Make your own jams and preserves workshop

 We've a couple of places left in Sunday's jams and preserves workshop in Brunswick, Melbourne.

Ever wanted to make your own jam but not sure how? Do you have a glut of zucchinis or beetroot in the garden and would like to make something with them? This hands on workshop will show you the basics of preserving, including preparation, jar sterilisation, setting points and bottling of chutneys and jams.

You'll be involved in making preserves using seasonal fruit and vegetables, and all participants will receive a couple of jars to take home.

Tastings include onion jam, lemon butter, rhubarb jam and tomato kasundi and a yummy devonshire tea for all. 
Only $25
To book go to: http://greenrenters.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=202

I'm busy this week with:

Organising recipes for Saturday's (booked out!) Jam and Preserves workshop

Looking after Mr Pablo, he's been unwell and had an injection of antibiotics at the vet. Here he is enjoying the sun through the office window!


Making double door snakes for our winter warmer packs at the Green Renters shop


Reading crime fiction like this


and watching this at the cinema


Laughing at this video (I'm sure it will amuse food bloggers everywhere) :


Other less pictorial tasks include writing multiple grants, applying for jobs ( I have a interview on skype next week with a company in Israel), working on a vegan lemon butter recipe and getting looking forward to the the comedy fest.

Make your own skincare workshop

Make your own full sized skin care products from high-quality, natural ingredients. Not only will you know exactly what’s in them, but you’ll blend ingredients to work beautifully with your own skin type.

You'll learn to make your very own:

• lip balm
• gentle cleansing mask
• cooling hydrating toner/facial scrub
  
• facial cleanser

All ingredients, containers and instructions are included in the workshop price and you will receive full sized products to take home for personal use, a recipe list and instruction for the products you've made.

March 8th 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Location: Ross House Association
First floor meeting room 3, 247 Flinders Lane
Melbourne

Cost: $50/$30 concession
Book here

Like this workshop?

You might like our following workshops:

• Make your own bath products
• DIY Natural Cleaning
• Make your own jams and preserves

Planning a Girls Night In or Hen's Night?

We are able to offer this workshop in the comfort for your own home for you and your guests. Contact us for more information and rates.

What have I been up to?

I've been really busy with the Sustainable Living Festival! Green Renters had a stall on the weekend and launched our gigantic green games.

Last night I made these as a gift for a vegan friend:

We're actually making these with some other goodies at Thursday night's workshop which will be fun, even if it means I've made them twice in a week. I'm also trialing a homemade toothpaste and deodorant to offer at workshops, depending on how they work out. Will get some guys to road test them also.

I'd like to offer the bath and skin care product workshops to 'hen's nights'* and the like, but I'm not quite sure how to promote them. I've contacted several 'green' bridal websites but they only focus on the big day not the preceding events.

Also busy hunting for part time work as Chris has been working full time the last six months and it's his turn to focus on Green Renters a bit more whilst I work (hopefully) to pay off some debts. Applying for jobs is always a bit soul destroying but fingers crossed. I'm also in the process of closing down my Polka Dot Rabbit shop to move the items over to Green Renters as appropriate, as they are all 'upcycled' products. It is too much work trying to promote two shops and the craft scene bubble has definitely burst.



I think this video is great, obviously the name of my blog and business makes it evident I love rabbits and find it quite abhorrent that they are seen merely as food by many rather than the engaging intelligent animals that they are.

*I really loathe the term 'hen's nights' I also dislike 'girls' as in 'girls' night in'. I wish more contemporarty terms were recognised!

Things I like today

Love this print! Can you name them all?

Love these word bubbles! There's even a tutorial...



Gorgeous sideboard from here


pic from here
I have one place left my next Make your own skin care products on January 22nd. Perhaps you'd like to come along?

Things I like today

Love using ladders as a means of storage and decorating!



Lovely plate



This upcycled furniture from Revival furniture makes me drool

This is certainly thought provoking



And if you're in Melbourne on Sunday, I have three places left in the Make your own Bathing products workshop!

Upcoming workshops: Make your own natural bath and skincare products

I've a few place left in the workshops if you're at a loose end this Sunday or looking for something to do on the 22nd:

Bathing products:
Date: Sunday January 8th
Time: 2pm-4pm
Location: Brunswick

We'll be making:

• bath bombs
• summertime body scrub
• cocoa bathtime melt
• moisturising facial mask

Skincare products:
Date: Sunday Jan 22nd
Time: 2pm-4pm
Location: Brunswick

We'll be making:

• lip balm
• gentle cleansing mask
• cooling hydrating mist
• facial cleanser

Cost of each workshop: $30
Bookings essential
http://www.greenrenters.org/workshops

In each workshop you'll learn about natural ingredients and get an opportunity to make several products using a range of materials including cocoa butter, essential oils and kaolin clay. All ingredients, containers and instructions are included in the workshop price and you will receive full sized products to take home for personal use. Class will include a cooling homemade cordial or glass of wine, homemade biscuits and a recipe list of products to take home.

Love to see you there!

What have I been up to?

What I've been up to:

• Delivered two Eco-crafting workshops this week and four How to have a sustainable festive season workshops
• Made our Christmas tree!

• Got interviewed and photographed by The Age
• Chris and I ran a garage sale/pop up shop. Not wildly successful due to the weather but managed some decluttering nonetheless...
• Went to a winery tasting
  

Watching:
Lewis

Midsomer Murders

Eating
Chris' amazing crumbed spicy tofu...

Drinking
Red wine and lots of tea (hot and iced)!

Reading:

Listening:

Are you interested in making your own natural beauty products?

Ever wanted to make your own beauty products? Want to use only natural (vegan) ingredients?

I'm going to offer two DIY natural beauty product workshops in late January at my home in Brunswick, Melbourne.

These will be in part 'practice' workshops before I offer them to Neighbourhood Houses and the like as part of our repertoire at Green Renters so I will only be charging $30 per person to cover costs with each class size kept small. It might be a little nervous and tad less polished than other classes, but it's a great opportunity for me to try out teaching the products and share knowledge and for you to get an opportunity to make your very own beauty products for a reduced price!

The two classes:
Make your own bathing products:


January 8th
2pm-4pm
Brunswick (address will be emailed to you upon payment)

Make your own bathing products – free from artificial ingredients and preservatives! You’ll blend pure essential oils and work with coconut butter, shea butter, sweet almond oil, rose buds, lavender flowers and other high-quality ingredients.

You'll learn to make your very own:

• bath bombs
• summertime body scrub
• cocoa bathtime melt
• moisturising facial mask

All ingredients, containers and instructions are included in the workshop price and you will recieve full sized products to take home for personal use. Class will include a cooling homemade cordial or glass of wine, homemade biscuits and a recipe list of products to take home.

Book here

Make your own skin care products:

Sunday January 22nd
2pm-4pm
Brunswick (address will be emailed to you upon payment)

Make your own full sized skin care products from high-quality, natural ingredients. Not only will you know exactly what’s in them, but you’ll blend ingredients to work beautifully with your own skin type.

You'll learn to make your very own:

• lip balm
• gentle cleansing mask
• cooling hydrating mist
• facial cleanser

All ingredients, containers and instructions are included in the workshop price and you will recieve full sized products to take home for personal use. Class will include a cooling homemade cordial or glass of wine, homemade biscuits and a recipe list of products to take home.

Book here

Photo details: La Bain (The Bath) (1913)From "Modes et Manieres d'Aujourd'bui"By Charles Martin

Things I like today

Cute sandals
Lisa modelling one of her creations from the recent Eco Crafting workshop. There's another couple coming up
Such cute wrapping paper!

Fire hose cupboard becomes home cupboard!

Free Eco-crafting workshop this Sunday in Kensington!

Life's been a bit full on, but I still have places availalbe in Sunday's FREE eco-crafting workshop'

This workshop teaches уou how уοu can create useful and creative household items and gifts using materials, which would otherwise еnd up іn landfill. A great opportunity to make up some Christmas gifts!

All materials and instructions supplied. Free nibbles and drinks included!

Sunday November 13
3pm-4.30pm

Kensington Neighbourhood House
89 McCracken St
Kensington
VIC

To RSVP Phone: 9376 6366 or
Email: kwgp@vicnet.net.au