Baby Rocker Makeover

Somebody at my mother-in-law's workplace gave her an old baby rocker to give to me. I liked that you could put a baby in there and rock it to sleep, as well as set it up so that it stays stationary. However, this is what it looked like-

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="It looked rather old and stained."][/caption]

The fabric was sewn into the frame of the rocker, so couldn't be taken out and washed.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I wasn't crazy about the dirty teddy bears"][/caption]

But it was a good brand-Mother's Choice, and a freebie is a freebie. So I decided to give it a facelift.

I had some really soft cotton that I picked up at the opshop that I decide would look really good as a cover.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Some blue cotton fabric from the op shop"][/caption]

I also went to Spotlight today and picked up a metre of prepacked polyester wadding.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Polyester Wadding"][/caption]

But before I did anything, I wanted to make sure that the fabric would look right on the rocker.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="A mock up of what the final product will look like."][/caption]

Looks just fine. So, I proceeded to make a pattern with newspaper.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Using newspaper to make a pattern."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Marking all the spots on the newspaper"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Cutting out the fabric with the newspaper as a guide and adding seam allowances."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Laying the wadding on newspaper."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Cutting the wadding without seam allowances"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Pressing the fabric flat to prevent puckers when sewing."][/caption]

I planned to sew the wadding onto the wrong side of the fabric, and then turning it inside out. So-I pinned the fabric rights sides together, with the wadding on top of the wrong side.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Pinning the wadding on the wrong side of the fabric"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I sewed directly onto the wadding all around the sides."][/caption]

However, I left a hole in one of the short sides for turning the cover inside out.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="The Hole"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I anchored the four ends of the wadding unto the fabric before turning inside out"][/caption]

Then I proceed to pull the fabric and wadding through the hole.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="This is what it looks like the right way up. See that little hole?"][/caption]

I'm going to close it up with iron-on hemming tape.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Inserting hemming tape into the hole"][/caption]

Iron-on hemming tape is a fusible adhesive which bonds 2 pieces of fabric together when heat is applied. It is usually used for making invisible hems. I only discovered it in Adelaide-I'm not sure if I've come across it in Malaysia.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Ironing the hole with the fusible hemming tape in it."][/caption]

The original rocker seat has a strap sewn unto it to hold the baby in. I wanted to transfer it to the new cover. So I cut it off. Snip snip.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Cutting off the safety strap"][/caption]

I wanted the cover to have a quilted look, so...

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Here I transfer all the markings from the newspaper to the cover. "][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I sewed along those markings to define the seat of the cover"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I sewed a curvy line down the length of the cover"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Here I used the quilting bar to guide the second line of stitching"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="The quilted look"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Sewing the safety strap on with a bartack stith"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I handsewed snaps on black tape on all four corners to anchor the cover into position."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Tadaa!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I also made a little padded holder for the straps. "][/caption]

This was a very quick and rewarding project-no precision needed, yet the finished product looked quite professional.

Here's a before and after picture.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="581" caption="BIG improvement!"][/caption]

Laksa Chook Stirfry

When I first came to Adelaide, Wyld Man educated me on some Aussie slang. A barbeque is a barbie, kangaroo is shortened to roo, afternoon gets referred to as arvo,  a biscuit is a bickie, MacDonald's is makkas and a chook is a chicken.  Other interesting slang I picked up are such as a pom or a pommie, which is a reference to a British person; being peckish means being hungry; football is footy-but means Australian Rules  football, not football as Malaysians know it, which is known to Aussies as soccer; and an ocker or yobbo is a somewhat uncultured Aussie male.

Wyld Man sometimes laughs at my take on Aussie slang, which still sounds like a Malaysian trying to talk Aussie, but I've starting calling chickens chooks. So this dish is a Laksa Chook Stirfry which I knocked up last night on the fly. It's a simple dish, with ingredients which can be sustituted quite easily with pretty much anything. I used laksa paste from a jar-it's so easy and tastes just yummy.

Before I proceed however, I should say that there are many types of Malaysian laksas as there are states in Malaysia. There's Sarawak Laksa, Johor Laksa, Penang Laksa, laksas with curry, laksas with coconut milk and without, laksas with speghetti noodles instead of the usual laksa noodles, assam laksas, and Singapore laksas. I love all kinds of laksas, loving each one I tried more than the last, although my favourite has to be Johor laksa and Penang Laksa, Johor laksa being a standalone unique dish made with fish mince sauce and speghetti and eaten dry instead of soupy. The laksas I encounter in Adelaide are more geared towards curry laksas or Singapore laksas. However, the jar of laksa that I had in my pantry was probably to make an assam laksa.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="The Ingredients"][/caption]

2 chook filets, carrots, curry leaves, celery, garlic shoots, laksa paste, constarch, oil, sugar, salt and pepper.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Thai Tonight Laksa Paste"][/caption]

This is the brand I had in my pantry-and these were the instructions on the jar...

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Instructions for laksa soup recipe"][/caption]

I wasn't in the mood for soup or noodles. So out went the instructions!

Any laksa paste should do.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="First, cut the garlic shoots in 1 inch lengths"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Peel the carrots and slice thinly"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Wash and cut the celery"][/caption]

I like my celery cubed. So chop off the ends.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Cut the stems at where they divide and look out for dirt."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Cut each stem lengthwise twice."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Slice up the stems"][/caption]

Now cube the chook.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Cut the breast filets lengthwise about 1 cm wide"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Turn the lengthwise slices 90 degrees and slice in 1cm widths to make cubes."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Heat oil in the pan on high."][/caption]

While it is heating up...

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Coat the chook with 2 heaping tablespoons cornflour"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Season with salt and pepper"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Stir the mixture and coat the chook evenly"][/caption]

This removes any excess moisture from the chook, reducing splatter when you put it into hot oil, and also makes them brown nicely. The cornflour also helps thicken the sauce.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Put the chook into the hot oil and break it up so that all the chook gets contact with the bottom of the pan."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="When the chook has lightly browned, push to one side of the pan"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Add 2 heaping tablespoons of laksa paste"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Add the curry leaves"][/caption]

Stir and coat the chook thoroughly with the paste.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Add the garlic shoots"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Add the carrots"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Add the celery"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Add a cup of water and cover"][/caption]

Bring to a boil, and lower the heat and let simmer for 10 minutes or till the carrots are soft.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Sprinkle in a tablespoon of sugar. I use brown."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="And it's ready!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Serve hot with rice"][/caption]

Makes 8-10 servings.

Laksa Chook Stirfry

Ingredients

2 Chicken Breast Filets-cubed

1 bunch of garlic shoots-cut into 1 inch lengths

5 celery stalks-diced

2 medium carrots-sliced

2 heaping tablespoons Laksa paste

1 cup of water

2 tablespooons cornstarch

Salt

Sugar

Oil

Pepper

Method

Mix chicken cubes with cornstarch, salt and pepper.

Heat oil, add the chicken and brown. Push to one side, add laksa paste and curry leaves.

Coat chicken with the paste. Add carrots, celery and garlic shoots. Stir.

Add a cup of water and bring to boil. Simmer for 10-15 minutes till carrots are soft.

Add a spoonful of sugar.

Serve hot.

Makes 8-10 servings.