Thursday, October 14, 2010

My creative space.

In my creative space today I am slowly, slowly knitting away at my Tea Leaves cardi.

I am making a start on my softie for Mirabel.

I am wondering how many times I can sew the shirring elastic onto the right side of the dress, unpick, sew the shirring elastic onto the right side of the dress, unpick...before I get it right.

And, as usual, I am trying to find creative ways to compete with the fancy packaging and heavily branded lunch box treats that my children think they are missing out on.

These chippies are made using Mountain Bread painted with olive oil, a sprinkling of salt, cut into squares and baked at 160 degrees for four minutes.

You should try them. My kids love them.

So what's cooking in your space today?
I'm heading over to Kirsty's to check it out.
Have a happy Thursday. X

ps. Today there are 2,630 emails in my inbox. That's 226 less than yesterday.

44 comments:

  1. Those mountain bread chips look fantastic - they'd be so good with guacamole. I used to live in the same street as the mountain bread bakery in Brunswick.

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  2. yum - we've even got a couple of pieces of mountain bread to use up... thank you!

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  3. yumm, could have some now!
    Going well with that email count :)

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  4. What a gorgeous color your knitting your Tea Leaves cardigan in Kate, is it luxury yarn or something else. Is that the doll from Lucinda Guy's book that you liked, it will turn out super cute. Love the colors your using for it too, which reminds me I need to post off my softie shortly too. The mountain bread chips sound great, might be a great idea for my kids too since they are always starving!

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  5. oooh - lots going on at yours!
    (Love that green you are knitting!)xx

    *and you've reminded me that I should be starting on the softie for Mirabel too!

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  6. Congrats on the lower email account. You could always make a feature of the shirring elastic and just tell people that is how it was meant to be. lol I am sure that in the mid '70s they had coloured shirring elastic and it got sewn on the outside of commercial dresses. Cherrie

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  7. Intriguing...Mountain Bread...never heard of it here in the states. I'm going to track some down!
    Jana

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  8. great idea with the mountain bread! I'm definitely going to try that for my girl's lunch boxes!! Thanks for the tip!

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  9. Love the colour of that wool too! I knitted the tea leaves cardigan too but ended up putting more button holes down the front for work.

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  10. Ok - i'm heading to the supermarket today (which I really was trying to avoid) to buy mountain bread as I really need to make some of those chips for me!!! In week two of a health kick, and I am desperate for chips, so I think making my own is the only option!

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  11. I love mountain bread chips too.
    Abbe and I discovered in Spotlight the other day thastvshirring elastic comes in a multitude of colours and I also read some where that you can sew it on the front of the fabric as a special effect. Haven't tried it myself, you can start the trend!

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  12. Mountain bread looks super yummy, and I'm still giggling about the sewing onto the right side - I do that too ;) Really loving your tea leaves cardi and the softie project is looking mighty fine too - love those colours together :) Have a fabulous week. Kx

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  13. Those snacks look delish...Love the look of your yarn projects too.

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  14. we make those aswell with pitta bread, they are pretty yummy.
    tea leaf cardi sounds very cool.
    hope you are having a calm day today with lots of smiles & cups of coffee.
    hugs


    edited to add word verification
    'calmase' calm as ;)

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  15. I'm loving the colour of your knitting, and it's looking stunning already, can't wait to see the cardi.
    Loving also the gorgeous colours for your softie, can't wait to see that either.
    hope you are having a wonderful day xo

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  16. Yum...those chips look delish! (As does your cardi...

    Way to clean out the inbox, Kate...slow and steady!

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  17. email count is that the amount of email you get per day???
    I love the green colour for the cardi. And can't wait to see your finished softie :-)

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  18. I love anything with shirring! I bet it'll be worth your efforts. Your softie looks like a cutie too & that cardi is just gorgeous..

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  19. oh those mountain bread chippies sound perfect!! We always have leftover mountain bread that is a little crisper than it should be.

    My problem with shirring is that I always underestimate how much is left on my bobbin and run out half way through a row.

    The tea leaves is looking gorgeous!!

    I'm the same with emails ;)

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  20. You truly are a force to be reckoned with. First you sent shivers down my spine when you mentioned "tea leaves" (one I want to do but don't reckon I could) but then you said "shirring elastic" and I wanted to put a pillow over my head! Arrrgh! That stuff scares the crap outta me! You truly are a a fearless superhero crafter.

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  21. As usual I am super jealous of your creative space. One reason why mine is not so prolific though is because I hate to undo things when I get them wrong. I really need to get over that! Lovely things you have there.

    We used to do a similar thing with a lemon pepper mix, possibly not so good for children with the pepper but very nice as well.

    Lunch box certainly is a challenge. Great idea.

    Now I need to get off the computer again and make the most of my last couple of child-free hours. Has been lovely so far.

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  22. yummy looking lunch box treats, you are a fab mum, your kids will look back and appreciate their non commercial lunches one day!

    love the cardie, have been thinking of starting that one myself

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  23. I like the look of the doll you are making, lovely stitches! Are you having a good day? Hope so, might see you in the morning.. xo

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  24. The cardigan is gorgeous - will check out the pattern later. The mointain bread chips sound delicious - will have to try them out on my kids.

