DIY ombre tulle skirt

This week we experimented with dip dyeing a tulle skirt for Moo. I like the look of ombre dyed fairy dresses and skirts you see in costume stores, but don't want to pay that much.

What you'll need:
Tulle skirt - I made Moo's out of two layers of pink tulle.
One tin of dye - I choose Bronze Rose (a reddy brown) Multipurpose dye from Dylon (which I have just discovered the tins are in discontinued)
Bucket
Clip coat hanger, make sure it wider than you bucket.

Instructions:
Make up dye to packet instructions into bucket, filling with boiling water to desired amount you want it to come up from the bottom of your skirt (approx 12cm). Clip skirt on hanger and lower into bucket of dye balancing hanger on top edge and leave for an hour or so. Rinse in clean water and dry.

My ballerina!

what mima read : the sailor

Mima LOVES books, sitting on someones knee and having a book read to her is pretty much her favourite thing to do. She picks a book then says 'knee, knee, knee'.
Each week she seems to have a new favourite so I thought I I would share some with you.
This week it is a much loved copy of 'The Sailor' by Dick Bruna...

The hero of the story has a new boat and travels to a far off land of ice and snow, where he meets Eskimos. While there he enjoys fish stew and a nap. Along the way he also meets a whale. 

knitted things: knives

These knitted knives come from an exhibition opening I went to when I lived in Melbourne when some friends opened a new gallery on Gertrude St, Fitzroy about 10 years ago. I can't remember the name of the artist or the gallery, if you do please tell me?

At the time my parents were doing up their kitchen and my dad though they would be great hanging in the new kitchen.

I've since pinched them on one trip home recently to hang in my own kitchen! I love them.

munch bunch

The Munch Bunch was a big part of my childhood. They sold the books at the supermarket ($1.25) and each week I would get a new book as a treat. I had the whole set and I loved them. One school holidays I even drew the village. I mapped out the location of the houses from the books, each one starts by saying who the character lives next door to, for example 'Pippa Pear lives in a lantern next door to her best friend, Adam Avocado'. I drew all the characters and all their houses.
I still have my complete set of Munch Bunch books and look forward to sharing them with Mima.
I was never a big TV watcher and only occasionally saw the TV version of the Munch Munch but this opening theme is very cool.

rainbow connection : drawings

Moo loves Rainbows, here are selection of my favourite of her drawings.

cushions

As a print designer I am really interested in the process of printing. Over the summer I have been experimenting with block and stencil printing. I had some nice natural linen fabric which I used to print on.
I made triangle printing blocks from wine corks with thick cardboard cutouts stuck on the end. They only lasted one printing session. It was useful to put the ink on a sponge then dab the printing block on the sponge to ink it up.

Clear plastic sheets are perfect for stencils, you can wash them and reuse them. The ink was applied with a sponge.

I also screen printed some animals. Below are all my experiments.

What to do with all these swatches????? My lovely friend Annemaree has just started her own business anne & peg. So I decided to comission her to create large pillows with the swatches for our bed. Which she did beautifully.

Thanks anne & peg x

pork and corriander dumplings

Everyone loves dumplings don't they? We sure do, and regularly go to try out local dumpling places our favourites being Grand Habour for Yum Cha, and Barilla Dumpling on Dominion Rd for cheap eats - it's so bustling with energy. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

I grew up with my Grandad and Mum making huge batches wontons to deepfry or make soup with, they are still the best I've ever eaten. I've made wontons before but couldn't master the fold. I find dumplings however are really easy to make, and cook in a simple bamboo steamer.

PORK AND CORRIANDER DUMPLINGS

Ingredients:

500g pork mince

2 tablespoons hoisin sauce

4 teaspoons fined grated ginger

4 spring onions finely sliced

fresh corriander - a big handful shredded

30 x dumpling wrappers

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. 

2. Take one dumpling wrapper and cup it your hand, fill with 2 teaspoons of pork filling. 

3. Brush edges with water and pinch to seal along top edge.

4. Steam in a bamboo steamer over a pot with quarter fill with boiling water for approx 5 mins.

Makes 30 dumplings

I got my steamter at Wah Lee's. I think I need to go get a bigger one though.

Moo loves them!