Take a Look

Here.

You can order your copy already.  Yay!  Another reason that 2009 is going to be such a great year for me.

Lovin’ it.

Mia

New Year’s Goals 2009

Kangaroo Paw, Denmark, Western Australia Photo by Mia Binns

I was going to talk about my goals for this site in this post. But since they are linked very closely to my personal goals, I will talk a little about these too.

I have spent the last few months thinking a lot about what is really important to me and how this fits with my goals. That is the reason I have made a big decision for this year. To make less goals and make them smaller. To simplify my life. I just can’t keep working at the pace I have been working at. My health has been really bad for the last three years. And I need to take more time out for me and my little family.

My Goals for 2009 are:

• To get my first children’s picture book published
• To work less hours at my day job (last year I was working 1.20FTE)
• To take care of myself by exercising more, eating breakfast and drinking more water
• To make sure I have at least one 3 hour meal with friends each week. (I love eating with people and catching up with them.)
• To travel more - especially to a tropical island with no agenda (despite having done a LOT of travelling I have never been on a holiday to do nothing but sit around!)
• To post once or twice a week on onehourcraft.com
• To learn to take really good photos
• To plan more relaxation time with my family each week
• To get outdoors more than once a week - to the beach, hiking, walking, sailing etc
• To make yoga a daily practice

If anyone out there is like me and is questioning whether your goals are too big and overwhelming - I dare you to reassess and to scale them right down! Now. I dare you to start to see yourself as more than the sum of everything you do and all you acheive. I dare you to look at your worth as something deeper than that. If you feel that you have been working like a robot for the previous year, a new year is a great time to reassess that. And to make brave changes.

I encourage you to see yourself as being lovable, worthy and fine even without having to have huge goals or take over the world. You are wonderful the way you are. You add to world just by being you. Your relationships with others make you who you are.

I no longer want to take on fifty new things, I am giving up happily on a lot of my dreams, maybe momentarily or maybe forever. I just want to be effective in the few things I have chosen to do.

This year I aim to say NO a lot more often, and especially to myself! But I must say I am also inviting a lot more fun and adventure back into my life.

Love

Mia

xxx

Ahem…. Happy New Year!

Hi everyone,

Sorry no Happy Christmas or Happy New Year! Been having a fantastic time. Relaxing. Spending time with love ones. Holidaying. We spent a week in the southwest of Western Australia. We went swimming at the beach, went for walks in forrests, climbed Bluff Knoll - and I didn’t talk about this website or my plans once. I was extremely proud of myself!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I look forward to sharing more with you this year. It is my fourth year of running a website - scarey!

Millie and Calvin Playing

Flowers in Denmark, Western Australia

Grass Tree on a Four-Wheel Drive Track, Denmark, Western Australia

Trees near Ocean Beach, Denmark, Western Australia

Bluff Knoll with Cloud Pouring out, Western Australia

Me and My love on the top of Bluff Knoll

See what I mean by fantastic?

Mia
xxx

Stunning Applique Birdie T-shirts For Sale

Tweet, Tweet. Do we have some treats for you?

Yes We Do! You have to be in love with these adorable birdie applique tees  designed and handmade by Emma Mill (my twin sister if you still didn’t know - Lord knows I talk about her lots!). Stunning Christmas Presents.

To buy, just click the Buy Now button and pay through Paypal. Your shirt will be mailed the day we receive your payment - and yes we are sending overseas too!

The tiny price??? Only $45 Australian. Postage free in Australia and $6 Australian to anywhere overseas. For shipping please allow up to 3 working days within Australia and up to 10 days to USA or Europe.

