Hmmmm … Where did May go???

Why, oh why does time go so fast? Is it just cos I’m a Mum now? Or is it the same for everyone?

I swear it never used to fly so …

I have just farewelled my gorgeous sister Boo, her hubby, and her 3 gorgeous little munchkins – Lockstar, Potater and Moo

😦 So I am sad.

Going to drag my sewing stuff back out and mess my loungeroom up again now! I have some mending and a replacement t-shirt to do first and then I am laying out 2 cot quilts and have some skirts and bunting cut out and ready to sew this week.

The last 2 things I sewed last week :
A shirred maxi dress (CKC pattern, I did the sew along with them again!) for Moo and Darth Vader cape for JoJo.
I was most upset to see he had taken it off at school for the costume parade … he looked so totally awesome I thought!!

Some pics of my recently visiting family 🙂

The 4 Rascally boys eating dinner … they loved their own special table lol 🙂

 
My niece Moo with me on the left and with her Mum, my sister Boo on the right 🙂

Us 3 girls on the left, and all the cousins together on the right 🙂

Lockstar, Pie and Potater being Batmen! (can you all sense a theme in my blogs? My boys love Batman!)

And finally, how it looks in my little piece of paradise today :

Will be back soon to show you some pics of my 2 raggy quilts on the mat today!
Catch ya on the flip side x

Helloooo!!
I am naughty. I haven’t blogged for ages.

These are some of the reasons why : I was doing a sew along and have now completed a couple of the same item :

This one is a pic of my “Two Little Rascals”, (who rarely get clothing made for them) in the shorts they chose the fabric for.
How cute are my cool lil dudes?!?! 🙂

I also have another 4 pairs of shorts and T shirt sets made and 2 skirt sets half done.
I am going to have my first Market night starting with them. I have also got half a dozen bunting and a Raggy Quilt on my cutting table.
I think my favourite purchase of 2012 besides my Janome (which technically my Darling Mum bought me anyhow) was my bias tape maker. I love, love, love it! No longer will I pay outlandish prices for bias (or miss out all together cos Spotlight don’t carry enough range!).
Most importantly, I can make any colour to match. It’s so versatile 🙂

This is a bunting I made this week 🙂

I am waaayyyy late to the party but I absolutely ADORE Chevron fabrics right now!!!!!
I can be a little aloof and snobby with ‘trends’ so I initially turned my nose up at them. I’ve done a 180 now tho haha

On a different sewing note, I sewed my gardens and seedling trays yesterday. Tomatoes, Carrots, Lettuce, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Zucchini,
Snow Peas, Chilli and Green Beans are all in. As well as some flowers. I am trying to get my favourite flower in the world, Gerbras, to strike.
And a couple of random pots of California poppy and Pansies. Going to try to get some colour into the front garden again!

Anyhow, I am off to do some more cut, cut, cutting and then some sewing! Enjoy the rest of your Monday!! 🙂

Finally!

I have FINALLY finished my boy’s Batman Raggy Quilts!!

Here is my little man snuggled in his for his afternoon nap:

When I collected my big man from school he jumped straight into bed to test his out:

Tagged!

Now I just have to finish the cushions. And they have requested some Dino Shorts.

So those are two of my projects on the cutting table next week!

I have also signed up to do a Create Kids Couture Sew Along!!! And I can’t wait!!

This is what we are making for March :

The Antoinette Double layered Skirt. Isnt it adorable!?!? I love CKC, their patterns are awesome {And their little models are total dolls!}

….. Now all I have to do is find a little princess or two {I have a couple in mind! 😉 } to gift one to and choose some fantastic fabrics!

What’s everyone else doing? Anyone sewing anything interesting? Cooking anything yummy?

Going anywhere interesting? {We booked a cruise last week!!!!!} Easter Bunny will be here soon and there’s only 2 weeks/1 day left til school holidays! Cant wait for sleep ins 😉 heehee

I am so sorry!! I have been terribly absent for the last month or two …

We’ve had holidays, back to school, sewing for donations, sicknesses, crashed computers, and some days … just plain laziness!

I will come back when I am finished the quilt I am working on this weekend and do a proper post. But in the meantime, here is a pic of our newest addition, Jack to add some cuteness!

 

And while I’m here, do you have a Pintrest account?

I am totally addicted to Pintrest!! If you want to have a squiz, you can find me here

Here are some pics of the little outfits I made and donated % of to a friend’s showcase last month:

 

The quilt I am making is a single, raggy Batman quilt for my youngest, Ryan. I already made Harrison’s matching one but have been holding off on giving it to him til Ryan’s was done … I have been holding off since before Christmas … ooops!

