Sweet Living Magazine Issue 4

sweetliving Crafts • DIYs • Food • Green Living • Backyard Sustainability Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Inspiring ideas for everyday living www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 1

Want to see your ad in Sweet Living?

Email us at admin@sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

share your

money-saving tips.

email us at

tips@sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Page 2

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

sweetliving Crafts • DIYs • Food • Green Living • Backyard Sustainability Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Let’s party!

I do like a good party. I like it even better when I can make my own party props, like a silly paper top hat and a huge fluffy moustache on a stick (see page 50 for our free printables).

Or pretty dinner invitations and menu cards. Even if you’re inviting just four people to dinner, why not impress them with personalised place cards and fancy menu cards? To make it easy for you, we’ve designed four elegant menus for you to download (see page 13). Use a gold pen or a calligraphy pen to write your menu in fancy script.

Alternatively, you can make menus or invites out of beautiful greeting cards you’re received during the year. Use the decorative side of the card and write your message on the back.

There are countless party craft projects in this issue, from delicious party foods (our thickening waistlines are proof of that) and party DIYs (hats, felt masks and a gorgeous table runner), to party printables for you and your little pirates and princesses to download.

In this issue we welcome the very talented Lisa van Klaveren to the Sweet Living team. Check out her gorgeous crochet teddy bear on page 51. You’ll see more of Lisa’s amazing projects in future issues, including some neat DIY Christmas gifts next issue.

Meanwhile, whip up a batch of cupcakes or whoopee pies and sit back and enjoy your latest issue of Sweet Living.

Jane www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Join us on Facebook to get the latest Sweet Living updates, and sign up for our free weekly newsletter from our website.

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 3

sweetliving 51

58

contents 6

New, views, tips & snips

Latest updates, inspiring ideas, thrifty tips and websites we love.

a party 10 Host Whether it’s a kids’ party, a dinner party or crafts party, we have some great tips for making yours a success.

21

DIYs 29 Party Hosting a party? Keep your

workshop 51 Toy Do you sew, knit or crochet? Let’s

guests grinning with these fun party props to make or bake.

get crafty. Delight young recipients with one of these great projects.

Storage ideas printables 57 48 Free Keep the kids’ rooms tidy. Make Download your free cupcake

your own thrifty storage containers.

wrappers, gift tags, paper bunting and hats.

treats 17 Party A delectable dessert is the bee’s knees for sweet tooths. Pucker up with one of our delicious treats.

sustainability 63 Backyard Grow your own fresh fruit.

Plant a mini orchard.

Menu Starter

urse

sweetliving Issue 4

www.sweetliv ingmagazine.c o.nz

Menu

Page 102

Starter

Main course

Dessert

Menu 2

Dessert

13

54

Page 4

sweet li ving

Main Co

ing et liv swe 1

Contacts www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz Editor: Jane Wrigglesworth Designer: Geoff

Fitzpatrick, grafix@fitzi.co.nz Editorial enquiries: jane@sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz Advertising enquiries: admin@sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz Readers’ tips: tips@sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz Join us on Facebook

Issue 4 living sweet

ine.co.nz

agaz etlivingm www.swe

Issue 4

r 2012 August - Octobe

August - October

2012 sweet

living

Page 103

19

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

24 49

30

34 29

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

10

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 5

sweetliving

news, views, tips & snips

Ancient grain one of the healthiest

Ever heard of freekeh? It’s the new quinoa! This ancient form of wheat is not only low-carb, low-GI and high in fibre, it packs a mighty nutritional punch. Because the grains are harvested while they’re still young, they contain more protein, vitamins and minerals than other grains do. Read more about it here.

20 unusual uses for honey According to Huffington Post, honey can cure hangovers, treat acne, remove parasites, clean cuts and scrapes, condition damaged hair, soften skin, boost energy, and preserve fruit, among other things. Click through to the Huffington Post website to learn more about its benefits.

Make your own craft glue This non-toxic glue is especially good for kids’ craft projects. Place 1 cup of flour and 1/3 cup sugar into a saucepan and mix.

Add ¾ cup water and mix into a smooth paste. Add another ¾ cup of water and mix. Add 1 teaspoon vinegar (a natural preservative), and heat mixture until it starts to thicken. Remove from heat, cool and pour into a plastic bottle.

Page 6

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

Printable alphabet

What better way to help your kids learn the letters of the alphabet than by making the whole learning process fun. Markus from Digitprop has created a collection of 26 very cool papercraft templates for you to download and make up. Head on over to Digitprop to download these nifty letters.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

This little piggy

Here’s a fun treat for kids. A marshmallow piglet. Use large marshmallows for the body. For the snout, ears and feet, use half a mini marshmallow for each. Apply some Marshmallow Fluff (available from Kiwi Cakes) to the body parts, and attach head, snout, ears and feet. Dab some more Marshmallow Fluff onto the body, then sprinkle with coconut flakes.

Allow to set for half an hour. Use icing for eyes and two partially melted white chocolate buttons for a hat. Place the pig in a small brandy basket and cupcake wrapper.

Boutique bunnies

These have to be the cutest storage jars ever! The talented Torie Jayne whipped up these animal jars for Easter, but we reckon they’d do for any time of the year. The lids and bunnies are spray painted in lovely pastel colours, with the bunnies glued on top. Head over to Torie Jayne’s website for full instructions.

5 websites we 1. The Stonesoup

An excellent website with delicious recipes, many vegetarian. The writer has a degree in food science and is author of 5 Ingredients, 10 Minutes. Focuses on simple, whipped-upin-minutes, meals.

2. The Skint Foodie

Some fabulous recipes here. “If you have a passion for good food, but very little money, what do you eat? How do your organise your kitchen?

Where do you shop? Well that’s the situation I’m in, and that’s what this site is about.”

3. Ellen DeGeneres’ food blog Ellen is a vegan and here she shares her mouthwatering recipes and excellent food substitution tips.

Fresh flowers boost energy A behavioural study conducted by Harvard Medical School found that people who looked at fresh flowers in the morning reported higher levels of energy for the rest of the day. Those same people also felt an increase in feelings of compassion and kindness for others, the study concluded.

That’s the perfect excuse for planting a cutting garden in your backyard for year-round blooms. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

4. Living On A Dime

Cut your grocery bill with easy, frugal recipe ideas, including gluten free, kids’ meals, breakfast, lunches, dinners, and leftovers.

5. Kids Organics

Great ideas and recommendations for natural and organic foods and products for newborns, toddlers, school kids and teens. Includes 17 Most Important Foods to Eat Organic.

