, excite and motivate the creative mind...

Have you bought (or read) a great book like this lately?? I'd love to hear what it was...

It's Official!!!!!

Where have I been for the past, oh say, 5 YRS while the rest of the world has been delving into the big wide world of absolutely addictive Japanese crafting????

When I stumbled across this book last weekend I was instantly inspired.... Now having made 3 tops from the book I think it's only fair to say,

I'M TOTALLY HOOKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (this top is actually a dress, I've just tucked it into my skirt today for something different...)

The patterns and directions are written in Japanese, ONLY, so I was scared, really scared!!! But the patterns are well laid out and to be truthful I don't really think you need any instructions if you have basic dress-making skills....

So armed with some really cheap fabric I set to work trying my hand at my first Japanese pattern...

WOW!!!! These people really know how to write a pattern. It was so easy, not to mention quick... I made the size medium (measurements are given in cm's and this size suited me the best, apart from the fact the my hips were about 15cm bigger, gasp!!!!) only to find it was WAY TO TIGHT!!! What went wrong???? I'm assuming that I must have forgotten the seam allowances so with take 2 I added ample seam allowance and started again.... This time it was an absolutely perfect fit!!!

Have you ever crafted from a Japanese book before??? Got any good recommendations????

Keeping Me Inspired.....

After a long crochet session with this gorgeous lady over the weekend I am now dreaming of the delicious linens that will accompany this burnt orange bodice once it's eventually finished.....

And how lucky am I that my very special friend came with an arm full of gorgeous books for me to peruse for the next week or 2....
I'm loving the Japanese craft one most of all and am so totally starting one of these sweet little Summer tops for myself, ASAP!!!!!

So now it's time to hit the fabric stash in search of the perfect fabric to match.....

Here's hoping you have a chance to be surrounded by people who keep you inspired some time this week too.... :)

Braided.....

Another chunky project flies off the needles this week with the completion of this 'Braided' scarf. I used more on my delicious 20ply Nundle Wool for this project and the pattern is one of Susan.B.Anderson gorgeous designs. What a bonus that it's offered as a FREEBIE....

This woman truly is a pattern writing genius and I'm lucky enough to now be stocking a range of her amazing books at 'Jellywares on Marshall'....

I've also had the chance to do a bit of crochet...

The flower on the front really sets this little hat off. I purchased this great book recently.... And am loving it for finding gorgeous flowers to add to my 'plain jane' projects.......

What great books have you purchased recently???

Hugs................. Jodie xx xx

Happy Birthday To Me!!!

Yes that's right.... It's my 26th b'day today. I can't believe it!!! This year has just flown by and I have an enormous amount of memories placed in my basket (my crazy mind) because of it, some bad but mostly fantastic!

I'm not a religious person but on days like these, when I'm surrounded by ones that I love and that love me equally if not more in return, I can't help but be ever so thankful for being blessed with such a wonderful life. There are so many people out there in unfortunate circumstances longing for a life half as ordinary as mine.

I've been so spoilt today in every way possible. When I arrived at work this morning my big sis Abby had a huge banner plastered over the fence reading 'Happy B'day JoJo', it even had balloons hanging of it and everything. The smile that it put on my face for the rest of the day was priceless... Then she made me a delicious breaky of fairy bread, choc coated bananas, strawberries & cream and yogurt.... Yummmmmmm!!!!

Here's the book that she got me for my b'day... I just love it!!!! There's so many projects in it I don't know where to start. Maybe here...Or here.....Or here looks really good too....What do you think? She had it wrapped up in this really sweet home made bag.

She also made me one of these cute headbands. This is just what one person gave me so you can only imagine just how spoilt I'vebeen.

On the craft front I've been sewing like crazy making a heap of bibs to sell at the local markets which are in a couple of weeks. They look really great!! I'll post some pics of them for everyone tomorrow. Until then that's about it from me...

TAKE CARE EVERYONE & HAPPY CRAFTING!!!!

What a Find!!!!

On Friday afternoon my sister and I decided to go down town to the local Op/Thrift shop for a bit of a look see. We were both surprised, once again, by all of the goodies that we found. I picked up this lot for 80 cents.....I then found these little embroidered pillow slips for 10 cents each. I thought that they'd be great incorporated into a child's quilt or garment.There was also this big swatch of fabric for 10 cents. It measures about 1.5m x 1m when folded out. I'm sure that it won't be hard to think of something to sew up with it. Does any one have any suggestions???

I've also picked up another apron for 10 cents to add to my collection although I don't think that this one is going to my apron stash, instead it's on its way to the fabric pile as I really love the strip of fabric in the middle. So unfortunately this poor little apron has sacrificed its life so that I can recycle about a 1/4 of a metre of fabric (sigh)......................

I just love books and when I came across these 2 beauties for 20 cents I couldn't resist.
Firstly, this book was purchased for my little princess and it's just adorable!!!! All of the pictures throughout this book are crafted out of fabric. It's all put together like a collage and then a photo is taken of it and that's a page in the book. You can't really tell but the front cover is crafted in this way also.

Then this book is for me of coarse.... Seen as though I'm new to the spinning scene this book looks like it'll come in very handy. It has heaps of tips for first timers and loads of pictures detailing, step by step, the process of spinning.

As you can see I've been very spoilt once again with all of these goodies. I hope that this inspires people to get out there and support there local Op/Thrift shop. I guess the old saying is right..... Someones trash is another persons treasure.

Have a great weekend.......