douglas & hope

this is the official blog of douglas & hope
douglas & hope was established in 1999

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Bowerbird Bazaar

I am excited to be going on a road trip to Adelaide.
I am going to be at my first Bowerbird Bazaar, which is Adelaides biggest Design Market.
It is on for 3 days at the Adelaide Showgrounds in the Angus Stirling Pavillion.
It's going to be lots of fun....

July 20-22nd, 2012Friday 2pm - 4pm Trade & VIP Public only
Friday 4pm - 9pm Public & Trade
Saturday 9am - 5pm Public & Trade
Sunday 9am - 5pm Public & Trade




Monday, June 25, 2012

makes me smile


video of yarn bombing

ABC Centra Victoria did a video of our recent yarn bombing, here is the link,





I knitted a bike

As part of 'International knit in public Day' and friend and I knitted a bike to support the yarn bombing organised at the Castlemaine Library.....
It was a great effort by everyone, and our bike made it in to the local paper!!!









my first CWA meeting

I have been to my first Country Womens Association meeting, it was awesome.... I learnt how to crochet, I did learn as a child from my nana, but needed refreshing. 
I have become completely obsessed and cannot stop.





Tuesday, June 5, 2012

New Skull prints

Here are the newest skull prints for cushions, these 3 new colors will be available in the next week or so on the online store



World Wide Knit in public Day

As part of 'World Wide knit in public day' I have joined in with a knitting group at the Castlemaine Library. Head librarian Robyn is organising a 'craft bombing' of the library. So I went along with a friend and crashed the council knitting group, this group consists of older ladies 70-80yrs old. It has been the most wonderful experience, sitting around with these women, they are seriously incredible knitters and crafts women. I feel like a complete beginner beside them.
Wilma is a prolific knitter and crocheter, Doreen is known to knit in her sleep? and each week I thoroughly enjoy their conversation and passing on of knowledge.
For the craft bombing my friend Ashley and I are bombing a bike and bike rack. I will post images of us bombing next week.




I joined the CWA

I am now a proud member of the Castlemaine CWA. (country womens association)
I am very lucky to live in an area where there is a strong CWA group, many small communities have not been able to sustain these groups due to dwindling numbers. But here in Castlemaine it is thriving.
I am going along to my first Creative Craft Program this thursday June 7th, and am excited to see what it is all about.

I will keep you updated on all CWA goings on.....




Tuesday, May 29, 2012

guerilla pom poms

there has been some guerilla pom pom activity in Castlemaine?????




Friday, May 25, 2012

free gift with every online purchase

Because I love the post office so much, it's the warmest place to hang out in Castlemaine at the moment!!!
I am giving a free budgie tray with every online purchase for a month (unless sold out).
Ends July 5th 2012

Sunday, May 20, 2012

today I'm wearing

Check out my new blog,
it's all about what you are wearing, so send me photos of you looking fly, and tell me
who, what where &
I will post them up.

todayimwearing.blogspot.com

email me here

Friday, May 18, 2012

It's Markit time again

Next Sunday May27th is Markit at Fed Square, and douglas & hope will be there.... it's always a fun day, come on down....


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

gluten free

If like me you are trying to live without gluten, and enjoy a sweet thing... I adapted this recipe yesterday and the results were good.

coconut choc chip macaron


oven 140 degrees
2 egg whites beaten to form peaks,
add in slowly 1/2 cup castor sugar and 1 tsp vanilla
stir in 1 cup almond meal and 1/2 cup gluten free self raising flour & 1/2 packet choc chips (or any dried fruit, dates, cranberries)


*you may need to add more flour if mixture too wet


spoon onto lined baking trays and bake 35-40 minutes or until slightly browned.



Friday, May 11, 2012

and a quilt

quilt

on my list.....

Spring in Japan
 and Holland


and wherever this is? London? Paris?


On a lighter note.....

It's mothers day..... yay
celebrate the wonderfulness that mothers are.....
it's a job of blood, sweat and tears,
but the flip side is unconditional love, lots of laughter, memories and fun.....

me and my mum circa 1976
 me and my boys 2012



Life's A Bitch



If there is one thing the past week has taught me it's that
life is too short, and we tend to complicate everything.....



Life's a bitch and then you die..... Nas

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Stay gold Ponyboy

Nature's first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay. 


Robert Frost 
The Outsiders

Thursday, May 3, 2012

A few months ago I came across these Punk band images from the '70's and LOVED them, they became my inspiration for my new range of products.......


add in some fluro print and this is what transpired.......





 you can view the full range here on the online store


Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Anzacs

Traditionally Anzac biscuits were baked by anxious wives and mothers during World War 1, packed in food parcels and sent to the Australian soldiers in the trenches.

Anzac biscuits

1 cup plain flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup coconut
3/4 cup brown sugar
125g butter
2 tbs golden syrup
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tbs water

method

preheat oven to 160 degrees C.
line 2 baking trays with baking paper
sift flour into large bowl
add coconut, oats and brown sugar

put the butter, goldensyrup and water in a small saucepan and stir until melted, stir in bicarb soda.

pour the butter mixture into the dry ingredients until combined

roll level tablespoons of mixture into balls and place on trays, flatten slightly

bake 10 minutes or until golden brown

eat immediately!!!