Well, ok I seemed to say much more in a few minutes than I thought I would! lol But I will come back very soon and ramble on again.

….. And I will share some pics of the boy’s new Batman Quilts 🙂 Catchya later xo

I have been reading up ALOT on quilting. So far, I’ve only made Raggy Quilts. But I plan on expanding my horizons this year.

Looking at what I’ve read, it seems the ‘norm’ is to start and keep working on a quilt ’til its done.
But then I seem to see a lot of work in progress and unfinished projects in my reading travels – Where a quilter has run out of time or motivation or even interest in a project and packed it away to finish {sometimes years} later.

So, here is the reason for my title …

I am PLANNING on approaching it in this fashion. I sew things other than quilts and don’t want to have to pack something huge or half-finished away to sew clothing. I am sorting thru my fabric this week and when I re-store it I will have a “W.I.P.” tub. I am planning on starting 3 WIPs to start with. The first is a selvage quilt along the lines of this one I found on Pintrest :

Maybe not as colour coordinated tho. But I am collecting selvage for it so having it as a WIP seems perfect! I can do a block whenever I have enough 🙂

The second I have mentioned before, is a Spiders Web Quilt like this one :

And the third is one I have just discovered via a Sewing Bee group I am a fan of on Facebook, a Reverse Rainbow Starburst :

I figure I can take my time and find just the right fabrics for each coloured block 🙂 Pretty, yes?

That is the plan … I guess time will tell if it works for me or not 😀

Here is a picture I took on our recent holiday to Cairns. We went up to Kuranda on Skyrail and spent a couple of hours in the Butterfly Sanctuary. Both the boys were fascinated and Harrison spent most of the time trying to get me to take a photo of the Ulysses Butterfly. They are really hard to photograph as when they land they close their wings flat together to make themselves more camouflaged and less a target for predators. I forgot to take my good camera and we were therefore trying to capture it on my iPhone – gah!! {Plus to make it harder its new so I was doing it gingerly as I was afraid of dropping it into one of the ponds! hahaa} We were literally making our way out when he asked me for one more try as there was a concentration of them around the feeders. This was the one we got then :

It’s a little grainy, I know lol
The one on the left was just landing and the one on the right was juuuust about to take off!
They were just spectacular and totally worth trying so I had to share 🙂

Anyhow … what are your sewing or crafty projects for this year?? Cya next time xo

A New Year is upon us!

Is it just me, or do they speed up as you get older? Time seems to fly by!

How was everyone’s Christmas? Did you see in 2013 last night?

We went to a beautiful wedding and stayed in a nice hotel in the city afterwards. My 3 boys sat up and watched The Rocky Horror Picture Show afterwards and asked me to wake them to go on the roof to watch the fireworks … Midnight rolls around and I got a “Yes”, rollover and “ZZZZZZZ”; a “groan”; and a “Grunt, snort!” from the 3 of them. So I went up to the 20th floor all by myself and saw in the new year with 30 or 40 pseudo-friends {aka strangers 😉 }
I am like a big kid, I absolutely LOVE fireworks! And it didn’t disappoint, it was gorgeous!

This is my favourite picture of the day ~ Its grainy and I touched it up to look old and in my opinion its perfection 🙂 I love their little boys watching on in rapture, it was just a perfect moment!

These pics are us from the wedding, the first is of my 3 boys. I love this pic 🙂 … The second is me having some quiet time talking to Ryan … I didn’t get many of me so this one will have to do! lol

These are the Christmas shorts I made for the boys – they loved them!

I am taking the next week or so to spring clean my house and de-clutter my office {after a quick, 2 night trip to Cairns on friday!}, and then I will make myself a list of ‘Sewing To-Do’s”. First on the list, I need to finish the second quilt for my boys. The last of the fabric arrived while I was doing my Christmas sewing and I havent had a chance to get into it.
I really, really, REALLY need a design wall! I detest laying quilts on the floor because I don’t want them messed up if I cant finish it the same day, and they take up soooo much room! What do you use for a design wall??
I cant wait to get cracking on sewing in 2013! See you soon xo

Cant believe it’s only 6 sleeps til Christmas! It has come round fast this year, but not, kind of.
It doesn’t feel like Christmas to me yet. We’re taking the boys to look at Christmas lights tonight tho so that should change 🙂
Every year we do it … jump in the car, grab some takeaway and drive around for a couple of hours enjoying the boys squeals of delight as they discover a new colourful wonderland. The lovely people who decorate their homes each year deserve a round of applause – and a break with the power company lol

