Author Archives: kathousekelli70

The Pav Update

Posted on by kathousekelli70

So, I checked the pav out yesterday morning before we took off to Fort Smith and I was feeling a little deflated, bit like what my pav was looking like!!

Well, afternoon and back from Fort Smith – a mere 3 hr drive for a fun day – and I set to putting the fixin's on the pavlova ready for the party.

 

Whipped up some cream with just a touch of icing sugar (aka powdered sugar).

 

Piled it on top of the pav and decorated with fresh strawberries and raspberries. A drizzle of white chocolate sauce and voilà! Not a passion fruit or can of passion fruit pulp in sight, so had to go with what I could find.

 

I thought I'd better try it at the party since I had subjected other guests to it and it wasn't bad, needed the vanilla essence but other than that not too bad for a first timer. Was all gone by he time we were ready to leave with the plate – a good sign!

Cheers

Kat

 

 

Pavlova – The Aussie Fave

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Now there is nothing like learning a new skill at any time is there?

I’ve never made a pavlova before. The Aussie iconic dessert. No time like the present when you have a Christmas party to attend……tomorrow!

Can’t be that hard can it?

Step 1. Internet research for the recipe, because remember I said I’ve never made this before. Check – a couple of recipes found.

Step 2. Go to shops buy beaters, hmmm I really miss my kitchen aid. Try and guess what caster sugar equivalent is here. Bingo! Got that one.

Step 3. Try and find appropriate Aussie fixings for topping. Nup, no passion fruit to be found and can’t even buy the pulp in a can. Bugger! (Typical Aussie phrase when something’s not going right) well, looks like it is cream, berries and white chocolate sauce for this pav!

Step 4. Apparently to get this right is to allow the eggs to come to room temperature. Are you serious?! I managed cookies while enebriated last weekend surely I can make a pavlova this week while non-intoxicated!


Momentary pause – 3 beaters in the box? 2 ‘normal’, one whisk? Wait one, while I read the destructions people. Bit flash for a set of $12 beaters! Haa haa haa.

Okay, let’s go, I can’t wait for room temperature eggs, I’ve got better things to do!

Step 5. Separate whites from yolks. 8 to be precise. First success.

 

Step 6. Beat until they are light and peaking. You know, like the foaming crest on a wave. (Okay maybe I have had a little too much tequila already)

Looks about right.

 

Step 7. Gradually add caster sugar, aka granulated white cane sugar.

Meh, looks about right and doesn’t feel ‘grainy’ as they say. So think I’m on the right track so far.

Step 8. Vinegar, vanilla essence……..appears I’ve lost the vanilla essence or don’t actually have any! Hmm to add the vinegar or not then. What the hey, let’s do it. Maybe agave will work? Does it really need to be any sweeter than all the sugar already added anyway?

Oh yeah, tastes pretty, bloody good.

Step 9. Add cornflour aka quick mixing all purpose flour, make extra drink and get this baby in the oven!

Step 10. Looks and tastes like I expect it should so far (the boss approves). Fingers crossed!

 

Ahhhhh! An hour later and the crowd goes wild! Looks like success! Yee haaaa!

Now it says leave in oven with door open for 6hrs to cool and then shouldn’t collapse or crack. Righto.

So people, we are off to Fort Smith tomorrow for club shoot and then home to decorate this wonder before taking it across the road for the party. Hopefully it doesn’t collapse.

You will have to wait to see the finished product then.

Cheers!!

Kat xo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No Bling? Onto The Next Thing

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Waiting on more rhinestones to turn up for Lil's outfit so I'm finishing some hemming and repairs and decided to get into a Christmas corset for Saturday!

That's what you do when you are still contemplating (or procrastinating) on the underskirt for the ball gown that you should be making. I do think I have that sussed though and am going to dye fabric tomorrow.

Anyway so the Christmas corset has evolved and just finished it off with 200 little red rhinestones just for a bit of fun.

I can't go to a Christmas shoot without a Christmas corset, never have, never will. So here's the new one!

 

Will post pic's of it being worn Saturday.

Cheers!

Kat ox

P.S. Jack didn't get left out, he just won't come to the party of wearing a 'Christmas shirt'!! Haa haa haa

 

Bling And More Bling!

Posted on by kathousekelli70

It gives me great pleasure to be able to produce a fantastic piece of work that a client hopes will be what will look like a picture they have or merely a dream for a creation from a few of their ideas.

At the moment it is to create as close as possible a B-western (or silver screen) Annie Oakley outift for Texas based SASS shooter, 'Lil McGill'.

At the 2014 Land Run, I gave Lil my card and said if she ever needed an outfit to give me a yell. She had a gorgeous embroidered outfit on at the time that another seamstress had made for her.

At End Of Trail I took measurements and we had discussions about the Annie Oakley outfit that had been featured in the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum when we were there for the Land Run Banquet.

 

Cool! What a challenge and most know I'm up for a challenge!

So to give you an idea, this is progressing rather nicely. After 2 mock ups sent to Lil we finally got the fit right via face time, photos, discussions and pinning.

To date besides cutting out the fabric, I have hand cut 758 qtr inch pigskin fringe strips, hole punched the leather 346 times.

