baskets

yesterday i bought some more beautiful baskets form our local basket maker :)

carrot scissor pouch tutorial

need: 

- scissors

- outer fabic

- lining fabric - i like to use ikea bolmull

- ribbon or make your own bias tape ribbon ;)

- for template: carboard paper - cheerios box ;) and ruler

1. make a template (sorry, no photo):

 - outline a "carrot" on your pattern-cheerios-box-paper

aprox. 1,75cm larger than your scissors, then cut out.

2. cut fabric:

- using your template, trace 2 outer-fabric

and 2 lining-fabric "carrots"

- cut 2 pieces of ribbon - 15cm long

3. sew ribbon into place with the "right-sides"(if you're

using prints, etc.) of the fabrics facing each other, then

turn inside out.

   

4.  press(iron) so the lining fabic won't be "showing"

when both halves are sewn together

 5. pin both halves together with the right-sides

facing in (linig facing out)

 

6. sew together - carefuly, since you have 4 layers

of fabic...so you don't make overlapping creases

like i did - luckily it doesn't show on the outside!

7. turn right-side out and topstitch and voila!

apple štrůdl beer dough

yes, beer!!!
...i make apple štrůdl (pronouced stroodle - it's like apple pie but in a roll) almost every week and a friend recommended beer dough to me. at first i was a little hesitant - beer, only 3 ingredients and no egg? but i decided to try it and it was the best dough i have ever tried and i'm sticking with this recipe for good!!! so here it is...only i have 4 ingredients, cause i like mine a little sweet(eventhough the beer makes it sweet a little already i still add a tbs of sugar).

400g flour - i use medium(as opposed to finely) ground
125g softened unsalted butter
200ml beer

1 tbsp sugar(optional)

directions:
mix untill smooth and let sit in the fridge - makes it easier to roll out!

note: i'm sure the taste differs a little depending on the beer - i used Svijany - a czech tradtional type of beer. and i would say it's a bit sweeter than american beer.

apple filling:

6-8 apples of choice (my fave is james grieve!)

2-3 tbsp sugar

cinnamon 2tsp
handfull of chopped walnuts (optional)

crumb topping - piškoty or graham crackers

directions for rolling:
- make a strip of apple filling in 1/3 of the dough, leaving
approx. 4cm of the ends blank(they will be tucked in)
- sprinkle a thin layer of crumbs(i just crush the piškoty
with my fingers) on top - to soak up some of the juice
from the apples, so the roll isn'y too soggy)
- fold over the 1/3 flap of dough
- roll over
- add a thin strip of apple filling + crumbs
- fold ends inward
- fold the remaining flap over the top

glaze:
- glaze with a beaten egg
- make fork holes along the top - to let out excess steam

bake:
- 180° C untill golden brown - approx 20 min

dobrou chuť :)

happy valentine's day!

the boys and the deer eating breakfast :)

stuffed fish

ok, so here are the ingredients ;)...

- lightweight paper

- colors - pencils, crayons, paper, etc.

- scissors

- glue stick

this is a project from my FAVORITE craft book: The Best of Making Things: A Hand Book of Creative Discovery by Ann Sayre Wiseman....if you don't have this book, get it!!! - great for making and inspiration! it has illustrated tutorials for tons of creative and educational craft projects, mostly using everyday household items.