Amanda Brooke

Making and Made

MAKING:

There's been quite a lot of creativity and baking going on here this week. My sock progress has been slow as I have picked up another project that has me HOOKED!

This is Liesl. Liesl is a down-loadable pattern from Ravelry. A simple, seamless and quick project that I am just infatuated with! I am already seeking out the next yarn to make another one! I have used an inky black Patons Jet (a pure wool and alpaca blend) yarn. You can make this with capped sleeves or long. I've made this one capped as I do love capped sleeve cardigans at this time of the year over a long sleeve top. I'll share a photo here when I'm done.

 MADE:

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This week I made an Apricot and Carrot loaf which was delicious. I cut up 3/4 of the loaf into slices and froze them singly. They make an easy and healthy snack to grab for kids lunches. This recipe came from a page I kept from a Good Taste magazine several years ago.

Yesterday I made fruit buns which are just delicious!!! Why oh why do we buy these things when they taste so good, are better for you and a fraction of the cost? These were actually a hot cross bun recipe, but I omitted the cross. The recipe came from my bread machine booklet and it is very similar to most recipe's I've come across for hot cross buns.

What have you been making this week?

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda

 

White, no sugar thanks!

I have noticed recently that there has been a healthy shift away from sugar as seen in media stories, new book releases, blogs and even speaking to people I know. I don't know whether this is because of the recent media stories or just one of those things where it feels like 'everybody' is doing it. We try to avoid sugar where we can opting for naturally occurring sugar, sugar alternatives (not artificial sweeteners) and choosing how much sugar we add to our own baking.

I do however have a confession.

I take my tea, white, one sugar.

But...that was until last week when I decided to do a little experiment, which I knew before I started would make me stop adding sugar to my daily cuppas.

 

This is on average how much sugar I was consuming over a 1 month period in just my cups of tea alone! This is just 1 teaspoon per cup...equalling 2 cups a month...just imagine if you are a two spoonfuls per cup person! I added a teaspoon for every cup of tea I have per day into the measuring cup and it amounted to a 1/2 cup per week. Even though I kind of knew that this sugar was adding up per day, per week, per month, per year it wasn't until I actually 'saw' the mound of sweet crystals in the bowl that it really hit home.

Refined sugar has no nutritional value and is so altered from its original plant that some refer to it as a poison or a drug and label it addictive. Some natural substitutes are stevia, agave, pure honey, pure maple syrup and you can use dried fruits in baking such as raisins, sultanas and dates. Some sugars are better than others and it is best to avoid white sugar altogether...but I will still continue to bake with it occasionally.

So now if you ask me how I take my tea...it's white NO sugar, thanks.

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda x

 

Housekeeping headbands

I have become a big fan of headbands lately and I have been wearing two plain and cheap bought black ones almost every day... they are looking pretty shabby! They are perfect for day wear to keep my hair off my face when cooking, cleaning and being a mum.

I was admiring some pretty crochet lace ones in a shop recently but almost gasped quite loudly when I saw the price tag of $10! I decided then and there that I would make myself a small 'army' of headbands to wear. These headbands keep my hair out of my face so I can get through my day without brushing it behind my ears every five minutes. They are also handy for when I go into town as I can do a quick bun and pop a headband on and voila! I'm fresh, out the door and you wouldn't know that my hair resembled something like a birds nest only minutes before!

So here are a couple of headbands I've made these past few days. I'm no hair accessory expert, but I think they look kind of sweet.

My daughter modelled these for me...thanks Jess!

To make your own you need fabric, lace, bias binding or anything that takes your fancy and is long enough to almost fit around your head. (Anything that almost fits with around a 2in gap is perfect) You will also need some elastic scraps that are around 1/2 wide.

To make the headbands I used strips of fabric, folded bias binding and lengths of cotton crochet lace that I had in my stash at home. I held each strip around my head in the position I wanted them and then cut the fabric to suit. I allowed for around 1in to 2in of elastic to join the two ends of fabric/lace and this join sits right at the back of your head.

You may need to experiment with how you join the elastic but I sandwiched mine in the fabric tubes to hide the ends.  I then pinned the layers together and sewed around the ends where the elastic is positioned to keep it in place. Sew one end first, check size and then sew other end. Easy...but if any of my readers want step by step photo's let me know.

These headbands make me happy and they are super quick to create!

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda x

 

Making socks

Last year during winter I started to knit a pair of socks. But I couldn't get past the first few rows and I eventually gave up after several attempts, google searches and borrowed library books with tutorials for knitting them.

My dear mum has been staying with us and as she is a bit of a knitted sock guru, I asked her to show me how to get started. She was very patient with me and showed me a little trick to stop the loopy gaps forming between my needles that were hindering my attempts last year. So far I am progressing well and I am enjoying watching my very first sock growing.

The pattern is from a vintage Patons pattern book for Gloves and Socks. I am using Opal sock yarn.

I have left the project in my kitchen and every now and then I stop what I am doing and knit a row or two. When I get to the heel and start shaping that will require much more attention so I'll save that for the evenings when the children are asleep, but for now I am enjoying knitting as the weather starts to cool off and my hands are busy again.

Do you knit socks?

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda x

Reconnecting with 'Simple'

I have to admit that in recent months our lives have not been as simple as they usually are. Life has not been as frugal, slow or as creative as it normally is and that has been a little unsettling. After our wedding we had a few days to clean up and spend time with family before heading off on our mini-honeymoon to Wilsons Prom. I was looking forward to getting back into a slower rhythym, eating well and spending time with my new husband!

We stayed in accommodation only a minutes walk to the beach and had spectacular views of the Prom from our cottage.

Our view at sunrise on the first morning of our stay.

Our view at sunrise on the second morning of our stay.

We travelled to the Prom on the second day and stopped off at some historic lime kilns at Walkerville on the way. The beaches are stunning here.

A beach in Waratah Bay...we were the only souls on the whole entire beach...it was lovely!

The rocks at Tidal river. The river meets the sea on Nelsons beach and the diversity in the surrounds is spectacular!

This is us on Nelsons Beach. I couldn't find somone to take a photo...so this is it!

It was a great mini-honeymoon and I was pleased that we chose to see some of our special state and not trip off somewhere overly touristy and surrounded by shops. We didn't spend a penny whilst we were away and took all of our meals with us. Simple and very relaxing...just what we needed!

In the week before our wedding I sought out Rhonda's new book Down To Earth and was thrilled to find it at our local Collins Bookstore. It took every ounce of inner strength to take the book home and put it aside for our trip away and not peek inside!!! It was VERY, VERY difficult!

I am glad that I did wait, as I had the perfect spot to relax and start the book and I was so relaxed that I couldn't put it down. I read it entirely from cover to cover and it is brilliant, simply brilliant!

Down to Earth is beautifully styled and a real pleasure to hold. I never wanted it to end. It was also a pleasure to discover new ideas and suggestions that I haven't come across on Rhonda's blog and I have referred to the book often over the weekend. Rhonda's writing style draws you in and it is almost as though she is sitting right there with you sharing her life, thoughts and ideas for slowing down and living more simply. I especially enjoyed the housework chapter and I although I am aware that 'house work never ends'...I can add to that statement that I won't try to 'finish' it!

I have followed Rhonda's journey with her 'book' and I am so pleased for her that she is now a published author. She had a dream and a special life to share...and we are blessed to be able to hold Down to Earth in our hands and keep it in a special place for whenever we need inspiration, ideas or support.

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda x