The global craft community, and indeed the community in general have been deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Kathreen and Rob. It's impossible to fathom what their kids, family and friends are going through. Terribly, terribly sad. Completely unfair.

If you'd like to do something to help, please head here. The family has consented to a trust being set up for Otilija and Orlando, Kathreen and Rob's much travelled, awesome kids. It's something we can all contribute in a small (or large) way at a time when many of us are feeling a bit powerless.

Kathreen was a blogging pioneer in Australia. A champion of handmade and a founding pillar of the craft movement here in Australia (with a reach that was undeniably global.) She profiled countless crafters and artists through her amazing blog Whipup and the books she wrote. Her voice will be sadly missed, but not forgotten.

We've been so lucky to have her in our little world, haven't we?

x Pip

Please repost these details across your social media and websites if you can. x

How lucky am I? I was chosen to one of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution bloggers for #FRD2013 (Food Revolution Day 2013!) Jeepers. I am so thrilled.

I watch Jamie's Christmas specials over and over again. Even if it is not Christmas. I am totally into food as celebration and I love the way Jools and Jamie's kids sneak into the show too. CUTE!

Still, food does not have to be all about celebration. What I mean is every day can be a celebration if you take a titch of time to prepare something great for yourself to snack on. Even better than that is preparing something to share with the people you like, too.

Food Revolution Day is all about eating good, simply prepared food with your peeps. You don't need to come the fancy-schmancy. You can cook quick or humble or simple things and it will be equally rad. Locally, The Good Guys Good Foundation have established Australia's own chapter of Jamie's Ministry of Food, helping people learn to cook and find out more about health and nutrition. Good one, TGG.

Excitingly, #FRD2013 partner Aussie Farmers Direct delivered a box of fresh fruit and veggies to my place as part of the big day. I was then asked to cook a thing. SO I DID.  I cooked a thing for you.  Yep.  (And for the people I live with too!)

I made some cosy soup and some special pancakes to dip (or float!) in it. And it really was very easy to do. I promise.  I want you to make this.  (You can leave the pancakes out and have a hunk of bread with this, if you like. But the pancakes are pretty spesh and the batter keeps for many soupy days. See what you think.)

Please join Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution TOMORROW (AU time) Friday  17th May.  

Tweet, Instagram, Facebook or blog the things you cook and eat. Use the #FRD2013 tag and you can tweet at the nice people of the @foodrev too if you are a really revolutionary show off. Share your love of delicious home cooking online, show us what you are cooking and spread the #FRD2013 message far and wide. Cook It! Share It! Live it! Do that. Yep.

Go on. Jamie wants you to. Look how wanty he seems...! He'll tell you about it here.

On Friday May 17th communities across the world will come together and celebrate the beautiful diversity of fresh food, sharing cooking skills, understanding good eating habits and, of course, eating great grub.

Pip's #FRD2013 Spicy Indian Vegetable Soup

1 onion, peeled
2 carrots, chopped roughly
2 sticks of celery, chopped roughly 
2 clove of garlic, peeled

1 tbsp olive oil
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into smallish chunks
1/2 cup lentils - I used dried red lentils
1 tin of diced tomatoes
a bunch of spinach, washed really well and torn into bits (roughly!)
1.5 litres of good quality stock
1 tsp of curry powder
1 tsp of sweet paprika
1/2 tsp of turmeric
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

optional: coriander, yogurt, chilli

Put the first four ingredients into a food processor and pulse into finely diced and all mixed up. (You can do this by hand, but I don't!)
Slosh your olive oil into a heavy based, large pot. Add the processed mixture of vegies and fry over a medium low heat for 5 minutes.
Add the potatoes, lentils, diced tomatoes, stock, curry powder, sweet paprika, turmeric and a bit of salt and pepper. (Don't add the spinach!)
Simmer over a medium heat for 20 minutes (or until the potatoes and nice and tender!)
Add the spinach, just before serving and stir through.  Taste and season once more.

Serve in big bowls with some extra chilli if you are game, some coriander and a scoop of yogurt, if you are yogurty!

Herb Dosa:

I like to tear these up and scatter them in my soup. Is that weird?!
You can serve these with curry too

1 cup of rice flour
1 cup of semolina
1 cup of yogurt
enough water to make a runny, pourable batter (it shouldn't be too thick, we want thin crepes!)
Some herb leaves, nicely washed and trimmed.

I throw the first 3 ingredients in the blender and then add the water slowly, until the consistency is right.

To cook the dosa: heat a heavy based pan (I use a crepe pan) over a medium heat until very hot. Add a spray of oil and the pour in the batter. Tip the pan to spread the batter as thinly as possible (if you put too much batter in, gently pour it out into a clean bowl and reuse it)  Dot the uncooked top side of the pancake with herb leaves.  Cook for 1 minute on the first side and then carefully flip and cook for another minute or so.  Be sure to oil the pan and tip the batter around the pan as thinly as possible each time.

Variation: dot with golden shallots or some finely chopped garlic.... or whatever else seems like a good idea to you!

Makes 10 dosa

(I make this batter and keep it in the fridge. Then you can make a couple of dosa each day with your ready batter! You can use the batter straight away, though. It doesn't need to sit overnight or anything!)

 Tell me if you make this!  Join the #FRD2013

x Pip

I was not paid to write this post. I did it because I think it's a great program!
(I did get a box of free veggies, though.) 

Perhaps you'd like to sneak a peek at this lovely cosy book by Sarah Fielke? Perhaps you have entertained thoughts of making a quilt, but you are not sure where to start? Or maybe you are all over the quilty thing and are keen for some inspiration? Luckily, I'm giving away a copy of Sarah's book 'Hand Quilted With Love' this week! So quilty or nearly quilty, I've totes got you covered!

There are some modern quilts betwixt the pages and some more traditional old-favourite designs too. The back of the book has a guide to basic quilting and lots of templates to trace and use. There's also info about quilting tools and the like, if you're not sure what all those fancy bits and pieces are for.

Sarah's book has done one of those Blog Book Tours this month. If you'd like to see more of what lies inside, click around the links below:

SewTake a Hike : 4th May
Belinda Stitches : 5th May
True Up : 6th May
LilysQuilts (UK) : 7th May
Creative Dabbling (Australia): 8th May
Mrs Schmenkman Quilts (USA): 9th May
I'm A Ginger Monkey (UK) : 10th May
Petits Elefants (Australia) : 10th May
Prints Charming (Australia) : 11th May
RedPepper Quilts (Australia) : 12th May
HandMade by Alissa (USA) : 13th May
Meet Me at Mikes (Australia) : 15th May
Sew Mama Sew (USA) : 15thMay

If you have an Australian mailing address and you'd like to be in the running to win this book, fill in this form: (please!)

WIN A COPY OF HAND QUILTED WITH LOVE BY SARAH FIELKE

I hope you win!  Thanks for sharing your book with us, Sarah!

x Pip

NB: Sarah's publisher sent me a copy of this book. I'm giving it to one clever winner. No payment/perks changed hands. x