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.