And the bling!? Well, there are 688 rhinestones on the 8 patterns on the split skirt (not including the fringing yet), 406 rhinestones on the 2 cuffs and 1520 rhinestones on the fringing for the sleeve seams!! Phew!

 

Anyway, to say I'm excited as to how this project is progressing is probably an understatement but still worry about the clients ideals until I see the smile on the face at the end when they receive it.

And THAT my friends is what makes me happy – knowing I have been able to make someone else happy.

Cheers and beers for now. Will keep you posted with the final product.

Love Kat xo

 

A Group, A Gaggle, A Cluster?

Posted on by kathousekelli70

As I've completed another eight beautiful or fun corsets this last couple of weeks I got to wondering, as strange ones do at times, what you would call a 'group of corsets'. Well?

A group? A gaggle? A cluster? I mean mine look like a cluster with all the cords and all jammed into the shelf. That's why I like to make a bag for my client corsets with a matching fabric tie. Corset is protected, cords can't get hooked up with others and it's neater and easy to locate the one you want. One day I'll make them for mine I guess.

 

A litter? A flock? A murder? Nah now that's just silly – a bevy, yeah I think a bevy of beauties sounds better.

This time it's been some fun cotton ones, some blinged, some not. One for under a custom gown. A gorgeous royal purple satin delight to go back to Texas for the rest of the outfit to be made by it's owner. Two underbust corsets with matching outfits for a local buckarette shooter and a green and black silk to head off to It's owner in New Zealand.

 

Have to make a new Christmas one before the Christmas club shoot!! Hmm bling? Lace? Have to wait and see.

Have a great day! Back into B-Western bling for now.

Kat xo

 

Oh Christmas Tree!

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Now, as I mentioned in the previous post, we went Christmas tree and decoration shopping a week ago. A new prelit tree and of course traditional AND cowboy decorations were a must.

I was telling the kids about how many decorations and different styles there were here and I promised I would get pictures for them. This is only Hobby Lobby! I haven't even been to the Christmas Shop yet.

 

There are trees and more trees.

Themed decorations like you wouldn't believe, Christian, cowboy, teachers, sports, different professions, baby and that's before you get to the themed colours. Then you have the ones that look like sugar decorations.

 

More and more and more! Lights, wreaths, table decor, you name it you can get it.

So down to the decorating, lights are up – had to get more. Two net lights for the holly tree and the bush out the front. If I could I'd have statues, blow up stuff, candy canes in the garden and more but am content with this which is okay 🙂

 

Now the tree. I'm so excited! We have a nice 7' prelit tree with berries and snow on it! Eeeeee! Squeals of excitement. Yes I LOVE Christmas!!

 

We got some cowboy decorations and it only seemed fitting then to have a metal star topper.

The Christmas baubles are bronzes, golds, red and greens.

We have the odd decoration from other places like the Jack Daniels snowflake, one from the Corvette Museum, my margarita Santa from North Pole Colorado and our 2014 Oklahoma state decoration (yet to purchase tomorrow!)

 

Now we have a mantle (the glass shelf) above the fireplace (gas fire) so had to get stocking hangers. Hmmm will have to find the Christmas embroidery designs and think they shall have fur tops! Yes!? Well I found a beautiful vintage fabric but don't look too closely as now they are 'downunder' stockings. Grrrr 😦

 

What else? Oh yeah so decorations for the mantle of mason jar snowflake candles and sprigs of holly and greenery.

 

There must be a wreath for the door so I made one for the lonely hook that exists on the door yet hasn't been adorned the whole time we have been here – don't think I haven't wanted to make one or two or three before now though! Shhh

 

Of course the table can't go with out a little glitz and glamour for Christmas either so more mason jars filled with sparkly baubles for a festive feel.

 

Ahhh happy girl now.

Love Kat xo

 

Friday, Fun Day

Posted on by kathousekelli70

The day was supposed to be a sunny glorious day.

Well no sun and an early spotty shower forced us to buy an umbrella that then turned in to no rain whatsoever!! But what the hey, will need one eventually.

This was the start of Friday week ago when we decided we were going out for the day to check out an older part of Edmond and it's shops, antique stores and gift shops.

I didn't get to take photos of all the bronze statues as it wasn't sunny, so have saved that for another day.

The antique stores were great and plenty of Christmas decorations and ideas found when looking in there.

We found a pub!

 

Sweeney McGann's, an Irish-American Grill. We only had Guiness while we sat for a while but will visit again for lunch someday.

 

We were there just after the lunch rush. Plenty of different beers to choose from too!

 

Then it was on to Christmas tree shopping but I will cover that one with the putting up of the tree I think. Oh alright here's a peak at the aisles!

 

So after shopping for tree and decorations it was close enough to beer o'clock and my request for our day out was that we have wood fire pizza for dinner. We headed to Upper Crust not too far away from home and thankfully the time we got there beat the crowds again!

 

We sat at the bar and tried a couple of different beers and ate Fried Mozzarella! OMG! It's divine. Lots of calories but bloody fantastic!

