The gingerbread recipe
December 16, 2011
As promised to many, here’s my gingerbread recipe. It’s been lovingly tweaked and tested over the years and works really well for houses and biccies like the Reindeer cookie above (inspiration from Meet the Dubiens via pinterest). These were devoured at work when I took them in, thanks Lizi for the photo!
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Gingerbread Recipe
Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until completely dissolved then remove from heat and set aside to cool for a few minutes.
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Combine cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt and bi-carb soda in an electric mixer bowl and add the cooled butter/sugar mix. Combine.
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If you have one, use the dough hook on the mixer. Using a medium speed, add the flour to the other ingredients. Mix until well combined. If you don’t have a dough hook, use beater attachments until the dough becomes too heavy at which point bring the dough together by hand.
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Roll out between two sheets of baking paper until it’s around 8mm (1/4 inch) thick. Cut out desired shapes and bake in an oven at 180 degrees for between 8-20 minutes depending on size of pieces. I find 8 minutes for biscuits, around 15 for larger house pieces works well.
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Gingerbread dough can be used immediately or can be frozen (wrap tightly in cling film and put in a zip-lock bag).
Enjoy!
The craft study paint job
December 8, 2011
No sooner had we torn the study apart than I realised I hadn’t taken a before shot of the craft study. Luckily for me the 4-year-old has a habit of taking random photos on my phone so here’s his version of a before shot. I think chaos would be a fair description. Also shows the big kid’s “reportage” style of photography. Note to self to watch that early in the morning when coming out of the shower.
Game on…
According to Mr Schmaft I’m terrible at painting. There was a moment of being mortally wounded by such a comment. Relief quickly followed as the Mr insisted on finishing the job himself. ummm…. OK!
Thank you Mr Schmaft 
The big kid and I are very taken with the aqua (it’s Dulux Gondolier). Now onto a new desk and some mid-century accessories.
There’s no place like gnome
December 6, 2011
So cheesy, I just had to use it for a post title. In the spirit of vintage Tuesday here’s where my little gnomes are at:
Beginning to look a lot like Xmas
December 1, 2011
I love Christmas. I the carols and the candles, the presents and the pudding, but most of all I love the creativity (just call me Wombat Devine). There’s no way on earth I’m going to get through the list of things I’d like to make this year but I’m happy to report that the advent calendar is in full swing and the ALL important gingerbread house has been designed. Sadly last year I missed the house making because we had to move house on the 21st of December. Well this year I promise to go completely over the top to make up for it.
Sketches have begun, templates have been printed. I’m going with a Mod Gingerbread House (2o09 house here) again but upping the ante. This year it’s Seidler house inspired and involves a rocky outcrop of rocky road and a pool in the backyard. You heard it here first sista…
Vintage Tuesday: Gnomes
November 22, 2011
Once upon a time, some time in the late 70s, my grandfather gave me a book about Gnomes. I thought it was amazing and gazed over every details of gnomes and their littel wives. In fact I still have that book today. A couple of months ago I found this cross stitch pattern in a thrift store. Oh my… what a find!!
Now I know that not everyone is into cross stitch (a thought confirmed on my recent crafty weekend away, next blog post will be all about it!) but for me cross stitch is like meditation. I love watching the image unfold before my eyes with each repetitive stitch. I don’t even mind the counting – it’s not like trying to figure out a garment pattern or softie construction, it just happens on automatic pilot.
I spent the last two blissful weeks in Thailand. Man did I need a holiday. I snuck in a bit of cross stitch between swimming, playing and eating.
Beginnings of a craft room
October 18, 2011
There are many rooms in our new house that need doing up but all of those can wait because there’s a craft room. My other half is referring to it as the “study”. I’m humoring this approach but really, between you and I, it’s going to be a craft room – perhaps with a shelf for his business books (oh I’m going to be in trouble for writing that!). I started out with a vision of a dark blue on the walls, contrasting with white woodwork. Lovely idea, looked hideous when I painted a sample on the wall.
Then I moved on to aqua. It’s tricky, Aqua. Too light and it’s a bit girly for me. Too dark and it’s a bit peacock. I love the way it contrasts with walnut polished floorboards and the way that white just pops against it.
So I’ve settled on gondolier (the top one) with white woodwork and walnut floors. It’s quite a statement but I’m feeling brave. Now to find a spare weekend to actually paint it!
Botanika charm clutch
October 3, 2011
The gorgeous Botanika by Paula Prass arrived and this weekend I managed to steal enough time to finish the charm clutch. Oh it feels nice to have dusted of the machine and finished something!
I’d definitely recommend the pattern although next time I’d use a heavier fabric to avoid the multiple layers of fusible interfacing.
Decoupage victory!
September 25, 2011
Goodbye craft fail, hello decoupage placemat! Just 3 more to go for the set but I’m happy to report that I have managed to get the map onto the old placemat and put two coats of sealing glue on top without wrinkling and bubbles. Well, thank god for that.
I have to say that with access to an adhesive machine at work I may cheat and stick the next three down without glue but for today, victory is sweet. Thanks to Tas of Litte Boozle for the tip on applying the glue to the paper first, genius!
Oh I shouldn’t have…
September 20, 2011
I just couldn’t help it. I fell in love with Paula Prass’ new Botanika fabric. I even slept on it last night, woke up this morning and still had to have it. That and an Amy Butler pattern for The Charm Clutch. It’s not even my style but the thought of a bag with contrasting botannical illustration and that chevron, perhaps lined with black linen just does it for me.
The watercolour fabric experiment
September 18, 2011
I wasn’t sure how this would go, not having touched watercolours since uni. On Saturday I pulled out the heaviest card stock I had in my hoarded stash from uni days (yes you read that correctly, I have been hoarding said paper for over fifteen years). A couple of rough brushes, one stolen from the kid’s crayola set, and I was set. The thing about painting is that there’s no undo button. After years of designing on computers this tends to freak me out, even though I know that the greatest beauty is often in mistakes… unintended. I tried to do these quickly without too much thought and parts of them are terrible but I think there are enough little gems to warrant scanning them in and seeing what I can layer together for a digital fabric print.
I like the swirling, curved lines but I have a feeling that the more square and geometic ones will work better on fabric. 
Hello. My name is Claire. I have a sock toy addiction. It began two years ago when I was pregnant and nesting. At first I dismissed it. I hadn't sewn in years. "Craft Schmaft" I said. Well it seems this crafty thing is here to stay. This blog brings you the delights of making sock softies, fabric finds and crafty inspiration from round the interweb.
