Minnie Mouse and beekeeping

I know most of posts seem to revolve around the market lately but it is such a huge part of my life right now, it's hard to think about anything else.

Last Saturday, we unveiled the Minnie Mouse Gangster Feathered Serpent Diamond Grill tent installation.  Where NY artist Daphane Park transformed the stalls into the most amazing Quetzalcoatl inspired creature.  It looks so amazing and festive, and was a creation that pulled in the talents of so many local welders, die castors, powder coaters, ceramists and crafts people to complete.  It really is quite magical.

Over in the corner, my role has been to curate the workshops that we are running each week.  So far we have covered "how to" topics like sourdough starters, portioning a rabbit, cool climate wines and edible weeds.  This week we have traditional bread shaping, pasta making and next week I am super excited to have a backyard biodiesel workshop.  Can you imagine making your own petrol? I'm keen to get my scything mates to do a workshop too, just not sure what they could cut...there's not a blade of grass out of place on the MONA grounds.

Last week, Yves the lovely bee keeper spoke in his gorgeous French accent about backyard beekeeping.   I learnt that if I raise my hives a foot off the ground, the bees will start working around two hours earlier.  With a workforce of 50 000, that's 700 000 extra work hours a week.  That's a lot of honey!

I still have a few more workshop slots to fill.  So do you have any ideas?  What would like to see and learn about in a 30 minute workshop? 

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5 comments big, celebrations, making, markets, something fun, tasmania

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Here and now

The not so smalls went back to school this week, brown as berries with sun bleached hair. Now I find myself child free for 5 days of the week!   And while I do miss them during the day, I think they were well and truly ready to go back, see their friends and get on with the important job of learning.

With all this "free time" on my hands I had hoped to resume regular posting this week, but those intentions have been thrown out the window as I've been busy catching up on chores. My first mission is to give my house some lovin', which has been sorely neglected over the summer and to turn my attention to the wild and overgrown garden.  But more likely, I'll be heading to my favourite spots for some blackberry picking. A quiet country lane and a few buckets and I'm as happy as can be, no hardship at all, just need to watch for snakes.

Today I'll be printing labels, making more jam with those luscious fat and juicy late summer peaches, and getting ready for the market tomorrow.

Despite my lack of updates in this space, I am a very prolific Instagram (@hugoandelsa) user, and seem to be more there than here.  Is it just me I wonder, but is the Iphone killing blogging?

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7 comments handmade, making, markets, Shoot me now, tasmania

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Day 2 :: Make Christmas cards...

We've signed up for the Kids Craft Weekly Christmas Card Swap and the cards are ready to go. Hooray!

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2 comments celebrations, making

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Fishing...my creative space

I've been sewing these little felt fish for the school's spring fair. They will be sold as part of a game that will include a fishing rod with a magnetic hook, all kept in a little bag that will also be the pond. I have to remember to sew in the paperclip so they will be caught!
I'm also very proud of myself for finally sorting out my floss. It looks so lovely and ordered, unlike the rest of my notions!

Thank you to Kirsty for hosting My creative space.

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17 comments making, organize

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For the birds

Today is the southern hemisphere's winter solstice, the year's shortest day and longest night. In southern Tasmania, the lack of daylight is quite noticeable, with the sun not rising until 7.43 and setting at 4.43. To be precise.

For the summer solstice, midsummer, we leave gifts of flowers and chocolates out for the fairies to keep them happy. On the flip side, today we made a gift for the birds, who might need a little extra comfort during these long cold nights. A wire ball stuffed full of materials to help build their nests. I can't remember on whose blog I saw this fantastic idea, but it is a good one.

They are easy and fun to make. We took some pliable wire and wrapped it around a pumpkin for shape. You could use a ball or anything round. You could even skip the first step and use old wire hanging baskets or maybe a pinecone. We carefully removed it from the pumpkin and we had a rough spherical shape. I left a little loop at the top for hanging.

Then we stuffed it full of interesting scraps from around the house and garden: wool, fleece, string, cotton threads, hair out of hairbrushes, clumps of possum fur, feathers from the chook house, tiny scraps of old fabric and moss.

We took them outside in today's precious sunshine and hung them in the trees. Over the next few months, we'll keep an eye out for nests in the garden to see if the birds have used any of the gifts we left for them.

Now we're back inside for soup and scones by the fire. We'll be lighting lots of candles tonight to remind us that the sun is on it's way back. Hope you're keeping warm and cosy too.

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17 comments birds, making, nature, seasons

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Cake anyone?

Yes please! I'll put the kettle on.

It's cupcake time again. Last weekend we started the first of our now monthly (yay!) stall at the market hobart. This Saturday we're very excited to be at an ace new (for me) market called Odd + Even. It sounds gorgeous, especially the lounge area with craft and drawing demonstrations and workshops.

There is an incredible amount of talented designers and makers in Tasmania and it's wonderful to see a thriving independent market community developing.

