The flight of the butterfly

Mäng ülejääkidega / Playing with leftovers

2012-02-04T18:09:00.000+02:00

Märkmikud / Note Books

2011-12-25T19:10:00.002+02:00

Jõulukinkideks tehtud märkmikud.

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I made some note books as Christmas presents.

Jõulukaardid / Christmas Cards

2011-12-24T12:28:00.001+02:00

Kuna minu jõulukaardi saajate nimekiri on üsna pikk ja enamasti jääb kaartide tegemine ikka viimasele minutile, siis tavaliselt valin lihtsamad disainid, mida on lihtne meisterdada:)

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There are usually quite many people who I send Christmas card to but I often start making the cards in rather last minute, so it is better to choose an easier designs:)

Heegeldatud linik / Croheted table cloth

2011-12-22T12:21:00.001+02:00

Kasutasin mustrit ühest Minu Käsitööd ajakirjast, aga kuna teatud ridade järel muster ei näinud enam klappivat, siis lõpuread heegeldasin improviseerides. Linik jäi kingituseks meie Omaani kodumajatuse perenaisele.

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I crocheted a table cloth following a pattern from a magazine but since the pattern did not seem to "fit" any more at certain point I had to improvise the final rows. The table cloth was given as a gift to the landlady of the bed-and-breakfast in Muscat, Oman.

Veel üks blogi / Another blog

2011-12-09T10:14:00.001+02:00

Viibime nüüd perega mõnda aega Omaanis ja loomulikult võtsin siia kaasa natuke heegelniiti, lõnga, heegelnõela ja vardad, et vabadel hetkedel lasta kätel käia. Tuunika peaks ka kokku õmblema, aga pole veel mahti leidnud. Meie Omaani kogemustest saab lugeda siit
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We are in Oman with our family for some time, and of course I took some yarn with me to entertain myself with handicraft in free moments. I write about our experiences in Oman in blog

Roosid talvel / Roses in Winter

2011-11-27T14:21:00.003+02:00

Et siis lugu sellest, kuidas mul oli vaja oma suvist garderoobi täiendada ja kuidas armas Toyotake teps mitte mind enam abistada ei tahtnud:( Mis mul siis muud üle jäi, kui niit ja nõel kätte võtta ja tõelise käsitsi töö juurde asuda. Valmis ta sai! Järgmisena saab käsitsi valmis õmmeldud üks tuunika, aga seda juba päikese all, sest aeg surub peale:)
/Njah, vanal ajal tehti ju kõik suuremad ja väiksemad õmblustööd käsitsi ja ma pean tunnistama, et see käsitsi õmblemine on üsna teraapiline tegevus. Aga ma pean ennast ju kuidagi lohutama, eks ole? ;)/

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I needed to sew some new summer clothes that would not be so revealing but to my big disappointment my dear sewing machine decided to have a holiday:( Well, there was nothing else to do than take the thread and needle and start sewing by hand. Next, I should sew a tunic by hand, but since I run out of time I will do it there in the sunshine.

Talveks / For winter

2011-11-04T14:17:00.004+02:00

Talveks kuluvad ära ühed mõnusad soojad käpikud ning soe lapitekk, mõlemad tehtud poistele.

Now when winter is getting closer there will be good use for warm mittens and warm blanket, both made for the boys.

Pitskampsun / Lacy Cardigan

2011-10-16T13:50:00.005+03:00

Vähem kui kuu ajaga sain valmis pitsilise kampsuni Dropsi lõngast. Mõnus kudumine ja tulemusega olen ka väga rahul:) Muster siit.

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I finished a lacy cardigan that I started to knit less than a month ago. I used Drops yarn, needles nr 5 and used this pattern. Easy and quick to knit:)

Boys' scrapbooks

2011-10-07T13:41:00.007+03:00

Kaart poisipõnnile / A card for baby boy

2011-09-20T23:13:00.003+03:00

Mütsid sügiseks / Hats for autumn

2011-09-13T14:18:00.003+03:00

Kottpüksid / Triangle (hareem) pants

2011-08-25T21:26:00.004+03:00

Sugulasel külas käies jäid silma tema jalas olnud vahvad kottpüksid ning sealsamas sai järgi uuritud, kuidas need tehtud on. Täna valmis minu versioon nendest pükstest. Väga lihtne õmblustöö:D (Tegin ka üldsõnalise õpetuse, kuid kuna minu mõistus hetkel ei võta, kuidas seda pdf-i siia lisada, siis võin selle soovijatele meilile saata)

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When I visited a relative of mine I saw her wearing lovely and interesting pants, so I wanted to find out how they were made. Today I sewed my version of those pants, it is very easy sewing! (I also composed a pdf file about how to sew them but unfortunately I cannot add it here, so I can send it via e-mail if anybody would like to have it)

Kaardid ja kingitused / Cards and presents

2011-08-21T22:08:00.005+03:00

Suvised sünnipäevad / Busy birthday time

2011-08-07T11:46:00.010+03:00

Meie peres ja paljudel sõpradel on suvel sünnipäevad, seega olen teinud päris palju kaarte.