This year is the most prepared I have ever been! All my shopping is long done, I picked up the last couple of things last week. Along with the last of my online lay by’s from Target. That was the real saviour for me this year. I placed 2 lay by’s with them in July and paid a small amount each month and one was delivered to my door and I collected the second {NO idea why I didn’t just get both delivered, I totally recommend it!}

I did my Christmas sewing in the last couple of weeks and together with the Bunting in my previous post, this is the result :

4 pairs of shorts and a twirl skirt!! All for my boys, 2 nephews and niece 🙂 I love them and hope they do too!

The only thing I cut really fine was my cards. I am sending a couple today to people I know keep tabs and get cranky if their cards are not reciprocated … everyone else, I apologise, but I have quit stressing. I will do what I can do and nothing more lol We didn’t get heaps this year anyhow which takes the pressure off. Maybe in today’s technology filled society Christmas cards are a thing of the past? I hope so as I detest writing them all out each year! haha

Speaking of technology, I am getting myself an iPhone 5 this week!!! 😀 excitement! One of the big attractions was Instagram … Does anyone have any thoughts on the new changes to it?

We’re going to my Mum’s for Christmas this year so I am sure I will get stressed in the day or two before that. Yay for packing {yes, that’s sarcasm darlings! 😉 } Only one more shift at work til we leave – Yayyyyy!!! 😀

Have a great Hump Day everyone!

Hellllooooooo!

Sorry, I know its been a while since I posted {12 days actually – I just checked oops, my bad!}

Is the fact that Christmas is biting at our heels a good enough excuse? I have been shopping and wrapping up a storm! As well as Harris finishing school for the year last Friday. He is such an easy child to be around, helps me by spending time with my wild child Ryan too LOL

I have also been sewing like a demon in the last week. My poor little overlocker had to go in for a service this week tho, 😦 Boooo … so that will snip my wings a little. It takes longer without it, but oh well … I love my sewing machine and don’t mind spending a little extra time with her.
Here are some Bunting I have made for Christmas gifts for 4 special little people who I love 🙂 :

I also have 4 pairs of Christmas shorts and a Christmas skirt half-finished on my sewing table.
I am hoping to finish the shorts tonight and the skirt tomorrow 🙂

I have a bit going on, I was ironing for 2 ladies, but quit that last weekend, I dropped a shift at the greatest-hardware-store-in-the-Southern-Hemisphere … and all because I am starting a TAFE course next month! Excitement!! I’ve just decided I’d like to do a photography course as well. Time to get back to me.

I cant wait to show you some pics of my shorts and skirt over the weekend! I will also have another cute picture to share before Christmas … watch this space 😉

OK, So I just realised I promised to load a pic and recipe for my no-fail Chilli Noodles … Here it is!! I apologise in advance, I am more of a “handful of this, sprinkle of that” kinda cook, so I am winging it with ingredients. If you like a little more {or less!} chilli or curry – add it 🙂

I forgot to take a pic until I was putting the leftovers in Tupperware ready for my monday lunch! lol but here is a pic:

3 pkts Oriental 2 min Noodles

5 Eggs,beaten

4-5 Mushrooms, sliced

sm bunch Spring Onions, sliced

2-3 stalks Celery, sliced

1 Red Capsicum, sliced
{or half red/half green. Or like tonight, I used a chunk each of red/green/yellow … see, totally winging it 😉 }

6 rindless Bacon Rashers, chopped roughly

2 cloves Garlic

2 tbsp Teriaki Sce {or substitute Soy Sce, just use less}

1 tbsp Curry Powder

1 tbsp Crushed Chilli

Oil for frying

1. Cook Noodles as per instructions, drain and set aside {rinse if you like, I find it keeps them less gluggy and the cool water stops the cooking process quicker so they remain firmer.}
2. Heat oil in a wok, swirl 1/2 the egg in and cook until set. Repeat with remaining 1/2. Shred and set aside.
3. Add a little more oil, then mushrooms, celery, capsicum, garlic and curry. Toss for 3-4 mins
4. Add Noodles, teriaki sce, chilli, spring onions, and egg. Toss for 2-3 mins.
5. You’re done! Serve!

