Friendly Nettle
Friendly Nettle is a community site for crafters of all sorts offering free project ideas, patterns for knitting, sewing and crocheting.
I mentioned last month about Christmas decorations at Petersham Nurseries that have been quite an inspiration for me this year. I really loved baubles hanged with “ribbons” that have been made out of scrap fabric. So I came up with the light bulb decoration project to resemble just that. Here you can access the instructions for this very project.
Enjoy Christmas Decorating :-)
Rasa
Today I would like to share about my favourite childhood sweet, the cranberry snowballs. I just remembered how I used to be able to eat the whole box in one go! Really missing them as I have not seen them in shops for a while. Turns out that they are very simple and really easy to make so I just made a batch today :).
CRANBERRY SNOWBALLS
1. Wash the cranberries and dry them with paper towel.
2. Meanwhile, lightly whisk the egg white in one bowl and sift icing sugar into another bowl.
3. Dip the cranberries in egg white and then roll them one by one into the icing sugar.
Place coated cranberries on baking sheet and bake them in 80C oven for 20 min. Leave it to rest for few hours before packaging them.
Enjoy
Rasa :)
Hey! Its officially winter as we enter into December :). I have been making advent calendar today as it’s also a first day when we start counting days until Christmas :). Yey!
To make yours just cut out a house template here, customise it by using colourful markers, add a day number and fold it on the dashed lines.
Stick double sided tape on the back and join both sides to form an envelope.
Insert a biscuit or a little treat for each day :).
Staple a string on top as well as sealing the envelope. Now it is ready to hang!
If you enjoy cookies then you should defiantly check out our bakery site. Sale on biscuits will start tomorrow ;).
Happy Christmas waiting!
Rasa
To be honest, I struggle every year on what gift to get for my teenage brothers. I am sure this is a struggle for everybody! I guess their wishes are often expensive and they certainly are not as excited about handmade gift as you are. So this year I have decided to give my brothers something funny, small and most importantly low in budget. I have bought many little gifts from Tiger including neon sticks and fake dog shit :D. If this is the way you want to go this year, than I also suggest visiting good old Poundland.
To package your gifts is easy. Here are the DIY instructions for mini gift boxes.
I hope you are inspired ;)
Rasa
During weekend we visited Winter Wonderland in London Hyde Park, which was really fun evening out. I even had my first mulled wine there! One thing I noticed that there are many flavours of mulled wine, well beyond the original spiced warm wine drink. Here is my new version with blueberries.
BLUEBERRY MULLED WINE
1. Pour the wine and apple juice into a large saucepan and add the sugar, cinnamon stick, star anise, vanilla bean and grated ginger. Heat gently, stirring time to time, until the sugar has dissolved.
2. Just before serving, throw in sliced orange, blueberries and vanilla rum.
Enjoy your week!
Rasa
Hey all! I have bought my christmas tree as I dreamed this year. Do you think that’s too early? I am really excited and can’t wait until I start decorating it! Decoration ideas will follow soon ;).
Happy weekend!
Rasa :)
We have been baking for local cafes for half a year now and we really wanted to start baking for you personally…. Well, we are almost there! Check out our new bakery website ;)
Although we are not quite ready to accept payments, that should be sorted really soon! So if you have a get together with the girls or a bigger event or whatever a reason, gives us a shout and we will deliver :).
Rasa xoxo
I always have lots of yarn stash to knit with. This project is perfect to use up small amounts that are hiding in your basket. To crochet these stars I have used a string that I have been collecting from Abel&Cole veg boxes. So that makes them upcycled too! Click here for a full DIY instructions.
Rasa xoxo
For those who don’t know I have learned bread baking two years ago. My first bread loaf I have tried baking from scratch (not with the help of machine) was a potato bread! After few courses and lots and lots and lots of practice I finally developed a good technique that works with a lot of bread recipes. That of course allowed me to customise my bread as much as I want by adding different flavours and ingredients. Exciting!
Do you have your favourite bread type, flavour or even recipe. Please share here with us. Would love to see!
For those who are complete beginners in baking bread than I defiantly recommend Craftsy online baking course. It’s so useful to know all the stages of bread baking, just think of possibilities! In fact there is a great offer going on right now, you can get Craftsy 25% Off Food Classes during November. And if you are feeling lucky then you should defiantly give a try and participate in Craftsy contest for a chance to win a free Food Class by sharing you own favourite recipe (not only bread) on Craftsy Recipe Sharing Submission Page. Good luck!
POTATO RYE BREAD WITH SEADS
1. Mix all the dry ingredients except the seeds in the large bowl and make a well in the middle.
2. Grate pealed potato by using “pucker” stile hole grater that is common in most multi hole side graters. I prefer using plastic one as that prevents grated potato go grey.
