strawberries & pins it seams (MS proj#2)

Strawberry Felt Pin Cushion

Tools and Materials
Fabric and ribbon remnants
Sewing machine
Needle and thread
Scissors
Fine sand or emery
#3 pearl-cotton thread or felt, for berries' tops
6-strand embroidery floss, for seeds
Fabric glue

Strawberry Pincushion How-To

1. Begin by printing out our templates. Trace the cone template onto fabric, then cut out the shape. Fold the fabric into a cone shape, right sides facing, and stitch together along one edge, leaving a narrow seam allowance.

2. Sew a loose, even running stitch along the perimeter of the wide opening, which will become the top of the berry. Before cinching the top, place the cone in a small jar or bottle for balance, and fill it with sand or emery, which will keep pins sharp. Pull the thread taut, and stitch the top closed.

3. For the strawberry's top, trace the cap template onto a piece of felt, cut out the shape, and affix it in place with a drop of glue; then sew along the edges with a slip stitch. Or, create leaves by sewing long stem stitches onto the strawberry using the pearl-cotton thread, leaving a loop of floss at the top for a handle. Embroider seeds onto berry using embroidery floss with a single stitch or a French-knot stitch.

http://www.marthastewart.com/

Baby my feet (MS proj#1)

Felt Shoe How-To

1. Use our felt baby shoes templates. Pin templates to wool felt; cut out. To make the heel seam, which shapes the top part of the slipper, fold the upper piece in half, and stitch along the straight edge.

2. Pin the top of shoe to the sole. Sew the pieces together. Turn inside out, hiding the seams. Glue rickrack on the outside or inside rim of the instep, or hole punch a pattern. Sew a button or snap on one strap; make a button slit or sew on the other piece of the snap on the opposite strap. Attach a tiny ribbon bow to the top of each shoe, if desired.

http://www.marthastewart.com

elfin pilgrim-age

With the lovely lass - Liv Tyler fronting the campaigns for the brand - "pilgrim", no wonder this Danish line of jewelry is on the Boeing 777 flight to success. With just one small counter at our Takashimaya department store and rings going for $99 and above, these have already been flying off the shelves with many items out of stock. If i had the moolah, I would get myself the whole set of the "fairy wings" collection. Absolute must have for all you pale-skinned beauties out there, the rose quartz and aquamarine semi-precious gem stone featured amongst the gold butterfly etched out motif conjurs images of pixies in the urban landscape. check out these sites :


1) http://www.treasurebox.co.uk/pilgrim_jewellery.htm

2) http://www.pilgrim.dk/business/Collections/

baoz versus donutz!

Check these out! I would suggest the taiwanese MR BAOZ version as a healthy snack pack on the go for breakfast or lunch, then if you really have 2 hours to burn, then go queue up for your teatime fix from the madly popular DONUT FACTORY at Raffles City food basement. I am sure it will be a hit with the ladies who want variety but watching their weight. Muahahaha :)

paw paw chuckles

hee hee hee

cute little puppy flashing its widest grin and its silent chuckle. what a cutie right ! pups are such darlings to have....they never fail to cheer you up :)

Anthropolog...eeeez

Check out the old world charm of things found in this website. lovely dresses, jewelry and things for the home, a comfort to have and hold in those cold months on end. Snuggle up with a mug of hot cocoa with marshmallows and enjoy a cosy little spree of sorts for the soul.

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp

mind your C & E's

Crabtree and Evelyn is the quintessential toiletry label for a pastel-hued boudoir. The lovely prints found on their scented drawer liners & watercolor illustrations from Laura Stoddart used in their GARDENER'S range, and the scrumptious jams and cookies. The card size scented soap leaves are also a neat addition to your travel pouch or bag.

Check them out at : http://www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk/ & http://www.crabtree-evelyn.com.sg/

r.k.a {really known as?}

r.k.a stands for "R.K. Alliston". A lovely online label that carries the most lovely tableware. Simply adore the illustration on their vouchers and packaging.

Check them out at :
http://www.rkalliston.co.uk/default.aspx

baby food anyone ? carrot time :)

This is a dead simple dish to prepare and from David Rocco's DOLCE VITA episode where he babysat for his friend as a birthday present. the poor baby must have been famished coz he practically lapped up all the carrots.

Tommaso’s Baby Carrots

Ingredients: Yield: 4

• 2 x market fresh carrots, cleaned, peeled, cut into small pieces
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (30ml)
• 2 tbsp freshly grated parmigiano cheese

Directions:

1. In a pot of boiling water, cook carrots for a few minutes until fork tender. Place carrots in a bowl, along with a few tablespoons of water from the pot. Add parmigiano cheese, extra virgin olive oil and mash carrots with the back of a fork. Let cool to room temperature before serving to babies (or big babies).

http://www.foodtv.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=78324

Tiramisuism... ohm..err mhmm...

Tiramisu

how 'bout some dessert therapy after a tough day at work?


Ingredients:

• 2 cups espresso (480ml)
• 1/3 cup sweet Italian vermouth (180ml)
• 40 x Italian ‘Savoiardi’ Lady finger cookies
• 1.1 lb. fresh mascarpone cream cheese (500g)
• 5 x eggs
• 5 tbsp of sugar (75ml)
• Bittersweet chocolate for shaving

Directions:

1. Separate the yolks from the whites into two different mixing bowls. In the bowl with the yolks, add sugar and beat yolk mixture with an electric mixer until consistency is creamy. Add mascarpone cream cheese and mix thoroughly. In the other mixing bowl, beat egg whites until they turn into fluffy white peaks. Carefully fold white peaks into the creamy yolk mixture.
2. In another bowl, mix together espresso and vermouth. Dip cookies in the coffee mixture for a few seconds, making sure they are wet outside but still somewhat dry in the middle. Arrange dipped cookies in one tightly packed layer on the bottom of a cake pan. Pour 1/2 of the cream on top of the cookies and spread evenly. Add a second layer of soaked lady fingers, then evenly spread the remaining cream on top.
3. Plastic wrap the cake pan and leave Tiramisu to rest in the fridge for 3-4 hours. Before serving, sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

http://www.foodtv.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=78324

ck blog debut

Dear all,
this is the first post of my blog. i am not sure what to post yet but i will definitely get the hang of this in no time :) Meanwhile attached is a picture of my favourite hosts in this cooking show - DOLCE VITA. Featured is David and Nina Rocco, producers of this lovely show which makes cooking italian fare such a breeze.

Ah, what a dream to enjoy a nice lunch in the backyard with friends and wine on a lazy afternoon. check out his website www.davidrocco.com for authentic yet simple italian recipes. He has a cookbook coming out soon but for you you will have to make do with the recipes listed on both his website and the food network www.foodtv.ca/default.aspx site,