Lemon Yellow and Sky Blue Birdie Singlet  (SORRY THIS IS SOLD)

Recycled Singlet (yay for being green).
Fabrics: High Quality T-shirt material and ribbing
Size: Small - Medium
Measurements (taken lying flat):
Bust 74cm/29″
Hips 83cm/33″
Length 58cm/23″

Dove Grey and Sunset Orange Applique Birdie Tee

Fabrics: High Quality T-shirt material and ribbing
Size: Small - Medium
Measurements (taken lying flat):
Bust 74cm/29″
Hips 83cm/33″
Length 58cm/23″

Dove Grey and Mint Green Applique Birdie Tee

Fabrics: High Quality T-shirt material and ribbing
Size: Small - Medium
Measurements (taken lying flat):
Bust 74cm/29″
Hips 83cm/33″
Length 58cm/23″

Dove Grey and Sunset Orange Applique Birdie Tee

Fabrics: High Quality T-shirt material and ribbing
Size: Small - Medium
Measurements (taken lying flat):
Bust 74cm/29″
Hips 83cm/33″
Length 58cm/23″

Dove Grey and Apple Red Applique Birdie Tee

Fabrics: High Quality T-shirt material and ribbing
Size: Small - Medium
Measurements (taken lying flat):
Bust 74cm/29″
Hips 83cm/33″
Length 58cm/23″

Email me at mariabinns@hotmail.com when you have paid and let me know your adress so we can send one of these gorgeous birdies flying your way!

Seriously, how clever is Em?

I will leave these on sale until Friday this week!
Mia

Ouch! Be Warned, Sewing is a Dangerous Sport!

(Photo of Mia’s finger post-operation)

Sewing is a dangerous sport not to be taken up by the fainthearted - And I can prove it.

Sunday evening, deciced to try out my daughter’s new sewing machine. Well I was going to just get it all ready and working for her. But one thing led to another and I designed a beach bag and began to sew it. Yes, I was a little tired. And it was getting a little bit late but I know I can whip up a bag in about 40 minutes, so I just kept going.

I was sewing a seam together, just a straight stitch when, all of a sudden my finger slipped. Then the machine stopped. I heard a clunking sound and felt a ping in my index finger of my left hand. I was startled. I realised that I had broken the needle. I looked around for the end of the needle then realised that it was completely embedded into the nail of my index finger. Then it started to really hurt.

I remember starting to shake and going cold and sweaty. With only my daughter at home (and asleep in bed) I didn’t know what to do. I ran to the neighbour’s house. My lovely neighbour drove me to hospital while his wife took Millie into their spare bed…………..

What a horrible few days. On Monday I was very grateful that a surgeon friend was able to operate on me to remove the needle from my finger. The last few days have been a fog of Panadeine forte, morphine, vomiting, antibiotics, sleep and pain. The fingernail will fall off in the next few weeks and will take about six months to grow back.

AND. All for this……………..

Well it is not quite finished yet, but nearly.

The motto of this tale: Be careful when sewing!!!  And if you do hurt yourself make sure you have a twin sister who will take you in and look after you like nothing else!

How to Make A Berry Smoothie

Berry Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients

2 Handfuls of ice

1 Cup of Guava Nectar

1 Small Tub of Vanilla Yoghurt

I handful of frozen mixed berries - strawberries, raspberries, blueberries

Method

Place all the ingredients into the blender and blend for a few minutes until all the ice is crushed into fine pieces.

Pour into a tall glass and serve with a straw and a fresh strawberry.

One Hour Craft November Craft Challenge

Ok. The girls and I have come up with something not so original for this time of year but so easy to fit into your busy pre-Christmas schedules. We guessed that you would already be making some. We would love to see your creations so…

November’s Challenge is to make a set of fabulous Christmas Cards.

All you need to do to be involved is design and make a set of Christmas cards, then upload them to our ONE HOUR CRAFT FLICKR GROUP by the end of November for all to see! Can’t wait to see your creations!

Happy making ladies (one gentlemen, I know there are a few who read this site!)

Mia

xxx

Mia’s Month of Creating - October

Sometimes I don’t tell you enough about what I am doing. It all becomes a little too much. So, to remedy this, at the beginning of each month I will give you a quick run-down on my creative pursuits over the last month.

October was a busy month - was there ever a non-busy month? Not in this life. I spent it making final adjustments to my book (out in June next year), designing some soft toys (which will be turned into patterns available for sale in the next few months), designing and working on my new site. But the best was saved until the end of the month……

Millie’s Ninth Birthday Party. As usual I went to town, planning and organising the party. It was sooooooo girly and fun. The girls said that the best part was playing dress-ups and wearing high-heeled shoes, feather boas, blush and real ladies’ dresses!

