Would you believe...

Today was the first time I have ever, in my 28 years, tried a pear. It was a bit squashy. But the flavour was nice. I think that I can now officially say that I Like Pears.

Please note the lovely plate from AtelierBB. The super-nice Brigitte added it as a gift when I ordered a set of dessert plates a little while ago. Also, for those keen-eyed readers, you will spot a bit of ric-rac braid on my chair - a sign of things to come?? WE SHALL SEE!

Roll up, roll up, it's...

This week, I've gone with classic white, black and red. I absolutely adore this swimsuit, it took me half an hour to choose which plates to put on here, I'm in love with these cute bird notecards and I REALLY need a new pair of red shoes after ruining my pair of patent leather mary janes on the weekend (whilst dancing at The Presets, thanks for asking.)


Maillot One Piece Swimsuit with Chevron Stripes by LaDramaQueen
Raspberry Serenade set of 6 plates from AtelierBB
Hello Ladies Signed Fine Art Photograph by AliciaBock
A Little Bird Told Me... notecard set from JHelene

Inspired by... Turkey

I have decided to start a little series of posts about different countries, how they inspire people to create today, and how they translate into modern design and craft. It is something that I am excited about, so here goes, with Week 1: Turkey.

Now I don't know much about Turkey aside from the fact that it inspired a sweet "Delight" that I hate, and has a capital city that has an identity crisis. Istanbul or Constantinople? Great song.

However, I do know that the craft and art from and inspired by Turkey is an amazing thing. Beautiful woven textiles, rich and ornate jewellery, and shiny ceramics - Ahhh. Here's a little taste of the things I have found whilst searching all things Turkish.

Handmade Traditional Silk Scarf by OttoFabrics from Istanbul

Turkish Craft Ceramic Bowl, photo by Janetski on Flickr

To get you further intrigued with Turkey, how about this: the original biblical "Garden of Eden" is there, as well as the place where Noah's Ark came to rest - Mt Ararat.

Also, Turkey is home to the world's largest and heaviest chandelier, in Dolmabahce Palace. Well, what do you know?

Turkish Mocha Shea Butter by LusciousLather

Cotton scarf with Turkish style needle lace by Zerva

The Tale of Emma and the Lovely Plate

Let me tell you a little story.

One day when Emma was living in Melbourne, she and her boy decided to visit a local vintage and antique shop that she had admired going past on the tram. She was delighted with many of the items for sale but was especially taken with a particular lovely German plate, 1950's, with a geometric pattern and beautiful colours.

Emma really wanted to buy this plate but sadly, she was a little bit short of cash, and a bargain this plate was certainly not.

"Oh dear," she sighed as the boy steered her out of the store, "how I would love to own that lovely plate."

Every day afterwards she sat on the tram and stared wistfully into the shop window, where the plate was not on display, and wondered whose house it was sitting in, and whether its new owner was treating it with love. A little part of her still hoped that it was on display elsewhere in the shop, and she intended to return when she had saved enough cash. If she was lucky, the lovely plate might still be there!

A few months later, Emma and her boy found themselves moving back to Sydney. It had been a very busy time, working, packing, running her Etsy store, and farewelling her Melbourne friends - so much so that she hadn't had a chance to go to the shop. As they were driving out of Melbourne, 4WD full of boxes, plants and clothes, and balancing a fishbowl on her lap, Emma looked out the window a final time at the shop and felt sad that she would not buy the lovely plate, after all.

A few more months past. Emma and her boy settled in to a new life in Sydney. Christmas and New Year came, and with it all the family and friends and social events. Emma forgot about the lovely plate sitting in Melbourne.

Then the day of Emma's birthday arrived. She was excited but a little apprehensive as her family were away on holidays, and her boy had decided to go to the cricket for the day. Not to be disheartened, she had a lovely day shopping in the city and enjoyed a lively dinner at Chinatown with her friends. When they finally got home, Emma said to her boy, "What a great day! I am so tired, I am going straight to bed."

That's when her boy produced a sneaky present from under the bed. He had bought it 5 months ago and had been hiding it in manholes, at work, in his laptop bag, at his parents' house, and finally in the top of our new wardrobe, but somehow it had survived and was now sitting in Emma's lap.

It was the lovely plate.

THE END

Last night a vegetable soup saved my life

I'm not exaggerating - the vegetable soup! Delicious, nutritious, and hearty, it made my poor fading, aching, winter-chilled body liven up immediately. Just look at it:

How could it not make anyone feel better? I know you want to make it, so here it is: Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan. Throw in (all chopped roughly) an onion, a carrot, a parsnip, and a stick of celery. Saute until onion is transparent and soft. Add 1 litre (4 cups) of chicken or vegetable stock. Throw in (again, chopped roughly) a small tomato, a small sweet potato (kumera), a zucchini, 2 bay leaves, salt and pepper, a dash of worcestershire sauce, and a good teaspoon of mixed herbs (dried, or if you have it, fresh thyme is lovely). Bring to the boil. Add a good handful of chopped silverbeet or spinach (washed first please, unless you like the feel of dirt in your teeth), and a dessertspoon of tomato paste. Stir in and simmer for 20 minutes. Eat with toast covered in LOTS of butter! (Makes 4 large serves).

Of course you can omit or add any vegetables you like, but the more the merrier!

This seems like a good time to mention that I have an addiction to collecting gorgeous old crockery and kitchen knick-knacks. This is my favourite toast-to-go-with-soup plate -

I think it helps greatly in the recuperation process.

All this talk of produce has me inspired to make a new range of shopping bags for my Etsy store. Keep your eyes peeled.

Bits and pieces

Back in Melbourne now, and it is lovely to be back. Back to my fish, who survived a lonely week in a dark and quiet house. Back to my recipe folder, which thanks to a visit to the Royal Easter Show has now doubled in size with yummy things to try. Back to my cosy house, my thriving little garden and crazy weather. Back to my Sewing Machine! Hurrah!

First of all, I must bid a sad farewell to one of my longest and dearest friends.

Spotlight at Dee Why is no longer! As fabric stores go, it was the greatest, exceeding all others in fabric chaos, reliably predictable staff, and of course aisles and aisles of every crafty bit you have ever needed.

I am really sad to see the end of an era! Now it has moved to a giant horrible mall miles away from any sort of decent public transport.

Would it be sad to buy a car purely so I can drive to a fabric store?

In happier news, a new recipe test will happen this evening. It is a bit of a variation on a Gordon Ramsey Fast Food Recipe - http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/gordon-ramsay/bacon-pea-goatscheese-omelette-recipe_p_1.html where I will use pancetta instead of bacon and spinach instead of peas (GROSS, peas!!) but I am hopping around in excitement to eat the goats cheese. It is sitting in the fridge beckoning to me.

Next to try will be a spinach and chorizo soup, but I'll regale you with the ins and outs of that after the Gordon Ramsey fest.

Yesterday I made my Mum's classic homely cosy yummy pumpkin soup. Here's the recipe - so easy and basic but SOOOO rewarding:

750g pumpkin

3 small brown onions

60g butter

1 1/2 cups water

3 chicken stock cubes

Salt and pepper

To serve: chopped chives and cream, if desired.

Chop pumpkin roughly and boil in unsalted water until tender. Melt butter in pan and cook onions until soft but not brown. Place all ingredients in a blender and whizz til smooth, or push through a sieve. Reheat as desired.

See? So easy, and wait til you eat it. Yum! And it should be served in bowls like the ones above, by http://ginadesantis.etsy.com/ as it gets cold quickly!