Recycled Fabric Brooches

I have been looking for some quick and easy fund raising ideas for the community vineyard where I volunteer.  I saw some fabric brooches in 'Homemade Gifts Vintage Style' and thought I would try something similar.

I used a selection of new and recycled fabrics.  I recycled a pair of denim jeans and an old pair of Cath Kidston pyjama bottoms!  To keep the costs down I will probably just sew safety pins to the back rather than buy brooch pins.

They have a rustic, homespun look about them which I hope will appeal to the market I have tailored them to.  I think they would look great attached to a denim jacket or spring coat to add a splash of colour on a gloomy day.

I now have to think about ways in which they could be displayed once I have made several dozen more!  I am thinking of a shallow willow basket where they will be displayed loose rather than in packaging.  What do you think?  Any ideas?

Walking Poetry

Another long walk today.  I came home and wrote a poem about unrequited love.

I wish I had never set eyes on your beautiful face

Your knowing eyes

Your enigmatic smile

I wish I could forget you

I wish I could release my caged heart

And breathe again

I wish the tears would stop flowing

I wish I could stop the yearning

And live again

I wish I had never set eyes on your beautiful face

I wish your beautiful face

Was on mine

Simone Whipp 27 January 2012

Feeling Moody

I like the moodiness of this photo.  The darkness of the clouds in the foreground and the white cloud above drawing your eye towards it.  My moods swing like a pendulum lately.   I always seem so tired like a dog constantly chasing its tail.  Scenes like this give me a moment of calm.

Going for a walk also gives me a sense of calm. It is funny because when I am out and about walking, random words and sentences come into my head.  It is almost as though an older and wiser version of myself comes to give me a message or words of comfort.

Today these words came to me 'keep a twinkle in your eye and a song in your heart and you wont go far wrong'. I had a spring in my step all the way back home.

Looking to the Horizon

I was in a reflective mood as I walked around a local park today.  Looking out to the horizon I felt that this was a metaphor for my life.  Always looking out to the horizon but never quite been able to reach it, for when one reaches the horizon......................it has gone.

Bloggers Beads Reminder

Thank you so much to everyone who has sent me beads so far.  I have even received a bead all the way from Australia!  On receipt of the beads I will send you an email to let you know that I have received it and put your name under my 'Bead Donors' in the side bar.

I will keep this open for another couple of weeks and then I will draw a name from all the people that have sent me a bead and send the winner a little something I have made.  I do hope that I receive enough beads to make my 'Bloggers Beads Necklace'!

Apart from my goal of making 'the' necklace with the help of my blogging friends I have another goal that I wish to achieve this year.  I want to improve my level of fitness.  I decided that I will do this by walking more.

After reading about the merits of using a pedometer (counts the number of steps walked each day) I decided to buy one.  I read that the average person does between 3,000-4,000 steps each day.  Health professionals advise to walk 10,000 steps each day to maintain fitness and 12,000 steps to lose weight.

I walked to the vineyard and back today and this evening my pedometer reads 15,687 steps.  No wonder I am tired!

Chasing Rainbows

I seem to have spent most of my life chasing rainbows.  Today it was as though my mind and body had enough.  Physically and mentally exhausted, always having to be doing something and planning the next move.  Keeping one step ahead.

Yesterday I completed chores that I normally reserve for a Monday so that I could have the day free.  I had planned to get out my watercolour paints again.  I had planned to spend a relaxing few hours with paints, paper and a bit of imagination.

My eyes were so sore and watery I couldn't focus, my mind was jumping all over the place.  I got out a big cover and lay down and fell asleep.  I am so angry at myself for giving in to sleep on such a beautiful day when the sun is shining. 

As I woke from sleep and started thinking about my life of chasing rainbows, setting myself up with unattainable goals and dreams I realised I didn't have to go down that route any more.  There on my blanket a rainbow had come and found me.

Instinctive Cooking

Just recently I have been doing a lot more instinctive cooking and been very pleased with the results.  For years, I have been a slave to the cookery book carefully measuring out and buying the exact ingredients.  I think when it comes to baking a special cake then it is wise to follow accurate measurements but in everyday cooking I don't think it is necessary.

Over the last couple of weeks I have 'instinctively' made a shepherds pie, roast dinner, chicken curry, pizza, bolognese and chilli without referring to a recipe book.  I have just looked up cooking temperatures and timings.

Pizza is getting to be a bit of a speciality.  I just put a quantity of bread flour into a bowl with a packet of dried yeast that has been added to a cup of warm water.  I add a splash of olive oil to the flour and then mix together and knead for about 5 minutes.  I put the dough into a greased bowl, cover and leave for about half an hour or until ready to use.  Meanwhile I prepare the toppings.  I like to pre-cook some of my toppings such as the onions and  sweet peppers which I fry in a little olive oil.

Spread the dough out onto one or two greased baking sheets by pressing down and out with your fingers.  Add a can of chopped (drained) tomatoes on to the base.  Tear up some mozzarella cheese or cheese of your choice and sprinkle over the tomato.  Add any other toppings that you like.  Bake in a hot oven at about 220 degrees C for about 20 minutes.  You will smell the pizza when it is ready!

Have a lovely weekend.  I am off to experiment some more!