Custom Purple Bird Lunch Bag

It's been a very busy week with custom Lunch Bag orders. Here are 2 using my favorite fabric, Purple bird. The first Lunch Bag is designed to fit the Tupperware Sandwich Keeper Plus, the second Lunch bag is a Large lunch bag so no more tippy over containers at lunch time! (can also fit the Sandwich keeper Plus) Available at BonTons on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/BonTons?ref=si_shop

Custom Large Lunch Bag

It has been a busy month developing a new sized lunch bag.
Now available is the Custom Large Lunch Bag. Fully insulated.  Perfect size for those lunches that you don't want to tip over. Large enough to fit Tupperware Sandwich Plus Keeper too! Available in my Etsy store 

Available at https://www.etsy.com/shop/BonTons
Visit my Facebook for more custom orders https://www.facebook.com/BonTons

Wonton Soup Recipe

So I'm making this right now, WonTon Soup. Delicious, delightful dumplings! You want the recipe, here we go

WonTon Soup - straight from my kitchen!

250g packet of fresh WonTon wrappers
2 litres stock ( you make it how you like it)
500g chicken mince
1 egg
chilli sauce
soy sauce

So add your stock to the pot, add the chilli sauce and soy sauce (I don't measure, add how much you like) Bring to the boil.

While you are waiting for the soup to boil, make the little dumplings. Put the chicken mince in a bowl with the egg and mix until combined with a fork. Lay the wrappers out on the bench and put about 1 -2 teaspoon of the chicken on each.

Now for the tricky bit, have a small bowl of water to dip your finger in here. Wet 2 sides of the dumpling with your finger, then fold over diagonal to form a triangle. Now bring the 2 points up to the middle, twist a little forming a little dumpling.


Okay, so the soup is boiling, add those dumplings and let cook for 20-25 minutes. They will smell awesome.

Ladel some out and eat, no time to add pretty embelishments.

Winter Warming Pumpkin Soup

Cooler months are fast approaching. Thought I would share my families favourite Pumpkin soup recipe.

Ingredients
700g kent pumpkin, remove skin
500g potatoes peeled
1 onion, remove skin
1L chicken stock
1t garlic
25g butter
pinch salt

Cut up pumpkin and potatoes roughly same shapes. Cut onion into large pieces. Add to large pot with the garlic, butter and salt.  Heat through until butter has melted.
Add enough chicken stock to cover the vegetables. Bring to the boil. Allow to boil until pumpkin and potato soften.

Remove from heat. With a blender, I use a stick blender, blend until a consistency you like. I like to leave some chunky bits.

If it is too watery, cook down on stove for a while.

I like to eat it with garlic bread or over gnocchi with crispy bacon pieces sprinkled on top!

Pinch and a Punch for the first of the month

Pinch and a punch for the 1st of the month. Cannot believe it's May already.
I celebrated another birthday on the weekend. It was a major birthday, ending with a zero, but we won't talk about that here LOL

There was delicious Cheesecake of course, fluffy slippers and a cute beanie for the cooler winter months that are on their way!  We went to Seaworld for the day. I love the dolphin show, I could watch it over and over. I love the looking tanks too seeing sharks underwater!

Exciting news this month with the release of my third sewing pattern so keep an eye out for that.

How to sew a Placemat pattern now available!

For all those DIY'ers out there that love to make it themselves, here is your chance to get a sewing pattern to make some of your favourite BonTons Pieces.

A favorite with the kids is my Set the Table Place mat. Encourage learning by doing.  It's a great gift idea so if you're looking for a handmade gift made by you, why not try it.

Available here on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/listing/127769601/pdf-set-the-table-place-mat-how-to-sew?ref=shop_home_feat

Here's some feedback already received on the pattern

I’ve finished it!!! Yours was my first job for the week.  It looks gorgeous.  I will take some photos today and send them through – feel free to use them on your sites in you want.

I had no problems with the pattern – easy to follow

Basic Throw Cushion Tutorial

I love making cushion covers for my home. Here is a quick simple idea to recycle a button up shirt and turn in into something beautiful for the home.

You will need-
1 Button up shirt
Cushion
Embellishments

Measure the size of your cushion. Add 1/2 an inch to the size of your cushion to allow for stitching.

For the back of the cushion - cut 1 piece on the front of the shirt. Be sure to centre the buttons as this will be the cushion opening.  For the front - cut 1 piece from the back of the shirt. 

Embellish the front piece anyway you like or you could leave it plain if the shirt has a nice pattern.  I used a plain shirt so I added some fabrics from my scrap stash and appliqued some letters on it.

On the buttoned piece, stitch about 1 inch to the edge where the buttons are to hold the pieces together.
Unbutton some of the buttons.  Place the 2 pieces right sides together. Stitch all the way around using a 1/4 inch seam.  You can over lock or zigzag stitch the edges for durability.

Turn the completed cushion right side out through the opening. Insert your cushion. Button up.
Enjoy!

