I kind of love my white leather handbag. Like use it all year round, throw all the things in it, wear it with all the outfits, love it. I've had it for ages -- as a matter of fact my mom bought it for me as a gift when we lived in NYC and that's coming up on closer to a decade ago than not -- but it has been looking a bit worse for wear for longer than I'd like to admit. However the only experience I'd had with cleaning and restoring white leather up until now was in grade school and … [Read more...]
How to Clean a Grill Pan (in one simple step)
After wanting a cast iron grill pan for ages RJ got me one for Christmas a couple of years ago. It was already seasoned so after a quick wash I put it to use -- only to realise a pile of marinated veggies and chicken breast later that I had no idea how to clean the darn thing. I grew up using mom's cast iron pans so I was well aware that they should never be washed with soap as it strips off all the layers of seasoning, rendering them the opposite of non-stick and terribly prone to … [Read more...]
Rainbow Whole-Fruit Popsicles (Ice Pops)
Sitting on the concrete floor of my mother's friend's flowershop I sorted and searched through the little plastic pieces for the right colour. Pop, pop, pop the little pegs broke through black paper, twinkling as they released the light. I followed the Lite Brite patterns until I used them all up and started making up my own designs -- swirls and zig-zags and 5-year-old interpretations of trees -- from the little points of colour. And then a question, asked casually and without … [Read more...]
DIY Christmas Ornaments and a very Merry Christmas to all!
You know those things that have been on your list for years before you finally get around to them? Yep, this is one of mine. Ornaments made one day last week when I should have been doing other things but, because creative distraction gene, I did this instead. A meditative break from a mountain of work, spent rolling and pressing and smoothing and cutting. Making pretty things just because I could. These DIY ornaments are impossibly easy though, so there really is no excuse. First, … [Read more...]
8 tips to clean silver naturally & keep it tarnish-free
My grandmother told me many years ago that the best way to keep silver shiny is to use it regularly. Turns out she is right, however most of us keep it stored away for special occasions only to pull it out and find it covered in tarnish. So why does it tarnish in the first place? How do you clean it naturally - without commercial chemical-laden products? And what is the best way to store it to avoid tarnish in the first place? Why silver tarnishes Silver tarnishes because of … [Read more...]
6 Natural Food-based Easter Egg Dyes
It's official, this whole need-to-create-things is hereditary. Not only the creativity gene bit but the comfort found in just making stuff. I was at mum's house for a few weeks during our last trip and one day she brought out a lovely, frilly, very colourful apron, "Look! I saw this and had to get it for you. Thought it may be a bit of inspiration... you could make these!" It was a cute apron, and it did give me a few new ideas, but in the midst of packing our already busting suitcases … [Read more...]
Chilli, Honey & Lemon Tea… or cure for the dreaded lurgy
Sydney is rapidly sinking in a big'ol vat of the flu. Everywhere you look people are sick and as per acceptable and encouraged practice, they are all being-strong-and-pushing-through which translates literally to coming-to-work-when-they-should-be-home-in-bed-sharing-germs-with-their-cats-instead-of-with-me. Needless to say after weeks of public transport with strangers coughing everywhere and meetings with workmates sniffling away, I woke up the other morning with a throat like sandpaper and … [Read more...]