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Summer is always busy time of birthdays among our family and friends. I have made several cards. I hope my friends have enjoyed to receive them by snail mail:D I have to admit I value the paper cards the most but they seem to become more and more rare these days when it is so easy to say Happy Birthday through FB...

Veel üks kleit / Another dress

2011-07-29T15:11:00.005+03:00

Kangapoes käia on "ohtlik", sest ikka hakkab silma mõni kaunis kangas, mille lihtsalt peab ostma. Sel nädalal niimoodi juhtuski - jälle;) Täna tegin kleidi viimased õmblused ning valmistasin pärlitest ja paelast kinnituse.

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It is "dangerous" to go to fabric shops because every now and then there is some adorable fabric that has to be bought. I finished sewing this dress today, I also made a brooch-like thing from the beads and ribbon. It has been a perfect morning of my birthday: taking some time for myself and doing some handicrafts:D And now off to bake some cookies!

Suvine kaart / Card with daisy

2011-07-18T12:12:00.003+03:00

Mustvalges / Black-and-white

2011-07-13T01:10:00.004+03:00

Festive or/and special occasions are the best excuse to sew a new dress;) Here is one, very classical dress in black and white.

Heegeldatud linik / Crocheted Table Cloth

2011-06-23T12:56:00.002+03:00

Rahvuslik / Ethnical

2011-06-22T11:45:00.004+03:00

Suvise pööripäeva ja valgete ööde puhul valmis rahvuslikus meeleolus linane kotike. Disainitud minu poolt:D

One of the most important holidays for Estonians - Midsummer's Day - is getting closer. So I have designed a small bag in ethnical style for that festive occasion.

Värske soolakurk / Salted cucumbers

2011-06-17T14:32:00.003+03:00

Eile surfasin netis, et leida nõuandeid tõeliselt heade värskete soolakurkide tegemiseks. Kombineerides erinevaid retsepte ja nõuandeid juhindusin järgnevast:

1 kg kurke
1,5 l toasooja/jahedat vett
3 spl jämedat meresoola
1 spl suhkurt
mustsõstralehti
tilli
(üks suur) mädarõikaleht
(mõned varred) värsket koriandrit
kirsilehti
paar küüslauguküünt

Hoidsin kurke veidi külmas vees, siis pesin sooja veega puhtaks. Lõikasin ära kurkide ühe otsa. Maitsetaimed (mida tuli kokku peotäis) tükeldasin (kääridega). Ladusin kurgid ja maitsetaimed vaheldumisi potti (nõu ei ole tegelikult oluline) ja kallasin peale soola ja suhkruga segatud toasooja/jaheda vee. Panin peale surutise ja jätsin kurgid toatemperatuurile seisma. Vähem kui 24 tunni pärast proovisin ja olid juba väga head - soolased ja hästi krõmpsud:) 24 tunni möödudes võiks nad vististi juba jahedasse tõsta.

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I have made the first salted cucumbers of this summer. They are classics and "must" during Estonian summer:) If you want to try to make them as well, let me know and I will translate the recipe.

Summer bag

2011-06-09T12:02:00.007+03:00

I have sewed a large summer bag that could hold everything for a perfect summer day: beach clothes, drinks and a good magazine. I decorated it with some confetti and the lining is made of an old pillowcase (that saved me doing some seams). Ready for beach (we are having around 30C nowadays)!

Lilac

2011-06-06T15:22:00.001+03:00

A pink dress

2011-06-03T10:04:00.002+03:00

I have crocheted a pink dress for a Barbie (-size) doll. But since there is no Barbies in our house I cannot show you a doll wearing that dress. The dress is another part of birthday present to my niece.

A small bag for a little girl

2011-06-01T14:06:00.004+03:00

I have knitted a small bag to my niece for her 6th birthday.

Maxi dress for summer

2011-05-29T18:53:00.003+03:00

The forecast said that it would be +28 degrees next week. So it was a good motivation to finish a maxi dress for summer that I had started several weeks ago. The jersey fabric fits perfect to this pattern and I am very satisfied with the result. Now - let's see if the forecast has got it right about the weather!

Cards

2011-05-22T11:26:00.003+03:00

Small presents

2011-05-20T15:10:00.005+03:00

I had fun making those small presents to my pen pals: a needle cushion, a small bag (to keep cosmetics or jewelery in it) and set of hand stamped writing papers.

Beading

2011-05-15T11:59:00.004+03:00

I was making some jewelery another night. The white necklace is crocheted with small beads. I was actually thinking to give it to my mother as Mothers Day present but I could not finish it in time, unfortunately. But I will give it to her now, anyway:)

Summer can arrive

2011-05-06T16:11:00.006+03:00

My wardrobe for summer has got two new shirts. I crocheted an upper part to one of them and attached some small confetti on the crocheted "flowers" (that is probably difficult to see but they are there:)).

