U-handblog

5 Lovely Links

1. Outrageously wicked and easy choccy pud (don't click if you haven't eaten yet...).
2. Christine now has set up her own shop to sell her yummy bags and purses.  She makes more bags than I do!
3. I'm too short to wear mid to thigh length boots, but if I wasn't I'd wear these (even if it were just for their name!)
4. Which brings me onto the subject of my 'not being tall-ness'.  If like me clothes shopping for you is a pain in the [short] ass.  You might find this petite clothing advice site helpful.
5. See below: HO HOHO ha hahah!  So funny it hurts! Hahaha!!! Ow!  

(In case you're wondering who the subject of the sketch is, he's a singer...)

...and the winner of Amy Butler's 'Little Stitches' book is...

Went to the movies with my sister last night.  We finished the night off with a huge yummy bargain-acious bowl of noodles at the Baozi Inn...mmm, highly recommended!

Up for grabs was Amy Butler's latest book; Little Stitches.

So there were 185 entries for this fab book and the Random Number Generator stopped on the number 69

So will Sarah who wrote:

"Wow this is exciting. I have her first book and have heard great things about this book. I hope I win!

This year I am going to be making handbag for the girls in my family. I am making a pattern right now, and will have pictures posted on my blog in the next week or so. I would also love to learn to knit and make some socks/slippers for the men...but we will see what time allows."

Please get in touch with me so I can get your prize to you'.

Thanks for your entries and your fabby links; I really enjoyed checking them out (yep I do look at every single one). I'm sorry to all of of you who didn't get lucky this time.  There's another fabulous give away coming next week - the postie has just delivered the prize - wooot!

And the winners of the Amy Butler Sewing Pattern Contest (Aug 08) are...

B B B Blimey it's cold!  We had snow the other night. Yep of course we did, it has to snow in October so it can be a sunny day on Christmas?!?

So last month it was all about making moderations or embellishing your Amy Butler goodness. Had a nice lot of entries this month which is great because it means that some of you are having a go at stirring things up a little and making a few changes to suit your good selves :)

This Velma Bag has been given a seriously groovy twist by being enlarged, using some funky fish fabric and a swish looking chain handle.  By Cliketyclak.

This Anna Tunic has some clever tailoring alterations including modifications to the yoke, the cap sleeves, and even the fabric flower.  By Marmadaisy.

This Weekender Bag has been cleverly modified by being made into a suitcase complete with suitcase style internal pockets.  By SewChristine.

Well done Ladies!  Please get back to me with your choice of Amy Butler pattern and your postal address and I'll send you your pattern. 


Thanks to everyone else who entered, sorry you didn't get lucky this time.  You could always try your luck in next month's contest!  Next month's contest is about telling us who you are making your Amy Butler goodness for (and why).  I can't wait to see your entries :)

Tutorial part 2 of 2. How to make your own tofu.

Perhaps it is quite random to find a tofu tutorial on a bag making blog, but random has it's place (and so does home made tofu).  It's easy, it's good for you and it tastes much better.

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Find Part 1 of the tofu tutorial here.  It talks a bit about the ingredients and it tells you where to get the equipment from.

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Ingredients (for 1 block or 1 mould of tofu):

• 1 tspn generously heaped of Gypsum powder
• 0.5 tblsp heaped of cornflour
• 250g of soya beans (soaked in cold water overnight)
• cold water - right, pls read this carefully.  Choose a cup (anyone will do).  For every cup of beans you will need just under 2 cups of water, BUT for the last cup of beans you will need only one and half a cups of water because the other half cup of water will be used to dilute the gypsum and the cornflour - don't worry, this will make more sense in a minute...

How to make tofu

1.   Wash beans (no, not you doggie) - Rinse the soaked soya beans in fresh water and drain well.  Place beans into a big bowl.

Soya beans are soaked.

2.   Blend beans and water -  Get your chosen cup and scoop a cupful of beans into your blender/processor.  Now using the same cup add just under 2 cups (eg. fill cup to 7/8 full) of cold water to the blender and blitz the beans and water thoroughly.  Pour the mixture into a another big bowl. 

