Are You Hot?

Last week I had to be in the city.  It was a humid 29 degrees, a very warm Brisbane day, typical. However I was blown away by all the people wearing tights & leggings but they were all black,  Everyone started to look the same.  The exception being a bad pair of leggings of unknown origin that looked like bad wall paper, very bad.
I felt heartened as we must love our tights & leggings here in Brissie so much so that we can't wait for cooler weather & are just hanging out to wear them.  Great but...... boring.  Like I said everyone started to look the same, it started to look like a uniform.

Now, I must admit, of course I am biased & when I see plain black legs, it always looks like something is missing & I start to get very twitchy.   So I say come on Brisbane, get on board, join the revolution & put some life on those legs.  We could be giants among the legs of the world, leggy leaders in fact.  'Shirley' is here to help you.  Don't be afraid, your legs are in safe hands.

And....if you've been watching, you will have seen the launch party details have been announced.  Really looking forward to it.  It will be a feast for the senses & the collection is looking very strong.  It has two parts & themes, 'Shirley Rocks' & ' Death Becomes Her' & it won't be long before you get to see what it's all about for AW 2011.

We are doing a photo shoot for a local publication very soon & you may be snapped for the 'social pages' at the event & much much more.  Keep popping in here to keep up with latest developments.

Also, Roller Derby season is about to start  & 'Shirley' has an exciting announcement to make about that soon as well.  Stay tuned. XX

Oh Naughty Cheeky, Oh Naughty Sneaky

Still a lot to do to be ready for the launch party but finished what is probably my fave piece to date today.  Oh & there was this colourful little visitor.XX

Maybe Baby

Working on a launch party for the label meeting to finalise venue, once that's done it's all go go & real & a little nerve racking. XX

From the Front

Just had to take some photos to update what has been on the plate.  I'm working on the Winter 2011 collection but it's been difficult to keep the new design under wraps.  It will be launched at a big party at the end of March, all the details of which are yet to be finalised

Look out she's behind you.

So this will be the best place to get the news of whats going on in Shirleys' world & sneak peaks of the collection.XX

Dal Dahl Daal Dhal

I've never made the perfect one. There's always an ingredient missing so each one I've made is a little different but they are always popular.  In fact, I am known for it.  Delicious & so easy.  One pot cooking is my favourite.

I was initially inspired by the Hari Krishna one & they do not use garlic or onions & there's is a mung bean.
I will try & give an idea of measurements but I just guesstimate.  The great thing is you can vary it depending on what you have in the kitchen.

Ingredients:
1 -2 tins/cups lentils- there must always be lentils but sometimes I add chick peas as well
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 tin coconut milk
fresh ginger chopped fine or grated, heaps of it say, 1/3 cup & ginger powder
garam masala
cumin
coriander
soy sauce
chili sauce
sugar to taste(palm sugar is best)
oregano
1 x medium sweet potato
1 x potato
1/3 of a  large cauliflower
vegetable oil

Method:
chop veggies fairly small
Fry dry spices first with fresh ginger in the oil
add veggies & continue for a few minutes
then all wet ingredients & oregano & level desert spoon sugar(you can leave sugar out if you prefer)
Bring to the boil, then high simmer for 20 mins. than low simmer for an hour(you don't have to do it for that long but it' s better)

Serve with some basmati rice, you won't need salt because of the soy & season with pepper if you like.

Enjoy, I'm off to have some now. XX

The Dark & Light

It was raining in Brisbane non stop for a month & a half before the floods hit Every morning waking up to grey was getting old & everything felt wet & mould was growing.

I saw these flowers on Sunday (reduced to $4, gotta love a bargain) & had to take them home to have something sunny to look at.

Then on Monday it was raining so hard I could photograph it.
Tuesday morning I woke to the news of the floods & the water was heading this way.
I was evacuated in the '74 floods & the news brought back all those memories.  It was a little frightening.
It did flood badly in parts of my suburb but we were safe & dry as we're up quite high. Typical of hilly Brisbane.
Houses at one end of a street could be completely submerged & untouched at the other.  It's hard to fathom & this will affect everyone in one way or another.
Now everyone is so keen to just clean up & get things back to the way they were.
Unfortunately that's not possible for some as lives have been lost & families devastated.
Sadly it's brought out the worst in some but thankfully the best in others & thankfully, the latter is the majority. XX

Yes, we have bananas, yes it is wet.

Here is the result. XX