A few extra crafty things

I can show you this picnic blanket now as Christmas is over.

 

It was a gift for my sister and brother-in-law and my first try at doing something this large.

 

 

 

It's got a check border with fabric depicting scrummy things in the middle.

 

 

 

 

It's not quilted as there's no wadding in the middle,  it is a picnic blanket after all.

 

 



 

 

Maybe I'll have a go at quilting in 2013!  I never thought it would be something I'd even contemplate but this year my sewing has really progressed.  I'm also thoroughly enjoying it so anything is possible I suppose.


I gave you a sneak preview the other day of a glitzy bag that I had made.

 

 

This is a birthday present for my Niece T who is heading into her early teens.  I wanted to make a bag for her and decided I wanted something a bit glitzy and sparkly that a nearly teenager might like.

 

All my other nieces and nephews are about the same age as Little Miss R and Master M so I can still use cute kids prints for them but that was not an option for this bag.

 

 

 

 

I had fun making it, especially as I sewed a zip for the first time in my life!  I nearly didn't make it because of the zip but decided I had to get over the family terror if I wanted to continue sewing.

 

I say family terror because my Mum ABSOLUTELY HATES PUTTING ZIPS IN, and does everything in her power to not sew anything with a zip. 

 

My sister and I therefore have grown up thinking that putting a zip in is something akin to walking through a room with 1000 poisonous snakes crawling all over the ground.

 

I did it though and even though it's not quite perfect, it was pretty bloody easy. (Mum evidently has a bag full of zips that she's now sending over to me.)

 

I can't show you my nephews messenger bag as I still can't upload photos.  I'll show you another day though but for now it's time to start on another project. 

 

Because of the heat we're experiencing I'm only doing crafty stuff early in the morning as it's the coolest time to be in my craft room.  It's about the only room that's not air conditioned and being in there later in the day in not an option really.

 

Hope you are able to stay cool wherever you are.

 

xx Susan

 

 

 

Master M turns 5!

On Monday, 7th January Master M turned 5!

 

The present opening is by far the best part of the day.

 

 

 

 

Especially when you get something you really wanted and squeal that it's SUPER AWESOME!

 

Pancakes always seem to be a tradition for breakfast on birthday mornings.
 

...and of course there was cake.  A chocolate cake for my chocoholic son.  (Unfortunately it was a shop bought cake which makes me feel I've failed in the mother department this birthday but cooking one in time wasn't an option).
 

 

He did insist we had to buy a caramel cake for Little Miss R as she hates chocolate so we ended up with 2 cakes to share.  Luckily Nan, Poppy and Uncle I came over to help us demolish them.

Turning 5 also means that in a few weeks he'll be starting school!  He's so excited about that and so am I as it will hopefully mean a little less destruction about the place.

He's not deliberately naughty or anything, he's just very, very curious as to how things work and is a typical rip, tear, bust little boy. 

So happy birthday to my little man.

xx Mummy

There's work to be done

The day always starts with a cuppa. (There's plenty more throughout the day too).

 

 

We were at Aunty Rob's to work though so get your boots on kids.

 

 

See these goats below....  They were getting a bit naughty so their days were numbered.  In fact it was minutes because not long I took this photo they were having an endless sleep.
 

 

The goats had been sorted so it was branding time.
 

Grandad had this taken care off with help from hubby.
 

After all that hot work it was time to cool off.
 

The chickens are also laying REALLY well at the moment.  There were plenty of eggs in the fridge, in fact the space you see below had another 4 cartons there not long before I took this photo.
 

 

There were plenty more eggs in containers on the table as well as in the door of the fridge so quiches and scrambled eggs were consumed while we were there.

We also came home with 4 dozen of them so I'll be doing a bit of baking over the next week I think.

Yes we're back home with a sad dog and kids who are now confined to our small yard again.  Ok, and a sad mummy too cause I love it at Aunty Rob's and wasn't ready to come home.