These are some of the cakes we baked last weekend, our regular rich chocolate hazelnut with chocolate ganache, and a berry jam swirl cupcake, with white chocolate buttercream. We dried some strawberries and ground them in a spice grinder to sprinkle on top with a blueberry. We will have these again on Saturday.

I'm about to start a new blog that will be all about cake. It will have all the details on markets and what we're baking for each market. I'll let you know when we go live. Hopefully soon.

My DSLR has been posted off to the mainland for some work, and these have shots have been taken with my iphone. Not bad quality really, but looking forward to my Canon back so I can take some better shots. Soon I hope.

Tea's ready, shall I pour?

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11 comments cupcake, making, markets

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Day six:: from the kitchen

It's bitterly cold here today. The smalls are tired, adjusting to daylight savings and both suffering colds. Time for a cozy inside pajama day in front of the fire. The perfect opportunity to try one of Amanda's projects from her new book :: Calvin's papier-mâché bowls. Easily made with stuff we already have, they are just the ticket to store all the treasures the children collect, leaves, rocks, shells, pine cones etc.

This activity kept them amused for some time, from tearing the newspaper while I cooked up the glue, to smoothing the final layer was almost an hour!

Now we just have to be patient and wait for them to dry so we can paint them. But I fear this will take some time in this weather.

Note to self: please remember not to leave these outside overnight. My last papier-mache attempt, a pinata, was left outside and entirely eaten by hungry possums. Oops! Fresh from the city, I had to chalk that one up to a foolish, city-slicker mistake at Elsa's third birthday party.

from the kitchen :: from the garden :: from the valley.

My theme for this month's Blogtoberfest :: a post a day in October.

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6 comments blogtoberfest, making

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Myrtle spurtle

A very special Mothers Market this weekend. We had two stalls. Not only did we bake our cupcakes but we also provided food for the kitchen. Phew! Exhausting, but I loved it. The best part? Using ingredients from my garden to include in the menu. The last of the pumpkins roasted. Relish made from those tomatoes. Parsley for salads.

We used all local, organic ingredients :: beetroot, greens, celeriac, potatoes, parsnips. And it's always a good sign when we sell out of everything. We now have cake regulars who come prepared with their own boxes and buy up big. "I'll have three of each please." Totally chuffed about that.

Growing your own produce. Making it into something delicious. Then selling it. And hearing the word delicious. Amazing feeling. Couldn't be happier. For all my hard work I treated myself to one of these. Not only a great name, but very useful and extremely good looking. Every kitchen should have one.

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14 comments cupcake, garden, making, markets, yum

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Knitting wrecks

You know that great website Cake Wrecks?  How about a knitting version?  Here's my sock I started last week.  I thought I was doing okay.  Um. Well sort of.  Although my K1 P1 ribbing is a disgrace, they were taking on a sort of deconstructed sock shape. Considering I'm not accustomed to mouse knitting :: teeny tiny needles, four in fact, used for socks, thus eliminating a seam. 

But ack! Last night, my stitches seemed to have fallen off the third needle and are back on the traditional two.   Oh well, I reckon it's back to the drawing board for this pup ...

Feel free to join in knitting wrecks if you like - I can't be the only yarn challenged blogger out there...  

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6 comments making, me, um

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This morning (early)

Waiting inside, Easter baskets from us, with new pyjamas, egg cups, chocolate rabbit and and chick egg cozies made by Mama. 

Outside, chocolate eggs found in the nest (inspired by Amber) we made with straw and decorated with flowers. The carrots and grass we left out were all eaten! 

Egg hunt.

Counting out the booty.

Happy Easter!

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4 comments celebrations, family, making, um

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Magical March - my jam cupboard

Here is the jam packed jam cupboard, after a busy, busy March.  We've apricot, blackcurrant, cherry, raspberry and plum jams along with preserved peaches, cherries and nectarines.  Phew! A lot of the fruit we picked ourselves which is all the more satisfying.  The laundry is crowded with boxes of potatoes from our garden, which should keep for a few months over autumn.  And the kitchen is crammed with baskets of quinces, crab apples, pears and apples still to poach, jam or jelly.  There are bags of hazelnuts to crack, sloes for gin and damsons simmering on the stove for more jam, these collected from a lovely friend's wonderful garden yesterday.  The fire is gently flickering away and the bread dough is rising on the mantle piece.    My little guy is sound asleep on the sofa, tucked under a mohair blanket. Sigh, so cozy. Here I sit with a cup of hot tea, and wonder where the heck did March go? It sure went quickly, and it sure was magical.

Thank you so much to pottymouthmama for inviting us to join in the magic.

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12 comments garden, magical march, making, seasons, yum

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Cupcakes - always magical

I've been a bit lax on the cake posting front lately.  Where's the plenty of cake I ask myself?

