Brownies!

I LOVE brownies!
I think when it comes to chocolate cakes (apart from my mums awesome chocolate cake which I will share with you at another time) I think brownies are as good as it gets. I was inspired recently after watching Huey to make some really easy simple not a lot of ingredients brownies.

The only problem was I couldn't find a recipe that didn't call for a block of chocolate. Chocolate does not last long in my house! N just LOVES it (in a similar way to how I love brownies) So I needed to find a recipe that used cocoa instead of chocolate.

A little scouring of the universe and here's what I found. Its fantastic! It's a variation on the recipe found here

Ingredients

1 2/3 cups sugar

180g butter melted

2 tablespoons water

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/3 cups Plain flour 

3/4 cup Cocoa

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Icing sugar

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking pan. 

Combine granulated sugar, butter and water in large bowl. Stir in eggs and vanilla extract. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; stir into sugar mixture. Stir in nuts. Spread into prepared baking pan. 

Bake for 18 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into bars.

Nom Nom Nom

Knitting like a beginner... again

Hey there.
I am so sick of seeing all these beautiful patterns for gorgeous jumpers or jackets (its Winter here in Aus) and then getting all disappointed because they are knitted and not being able to make them.
SO...I decided to re teach my self to knit.
The truth is, I did learn YEARS ago off a friend of my Nanna's. I can still remember sitting in her lounge room while she taught me how to do it.
I've never knitted anything that needed shaping before, so in true me fashion, I have bit off WAY more than I can chew. It was even more stressful when I broke the needles half way through a row!
I'm making this cardigan from a pattern released by Deramores. I got it through Ravelry. (The link is here). If you are into knitting or crochet. Ravelry is a really fantastic site.
I hope it turns out well as it is a little bit complicated I am thinking now I look at it. I'm almost to the point where I need to start decreasing! (aahhhh!!!)
Hope you enjoy watching it appear!
xox

Back panal

Baby Ezra's Blankie!

Well... it's finally finished!!
After SO much time and frogging and undoing the joins 4 times Little Ezra's blankie is all finished!!!
I made it using a pattern from
"Interweave Presents Crocheted Gifts eBook: Irresistible Projects to Make & Give", which you can buy here. I used cheap nasty 8 ply yarn that was $2 a ball from my local $2 shop, but it is beautiful and soft and gorgeous!
Hope you love it too :-)
xox

After a long time absent.

Hi Friends
Well it has been a long time since writing, and the truth is I never thought having one extra person in our family would take up so much of my time. After meeting with my craft group this afternoon (and doing about 20 stitches in my crochet project because of a very happy and wavy bubba, and listening to them all talk about their blog (and being a tad stupid about my own,) I thought I would try to be more diligent in writing some things for you to amuse yourself with reading.

Since last time I wrote, I have completed a basic sewing course. It was run by Jodie at The Haby Goddess and I have to say it was one of the best online courses I have ever completed, and being a teacher, I have completed a LOT!! It was called Sew School Online. It taught all the basics, and consequently I am now quite an excited little sewer and have made a few things. Here are some photos

A hat for Miss C

I love making bunting. This is the first lot I have ever made.

All ready to hang up! 

A doona cover for Miss C

My new baby!

More Bunting!

More Bunting

Drawstring Bag that I use to carry Miss C's toys while we are out.

A bunny for Easter and a cushion cover.

Skirt and Nappy cover for Miss C. (I got a lot of use out of this fabric)

My Sock Monkey! I just love her!! I made this as part of a competition run by Zak Design Dolls

I am now doing a couple of courses on Craftsy. Most of them are free, but the Overlocker Basics course is brilliant.

I know that online learning may not be for every one, but I think it is such a great way to learn!

I'll try and post more often.