Modifying a beaded tree

First of all, I have to warn you I'll not be talking about how to make the tree itself.  This tree was a kit I bought from the last Melbourne craft convention (their shop link is here) that comes in a with and without bead decorations version.  This is about how I modified mine in order to have some lights built into the tree.

The lights were just some simple LED lights that run off two AA batteries.  Best time to get them would be just after Christmas in the sales so if you are thinking of making a tree, now is the time to plan your shopping!  I got mine from Kmart but I've also seen them in the Reject Shop and similar as well.

Assembly with the lights is fiddly- if you had a second pair of hands or a clamp it might help, otherwise just take your time and have your branches organised.  The tree is assembled as in the instructions but you include the LED lights in as well, starting with the end furthest from the battery pack.

As you move down the tree, gradually include each LED, wrapping the excess wire along the trunk.  Work out how many LEDs you need as you go (my tree had 9 rows of branches so it works out to 'Twoish' per row).  Once you finish the tree then wrap the wire in the floral tape until your tree is the right height and mount the tree on the box as per the instructions.  If you were fancy you could rig a way to hide the wire but I find I can fit the battery pack into the box anyway and the wire can run around under the lid.

I really like the finished effect, if I do say so myself.  Particularly how the bead decorations catch the lights.

The lantern is another Pinterest inspiration.  Fill a lantern with baubles for a simple decoration.  I just added some more LED lights in there to brighten it up a bit.  The lights are powered by the battery pack hidden under the paua shell in the first image.

Christmas treats

For those paying attention, it has been a VERY long time since I last posted.  Sadly work takes a lot of my time.  But now school holidays are here and I have several weeks to procrastinate on fun things before realising that the pile of work I brought home has not magically marked itself.

I do have a few things in the works but this week has been taken up by lots of Christmas cooking.  So happy Christmas to all and help yourself to a virtual goodie.  Clockwise from 12 we have blueberry friand slice (using fresh blueberries I bought from a market this morning), mini Christmas puddings (recipe below), Chocolate truffles, gingerbread melted snowmen (instructions found through my recent discovery of Pinterest!) and finally some white chocolate and berry truffles that I kind of invented/adapted from the chocolate truffle recipe. 

For my family members who read this blog, there is now no surprises for Christmas nibbles but for those who I will not be seeing on Christmas day, here are a few recipes for you to make your own.  Particularly useful I hope for those who held off cooking in case the world ended and made the effort wasted!

Mini Christmas puddings

Ingredients

One tin of Christmas pudding
Brandy
approx 30g White chocolate
1 tblsp Copha, vegetable shortening (optional)
Glace cherries

Take the Christmas pudding and crumble it up into a large bowl.  Add several tablespoons of bandy and mix.  There should be enough moisture to allow you to roll the pudding into small balls (about 1.5 cm diameter or whatever you prefer).  Place in fridge for at least 20 min.
Melt white chocolate, if it is still thick (because I used chocolate chips mine was) add a small amount of copha to thin the mix.  Spoon over the top of the pudding.  Before the pudding sets, place two small pieces of green cherry and one of red.  Refrigerate until top has set.

White Chocolate and Berry Truffles

Ingredients

200g white chocolate
70g dried blueberries
2 egg yolks
Cherry brandy or normal brandy
dessicated coconut (enough to coat)

Grate the chocolate and place in a large bowl with blueberries.  Add egg and brandy and mix.  Mixture should be moist and able to be rolled into small balls.  If too dry, add more brandy, if too wet add some coconut.
Roll the mixture into small balls, then roll the balls in coconut until coated.  Refrigerate until firm.


Have a great Christmas, Hogswatch or holiday of your choice.

More Nine Patch Quilt Blocks

Many moons ago I started a nine patch sampler quilt as a way of learning some new skills.  One patch of procrastination later and I have learnt a number of things.

While straight lines are easy...

They can get more complicated when the fabric pieces become smaller...

But put together in the right way make pretty stars.  This is my favourite block so far.

However, multiple pieces coming to a point are nearly impossible (I hate to think about how many times I had to unpick and redo seams on this one.  Lets just say that this block and the next were responsible for me packing things away for so long)...