Continue in this way until you get to the last cup of beans.  So, put the last cup of beans into the blender and then add one cup (7/8 full) AND another half full cup of water to the blender and blitz.


Blitz the soya beans with your carefully measured water.

3.  Straining the soya milk - I like this bit, it's a good workout for your arms.  Using the muslin bag (that should be supplied with the tofu kit, or just make your own bag) carefully squeeze out every drop you can of milk from the blended soya beans.  You'll get a nice aroma of the soya beans at this stage.  Put the residue to one side.  The bean pulp residue is known as Okara and it's stuffed full of nutrients.  You can make yummy recipes from it too.

Straining the soya milk.  Work those arms!

4.  Heat up the strained soya milk - pour all of the strained soya milk into a large saucepan and bring the milk to just below boiling. Whilst you are waiting put the gypsum and the cornflour into clean big bowl and (using the same cup that you measured the soya beans and water with) add just under half a cup of cold water and mix well.  Place this bowl into the sink for later.

Keep an eye on the pan  of milk, do not let the milk boil over because all of a sudden it will spill over the sides and make an almighty mess (which is a real cow to clean off your cooker).  When the milk just about boils turn off the gas and skim the froth off the top of the milk.

 
Skim that scum!

5.  Right this step all happens quite quickly so read before doing it! - speed is of the essence in this step.  Now that you've skimmed the soya milk; go to the bowl (in the sink) with the gypsum and the cornflour in it.  Give the gypsum mixture another good thorough stir. 

Bring the hot soya milk to the sink and pour the milk into the bowl RAPIDLY AND FROM A HIGH HEIGHT - DO NOT (I REPEAT) DO NOT STIR AT ANY TIME OR THE TOFU WILL BE RUINED. 

Gently skim the top of the poured soya milk.  I say gently because if you do anything that resembles stirring, the soya milk, gypsum and cornflour ingredients will not coagulate and the tofu is a gonner.  Cover the bowl of gypsum and soya milk and set aside in a warm place for 15 minutes.

6.  Prepare the tofu mould - while you're waiting for the soya milk to coagulate prepare the tofu mould in the sink.  Wet the mould and the muslin mould cloths with cold water.  Line the mould with the muslin liners.

Here's my mum lining 2 tofu moulds with muslin.  She always makes 2 blocks at a time because they eat loads and she always gives some away.

7.  Add add the set soya milk to the tofu mould - spoon the coagulated soya milk into the tofu moulds.  You'll see that the soya milk now has a soft blamange texture and some of the water has begun to separate.  Spoon the soya milk stuff into the tofu mould. There should be enough mixture to fill the mould. After filling the moulds fold the muslin over the soya blamange.

Spoon the soft soya into the mould.  All very therapeutic and satisfying isn't it?

8.  Wait for the tofu to set - pop the lid onto the mould and place a nice heavy weight onto the lid.  It's important that you select a heavy weight that will fit into the mould (because the lid needs to sink into the mould as the water leaches out of the tofu). 

Wait for the tofu to set.  The firmness of the tofu is determined by how long you leave it to set:

• soft and wobbly jelly = approx 3.5 hours
• medium firm = approx 4.5 hours
• firm = 5 or more depending on how firm you want it.

Send in the heavies and leave to set...

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9.  Turn out the tofu from the mould.  Carefully take the tofu out of the mould and free it from it's muslin linings.  This bit is very satisfying. The tofu is ready to cook with or you can store it in a container of cold water in the fridge (for several days if you periodically change the water).  I haven't tried freezing it yet, I never get the chance to.

Ta dah!

Amy Butler's 'Little Stitches' Book Review & Give Away!!

Yep!  I have a brand spanking new and signed copy of Amy's 'Little Stitches' burning a hole right through my desk.  I know that anyone who already has a copy of this book will agree that you do get a heck of a lot of book for the money.  And what with all the credit crunchiness going on, you know that loads of us will be buying handmade or making our Xmas pressies this year....(if we start thinking about it now we can freak out less when the time comes).