 From this Shirt, to this cushion

Simple Scone Recipe

Simple Scone Recipe

This recipe was brought home from school. I've made it many times and have never had a rock hard scone! I think the trick is not to overwork it.   You could add sultanas or dates or choc chips!

2 Cups Self Raising Flour
2 Tablespoons softened margarine or butter
3/4 milk

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C
Rub the margarine or butter into the flour.
Make a well in the centre. Pour in all the Milk.
Use a knife to gently mix the mixture together to form a dough. Do not overwork it.
Place dough onto a floured surface and gently press out to about 2-3 cm thickness.
With a circle cutter (I use a small cup) cut out scones.
Place on a baking paper lined tray. Usually yields about 6-8 reasonably sized scones, depends on your cutter size

Cook in oven for 20-25 minutes

T Shirt Applique

Did you know that you can create a really cool looking t shirt by adding a simple applique.  I really love to do this for seasonal holidays like Christmas and Easter!

What you need
Plain coloured t-shirt.
Applique Template - Find an image that you like. There are loads of applique templates available for purchase if you wanted to try that. I personally love the designs from http://angelleadesigns.com/
Fabric for the applique
Vliseofix
Iron

What's next-
Get your template and trace it onto the paper side of the vliseofix. Roughly cut out the shape of vliseofix.  Iron onto the fabric you have chosen for the applique. Be careful to put the glue side down onto the wrong side of the fabric. Now cut the image out along the pencil line. Peel of the paper. Now you have a mirror image of the template.
Place the applique onto the t-shirt. Glue side down. Iron onto t-shirt.

Your almost done!
You can blanket stitch around the applique using coloured thread. You could also stitch the applique down using a sewing machine. There are loads of stitches available these days on a sewing machine, you choose!

Here's something I whipped up for a sports carnival! Go Kangaroos!

Personalised Lunch Containers

I love anything that your can put your name on. I did start my BonTons adventure by Personalising Pillow cases and successfully selling them!

You can't imagine my excitement when I stumbled across these great personalised Lunch Containers.
You can order yours here  www.nameyourdummy.com.au
They come in a great rainbow of colours and you can get them personalised. No more writing on with texta, or lost containers!

I love the Green one the most. The most exciting thing about them is that they fit in all BonTons Lunch Bags

Easy Pikelet Recipe

Easy Pikelet Recipe
2 eggs
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups Self Raising Flour

Beat eggs (electric hand beater) till fluffy
Add sugar and beat
Add vanilla essence, beat until thick
Add milk and mix
Add flour and beat
Cook in an electric frypan or heavy based fry pan. Put in dessert spoons full of mixture.

Serve hoe with whatever topping you like. Ice cream is very popular in my house!
Bon Appetit

Gone Fishing

I don't really like fishing and it seems this weekend did nothing to change my view on the subject. The only thing biting were the sandflies and they were eating me! We did catch this unidentified little guy. Do you have any idea what it is?

School holiday adventures

During the school holidays, I wanted to take the kids on a bus ride. You really learn the art of patience when the bus is 5 minutes late, that's a long time to a little person. Our bus ride took us to Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens to have a wander and explore. Also we took a sneak peak at the Planetarium that has just undergone refurbishment.  We didn't get to see a show because it was so busy, great minds I guess... maybe another day

 Can you spot the pair of dangerous crocs lurking in the lake?

At the Movies

Every school holidays brings about new movies for the kids to see. I've often been disappointed to find that a kids movie is sometimes too scary because the movie makers are trying to include the adult audience into the story line.

Recently a movie came out that was recommended to be seen by the whole "Family" well my daughter came home so frightened. The previews made the movie to be more Fantasy than the darkness that it produced, very disappointed.

Although I wasn't keen to go and see the movie The Croods,  you could say I was dragging my feet and putting it off. But it has a great story line, without the scary dark bits to frighten my kids and great animation.  I highly recommend you see this one with your whole family, even your teenagers.

10 out of 10 for this one, go see it




http://www.thecroodsmovie.com/

Something new at BonTons

I've been busy working on something new lately. Sewing Patterns, coming soon to my Etsy store. I'm so excited to be putting my work out there! What do you prefer, downloadable instructions or hard copy patterns sent via post? I'll be sure to shout it from the rooftops when the first one is actually available!!

Saltdough Handprints

It's Easter school holidays here! Excited yeah! It's all about craft for us here during the holidays and this time we attempted the salt dough thing. I reckon these hand prints turned out great and the kids are so amazed that their hands still fit in perfectly after one day LOL.

The saltdough recipe - 1 cup plain flour, 1 cup salt, about 1 cup water poured in gradually to make a dough that will hold the print, you will not use all the water. We added food colouring to our dough mixture.  Once you've made your design, bake in the oven on low for hours and hours.

There are loads of internet sites available for inspiration, I love the Christmas decorations ideas. Give it a go, and enjoy the holidays!

A new blog is born. April 1st, April Fools Day, this is no joke! Coupon code- NEWBLOG for 20% off BonTons etsy store items GO! BonTons Shop Valid today only