3. Pour water and add grated potato into the flour well. Mix everything together into solid mass by folding the flour in from the sides. Mix the seeds into the mixture.
4. Kneed the dough continuously for 10-15 minutes until it becomes less sticky. Do not be tempted to add more flour during this process.
5. Cover the dough in the clean bowl and let it rise for 1hour until it doubles in size.
6. “deflate” the dough and form it into the loaf. I use a proving basket so it makes nicer looking bread loaf. Cover the loaf and let it rise one more time for 30 min.
7. Once the bread dough had its final rise, bake in preheated 200C oven for 30 min.
Let the bread cool completely before slicing.
Happy bread baking!
Rasa
I tried this drink last Monday after my friend Selina shared the recipe on Facebook. I loved this combination as it makes perfect cup for an evening or even weekend afternoon!
SPIKED CINNAMON MALTED DRINK
(makes one cup)
1. Spoon malted drink powder into the mug together with cinnamon and mix to a smooth paste with a little water.
2. Heat the milk and froth it a little bit if you can, this will make your drink taste just a little more smooth.Pour the milk into the mug together with the shot of almond liqueur.
3. If you want you can sprinkle some cinnamon/sugar mixture on the top.
Enjoy your weekend ;)
Rasa
I think you would agree that getting a gift for a dad or any man is a difficult task. My dad often ends up getting pair of socks or a tie. So this year I thought of something different. I loved the knitted loafers that I made for myself so I thought I will remake it in manly size. I also made it extra protective and strong by taking Sian’s advice and attaching soles on them! What do you think? Click here for Loafers For Him Project with the step-by-step instructions.
That’s something to do for a weekend ;)
Rasa xoxo
(PICTURE ABOVE) Although I have made my mind to get a real Christmas tree this year I still adore the idea of DIY tree. Last year I decorated few twigs that was quite original I thought at that time… until I saw these!
(PICTURE ON THE LEFT) Love this simple idea, a tree made out of Christmas lights :). Visit Planete Deco for more.
(PICTURE BELLOW) And how about a tree made out of cardboard? It might be not the prettiest thing, but I can see so much potential in this, just think about decorating it! Go to Instructables to download your christmas tree template!
Not into the boxed one? Then here is the prettier one from etsy!
This one is my favourite so far. Go to Handmade Charlotte for useful DIY instructions.
I had a thought of making something like this last year! I guess Pejper (sweedish bloggers) got it first.
And the last but not least here is an idea for yarn “tree”! I love it’s functionality. Visit My Poppet for DIY instructions.
I hope you are inspired!
Rasa xoxo
Recently I have been going through my old diary and came across this recipe for apple and potato rosti. The funny thing is that I don’t even remember writing it, but I do recognise my scribbles :D. Has this ever happened to you?
Anyhow, I went ahead and tried this recipe for brunch and it turned out a treat!
APPLE AND POTATO ROSTI
(will serve at least 4 people)
1. preheat oil in the frying pan.
2. mix all the ingredients except bacon and spoon out the mixture into frying pan. Make sure there is enough of space between every rosti. Fry for 1-2 minutes on each side.
3. Serve on top of bacon rasher.
Enjoy!
Rasa :)
So since we launched our website in June there have been a lot of changes in my life. The biggest change is that I have been blogging almost everyday and I am loving it! I especially have enjoyed the responses from you and all the kind words. Thank you so much for that!
I would like to hear more feedback on the practicality of the website and I wonder if you have had a chance to visit our virtual cafe? If not, then click on “CAFE” on the menu above and check out our interactive cafe, illustrated by Vickie :).
Another great news! We have been working really hard to open “tea and biscuits” shop and it is coming really really soon! I am so excited about it and I really hope it is going to be up and running just on time for Christmas.
Thanks for your support and have a lovely week ;)
Rasa
Just came back from Renegate Craft Fair, just down the road from where I live! What a great place to visit for some inspiration and unique gifts for Christmas (perfect timing!). I will try to summarise, although that’s tough as I have seen lots of inspiring things today. This is why I would strongly advise you to visit this fair yourself if you are free this weekend and in London!
I will start with Michelle Galletta (Kiriki), who make embroidered doll kits… so basically your gift could be half made by you! Check out her website for an amazing embroidery stitch library :).
Lucie Ellen gives you an opportunity to design your own bunting necklace, how lovely!
I am in love with these cute miniature plush toys that come in their own “houses”….
These ones are made by Kekekaka!
And these cuties are made by Sweet William :). In fact I came across Sweet William on Pinterest, so I was quite excited to see actual workmanship in front of me!! Wouldn’t you?
And finally, but not least it’s Oh No Rachio! I must say I have been attracted to these lovely planters by the succulents that I adore…. and by Rachel Basinger smile of course! :)
Hope to see you there!
Rasa xoxo
