Washer Necklaces

I think Sarah and I will have to try this great craft these holidays.

Thanks Little Birdie Secrets.

Organisation with school age children.

Those who know me fairly well may laugh that I am writing a post on organisation, but I have developed a few ideas over the years that work for me, and lessen the chaos (which I refer to as 'the creative vibe of the house') that we live in.

The first is the humble list. Lists really are so useful. This one is for the big kids to follow every morning. The idea is that the TV or computer does not go on until they have done everything on their list.

The second is a version of the zip-lock bag. (My mum and I go nuts for zip-lock bags, in all sizes.) At the beginning of every year I buy each child an A3 size plastic zip folder and everything paper that arrives in the house goes into it.
Certificates, awards, artwork, schoolwork, birthday cards etc....
At the end of the year you can cull it down a bit and only keep what is really precious, and when they leave home I will be handing them a large pile of plastic folders.

Presents for teachers.

It's that time of year again when presents need to be bought for school teachers.
I try not to buy useless clutter, or something they will get lots of like chocolates, candles etc...

This year I bought from the Oxfam shop, which has loads of great ideas for gifts.

Hmmm... I have just realised that I bought chocolate, after I said I wasn't going to buy chocolate. Maybe an early night is in order???

Life goes on...

I have been absent for a while, yet again. My blogging seems to come in fits and starts.

Life has been rolling along here. Children growing up, study and exams to finish, and birthdays to be had, mine in particular.

We have also been doing a bit of exploring around our area and are becoming familiar with the local Chinese Supermarket. We have been there quite a bit lately as it is so cheap, and has the most delicious things.

Duck pancakes, yum...

Amazing!

I picked up 2 curtain drops of this funky retro material for $2.00 at the Salvos, probably around 6m in total.

I gave half to Pippi and have cut up some to make bibs.

I have since learned that it is 'Hippopotami' by Austfield, and is selling on Ebay for $45 per metre!!

That is one expensive bib Ben.

right now...

Following on from Rach's list, right now I am...


watching the big kids making funny pictures on the Wii


smelling the pancakes Dave made us for breakfast before he went to work


reading craft books from the library


enjoying the memory of the movie we saw last night (Julie and Julia)


listening to the clunk of my washing machine that needs a new gearbox


making lists


sewing only on Mondays


drinking Lady Grey tea


wanting to be more organised, or less lazy


embracing everything in my life right now, except for all the Uni work I have to catch up on


And here is little Ben and his little bag. He has become quite attached to it and takes it everywhere. If he realises he has dropped it, he will crawl back to get it. So sweet.

What do you do all day?

It really is a funny question. Being a stay at home mum means that no two days are ever the same.
Take yesterday for example. I ...

Made a birthday card for my nephew.
Hung some pictures on the wall.

Washed (actually, scrubbed is a better word) a recent op-shop find.

Tried to make baba ganoush. (Note to self. Pierce the skins before you bake eggplants)

Cleaned the oven, lol.

Went to the library (and paid $10 in fines!! yikes)

Bought the last few things Matt needs for camp.

Played a few games of cluedo.

Helped Sarah bake cupcakes.

Cooked Pad Thai.

Did 3 loads of washing.

Nursed a baby at least 6 times.

Thats all I can remember, after all it was 24hrs ago, but I know there was more.

What did you do all day?

little bag.

A little bag I sewed up for Ben at craft today.

He seems to like it.

School Holidays

School holidays are in full swing.

The craft box has been getting a workout.

Bubby is loving hanging out with his big brothers and sister.

And a trip to the library. There can't be too many crafters in my area because the good craft books are always available.

Cute, cute.

The postie has been good to me today.

First, Weekend Sewing arrived from the Book Depository.


And then this gorgeous fabric from Retromummy.

Yesterday we were in the Mandarin Centre in Chatswood having Yum Cha.

How could I not have a look inside a shop called "Cute Cute House"?

And how could I not buy these cute cute pants?

Letter satchel.