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 7

sweetliving

The thrifty cook Readers’ tried and true tips for saving money in the kitchen.

Keeping coriander fresh

Baked kumara with tuna

Make your bread rise

Wrap your bunches of coriander in aluminium foil before placing in the fridge.

It lasts much longer this way than if kept in plastic bags or cling film.

Our family loves these baked kumara (sweet potato) with a fresh salad on the side. It’s super cheap, and all our salad ingredients come from our garden.

Sam Morrison

• 4 medium-sized kumara • 185g can tuna • chilli flakes • 1 small red onion, sliced • 1 lime • Greek yoghurt • Fresh herbs to serve

If your bead dough isn’t rising, try this trick. I’ve done it and it really works.

Place your dough in a large microwavesafe bowl, cover with a paper towel and microwave on high for 15 seconds. Let it stand for 5 minutes. You can continue doing this until the dough doubles in size.

Making breadcrumbs If you’re left with crackers that nobody likes, crush them into bread-like crumbs and use them as a coating for fish or meat.

Mix in some freshly chopped or dried herbs and seasoning. Alternatively, if your family doesn’t like to eat their crusts, keep them in the freezer until you have half a bag full.

Then break them up and place them in the oven (put them in just after the oven has been used so you save power!) and when dried, use your mixer to grind them up.

Clean kumara and prick several times with a fork. Bake in oven until tender. Cut in half horizontally and top with tuna, a sprinkle of chilli flakes and onion. Cut lime in half and squeeze juice over kumara. Put dollops of yoghurt on top and fresh herbs.

Timothy Waterhouse

Kim Paterson

Sticky meatballs?

Chocolate spoons

Gail Irwin

Budget fish cakes Fresh fish can be expensive, so we use canned sardines for a nutrient-rich, tasty and cheap alternative when making fish cakes.

• 3 large potatoes • 2 x cans sardines • juice and zest from half a lemon • 3 tablespoons chopped parsley • 15g butter, melted • flour for dusting

Pumpkin can be tricky to peel. Here’s a great trick. Place your pumpkin in the microwave for 1 minute on high to make it easier.

Chocolate spoons are a great standby treat for when people pop over unexpectedly. I serve coffee and these spoons, which can be used to stir the coffee, and then eaten.

You can make them in advance and keep them in the fridge. Melt some good quality chocolate then pour it onto a selection of spoons. Add sprinkles and sweets if desired, then put the spoons in the fridge for the chocolate to set.

Boil potatoes in salted water until tender.

Meanwhile, strain sardines, place in a large bowl and lightly mash. Add lemon juice and zest, then mix in parsley. When potatoes are cooked, drain and mash.

Mix in butter. Allow to cool, then add to sardines and season. Put flour on your hands, then shape the mixture into cakes.

Lightly dust the cakes with flour then fry for 4-5 minutes on each side.

Leigh Cuff, Torbay

Tina Hutton

Sandra Kestler

This is so simple but it really works! Wet your hands before rolling meatballs in your hands to keep the meat sticking to them.

Pauline Welch

Peeling pumpkin

Page 8

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Frozen yoghurt snacks

Zombie marshmallows

Lemon juice for sauce

I found this excellent idea for making healthy snacks for kids. Buy (or make your own) fruity yoghurt, place tablespoonfuls onto wax paper on a freezer-safe tray, so they form small circles. Pop a berry on top (blueberry, raspberry, etc) and freeze solid.

A perfect quick treat!

If you’re hosting a monster party for your kids, zombie marshmallows will be a big hit.

Make up some coloured icing and, using a clean paint brush or toothpick, paint facial features onto the marshmallows. Easy!

Instead of using tomato sauce on everything (grilled meats, hamburger patties, etc), we squeeze lemon juice over meat instead.

It really gives it quite a different but tasty flavour. We have a tree that produces like mad. So we’re constantly thinking up new ways to use our lemons.

Rene Jackson

Use those broccoli stalks Don’t throw away the stalks of broccoli and cauliflower. Freeze them, and when you have enough, make a soup or stock from them. Alternatively, you can dice them into small cubes and add then fresh to green salads. They’re really delicious.

Denise, New Plymouth

Deterring ants I’ve discovered that ants do not like lavender oil. I keep a couple of beehives and was advised to put a few drops in the hives when we discovered ants inside. The next day they were gone! I’m guessing this could be used indoors for the same result.

Yvonne, Greenhithe

Keep out mice Block mouse (entry) holes around kitchen pipes, or anywhere else they come into the house, with steel wool. Mice will chew through paper but not steel wool.

Nicola Hyde

Edible ladybugs You can make vegetables more appealing to toddlers by fashioning small animals out of them. Ladybugs are a favourite in our household. Slit the back of a tomato to form wings and stuff with cottage cheese.

Use small dots of mayonnaise for the spots and eyes and a piece of olive or raisin for the pupils. Snipped chives makes the antennae.

Sal, Northland

Sarah Green

Marshmallow and strawberry kebabs Here’s a quick and easy dessert that doesn’t cost the earth. When strawberries are in season, make marshmallow and strawberry kebabs then toast them over a flame until the marshmallows are beginning to melt. They’re delicious! You can use banana pieces too.

Mary Dickson

Freeze citrus skins I freeze citrus skins once I’ve used the juice. When I have enough I make a batch of marmalade.

Claire Jacob

Keep the cats away Bamboo skewers are not just for the kitchen. Use them around your seedlings or freshly sown seeds to deter cats from digging up the garden, and in the process destroying the seedlings.

Rob Malcolm

Yvonne, Greenhithe www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 9

sweetliving

Host a dinner party Serve your dessert in style.

A cheap picture frame filled with coffee beans or candy makes a spectacular, aromatic serving tray.

Page 10

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Host a

dinner party

Small touches

Aside from the main course, it’s the little things that people remember most. Use trusted recipes you’ve made before for the main course and impress your guests with small touches of elegance and originality. Print out a fancy dinner menu, add small vases filled with flowers, and make favours for guests to take home.

10 tips for a memorable dinner party 1. Print your menu onto quality card for guests to peruse before dining.

Download our free menu cards on page 13.

2. Pick fresh flowers for the dinner table. A small vase with only one or two flowers looks just as pretty as a large vase overflowing with blooms. Herbs make a lovely aromatic bouquet too.

3. Use cloth napkins. Make your own from pretty fabric or pick up some beautiful embroidered vintage ones from a charity shop.

4. Don’t panic if you don’t have enough matching plates. A mix of vintage china actually looks stunning.

5. Don’t underestimate the value of good condiments. A selection of freshly baked breads and good quality dipping sauces or olive oil can make nibbles all the more flavourful.

6. Set the mood. Have a pile of old LP records and a record player, and let guests choose their own music. They will remember the music as much as the dinner itself.

7. Let guests help themselves. Set up a DIY cocktail/mocktail bar.

Include a selection of mixers, spirits, ice, a shaker and a recipe book.

8. Create ambience. Dim lights or add candles to the dinner table. Low lights are far better mood enhancers than harsh bright lights. Place candles in the freezer a couple of days before use to curb dripping wax.

9. Hand out party favours for guests to take home. Homemade chocolates or fudge in a pretty box is a special treat. Potted herbs displayed on the dinner table also make great favours.

10. Skip dinner. Hold a cheese tasting party instead. Ask guests to bring a different cheese each for sampling. Use our free printable cheese labels on page 12. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Skewer pineapple and mango pieces and serve with curd cheese for a simple dessert or appetiser.

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 11

sweetliving

Free

d nloa w o d ere h click d your free

loa to down ocktail labels. c & cheese

Cheese labels

Download your free cheese and cocktail labels. Print two copies onto white cardstock, cut out, apply glue and sandwich between a bamboo skewer.

Page 12

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Host a

dinner party

Menu Starter

Main Course

sweet living

Dessert

Page 102

Menu 2

Menu 1

sweet living

Starter

Starter

sweetliving Issue 4

Main course

August - October 2012

Main course

Dessert

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

Free August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 103

load n w do re

Dessert

he click d your free

loa to down u cards men

Starter

Main course

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Dessert

Page 105

Menu 3

Printable menus

Impress your guests with fancy menu w.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz cards. Download our free menu cards and print onto white cardstock.

Either type your menu onto the cards or use fancy handwriting.

sweet living

Menu 4

sweet living

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving etlivingmagazine.co.nz

Page 13

sweetliving

Host a craft party

Share your love of crafting with friends and family by hosting a craft party. Women love to get together for a natter. Even better? A natter and a knitter. Send out specially crafted invites in fabric envelopes. Decide on a project in advance (a granny square, a simple soft toy or a felt embellishment for example), or ask your friends to come along with the idea of each teaching a technique from a different craft. Ask guests to bring along any scrap fabric, buttons, felt, lace, wool etc, and raid your local charity shop for super cheap crafting supplies, including knitting needles and crochet hooks. You might like to ask a friend to bring along an extra sewing machine as well.

Supply cake and cookies, plus tea, coffee or a glass of wine, and everyone will be in craft heaven.

Page 14

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Host a

Host a kids’ party

party

Ice cream, you scream

If your kids are ice cream fans, hold an ice cream party for a special treat. Provide a selection of ice cream flavours, cones and wavers and a sprinkles bar, with fun-shaped candy.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 15

sweetliving Cupcake decorating party

Bring out your child’s inner Master Chef by holding a cupcake decorating party. Buy super cheap icing kits from a $2 shop and supply everyone with their own tools.

Other party themes Can’t decide on a party theme for your little poppet? Try one of these.

• Pirates & Princesses (see our party printables on page 48)

• Fairies, Unicorns &

Enchanted Garden • Woodland creatures (see our DIY felt masks on page 40) • Mad scientists • Knights, Dragons & Fairytales

• Mad Hatter’s Tea Party • Cupcake Decorating Party • Superheroes • Rock Stars • Robots, Monsters & Aliens • Sports Heroes

Page 16

sweetliving Issue 4

Buttercream icing

• 200g butter, softened • 2 ½ cups icing

(confectioner’s) sugar

• 2 tablespoons milk • vanilla essence

Beat butter with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

Add half a cup of icing sugar to butter at a time, beating until mixed. Add milk and essence at the end.

August - October 2012

Simple decorating techniques You need just two different nozzles to make these swirls and roses. The cupcake on the left uses nozzle 1. Pipe a swirl starting from the outside and finishing on the inside. Cupcakes 2, 2 3 and 4 use nozzle 3. The piping on cupcake 2 starts on the outside; the piping on cupcakes 1 3 and 4 start on the inside, forming a rose shape. Cupcake 5 uses nozzle 1.

3 www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party treats & sweets Whether it’s for kids or grown-ups, a delectable dessert is the bee’s knees for sweet tooths.

Pucker up with one of our delicious treats.

Icing on the cake

Impress your guests with a four-layered fancyschmancy cake. Pipe buttercream icing onto the cake using a swirling technique like the ones outlined on the opposite page. Use different coloured icing for each layer of swirls to give an ombre effect.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 17

sweetliving

Ice cream sandwiches Jacqui Scoggin’s Lemon Almond Coconut Ice Cream Sandwiches are simply to-die-for. Jacqui, who writes a column on Martha Stewart’s Whole Living blog, believes in seasonal eating, healthy appetites, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and veggies. “And there’s always room for a bit of sweetness thrown in too,” she says. “These little guys are vegan, gluten free, and processed-sugar free, but they’re so tasty you seriously wouldn’t even know it.” Visit Jacqui’s website Good Things Grow for the recipe.

Page 18

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party treats

Strawberry lemon baked alaska

This classic dessert has all the best ingredients – cake, ice cream and meringue!

You can vary the ice cream flavours for a different taste. Recipe on page 28. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 19

sweetliving Crowing glory

Hosting a princess party?

Then you’ll need some princess cupcakes. Make your own cupcakes (see basic cupcake recipe), pipe on a buttercream icing, then adorn with pint-sized crowns. Cakey Goodness has an excellent tutorial for making crowns.

Page 20

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party treats

Flower toppers

These flowers can be created using special flower icing cutters, available from cake decorating supplies stores.

Or you can buy the flowers readymade, from the same stores, or from your local supermarket.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 21

sweetliving

Vanilla whoopie pies Move over cupcakes. Whoopie pies are the latest trend taking the world by storm. They’re kind of like two mini muffins sandwiched together, with frosted icing in between. Delish! Recipe on page 28.

Page 22

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party treats Mango and raspberry popsicles

These party popsicles are perfect for hot summer days - and they couldn’t be easier to make. Just put your fruit in the blender, add some special ingredients, then freeze! Recipe on page 28.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 23

sweetliving

Step-by-step cake pops

Our photo essay says it all really.