The items are (as you'd expect) very stylish and practical. If you don't have little ones of your own then there are heaps of present ideas for Mum and baby.  Designer baby stuff costs crazy money; with a few hours and this book to hand you can make your own super cute baby items for a fraction of the cost and with a whole lot more love too!  This really is a no-brainer book review because I think this is a wonderful craft title to have in your collection so I'll just show you a few of the yummy projects inside:

Up for grabs is Amy's latest book; a signed copy of Little Stitches.  The items are Amy-stylish and full sized patterns (on quality paper) are included - absolute steal!

Cute and Snuggly Wrap Blanket.  I'd love one to cosy up and watch TV with :)

Darling Empire style top for her...

and darling jim-jams for him.

Soft and touchy-feely toys

Groovy Piggy bib with pocket and useful carry pouch.

I love this pocket-tastic Tool Kit Bag for keeping everything organised on the go.

And the Modern Nappy Bag with changing mat looks really stylish too.

And the list goes on and on.  This book is absolutely jammed with projects, you're sure to want to make a good number of them.

As you'd expect of Amy's designs, the instructions are clear and thorough.

Draw Details (please read carefully)

I'll send this signed copy of Little Stitches to 1 lucky draw winner.

To enter all you have to do is comment on THIS PARTICULAR POST by:

• Telling us what  Xmas pressies you are thinking of making this year.  If you have links to any tutes do share them with us :)
  

 

Contest Official-ness :

1. I'll randomly draw the winner in a weeks time - 30th October and announce the winner the following day-ish.  Good luck! 
2. I'll need to ask the winner to make a donation for the postage.
3. Sorry I can't notify winners, so please keep an eye for the winner announcement.  This is made easier for you if you subscribe to this blog so you don't have to keep checking back, although it's always great to have you pop-in for a read :0)
4. Prizes which are not claimed within 3 weeks of the winner announcement will be carried forward to the next draw.
5. Sorry I can't reply to contest/draw comments, but I do love reading every single one :)

SORRY, THIS DRAW IS NOW CLOSED :(

Sewing World Bag Jan 09. Linen & Leather shoulder tote.

Are my Sewing World bag names getting a bit droll or what?  By the time I've designed the bag, made the bag and written it's instructions my head hurts and I have no more creative juice left to think up a catchy name.

The theme for Sewing World Magazine Jan 09 is the colour blue and recycling. So with that theme in mind I have designed this linen medium sized tote.  The recycling on this bag comes in the form of the velvet front pocket.  I salvaged it from one of my past bag making screw-ups WIPs.  I'm thinking the velvet looks a whole better on this bag than it did on it's predecessor.

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I think this bag looks rather smart (I'd go as far as respectful).  I quite like the simple shape and the graphic lines of the satin binding.   The leather strap handles top everything off neatly and make this bag look pretty classy!

Side view.

Close-up of straps and metal hardware. 

Inside view with a (keep your mitts out!) zipper closure.

I hope you can pop back tomorrow; I'm doing the Amy Butler Little Stitches Book review and give away.  I'm just taking the snaps now.  Woo!

5 Lovely Links

1. If you haven't already, have a look around Florence's new shop - and if you're tempted by her yummy items I know for a fact that she is a perfectionist who makes all of her items with a whole lotta heart.
2. Win a sexy Epson wireless printer AND a professionally designed custom logo - open to US residents only.  Sorreee!
3. If you don't own a copy of Amy Butler's ace Little Stitches book yet, I might be able to help - pop back next week.  I'm doing a review and giving a signed copy away...
4. Thanks very much to the first 10 customers of my new Etsy shop (woo that was quick!)
5. See below - I though it so moving it made my chin wobble.

Tutorial part 1 of 2. Getting ready to make your own tofu.

Call me psychic or something, but I have a strong sense that you woke up this morning wondering 'how do I go about making my own tofu?'  Did ya?  Did ya?  I bet you did.  I've become a little tofu factory since my mum taught me how to make it 3 months ago.  I now make a couple of blocks every week.

I'm not doing this tute in one go because I have a yucky cold.  Anyways, if tofu is your thing you can go and get the necessary bits and pieces so we can make some together next week (when I'm not feeling so bunnged dupp).

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Find Part 2 of this tutorial here.

Why would you want to make your own tofu anyway?

