Off with the fairies...

Well, last week, I visited the Pickled Fairy with my daughter Véronique after her speech therapy appointment. For over a year now she's been asking me for a Fairy dress. The bloody things are $40, and I need to buy two because Véronique has a twin sister, Cordelia... None of this "let's buy one, it'll last a few years, and then we can hand it down to the younger sister" in this house!!!
So, on Friday, I was back in Fremantle (can't remember what for) and found myself at Spotlight, and found some fabric, shiny purplish-pink fabric, at $1 a metre as there was only 2.5 metres left on the roll. Well, I HAD to go and check out the fairy netting, didn't I??? So $20 later I have enough fabric to make TWO Fairy Dresses.
I have so far made a "top" with an old sheet, made my own pattern because none of Butterick, Burda, McCalls or Simplicity has what I was after..... well, it fit! First fitting was perfect! I was overjoyed! The skirt will be easy to make, as long as I remember to make it wide enough so that the girls can walk in it and not be like Morticia Adams!!
Then I went and cut 42 little triangles of tulle!!! 21 for each skirt, I'm thinking of doing three rows, one pink, one blue, and one purple...
So this morning I start hemming the edges of the little triangles. I was worried it wouldn't work but it did... then, what should happen, my sewing machine became possessed and decided to go at FULL SPEED and would NOT STOP!!! First thought, YANK THE PLUG!!! wellllll...... even after the foot pedal cooled down, whenever I plugged it back it... bat outta hell again!!!
Well, my dear husband offered to make a phone call for me (while I finished another job I had started, which involved colouring in some stuff for Véronique to be able to play some barrier games to learn how to explain things and listen to instructions better) - good news... no need to get a new sewing machine, we can buy a replacement foot, lucky for us, there was one waiting for us in Fremantle. DH changed it, and now my sewing machine works a treat. Only 30 more little triangles to edge.
So far so good.
If they turn out nice, you'll get to see them!!!!!
I'm starting to think that $40 isn't that expensive for a fairy dress (if you have the money, or if you can't sew!!! even with the new footpedal though I'm still a few dollars ahead! and a working sewing machine which will hopefully last a few more years! *giggle*)

Sushi!

(edited 15 March to add Pickled Ginger to list of ingredients!)

I find it fairly easy to do. For the rice, I got the SunRice Sushi Rice the first time. Now I get the rice from a little chinese supermarket in Fremantle. You cook it as per the directions presented here except you use 3 cups water, not two (must make note to email them about this as the instructions on their packages does say 1.5 water for 1 rice).

I use an electrical fan to cool my rice, and turn it a bit more frequently than they say.

Then I vaguely used the instructions here to make my rolls.


Shopping list:
Bamboo mat (can use glad bake too apparently) to help roll your Nori.
Short grain rice
Nori sheets
Rice Vinegar
White Sugar (for Sushi Vinegar)
Salt (for Sushi Vinegar)
Mayonnaise
Soy sauce (I use Lee Kum Kee Salt Reduced Soy Sauce)
Wasabi
Pickled ginger

Fish (I use those frozen fish pieces or rolls, not brave enough to venture in the world of raw fish, specially not after having seen the series "Body Snatchers" on the ABC. You can use prawns/shrimp, tuna, chicken, egg...
Cucumber or Avocado (yum! but higher in fat, though they are good fats) or Carrots if you're out of everything else (DH didn't like the carrots very much, I didn't mind them one bit)

There's more recipes at Sunrice to inspire you, or do a search on Google for sushi recipes.
I have now taken the habit of looking at the display of the sushi take-out place near one of the bus stops in Freo, it helps with inspiration!

I think that's all, if you want more info, I'll be happy to add some :)

My very first ever homemade Sushi... note the very fancy (not!) soy sauce container, and the very small (indeed) spot of wasabi! I've noticed that wasabi is hot for a short period, unlike chilli which burns for a while...

Now I know why!

Brain Lateralization Test Results

Right Brain (44%) The right hemisphere is the visual, figurative, artistic, and intuitive side of the brain. Left Brain (46%) The left hemisphere is the logical, articulate, assertive, and practical side of the brain

Are You Right or Left Brained?
personality tests by similarminds.com

This explains everything. I always wonder why I forget things, why I make mistakes... it's because I'm only using 90% of my brain!!! hehehehehe!!! Actually, I just had to do this test that I found via Emeraldkitty who found it via Meggiecat (some feline pattern emerging here!). Basically I guess it means my brain is pretty balanced! Ha! I find that one funny.... but the questions asked made me think. I like order, but I like chaos. .... Probably stems from the fact that I'm Pisces with very strong Virgo tendencies...

Well, off to put the creative brain to the test, trying to find something to make for dinner... oooh, I wonder if it's too late to make sushi rice :) since my friend Ann G taught me how, I've been making it at least once a week.

Excellent, I just sent a picture of my first sushi plate, which should be right below here (or above, not sure yet). Enjoy.

links I want to be able to find again

Shabby Princess - gorgeous papers to print, and embellishments too
Great use of a stamp I own
Sarabande Press
The Golden Age Romance
Comics Archive
Meggiecat's Blog very good blog for paper artists), found via Emeraldkitty

Just to prove what I said below wasn't hogwash, here's an ATC I made for a Round Robin. Each fortnight one person is the recipient of ATCs in a theme she has chosen, sent to her by the other swap players. This is the first ATC I made for this RR and it's for Erica in NSW, her theme was Seaside/Beach. I don't know Erica at all, nor her style. I just hope she'll like this!

Too many swaps, too little time.

I'm in too many swaps at the moment! I always reach a point where I realise that. I'm on a Western Australia group where we have two monthly ATC exchanges, and sometimes a few other swaps proposed by members. I also joined another All About Me Trading Card Swap on StampHappy [an annual event], and I have to make 50+ ATCs for that one! Not to mention an Oxford Impressions Tag Book Swap which is due in... 17 days! Take off three days for postage... a fortnight is all I have left for that one! *gulp* Not very inspired these days to make anything other than ATCs... because they are small I think!!

Here's a little guy I created this weekend. The boy is from Oxford Impressions, the wings, FLY, and Harlequin backgrounds are from Collections Rubber Stamps.

Playing around with Collections Stuff

Well, here I am

I'm hoping this will be a nice way to log things that go on... like the girls losing their teeth, to my views on things and others (don't worry, I'm not very political!)....
Well, now it's time to put the girls to sleep, in a few minutes, and the dishes are calling.
I'll be back soon (I wonder how I can add pictures to this thing!)