School Holidays Day 1

We're off to a great start with the school holidays.

Miss R has commenced the festive season by promptly becoming ill. She has some sort of gastro bug along with a delightfully productive cough.

At least I can leave her huddled up on the lounge for the day and not have to worry about missed school and after school sport.

It's also fabulous weather to be sick at the moment. I, myself am sitting here in a jumper as I write this post and I'm loving it. There will certainly be enough long, hot Summer days for me in January and February I'm sure.

When Rhianna does manage to haul herself off the lounge we are going to attend to this little monstrosity.

This is what I call the end of school typhoon. When teachers like to send home 12 months worth of crap, I mean valuable teaching outcomes and leave the mothers to assimilate it into the house.

Or into the garbage - as is the case at our house!

We also need to make some much needed room for the new things Santa may bring.

And as you know, I do like a good clean out.

My quilt is coming along slowly. I have sewed the squares together into strips - 9 in all. The next step is to join the strips to complete the top of the quilt cover.

Yesterday I felt quilty looking at my very expensive organic carrots wilting sadly in the crisper.

So I found a recipe for carrot cake and got to work. The result was this fantastic cake. The icing was a mixture of cream cheese and icing with some orange zest and juice. So yummy. I will never eat a Sara Lee carrot cake again now I know how easy and yummy the real thing is.

My next baking experiment will be a Christmas Cake from a lovely recipe from Busy Mum's blog. Check out her blog - link on the right hand side of my blog for some great tips on making the perfect Xmas Cake.

A Quiet Day

I'm off to the hospital tomorrow for a day surgery.

Today is all about getting ready for the surgery.

I have to stick to a clear fluid diet today (Oh Joy!!!) and this afternoon I have to take something called Picoprep which will make myself and the bathroom best buddies from now until tomorrow morning. It just gets better and better doesn't it?

So this morning I headed up to the Op shop to drop off some donations.

While I was there I had a little poke around - as you do, and found this board game in brand new condition.

It's called Tipayatung. It's all about remembering the end line of famous sayings and quotes.

I think I'll put it aside to play on Christmas afternoon. It was a whole $3.

I also got some cheap magazines and a book to take to the hospital with me. I know from experience there can be a lot of waiting around.

The book I got for 50 cents is called Choosing Eden.

I have wanted to read this book for ages and was so happy to find it in an Op shop.

It's about a family that turn their backs on the big city lifestyle and go to live in the country to live a much simpler life including growing as much of their own produce as possible.

It is just the right size to pop in my handbag for tomorrow.

This afternoon while I'm taking it easy I'm going to be working on a craft project . I tore this craft page from a magazine ages ago.

Today I've gathered the supplies to have a go at it myself.'

I've made some yoyo's from some vintage scrap material I had lying around.

The cushion was a $5 bargain from a furniture store. I've pinned the yoyo's onto the pillow to get an idea of colour placement and now I just have to sew them all on.

Can't wait to pop it somewhere in the house.

I may be away for a few days while I recover from my surgery.

Will be back as soon as I am able to.

New Beginning Part 2

A lot has happened in the past 6 months while I have been absent from blogger land. Most of it good, some not so good and some of it tragic. Rather than try and cover all the projects, cooking and events that I was involved with during that time I have decided to maybe just refer to past things as they relate to the here and now. Clear as mud.....alrighty then!

On the home front much has been happening. I am really into the Spring renovation mood at the moment and have decided to fiftify (Look, I just made up a new word) my kitchen a bit more by painting the cabinets.

Luckily my husband allows me these crazy flights of fancy and so off I went with my retro green and antique white paintbrushes.

This, unfortunately is my pantry. Tiny isn't it?

But now looking oh so retro.....

I've started, but not finished the kitchen cabinets.

I have a few health issues with my parents lately and just get done what I can when I can.

I am also onto a new craft project and it's a big one.

I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew here.

I decided to do something with some of my retro fabric stash. I'm going to make a queen sized quilt cover for my bed. Now I've never made one before so it will be a steep learning curve I'm sure.

Today after dropping Rhianna at school I got all my equipment out......

After much cutting, ironing and fluffing about I laid the squares out on my existing quilt cover to see what it was all going to look like. Well, firstly it looks nice which is a relief but I can foresee a lot of sewing coming up.

While I was still feeling a lot of love towards the project I packed it away to do a bit more another day.

We are off on the weekend to sunny Kiama. It's on the south coast of NSW and it's one of our favourite spots.