• It's far superior tasting than the stuff you can buy in the shops and have you ever tried it fresh out of the press?  Yummy!
• Some would say that tofu is really bland, well home made tofu does taste better, but it does essentially taste very mild.  It's what you cook with tofu that counts.  Tofu takes on flavours like a sponge.
• Besides being very low in fat, high in protein and easy to digest, it's super good for you.
• It's as cheap as chips (which at times like these is pretty handy).
• It's as easy as falling out of bed to make, even the little ones can help.
• There are heaps of recipes out there, and here, and there.
• Can't get the kids into tofu?  Try deep frying/baking strips of tofu and making some yummy dips for them to dunk in.

Equipment that you'll need to bring the U-Handblog tofu class:

• a blender
• a whisk
• 2 large mixing bowls
• large saucepan
• a heavy weight for pressing onto the tofu mould (I use a heavy stone wrapped in a plastic bag)
• 250g of soya beans (per block of tofu) see pic below. Try looking in the health/Oriental/Indian food shop.
• 1/2 tblsp of corn starch (per block of tofu)
• 1 heaped tspn gypsum (per block of tofu) Gypsum (is a 100% natural mineral) is a firming agent in the tofu.  Some folks prefer to use stuff called nigari in place of the gypsum, but my mum who has been making tofu for years says that nigari sometimes doesn't work, whereas (for her) gypsum has 100% success rate and I'm not about to argue with my mum.  Gypsum is a fine white powder.  Try looking in the health/Oriental/Indian food shop.  Or you can buy from here.
• a tofu mould, muslin bag (for straining the soya milk) and muslin liner for the mould.  You can buy plastic, metal or wooden versions.  If you can, try to get a traditional wooden version made from cypress wood.  Wood is much nicer to use and the cypress is naturally antiseptic.  It's much easier if you can get your hands on a tofu kit which will include the mould and the muslins.  You can buy kits from here, and here, and here, and here.  If you have a large family keen on tofu you might want to purchase 2 moulds.

Soya beans.  Out of a 2kg bag you can make 8 blocks of tofu.  Pretty good value for money don'tcha think?

Ta da!  I'll post the tofu photo tutorial some time next week.  **UPDATE**  Here it is.

I have a new Etsy shop! And Catching up before catching cold...

Hello All!

I'm not away with the wedding fairies (as you might expect. Actually I find the prospect of planning a wedding pretty scary!)  I've been busy playing catch up from being on holiday.  Now that I've almost caught up with stuff I have this all too familair tingly feeling at the back of my "dotty dose". Yep, a st-dinky cold is on the horizon - joy!  The holiday (alas) is a distant and happy memory. 

I've been trying to get lots of jobs done before it's all tissues and feeling sorry for myself.  I have almost finished the new Sewing World Magazine bag:

Sewing World bag in progress...  Recognise the fabric anyone?

Last night I made some home made tofu.  It's so delish  and good for you that I'm gonna have to make this into a tute.  Now, I know that some would think that 'delish tofu' has to be an oxymoron, but then shop bought aint as nice as home made:

Making your own tofu is easy-licious!

And (I'm most excited about) I have just today set up a new shop on Etsy!!

Our Uhandbag Etsy Shop banner.  We'll be running our Etsy shop alongside the main shop. 

If you want to, you can read about why I set up a shop on Etsy on my Craftboom! blog.

We will be stocking slightly different items in our Etsy shop and in some cases the shipping is cheaper (for single items) than our main site so I hope you'll pop over and have a look :)

!! As an opening offer, the first 10 customers of the Etsy shop will receive a quality pair of bag handles AND a pretty purse chain worth £11.50 ($20) absolutely FREE!!

Aw man this cold is going to be a real cow, I can feel it.  Don't come close anyone!

How Al proposed to me in Ta Prom, Cambodia

If you liked the last gorgeous holiday tune, I'm sure you'll like this yummy holiday tune as well.

Oh wow!  Yesterday I had the nicest time reading your marriage well wishes. I made myself a hot choccy and read all of your lovely comments in one go.  We're really touched that so many of you wish us well. Thank you so much!  I must say, he's extra happy at being called good-looking, gorgeous, a model etc..