For me the most fun was making the things for the party. Oh and dressing in my new party dress, of course.

For decorations I mainly used rows and rows of bunting I made from old sheets and scraps of cotton I had at home. It made the party look so happy and colourful - and the florals were very girly.

For the drinks I made the girls all a delicious Berry Smoothie - or two! They are divine and I will post the recipe here in the next few days.

I designed and made some new party bags for this year. The tutorial for these will follow too. For all of you who have been reading this site for a while you will know how much I love making party bags. These were the most fun yet!

For the cakes I made cupcakes and iced them in this sick pink. You could not get any more girly I am sure of it! They were really fun to make. And I love the cake stands I used.

And my sister Sarah arrived with these gorgeous little teacup biscuits that she made. Aren’t they just so sweet.

Millie said it was her favourite party yet. Thanks Em and Kate for all the help and laughs. My ears have nearly stopped ringing after an afternoon of squealing and dancing.
Mia
xx

PS No photos of the party girl - sorry.  You know I have a thing about photos of children on the Net.  Needless to say she is lovely and happy and the gaps in her teeth are filling in with new big teeth.  And she seems to be sprouting new freckles on her nose each day in this hot Aussie sun.

How to Make Cupcakes with To-Die-For Butter Cream Frosting

Hi Everyone,

Yes we are back! And off to a VERY pink start - with these cupcakes. If you find the pink a little too sickly sweet, don’t be put off - they are very yummy!

And we are so thrilled. Our comments are back up and working so please say hi - we have missed you so much!

Let’s Cook

How to Make Mini Cupcakes with Butter Cream Frosting

Ingredients

1 ½ cups Self-Raising Flour
125g / 4½ oz unsalted butter (softened)
¾ cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 eggs beaten
½ cup milk

Method

1. Sift the Self-Raising flour into a mixing bowl and add the caster sugar. Add the vanilla essence to the bowl.

2. Add the vanilla essence to the bowl.

3. Lightly beat two eggs and add to the mixture.

4. Mix with a spoon and add the softened butter to the bowl. Beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes on a low speed to make sure that all the ingredients are properly blended together. Turn your electric mixer to high and beat the mixture for 3 minutes until it is pale and smooth (no lumps allowed).

5. Spoon mixture into the cupcake pans, fill them 2/3. I used the little cupcake tins to make mine as I like to have only bite size cakes.

6. Place the tray into the oven and cook them for 15 – 20 minutes at 180 °C / 350 °F. Cook them until they are just golden on top. To check if they are done, poke a skewer into the cupcake. When you pull it out there should be no mixture left on it.
7. Leave the cupcakes on a cooling rack for about 20 minutes before you add the frosting.
Note: This recipe made 20 small cupcakes.

How to Make Butter Cream Frosting

Ingredients

150g butter – softened
250g icing sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla
2 Tablespoon hot water
Few drops of food colouring
Cake icing decorations, sprinkles, icing roses

1. Place all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low for 2 minutes. Turn the electric mixer to high and beat for 2 more minutes until the frosting is the same consistency as butter.

2. Add a few drops of your food colour and mix in with a spoon.

3. Take an icing bag, attach the nozzle and spoon the frosting into the bag. Twist the end of the bag and hold it in your hand. Take a cupcake and starting in the middle, wind the icing around the cupcake until you have covered the top.

4. Place a few sprinkles and a little icing rose on top of your cupcake.

Enjoy!
Mia
xxx

PS At least one more very funky tutorial coming your way this week! See told you we were back!

PPS I have my crafty girl posse working on ideas for our November Craft Challenge and we will post the results within the next few days ok.

miabinns.com

Hi craft chicas,

Am on holidays and having the most relaxing time eva!  Also busy setting up another on-line journal at miabinns.com.  This will be all about productivity and lifestyle design.  I love it already!

Will still be posting here as well.

See ya soon,
Mia