Make some mini muffins or cupcakes, melt some white and dark chocolate drops, insert a lollypop stick, then dip your muffin in the dark chocolate. Let it set before dipping it in the white chocolate and then the sprinkles.

Add a Smartie on top.

Page 24

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party treats

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 25

sweetliving

Butterfly cookies

Forget gingerbread men.

Gingerbread butterflies are the next big thing. Who wouldn’t be smitten with one of these fancy flutterers.

See gingerbread cookie recipe.

Page 26

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party treats

Push play Make it easy for your guests to eat their dessert by serving push-up cakes.

You can buy push pop containers from specialty shops, such as Kiwi Cakes.

Make gingerbread (see the delicious recipe on Ruth Pretty’s website) and fill your containers with layers of cake, raspberries and cream. Top with chocolate sprinkles.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 27

sweetliving

Strawberry lemon baked alaska Ingredients • 4 large eggs • 1 ½ cups sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 5 tablespoons lemon zest • ¾ cup flour, sifted • 1/3 cup butter, melted • 1 litre strawberry ice cream • ½ litre vanilla ice cream • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice • 7 egg whites • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

1. Preheat oven to 160degC. Grease a 20cm diameter springform pan.

2. Pour 5cm of water into the bottom pan of a double boiler, bring to the boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Place the 4 eggs, ½ cup sugar and vanilla extract into the top pan of the double boiler (you can use a bowl if you don’t have a double boiler, but the bowl must not touch the water) then set it on top of the bottom pan. Whisk the egg mixture continuously until sugar is dissolved, 2-3 minutes.

3. Add 2 tablespoons lemon zest to mix. Whisk batter until thickened, about 7-8 minutes.

4. Add sifted flour to batter in batches, folding after each batch. Add the slightly cooled melted butter in two lots, gently folding in.

5. Pour batter into springform pan. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the centre of cake comes out clean. Let cool before removing from pan.

6. Line a 20cm mixing bowl with cling film, letting the edges hang down over the sides.

Chill in freezer for 10 minutes.

7. Place softened strawberry ice cream in another bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth, about a minute. Pour the ice cream into the chilled bowl, smooth the surface, then return to freezer.

8. Place vanilla ice cream, lemon juice, and remaining lemon zest in mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Spread over strawberry ice cream. Place cake on top. Pull edges of cling film over cake. Freeze for 8 hours.

9. Preheat oven to 250degC. Place egg whites and cream of tartar in bowl and whisk until whites are foamy. Add remaining sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

10. Remove cake and ice cream from freezer, and invert onto lined baking tray. Remove cling film. Use a spatula to spread meringue over ice cream and cake. Bake until meringue is lightly browned, 6 to 7 minutes. Serve immediately.

Page 28

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

Free

d nloa dow ere h click ad your lo to down ipes. free rec

Vanilla whoopie pies • 2 cups flour • 1 teaspoon baking powder • ¼ teaspoon baking soda • ¼ teaspoon salt • 110g butter, softened • 1 cup packed brown sugar • 1 large egg • 1 teaspoon vanilla essence • ¾ cup yoghurt

1. P reheat oven to 200degC. Grease baking tray.

2. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into large mixing bowl and set aside.

3. Cream butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla essence and beat until mixed.

4. Add half flour mixture and half yoghurt, and mix. Add remaining flour mixture and yoghurt, and mix.

5. Using a spoon, drop the mixture in 3.5cm diameter rounds on the baking tray and smooth into rounds.

Bake 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. When cool, fill.

Cream Cheese Filling • 50g butter • 125g cream cheese • 1 cup icing (confectioner’s) sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add icing sugar until well mixed. Add vanilla essence and mix.

Mango and raspberry popsicles • 2 cups raspberries • juice from 1 grapefruit • 1 teaspoon honey • 1 mango, roughly chopped • juice from 1 orange • 1 teaspoon honey

Place first 3 ingredients in a blender and puree. Half fill popsicle moulds with the raspberry puree.

Place last 3 ingredients in blender and puree. Gently pour over raspberry layer. Insert a popsicle stick and freeze. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

sweetliving

Party DIYs Hosting a party for your little ones?

Keep your guests grinning with these fun party props to make or bake.

Princess and the pea

Fit for the most regal of princesses, Beca from My Paper Lily hosted a Princess and the Pea pyjama party for her daughter Elaena’s 2nd birthday. “Elaena is the youngest of three, so of course she is the baby - my little pea,” says Beca. The girls had a pea pillow each to sleep on. But the fun didn’t stop there. “The girls got to draw (fabric markers) on their own pea pillow.” For more lovely images and ideas from the party, visit Beca’s webite, My Paper Lily. Make sure you visit Beca’s Etsy shop as well for some beautiful printables.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 29

sweetliving

The enchanted forest

A wishing wood is a whole heap of fun for little ‘uns.

Dress kids up in magical party costumes, such as Alice in Wonderland (pop on a blue wig and make a similar Alice costume to this), a wizard (try this DIY wizard costume), a dragon (here are some dinosaur spikes to try, or just make a tail), or a bunny (look here for inspiration).

Page 30

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party DIYs

Slay the mighty dragon

Visit your local $2 shop for the latest accessories for modern-day dragon slayers. You can buy plastic swords, helmets, shields, even knight vests and costumes. Or you can make your own cardboard swords here for fun.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 31

sweetliving

t h g i r B Twist strands of faux pearls around your little princess’s head and attach a faux fur collar for pure decadence.

Page 32

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party DIYs

t h g i r B Wrap a strip of silky fabric with coloured ribbons and pearls and use bobby pins to attach to hair.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 33

sweetliving

You need: • 30cm x 30cm patterned scrapbooking paper • Fabric for ruffles • Sewing thread • Elastic • Scissors • Stapler • Ruler and pencil

Make party hats Homemade party hats are so much prettier than many of the plain cardboard types on the market. Choose your own colours and patterns to suit your theme.

1

Take a piece of scrapbooking paper and, using a pencil and ruler, mark points 250mm down from one corner in several different spots (essentially making a curved shape). Draw the curved shape with your pencil and cut out.

2

For each hat, cut a strip of fabric 50mm wide x 860mm long.

Cut another strip 50mm wide by 150mm long.

Page 34

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

3

Sew a gathering stitch (use the longest stitch on your sewing machine) on both fabric strips and gather into ruffles so the strips of fabric fit along the bottom and top of the hat. Sew the gathered strips onto the hat.