It's really nice that some of you have even been to the same temple - it is a magical place isn't it?

OK so I'll post a little about the holiday over the next couple of posts, but this one will be about the proposal. It will help me remember it and I may show it to the little ones that we may have one day.  It happened a few days into the holiday on the 22nd September.  Al had been planning to pop the question even before he left to do his work in clinics back in July.  He bought the ring in Thailand and he was in cahoots with the owner of The Villa Guest House where we stayed in Siem Reap, Cambodia (where Ta Prom temple is situated).  The kind owner and lovely staff all knew about Al's proposal plans and they all helped Al to make it a big beautiful surprise.

On the morning Al proposed we got up super early to go and see the sunrise at the main Cambodian temple Angkor Wat.  Accompanying us was the delightful Mr Lim, our charming, funny and knowledgeable guide (yep, he was in on Al's plans too)...

Here's Mr Lim, an all round lovely chap who knew his stuff and who has a great SOH, just ahead of me - whilst I'm having a little boogie.

Even at the crack of dawn at Angkor Wat, the tourists were already out in force, still it was nonetheless stunningly beautiful - I'll get a flickr set sorted out v soon.

The sun just beginning to rise at one of the entrances to Angkor Wat.

After seeing the Sunrise at Angkor Mr Lim said that he was going to take us to see another temple that (at this early hour) would be completely deserted.  He said that with no one else at this temple you'll feel like an explorer and to cap it off parts of Tomb Raider were filmed there!

As we approached the Ta Prom temple, the atmosphere felt different from the previous busy temple, it was serene, ancient and otherworldly. Mr Lim was right, we had the place to ourselves.  The morning light was magical, the grass almost too green and the water buffalo grazing by the moat outside made for a magical setting. 

The Ta Prom temple was incredible. Save for some walkways and some scaffolding (for safety) nature has been left do her thing and she was - in grand style. There were vines, roots and trees growing in, around and out of the beautiful ruins.  There was also moss covering some of the façades adding to the ancient feel of the place. 

The temple has been made safe for visitors, but it's been left in it's natural overgrown state as much as possible...

...for instance, this huge tree is actually growing right out of this ruin, the root system inside the ruin is incredible...

...don'tcha think?

Whilst we were walking around the temple agog at the beauty of the place.  We came to the walls of an inner courtyard.  Mr Lim told us that men and women had their own separate entrances to this courtyard so he would have to guide us to our appropriate gateways.  I thought that it was lovely that after all this time folks still observed this little custom.

The 'female' gateway to the courtyard.

Mr Lim led Al off to the gate for males and some moments later Mr Lim returned to lead me to the gate for the females.  On the way to the female gate Mr Lim told me that Ta Prom temple was quite grand because the Prince had it built in honour of his mother.  Apparently the temple was built in peaceful times and the Prince was loved by his people so much so that a beautiful statue of the Prince was placed inside the courtyard in his honour.  

So as Mr Lim and I arrived at the female gate at the courtyard gate Mr Lim said to me "here is your Prince" and there was Al in the middle of the courtyard, looking yummy standing in the centre of a circle or orchids, lilies and candles.  I turned around to see Mr Lim had vanished.  So I approached Al, he handed me traditional garland of heady smelling jasmine flowers, he said some very beautiful things, asked me to marry him, I burst into tears and he slipped the ring on my finger.  Forever more I will associate the smell of jasmine with that beautiful morning. After Al and I hugged the life out of each other Mr Lim re-appeared and he is the chap who took the pics of Al & I together. :)

Mr Lim's lovely wife had turned up much earlier to arrange these pretty flowers and candles (at Al's request) on the ground so we had a cute little flower circle to get engaged in. 

The courtyard in which Al proposed (you can just see the flower circle in the background).

Aww!

Of course, there was no statue of Prince to be found anywhere in the courtyard.  Al had cleverly cooked up the whole story of the male and female gates and the statue of the Prince so Mr Lim could convincingly split Al and I up so Al could get into position.  I believed every word!

My description of this ethereal place is pretty lame (it's the most wonderful temple I have ever visited) so I hope these photos do a better job.