These letter satchels from Handmade Home are so easy, and are going to be a great gift. Fill them with some cute papers and blank cards, and maybe a book of stamps.

Little eyes.

See that little face staring at me? His eyes follow me wherever I go.

Such love on his part...and mine.

IKEA, you rock!

Some of the Monday Craft girls took a little trip to IKEA this week. Their fabric is particularly good at the moment.
A little bit of this...


...and a little bit of that.

So much to choose from.

Pippi and I both got a bit of this one. It reminds me a bit of the 'Truffala Trees' in The Lorax.

And head on over to the Retromummy fabric sale if you're in the market for some. I am always on the lookout for cute boy fabric, and just found some sweet car and bear fabric, just perfect for my little man.

Oh how I've missed you...

I have been trying to stay away from op-shops in recent months, as I tackle some of the 'stuff' in our house. This morning I spent almost an hour in one, and came away with only three things, (two pillowcases, and this gorgeous girl).

Pretty darn good I thought!!!

Look at the colour of those eggs. Can I say how clever our chooks are at laying big, beautiful, yellow yolks, and eating all our scraps? Someone remarked recently that they are the fattest chooks they have ever seen.

Can I say how clever our kids are at never finishing their dinner...

My very first zip ever!! I have been putting off making anything with a zipper for years now, which kind of limits what you can make. Well this week at Monday Craft I was a very brave girl and decided to have a go and.... it really was not that hard.

A hive of activity.

There seems to be a burst of creativity in the house at the moment.

Matt has discovered 'claymation' movie making, and I was roped in to be his assistant. My job was to guard the tripod from getting bumped, and to press the button on the camera (100's of times).

This frame from an old cork board is slowly being transformed into something else.

A couple more pairs of daddy t-shirt pants...

A cover for my journal.

This is a habit I have only just got into, and it is amazing. As a busy mum I don't often take time to be still and think about what I think, if that makes sense.

Retromummy giveaway.

Head over to Corrie's fab blog for a chance to win!

The Great Snail Mail revolution

While browsing some of my favourite blogs last night, I came across this post and decided to join in. It just so happened that the closing date was midnight last night, perfect timing or what?

I love it when the postie brings something other than bills, and a care package from across the world would be thrilling!

Now to decide what to send my partner.....

Jen's 1/2m Dinner Plate Bag

I'm not sure if that's actually what Jen calls these bags (I'm thinking not), but as you only need 1/2m of fabric and a dinner plate (pretty much) to make one, that's what I'm calling them.

The very clever Jen was visiting from NZ (check out her blog, she makes the most AMAZING things). While she was making a couple of these bags at my place, we decided to make a tutorial.

My job was to take photographs and to make notes on what she did. Her job was to be clever and make the bags. She did her job, I did half of mine.

I have lots of photos, but unfortunately only limited instructions. I must have got distracted by the kids (there were 8 running around that day).

Here is the picturey tutorial, with a few words. I hope you can work it out. If not, see Jen.

*Start with 1/2m each of the outside and lining fabrics.

*You will also need 20cm for the band across the top.

*Cut 3inches off the bottom of the main fabrics, to use for the handles.

*This is where the dinner plate comes in. Trace around it to get nice rounds corners. Sew around the sides of both bags, (outer and lining).

*Pleat and pin the top. Repeat with lining fabric.

*Attach the band and sew around the top.

*Fold over and tuck in the edges. Topstitch at the top and bottom of the band.

Attach the handles, and a loop for the button if you are having one.

Voila!!

Jen has put hers to good use as you can see here.

Jen and her sister, Katie.

Recycled kid's clothes.

Monday Craft had a bit of a 'recycled' theme today.

Pippi made these pants for her Ben out of the sleeves of a men's business shirt. He looks so cute in these funky pants, very 'Zoolander' we thought!!

Then using the idea from the Soulemama book, I made some pants for my Ben out of an old t-shirt of Dave's. I copied the style of a pair that Ben had grown out of.

They are so soft and comfy, just perfect for crawling.