4

Form a cone shape and staple together. Cut a piece of elastic to fit around a child’s face. Staple one end to the bottom of the hat on one side and the other end on the opposite side of the hat. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party DIYs

Animal antics This woodland crown would look very regal perched on the head of any fairy queen or king. To make the crown, you need a selection of cheap plastic animals, a polystyrene circle, polystyrene stars (available from craft shops) and gold spray paint. Cut a hole out of the polystyrene circle to form a crown. Cut off the heads of the animals. Spray paint the crown, animals and stars. When dry, glue them to the crown. And that’s it!

Back up Don’t throw away the animal backsides. Superglue them to a piece of wood to make these very cute animal hooks.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 35

sweetliving

“There is nothing quite so beautiful as a crown of lace or flowers.”

Crowning glory Oh, we love these adorable lace crowns crafted

by Angie Ramirez of Little Inspiration and modelled by her beautiful daughter, Aries. And it’s so very simple to make: just lace, fabric stiffener, a glittery paint and sparkly things to adorn it with. Angie has provided step-by-step instructions for making your own cute lace crowns. Visit her website, Little Inspiration.

Page 36

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party DIYs

Flower power For a quick and easy crown, make a head wreath out of faux flowers. Simply tie the stems together with string or thin floral wire (available from craft shops), forming a wreath as you go. Alternatively, form a circle out of thicker floral wire, wrap floral tape around it, then attach flower sprigs to the wreath.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 37

sweetliving

Homemade sprinkles

Save money and make your own colourful sprinkles with just three ingredients.

1

Sift the icing sugar into a medium-sized bowl. It’s important to sift the sugar – any lumps will clog the tip of your icing nozzle.

2

In a separate bowl, beat egg white with a knife until foamy. Add a dessertspoon of the icing sugar at a time, mixing as you go. Continue stirring until mixture is smooth and soft peaks form, as shown. Add a drop of food colouring and mix in.

You need: • 1 cup icing sugar (confectioner’s sugar) • half an egg white • food colouring

HOTI P T

If you don’t have an icing set, use a small, strong, plastic bag and snip a tiny hole in the corner. Insert a nozzle and tape it in place. You bag is ready to go.

3

Wet a clean tea towel and cover the bowl to ensure the icing doesn’t dry out. Lay a piece of baking paper down onto a flat surface. Fill icing bag with icing mixture. Pipe the mixture in straight lines onto the baking paper, holding the bag just slightly above the paper as you move along. It doesn’t matter if the lines are not strictly straight.

4 Page 38

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

Leave to dry for a few hours. Then simply scrape a knife across the surface of the baking paper. The icing just breaks up into sprinkles. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party DIYs

Edible fairy wands

These magical wand cookies will enchant pint-sized guests. Use our delicious butter cookie recipe or use one of your own favourite recipes.

You need: • Star-shaped cookie cutter • Bamboo skewers • Cookie dough Butter cookies • 190g butter • ½ cup icing sugar • 1 ¾ cup flour • ½ cup custard powder • 1 teaspoon baking powder • pinch salt • extra icing sugar for icing • sprinkles (see homemade recipe) • silver cachous

1

Melt butter in large saucepan (or microwave-proof bowl). Remove from heat, add icing sugar and stir to combine. Sift in flour, custard powder, baking powder and salt.

2

Roll out mixture onto floured board. Cut star shapes with cookie cutter. Place cookies on a lightly greased baking tray. Insert bamboo skewers three-quarters the way through cookie. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

3

Bake at 190degC for 15 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Issue 4

4

Make icing (icing sugar and water) and ice cookies. Decorate with sprinkles and silver cachous.

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 39

sweetliving

g t livin sweske Fox ma

sk

z agazine.co.n

sw e ma et

Bird

livingm www.sweet

sw ee mask t liv ing

Owl

liv ing

www .sweetliv ingm agazine.c o.nz

ww w.s we etlivin gm aga zine.c o.n z

Free

d nloa w o d ere h click d your free

loa to down mplates. k s ma te

You need: • Acrylic felt for backing • Wool felt in various colours for facial features • Scissors • Thread in colours that match felt • Pins • Craft glue

Woodland masks

These felt masks are great fun for party guests, both young and old.

1

Download and cut out templates. Pin templates to backing felt and cut out the outline of faces.

2

Place template for lion and exotic bird on respective felt colours and cut out shape. Then cut the feathers and the mane off the templates and use the cut templates to cut the faces out of different coloured felt. Use remaining templates to cut out animal shapes on respective felt colours.

Page 40

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

3 4

Cut out nose, ear, beak and eye shapes from felt. You may need to cut your templates to get the individual patterns. Cut out holes for the eyes.

Place felt faces on top of back and machine stitch a 4-5mm border around each face, the eyes, raccoon nose, elephant trunk and lion mane. Glue smaller pieces, like the beak, elephant markings, ears and feathers, to the faces.

5

Attach ribbon or elastic to the back of the mask long enough to fit a youngster’s head when tied or applied. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party DIYs Butterfly mask

This beautiful felt mask can be made in any colour – or a selection of hues.

You need: • Red and black felt • Red thread and needle • Pins • Fiskars butterfly shape template • Scissors

1

Use a template to draw eight butterfly shapes onto red felt. We used the Fiskars butterfly shape template, available from Spotlight. Cut out the shapes.

2 3

Cut out two eye masks from black felt. We used our lion eye mask from the woodland mask templates (left), minus the ears.

Position the butterflies onto one of the black eye masks and pin into place. Using the red thread, hand-stitch down the centre of each butterfly to secure it to the mask.

4

Take the remaining black eye mask and hand-stitch it to the back of the mask. Attach black elastic to the black eye mask.

Idea 2

Make a hat-like mask out of black felt and adorn three or four large butterflies. This mask would be ideal for a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 41

sweetliving

Page 42

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party DIYs

Woodland critters table runner Chloë Owens’ new book, All Sewn Up, provides exquisite appliqué and embroidery projects to make. Try this delightful DIY and decorate your party table with style.

1

2

Crafty needs: • Fabrics and felts • Fading fabric marker • Pins, needles and scissors • Fabric glue (optional) • Sewing machine with embroidery foot • Sewing threads in colours of your choice • Fusible webbing (optional) • Iron

Cut the main fabric to size: mine is 50 x 15in (125 x 37cm). From purple felt, cut hill shapes to fit along both long edges, using the photo as a guide to shape. Pin or glue the hills in place. Using a medium straight stitch, machine-sew along the edges of the hills in matching thread. Next, draw freehand swirls on the hills with the fabric marker. Lower the feed dogs and free-machine embroider over the lines with contrast thread.

