The Little Lady's New Dress

I have a problem with clothes for girls over the age of 6/7 years.  I don't know why, but for some reason suitable girls clothing, in particular dresses, are really difficult to come across.  If you go shopping on the high street, on which I have ventured onto over the past week due to out imminent holiday, the shelves are full of inappropriate clothing for girls.  I am just pleased that I can make my little girl dresses suitable for little girls without having to spend a fortune on them.

After spending hours shopping, which I hated, I came home and spent Saturday night making a dress for my, not so little (she is 7 in a couple of weeks!!) Fairy.

This is the fabric that she chose:

To be honest, I wasn't sure how it would turn out.  It isn't a fabric I would have chosen for her and was surprised at her choice.  I did try to encourage her to choose an alternative, but she was adamant that this was the fabric she wanted.

It turned out pretty well... the fabric choice is perfect for the simple style, and it really suits her.  She's chuffed to bits with it, I'd left it on my little mannequin for when she came downstairs in the morning, "Oooo mummy" she exclaimed, "it's beautiful".  It had its debut outing to granny and grandad's that day.

My only disappointment is that there is a little too much room under the arm.  It isn't really noticeable, but bothers me slightly as I do like things to be right.  It does however leave room for growth, and for t-shirts if necessary!!!

Roasted Butternut Squash Lasagne

This lasagne uses the tomato sauce I posted here.  I think that this has to be the tastiest vegetarian lasagne ever.  The roasted squash has a fabulous sweet caramelised flavour and the hint of chilli in the tomato sauce just gives it a little extra kick.

Ingredients - serves 6 - 8

2 portions of tomato sauce made with chilli

2kg butternut squash

2tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1kg spinach, washed

1pt bechamel sauce

8 sheets lasagne

1 25g ball mozzarella, drained and torn into small pieces

2 handfuls of grated parmesan

1.  Set the oven to 190°C/Gas mark 5.

2.  Prep the butternut squash by cutting into quarters, deseeding and peeling.  Now cut into 2cm cubes, toss in oil and place in the oven for 25 mins or until browned around the edges.  Once done, take out of the oven and put to one side.

3.  Whilst the squash  is roasting, make your tomato sauce and leave to simmer.

4.  Now put your washed spinach into a large pan and allow to wilt, remove from the heat and drain.  Put to one side.

5.  Make your bechamel sauce.

6.  Layer up your lasagne. First put a little bechamel sauce in the bottom of your lasagne dish, add a layer of lasagne, half your tomato sauce, half of your squash, half of your spinach and some bechamel.  Add another layer of of lasagne and repeat process.  Finish with a layer of bechamel.  Sprinkle your mozzerella, and your parmesan over the top and pop into the oven for 40-45 minutes until golden.  Check the lasagne is cooked through by putting a sharp knife into the centre.  If not, cover with tin foil, and bake for another 5 or 10 minutes.

Yum yum.  Just serve with a tasty green salad and some crusty bread for a fabulous meal.

you can find more delicious recipes here.

Bechamel Sauce - the easy way!!!

My mum shared this recipe a few years ago...  I have a feeling it is one of Delia Smith's cheats, but please don't quote me on that.  For years I battled to make a bechamel sauce the traditional way, adding the milk a little at a time, for years I had little lumps in my sauce.  Not any more!!!

This is what you do:-
Put 1pt milk, 50g butter and 50g plain flour in a pan.  Turn the heat onto a medium heat, get out your whisk and gently whisk until you have a lovely smooth sauce.  Although you are still having to stir, it is relaxed and you aren't having to mess around pouring milk whilst stirring.  You can leisurely sip a glass of wine instead!!

How simple is that?

For Cheese Sauce, just take the pan off the heat and add a handful or two of cheddar.

You can find more delicious recipes here.

seventyseventyone design: My lovely Loula Belle At Home washbag

seventyseventyone design: My lovely Loula Belle At Home washbag: "I recently entered the Loula Belle At Home blog giveaway to win one of Leonie's fabulous pinnies. I was delighted to find out that I w..."

A Little Tour of the Royal Exchange Craft Shop, Manchester... and something that made me chuckle!!!

I was just having a little meander around blog land, when I noticed a little virtual tour around the Royal Exchange Craft shop in Manchester that I had previously missed.  It is just as I remember it.  I haven't been into Manchester for a very long time, but is a place I like to go with my mum, and it always results in a trip to the Royal Exchange.  I love it, so I am very pleased that I have some of my products in the shop there, and it is lovely to see them on the shelves in this clip!  I plan to escape for a day, and visit over the summer holidays.

And onto the something that made me chuckle.  The other day whilst I was having a quick tidy before bath time, I glanced down and noticed that I had been walking around with a cone attached to the side of my foot!!!  Hmmm... I wondered how long it had been attached for, but felt relief that I hadn't gone out!!!

Seriously funky fabric!!

I love fabric from the 1960's and 1970's.  I love the boldness of the colour, the big prints, and the cross over from a piece of art work to a piece of fabric.  Functional art.  Fantastic.  Although I do like some abstract pieces, I do tend to have an inner hippy hidden within, as it is the bright and funky florals that I tend to make a bee-line for.

  This is a piece of vintage cotton I have had in my stash for some time... waiting!  I took a few photos and couldn't decide which ones to post as there is so much going on.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to do something with it.  For two whole hours I had the house completely to myself.  I used the time to make a halter neck pinny with most of the fabric.  Even though I say so myself, it is pretty fabulous.  It just needs a couple of finishing touches, a photo shoot, and then it's up for sale.  A truly vintage pinny 1960's/70's fabric (I can't put a date on it) in a style influenced by the 1950's!  I just thought I'd tempt you with the fabric first!!! 

Fathers Day Panic!

This morning I woke in a bit of a panic and my first thought was, oh shit... it's Fathers Day.  The children's presents for their dad were sorted, and my dad's present was sorted, but I had planned to make a card last night (I try to make cards rather than buy them, this sometimes puts a little bit of pressure on!).  Unfortunately I'd ended up with a migraine that sent me to bed as soon as I had got the children into bed (hubby was working), only to wake at 6.30am in a bit of a tizz!!!

I hadn't even thought about what I wanted to put... men are so hard to make cards for, but I have found the solution.  Cath Kidston catalogues!!!  The typesets used are fab, and varied, making the most simply card look pretty funky.  I grabbed some shiny silver card, got out some scissors and a glue stick and set to work.  It didn't take me long to think of the message I wanted to give to him.

To my

Perfect.