Making Chai

Winter has finally arrived in Barcelona and even though temperatures don't drop below zero, those big old flats without heating get really chilly. Heating becomes a topic of conversation. Imagine someone asking you, "Do you have heating?" somewhere in Northern Europe.


Time for beautifully fragrant, warming, homemade Chai

6 cardamom pods
4 cloves
1 tbsp fennel seeds
1 tsp anise seeds
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp fresh ginger
6 tbsp brown sugar
4 tbsp black tea
6 cups of water
4 cups of milk

Put all ingredients apart from the tea into a pot and bring to boil. Turn down heat, simmer for a minute or two and add the tea. Bring to boil again, then turn down the heat and leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes. Strain.

Big Collar Vest

Something for myself for a change. A big collar vest, which really is a rectangle of fabric with two openings for the arms and some cleverly positioned buttons. Well, and a lot of playing around and head scratching. 

Afterwards, it always seems so easy.

Somehow, the vest goes very well with the tree. I think I've found a new favourite photo spot.

Drawing faces

Thanks to Francesca I know about Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Faces. It is brilliant.
And ideal for making new handmade colouring books like these from last year.

Winter dress

The other morning, I was wondering aloud, "What shall I wear today?"
Of course I didn't expect a response, but she answered with the certainty of a 2 year old, "Socks, underwear, sweater, pants!"

That's what she normally wears. But she's slowly developing a liking for dresses (not surprising really, with her sister being a princess).
So I made one especially for her. One that hasn't been worn by someone else before.

Alternative knee patch

I had mended the hole twice before. It was persistent and re-appeared a third time.
She asks: 'Maybe it is meant to be there?'
Maybe not. Maybe it has to be cut out completely, I suggest.

Now she can't wait for the other knee to give in.

Sunday Mondays

Wishing everyone a Sunday kind of Monday... and just a tiny bit of sunshine.

Happy 2012

Happy New Year. 
Happy noticing, appreciating, trying and making things.
As strange as it may seem, but this blog helps me to make time for that.
Thank you for inspiring and encouraging me.

Helping Santa

Very busy helping Santa Claus.
Merry Christmas.

Winter coat

I should really call this the yearly winter coat challenge.

After last year and the year before that I knew what to expect. And before I started I read my 'If you make another winter coat' note of advice, which made the pattern making and sewing fairly easy. Until I had to put the zipper in.
How can one zipper take up so much time? Will zippers and I ever become friends?

I don't know what it is about mittens attached to a string like that, but they always make me smile. Kids have better things to do than worry about where their mittens are.

A prince

You know the princess wasn't an immediate success, but she grew on her. She hasn't mentioned Barbies for months. Instead, she's been asking for a prince. Whenever she was asked what she wanted for her birthday, for Christmas, Reyes... - 'A prince!' What else.

So I gave it a try. He was looking rather feminine - so he had to have a mustache.
And while I was making miniature clothes, the princess got a new dress, too.

In 3 days he'll make his big entrance. So we'll see whether he'll get a warm welcome... (or not).