Merry Christmas and see you in the New Year

Riley, ready to go.

Well, maybe I can squeeze another couple of posts in. Mainly because my sewing machine is broken!! Arghhhh! Going over to mum and dad's today for a bit of a sewing machine frenzy to get the last of the gang's sleeping bags done.

Well, Riley is all ready for his sleep over...birthday gift... to big Riley who is two on Sunday. I am really happy with how everything turned out. The lining of his sleeping bag is an old polar fleece baby blanket of M's. It was barely used by us and by it's previous owner, but too nice not to be used for something. Happy happy, I'm even happy with the size of the shoe box, the colour of the tissue paper (the only one they had, other than white), the card, the wrapping paper........happy happy happy!

Must email Hillary and tell her how much I enjoy making her dolls!

One crazy Santa's elf

Hi, I can't say much! Got too much to do.

Am baking and sewing as well as the usual activities. I have sleeping bags to make for the gang (wanted to do back packs too, no time). Just to slow me down, I can't find my zip foot for the machine! So I am hand sewing them. Despite the time restrains, I'm actually enjoying the hive of activity. Don't they look cute? The little girl's dress material is from a breast feeding top of mine, I loved the fabric, but it just got too billowy now that we don't have boobie anymore. Thanks Hillary Lang, what a great pattern to make! Well, got to go, will be taking a break from the computer, and don't know if I'll get a chance to blog again. If I don't, Merry Christmas to you! All the best for a fruitful New Year! See you in Feb!

A big thank you to Reb!

Look at what I got in the post?!!!

Thank you so much for the gorgeous photo Rebecca! I was secretly hoping that I would receive one of your super photos one day! Don't know where to put it yet, but we are going to have a putting up of pictures session soon. Until then it is on display in the living room. I also love the presentation, the lovely paper, the lovely ribbon and the very cute card!!

Caution!

Danger signs don't have to be ugly or boring. I spotted this one getting off the ferry, and I find it kinda funky!

Eye spy Christmas wishes

So I'm being a bit greedy and having three wishes...... but I'm willing to share them!

Here they are:

HEALTH (Top)

What represents health better than a fat, breast fed baby (plus I had to squeeze a bub photo in somewhere). I can't remember how old he was there, 4 months maybe?

HAPPINESS (middle)

I saw these beautiful flowers on our walk yesterday, they were like an instant joy fix.....and smelled soooo good!

FRUITFULNESS (bottom)

I like all three, but this one is my favourite at the moment! A fruitful 2010 would be great! The photo was taken....ohhh so long ago in Ecuador. Ecuador is so colourful, there is a great culture of murals, should have taken more photos! Please excuse top, a gift from mother in law.

So health, happiness, fruitfulness to me and mine, and you and yours (and I'd like some perfume from Perfect Potion too)

Thanks for the theme! And see more eye and spyers at bug and pop

upcycle bibs

I don't have my camera at home, it was left at mum and dad's on the weekend. This is not a bad thing, as I have so many old ideas to stick into my virtual scrap book!

I loathe to throw out anything of little M's. It's all so tiny and cute, and yes, gasp, it means he is growing up! So I had a few t-shirts that were either too grubby or small for my little fatty to wear.

I was flipping through A Ervilha Cor de Rosa website (I love her site) when I found somthing she had written on converting t-shirts to bibs! I thought I can do that! And that I did, right away! I am very happy with the results, as I have got much more milage out of the ts! I should have bound the edges in some way, I didn't, and I think it would have given the bibs a more finished, professional look.

I now have lots of hot pink loops hanging in M's closet, an old t-shirt of mine, which has been cut up for other purposes.

Ps I hope daddy doesn't see this post, climbing on the sofa back is verboten....we will get into a lot of trouble!

pps thanks to Kate and Simone for the baking vibes! They worked! Both slices were very nice...especially the Almond, orange and carrot one!

Eye Spy-Joy

My apologies to all those squeamish! I did try to choose a less blood and lardy photo to put up.

This would have to be the most joyous moment in my life! Little M was born on a rainy Wednesday. I remember that it was raining because it was the first of the rain that filled the dams (08). We had been waiting for both M and the rain for what seemed such a long time. I had a large window in the ward, and would sit and watch the rain fall, while holding my little slimy one! The pregnancy had been a tough one, bad acid reflux, itchiness and the possibility of him being still born meant that I hadn't slept much in a long time (still haven't actually), the stress of whether we should induce, all came to an end, when he chose to come out early! The joy of holding a healthy little boy was indescribable!

Thanks Tara for such a wonderful choice for eye spy. And as always thanks to Cindy for being the hostess.

Rebecca

I think you would like this site. Little worlds!

Bake-a-rama!

This week is going to be a mega bake off. I have the weekly bread, M's play group Christmas party, and my birthday!

