Knitted Notebook Cover

I have been looking for a fun little knitting project that will go quickly. I've been working on Baby George's blanket for months. I started casting off only to find I didn't leave enough yarn to finish!!!!! Classic school girl error!!!! I didn't have anymore of that wool so I had to order some! Bah!
The pattern I'm working on is from the Launch issue of Making Magazine.

I'm not the only one working on Knitted Notebook Covers, check these from Shade Tree Art. 

 Here's a pattern you can get on Raverly!

Here's a pattern from Dummies.com

This one is lovely too, another Ravelry pattern. 

Aren't they just gorgeous!
I can't wait to get back to mine! Hopefully we'll have a camera sorted soon so I can show you what I've been getting up to!
I'd love to know what you're working on!

When you've got left over mashed potatoes...

Make potato bread! 

My dear sweet husband allowed me a nap the other evening and he made a huge meal! This was a big deal because Mr Woo does not enjoy cooking....that may be a bit of an understatement. He finds it stressful. I can't relate really because I love cooking and baking and making of any description!
So how special did I feel when Mr Woo went in to the kitchen and started peeling potatoes?! What a guy! Working hard all day and then coming home and cooking!
He went a little crazy on the mashed potato front so there were some left overs. I can not waste. WASTE NOT WANT NOT! And we're  at a place in life where if we waste, we will go without. I think if we're ever in another stage of life that gave us more freedom in the purse I still wouldn't be able to waste.
ANY WAY!
I had these left over smooshed potatoes and we had no bread.

On page 34, recipe 19 you will find a recipe for Potato bread. It calls for 350g of mashed potato...and do you know THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAD!
Wanna make a loaf or round yourself???

Prep Time 25 min, plus rising Cooking Time 30-40min
Makes 1 loaf (serves 8-10)

1 large floury potato such as King Edward or Maris Piper, about 350g (12oz)
500g (1lb 2oz) strong plain white or wholemeal flour, plus extra for dusting
1 sachet (7g/1/4oz) easy-blend dry yeast
2 t salt
55g (2oz) finely grated mature cheddar cheese
1 1/2 t dried herbes de Provence
a few turns of freshly ground black pepper
About 175ml (6fl oz) warm water

1. Grease or flour a baking shee and set aside. Peel and dice the potato, then cook it in a saucepan of boiling water for 10-15min or until tender. Drain well & mash thoroughly and set aside to cool.

2. Mix the flour, yeast, salt, cheese, dried herbs and black pepper in a large bowl. Add the mashed potatoes and work into the flour mixture using your fingers. Make a well in the center, then gradually add enough water, mixing to form a soft dough (I had to add quite a bit extra water to get everything to combine. I ended up adding quite a bit extra flour during the next step to get it to become elastic).

3. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Shape the dough into a round, then place it in a lightly oiled bowl, cover and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size.

4. Knock back the dough on a lightly floured surface, then shape into an oval or round and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Cover and leave to rise again until doubled.

Meanwhile, preheat the over to 200 degrees C/400 F/gas mark 6. Dust the top of the loaf with a little flour. Bake for 30-40 min, or until the bread is risen, golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped underneath. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve in slices.

I added a few extra dashes for herbs and some extra salt & pepper and a bit extra cheese. We like flavor in this house!

It should come out looking a like this! (they slashed the dough with a sharp knife before baking for that fancy bit on top!)

At the moment my dough is mid rise (the first one) sitting next to the pan of tomato sauce bubbling away! It's been unattended while I've been typing so I'd better to check on things! Are you gonna give it a go?

Little Man

This short film is hilarious! What a naughty small man, he reminds me quite a lot of a certain husband!

Button Bag

This baby is PINK & PROUD OF IT!

vintage buttons & cuuuute apple fabric lining and strap

button bunny tail :)

A custom order, this bag took me ages (two months) to knit! I started to sort of hate it I have to admit, but all was forgiven when I got to sew the buttons on! I can NOT get enough of vintage buttons! I was delighted with the apple fabric too! It's a nice heavy cotton canvas.
I said I'd never make this bag again, but now looking back at the photos I might just give it another go. I do like it, especially the moss stitches on the bottom :)
Maybe I'll just do a tiny one for a little purse. That won't take nearly as long right?! But I must finish Baby George's blanket first!
I'm just about to get showered, put on twin peaks and get knitting! *Knit 3, Purl 3*....

Off I go!

Tim Holtz Autograph!

Back in December I won a big prize! I totally forgot I'd even entered the contest on the Sizzix UK website! I was so surprised and excited! And then I couldn't remember what the prize was. How typical is that?! I racked my brains and trolled the website, but, no luck. I was too embarrassed to ask what the prize was so I just had to wait for it to arrive.
Turns out the prize was a set of Tim Holtz embossing folders, plus HE AUTOGRAPHED THE PACKAGE! Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

can you see the piggy bank ears that the package is resting on???

Well. Guess what?...I need a few more driving lessons more than I need a set of Tim Holtz autographed embossing folders. Can you believe it?!
My driving lessons are £25 each. The written bit of the exam is £31...and I'm not sure how much the practical bit of the test is, but I've been told it can cost about £500 to get your license!
To help pay for a driving lesson I've decided to put these up for sale on ebay. Shipping is free in the UK!
So, if you are a Tim Holtz junkie, this is soooo for you! Check out the auction here!

Cheers!

Better Late Than Never?

Is it a good thing? I'm not sure, but it is pretty much the story of my life! I was born late. I was a late bloomer. I got hitched later than most of my friends. I've lived in the UK for going on 6 years and am just now starting the process of getting my drivers license. I'm about 3/5 of the way through baby George's blanket and he was born in January. I just posted my wedding photos on facebook (only 2 yrs late!). AND I'm just now posting the the photos of my BIL's birthday cake that I promised!
His all cadbury's chocolate cake! He insisted so I went a bit over the top! Ha!

can you work out the scale of that mammoth?

cake or biggest whoppie pie ever?

can you name all of the chocolates on top?

Next up was a Guiness cake....it disappeared before there were any photos....

Pretty & Practical

Hello friends! I've been doing a lot of work at my Mother-In-Law's house over the past few weeks to help get her house sale ready. I've been bagging and boxing and burning like mad! Too bad there's not a photo of me in my dust mask!
In my free time I've been travelling to Stoke-on-Trent with my Brother-In-Law for his Royal Air Force interviews and exams. Phew! I'm pretty darn tired!

While clearing out I came across a vintage drying rack! It is standing in the bath tub at the moment...drying. I scrubbed it down with sugar soap and old dirt and dark green paint came off in puddles on my kitchen floor, yuck!

I've picked out a gorgeous color to paint it once it has dried.

My fave green. The one I'm using is Japlac "Lovely Olive"  :)

I have trouble getting photos uploaded from my phone to the computer so alas I will just have to show you some gorgeous vintage drying racks I've found online until I can get photos of mine up *sigh* enjoy ~

How futuristic 50s is this one?!

I love this French Beauty even though it looks like a torture device! 

 

 

that's the kind that mounted to the wall.

pretty!

I'll keep you posted on my progress!