Cards

2011-05-03T12:45:00.001+03:00

Needle cushion for sewing machine

2011-05-02T13:36:00.002+03:00

Today I sewed something that I should have sewed already ages ago: a needle cushion for sewing machine.

Dress in retro style

2011-05-01T20:11:00.002+03:00

I have been in big sewing mood these days, using up some "old" fabrics I have had at home but also shopping for some new fabrics. Another day I saw that lovely brown and white polyester fabric at shop and I knew at once I wanted to sew a dress in retro style out of it. So at home I was looking through some old handicraft magazines and I found a perfect pattern from 1972.

Moomin cake

2011-04-14T19:55:00.004+03:00

On Tuesday Märt had his 4th birthday and I made him a cake with Moomin. He loved the cake:)

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Lisan retsepti ka:
Tordipõhi:
8 muna
8 spl suhkurt
4 spl nisujahu
4 spl maisitärklist
Eraldasin munakollased ja -valged, vahustasin munavalged veidikese soola ja poole suhkrukogusega; munakollased vahustasin teise poole suhkrukogusega. Lisasin munakollastele jahu, seejärel munavalged. Küpsetasin küpsetuspaberiga kaetud kõrgete servadega ahjuvormis, nii sain tordipõhja kolmeks lõigata. Kui tordipõhi oli jahtunud, immutasin apelsinimahlaga. Vahele panin maasikamoosi ja segu ricotta kohupiimakreemist, vahukoorest, tuhksuhkrust ja riivitud tumedast šokolaadist.
Muumitrolli joonistasin oma käega ümber raamatu eeskujul, küpsetuspaberile (selle kinnitasin kõvale alusele). Sulatasin tumeda šokolaadi ja sellega joonistasin Muumi kontuuride järgi küpsetuspaberile, asetasin selle külmkappi kuni tahenemiseni. Siis sai Muumi kontuuri panna tordile, natuke joonistasin veel sulatatud šokolaadiga üle ka. Ja kookoshelbed läksid Muumile "täidiseks".

How to frighten winter away?

2011-04-08T18:20:00.003+03:00

Quite much of snow has melted by now, but there is still enough left. I have knitted a woolen jumper to Mihkel to be sure winter leaves us soon. Let's see if the trick works!

In memoriam

2011-03-31T16:42:00.003+03:00

I DID NOT DIE
Do not stand by my grave and grieve.
I am not there, I did not leave.
For I'm that distant shining star.
I'm all around you, never far.

I am the sparkle in children's eyes.
I paint the blue in the autumn skies.
And in those cool sweet summer eves,
I hide in the shadows the sunshine weaves.

Yes together we laughed and cried,
But now I'm ever at your side.
For as long as I am in your heart,
We'll never really be apart.

(By R. F. Kramer)

Sometimes people have asked me how I have ever started to make handicrafts. I do not know the most right answer but my grandma and my sister have probably influenced me most. By now, I have lost both of them... If there was one thing very common for me and for my sister it had to be the passion for handicrafts.

My sister was brilliant in drawing, she just did not like to draw people, she told she could not, but I think she could.

She was great at sewing clothes. She attended a sewing course in the hobby house for years, later i went there as well. We had same lovely teacher. I wanted to become as good in sewing as my sister was. Later she sometimes designed her own and her children's clothes. Sewing seemed to be so easy for her, she even did not need a proper pattern to start sewing something. She also sewed some clothes to me years ago.

She also was good at knitting. Both me and my kids have worn items knitted by her.

She was also fond of calligraphy, making leather jewellery and flower compositions.

I would have had so much to learn from her. But there is no chance for it any more. Maybe one day I can forward her passion for handicrafts to her little daughter or at least tell how talented her mother was.

Rest In Peace, my dear sister...

(On the photo: my sister wearing a dress designed and sewed by her in our wedding)

Black flowers on red velveteen

2011-03-17T15:31:00.007+02:00

I love velveteen pants (and dislike jeans, you do not find any jeans in my wardrobe) and I really use to wear them out. Those red velveteen pants (that I have been wearing for at least 8 years if not more) started to get worn out from the backside as well and as I did not want to throw them away (I like them too much;)) I decided to redesign them into a skirt. That way I could get rid of the worn out area in the backside and I can still wear them for more years:) I also crocheted some black flowers and attached them to the front.

Spring on the card

2011-03-07T12:30:00.004+02:00

While we still have lots of snow and winter outside it feels good to put some spring feeling on the card:)

In rainbow colors

2011-02-23T22:55:00.002+02:00

I have finished knitting a vest/top of the wool in rainbow colors. It is knitted in one piece in circle and even if I had nr 3,5 needles it went quickly.