Fold under and pin a double 1⁄2in (1cm) hem along both long edges. Set the sewing machine to a medium straight stitch and sew the hems.

Do the same for the short ends.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

3

Print out the templates and cut out the trees and animals from your chosen fabrics and felts.

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 43

sweetliving

4

Lay the runner flat and, working from one end to the other, arrange half the trees and animals along one side and pin or glue them in place. Flip the fabric so that the trees and animals you’ve just positioned are upside down, and arrange the remaining pieces in the same order, working from the opposite direction. Pin or glue these in place, too.

5

Page 44

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

With threads of your choice, freemachine embroider around each tree and animal, adding details to the deer’s face and speckles on its back, and sewing the squirrel’s whiskers.

Sometimes I use a sketchy ‘drawing’ technique, but for this project I’ve gone round the fabric edges neatly, and just once. Trim any unruly threads. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party DIYs sweet living

Woodland critters table runner

Tree 2 Tree 1 Tree 3

Squirrel

Deer Tree 4 www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz Page 106

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

e e r F

load n w do ere h click

Extracted with permission from: All Sewn Up

By ChloĂŤ Owens Photography by CICO Books Published by CICO Books, distributed in New Zealand by Book Reps.

Available from bookstores or online at Book Reps.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 45

sweetliving

Make your peepers pop

Make a bold statement with brightly coloured eyeshadow and over-the-top paper lashes. Cut lash shapes from old magazines and use standard eyelash glue (or use a simple paste of flour and water) to stick them to your lids.

Page 46

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Party DIYs

Flutterby butterflies Attach floral wire to the back of silk butterflies and insert them into a vase of flowers.

Silk butterflies can be bought in bulk from $2 shops.

Make simple party gifts for guests out of felt, beads and pretty buttons. Attach a clip on the back to make a brooch.

Make these fun party lashes. Using a small butterfly punch, punch out butterfly shapes from black paper and glue them to false eyelashes. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 47

sweetliving

Printer's studio Printable pirate party pack

Arrgh, me hearties! Print out your party pack onto white cardstock for some swashbucklin’ fun!

Pirates & princesses

Free

ds nloa dow

Bunting Cupcake topper Ahoy, matey!

it’s a

pirate party!

Pirate hat a to join us for Ye be invited e! ’ good tim swashbucklin

Party invitation

Gift tags Page 48

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

Cupcake wrappers www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Printer's studio

Free

ds nloa w o d

Princess party pack Download these pretty party printables for a right royal gathering.

Bunting

Buntings Crown

Cupcake toppers

Party invitation card

Cupcake wrappers www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Gift tags Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 49

Printer's studio

sweetliving Master of disguise

Add a touch of silliness to your party by donning a crafty disguise. Download and print these paper accessories and glue to sticks. Let the absurdity begin.

Free

ds nloa dow

Page 50

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

sweetliving

Toy Workshop

Do you sew, knit or crochet?

Then let’s get crafty. Delight young recipients with one of these crafty projects.

Free

load n w do re he click d your free

loa to down ars pattern. be t e h c ro c

Crochet teddy Teddy bear fans will love these cute little critters designed by Sweet Living crochet expert, Lisa van Klaveren. Lisa, who is a professional pattern designer, created this pattern for Sweet Living readers to download for free. Check out Lisa’s website, Holland Designs, for more patterns, but first, download your free one here. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 51

sweetliving

Free

Bear essentials

load n w do re

Sew this sweet little bear and thrill a special little someone.

he click d your free

loa to down pattern. bear

1

Download and print template, then cut out pattern pieces.

Pin pattern pieces to appropriate fabric and cut out.

2

Hand-stitch felt legs together.

Stuff the legs, leaving a small pocket at the top of each leg, where they will be stitched to the body. Hand-stitch the footpads in place.

3

Hand-stitch felt arms together, leaving the top open. Stuff, leaving a small pocket at the top, where the arms will be stitched to the body. Hand-stitch closed. Hand-stitch ears, inserting a small amount of stuffing for padding.

4

Mark where you want your eyes to go on the head and pierce a hole through the fabric. Attach eyes as per manufacturer’s instructions.

With body fabric pieces right sides together, machine stitch around the edges, leaving the bottom of the body open for stuffing. Nick in the corners with scissors, turn the fabric right side out and stuff.

You need: • Fur fabric • Cream felt square for arms, legs and ears • Light brown felt scrap for nose • 7.5mm black crystal eyes • Black embroidery thread for nose • Cream embroidery thread for arms and legs • Stuffing • 4 x small cream buttons

Page 52

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

5

Turn the bottom edge of the body under and stitch closed. Stitch a button at top of each leg and arm, then stitch onto body. (Note: if the bear is for a baby or toddler, leave off the buttons.) Handstitch the ears to the head.

Embroider nose onto felt piece.

Place felt in correct position on face, place a small piece of stuffing behind the felt, then hand-stitch in place.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Toy workshop Playing dress-ups Sew a dress for teddy and she’ll be the belle of the ball.

You need: • Fabric for dress • Matching thread • Sewing machine • Pins • Iron • Domes

1 2

Download template and cut out pattern pieces. Pin pattern to fabric and cut out.

Sew dress using French seams. Put wrong sides together and sew a small seam, about 3mm, across the shoulders. Fold fabric over so that right sides are facing together and stitch a 4mm seam across shoulders.

3

Cut 3 strips of fabric on the bias: cut two 30mm wide x 150mm long and one 30mm wide x 250mm long. Fold in half lengthwise, with wrong sides together, and iron.

4

5

Fold the bias strip over to the underside to form a 3mm rolled edge. Stitch on the right side of the fabric just under the existing seam.

6 7

Pin the 150mm-long bias strips to the arms, with right sides together, and stitch as for steps 4 and 5.

Sew French seams down sides, as shown. Fold over centre back edges about 3mm and iron. Fold over another 4mm, iron, then stitch.

Pin the folded 250mm-long bias strip to the shoulder, with right sides together, and stitch a 3mm seam.

8

Fold up hem edge to required length, iron, and stitch. Sew domes onto dress to fasten at back. Sew two rows of gathering stitch across the front of the dress, at the waist. On one end, pull threads through to the wrong side and tie together in a knot so it won’t pull through when you gather.

Pull threads at other end to gather the front. When gathered enough, pull threads through to the wrong side and tie together.

