Update

Well, looky here. It has been an age since I posted. This, I'm sure, is not the last time I will disappear from here for a while. It's just the way I roll. I get really into something and then it's pretty much dead to me. For example, grilled cheese sandwiches were dead to me from age 7 until about 12 and then made a brief shining reappearance before being gone now for longer than my kids have been around. I just don't want one. I know I have enjoyed them and will enjoy them again, but there it is.

Short version, I have a pitiful span of attention.

So what has been going on, you ask? Well have a look...


There has been a lot of quilting. It isn't something I thought I would like but as it turns out, it's pretty addictive. I really enjoy that they always keep you warm and you don't have to worry about making them flattering. Quilts fit everybody.

And then there was some felted art for a show in December. Seriously. I know I've been gone a long time but I really have let this time away get a bit out of hand.

And some non-felted art for the same show based on the very amusing novel Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters.
And all the while teaching myself how to do my own eyebrows and make myself look like the undead. A girl only has so much time to perfect these critical things.

I know I could have spread these projects out to get the maximum air-play from each of them but time marches on. There will be more in the future but I am leaving you for now with this charming picture of myself at Halloween.

When I say "Craft or Die" I mean it.

Not Just Your Grannie's Cold Cream

Thanks to dark cloud blue sky I just got the latest copy of World Sweet World in the mail and it is a gem. It is a Make-it-Yourself magazine out of New Zealand and it is chock full of great things coming from down under. The first one on my list to try was Rachel Fabish's recipe for cold cream, the 2000 year old beauty potion used by women around the world. Cold cream is the ultimate cleanser and moisturiser in one. Really though, I almost find it more soothing just to know everything that is in it is edible and available in my grocery store.

There are a lot of home made cosmetic recipes I would love to try like angry chicken's deodorant, several lippy recipes and some hand cream or hair treatments would be mighty fine too. Sadly, where I am in Canada means that I must order supplies online and suffer a really crap exchange rate and dismal shipping rates on top. (I know, my life is Hard) But in any case, this recipe only sent me to the health food store for beeswax and took about 15 mins to complete.

And the results are lovely. Darlings, I glow. So get started.

Cold Cream

Warm 6 tbsp olive oil and 28g chopped beeswax in a small jar in a pot of water on the stove. Warm until wax is just melted.

In a separate container, warm 2 tbsp rosewater. Pour it slowly into the oil/wax mix stirring constantly.

Remove the jar from the hot water and continue to stir until cool and thick. (I placed my jar in a bowl of cold water to help cool it down while I stirred).

I also added four drops of lavender essential oil once the jar was off the heat.

Fill a sterile jar and keep in the fridge.

Now that you are ready to use it, scoop out a small amount and warm it between your fingers. Smooth it all over your face and give your self a much deserved facial massage. Then gently wipe off the excess and glow baby glow.

Incidentally, this is awesome for chapped winter hands.