Gift Ideas

I was recently invited to a birthday party.  The trouble with this is you always have to think of a gift and the wrapping of this gift.  I always like to make an impression with my gifts and believe that the appearance of the gift sets the tone for the actual gift.  I have for some time been collecting ribbons, cards, wrapping paper, pretty boxes of all shapes and sizes.  So when I was invited, I was quiet excited to see what I could do.  I’m not the most creative person in the world but love doing my own little projects.

This is what I did:

 

Please let me know what you think, maybe you have some ideas and easy tips that we could all use. 

Mielie bread or Maize bread

This is my very own mielie bread recipe, and today I would like to share this with you.   It’s quick and easy to make and your family and friends will love it. I usually make 2, however the ingredient’s below is only for 1. Just double the quantities for the number of breads you’d like to make.

Ingredients

250ml flour

150ml mielie meal (maize meal)

15ml baking powder

2ml salt

60ml butter

12.5ml brown sugar

4 extra-large eggs

1 tin sweet corn

Method

1.        Preheat the oven to 180’c

2.       Mix all dry ingredients together

3.       Add sugar to butter mix

4.       Beat eggs

5.       Add tin of sweet corn to beaten eggs

6.       Add sugar and butter mix to beaten egg mix

7.       Add mix to dry ingredients

8.       Mix

9.       Pour into tin loaf

10.   Sprinkle some paprika over the top of the bread.

11.   Bake for 40-45mins

12.   Makes 1 loaf

 

 

My attempt at crochet

I have always enjoyed knitting, so recently I knitted a little blanket. One of my friends then mentioned that I should crochet a boarder around the knitted blanket.
Well I have never crocheted before and didn’t even know where to begin.  I then did some research and found a step-by-step guide to crocheting. I went out and bought a hook and wool and attempted to crochet. Well it was certainly not as easy as it looked and attempt after attempt I could just not get it, but practice does make perfect and eventually I did manage to get it right. 

This is the result of many attempts and practice:

 

This is my second crocheted blanket:

 

I do unfortunately only know the one stich and although I have now bought books I am just not getting it right so again I will keep trying and when I do eventually get another stitched mastered I will no doubt post an up-date here!!

However if any of you have some easy to use patterns, with step by step, pictured instructions please do share it with us!