More cards

2011-02-23T12:37:00.002+02:00

Black vest

2011-02-18T00:24:00.004+02:00

There is a vest that I finished already a while ago but that I still have not showed here. The yarn looks very shiny on the picture although it is not. But it is very-very soft, so it feels very cozy:) The black rose in front is temporary and it can be replaced with some other brooch or ribbon, depending on mood and other clothes.

Cards

2011-02-15T14:44:00.003+02:00

Couple of cards I made during the last weeks.

Socks for my mother

2011-02-13T11:10:00.002+02:00

I knitted a pair of socks to my mother as a birthday present.

Redesigned earrings

2011-02-03T15:49:00.004+02:00

Last week I bought a pair of cheap earrings, even if my ears have never been pierced (and probably never will be, I just do not miss such). But the big metal circle the earring mainly consisted of made a great necklace detail and I am very happy with the result:) When I get another necklace idea I can use the other circle as well.

Potholder

2011-01-26T10:56:00.004+02:00

I was recycling some old baby clothes again and this time I knitted a potholder.

Scrapbook of Mihkel

2011-01-11T11:04:00.007+02:00

I have finished the first scrapbook with Mihkel's photos of his first 11 months. Here are some pages of it:

Mittens for myself

2011-01-08T19:25:00.003+02:00

In autumn I bought a book with lots of different knitting patterns, it is exciting to choose patterns and mix them on different things:)

Birthday cards

2011-01-01T12:53:00.004+02:00

Cards that I made to one small and one big girl.

Recipe book

2010-12-29T21:37:00.003+02:00

This is another Christmas present I made this year: a recipe book. I decorated the booklet and also added some of my favorite recipes as well as there are lots of blank pages to write/glue more recipes.

Mittens for Märt

2010-12-28T19:27:00.002+02:00

The boys grow so fast and I constantly discover they need a new pair of mittens or socks or hat or... They grow faster than I can knit;)

For cold days

2010-12-23T10:48:00.002+02:00

It is really cold here in Estonia, so that even teapots need some warm clothes;)

Christmas presents. Bookmarks

2010-12-21T23:17:00.004+02:00

Christmas is getting closer and my Christmas preparations are in good progress:) I guess all my next posts will be about Christmas presents;)
I have been trying to make several of them by myself this year as well. In my opinion there is something very special about handmade presents because while making them you actually put a lot of feelings and memories into the present. So it is kind of therapy and besides the joy of making and possibility to be creative it also provides time to think about this very special person and look/think back to the moments with that person.
I hope my handmade presents will be enjoyed as much as I have enjoyed making them:)

A fabric doll

2010-12-04T12:51:00.003+02:00

Two years ago I sewed a fabric doll as a Christmas present to my niece.

More Christmas cards

2010-11-30T14:39:00.002+02:00

I have made some more Christmas cards recently and the first cards are sent out by now. Christmas preparations are in progress:)

Patchwork quilt II

2010-11-25T23:26:00.005+02:00

Cold winter has arrived and Mihkel needed a new - warmer - blanket already long ago. I made him one similar to his brother's blanket. The size is about 1mx1m.

Another baby boy

2010-11-20T00:33:00.001+02:00

It seems that most of my friends have baby boys this year, so I can keep making cards in blue colors. This one will be sent to Norway:)

Christmas album

2010-11-19T15:07:00.008+02:00

Recently I made a scrapbook of our last Christmas. Sorry, the photos are not the best but you get an idea at least;)

Casual dress

2010-11-13T14:57:00.003+02:00

Finally I had time (and mood) to sew something again. There are many fabrics waiting and many plans in my head but I do not get much time for sewing these days, unfortunately.

Have I ever told you how much I actually love dresses? I have sewed many dresses through the years and here is the latest one.

Cardigan

2010-11-12T15:01:00.003+02:00

I have finished to knit the very first cardigan to myself and I am very pleased with the result:D

My first cable knitting

2010-11-11T23:00:00.003+02:00

I have always imagined that cable knitting (palmikute kudumine) is something for very advanced knitters only. When I looked for a pattern for Mihkel's hat there was one with the cables, so I decided to give a try. And I got surprised how easy it was to knit cables! But well, those cables are probably the easiest, I am sure more complicated exist as well.

Blue is for baby boys

2010-10-28T00:28:00.003+03:00

On Friday I will go to meet the baby boy of my colleague, so Oskar and his mommy will receive one of those cards.

Christmas cards

2010-10-22T15:08:00.002+03:00

I have started to make Christmas cards, here are seen only some of them (to not ruin the surprise:D). I am early this year, usually I rush making the cards in the end of November only.

Finished!

2010-10-03T17:01:00.013+03:00

I have finished the 2nd very fat scrapbook/album of Märt's photos. Here are some of my favorite pages.