For the accessories: We knitted the purple scarf using a moss stitch: knit 1, purl 1 for two rows, then purl 1, knit 1 for two rows. Repeat this pattern to required length. For the bag, cut out felt pieces using pattern. Hand-stitch gusset to front of bag. Hand-stitch back of bag to gusset. Sew on handles and button.

Free

load n w do re he click d your free

loa to down bag patterns d dress an

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 53

sweetliving Monster mania Sew or model a little monster toy for your little pipsqueaks.

They’ll love the bright colours and wacky faces. They’re so easy to make, you really don’t need a pattern. Using scrap material, cut out a monster body, with arms, legs and antennae, if you like, stitch together and stuff. Sew on buttons for the eyes, or use plastic eyes available from craft stores.

Then embroider quirky characteristics onto your monster’s face using wool or embroidery floss. If using denim, fray the edges to form hair. Or use modelling clay in different colours to fashion a cute little monster family.

Page 54

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Toy workshop

Marisol the Mouse We love this cute little knitted mouse created by Rachel Borello Carroll of Yarnigans. Rachel has kindly supplied the pattern for readers of Ravelry – you can log in there (it’s free to join) and download the free pattern. Click here to go to the Ravelry website. While you’re there, check out Rachel’s other amazing patterns. And make sure you visit her blog too.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 55

The Story Mint Are you a writer or a reader?

Writers: Test your writing using the Style Guide (Earnest®) to see how you compare with published authors. Utilise the Writers’ Pad™, Forum and write a chapter in the Serials.

We coach writers, edit and publish quality manuscripts.

Readers: Read the Serials, stories on The Writers’ Pad™ and place feedback. Read the Blogs and engage in the Forum. Read Author Interviews.

Sign up for your two week FREE trial:

http://www.thestorymint.com/ Email: info@thestorymint.com Phone: 021 458738 http://www.facebook.com/TheStoryMint Page 56

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

sweetliving

Crafty storage ideas Keep the kids’ rooms tidy.

Make your own thrifty storage containers.

ma

al

s

d e l c Recy ter

i

Recycle old clothes or fabric into storage pockets for toys or other items. You need just one long strip of fabric (fold over the edges and sew a hem to neaten them), then sew simple pockets onto the front. An old shoe holder with clear pockets is another item that can be used to organise toys.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 57

sweetliving

Baa baa smart sheep If your children love animals, they’ll love this woolly sheep shelving.

You need: • Cardboard for tempate • 6mm x 1200mm x 1200mm sheet of MDF • Pencil • Scissors • Compass (or pencil and string) • Jigsaw • Paint (we used Resene Zylone Sheen VOC Free, in white)

Page 58

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

Free

load n w do re he click nload

to dow tions. struc these in

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

1

On a large piece of cardboard, draw the shape of a sheep body. We drew ours freehand. It measures approximately 700mm long.

2

4

Measure the width of your sheep body (ours measures 320mm) and add about 70mm to each end. That takes our measurement to 460mm. Then on another piece of cardboard, draw a circle with a diameter of 460mm. Draw another circle 20mm bigger than that, just outside the first circle. Within the two rings, draw semi-circles the shape of sheep’s wool. Cut out the woolly shape.

5

3

6

On another piece of cardboard, draw two circles within each other, as above, one 460mm in diameter and the other 500mm in diameter. Draw two legs that measure about 240mm high on the outside. Draw half circles within the rings to look like wool. Cut out template. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Place template on MDF and draw the outline. Cut out shapes with a jigsaw. Cut slots in the middle of the three circles that measure the same width as the body.

Cut four shelves (ours measured 160mm wide x 400mm long).

Cut slots horizontally on the three circles to fit body and two shelves (one shelf either side of body). Cut first slot 250mm up from ground level and another 400mm up from ground level.

Put pieces together and, if necessary, glue in place to keep secure. Once glue has dried, paint your sheep. We used Resene Zylone Sheen VOC Free, which, as the name suggests, has no volatile organic compounds.

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 59

Freshen up your next paint job with Resene Zylone Sheen VOC Free, which combines the popular low sheen of Resene Zylone Sheen without the unwanted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for better indoor air quality.

Improved air quality can help prevent headaches, asthma, nausea, respiratory complaints and allergic reactions. And to suit all tastes, Resene Zylone Sheen VOC Free is available in a wide range of popular Resene colours using Resene non VOC tinters.

Now that’s fresh thinking.

Available exclusively from Resene.

0800 RESENE (737 363) www.resene.co.nz

Page 60

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Storage ideas

You need: • Stiffened felt or other suitable fabric (we used Wonderwall Delux, grey, from Spotlight) • Cardboard for template • Dressmaker’s chalk • Scissors • Thick needle with large eye • Wool

32cm

Felt container

This couldn’t be simpler to make, and there’s no machine sewing involved. Check out the emporium stores for cheap fabric.

27cm

27cm 36cm

1

Draw a template onto the cardboard in a cross-shaped pattern (see measurements above), and cut out. Place the template onto the fabric, draw around the outline with dressmaker’s chalk, then cut out the shape.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

2

Draw handles onto two ends of the fabric. We used a paper bag handle as our template. Cut out. Use a glass as a guide to draw a rounded edge on each corner and cut out.

3

Fold up the ends to form a box shape and peg ends to stay upright. Thread your needle with wool, using a double thickness. Measure three times the length of one side for the wool length.

Starting at the bottom, sew up one side, then sew back down so that the stitches form a cross. Finish off on the inside of the box, tying a knot. Repeat for all sides.

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 61

Gardening with confidence

super

spraying oil

protects your plants from a range of insect pests that can carry disease.

FD04307

• No with holding period.

• For use on roses, fruit trees, citrus & ornamentals.

• BioGro certified for use in organic gardening.

Page 62

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

sweetliving

Backyard sustainability Grow your own fresh fruit year round

Pick a fruit salad

You don’t need a large backyard to grow fruit.

Whatever the size of your patch, there is a way to grow fresh fruit year round. A small garden bed, a container or trough, even a hanging basket will yield tasty morsels for fresh pickings. See next page for planning a mini orchard. Photo: Oxana Afanasyeva.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 63

sweetliving

Plant a min i orchard

Growing your own fruit is super popular right now. In her new book, The Easy Fruit Garden, Clare Matthews shows you how it’s done.

Above For those who are short of space, container growing can generate some reasonable harvests.