We recently purchased a camper trailer and this will be it's second outing. The photo below is of our first outing to Narrabeen on the North shore of Sydney where we went to catch up with one of my best friends who has just moved to Mona Vale.

So I shall not be back to blog until Monday at least. I've got a great, cheap and easy Christmas present that I made to share.

Higgelty Piggelty Weekend

After quite a busy week for our family we decided to spend the start of this weekend just hanging around the house. Rhianna got off to an early morning start.....

We needed a few art and craft supplies so we showered and dressed to head out. Miss R decided to wear her dad's trilby to the shops - oh, she's a fashion leader this one.....(Ahem)

I was quite pleased with this first skirt I've ever managed to make. I only had a printed out pattern and it actually fits my daughter and it cost me nothing as the material is a scrap. Can you tell how proud I am? I'll be knocking up a sequined wedding dress next.....or not.

Then onto the business end of the day - craft, craft and more craft. First a swim in the pool as it's 35 degrees out there today and then onto Rhianna's choice of crafts - paper boxes. Here's how it looked in the book.....

And here is our efforts. Not too shabby.

A close up. This is how the box is supposed to look. It doesn't have a "lid" as such. We are thinking we might get some double sided Xmas paper and make some goody boxes for our Christmas party this year as we have quite a few kids coming (Lord help me) and it's nice to give them something a little personal when they go home.

And finally Rhianna did a bit of craft on her (mostly) own. She set up a vet store in the loungeroom complete with a cage where the patients wait their turn for medical treatment.

We even had a latch so the little furries couldn't get away while they were waiting. Kept her occupied for 2 hours and didn't cost a cent.

Well today might have been the frugal day but I'm thinking tomorrow is going to be the all expenses day as we head out to the city for some culture - pics and story tomorrow.
Stay Happy.

On the Agenda

Whoever coined the term "sleepover" was obviously trying to be ironic.

Last night Rhianna had a friend to sleepover and I can tell you - not a lot of sleep was going on - by anybody!!!!

They finally fell asleep around half past ten and were up at the crack of dawn. And I do mean at the crack of dawn - 5.30am.

Bill was finally persuaded to take the pool cover off this morning and of course the girls could not wait to jump in.

Hypothermia anyone??????

Of course any sleepover worth it's salt involves much cleaning up to be done on the Monday morning.

Let's see -:: craft materials all over the place - check.
Wet towels and cossies everywhere- check.
Every toy known to man pulled out and played with for 30 seconds before being left - check.

As I wander around the house this Sunday afternoon I see very clearly what I'll be doing tomorrow morning.

Later on the girls found this darling little birds nest on the ground. We've added it to our tortured willow nature tree and popped a little crocheted Etsy bird into it.

So darling I had to show you.

Also on the agenda tomorrow is a trip back to the gym.
Now, I used to be with this mob around 12 months ago and got sick of it. However they have just left this offer in my letterbox -a 4 week start up special. Even if I only go for the 4 weeks it will be something - I may even lose a few kilos for Christmas.

And finally, during the week I intend to knock up a few quick summer skirts for Miss R. I have some material that needs to be used up and I think with some little tank tops these will be quite cute. I got the pattern off One pretty Thing.

I've also got two coffee mornings booked in.
One with my best friend Natalie who has just returned from 2 months overseas. I am envisioning a lot of photo envy over that morning coffee. And the second one is with another dear friend Linda - we try to fit in a couple of outings together every school term and we have been sadly remiss so far this term with my working and her putting her house up for sale.

Such lovely mundane things to look forward :: such a nice change of pace from the last few weeks.

Long Days at Home

Miss Rhianna is at this moment well and truly sick as a dog. She had her cousin over for a sleepover on Saturday night and when I had to take the cousin home in the middle of the night with a sky high temperature, I was sure Rhianna would be following suit soon after.

Unfortunately I was right.

This is now our second day lying on the lounge eating ice blocks, chugging panadol and watching the Disney channel.

Luckily, I've had plenty of time to organise a trip away.

After much internet research I've decided to combine two things that Bill and I have been busting to do since we met but have never got around to.

Bill really wants to do a long haul train trip. So I booked us into a Sydney to Adelaide sleeper on the Indian Pacific. It's only a 24 hour trip, because I'm sure that's about all I can handle on a train lying horizontal or in any other position.


From Adelaide we'll hire a car and do the adventure I've always wanted to do - driving the Great Ocean Road. Apparently the 12 apostles are crumbling at quite a rapid rate so I know I need to get down there soon before I miss my chance.

The best part of the whole deal ? - I've managed to book everything in the school holidays.