Recycled baby clothes

2010-09-26T12:55:00.006+03:00

I had got bunch of old baby clothes of jersey that had served well 4 babies - my sister's son and daughter and our two boys. They were all worn out but I got an idea how to recycle them. I knitted a carpet of them:

So that they can serve one more baby in our family:

Cards

2010-08-31T21:36:00.003+03:00

Sock heels

2010-08-30T15:21:00.006+03:00

By now I have tried to knit at least 2 different kind of sock heels but I was never totally satisfied with the result. Until I decided to look for some help from YouTube and I found it, a video that teaches to knit short row sock heels. Finally I am totally satisfied with the result. And in my opinion knitting the heel like this is the easiest:)

To myself and to other Estonians who may struggle with sock heels, here is "the recipe":

Lühendatud ridadega sokikand (ehk liivakellakujuline sokikand).

Kasutan oma näites lastesokki, kus igal vardal on 9 silmust, kokku 36 silmust. Kui olen jõudnud kanna kudumiseni, siis koon esimese varda silmused üle neljandale vardale (teine ja kolmas varras jäävad nii nagu nad on kogu kanna kudumise ajaks). Neljandal vardal on nüüd kokku 18 silmust. Pööran. Koon 17 silmust (kontrolliks: pahempidi), pööran. Koon 16 silmust, pööran, jne. Sedasi, iga kord 1 silmus vähem, koon senikaua kuni varraste keskmisse ossa on jäänud 6 silmust (miks 6? Sest minu sokil on kahel vardal kokku 18 silmust, ja need jaotuvad kannal kolmeks, ehk siis: 18 s : 3 = 6 – 6 – 6 (kui kahel vardal on paaritu arv silmuseid, siis jääb keskele väiksem arv silmuseid kui külgedele, nt 32 s : 3 = 11 – 10 – 11). Pööran. Koon 5 silmust (kontrolliks: pahempidi), 6. ja järgmise silmuse koon kokku, siis kasvatan ühe silmuse juurde (eelmise rea lõngast) ja koon selle (kõik ikka pahempidi). Pööran. Tõstan “uue” silmuse kudumata paremale vardale. Jätkan silmuste kudumist kuni olen jõudnud jälle viimase keskmise osa ja esimese küljeosa silmuseni, mille koon kokku. Kasvatan ühe silmuse juurde ja koon selle (kontrolliks: sel real on kõik silmused parempidi). Pööran, tõstan “uue” silmuse kudumata paremale vardale. Niimoodi jätkan, kuni kõik küljeosa silmused on läbi kootud. Lõpuks jaotan silmused taas kahele vardale tagasi (kand ongi valmis!), mõlemale vardale peab jääma ikka 9 silmust nagu alguses ja jätkan soki kudumist ringselt.

Door sign

2010-08-20T01:08:00.003+03:00

Our bathroom does not have any proper locking system and that's why I made a sign "I am taking a bath" ("Olen vannis") / "Step in" ("Astu sisse"). Drawings are made by me.

Elephants

2010-08-06T21:27:00.005+03:00

I redecorated an old chair with some fresh paint and decoupage.

Cake time!

2010-08-01T23:19:00.006+03:00

In general I do not bake very often during summer because the hot weathers and the hot oven do not match at all. And I am plain lazy for baking during summer. Still, I use to bake for my birthday and also, summer is not summer without a blueberry cake. To make your mouth full of water I share some photos here of the cakes I baked during the latest days (and by now nothing is left;)). But to not be too evil I share the recipes, so you can bake them as well:)

Blueberry cake (Mustikakook)
The one I have baked at least once in summer during the latest 5 years or so. Blueberries grow in the forest right behind our house, so I do not need to go far to pick them. At least now, because they plan to build houses there and who knows if I can go there to pick blueberries next summer...

2 eggs
1 1/2 dl sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla sugar
100g butter
1 1/2 dl fresh or frozen blueberries
2 dl flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

Mix eggs and sugars. Add melted (and cooled down) butter and flour-baking powder mix. Stir in carefully the blueberries to not smash them. Pour the dough on the round-shaped cake form that is buttered and scattered with some flour. Bake at 175C for about 50 minutes (but my experience says it is ready earlier). It tastes the best with some vanilla icecream!

Raspberry-coco cake (Vaarika-kookosekook)
Dough:
225 g butter
1 dl sugar
5 dl flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
2 dl coconut flakes
Filling:
1 kg cottage cheese
250 g sour cream
4 eggs
2 1/2 dl sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
400 g raspberries

Mix flour, salt, soda, baking powder, vanilla sugar and coconut flakes. Twiddle in butter and sugar. For filling mix all the ingredients but raspberries. Put 3/4 of the dough on big baking pan/plate, pour on the filling and put on the raspberries. Twiddle on rest of the dough. Bake at 200C for 30 minutes.