How and what to grow

Fruit bushes can be productive for around 10 years, possibly 15. Fruit trees may be productive for a hundred years or more, and they have the potential to provide plenty of delicious food, bursting with health promoting vitamins and chemicals, so it is just good sense to plan what to grow and where to grow it carefully. Thought and effort put in at the planning stage will definitely make life easier as plants will be well matched to your needs, and the space in which you choose to grow them. These are the two key areas to look at: what to grow and where to grow it. The two are obviously inextricably linked, but it makes sense to start with what to grow, purely because there is no point whatsoever growing fruit you don’t want to eat (unless it is to attract wildlife into your patch, but that is for a different book).

Start with a wishlist of what you would like to grow, things you and your family love to eat most, or fruit you would like to make Page 64

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

preserves with. Next, look at the space you have available. Are you planning a large fruit garden, pots on the terrace or balcony, or simply covering a stretch of wall?

Wandering around an established garden with fresh eyes can often reveal opportunities as yet unthought of. A leggy shrub that could be removed to make way for something fruitful, a bed that could be edged with strawberries, or a badly drained corner where the soil might be improved or brought into cultivation with the addition of a raised bed.

At this stage it will probably help to make a list or draw out a plan of the areas you have available for planting. A scale plan is best if you are planning a large formal fruit garden, while a quick sketch of the garden with potential locations might suffice for those slotting fruit into existing beds. Now start assigning your wishlist plants to the space you have available. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Backyard sustainability

Considerations

When planning your fruit garden it is worth considering the following: • The height and spread of the plant, and the spacing if you intend to plant in rows.

• Each plant’s preferred growing conditions.

• The likely annual yield once the plants are established. There is little point planting 10 gooseberry bushes, for example, which might yield a whopping 40 kg (88 lb) of fruit and take up 12 m (40 ft) of growing space, when all you want is enough gooseberries for a few pies!

• How long you will wait for a harvest.

Growing fruit is fun and, although there is something to be said for the intense

satisfaction of savouring the fruit from a tree you have nurtured for, say, five years, getting at least some rewards the first year of cultivation is enormously encouraging and exciting. It may be best to have some plants which provide almost instant gratification amongst the longer-term propositions.

• The amount of work required to grow each plant and the level of care each plant requires. There is no point filling your space with demanding prima donnas, with blossom that needs protecting from frost, who require an exacting pruning regime to fruit well and weekly feeding, if you know you don’t have the time to devote to them.

• Look at the scale of the whole project you have in mind. Can you easily manage that number of plants?

In many ways the first year of the fruit tree or bush is the most demanding. The planting areas need preparing, planting needs to be done and the plants require regular watering while they establish.

Planting a truck load of plants in one hit may seem like a good idea, but it may pay to split the planting over two years so the plants get reasonable care and growing your own fruit remains enjoyable rather than a chore. Once the first year is over the care required is minimal.

Below When planning your garden do not forget vital, practical elements such as the compost bin.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 65

sweetliving Which fruits to grow where Below are some lists you may find useful when planning how and what to grow.

The easiest fruits • Autumn raspberries • Summer fruiting raspberries • Alpine strawberries • Japanese wineberries • Rhubarb (not a fruit, but a ‘culinary fruit’) • Blackberries • Gooseberries • Apples • Hazels • Walnuts

The most difficult fruits Above These succulent ‘Autumn Bliss’ raspberries are amongst the easiest and tastiest fruits you can grow.

Adding a layer of mulch in early spring and cutting the whole plant to the ground in winter is all that’s required.

Left To enjoy plenty of peaches like this from your garden, conditions will have to be just right and your pruning spot on.

Below Blackberries will do fairly well in partial shade but the fruit will lack the sweetness it gains from ripening in the sun.

• Peaches • Almonds • Fan trained stone fruit • Restrictively trained fruit trees

Fruit to grow up sunny walls and fences • Kiwi • Summer raspberries • Blackberries (and their hybrids) • Japanese wineberries • Red currants, grown as cordons • Figs • Fan-trained peaches, apricots and nectarines • Gooseberries grown as cordons • Passion fruit • Grapes

Fruit for shady walls • Morello cherry • Blackberries • Japanese wineberries

Most likely to fruit in areas with late frost • Damsons • Sour/morello cherries • Plum ‘Czar’ and ‘Marjories seedling’ • Late flowering blackcurrants, ‘Ben Tirran’ is just about the latest of all • Apples ‘Egremont Russet’, ‘Discovery’, ‘Laxton’s Superb’, Spartan’ • Pear ‘Invincible’

Ornamental fruit • Kiwifruit • Japanese wineberries • Fig • Passion fruit • Standard blackcurrant • Standard redcurrant • Standard gooseberry • Some blueberries • Trained fruit trees

Page 66

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Backyard sustainability

Above The unusually shaped leaves of this aptly named fig ‘Ice Crystal’ make it particularly ornamental.

Fruit for quick results Soft fruits including: • Strawberries • Raspberries • Blackberries • Blueberries • All the currants

Fruit for containers • All fruit trees described as patio trees or on a dwarfing rootstock • All minaret and ballerina fruit trees • Black currants • Figs • Blueberries • Strawberries • Redcurrants • Gooseberries • Grapes • Cape gooseberry • Melon

Not recommended for containers Some of these may prosper in a pot for a year or two but long-term they will not prosper, yield will be low and unworthy of the effort of caring for them.

• Blackberries • Raspberries • Loganberries • Japanese wineberries • Kiwifruit

Above Cleverly trained fruit trees are delightful but the work, knowledge and foresight required to create these magnificent shapes and then maintain them is probably best left to the enthusiast and professional, not the relaxed time-poor gardener.

Extracted with permission from: The Easy Fruit Garden

by Clare Matthews | Photography by Clive Nichols | Published by New Holland Publishers RRP NZ$39.99

As food prices rise and awareness of food provenance and chemical usage increases, more and more people are becoming interested in growing their own food. However getting started can seem daunting, and many are deterred by a lack of knowledge and time. This book sets out to overcome these problems. With clear practical instructions and inspirational pictures, Clare Matthews demystifies the growing of fruit and shows that with the right approach, it can be done successfully as a weekend project or slotted into a busy week. The book explains simple short cuts, unusual low maintenance strategies and promotes a relaxed, robust attitude to growing-your-own, which really works. A fantastic book with superb information. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 4

August - October 2012 sweetliving

Page 67

next issue

sweetliving

Out November 2012 • DIY Christmas gifts

• Delicious Xmas recipes • Natural herbal creams to make • Learn quilting techniques • Needle felting • Kids’ crafts for the holidays • Readers’ money-saving tips

Page 68

sweetliving Issue 4

August - October 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz