Quick Food After a Long Day

So after a long, productive and most enjoyable day the last thing I felt like was cooking dinner (as much as I love cooking), I just felt like something quick and simple.... And of course not compromising my health
I decided to whip together a little oven baked egg treat.

M e t h o d :

In a small ramekin dish crack a few eggs, pour in some milk, stick in some greens (left over salad leaves) and crack another egg on top, or grate some cheese (I left the cheese off this time)
Stick in oven till cooked and browned on top
Remove from oven and let it sit slightly (allowing edge to come away from dish)
Run knife around edge and tip onto plate

Buon Appetito 

(good appetite or enjoy your meal)

Here's Mine...

Nice with a sprig of fresh oregano

I am also practicing food photography for a book I am hoping to produce for a Uni assignment
What works? What doesn't?

You're comments are most welcome...

Fashion Sketches

Started... I have always loved fashion sketching and it is one thing that I would absolutely love to be good at, so I have decided to practice and experiment with different mediums etc.
For one of my directed studies at Uni this semester I am hoping to explore more fashion sketching and get some tips from a fashion designer that will help me improve, of course documenting the process as I go along...
I just recently purchased some more Copic markers from Eckersley's in Newcastle so am keen to experiment and master the use of this colour.
So here is the start, my initial sketches

 Btw... I am very open to constructive criticism...

Antique Shopping

I absolutely love spending hours browsing through a good antique or op shop, one of my favorite things to do. Today I finally ducked into the Coliseum in Mayfield, Newcastle, after driving past thinking I must go there... They now have a cafe also, open seven days!!
after spending maybe over an hour... here's what I purchased

Pretty English Plate

Some antique laces

A sieve, I have always wanted one of these sieves!!

Some cute English bowls

An Italian ice crusher

...such good finds...

Can't wait to go back again and browse the little stores

I hope you also find some great antiques!

Excess Basil

Basil is probably my favorite herb, so naturally I would want to grow some of this in order to use it whenever I want.
One thing I especially loved when I moved to the coast is the ability to grow basil and plants all year round!
No more frosts.... the life I had known for 18 years suddenly changed - I planted basil seeds they grew, I used the basil, it went to seed, I would collect the seed and sprinkle in the pot and the cycle started again...
I had basil at every stage

A m a z i n g  I was never without Basil!!

So after 2 years of this I now have quite an excess even after giving many friends basil plants.

 

I invited my cousin and a friend round the other night to have P i z z a with fresca basilico (fresh basil)

and these were the results...

Tomato base, basil, sun dried tomatoes, cheese

Tomato base, olives, garlic, basil, cheese

Tomato base, garlic, basil, sun dried tomatoes, olives, cheese

Have a go at growing your own herbs, that way they will be fresh every time!

Handmade Jewellery

Over the years I have randomly made various pieces of jewellery, some I still wear, others reflect stages of my younger years...
In fact, when I was much younger I used to have a stall with one of my friends at the local markets selling all our beaded jewellery.What fun and wonderful memories...

I  L o v e button bracelets

Jewellery making is one thing I will have to make time for as I thoroughly enjoy making and wearing handcrafted pieces.

 

Hand painted frangipani and brown snakeskin bangle

made on the metal lathe

lathed aluminum rings

 

copper twisted bangles

beaded necklace and bracelet

wire ring made by my sister

I do hope you feel inspired to make your own jewellery out of things you find...

Productive Days

I absolutely love when it when I have a whole day at home with no plans except to do those little jobs that need doing... Productive Days, how good do they make you feel...
So this morning I rose early, cleaned the shower, did a load of washing, grocery shopping, visited medicare, a little op shopping, payed some bills, cooked some biscuits...
and now...
I get to sit down at my desk and do some organising, emailing, blogging, reading, study

accompanied by a pot of Armeretto Tea from the Tea Centre

 and the squisito (delicious) biscuits that I made

Fresh Flowers

How powerful are fresh flowers... they have the ability to completely change the mood of a room. They bring brightness and cheer to dull places, they are able to change our mood, bringing peace and comfort.

They are Fresh Flowers

Created to bring delight to us

Two of my wonderful friends recently celebrated their birthdays and I had decided to get some fresh flowers. Thinking of what my parents had around their yard, there wasn't much... So I decided to be creative and mix some different things together. I was so pleased with the results and so were the Birthday girls...

 consists of: hydrangeas, lambs ear, wormwood and ivy

consists of: white roses, pale blue flower and silver bush

(unsure of names)

 

Back in Newcastle, I was visiting a friend and found these old hydrangeas, so picked a couple for my desk, even though they are old, they are still beautiful and have the same power...

Pick some fresh flowers