Halvah-biscuit cake (Halvaa-küpsisetort)
It seems to be already a must on my every birthday (at least during the latest years). It is an easy cake because it does not need baking and I like the red currants in it that gives some sour taste into this otherwise very sweet cake.
Note: I am not sure halvah is available in all countries. And the biscuits we use here for biscuit cakes may be rather "exotic" in other countries as well (they have to be hard). But then you have to come here to shop for them;)

3 packages (´a 180 g) biscuits
200 g halvah
200 g butter
250 g sour cream
1 lemon's juice
2 dl red currants
Smash the biscuits and halvah. Melt butter, add sour cream and juice of lemon to it, mix it and add to biscuits. Mix and add the red currants. Mix carefully (to not smash the berries). Pour it to the bowl or cake form that is covered with foil. Put in the fridge at least for 5 hours.

Kama tiramisu

This is very much Estonian version of the popular Italian dessert. This is so much Estonian that I even cannot find the translation to "kama" into English. My dictionary says: "a mixture of rye-, oat-, barley- and peasemeal" that means if you are not from Estonia you have to come here to shop it:D

Basic:
400 g cream of cottage cheese
2 dl powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
1 dl kama
4 dl whipped cream

Between: 150 g biscuits (for Estonians, küpsis "Keelekesed")
sea buckthorn berries (astelpajumarju)

For permeating: coffee

Mix all the basic's ingredients. Put 1/4 of the basic into the bowl, then permeate the biscuits and put them on the basic, put on some sea buckthorn berries, then the basic again etc. The upperst layer has to be of the basic. Decorate with some biscuit crumbs and the berries. Put into the fridge for at least 6 hours.

Summer handbag

2010-07-22T00:49:00.004+03:00

Well, here's the story;): A while ago my old money-bag broke and I had to start to use a new one that was a bit bigger than the old one. I also discovered I did not have any everyday handbag of appropriate size for summer (read: in light color) and so I crocheted one (one can never have too many handbags, can one? ;)). I am not totally satisfied with the result, so I will see if i take it in use after all. But i show it here, anyway.

To Karin

2010-05-25T23:14:00.012+03:00

My dear (pen)friend Karin and I can celebrate 10 years of friendship in the beginning of June. This is a mini album I made to her:

More cards

2010-05-15T23:51:00.003+03:00

I think both of the cards have reached at their new owners by now, so it is time to show them here as well.

My daily hobby

2010-05-04T12:11:00.009+03:00

I have made some scrapbooking almost daily lately, here are some of the layouts.

With lilac bowknots

2010-05-03T21:40:00.003+03:00

Even if I hope cold weathers are over by now it is good to have a pair of gloves for cold spring days or warm autumn days.

Happy Birthday, Märt!

2010-04-12T23:25:00.004+03:00

Our dear son turned 3 years old today. We celebrated on 3 different days and I baked/made 3 cakes, the chocolate cake and the biscuit cake turned out like that:

Simpel cards

2010-04-04T23:38:00.004+03:00

Many of my (pen)friends have birthday in April, so I made several cards tonight.

To my brother

2010-03-27T01:02:00.004+02:00

On Monday my beloved brother becomes 35 years old. This is the card I made to him.

Five-pointed star

2010-03-25T12:35:00.003+02:00

I knitted a hat to Märt with a nice orange five-pointed star in front. It made my parents and Andres to giggle, refering to our country's history...

Cards

2010-03-14T12:02:00.004+02:00

Here are two cards I have recently made, one of them have probably arrived to the new owner already a while ago;)

Freshly baked

2010-03-12T17:59:00.007+02:00

In my opinion one of the easiest doughs to make is the yeast dough and my favorites are probably cinnamon rolls, at least those I have made the oftest. I have experiences making the yeast dough since my teenage years already (yes, I have always liked to bake) but back then it always did not turn out the best (rolls getting kind of hard quickly afterwards) until I found the secret: you have to use half water -half milk or water mixed with milk/cream powder for the fluid. There are many recipes for the yeast dough with small variations, my favorite one is this one (and it is fine for both sweet and salty pies):
1/2 dl milk powder
1/2 l water
50 g yeast
2 dl sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 egg
1 tablespoon cardamom
1 kg (15 dl) wheat flour
200g butter

As said I oftest make the cinnamon rolls ("Kaneelirullid"). Today I made them with farin sugar (plus cinnamon, of course) that gives them caramel taste. Märt added some pearl sugar on them as well for decoration;)
For the first time I also tried to bake "Moscow Pies" ("Moskva saiad") (this is how we call them here but they are also called "Cream Pies" or "Vienna Pies") that include vanilla cream. They turned out alright for the first time, I just have to give more taste to the cream next time.

On the photo below there are also some meat pies that taste the best when they are still warm and with bouillon.

