January 2014 – polka-dots & sparkles

Where there’s tea there’s hope

Posted on January 31, 2014 by bekswhoknits

A cup of tea can solve pretty much anything.

A cup of tea in a pretty cup even more so.

With my aching old lady bones getting me down, my first shipment from Monstrositea came at the perfect time.

Each month Monstrositea takes you on a tea adventure with a tin of 5 different teas.

I’ve tried three of the five so far and have enjoyed all of them. I’ve never given white tea much of a chance, but I’ve nearly finished the packet already and am craving more.

All the teas have been carefully chosen, packaged with care, and come with delightful tasting notes.

I probably have 20 different types of tea in my cupboard right now and they’re either herbal or black varieties. There wasn’t a herbal or black tea in the tin so it really was a tea adventure.

I even made ice tea with some fresh mint from the garden. (Yes it’s in a beer glass – yes I still can’t resist the stained glass windows.)

I can’t wait to see what we get next month!

(If you’re in Aus and wish to sign up for the monthly box today is your last day for next month so hop to it!!)

Beware of the tablecloths!!

Posted on January 29, 2014January 29, 2014 by bekswhoknits

My great-nan gave me a lovely tablecloth for my 21st. It’s a pretty crocheted number in an unfortunate shade of brown.
I’m not really a brown person, so I figured I’d dye it a pretty shade of mulberry.

Unfortunately somehow during the lifting, twisting, rinsing, and hanging out to dry process I damaged my old lady shoulder.
After two weeks of physio I’m still on light duties which means no housework! (Woo!)
But also no using a computer or crafting.

And! To make things worse the tablecloth didn’t take the dye so if I want it mulberry I need to do the whole thing again.

I did manage to dye some yarn in the colour I wanted so that’s something.

Wouldn’t that tablecloth look pretty in that colour??

So there’s been no crafting for a while.

But it was recently Australia Day which I spent in the company of good friends, good food, a misting jet, and fireworks from the deck. And past-Bek even did some of the dishes. Usually past-Bek isn’t quite so considerate.

Blankie progress

Posted on January 24, 2014March 18, 2014 by bekswhoknits

My crochet blanket is coming along like a house on fire.

That’s a pretty bad analogy considering all the bush fires in Australia at the moment.

But it’s coming along really quickly.

I’m bound to slow up soon.
At the moment I’ve got the squares memorised.

I still think I’ll be lucky to finish it this year but I’m making a go of it.

Adventures in bread making

Posted on January 21, 2014January 21, 2014 by bekswhoknits

I was gifted a second hand bread maker as a house warming present.

My first creation was a herb, garlic, & cheese loaf.

It filled the house with a gorgeous aroma and fortunately tasted delicious.

It also makes a great pizza dough.

A whole new world of bread making has opened up.

Plus it has a jam setting!

Bread making away!!!!

Song of the week x 3 Pomplamoose, BOY, Haim

Posted on January 15, 2014 by bekswhoknits

There’s three songs of the week this week.

They’ve all been on repeat and I just couldn’t pick between them.

Michmash posted about Pomplamoose which somehow led to BOY which led me back to Haim.

And I haven’t been able to stop listening to any of these songs.

I won’t and you can’t make me.

Another house tour

Posted on January 14, 2014January 14, 2014 by bekswhoknits

I think it’s been a whole week since I showed you some house photos.

Well it’s obvious time for some more!!

I have a claw foot bath.

And a pebbled shower floor.

Continue reading Another house tour

On Top of Mount Wooly

Posted on January 14, 2014 by bekswhoknits

All She Wants To Do Is Knit

On Top of Mount Wooly

On top of Mount Wooly

All covered with sheep

I lost my sock needle

Getting out of my Jeep

It rolled off my lap

And onto the floor

And then my poor needle

Rolled right out the door

It rolled to the pasture

And under a fence

Then under the hooves

Of a ruminant defense

I howled in frustration

I stamped and I stormed

Then I ran from the ruminants

So I wouldn’t get horned

I went back to the car

And took up my sock

With only four needles

I could still make it work [Brooklyn accent here]

Driving away from Mount Wooly

I began to regroup

And vowed that next time

I’d try Magic Loop

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Sending snail mail to friends – FO1 – may your WD-40 be ever cozy

Posted on January 13, 2014January 13, 2014 by bekswhoknits

Firstly let’s back up a little bit.

My dad is ridiculously difficult to buy presents for. You can pretty much rule out any of the usual golf/alcohol related/fishing/ sports merchandise ideas that the catalogues have as their ‘fathers gift guides’.

I think over the years us kids have bought him every single train DVD imaginable. I’ve also bough him reticulation connectors and a dustpan and brush. They were both on his list, so I bought them for him.

This year for his birthday he got a pair of socks, which he dutifully wore on Christmas Day and even colour coordinated his outfit so they matched.

And so for Christmas I bought him a can of WD-40.

Because I am Bek I made a crochet cozy for it.

And again because I am Bek I ended up with a custom request from a twitter friend.

I didn’t quite have all the right colours on hand so I dyed up some yellow.

There was then a slight hiccup with this sizing.

(Fortunately the colours are familiar in this house so HeWhoFishes now has an Adelaide Crows coloured scotch cozy)

So @parhwy a parcel is now winging it’s way (or it will be if I make it to the post office this arvo) to you.

May your wd-40 be ever cozy.

zucchini slice

Posted on January 10, 2014 by bekswhoknits

I love zucchini slice. (For any american’s wondering what I’m banging out about a zucchini is also known as a courgette. But just hear how zucchini rolls off the tongue. Zucchini. Zoo-kini.Zoo-keeeeeneeeey)

It’s the number one thing that I search for on my own blog.
Even though it’s so simple, I always think I forget something.
The original recipe is from the Australian’s Women’s Weekly cookbook that my Mum owns. When I left home I had a photocopy of it, which is now impossible to read.

So I made a printable to hang on the wall in the kitchen.

If it’s your first time making it, here are the proper instructions.

The ingredients:
1 grated zucchini (don’t bother peeling it)
1 cup grated cheese
1 chopped onion
3 rashers bacon chopped
5 eggs
1 cup self raising flour
1/2 cup vegetable oil
dash wooshter sauce
parsley, salt, & pepper to taste…

The method:
Put all of the ingredients into a bowl. Mix well. Pour it into a pyrex baking tray.
Pop it in a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees and wait for 40 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
Eat.

Right click here to save the image
Feel free to print the recipe and display it in your homes, but please do not sell it. This is my gift to you.

another cushion for another black books fan

Posted on January 9, 2014 by bekswhoknits

We’re everywhere!
And by we I mean black books fans.

If you’ve never watched it, I suggest you track it down (unfortunately it was just taken off netflix – boooo!), pour a glass of red wine, and commit the next 10 hours of your life to laughing.

And then we can be friends.
And you’ll know why I have ‘I’m a happy go lucky scamp’ in almost every single social media profile.

So when Midnite Moose asked me to make a black books inspired cushion for a friend I immediately accepted.

I even imposed a crazy stupid deadline on myself so it would be ready before Christmas.

I love making things for people, and most of all I like making things for people who will totally appreciate, cherish, and love what I make. So I knew that this was going to a good home.