Monday inspirations

Baking inspiration for the week:

Words cannot explain how thankful I am that I found this website. If you are a cookie fanatic just click on the link and see for yourself. I lost two days of my life on this site - and they were worth it.  Go get schooled!

University of cookie 

These are just randoms that I quickly linked. My favourite part of the site is that they have instructional videos teaching you cookie decorating techniques. 

Just think about it - tons of talented cookie decoraters and they are giving you instructions FOR FREE!! WHOOOO HOOOOO!!!

Sewing inspiration for the week:

Today's inspiration is a website called madestuff. In particular - sock creatures and monsters - just because most of their facial expressions mirror my mood today (2nd pic). My work schedule changed a little (stuff just happens 30min earlier now) but I feel like a zombie today - I - can - hardly - keep - my - eyes - o...p.......e............n. 
(click on the pictures for the links)



Happy Monday! (hope you are more awake than I am)

Monday Inspirations

Today's baking inspiration is another one about cookie decorating, it's something that lies quite close to my heart and my stomach. The website is called Bake Greek and here are some of the great tutorials that they have so kindly shared with us all. 

Sinking the icing

 

 Drop-icing 

 

 Quick how-to: custom shape stencils

Today's sewing inspiration is not actually about sewing at all...but it does fall under the classification of crafts. Last week a friend was teaching some students and challenged them on how much time they waste, and what distracts them from the actual task on hand. I listened but OF COURSE this doesn't apply to me. So on Friday,  while working on some projects, I lost my way a bit on the world wide web (this never happens ;) and I found a website called Cubee Craft - Take a look at this:

Go and have a look you can make almost any character from paper - I might have spent a few hours on Friday afternoon making Darth Vader, Dwight Shrute, Om Nom (from 'cut the rope') and Wolverine. I still have to do the Ninja Turtles... Distracted? Who me? I have no idea what you are talking about.

Oh and here is a free online version of Angry Birds that Cherie from DragonfliezCreationz so kindly shared with me:)

Happy Monday!

Monday Inspirations

For today's sewing inspiration I thought I'd share something that I didn't know much about until yesterday. Sorry I'm still quite unexposed when it comes to the amazing blogs and websites on the world wide web. Maybe you are too and then you will appreciate this - CRAFT SWAPS!! The name says it all - people from all over the world trade things related to crafts. Lindsay from craftbuds did a great post on it - Click here for the link.

Photos: Flickr

I'm cheating a bit (OK a lot) for the cooking/baking post, but this is something that has really inspired me a lot. A friend recently sent me this video link about reversing diabetes with raw foods. I thought it was SUPER interesting. This is the first (15min) video of a 7 part documentary.

If you have time watch it - I promise its worth it.

Simply Raw Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days (1/7)  

 Happy Monday!!

 

 

Monday Inspirations

Sorry that this is a day late - I was away - BUT I'm back!
Baking:

My students have pictures of macarons on their notebooks, and they make me hungry EVERYTIME I see them, so I actually wanted to name today's post Macaron Monday (if it was actually Monday) - because I have finally received some almond flour in the mail (I have no food processor so mail order is my only option) and now I am one step closer to having those notebook pictures become a reality. I am on the hunt for a good macaron recipe. Here are a few I have found so far. Feel free to link me if you know of some good ones.

Vanilla Bean Macarons

Making French Macarons: instructions and recipes

Making French Macarons for first timers.

I think this one is the best option: Macaron 101

Sewing:

I did a tutorial sometime last year about fabric flowers - and it made me happy to find this a few days ago. The tutorial is pretty similar but way easier - seeing as you can use ribbon. I find myself asking, "why didn't I think of this?"

Luckily some one did. Click here for the link.

The blog is called ribbon flowers - go have a look to see what other flowers you can make with ribbons. And this is their main site - Make bows & more.

Happy Tuesday!

Monday Inspirations

Sewing:

I found this website today and I LOVE what Jennie and Clara are doing on Clover and Violet. 

I am having a 'must have'  moment because I want ALL the fabric that they are using.

They have some tutorials but I was already inspired just by looking at their header.

Here is a quilt tutorial - sorry I'm still in quilt mode...

They also have an embroidery 101 coming up soon so bookmark their page, I already have :)

Cooking/baking:

I am baker is my hero.
Everything she does makes me smile.
If you want some more crazy cake decorating techniques - click here.


Happy Monday!

Monday Inspirations

Sewing:
I have to admit that I never thought I would say this, but... I am thinking of making a quilt. I wouldn't say that I don't like quilts. Just that I haven't seen many that I did like. Or maybe I just haven't been exposed enough to the world of quilting. So I'm trying to get educated.
Here is a link to a few quilting tutorials on tipnut that I am working through on my road to creating my absolutely magnificent piece of art (which is not even in concept phase yet.) If you have any wisdom or tips or links to add, please feel free to do this. All help is not just welcome but desperately needed.


Cooking/baking:

I am slightly obsessed with decorating cookies at the moment (I haven't decorated any myself, yet - I'm still waiting for an order of colouring) BUT beware when I start, get ready to eat my cookie dust. 
Here is a cookie decorating tutorial for you for this week, from Sweetopia.

Happy Monday!

Monday Inspirations

Cooking/Baking:

Today's cooking inspiration feels to me like a REVELATION! I have been moaning about fondant for a few years now - how it looks so pretty on cakes but I DEFINITELY don't want to eat it, it tastes gross, and therefore I have also never wanted to make it
. Darla from my bakingdom has made my week and covered it in happiness. She has taken the marshmellow fondant recipe and made it gooooood.

Here is the recipe for the marshmellow fondant.

Sewing:

Today's blog is quite season appropriate. And since this season has taken its sweet old time to come to Korea, I think its only fair that I harp on it for a while...Bear with me...

Bloom has some good tutorials. I liked this one in particular:

tutorial

I have a thing for journals. I like writing down my conversations with God, not because He forgets what I've told Him, but rather because I forget, and then I miss the things that He is doing around me. I ALSO like buying plain notebooks and doing something with the cover, to inspire me to actually write in the journal - when I eventually get back to SA I might just dig them all up and do a blog post about it.

Happy Monday!

Monday inspirations

Cooking/baking:

My choice of today's inspirational cooking/baking blog was totally determined by the cuteness factor. Bakerella made these Coraline Cookies and because I love buttons, you have to understand how happy EDIBLE buttons make me feel...

On the note of Bakerella - please keep her in your prayers. She is currently waiting for a kidney transplant. If you want to be updated, just check out her blog.

Sewing: 

My sewing inspiration is ever so slightly influenced by my current 'Korean' situation - we have very few chairs in our apartment, not because Koreans don't use chairs but because we can't be bothered to buy expensive chairs if we are not going to live here long term. So I found this tutorial on Cluck. Cluck. Sew and thought it would be perfect to make bigger versions of these as extra seating options. Have a look at the tutorial.

 Happy Monday!

Monday inspirations

Sewing: 

 Craft snob has roped in retro mama (I LOVE her stuff) to do a four part sewing 101 (she started last week).  So if you are like me and could use all the help you can get - go and have a look!

Cooking:

I have spent the past hour looking through evil shenanigans and I now need to get some paper towels to wipe up the large puddle of drool that has collected on my desk.

There are loads of amazing baking and cooking recipes.

 Below is a Black and white gooey butter cake (just the name generates saliva)

and I had to add this ... gooey chocolate coconut bars (maybe I just like the word gooey)

(for those of us in Korea a few substitutes/different brands are in order - but almost everything, except the almond extract,is available at home plus.)

I'm going home to make something gooey now...

Happy Monday!

Monday Inspirations.

Sewing: Today I'm going to let the blog speak for itself... The long thread

Trust me if clicking on that link is the only thing you do today, it will be a day well spent.

Cooking:  Today's inspiration is from the blog chocolate and carrots - drumroll......... the CROWNIE (cookie brownie)

Genius. Pure genius.

Happy Monday everyone!

Monday Inspirations

Sewing:
The sewing blog of the week is called Maggie makes. You can find quite a few good tutorials (I've posted 3 of the ones I liked the most below.) The embroidery heart pin, farmer's market tote and embroidered potholders. Go check out her tutorials! She (Karen) does a new tutorial every month so keep your eye on her blog.

Cooking:

I'm hungry, very hungry. And today's blog has made me want to leave work early and cook.

I love it when food bloggers take photos of each step of their cooking process and that is exactly what Lacey does. Her blog's name is asweetpeachef. If you are hungry and unable to obtain food, I do not recommend looking at this link - you will have an IMMEDIATE urge to eat!

ENJOY!

Monday inspirations

Today's cooking inspiration is specifically for all the foreigners in Korea.
When I first arrived in Korea I found it very difficult to figure out what I could cook (because it can be really difficult/impossible to find certain ingredients) AND I was ....ovenless, as most foreigners over here are. My friend Lindsey helped me soooo much, and I will be FOREVER grateful.
So here is the blog that she started to help us all out.
This is what Lindsey has to say:
"My name is Lindsey, I am a stay home mom living in South Korea. Like Gabi, I too am a blogger. In creating Ovenless Chef, I had the vision of sharing my successes in making some of my favorite "baked goods" without the use of an oven. The blog boasts recipes such as Steamed Dinner Rolls, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles, and One Pot Chili... just to name a few. The blog has now evolved into a form of ministry for me, in that I am able to share yummy recipes with other foreigners who lack an oven or need to spice up thier menu. I have found that many people, including singles, are intimidated by preparing tasty meals without an oven. I myself was overwhelmed when we first moved to Korea. I must admit that our family of three ate a LOT of fried rice and stir frys the first month. Slowly I felt more comfortable with the packaging of Korean food, and familiar with the ingredients available to me. I try to incorporate easy to find ingredients in my recipes as well as notes for finding the more "rare" additions. I feel blessed to have the time at home to be able to minister to others through thier tummies! I hope the site is of some help to those adjusting to and living in Korea... or anywhere else without an oven!

P.S. I am not an actual chef, but hey... it was a catchy title! ;)
http://ovenlesschef.blogspot.com/ ~ Enjoy."

 

Todays Sewing blog is a gem - its called Sew,Mama,Sew! Not only does it have lots of great sewing projects it also has a lot of instructions on basic sewing techniques (for those of us that are learning as we go :)

Here is a tutorial on how to line a bag: (and the bag is super cute)

And here is one on quick piece squares for quilting:

Go and find the ones that interest you - there are tons!!!

Happy Monday everyone (and happy white day to those of you in Korea)

Monday Inspirations

Today I am not doing a baking inspiration (I'm VERY sorry)- just because I want you to understand or process the following website. If you are a parent you might never need to google another sewing website ever again.
This website consumed about a week of my life and it still gets special attention, often.

Its called prudent baby - click on it, but just promise me that after you have lost yourself in it, that you will come back...

Look through it carefully, there are MANY treasures...

The one to the left might not be beautiful - BUT MAN its SUPER handy - make your own body shape, dress form. I'm definitely doing it!!
And here are some of their dress tuts (for little ones of course). If you have a daughter please make some so that I can live vicariously through you :)


Have fun, and I hope you've had a good start to your week!

Inspiration Monday (or Wednesday)

I'm sorry that this post is late - I have just moved and am currently internetless...

Cooking/Baking
I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT TODAYS BAKING POST (hence the caps)
I might just scream out of pure excitement. One of my many weaknesses is cake - and particularly decorating them. Not that I am ANY good at it, but I love trying.
So below is an AMAZING website that I will probably try and make my homepage from today onwards...

These two cakes are just some of the many tutorials that this site has to offer. The first cake is a Chocolate Covered Cherry Cake, and wait for it.... its COVERED in crushed oreos!!! The second cake is a Rose Cake.
So if you are in need of some inspiration, this is where you will get it : I am baker.

Sewing:

At the moment I am on a good handbag, pattern hunt. I need a new one. Mine has served its time and I think it deserves a rest - or to be recycled into something else.

Todays sewing blog is called U-Handbag - Below is one of the bags that you can make if you use Lisa Lam's tutorials.



Have fun sewing and baking :)

Inspirations :)

The past few mondays I have posted some websites that I like and look at for inspiration, so I figure I'll just keep doing it until I run out of amazing websites - it might take a long time.

Baking:
This past week my husband and I celebrated our '1 year in Korea' anniversary, SO naturally I wanted to bake a cake.  A friend told me about this fun website called bakeitinacake.com. The lady who started the website wanted to make something for http://www.thisiswhyyourefat.com/ and people just loved it.
So in honor of the fun and craziness that Korea has brought into my life I decided to "bake it into a cake"
I have to mention that we are moving in a week and I'm currently busy with a 'eat what we have' project to clean out the cupboards - so that is why my cake is so healthy :) (I already cleaned out the chocolates)

Custard, Pecan, Banana, Cinnamon Cake containing a Custard Tart

I have to admit the following photo looks less appetizing, seeing as it collapsed a little when I cut it, BUT that didn't stop it from being devoured.

Go check out the website. You won't be sorry!

Sewing:

This blog is by Kelly, a crafty mom. She has quite a few tutorials which you can check out here. AND this wednesday hex-along that she has joined in on, maybe I will too, I have a lot of fabric scraps. You can see it here at hearting hexies.

This is where the project originated - Wednesday hex-along.

Another story that might be TMI :)

I have only had two sewing classes in my life. One was in grade 4 and the other in grade 8. In grade 4 my teacher tried to teach me how to make hexies for a cushion - she ended up leaving the school , I have no proof but I am sure my hexagonal scrap heap influenced this decision/ possibe change in career choice.  The other lesson was in embroidery. I was convinced I had found my calling, but for some reason no one else shared my enthusiasm. And because I can't find any of these aforementioned art works, I will forever be convinced that they were LEGENDARY!!

So here's to looking forward (to my perfectly aligned hexagonal thingy majig) and forgetting what lies behind (wasted fabric scraps and missing masterpieces - somethings are better left in the past)!