So far, not so good! I made the bread....... see the bread above? That was last weeks, now imagine a steam roller going over them, or better still, cow pats, that was this week! Thankfully they tasted nice and had nice crumb, they were perfect for dips, not for sarnies!

Last night I baked M's little biscuits from a new recipe (I know, I know).....terrible! It was so late, I couldn't start a new batch. I have most certainly not taken a photo! So I have just covered them in little cream cheese rosettes. I even considered buying a packet of Tim Tams on the way there!

So later on in the week I will bake bars for my birthday. New recipes (I know, I know) one is for luscious lemon bars, the other is for almond, orange and carrot bars. They sound good, don't they?! All recipes (except the bread) are from a new book I bought, Cookies, Brownies, Bars and Biscuits by Catherine Atkinson (I think she compiled them). The bread is cucumber pickle juice and rye. It's a Dan Lepard recipe from a book I borrowed from the library. I don't remember the name of the book, very sorry!

Well gotta go and wrap the Christmas present! Please send baking vibes this way!

Eye Spy-Adventures (of the imagination)

Cow looked pretty nervous..... Sheep waved hello to freedom, as the animals flew safely over the meat factories and away to greener pastures. What a great escape plan from the man on the outside, Farmer Joe.

As crafty mums, and crafters in general, I'm sure we all love to collect every cardboard tube, roll or box (egg cartons are my fav). Over the past three months little M's imagination has just taken off (bad pun, which I shouldn't have pointed out!) I love to watch him transform boxes into houses, ferries, cars tunnels, horses.. you name it really! He really does have some fantastic adventures for such a little fella.

With Christmas on it's way, and all the junk mail with it's glossy toy adverts, I find it very hard not to jump on the next bus and high tail it to Target to buy the complete Little People barn yard set, or Dora the Explorer adventure hide out for my little angel!

I have to take a deep breath and remember that these toys are not necessary for adventure, and that kids are very resourceful when it comes to play. I saw a really great documentary on ABC a while ago called Consuming Kids. It made the point that kids don't make things as much as they used to, you can buy everything ready made. I had a doll house (which I absolutely loved) set up on the first three shelves of my closet. Mum and I made it together, it was one of the biggest highlights of my childhood holidays! Would it have been the same if it had come in a big box? I don't know.

I'm not saying that I won't buy my little one anything ready made for Christmas, but will try to keep a healthy balance. For as long as I can!!

Look to Cindy for more experiences.

Happy adventures everyone!

Eye Spy-Adventures

It's not Sunday yet, but the weekends are usually very hectic around here so I'm posting the Sunday Eye Spy theme now. Photo thanks to Emma from one of her many trips around the world.

And the theme is.... (drum roll)... Adventures, big or small, near or far.

Remember to check in with Cindy so that we can all see what adventures you want to share. I will be doing my official eye spy adventures after the weekend craziness subsides.

Hope you enjoy it!

Teeny tiny stitches

I hate to harp on, but I do love hand sewing. One of the reasons is that I love to look back at the teeny tiny stitches I have sewn. I don't know how this reflects on my personality, I'm not really a tiny detail kind of person. I love the stitches in knitting too. With this in mind, I realise that I have never really done any thick wool, large needle knitting. It has all been small, and I really get a kick from all of these tiny stitches making up the whole.

On a less philosophical note, I am making two more Archie & Olives for M's little friends. I love Hillary Lang's style of doll. I could go on making them for ever. I have lots of little arms and legs at the moment, all waiting to be stuffed and sealed.

Eye Spy-Gadget

Gadgets. Great idea Kellie. At first I admit that I thought that I didn't really use them! Then I thought a little harder and I now have three.

The top one is the coffee machine. Where would I be without my morning coffee? Well, still here, but a very grumpy mummy. We wake at 5.00 am (we live in Queensland and have a 21 monther) so a good cup is neeeded. I had managed to wean myself off coffee using the nescafe instant coffee methadone programme. But when big M brought this wonderful gadget home one morning, it was back to the hard stuff. Oh how I love my morning coffee.

Middle pic, super scissors! I was such a bad cutter outer of patterns until these came into my life. Then it dawned on me, you need a sharp pair of scissors!! I love how these lie flat when you cut. My Tintin in Tibet agenda from 1994 is actually where I keep my recipes.

Bottom pic curvy needle, sticky round needle gripper thing and carpet thread (from mum's stash bought in the 60s). Ok, I don't know if any are classified as gadgets, but I got to love them last night as I repaired the push chair seat with denim....and it looks very spiffy.

To see our hostess of Eye Spy visit Bugandpop

70s fun for everyone

The last box from mum and dad's loft. Imagine my joy at finding my paper dolls, I would say they would be late 70s. I loved them and thought that they were very exotic (don't know why, I think they are French) and took real care of them. As a result they are in very good condition.