 

The room filled and by the time we finished our pizza people were waiting for tables or a spot at the bar.

A good day in Edmond, Oklahoma!

Cheers Kat

 

 

 

An Awesome Day

Posted on by kathousekelli70

A late wake up this morning, I got up and did the usual yoga workout and thankfully having seen 'Granny Annie's' post on Facebook was able to flick the tv over and take in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Amazing! The floats had so much detail, good choices in entertainers and music, the marching bands, massive balloons and finishing off with the gorgeous Santa and reindeer float at the end.

 

So then it was time to get ready and go visit with friends – Melody and J.R.. We were welcomed into Russell and Vicky's (Melody's step sister) home, full of wonderful smells, wines, and their friends and family.

 

Wow! Made feel so welcome, an awesome home. I learnt the rules of NFL during the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions game. Thanks Russell now I'm up with some of the plays! I have always been fascinated by grid iron but could never quite understand the rules. It's actually pretty easy – well for what I know now. I'm sure I have more to learn and still want to see a live game!

Anyway, the food was fabulous, like a large family Christmas at home in Australia. All the women in the kitchen, lots of laughter, the men sitting in the games room. Just amazing.

We had turkey – light and dark meat (yes apparently there is a difference and a preference!), cranberry sauce, dressing – or stuffing but called dressing when it's not IN the turkey, like cubed bread, celery etc, very good! Green beans and/or a green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, sweet potato, gravy and rolls. Sides like devilled eggs, celery with cream cheese, Bleu cheese, walnuts and cranberry. Cherry coke salad – which was sensational! Sweet but not overly sweet and another creamy dish which tasted good but can't remember what was in it.

 

And that, my friends, was just dinner/lunch. Dessert was a whole other experience! Pumpkin pie – traditional and a spicier version (I tried the traditional version and it was better than grammer pie let me tell you!), pecan pie, fruit pie, apple and cinnamon pastries, and an Italian decadent cake!

 

Yes we are stuffed by now! Oh and the cookies were a hit!

I'm so glad we were given the opportunity to experience a traditional thanksgiving. Thankful for such wonderful friends and thankful for this lovely family for welcoming us into their home.

Ahhhhhh feeling happy and content

Love Kat xo

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Now, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia…..BUT…,everyone has something to be thankful for throughout the year, so Happy Thanksgiving to all!

We were invited by friends to attend their family thanksgiving lunch tomorrow. Not having done this before, when asked what we should bring the response was a bottle of wine.

Well me being me and not content with that, I wanted to take a “thank you” gift for having us and for being such good friends.

So what was I to do?! Research began….maybe I could make something but what!? I found on Pinterest a cookie/biscuit recipe which seemed appropriately festive for a Thanksgiving Gift – Apple Cider Caramel Cookies.

I managed to find all the ingredients after the checkout chick at Crest asked if we had found everything today, ahh not quite, do you have Spiced Apple cider drink mix powder sachets? and one guy says yes on aisle 1! Dah dah! Now I can make these cookies!!!

I still have no clue as to what I'm doing but they damn sure sound like they should taste fantastic

So here's the ingredients.

 

I set about to creaming butter and sugar NOT in my kitchen aid but my ninja, ehh seems to be mixing okay. Not exactly creamed.

 

Next, after unwrapping numerous individual caramels we are ready for rolling said dough and enclosing caramels inside.

 

Do I have too much dough around them? No idea.

 

15mins in the oven later and they smell absolutely divine! Partial success for now.

 

Of course we will have to try them with a cuppa later just to make sure the pass muster.

SO next thing is how to present these? I was looking for a thanksgiving type harvest theme and came up wih these raffia lined decorative plates and some fall/autumn leaves for decoration but not content with that decided to use some of the Aussie fabric (which still hasn't made it to a shirt and corset yet after a year or so) and made two napkins to line the plates.

 

Then it's cookies placed, and wrapping with the added touch of more leaves, raffia ribbon, thank you tag to complete. Voila!

 

We will see how that goes down tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Love Kat xo

P.S. They were bloody delish!! Gooey caramel deliciousness in the middle. Happy!!

http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/11/apple-cider-caramel-cookies-recipe.html

 

 

Powdery Stuff!

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Mesmerising, I mean I've seen snow before but not really experienced the delight of waking up and watching snow fall in your backyard. I can hear some of you groaning now as you have had to shovel driveways already and have what seems to be a long winter ahead.

Some places see it in Australia, in the Blue Mountain foothills near Sydney and certainly in Victoria and Tasmania where snow is plentiful in different areas, well and the occasional freak occurrence in Canberra but not for me!

It started at 9am and is steadily increasing. I'm like a little kid, I can't stay away from the windows watching it and yes I do have much better things to do with my time!!

The outdoor table is now beginning to look like a lattice work pie topped with a dusting of icing sugar!

 

The roofs of houses have snow settling on the shingles and it is building up round the bases of some trees, edges of the footpath and on the leaves of the magnolia tree.

 

Sigh, looks amazing but I better get to some work!

 

Kat xo

P.S. Since typing this and playing with photos that don't look like much – the flakes are getting bigger and there's more white stuff!!!