Custom-made shoes

On a rainy day, when we had too much time on our hands Valentine and I were surfing the web. Craig wanted to see his favourites clothes, music and shoes - and we stumbled across the Nike website that allows you to customise your shoes. Why not we decided.

Sadly mine don't look so shiny and new anymore. They've had lots of wear. They are so comfortable and blend in with most of my clothes. As you'd expect - I designed them!

Wedding locket

As I said in my post about my wedding bag, I wanted to make sure I felt the presence of my far-away family and friends on my wedding day. I bought a reproduction stamp locket, printed tiny pictures of my family and loved ones in it, and carried it inside my wedding bag. I still have it and wear it on days I want to think about all who I love.

My wedding bag

The wedding photos of my siblings, in the 80s and 90s really made me smile on my big day.

I recently got married away from family and friends, and was determined to include my family, home in Australia, as much as possible.

I'd previously made a cosmetic bag with Shutterfly and I'd loved it - so decided that I'd make a collage of the weddings in my family, my Mum & Dad, my siblings and my partner's siblings and then use it as my wedding bag. My dress was green, a little more conservative than I'd originally imagined, so I thought it would a little bit of whimsy on my big day, something to make me smile when I was nervous. It certainly made them feel like they were there with me.

See the items you can make at Shutterfly - http://www.shutterfly.com/shop/photo_apparel/product_c10062

Made for my valentine - name cards

I am practising text masking in photoshop - and loving the results.

Some nice pics for our wall for my valentine - he loves it when I identify with my married name, mostly because it doesn't happen that often.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's English Onion Soup

So many onions to peel, cut and slice but the warm goodness it created was very satisfying.

Not quite how Hugh's looked in the Guardian 31 January 2009, but still good enough to eat.

When I first decided to do this particular blog, I was thinking more about showing off things I'd made, like cards, books and artwork, but I realise now my creativity is expressed in so many ways - and I want to include everything I feel is an expression of my creativity.

I think I have been playing way too safe with my cooking. I've cooked the same things for years now - and it all ends up tasting pretty much the same. I'm bored, my partner is not that impressed. So I am trying to force myself into change - each week I hope to cook something new (not necessarily exotic). I'm hoping to learn new things, stimulate my mind to seeing other possibilities to the food I am used to cooking.

Today's recipe is so far from exotic - it is Hugh's English Onion Soup. Good wholesome winter food, perfect for the lazy weekend I was having.

When it comes to following recipes, I'm a terrible cheat. Near enough is good enough for me in most things in my life, especially cooking. I use dried herbs instead of fresh herbs, I misread measurements and then have to compromise on what I have. I follow my instincts instead of following prescribed times and temperatures. I subsititue ingredients with what I have in the cupboard.

I have to I have therefore decided, for the sake of anyone who wants to try my recipes, to put the details of the original recipe, not what I cooked.

Ingredients:

• 60g unsalted butter
• 1.5kg onions, peeled, quartered and sliced
• 4-5 garlic cloves, peeled & sliced
• 1 bay leaf
• A few sprigs fresh thyme
• 150ml dry cider
• 750ml chicken stock
• 750ml beef stock
• 1-2 tbsp rapeseed oil
• 12-18 sage leaves
• 4 slices sourdough bread, toasted
• 120g cheddar, grated

Melt the butter in a big pot over medium-low heat. Add the onions and saute slowly until soft, tender and browned, about 45 minutes. Add the garlic, bay and thyme, cook for 5 minutes, then add the cider and simmer until reduced to a glaze - about three minutes. Remove the herbs, add the stock, and simmer for 20 minutes. Season to taste.

Warm the rapeseed oil in a small pan and saute the sage for 30 seconds, until crisp, then stir into the soup.

Preheat the grill to high. Ladle the soup into heatproof bowls, top each serving with a slive of toasted sourdough, sprinkle on the cheddar and grill until melted and bubbles.

Serves 6

(re)Made by Me or for Me

I love the handmade - and I want to celebrate the handmade items I have in my life