What to do with them? I had kept them all these years for my daughter. I now have a car mad son who would probably never be interested in paper dolls....apart from various forms of paper doll folding and tearing. Anyway to cut a long story short, my friend Rebecca loves all things retro, it was her birthday last week, and she makes special collages from retro paper dolls. All this added up to posting them to her. I figured if she couldn't use them in her collages, she could at least get a night of tipsy fun (bottom photo) playing with the wardrobe, as Emma and I did one evening with a bottle of red (and yes I know it's rude to play with someone's present before giving it to them).

I still know I have a farm yard and lots of model horses up in the loft......but I think the doll finds were the most exciting!

Eye Spy-Shoes

Hmmmmm this would have been a no brainer a few years ago, when I had a shoe lover's problem. Actually it would have been very, very hard, as I had soooo many shoes that I loved, that I wouldn't have been able to choose. Back in Brisbane, I know there are cool shoe shops around...... but they are very expensive, and so in a one salary household, my shoe thing stopped. Nowadays, it's hand me downs (excellent ones......5 pairs! including cow boy boots and yellow jellies! from Simone) and the occasional splurge. These sparkly red slippers have been put away for next season, it's bear (grrrr) foot in the house for summer! Every girl should have a pair of sparkly/red or both shoes! Oh, if you love shoes, you need to check this girl's flicker photos out, she has tonnes of fantastic shoes! This is one pair in particular I would love to get my feet into!

Happy Birthday To You!

It's my very talented friend's 40th today!!! This is the Rebecca of Purely Decorative and of the lovely felt blanket below. She is also Rebecca who is exhibiting her photography (the dinosaur) soon! Happy Birthday Reb ....... do you really think you are getting any better at this?

Eye Spy-Cuddly

Am I allowed two pics? We have lots of cuddly things in our house. I am not built for speed, am built for cuddles! Yes the little bub is cuddly, but I am actually featuring the wonderful, snugly felt baby blanket made by my dear friend Rebecca. The design reminds of me of the ocean and the sky. The top is Marcus wrapped in the sky, the second is the little red lobster swimming in the ocean. Reb, we had it out again this winter, very loved and very worn around the feet! He tucks his toes in and rubs....has done it since he was this size!

To get some more cuddles head on over to bug and pop......join in!

He is finished!

.....and after this quick photo shoot, he was put away for Christmas. Two more to go! I have the fabric so can start asap. Still have to do the boring curtains though. The dolls remind me of Charlie and Lola with the wonderful patterns! I would like to do a C & L one, would have to work on the faces though, to make them more C & L like.

Check out these cute designs being sold by Rosa Pomar. I particularly like the cup with the house and the shingles!

Eye spy-bed

Hello, this eye spy sounds like fun!

For everyone else (ie Reb and Em) see bug and pop's website (with extra guinea pig shots!)

Here is our son's future bed/guest bed. We were given it, and judging by the orginal fabric cover, it is from the 70s (see groovy mattress bottom, bottom photo) ...... then it was given a taste of the 80s with some pale green material. Now, it's covered in 00s. Considering it was free (thanks Sarah), it took a lot of effort to get (convincing husband, co-ordinating moveing to mum and dad's for storeage, convincing mum to hold it, co-ordinating moving here, convincing dad to lend me his super duper staple gun) the choosing of the fabric and actual doing took little effort and no time at all! It was all worth it though!

Time to get stuffed

Little Bruno Brun (Archie from weewonderfuls) is coming along very well. Cut out, limbs and hair hand sewn (I think it's the knitter in me, don't like sitting in front of the machine, and something about machines make the moment all too instant)....the bottom was a bugger (rude pun, ooppps!) to sew up and was half hand machine sewn! Now to be stuffed and embroidered.

Rosemary Laing

Have a google images at this talented woman!! Can't figure out how to copy and paste from internet, so it's just this I'm afraid Rosemary Laing google images. I saw a couple of pictures from her 'prostrate your horses' exhibition at UQ (yes, UQ now has a really good gallery). Reb, you would love her, that is if you don't already know about her. My fav are her landscapes and the flight photos (the ones with the bits of paper flying around and in particular the one with no bits of paper flying around).

Siesta

A little break from our bike ride along the river.

Down from the loft

Mum and Dad had insulation put in last week, so that meant all of the boxes stored up there had to come down. I had about three boxes, one of which had toys from my childhood. Here was my fav early 80s dolls house. It was all there, the little plates, shoes, radio, lamp, and of course bean bag. I remember buying it and the wait to get it home and put it together seemed unbearable. I'm keeping it at mum and dad's so that Marcus and Amelia (adopted grandchild) can get as much joy with it as I did. Deep down I wish I could still play with it, well, I still will!