Bandannas for boating - my creative space

Maybe not so creative but it involves scissors, measuring and cutting!

And 10 metres of fabric!

Making bandannas for my dragon boat race team for the Dragons Abreast event on Sunday at Darling Harbour in Sydney.
Here are the 22 triangles I cut - they are a bit rough and ready - but should do the trick.

Dragons Abreast raises funds to support those affected by breast cancer.

If you are in Sydney come along and cheer us on - there will be races going on all day from 8.30 to about 3pm I think.

On other matters I am going to a local school fete at Springwood on Saturday. They are calling it Festival of the Green and it's a huge celebration of growing and gardens - Costa from the TV is going to be there and they are having gardening workshops and all sorts of things.

So I thought these sweet flower bracelets from a pattern designed by Stephanie Eddy would be appropriate.

I'm joining in with My Creative Space hosted by kootoyoo over on Village Voices - pop along and have a look why don't you!

Faces on the street in India - Wordless Wednesday

This week's winner

....is Julia.

Many thanks to everyone who visited and left comments. I value your contributions greatly.

What to blog about?

When I first started blogging I wondered what on earth I would find to blog about!
But here I am - 4 and a half years and over 600 posts later - still blathering on!

So, what to blog about?
Here are some of the ideas for blog content that I have collected.

1. What you are working on.
2. Write about someone else - another artist or designer maybe.
3. Review something - a book or a movie or a product.
4. Write a list eg 30 things I want to do before I'm 30.
5. Your creative process.
6. Something you just bought be it craft supplies or a wonderful backpack.
7. Spotlight items from your inventory.
8. Hold a competition.
9. Hold a giveaway.

10. Write a tutorial either for one of your creations, or a recipe, or how to change a car tyre.
11. Write about an event you have been to - a craft show, or a theatre show, or a dog show.
12. Write about your travels - round the block or round the world.
13. Something from your family life, or your childhood.
14. Invite guest bloggers.
15. How you have developed your creative business.
16. Join in with special days hosted by other bloggers - eg wordless wednesday at My Little Drummer Boys, My creative space hosted by kootoyoo at Village Voices on Kidspot, Mandarin Orange Monday at lorikart, Friday Finds, Sunday snippets with tinniegirl or just do your own.

17. ______ inspires me.
18. What I've learned from ________________. eg running a craft business, or being a mother.
19. Share other interesting blogs posts/tutorials/how-to's/giveaways etc. Note do not copy hollus-bollus but a short review or comment and then link back to the original post.
20. A follow-up on something you blogged about a while back.

Well, that's about all I can think of for now.
What else can you add to the list?

Please leave a thoughtful comment if you would like to enter this week's giveaway, which I will draw later today.
You can leave a comment on any of my posts.

There are more blogtoberfest giveaways happening over on Ms Curlypops blog.

Want to find out what blogtoberfest is all about? Head on over here. 

Makin' it Monday - muffins

Another easy as pie recipe - or easy as muffin!

Muffins are a great snack, they are very versatile. You can use white flour, wholemeal flour - you can add all sorts of goodies - fruit, nuts, flavourings - and you can even make savoury ones.

This is my basic recipe.
Today I'm making peach and almond muffins. Often I make blueberry (as I have a wonderful supply of frozen berries) or lemon and coconut ones.

Heat oven to 190 degrees C.

Prepare your muffin tin, oil your tin or line with paper muffin cases.

  In a large bowl combine 2 and 1/2 cups of self-raising flour (or 2 and 1/2 cups plain flour sifted with 5 teaspoons of baking powder)
1 cup of sugar (I used raw sugar, but you can use white sugar or brown sugar)

Chop 1 cup of peaches.
Add to flour with 1/2 cups chopped nuts (I used slivered almonds)

Mix together with a spoon.
Then add 1 cup of milk, 1 beaten egg and 1/4 cup of vegetable oil (of your choice)

Mix until the dry ingredient are moistened, do not over mix - it doesn't need to be perfectly smooth.

Spoon into your prepared muffin tins.

Cook for 20 mins until risen and browned.

Let cool as much as you can before you eat and enjoy!

Other ingredients could be date and walnut, fig and hazelnut, banana and choc chips, raspberries and white chocolate, grated apple and cinnamon, pear and pecans, - oh, the combinations are endless!
What are you favorite muffins?

Please leave a thoughtful comment if you would like to enter this week's giveaway, which I will draw tomorrow.
You can leave a comment on any of my posts.

There are more blogtoberfest giveaways happening over on Ms Curlypops blog.

Want to find out what blogtoberfest is all about? Head on over here.

The best Blue Mountains bushwalk

Is this the best bushwalk in the Blue Mountains?
Everyone probably has their favorite place to walk - I live in the glorious Blue Mountains just west of Sydney. There is an enormous national park here and a great part of it is a world heritage area, so it is pretty special.
There are many places to stretch your legs from a few hundred metres to multi-day hikes. So much to chose from.
But the Grand Canyon has to be one of the best walks - ever!

There has been working going on for many years and the track is closed during the week, so you have to pass through a few gates.
It's kinda surreal, a bit like you are entering Narnia or something.

Soon you descend into the upper part of the canyon.

Down and down.

Until you reach creek level.

On the way back out you pass through some lovely forest.

Until once on the escarpment you are met by this breathtaking view.

What do you reckon? Best bushwalk ever?

Please leave a thoughtful comment if you would like to enter this week's giveaway.
You can leave a comment on any of my posts.

There are more blogtoberfest giveaways happening over on Ms Curlypops blog.

Want to find out what blogtoberfest is all about? Head on over here.

A sneak peek - blooming lovely bushwalk

Waratah seen on our bushwalk today.
More photos coming tomorrow.