Torviewtoronto: hobbies

Showing posts with label hobbies. Show all posts

Our kitchen and bar stools

This post is about a handy piece of furniture that is useful around the house especially the kitchen. There are so many types of barstools out there, that when we go to shop for these stools; it is easy to get lost :) In my opinion because these stools can be used anywhere in the house it is a wonderful addition to have.

It doesn't matter if the kitchen is large or small, because having a stool will be convenient. A stool gives extra seating and some of these stools can be stored away under tables. There are some that match the style of dinning room chairs.

For a small kitchen with less space, it can be easy to use when preparing meals or while eating like in a breakfast bar.

A 12" space between the counter and seat is important to sit comfortably, so the person's feet can fit under the counter. That is why counter height stools are 24" to 27" high, because work spaces like kitchen counters are usually 36" high from the ground.

There are many choices on the type of wood, upholstery, fabric, leather and vinyl that are used to make the stools. Choices can be made by preference and comfort depending on what we want. There are adjustable stools, or swivel stools to turn. Stools with footrest, backrest and/or armrest. Ones with backrest would be safe for little children, so they won't fall over. Armrests would help when sitting for long periods of time.

Knitted soft playing ball

I hope the pictures and the instructions below will help you understand on how to make this ball which can be an ornament or toy for children to play with.

There are many variations to make this ball.

We can use 4 different colours of wool or use wool that is multicoloured.
If making a bigger ball cast on more stitches.
If making a smaller ball cast on fewer stitches, as long as when you fold the rectangle it should make a square.

For this ball I used...

4.5 US size needle

4 ply multicoloured wool

thick needle to stitch the sides

old cloth, felt or polyester stuffing material

To make a 5" diameter ball, cast on 17 stitches and Knit all rows into a rectangle. Approximately 68 rows. When folded it should be a square.

This is the knitted rectangle. Keep about 60 cm of thread hanging and cut. Don't cut the thread from the starting edge, this will be put inside when closing the ball.

Put a needle on the long thread (60 cm) and stitch by picking up the corner knits. From one corner to the other of the long side. See the picture below.

Pull the thread so it will look like this.

Align the sides to match, like above. Put the needle through the two edges and stitch till the end of the wide side.

It will look like a hat.

Stuff with old clean cloth or felt material. Can use pillow or craft stuffing, which is available at fabric and craft shops.

Stuff to the top as much as possible so the ball will hold its shape.

Thread through the edges from one corner to the other of the long side.

Put the thread that you started knitting with inside the ball. Pull the thread to bring the ball together.

Stitch with the remaining thread to close the ball secure.

Pull the thread up and make a loop if hanging as an ornament. Or if making a ball to play put the thread through the ball and stitch into the ball.

Start tossing!

Log cake and candy cane

4 eggs separated

5 oz caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla

4 oz flour

icing

1 cup whipping cream

2 tbsp cocoa powder more or less to taste

4 tbsp icing sugar more or less to taste

Separate the eggs. Reserve 2 tbsp sugar to beat with egg whites. Beat egg yolks and sugar till pale and thick, then add vanilla.

In a copper or aluminum bowl without grease or water, beat egg whites till glossy and holds peak. Add 2 tablespoon sugar and beat; don't over beat just till it holds peaks when the beater is lifted.

Fold in half the flour into the egg yolk mixture, then fold in quarter of the egg whites and beat. Then add the rest of the flour to the mixture. Fold in the egg white mixture till it blends; don't over beat.

Spread evenly into a waxed, greased and floured rectangle baking dish or swiss roll tin 16" x 11". Bake in a preheated oven at 375F for 15 minutes.

Turn the baked roll onto a wax paper sprinkled with caster sugar. Roll up from the long side with the wax paper inside the cake while rolling and cool.

Whip the cream, cocoa powder and icing till it forms peaks and leave aside. Unroll the cake carefully and spread the icing evenly about 1/4" thick in the cooled cake. Then roll the cake up again. Discard the wax paper.
Cut off a piece for the branch and put it in the side of the trunk. Spread the remaining icing all over the cake, then with a fork make barks.

Add decorations, leave it in the fridge for a little and serve cold. This goes to MKMW Germany.

Candy cane

Twist two pieces of pipe cleaners and turn it into a candy cane.

Kitchen towels

Knitted kitchen towels

Simple and useful knitted gift for the kitchen

Knit into a triangle shape with a buttonhole towards the top, make a loop. Attach the knitted piece with blanket or hidden stitch onto the kitchen towel.

Zucchini potato curry and potato prints

1 tbsp oil

2 tbsp onion

1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste

1 potato, peeled, boiled and cubed

1 to 2 zucchini 1" pieces

1/2 tsp chillie powder

1/4 tsp garam masala

1/8 tsp turmeric

1/4 tsp salt

2 tbsp tomato

1 green onion optional

Heat oil add onions saute till golden brown, add spices and potatoes fry for few minutes. Add zucchini fry. Then add tomatoes and green onion leaves when tomatoes are soft remove from heat and serve.

An activity the children did with potatoes. Cut the potato into half so one side is flat and carve designs, dip in crayola paint and let the fun begin.

This recipe goes to recipe swap and two for Tuesdays.

Pressed flowers

Pressed flower activities done with my daughter.

Mounted on construction paper.

Mounted on watercolour paper.

Toothpick activity

In a construction paper use white glue to stick toothpicks, dried flowers and wool.

Edible Summer on Earth Day

Edible Summer on Earth Day at the Toronto Botanical Gardens was lots of fun even though the weather was cooler.

Tour of the gardens, planting peas in peat moss, growing sprouts, playing with worms, colouring a garden and lots of activities for the children.

Earth day

We turned off the lights, we usually do but this year we took some cool pictures. These images are lights turned off when the children were shaking the led lights.

Winter in March

This was a beautiful sight to watch. The attached video will give an idea.

Maple syrup at Kortright

We went to the opening day of the Sugarbush Maple Syrup festival at the Kortright centre on March 6th, 2010. We had a lovely time Maashallah.

We won the tickets at the Toronto4Kids and were excited to be there. The morning started off with pancakes and maple syrup promotion from Batter blaster pancakes which we enjoyed and left for the wagon ride.

After a wonderful time looking at the scenery on the ride, we hiked to see how the maple trees are tapped and how the sap becomes maple syrup, first the native way then the pioneers and how they make it now. Going there has made us more appreciative of the maple syrup and understand the cost of making the syrup.

The children and we enjoyed tasting the syrup and watching the presentation.