Giving ~ Eating ~ Receiving ~ Xmas 2009

I always get excited to make and bake at christmas time and this christmas was certainly no exception! I was inspired by Sophie this year to make some pretty gifts for some lovely ladies using some kimono fabric and some quilting quarters I received as a gift last christmas. I think they came up a treat and I still have some left over, so even better for birthday or just-because gifts in 2010!
I also love making a ton of the usual treats, shortbread, biscuits, (gluten-free) sago plum puddings, and of course my traditional gift to family and friends is a good old bottle of homemade baileys!! I do however insist that those wanting some provide their own bottles, so usually I end up with the odd whiskey bottle, grolsch bottle and of course the traditional large vodka bottle!! I also (with a little help from my man who has the skillz to operate a scroll saw), made a brooch for my sister - seeing that I couldn't buy her a REAL miniature daschund one out of Tasmanian Blackwood, would do - right?!
Xmas this year was a reasonably relaxed affair, full of food (of course) but with my nasty headcold it wasn't so full of tasty alcohol...so not too much baileys and bubbly for me this year! My lovely partner made a delicious pancake breakfast with lots of cherries and mango in-tow, we had a full on turkey, ham, roast veg and lots of pud lunch at my Dad's (cooked by my very organised and meticulous step-mum), and then a lovely supper at my (as good as) mother-in-law's, with fresh prawns, cups of tea, lovely pate and even more delicious fruit and homemade mini christmas cake (all devoured to the sounds of James Taylor and Cat Stevens)!!Then of course the booty! I got some lovely gifts this year and most of them practical which is even better. My sister's boyfriend's gift definitely topped my list as the cutest thing ever! Not only are they beautiful, but extremely useful. These Russian dolls are actually measuring cups! My old ones are now in a bag awaiting drop off to the nearest op-shop!! How adorable are they - and the tops and bottoms have measurements in them. So there goes Christmas for another year!
Hope you all had a great Xmas, ate too much, caught up with friends, relatives and met new people!

x Han

~Costuming ~ Cosplay ~ Dress Ups ~

I've been a fan of cosplay [costume play, in Japan] and dressing up, well really, since I was a little tacker. Only the last 5 years or so have I actually planned costumes. Most of them live in my study wardrobe, waiting for an opportunity to wear. Some of them get a chance to see the light of day, some of them see the night, some of them might end up at an op-shop or stay in the wardrobe until I can part with them. Most of them are inspired by movies, tv-shows, or recently, japanese lolita-style fashion. My first out-in-public costume was as a fantasy character for a roleplay [D&D style] when I was in my late teens, back when I was a bit more of a geek/nerd than I currently am. It was mostly this long green kaftan with huge jewels on it, a large belt [for my sword] and a transclucent dark plum cape. It was pretty cool, but thank goodness there are no photos, seriously. My first cosplay was 'Kiba', a character from the anime Naruto. I wore it to Supanova back in 2005 I think? It was fun and easy to wear and I got to be a boy for a day, and wear a plush toy on my head, so that was a mini-adventure. At that point I'd managed to watch and get all fan girl giddy, with a Japanese horror film called 'Battle Royale'. I was going to wear it to Supanova, but that didn't happen, so wore it for halloween...minus lots of fake blood, which I had every intention of but was too lazy. A weekend or two prior I got to wear my cutest costume yet. My Alice-In-Wonderland inspired lolita. She's an op-shop altered dress - believe it or not but it was bigger and more froofy than it is, I made an apron, found some stockings, the headband and necklace were garage sale finds and the shoes I already had. It was a fun day of photos, food and fandom.
Plans are for an Alice In Wonderland tea party photoshoot in early January, which I will endevour to make the sleeves of the dress even LESS enormous and style a red wig so that I can better fit in with the Queen of Hearts [inspired from The melancholy of haruhi suzumiya]! It'll be totally nerdy and fun and once again my talented cousin and his talented lady, Emily will shine with their awesome skills!

How Cute is My First Customer!!!

I'm sooo very happy that my first customer received her uber cute kaftan safe and sound! And so grateful she sent a picture ~ love love love her style!

x WearySister

More Culinary Adventures!

Fun in the kitchen with my less tired sibling ~ she made the tastiest kiss biscuits I've EVER eaten, and that's a huge call. Bonus, my cookie cutters got a good workout! Haven't cracked them out in a long time. Most of them are too small for biscuits ~ but then again, I have the ever so large Elephant and it's super cool!

Maccha green tea with melty marshmellows ~ an acquired taste, courtesy of the lovely staff at Sushi Bonza! My cousin, and talented cosplayer, Emily introduced me to this one!

Did I forget to mention my love of Me Wah?! They are the best chinese restaurant in our fine little State of Tasmania. Not only did they make me fall in love with whole cooked flounder, but their desserts are to die for. This ice-cream terrine is lychee, coconut and black sesame, with roasted sugar almonds and strawberries. The Dragon on top is made from chocolate.

Yum, Yum!!

x WearySister

Happy Halloween!!

These are vegan mini chocolate cupcakes with glace cherries inside and iced with a mixture of pure icing sugar, non-dairy spread and soy milk! Spooky vegan cupcakes for everyone! [from left to right; zombie, vampire, victim and hannibal lecter/mighty boosh] The bottom left picture has a special quest...my sister's own creation, demonic prince.

~WearySister

Japanese Food Obsession

This week wearysister has made herself weary, but happy, by making lots of asian goodies!!

I have it all to blame on cooking with dog.

I made red bean paste, and then that moved onto hamburg steak (which has the tastiest onion gravy I have ever tasted in my life!), and today I made tofu dango. I thought I'd share with you my cooking adventure. Now it's not quite as profy as smitten kitchen, but heck, I still hope it inspires you to get into the kitchen!

Tofu Dango ~ Japanese Sweet Dumplings (Note: I halved the recipe given by Cooking with Dog)

Once they are cold, place them onto a bamboo skewer, one of each colour. For the toppings I made crushed black sesame and sugar and a sauce for the one on the middle that is made from gently boiling equal parts of mirin and soy sauce, with a teaspoon of sugar and a little water.

Verdict ~ they are an incredible textual experience!! They have a slight tofu taste, but the toppings are what determines it's main flavour. I really enjoyed these and would love to try making them again, this time with maccha green tea powder to flavour and colour the green dumplings. If you're at all into asian sweets, daifuku and the like, you should give these a go!!

~WearySister

I saved too many snails walking home tonight...!

And I didn't even realise it until the street light bounced off the pavement and there they were...a small army of them! Let's just say the rest of the walk home required a longer than normal stop at the door mat before I entered the house!!

In other news ~ I MADE MY FIRST SALE ON ETSY!! [you can tell I'm excited about it].

A lovely lady from Slovenia [yes, Slovenia], purchased this tasty kaftan from WearySister!

It was really hard to part with this one. I was given it by my sister, it was a lot longer and had super tight elastic in the cuffs. It also had a ridiculously low neckline. I took it up, took out the elastic and hand stitched up the neckline a little...it's still boobilicous without being too silly. The colours are amazing and it's proper vintage, not a copy this one [only the best and cutest in my shop, thanks].

Speaking of cute, I was looking for inspiration for my Dad's birthday and came across this gorgeous thing from SeaGlassDesigns

I love art created out of found objects, it gives me a good feeling [not to sound dodgy, but you know what I mean - yay saving the planet!].

Anyways, probably time I had a cuppa tea [inspired by Sophie]. Lemongrass and Ginger...T2 thanks very much!

♥Han

the pumpkins are gone...

Taken with my first film in my shiny blue supersampler ~ lomo = love

Freesias!!

And spring has sprung into action (despite it still being dreadfully cold here still - what is WITH that!?). I'm gradually picking all of the freesias out of our garden, they are free freesias in a sense that I didn't plant them, they magically appeared...thanks birds and your magic poop?! Either that or it's those damn ninjas again. Speaking of ninjas...there was one in the backyard the other day, hanging out the washing...I mean, he NEVER does this....but now, I have proof (and it shocks me).

Washing Nin ~ Taken again with my shiny supersampler

I hope the washing ninja has friends ~ namely the cooking-dinner ninja and the dusting and vacuuming the house ninja. I can but dream, but at least I have the renovating the house ninja, and for that I am truly thankful.

thank you paypal!

I bit the bullet and took a chance and found I had enough money in my paypal account to pay for a eco-tasty subscription to Peppermint Magazine........lots of pretties coming straight to my door!! Will do a mini-review as soon as I have drooled over [and mopped up] it's eco-savvy pages.

Oh and here's something to inspire ~ taken from Lists Galore!
Clever bento ~ delightful! The eiffel tower is most excellent. Would be a shame to eat but at the same time you got to know what sky really tastes like!

an old favourite

Last week I travelled down to Hobart with my lovely Mum, who had a nursing seminar to attend. It was a dismal day, cold, and wet. We made a short stop half-way as you do, in the lovely town of Ross. A tasty bakewell tart and soy latte later, and we were browsing through "Antiques and Treasures", seriously one of the nicest shops I've been into in a long time! I didn't buy much, but what I did buy was a hanky.
Pocket Art is an Australian product, this design is by Alma B and has renewed my love of the handkerchief! Trying to find a website for the product was difficult though and I ended up on a tangent ~ so please have a look at this great directory for Australian independent designers, artists and craftspeople Indie Art. It will inspire, as will Peppermint Magazine [I'm finding myself lost in the world of tangents...but we're still on topic, right?]
I would like to get a copy...will have to track one down! One of the articles features the lovely Angela White, of Sew Your Own, a great company that produces cute fabric and pattern kits to create totes and plush toys with that slight vintage/Japanese twist. I was given one a year ago and it turned out super super cute! Her name is Miss Loli there's a picture of her in the album on the website! So yes, hankies. I have collected a few over the years. As a little girl I did own one for every day of the week, and you could tell because they had the days on them! Now days I have several larger ones, usually Japanese or paisley-style prints, so finding this new one was great. Having a story on the fabric you blow your nose on is unique! I still have very fond memories of my mum stuffing her hanky down the cuff of her sleeve or strategically placing it down her bra between her breasts. I can safely say that until I have kids, the stuffing my sleeve rule will be observed!

