Le cat!

I remember the first time I met Amelie. I've just nervously walked into the clinic for my job interview and sat in reception. I looked to my right and there sat an adorable cat. I raised my hand and placed it 10cm from her face to see how she'd respond. She jumped up and rubbed her face against my hand. And there we began.

A former nurse at the clinic who first took on Amelie at the clinic named her after the French movie of the same name because at the time, she was so cute and dainty. Five cushy years of clinic life has left her far from dainty but she grows more adorable every day. I thought I'd make a tribute to her French roots.

Work/life balance

It's hard for me to fit time to sew around work. I work 8 hours a day at a Vet clinic then get home and all I want to do is sew. I sew for around 5 hours a day when I'm not eating, working or sleeping. I truly love it and time goes by so quickly when I'm in that creative zone. Don't get me wrong, I love being a Vet and going to a place where I can cuddle animals all day and make a positive impact on an animal's life. So how do I find the balance between the two?

At the moment I'm trying to balance being a Vet and doing my feline medicine course and squeezing in a lot of sewing around it. But I'm neglecting my studies a bit because when I get home from work, I REALLY don't feel like doing more Vet work. As a clear sign of defiance I've made the following two tops in the past  two weeks when I really should be doing my assignment. 

Last night I dreamt I was in the middle of a maths exam and all my nails were rotting off. I think the stress of trying to fit everything is getting to me and I have to cut back on something and sadly I'm thinking its the sewing. It's upsetting to think about it but until the assignment is done...I'm going to have to unplug the sewing machine.

How to make a peplum top/dress

As I've mentioned in previous posts dear reader, my mum is a bit of a hoarder. The other day I was over visiting and was just curious to see if she had any leftover material I could use to make some things for my market stall (not like I need anymore since I've got my own hoarding fabric habit). 

Lo and behold, she's got about 20 full rolls of this coloured stretch fabric that she bought for $3 per roll at a closing down fabric store. Apparently she went back 3 times and bought $100 worth which filled up the ENTIRE CAR! So naturally, I took a bit home, perfect for the peplum top and skirt I've been planning to make.

There are some tutorials online but they're not as 'peplumy' as I'd like. I wanted a lot of ruffles! So I made my own peplum pattern using some disposable medical drape material. 

I did make a prototype (see above) but found that the seam at the top was unsightly so I fixed this by adding an inner panel that folded over so the seam was on the inside.The skirt is just a basic pencil skirt which I made a separate pattern for.

Going to the markets

My friend Nancy and I are going to start a market stall. It all came about over brunch the other week at Three Blue Ducks in Bronte. I had the fish, it was delicious. All this yummy energy put our creative brains into over drive and we thought - hey - we have something to offer the world. We can create goods that people may exchange some money for. Let's do it!

That night I was so excited about it I couldn't sleep til 2am, ideas zinging through my head like a neutron in those neutron accelerating machines - just gaining speeding and momentum. Well first I needed to do some research, what things could I sew that people will want to buy, with a personal touch of course. From hours of research on  the net, looking around what's in shops and browsing on the net I've decided I'm going to make a series of Spring collared blouses, peplum tops, pleated skirts and some bow dresses.

Coincidentally, I've recently discovered my mum can knit and crochet. Really well. One compliment one of her crocheted beanies and the following week she's made me three beanies a scarf when I really just wanted one. That's just how mums are - overflowing with love. So I put two and two together and asked her to maybe make a range of something I've always loved - wool cactus. The juxtaposition of something that's supposed to be prickly to something that's so soft to touch is awesome. Here's the first one, you've gotta admit - it's 100% awesomeness.

I've also started the first of my peplum tops. This is just a prototype with some spare material I had around. Hopefully I'll be able to perfect it on the next go. I made the pattern out of spare surgical drape material we couldn't use from the clinic. The plan is to get a market stall sometime in October. 

And lastly I'm re-doing some of my terrariums with some new moss and plants and I'm making some stonehenge figures for it too from polymer clay. Busy busy busy.I'll keep you updated on my progress.

Rose Cupcake with White Chocolate Frosting Recipe

This year I've decided to pay for a long distance feline medicine education course which involves a lot of reading and a monthly assignment to finish by the end of the month.

For the past 15 years I've been a last minute kind of assignment person. I work best in a pressure cooker (yes, I've been watching a lot of masterchef) and July 31st 2012 I was at it again, hurrying to submit my assignment before the stroke of midnight. In order to be this rushed usually involves a lot of procrastinating. I dream of going for a jog, or baking and even at one desperate moment - doing my taxes.

Well today I went for that run and made these yummy rose flavoured cupcakes with white chocolate and cream cheese frosting. I love the first of every month. It's the time of the month that is furthest from having to submit another assignment. Those taxes however suddenly don't look as appealing. Maybe tomorrow.

Cupcakes Recipe

• 120 g Plain flour
• 140 g Caster Sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Baking powder
• Pinch Salt
• 40 g Unsalted butter, room temp
• 120 ml Whole milk
• 1 Egg
• 1/4 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 teaspoon Rosewater 

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 170c. Fill a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases.

2. Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a medium size bowl and beat with an electric mixer on slow speed until you get a sandy consistency, and everything is combined. 

3. Gradually pour in half the milk and beat until the milk is just incorportated.

4. Whisk the egg, vanilla extract, remaining milk and rosewater together in a separate bowl for a few seconds, then pour into the flour mixture and continue beating until just incorporated. Continue mixing for a couple more minutes until the mixture is smooth. Do not overmix.

5. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until two-thirds full and bake for 20-25 minutes or until light golden and the sponge bounces back when touched. A skewer inserted in the centre should come out clean. Leave the cupcakes to cool slightly in the tray before turning out onto a wire cooling rack.

White chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

• 200g white chocolate (I used Cadbury Dream block)
• 100ml Thickened cream
• 250g Cream Cheese
• heat cream in a small pan (do not boil!)

Method

1. Beat cream cheese until smooth and fluffy

2. Add hot cream to white chocolate and allow to sit for a couple of minutes before stirring to achieve a smooth and homogenous consistency

3. Mix chocolate and cream cheese and continue to beat. If mixture is too soft at this stage, refrigerate for an hour and beat to achieve a fluffy consistency.

4. Top completely each cooled cupcake with an elegant swirl of white chocolate frosting. See here for a good video for a rose frosting decorating demonstration.