On the home front I've spent many hours on the lounge soothing hot foreheads, supplying icy poles and finding remotes under all the pillows and blankets. I've also managed to knit a few squares.

Out on the patio the craft cupboard was doing my head in. It looked so messy and all higgilty- piggilty :: so I whipped up a little curtain to hide everything. Dead easy and I am in love with the Amy Butler fabric.


Also did a spot of sewing. I've had this project to do all Winter and have finally gotten around to it in Spring.

I bought the hot water bottles at Big W but wanted to jazz them up a bit.

And no, I haven't learn to crochet. I just found an old granny square blanket at the markets and have cut it up to use the squares.



Little Miss R needs some more lemonade so must take off now. Hope you are all having more fun than me.

Hooray for Autumn

Well autumn is well and truly here judging by the temperature this morning around 7am. But I am not complaining. I am loving it. How can I not be happy with the cooler weather, the start of Term 2 at school and this beautiful view out my dining room window.

However life is pretty ordinary around here lately. Much of the sameness day in and day out.

Not a lot new and exciting to blog about I am afraid. The weather has had my thoughts turning to more and more craft projects. If only I could stay awake longer at night time to start any of them.

I find the cooler weather sees me climbing into bed around 8pm with Miss Rhianna to knit and read books. We cuddle up together and most of the time my lovely hubby will bring us down some hot chocolates to lush around in bed with. Who wants to sit hunched over a sewing machine when you can be doing that instead?

But I did manage to drag old Bertha (the sewing machine) out for a little sew up of the knitting squares yesterday.

Does anybody but me (and my friend Julie) remember a magazine out a few years ago called Family Circle? Well it went out of circulation because only tragics like me were buying it. It was a very family oriented magazine with lots of parenting articles, craft and cooking. Since all that home stuff is currently back in vogue, I should not have been surprised to see its reappearance at the newsagents yesterday. Oh Joy......

And inside a very tempting new knitting project for me to get started on.

And finally I get started on some cooler weather cooking. I wonder if you can guess what is on the menu for tonight? One of my favourites with some crusty bread rolls from the bakery.

Keep your beanies and scarves handy today.

The Bedtime Bag

I think I might have mentioned that my Mum loves the odd bit of craft herself. I wanted to show you something she made for Miss R last year. Its the bedtime bag.

It's simply a reusable "green" bag that you buy from Coles, except obviously, its blue. Then Mum has appliqued a fish on the front. This is to represent one of our favourite books - The Rainbow Fish.

Here's a close up of the detail. Inside the bag Rhianna keeps her Pajamas for that night and the bag hangs on the back of her bedroom door.

On either side of the bag is a pocket - this is where we keep our nightime reading stories. At the moment its chapter books that I read to her.


Anne of Green Gables is a new addition to the bookcase. we started it last night. Rhianna loves it. A friend of mine, Emma, reminded me how much I loved this story myself as a girl so I found it for Rhianna.

Mum says the whole bag cost her 99 cents as she had all the fabric scraps already lying around. So much cutemess for such a little price.

Beautiful Bunting

One of my favourite purchases from last year was this book by Kelly Doust. She recycles old fabric and wool into the most amazing and beautiful projects. I have her book out all the time as inspiration and have developed a bit of an email friendship with her. She was also nice enough to feature some of my work on her blog, also called The Crafty Minx. If you love sewing and making beautiful things this is the site and book to drool over.

Below is another of her projects that I have attempted. The fabric is just leftovers and very easy to sew and put together. A little bunting decoration for Rhianna's room. It gives a her room a real carnival feel.

First Sewing Project.

One of the ways I am trying to save money and acquire new skills is learning to sew.

Luckily, I have a friend who offered to lend me a spare sewing machine to see how I would go and if I would like it. (I do)

My first project was an Amy Butler bag. I like Amy's patterns as there is no assumed knowledge. She spells it all out for you step by step. Sure, there were plenty of stuff ups - like ironing the interfacing to the ironing board cover but overall I was pretty pleased with the end result.

It is quite a big bag and I use it when we are going to be out at somebody's place till after dinner and then I will pack all of Rhianna's toiletries and Pj's etc in it.

Other than that it hangs on the back of this chair to remind me that I'm not to old to learn new stuff.

Last year I started collected Rhianna's old clothes and storing them...for what purpose I was not sure.

Then mid year it came to me. Make a patchwork quilt.

As this was my first attempt I kept it small and simple. It ended up being a bed topper for her bed.

I was quite pleased with it and I learned so much via mistakes. I shall do another this year. What a great way to recycle old clothing.

Total cost = nothing.