4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[hillfamily]

I'm having a go at making dried orange slices to use as Christmas tree decs and to use to decorate homemade gift tags with :D

 

They are drying out in the oven (thankfully I have a double oven as it's getting near teatime ) and the smell is lovely :D

 

Will let you know how they turn out and will post some pics :D

[Christian]

Great Pam . Lesley sent me a link with details how to do them in the microwave and oven. Still haven't done them yet

[hillfamily]

They are very easy and quick to prepare - just slice oranges, lay on muslin sheets over wire racks and pop into low heat oven (120c / just below gas mark 1) for a couple of hours until dried.

 

The method's also in the 'The Chirstmas Book' that you mentioned on another thread recently not that I immediately looked it up on Amazon and accidently clicked 'buy'

 

I'm starting to get a bit concerned that I'm going to run out of time to get all the last minute hamper items and decs made Just got a few jobs around the house to concentrate on next week then I can get making :D

[Karen & co.]

I love making these I did try to keep them one year, and found a plastic bag full of black mush the next Christmas

 

I tend to put 2 back to back with raffia in between and put either star anise or cinammon sticks on the front

 

Karen x

[Christian]

I have bought all the fabric to make those cute robin decs in that Christmas book Pam. Have no idea when I will find the time to make them

[hillfamily]

I have bought all the fabric to make those cute robin decs in that Christmas book Pam. Have no idea when I will find the time to make them

 

I really like all the ideas in the Christmas Book - oh for more hours in the day

 

I think I will have to set aside a few hours each month throughout next year so I don't get to November again with some many things I want to make and not enough time

 

Anyway.......back to the orange slices ............ they've turned out OK so I'm off to waitrose to buy some star anise to add to the slices (brown card tags, cinnamon sticks, raffia and some glue gun sticks are on their way) :D

[eggalp]

i like the sound of this christmas book

 

who is it by?

[hillfamily]

Here's a link

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Book-Sheherazade-Goldsmith/dp/1405332239/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226689234&sr=8-1

[Christian]

Been busy with the sewing machine. This is from the above book.....

 

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o272/christianl_bucket/IMG_0162.jpg

[bluekarin]

That's really cute! How many are you going to make?

 

You must have a much better sewing machine than me. Mine is either going ten to the dozen or not at all! Its very difficult to find the optimum point on the pedal for speed and control. However, have managed to sew together some arms and legs and a body - for a rag doll my yd and I making. She currently stuffing it with the contents of an old pillow.

[Christian]

I have made 4 so far......will be adding them to the tags for my Christmas hampers.

[bluekarin]

That's such a good idea. They will look really lovely.

[hillfamily]

Been busy with the sewing machine. This is from the above book.....

 

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o272/christianl_bucket/IMG_0162.jpg

 

They look fab Christian :D

[Egluntyne]

They look great Christian.

[Lesley]

They are great

[Mrs Webmuppet]

How do you dry the orange slices in the microwave?

 

I would do them in the oven but I would forget about them in there ( plus I don't have any muslin).

[Mrs Frugal]

I dry my orange slices in the airing cupboard on cake cooling racks. It only takes a couple of days for them to dry out completely and doesn't take any electricity either.

 

Love the Robin, Christian. I was looking at my book yesterday and eyeing up my fabric stash .

[Guest]

Love the Robin, Christian......

 

I thought it was meant to be a chicken! A whole load of them on a garland would look cool but a lot of work I should imagine.

 

Don't suppose you could post the pattern could you?

[Mrs Frugal]

Poet, you have chickens on the brain .

[Guest]

Poet, you have chickens on the brain .

 

don't we all?

[Mrs Frugal]

Yup

[TAJ]

Pam & Christian made me buy another book Pam gave the link and Christian showed us that quite robin and that was it - that's the 5th book to slip into my Amazon basket this week and no Christmas presents among them.

 

Tracy

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

Dinky robins! Go Christian!

 

These oranges, do they smell once they're hanging up or are they just pretty? Has anyone tried making orange and clove pomanders ever? I remember doing them when I was about eight, but not since. I love all those wintery spicy smells.

 

Anna x

[Lesley]

I haven't made pomanders for quite a few years now - I might make some this year.

 

The orange slices don't smell much once thay are dry - I glue the star anise to them once they are dry, and sometimes add a small cinnamon stick, and they do smell quite nice.

[Mrs Webmuppet]

I did manage to do some in the oven, a couple were a little too crispy and had to be composted but the others were ok. I am going to scatter them along with some cinnamon sticks in the hampers to conceal some of the packing material around the jars.