    Lovely space as always (and I hope the shirring works out for you)

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  25. Great idea with the snacks. There is so much over packaged branded stuff around- I can't bring myself to buy it. I am definitely going to give your mountain bread chips a go!

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  26. That softie looks interesting.

    You're doing great with those email reductions!

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  27. those chips look delicious and i'm really excited because i have ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN THE HOUSE!
    sorry that was a little over-excited perhaps but i'm using any excuse to not study at the moment... perhaps i should make a softie too ha ha.

    you are absolutely powering through those emails. i feel kind of bad for commenting and causing another one though, so sorry!

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  28. Those mountain bread chips look yummy. I've used pita bread before which is also nice but I will give these a go. Your cardi is a gorgeous colour too.

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  29. The chippies look delicious.
    Glad you are plowing through your e.mail list, trouble is we all keep commenting and pushing it back up again!

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  30. Lemonade Scones:)
    THe Mountain Bread looks good - have some hommus here that would go great with them:)

    I am with you on the over packaged rubbish that other children get too.

    A - "I want these Mum" (Pony Biscuits - talking 5 in a packet)
    Me - "No"
    A - "Why not - all my friends have them?"
    Me - "Well all your friends must not have Mum's who cook yummy things with them so you can talk nice and healthy things to Kinder?"
    A - "But - such and such and .... have them" As I continue walking up the aisle.

    Brown paper bags and stickers sometimes work for a treat too:)

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  31. I have bought the pattern for the tea leaves cardi - but will only start it once i've finished my tappan zee cardi (i'm up to the 'just knit, knit, knit part).
    those mountain bread chips look yummy - we make them with wholemeal pita bread too and they are fabulous as well.
    l
    x

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  32. I have knitting envy. Green knitting envy too! Good bloody work on the keeping the kids happy w lunch box treats-such crap they put in those so called mueslis bars and stuff. And don't even get me started on pink coloured dips served in plastic containers w hydrogenated oil biscuits- bluerk! Well I shall dismount from my soap box balncing on the high horse now, and go have a crack at making these mountain bread snacks- yummo!

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  33. Thanks for reminding me about the mountain bread chippies, haven't made them in ages, but they are yum.

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  34. aren't our poor kids tormented with this packaged stuff. i have been brainwashing them about environmental damage of single serve packaging for years.

    your chippies sound awesome!
    we tried parsnips like that a few weeks ago - same recipe and they were hoovered up(they didn't even realise they were vegies).

    gordon bennett ! your email is HUGE - goodluck filtering that :)

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  35. I'm so glad I've just discovered your blog! Makes me smile :) Those chippy chips look delicious! I'm always on the hunt for tasty ("healthy") snacks! I've no idea what "mountain bread" is..but am away to find out! :)

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  36. That fight against the packaged lunch box treats is a hard one. Might just have to give those chips a try - they look nice and easy.

    That is a lot of emails - good luck!!

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  37. Neeeeeeeeigh!
    It all happens at Foxs Lane :o)
    Them chippies look good.
    Abs x

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  38. Oh I'm so relieved I'm not the only one with way too many unanswered emails in the inbox. I'm actually tempted to delete the whole lot and start again!

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  39. Ooh, I'm liking the looks of things around here. Your hands must be as hummingbird wings, always moving.

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  40. Wow, your creative space is very creative indeed! I too often have to wonder about competing with fancy packaging and heavy branding - my little girl gets very frustrated sometimes that she is not allowed many bought things because of her nut allergy. But I try hard to have lots of "our version" of the treats she sees her friends have so at least she is not missing out completely. I've also been blogging her lunchbox each Friday if you are looking for some ideas or inspiration. And we have tried those mountain bread chips at our place too - they are a firm favourite for adults and children alike!!

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  41. I love, love the tea leaves cardi - it's coming along great guns! And am I right in guessing thats Bendigo wool in Forest green? I'd recognise it anywhere after staring at it so much for my dolores dress project!

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  42. Those chips look delicious. And that cardigan is turning out great. I love the colour!

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  43. What a beautiful space you have here today. The green of that jumper is beautiful:) Thanks for the idea of the chips. I really like this one, I'm always on the look out for good ideas. I posted some yummy treats for lunchboxes too the other day, iron booster balls, they're pretty yummy too. xo

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  44. If you are in the US-I found Mountain Bread in the refrigerated section at Whole Foods.

    And I have tried using Lavash Bread from Trader Joes-it's bit thicker but it makes great chips none the less. Spread with softened butter, cut into chips, salt and cook for about 9 minutes at 350 degress.

    Squeeze on some fresh lime after cooking...delish!
    Jana

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Thanks so much for stopping by...

I do read every single comment you leave and appreciate it very much, but I should let you know that I can be a wee bit on the useless side when replying to comments, that's just me, everyday life sometimes gets in the way....so I'll apologise now, just in case.

Kate XX

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