In spring feeling

2010-02-28T17:21:00.003+02:00

Green is one of my favorite colors, i.e. I have got several green clothes, green bags and green necklaces. Though, I can never have too many green necklaces, can i? ;) Here is the one I made some days ago together with a matching bracelet. (Next, I should sew some nice green dress as well:))

In spiral

2010-02-02T21:57:00.003+02:00

I seem to be in knitting mood these days. So, have a look what I have knitted - guess what it might be?

Yes, socks for Märt!

Those socks are knitted in spiral that is a perfect knitting project for beginners (like me:)) because one does not need to knit a heel but same time they fit perfect.

Something warm

2010-01-24T16:27:00.004+02:00

As we have got real winter here this year with lots of snow and low degrees (today even -20C and less) it is useful to have one warm vest in the wardrobe:D This is also the very first "bigger" thing I have ever knitted. Who knows, maybe next time I even try to knit a jumper but only if I can use quite big knitting needles like this time, otherwise I would get bored of knitting something that would need ages to get ready.

Designed by Märt 2

2010-01-21T16:13:00.004+02:00

This is a very belated post that I should have written in November already! When it was Fathers Day. Just like last (2008) year Märt painted a T-shirt for Andres. In 2008 the T-shirt looked like this , in 2009 like that:

A present to my mother

2009-12-27T12:41:00.005+02:00

My mother has a name day on the 24th December and we always remember each other in the family with small presents on the name days, even if in Estonia, in general, people do not care about the name days so much. But in my family we love to celebrate different days and different events:)
This year i made a needle cushion to my mother. It is kind of "a recycled project" since all the materials needed were found at home: a tin, piece of cloth, pure wool, ribbons, confetti...

Quick and easy

2009-12-04T23:16:00.004+02:00

Sometimes there is no sweets left at home but I still "need" something sweet to eat:) Then the only solution is to bake something. Some time ago I found one very easy recipe from one of my cook books: "Pie of oat flakes". But I changed it to "Muffins of oat flakes" ("Kaerahelbemuffinid"), the recipe is very easy, one usually has all these ingredients at home and besides it takes only max half an hour to get the muffins ready (so it is probably also good to serve them to unexpected guests). Here we go:
4 eggs
2 dl sugar
2 dl oil
8 dl 1-min (quick) oat flakes
4 tablespoons of (spelta) flour
0,5 teaspoon of baking powder
3-5 tablespoons of cacao powder
Mix the eggs with the sugar, add oil, oat flakes, cacao powder and flour mixed with baking powder. Fill in the muffin forms and put in the oven at 200C for 15 minutes (do not bake longer, be exact with the baking temperature and time! Otherwise the muffins get too dry). Ready to eat:)

Cardigan and pullover

2009-10-15T15:15:00.003+03:00

Yesterday i finished a pullover to Märt:
Mihkel's cardigan was finished already a while ago:

I have bought some new yarn, so new things are waiting to be knitted.

More scrapbooking

2009-10-01T23:41:00.006+03:00

In meantime I have created lots of new pages in Märt's album and I have finished a small but fat album about trips in 2008. Here are some layouts.

Patchwork quilt

2009-08-11T17:20:00.003+03:00

I sewed a blanket to Märt in patchwork style. It was one of the first times i tried patchwork and I think not the last time.

Belated scrapbooking

2009-07-06T18:10:00.005+03:00

Recently I have been lucky finding some more scrapbooking stuff even from Estonia and it inspired me enough to put the photos of our trip to Riga from last year in the album. You can see some pages here:

Not good for bodyweight!

2009-05-03T15:02:00.004+03:00

Since summer is still few months away it is a right time to eat something yummy like cottage cheese balls (Kohupiimapallid);) You need to mix 2 eggs with 4 tablespoons of sugar, add 250 g cottage cheese (i used Ricotta cottage cheese) and add 100g flour mixed with 0,25 teaspoon of salt and 0,5 teaspoon of cooking soda. Heat the oil and fry the balls ("design" the balls with help of two teaspoons) in the oil. The balls usually self turn themselves around in the oil, if not, help them. When the balls are ready (with nice golden color) put them on the kitchen tissue for some minutes (to make the extra oil come out) and then pour over with some powdered sugar. Ready to eat:D

Some layouts

2009-04-20T14:59:00.005+03:00

I have continued to work with Märt's (scrapbooking) album about his 2nd year and here are some of the pages:)

Cooking time

2009-04-12T23:01:00.005+03:00

Birthdays usually mean a lot of cooking, at least in Estonia we use to eat a lot at birthdays. Märt turned 2 years old (how time flies!) on the 12th April and i made a cake for that day as well as home-made bread. The cake has usual biscuit "bottom" (made of eggs, sugar, wheat flour and cornflour) and i put raspberry jam and cottage cheese cream between the layers. Simple and delicious! Years ago i often made that kind of cake but i had not made it for quite some years by now as I have experimented with more complicated cakes. Should take it "into menu" again;)

I have baked a home-made bread for several times by now, some people even got it as a Christmas present from me:) It is a rye bread and consists of rye flour, leaven, water, salt, honey and cumins. It needs for 2 days to make it, around 10 minutes on the first day and around 3 hours next day (that includes 1,5 hours in the oven).

