Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Shoes Shoes Lovely Shoes

Monday, November 24, 2008

Project Lamp


I hope this doesn't become a habit. I need to post more often but I dunno sometimes I just feel that what I make is just not worth talking about. Then everyone goes but it is alpa ............ you should you goose. So I'm kind of back in the groove - I think. This is a project I have been working on for a while.

We built some cabinets at work that required alot of oyster lights however, the clients didn't want the actual shade only the fluorescent tubing. So anyway my mind was going into overload thinking hmmmmm what could I possibly do with these, It would be such a waste to just throw them out. After much thinking I came up with this. The type of lighting and base need some more work but basically this is how it should look.

The oyster shades will be stacked on top of each other and glued on the edges. I reckon the first few shades could do with 8mm holes this should help the light to travel higher which would mean I could have more than 7 shades. The other thing I need to work on is the type of light. The shades are plastic so I need to get research cool bulbs. The first image has 7 shades which gives out quite a subtle light. The second image has more shades which doesn't let the light travel and hence the holes I think that should fix the problem. I am really excited about these. I would like these to stand fairly tall on a nice basic white box.





Monday, November 10, 2008

Vintage West German Costume Jewellery


During my trip to Swan Hill I went to the bear company hoping they would carry some felt. Anyway no felt but they had a $10.00 bags of this costume jewellery that I had never seen before. So, I bought a bag and couldn't wait to see what else I would discover in my bag of goodies. My favorites have to be the unusual face clip on italian made earrings. The other favorite has be the perfume earrings. They come with instructions on the back of them showing where to put a drop of your favorite fragrance. There heaps of other styles. I want to go back to buy more.

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Chocolate Brownie Cookies



I love these brownie cookies they were extremely easy to make. This recipe is from Claudia Flemings book
The Last Course.


Chocolate Brownie Cookies

35g all-purpose flour
¼ tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
2 large eggs
135g sugar
½ tbsp brewed espresso
1 tsp vanilla extract
30g unsalted butter
140g extra-bittersweet chocolate, chopped
55g unsweetened chocolate, chopped
¾ cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375ºF/190ºC. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, briefly whip the eggs to break them up. Add the sugar, espresso, and vanilla and beat on high for 15 minutes, until thick. While the eggs are whipping, place the butter in the top layer of a double boiler, or in a metal bowl suspended over a pot of simmering water, and scatter the chocolate on top. Heat until the butter and chocolate melt. Remove from over the water and stir the chocolate and butter until smooth. Gently fold the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture until partially combined (there should still be some streaks). Add the flour mixture to the batter and carefully fold it in. If the batter is very runny, let it rest until it thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Drop the batter by heaping teaspoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets and bake until puffed and cracked, 8 to 9 minutes. Cool on a wire rack before removing from the sheets.