That maybe because my house is such a mess right now and one of my challenges over the next few months is to do some serious decluttering! 

xx Susan

A weekend away

I still can't seem to upload photos to blogger via the usual method but I found out, quite by accident, that I can upload photos from Picasa! I'm sure most of you knew that but it was a pleasant surprise for me to find this out.

 

That means I get to share our weekend away with you now and not have to wait until the problem gets fixed.

 

As I mentioned in a previous post, we went away to hubby's Aunty Rob's for the weekend. 

 

 We didn't take the camper trailer this time as one of the shockies needs fixing or something so we swarmed into the house for some noisy fun. 

Grandad was there for the weekend too as Aunty Rob is his little sister.  The kidlettes absolutely loved spending time with him as we don't see him as often as we used to these days.

Almost as soon as we arrive I grab my camera and go wandering about the place,

 

 

 

It was quite greenish over there this time and some of the trees were beautiful in full bloom.
 

 

The side garden was flourishing too.
 

 

 

We took Patch with us and he LOVED the freedom of being able to run.  So much space meant he was a happy dog.

 

 

The kidlettes loved being able to run around with him too and it wore them out so they slept well each night.
 

Getting to know Aunty Rob's 3 dogs ended up not being much of a problem.  There were a few nips but they got on fairly well with no fights or anything which was a relief.  Patch is a pretty calm, casual, easygoing dog.
 

 

 One big change since we were last there is the other house that's now in the yard.
 

 

The two houses will eventually be joined together to make one big rambling farmhouse.

 

 

 

The below view used to be of  a paddock and next time we go over those windows will be doors and there'll be another room in the middle there joining the two houses.
 

 

I'll post again in the next few days and let you know the real reason we headed over this time.  It wasn't all relaxing.  Well it wasn't for hubby anyway!

xx Susan

We're home from Aunty Rob's

...and I'm finding I can't upload my photos to blogger! 

 

I took 143 over the weekend but don't be alarmed as most of them were action shots of kids and animals.  I seem to take about 10 action shots of the same thing in the hope the at least one of them will turn out ok.

 

 

So there's no photo for this post but I just wanted to say that we're back, we've had a fantastic weekend and we really didn't want to come home just yet. 

 

Home we are though and it's Master M's 5th birthday tomorrow.  Yikes!  How did THAT come around so quick.

 

xx Susan

Happy sewing and a weekend away

I've been busy sewing the last few days, catching up on late Christmas presents and lots of early January birthdays.

 

Here's a sneak preview...

 

 

I'll show you more next week when I've got a few more things finished.

 

I won't get much sewing done this weekend though as we're off to Aunty Rob's for the weekend again.  We're all looking forward to getting away to a place with some space so the kids and dog can all run around.

 

 

 

 

I can't sew but I will be taking my crochet stuff so I can have some happy hooky time.

 

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

 

xx Susan

 

My December

December was quite a full month and after the rest of the year speeding by, December felt like it took FOREVER. (To me anyway).

 

Patch:

 

After years of the kidlettes asking and pleading for a dog, we finally got one.  Welcome to the family Patch.

 

 

 

Chaos and Destruction:

 



 

...and not just from Master M this time. 

 

The neighbours felled a tree on my fence and gate and Master M somehow snapped the clothes line.

 



 

 

Decorating:

 

December means decorating the tree, not only at home but at Aunty Sandy's for Tree Day.  In fact they weren't that interested in decorating our tree at home because that was the day we got Patch so they had more fun things to do.

 



 

Outings:

 

The annual drive around the neighbourhood to see the Christmas lights is always fun.

 

We also had dinner with Grandma down the beach for an early Christmas as she was heading to Cairns for the festive season.

 

 



 

Crafting:

December was a very busy month with lots of Christmas presents and decorations being made.

 

Bags, Ouchie packs, elf shoes and picnic blankets were made with much love, pleasure and fun.

 



 

Celebrations:

 

It was also a month of special celebrations for us.  Not only Christmas of course but early in the month it was lovely hubby's 40th birthday.

 

 

It's been a very busy month and a lovely year with all its ups and downs.

 

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2013.

 

xx Susan