Subtle Vintage Divas

I'm the first to admit that my wardrobe is far from innovative, or even vintage for that matter. To be honest I'm yet to establish my own style so at the moment I'm still very much a jeans and t-shirt kinda gal. I lean towards a little bit of bling, the odd crazy pair of shoes but nothing that says I'm influenced by any era. With that in mind I ventured onto the internet to find some lovely images of two interesting Australian divas of whom I consider have found their own style, rehashed from decades past, but ones that suit them to a tea without being cheap, trashy or over the top. I'm sure both would look beautiful in any of the delicious vintage treats at weary sister...don't you?!

Kate Miller-Hieke [top] and Sarah Blasko [bottom] Both singers are incredibly talented and have a quirky and very artistic eye for details. Their fashion, performance and film clips are perfect examples of this, almost reminiscent of that of Kate Bush back in the eighties and Fiona Apple (less than 10 years ago). I admire artists like these two, they express themselves perfectly without having to compromise their integrity.

~Vintage Fare~

Weary Sister's Etsy Home has just been stocked up with some delightful vintage blouses, tops, dresses and lingerie. Be sure to have a looksie!

too much effort?

A year and a half ago I embarked on a knitting project. A knitting project that gave me sore wrists, black fingers, but promised to be epic. I'd purchased an amazing knitting book by the talented Erika Knight, an author I had spent many an hour flipping the pages of in our local library. Each page shined with projects I myself had had sparks of at some point, such as the cable knit chair cover or the upcycled denim jean bean bag cover, but all pailed in comparison to this project. A shopping bag tote knitted out of plastic bags. My inner greenie has a little squee of excitement at the prospect of using up the last few remaining heavier plastic bags that were contained in our plastic bag bag [made out of an old fabric flour bag with the elastic slowly losing it's elasticity]. And so my quest was clear. Any time I was perched in front of the television or listening to music, I was cutting up the bags into 1.5cm strips and winding them into balls, making sure a nice mix of colours would be included. Once I'd done enough I began the task of weaving them together. I grabbed my op-shop purchased 6.5 mm knitting needles and began.

Quickly I learnt that this was a task that would not only take some time, but that would require a break or two for my hands. The hard plastic, was a lot harder than I expected! Several months into it I got distracted, as usual, and other projects looked more shiny, simpler and faster than the poor tote! But as I pushed on with it every now and then, there was some progress and nearly a year in, I was liking what I saw.
I love the colours and decided the struggle was worth it so far, this was going to be good! I headed straight towards the finish line, after completing the front and back panels I got stuck into the gusset piece which was a lovely meter and a bit long...so that took a little longer than expected. Then I hand stitched the pieces together with strong nylon fishing line and attached leather thonging for the handles.

The finished bag disappointed me and perhaps my expectations were a little high and maybe if I fill it with shopping or knitting things it will suprise me, but to be honest at the moment I feel I need a grandmother to give it to in order to give it some value! Terrible thoughts considering the amount of effort I've put into it. For now it's placed amongst mine and my sister's ever growing handbag collection, and I'm not yet decided as to whether or not it'll get used. If I ever do this project again I know which plastic bags to use and perhaps to make the tote a little smaller. At least I've learnt something and now my wrists can relax a little whilst I head back to using wool for a while!

Have you ever had a project that has not met your expectations? Do you find you learn anything from it or do you just accumulate items for a garage sale that you hope goes home to the right person?!

Rethink, Revisit, Rehash.

I did my usual troll through op-shops [what we call thrift stores], and amongst the late 90's high waisted jeans, target shirts and "I'm with stupid" t-shirts, I found a pair of what I can only describe as fashion-fail, leather pants. You all know the type, because you've all seen them and only imagined the type of person who would have dared to step [well, squeek] out in them.
To my shock and well to be honest a little giggle, they were $2. Two bucks for enough leather to try my hand at sewing with. Enough that may even result in something good to place in my Etsy store...but that is still to be seen to be believed. I have done some wandering through some beautiful Etsy shops and found inspiration for a style of bag that might make best use of the leather I have in front of me. It's thin [ish] and it looks gorgeous when it's pleated. The wonder in this design, from what I can see, is that the bag still holds a really pretty shape, with little to nothing in it and looks wonderfully plump, tulip-like with enough in it. Experimentation ahead. I'll be sure to post any progress I have.