 And curves are Abominations Unto Nuggan and should be banned!  This patch is called Drunkards Path and I think that's because it describes the quilter after making a quilts worth of these blocks!

Still two blocks to go before I face the next saga- putting it all together and quilting it. 

Into the Labyrinth Bag Part 2

Hooray for school holidays!  It means I can finally get some of the jobs that have been sitting on the back-burner done!

Labyrinth bag blocking

Today's post is about how I finished off my 'Into the Labyrinth' bag.  In the previous post I had the bag finished but needing a liner so the wool that was carried on the back of the knitting would not tangle with every item put into the bag.

Step one was to block it so it would hold it's shape.  This was easy to do- lightly wet your bag (the wetter it is, the longer to dry so you ideally want it just damp- or do this on a stinking hot day).  Then put it into the final shape.  I achieved this by rolling up a towel until it was the desired internal diameter and placed it inside.  If sitting it upright like I did to allow it to dry evenly, then safety pins can be useful to hold the top up.

Then to work on the liner. I wanted cheap and easy so I went with pieces of felt. They are available most commonly in A4 sizes so I went with that.  However, if you don't want to sew multiple seams to get the diameter right then fabric shops will have wider widths you can buy by the metre.  For my bag I went with two black pieces for the side and a piece of light green for the base, partly because contrast is pretty and it matches the front but mostly because I hate having to hunt for a dark object in a dark bag with dark lining.  The green piece was cut to be about 1cm smaller than the size of the leather base on the bag itself.

Next sew the sides together and check they fit around your base.  Tiny confession here- technically my sides were about 3cm too short to fit around my base. But felt is forgiving and by the time it was put into a bag I figured it wouldn't matter.  Fit the base around the sides and use safety pins to hold in place and to ensure your sewing will be even.  Then just stitch the base on.  You can see mine below with the cool matching green thread.

Once done, place into your bag and check for fit.  My sides were about 2cm too long.  You could cut the excess off or you can fold over and hold in place.  I chose the latter.

You can also see the cunning method I used to hold the liner to the bag- eyelets.  Adding them is fairly simple.  You usually get a tool to hold the two parts together and you need a big hammer.  Going through multiple layers of felt can result in a poor fit of your eyelet (ask me how I know!)  so I suggest punching a hole through the felt if you have a hole punch.  I didn't have one so I will probably have to go back and redo a couple at some point *sigh*

When finished thread a cord through the eyelets.  I used satiny cord- little tip.  If using something like that the ends will LOVE to fray or unravel.  CAREFULLY IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA use a lighter to set the ends on fire.  The synthetic material will melt and hold the end together.  Be sure to let it cool before touching it (or letting it touch anything else).

That's pretty much it.  One Labyrinth bag, suitable for holding knitting project, lovely jewels, crystal balls, or supplies for 13 hours travelling through a Labyrinth.

Blue Bird of Happiness

Blue Bird of Happiness, a photo by Kelshandra on Flickr.
I'm heading to the Australian Discworld convention in two weeks!  Woot!  And because it is always more fun to have a costume for that sort of thing, after much careful consideration, to dress as the Cheerful Fairy.  Don't remember her?  She's in the Hogfather and is one of several mythical creatures who arise after the Hogfather is um, killed?  Made to not exist?


"'Excuse me madam' said Ridcully. 'But is that a chicken on your shoulder?' 'It's, er, it's, er, it's the Blue Bird of Happiness' said the Cheerful Fairy."

So I needed a blue chicken.  But I figured it would be much more amusing if my chicken was looking a bit sad and pathetic... 'my Blue Bird of Happiness hasn't been himself lately'.  A toy rubber chicken and a can of spraypaint later and things were looking a bit sad.  Paint oozing off the rubber chicken and not drying.  So I came up with a plan B; one rubber chicken pattern later, some cheap acrylic and there you go.  Not sure if I'll use him but I do sense a charity raffle contribution at the end.




Now to go and work out the rest of my costume! Any Discworld jokes for the Cheerful Fairy's joke book?  Leave a comment below.