Happy (ending) Easter!

2009-04-12T22:47:00.004+03:00

Here is a bit different style of art of mine: eggs colored with onionskins and some yarn! This is our only Easter tradition: to color (and boil) the eggs, hit them together (to see whose egg is the strongest) and then eat them. In Estonian we call Easter also for "the holidays of eggs".

Summer wardrobe

2009-02-09T15:14:00.003+02:00

It has been ages since I have posted anything here. Well, in meantime we had to send our camera to repair shop because the lens died. So i could not take photos of different handicraft things i made for Christmas presents. In January i had kind of break of handicraft but now i am back:), i have already made some scrapbooking layouts but most of all sewed! Here they are, some of the clothes i have sewed for our holiday in Gran Canaria.

Gloves

2008-12-01T15:22:00.003+02:00

In meantime i have knitted a pair of gloves to Märt. Though, he still has not put them on, he is always very skeptic about new things.

Designed by Märt

2008-11-08T13:55:00.003+02:00

It is Fathers' Day tomorrow. In many families, i believe, children give a present to their dad made by themselves. Märt made one to his dad as well: textile painting on a T-shirt. It was the first time he hold a brush in his hand and this is what turned out:D I hope Andres likes the present.

Soup and bread

2008-10-30T14:25:00.007+02:00

I have got two recipes to share, hopefully you are in cooking mood:)

For the first "Red Soup of Minced Meat" ("Punane hakklihasupp") that i have made very many times by now and that seems to be Märt's favorite as well. You should try it as well:) You need (for 4 persons):
1 can (400g) chopped tomatoes
1 litre vegetable bouillon
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon Provance herbs mix (i.e. by Meira)
1 teaspoon seasalt
1 small cauliflower
1 small leek
1 small zucchini
3-4 cloves of garlic
1 onion
500 g minced meat
Heat up bouillon and chopped tomatoes, add herbs. Chop all vegetables in rather small pieces, add to bouillon and let it boil for 45 minutes in not so high temperature. Fry the minced meat on dry pan (do not use any oil either butter) and add to soup. Taste it, maybe you have to add more herbs. Ready to eat!

For the second, "Roasted Garlic Bread" ("Röstitud küüslaugu sai") that I have also baked for several times by now. The recipes comes from a book written by Estonian young woman Anni Arro who is an artist otherwise but she also loves to cook. I don't even have to translate the recipe into English as the cooking book is in 2 languages already:) Here we go (the book says it is enough for 5-6 persons but in my opinion it is enough for 2-3:) Depends how much one eats, heh-heh!):
1 tablespoon of dry yeast
100 ml of lukewarm water
1 tablespoon of farina sugar
125 ml warmed milk
150g of spelt flour
35 g of all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 head of garlic
50 g butter
10 fresh sage leaves
olive oil
seasalt
rosemary

Preheat the oven to 200C. Remove any loose paper-like pieces of the garlic peel and bake the head of garlic at 200C for 15 minutes. Now peel the entire head of garlic and squeeze the garlic flesh out. Combine the water, yeast and sugar and let it stand for 5 minutes. Mix in the milk, flours, salt and roasted garlic, adding them in small portions at the time. In a saucepan, melt the butter and cook the sage leaves to better bring out their flavour. Add the sage to the rest of the dough and knead hard until smooth, elastic dough forms. If the doug turns out too sticky, add more flour. If the dough is too dry and crumbly, add more water. Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and leave it in a warm place to rise for an hour. Place the risen dough onto a flat surface, knead for a couple of more minutes and leave it to rise for another 30 minutes. Then shape the dough into a flat loaf and form a few bulges onto it with your knuckles. Baste the loaf with some olive oil and sprinkle sea salt and rosemary on the top. Bake at 200C for 35-40 minutes (my experience is that it bakes even less, for about 30 minutes, but it probably depends how fat the bread is).

Yellow and green

2008-10-27T13:53:00.002+02:00

Recently I made two birthday cards in similar style, one of them has hopefully reached to the happy birthday child already. Another one is still here:

First socks!

2008-10-26T12:23:00.004+02:00

I knitted my very first socks in my life, at least my very first completely-knitted-by-me socks. Many years ago we had to knit socks at school but then my mother knitted most part of them. I was not too interested then. But time makes some changes in us (read: we are getting old).
I am not completely satisfied with my first socks and there are mistakes in them but i also think it is not very bad for the first time. At least they are warm right now when i have cold and when it is storm outside.

Scissors and glue...

2008-10-20T13:27:00.004+03:00

Finally i have crabbed scissors and glue (plus lots of other stuff; you would not want to see my desk right now, it is a big mess;() again and i have started a new album to and of Märt. Here are some pages: