Decadent Berries

With the summer berry season starting to draw to a close,  I wanted to enjoy the last of them in a truly luscious dessert.  I chose fresh South Island cherries and local blueberries for the topping, served with our own home grown strawberries on the side.

It was so good - I am including the recipe so you can enjoy it too!

The basic tray baked meringue recipe I sourced from Jamie Oliver's book - Jamie at Home which I received as a birthday present last year.    The recipe looks long - but it is very simple and easy to make!  Here is my slightly modified version.

• 4 large egg whites
• 1 1/4 cups raw sugar
• Pinch salt
• Block of good quality chocolate, melted
• 1 1/2 cups cream
• 2 ounces icing sugar, sifted
• Zest of 1 orange
• Assorted berries

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F and line a baking sheet with a sheet of waxed paper. Whisk your egg whites on medium until they form firm peaks.  With your mixer still running, gradually add the sugar and pinch of salt. Turn mixer up to the highest setting and whisk until mixture is white and glossy.  Pinch some between your fingers - if it feels completely smooth it's ready; if it's slightly granular it needs a little more whisking.

Spoon onto baking paper. Using the back of a spoon, shape and swirl it into a rectangle. Bake for 1 hour or until crisp on the outside and a little soft and sticky inside. 

Whip cream and icing sugar until it forms smooth, soft peaks. Spoon over the cooled meringue.  Add berries and drizzle with melted chocolate and zest. Serve straightaway. If you're making this in advance, get everything ready and assemble at the last minute.

Yum.

Bay Birthday

We had a family birthday recently and instead of buying presents so close after Christmas we decided to gift a "mystery tour".

Internet research found us a little known bay just 25 minutes from where we live that none of us had ever been to!  We picked a little picnic afternoon tea, sunscreen, thermos and books for some relax time after the stroll along the beach and back through the pine grove.

What a lovely time we all had.

Red Shoes

I love red velvet and armed with requests for red shoes, today I played around with a new Mary Jane style using some of the lovely red velvet my neighbour gave me a month or so ago.  You might remember the red velvet cape?

I think red shoes look gorgeous paired with denim.  

Another pair of these will be in my shop update this week.

It really was a "shoe day" today as I was also busy finishing off an order for Tuatara Design Store, a lovely shop in Whangarei which has recently started to stock my little shoes too!

Pickings

 Our tiny little garden is producing wonderful things at the moment.  Heirloom tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, a variety of coloured greens, lush herbs, pepinos...

I am loving being able to slip out the door and pick a selection for our lunch and dinner - such a pleasure.

Smiling moments

Smiling moments

Discovering a new life growing inside me

Finding out we are having a little girl
Sharing this amazing journey with my incredible guy.

My honey took these pics of me on the couch last night.  I normally steer clear of pics of myself, however, wanted to document these lovely shape changes.

This will be year of excitement starting with her arrival in March.  I imagine I won't have as much time, however I do hope to reserve a little for crafting and blogging.

I do so enjoy your company my friends.

Felted Flowers

For a while I've had a hankering for needle felted flowers.  I like the way there are no visible joins and no stitching - completely seamless like a real flower.  A lovely use for a recycled sweater.

Santa bought me a needle felting kit for Christmas (amongst all sorts of other crafting goodies) and I wanted to make it one of my first projects for the new year.

I started with a gorgeous angora sweater that I found in a thrift store for 20c.  It had shrunk and sported a few little holes so I didn't feel bad about cutting it up. Washed and dried on the hottest settings "felted" it nicely so the fabric didn't unravel when I cut it.

Starting with a large circle for the base, I gradually needle felted the petals on, one by one, finishing with the little crinkly bit in the middle.

I love the way this one turned out and can't wait to make some pint sized ones to use on the toes of some woolen baby shoes and baby hats for some extra adorable snugly goodness.

Here's to 2011 being another really enjoyable crafting year.

Thanks

I spent the morning organising files on my computer, and found myself enjoyably distracted, sifting through photos of my work from last year.  It is lovely to look back on your work and remember the enjoyment of crafting each item.

Here is a little selection of items I made for friends, family and my little shop in 2010.  

Thanks so much for your support of my handmade venture over the last few months.  I appreciate all the feedback and enjoy reading each and every email.  

Thank you friends of Big Little, you are the best.

Lx

Spinning Wheel

As a child, I was always fascinated by the rhythmic motions of Gran's spinning wheel.  Watching her spinning was so therapeutic and I believe she enjoyed her craft until quite late into life.  Since Gran passed, my aunt has also taken up the tradition of spinning.

Whilst on our summer road trip, my honey and I found a gorgeous spinning wheel for sale which reminded me of her.  He was interested in it as a piece of furniture and I was keen to one day give spinning a go.  (Owning our lifestyle block with sheep and alpacas, spinning the wool and making my own garments may be a while off, but dreams are free...)

We bought the wheel for a bargain price, but with no guarantee that it works.  I have absolutely no idea how to spin, however, after a good cleanup, it now smiles at me with the anticipation of a new hobby waiting to be discovered.

Summer

 

Summer 2010 meant lovely relaxing days poking through vintage shops, eating fish and chips on the beach, feeding the ducks, chasing trains and visiting relatives.  Our road trip around the lower North Island was just perfect.

Such an amazing feeling having my honey to myself for weeks with no schedules or plans, just taking each day as it comes.  I guess when our first little one arrives in March our lives will change considerably.  Each day was enjoyed with an added pleasure.

I hope you enjoyed your summer break, and I'm so glad to have your company again in 2011.