To make amends, this week I've been "sperimenting" for the upcoming Mothers Market. Here's a tester I've been working on.  The perfect vanilla bean cupcake.  This one with vanilla bean cream cheese frosting.  With a fruity surprise in the middle.   Yum.

By the way, all my recipes, tips and tricks are from this clever lady.  

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5 comments cupcake, making, markets, yum

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Christmas is coming,

the geese are getting fat

Please put a penny in the old man's hat
If you haven't got a penny, a halfpenny will do
If you haven't got a ha'penny, then God bless you!

for Santa

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2 comments celebrations, cute, family, festivals, making

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Making, Stitching, Baking

Things are moving along nicely here at chez Hugo & Elsa. School finished today with a flurry of assemblies, concerts, beach trips and baking Christmas gifts - panforte for Elsa's teacher, again. We make it every year, although this year there isn't alot left to *ahem* give. It's too delicious!I've made soaps again too this year for presents, a white Marseilles, and a vanilla bean experiment, mmm not sure about that one, might keep that one for family I think...

Part one of the birthday celebrations are over - part two this Sunday. I bought this gem of a book which has beautiful ideas for celebrations, crafts, games and recipes. Gosh I love it. And so we're busy stitching and making and baking for the big day. Along with fitting in more crafty fun from here. Are you stitching along?
And while I know we probably should be spending more time outside, picking our lovely strawberries and planting my two new roses. I saw a massive snake in the garden today - and I think inside is best for a while....eek!
My goodness it felt good today to a cross a few things off that list - how's your list coming along?

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2 comments celebrations, garden, making

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Diaphanousness

This is the tulle cut into strips ready for a no sew tutu I'm making for Elsa's birthday next week. I think my favourite clobber for a little girl must be a tutu, t-shirt and gumboots. These are really easy to make, a few metres of tulle, cut into strips and tied onto a loop of elastic.

This is the third no sew tutu I've ever made. The first one I made for myself with black tulle, when I about, oh 17. I wore it with a black skivvy and super pointy flat shoes, to a Simple Minds concert, I think. The second was when I was a bridesmaid, aged about 20. There were two of us bridesmaids and we were both very poor. We made the tutus and teamed them with a cream spencer and bare feet. With our short and spikey, brightly coloured and heavily gelled hair it would have been quite a look! Sigh, oh those (late) eighties....

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4 comments celebrations, cute, elsa, making

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Market wrap

We had a lovely time at the Mothers Market - it's such a stylish but cruisey market. Lots of cake and beautiful things to buy, all washed down with plenty of Cuvee. My kind of market!

I worked with my good friend Jo - who is not only an amazing chef, but she just loves cake as much as I do - a rare talent. We made six flavours: an old fashioned chocolate (really cakie - the type of cake you ate as a kid - Nigella would be "nostalgically drawn to this solid offering") with vanilla (with real vanilla beans) or chocolate buttercream; lemon;

Vietnamese coffee, above; vanilla vanilla (with more vanilla beans); and the most amazing super rich chocolate made with ground almonds and finished with a chocolate ganache, sigh, I can't stop dreaming about that one! We sold nearly all of them - with just enough left over for husbands and children.

I think I spent most of my profits on the day - brooches from Harriet and Verna & Hilda, gorgeous cards from gorgeous Catherine. And this most beautiful apron from Cherish by Bek Burrows. Beautiful soft linen with the most generous cut. Incredible stitching that I've never seen before. Amazing detail. It feels like a big linen hug when I wear it.

So many talented women here in Tasmania. It was wonderful to be involved. I look forward to the next one....

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8 comments making, markets, tasmania, yum

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I heart cupcakes

I love eating them, and I love making them. Which is lucky because I have another 200 to bake for tomorrow's market.

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10 comments cupcake, making, yum

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watch me fly

Hugo is obsessed with planes, rockets and helicopters at the moment. One! two! three! four! sixteen! twelve! blast off!

So this morning I made him a pair of aeroplane wings out of a cardboard box. He flew around the yard at such a pace. So, so fast! So, so adorably cute!

Big sister also joined in on the aeronautical action with a pair of butterfly wings.

All that warp speed action, I need a break....

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6 comments cute, design, elsa, family, garden, hugo, making, playtime

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Felt fun

Last day of school holidays today, sigh. It's been so relaxed and warm and fun. I didn't get nearly half way through my planned activities for the little ones, like collect shells from the beach, a bush walk and paint the fence.

I had also stocked up on craft supplies for the holidays from a gorgeous tiny new Hobart store called Lyrebird, they specialize in Waldorf inspired toys, crafts and unicycles(!).

So with our beautiful Lyrebird wool we tried felting today as per Amanda's lovely book. I was hoping to make some eggs for the nest we found that's displayed on our Spring nature table.

A bowl of hot soapy water and roll the wool into shapes - too easy. Although I'm glad Amanda cautioned that it's about the process rather than the product, but we did manage a few eggies of sorts. Lots of splashing and lots of fun.

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3 comments making, playtime, waldorf

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