October - Scrappy Christmas Decorations

While our Christmas tree looks great when it’s up, with my colour scheme of aqua/blues and silver there is still quite a bit of green showing though. So I decided that each year I would add at least one Christmas decoration, sometimes homemade and sometimes brought ones or maybe both. So with all the stores starting to display all their Christmas lines I thought it was time to start thinking about Christmas as well.

I would say that I have a bit of fabric at home, with quite a lot of the fabric being scraps left over from work (I work in a fashion house) when we make beautiful garments or from header cards that we acquire from fabric mills displaying their stock fabrics. So with the scraps of fabrics and a couple of other ideas that have been in my head for I don’t know how long, this month I made these scrappy Christmas decorations. Okay one of them doesn’t look very Christmassy but I just love the colours. While the ball is a little time consuming, if you have all your fabric pre-cut and ready to go, it’s defiantly something that can be done in front of the TV. For full instructions shoot me an email.


A number of you wanted to see a photo of my outfit that I was wearing to the hens party that I had to rush off for. Unfortunately in my hast to have lunch and get out the door I forgot, however here’s a photo of me at the hens (sorry not the best). I was very proud to be voted one of the best dressed on the day/night, but still thought the hen looked smashing in her outfit, and the boys agreed.



Happy Crafting
Trina D

Cake Recipe - Lemon Semolina Cake

This recipe is my adaption of the Lemon Semolina Cake from The Complete Cookies, Muffins & Cakes Cookbook.

6 large eggs, separated
1 ½ cups caster sugar
1/3 cup[ lemon juice
1 lemon, juiced and finely grated lemon rind
1 cup semolina
½ cup ground almonds
2 tablespoons self-rising flour
Preheat oven to 170⁰C. Lightly grease a 24cm spring-form tin and line with baking paper. Using electric beaters, beat the yolks, sugar the rind and lemon juice in a mixing bowl for 8 minutes.
Beat the egg whites in a clean bowl with clean electric beaters until firm peaks form. Gently fold the whites with a metal spoon into the egg yolk mixture alternately with combined semolina ground almonds and flour. Take care not to over mix. Carefully pour the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the surface. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the centre of the cake. Leave to cake in the tin for 5 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Pierce a few holes in the cake with a skewer.
Poor over a lemon syrup and serve with thick cream

Happy baking
Trina D

Cake Recipe - Honey and Coconut cake

I've been asked by the girls to post the recipes of the cakes I make for CC&C. Here is my first one Honey and Coconut Cake from The Complete Cookies, Muffins & Cakes Cookbook.

125g unsalted butter, softened
⅔ cup raw sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
¼ cup honey
1 ½ cup desiccated coconut
1 ¾ cups self raising flour
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
½ cup milk
Extra ground nutmeg to decorate
honey and cream cheese icing
125g cream cheese, softened
½ cup icing sugar
1 tablespoon honey

Preheat oven to 180⁰C. Lightly grease a 28x18x3cm cake tin. Line with lightly greased baking paper. Using electric beaters, beat the butter and sugar in a small mixing bowl until light and creamy. Add the eggs gradually, beating thoroughly after each addition. Add the vanilla essence and honey. Beat until well combined.
Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and add the desiccated coconut. Using a metal spoon, fold in sifted flour and spices alternating with milk. Stir until just combined and the mixture is almost smooth. Spoon into the prepared pan and smooth surface.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the skewer comes out clean when inserted in the centre. Leave the cake in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rake to cool completely. Remove the baking paper from the cake. To make the icing, beat the softened cream cheese with electric beaters in a small mixing bowl until creamy. Add the sifted issuing sugar and honey, beating for 3 minutes, or until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. Spread the icing evenly over the cake using a flat-bladed knife. Sprinkle the extra nutmeg over the top. Cake can be stored for 4 days in an airtight container.

Happy baking
Trina D

Famous Person in Out Mist

Yes we have our very own local famous person in our mist at CC&C.
Christina has made the local paper with her efforts in helping the NEAMI 3D artwork project at the Watsonia Library which is aimed at helping people with mental health issues.

A job well done Christina.

Keep up the hard work.

Monthly Comp

This month’s competition winner is Amy.
She has turned her little Crochet square into a badge and added some little beads. She even felted one of them. Thanks Amy for reminding us to think outside the square.


She also had just finished her Granny Crochet Blanket, which I believe that her cat has taken a liking too.

Well done Amy

September - Fabric Yo-Yo's

More than a year ago I saw a flower made out of fabric, and me being me when home and made my own (not knowing how it was originally made). It was easy and while it may not have been done in the same manner it came out looking pretty much the same. I made a bunch of them and latter I made these fabric squares out of them.

Now you may called me old fashioned but I often feel that we get carried away with technology, making/buying things that make our life quicker and some would debate similar. Over the past few months I have noticed a flood in the market of these products called yo-yo makers. Now I’m not referring to the yo-yo’s on the string like many of you may think; these yo-yo’s are really fabric flowers (like the ones I made over a year ago). Now I don’t know how these yo-yo makers work but I do know that they cost about $10 and they say it will help you make yo-yo’s quickly BUT you will only be able to make one size. Honestly the yo-yo’s or fabric flowers that I make are quick and simple and you can make any size you want and I’m sure it doesn’t take much longer than using one of these yo-yo makers. The best thing is that you don’t have to spend lots of money on different plastic things in different sizes. Just find some old paper or card and make some circles in different sizes to make a pattern; priceless LOL. These flowers I made and turned them into magnets, but you can also turn them into really cute brooches. Feel free to contact me for the instructions.

Until next month, happy crafting.

Trina D