I serve this mainly at BBQs or bring a plate type deals as it goes really well with a steak … tonight we had it with chicken schnitzel and it was yummy! The kids even gave it a fair nudge. And there is enough left over for me to have some for lunch tomorrow 🙂 If you try it, I hope you like it. If you have any awesome recipes I’d love it if you could share them!

Catch you on the flip side …

I was going to put this on the bottom of my last post but thought it deserved a post all its own!

I was tagged in a game of “Blog tag” by the lovely Marieka from one of my favourite blogs, Bespoke Bites!

Here are the rules!

• every tagged person has to tell 11 things about themselves

• the person who tagged you asked 11 questions, answer them

• ask 11 questions for the 11 blogs you’re going to tag (the people you tag should have less than 200 followers)

• mention the blog that tagged you, but don’t tag them back.

  11 Things about me :

1. I am the eldest of 4 and am very close to my Mum. I dont speak to my ‘father’ tho
2. My favourite colour is Purple
3. I have always wanted to travel. Apart from travelling, I had no idea what I wanted to do when I left school.
4. Sadly I havent travelled very much haha
5. We are planning a trip to Fiji next year!
6. I am doing a TAFE course starting in January. Its been a long time between classes, so wish me luck!
7. I have had 2 patches of paint colour on one of my walls for over 2 years but cant decide what colour I want – niether of them appeal to me now and I dont know where to go from here! lol I just know I dont like blue and want it changed, so for now, there it stays lol
8. I love dragonflys and plan on having one for my first tattoo
9. I dislike ironing. I used to love it, but have ironed for 2 clients for the last year and now hate it. I just quit my 2 clients *phew!* 🙂
10. I am allergic to bee stings, cats, brandy and sometimes (??) mango.
11. I love cars and worked for Avis for 10 years. The owner once joked that he should send me to his workshops and give me an apprentiship. I wished he wasnt joking, I would have loved to do it.

Here are the questions asked of me and my answers :
1. Where is your favourite place to visit?
I don’t tend to visit somewhere more than once, unless its to visit someone. I figure if I am going to spend a chunk of change I may as well see a different corner of the world. So far, I really enjoy going to W.A. They have, in my opinion, some of the most spectacular beaches in the world and we are blessed to have some beautiful people to visit while we are in the region.
2. How long have you been living where you are now?
4 years, 2 months, 2 weeks and 2 days and I only started loving it here about 18mths – 2 years in.
3. Do you have a no-fail recipe? What is it?
Yes! I make a wicked Chilli Noodles … If we weren’t going away tomorrow I would make it and post the recipe with a pic. If we get home early enough Sunday I will! If not, I will do it next weekend 🙂
4. What’s the last good book you read?
I just finished the Millenium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson a couple of weeks ago. It was excellent! The last one was called “The Girl Who Kicked  A Hornets Nest” I knew he had passed away before they were published, but I recently learned he had penned them with the plan of a 10 book series, but tragically died before finishing the 4th installment 😦
5. What’s your “real job”?
At the moment, my ‘real job’ is at Bunnings Replenishment. I am working towards a different career when the boys are both in school.
6. Would you choose it again? Why or why not?
Yes. It’s a good job, and they’re a good company to work for. Most importantly, its flexible which fits in well with where my family’s at right now.
7. What would be your dream job?
Easy!! Presenter on Getaway! haha 😀
8. Are you a radio listener? Talkback or music?
In the car only. We don’t even own a radio in the house lol Music all the way, I dislike talkback with a passion! {I got myself an iPod for Xmas}
9. Are you a sweet tooth or a savoury person?
Savoury all the way
10. What would be your ideal Sunday?
A sleep in, a bit of sewing, some gardening maybe, a BBQ on the beach, kids early to bed and then some more sewing
11. What’s the best piece of housekeeping advice that you have received?
Keep on top of things. Do it as you go and it wont be such a mammoth chore later!

Here are the 11 Questions I am asking :
1. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you do it?
2. What is your dream job now?
3. What has been your favourite holiday destination?
4. Do you have kids or pets?
5. Name the last good movie yousaw?
6. How many houses have you lived in since leaving home?
7. What type of car do you drive?
8. What is your favourite dish you make yourself?
9. Whats the best household tip you’ve been told?
10. Who is your favourite music artist, and fave song of thiers?
11. What is your ideal ‘date’ night?

Here are the Blogs I am tagging :

hayleytremble
Read My Palms
Bringing Up a Baby
My Life As An Earth Angel
Engineer Mum

If I have missed you, please feel free to comment and I will tag you! 🙂