A picture tells its own story

My pre-Christmas sewing effort was mostly easy; I hope that it becomes a traditional family item.


Another great highlight of the baking for the season was Mum's gingerbread house which the kids decorated...


Then demolished with ease!


Meanwhile, the heat has been too much for the chooks, who are sleeping in their favourite pot plant.

Day 8

Vintage suitcase side table, photo by me.

The Black Dog (see yesterday), is ever-present but in its kennel for now.

Cheering me up are these lovely collages by Tinniegirl. They have a lovely personality, and I catch them laughing occasionally or close up together having a little gossip. Truly special and lovely, thanks Cathy.

I had a great weekend!

Misschief Maker High Tea at Pialligo with old friend Kellie - YUM.

French and Saunders Saturday night and met a legend after the show!

I am all smiles!

J
xx

TV is not all bad...

Master 6 and Miss 2 were playing beautifully with TLK's kids and some empty boxes. That is, until a disagrement. Inevitable amongst kids really, but this was one we've not had before.

Master 6 and Master 5 were putting on a TV show for the Misses 2... problem was, should they be the News or the 7:30 Report?! Gotta love the minds of these little lads!

j

Pineapple Sorbet

Lego version of the Big Pineapple, as seen at Brickvention 09 in Melb earlier this month.

Mr BB is well-renowned for his ice-creams and sorbets amongst our family and friends. At the market on the weekend he bought 2 super-ripe pineapples for a song. If you were at Fyshwick you may have seen a super-excited family? We know how good his sorbet is!!

I also thought that for the benefit these ladies, I'd share the recipe and process.

Use as much pineapple as you can blend up to 2.5 cups of fruit pulp.


Be patient, it will blend without the addition of extra liquid. Give it a poke with a utensil to move it about.


In the meantime, mix sugar, water and lime juice to make a sugar syrup. Stir it over the stove on a low heat until the sugar has melted. This needs to be chilled in the fridge.


Mix the two together and freeze as per insructions of your ice-cream machine. Simple, no?



Add it to Mr BB's premium vanilla ice cream for a "Splice" you can't get enough of! YUM. It's worth having a hot day for this. Trust me. You're welcome to come over and sample it, but it will be all gone in a day or so!!

j

Lego hat for Master 6

Master 6 (soon to be Master 7), loves this version we made of the Lego Cap, sighted at Brickvention 09 in Melbourne last month. It took us less than 20 minutes, and is fully interchangeable. The people can be replaced by "mobiles", and despite it fragility, it's quite a hit.

I am thinking it would make a good party craft for the boys later in the month actually...




j

1980s remembered

TLK was a professional photographer in her past life (i.e. pre-kids). Maybe she should start up again? All you Canberrans need a portrait don't you?!

She has a classic collection of photography from the 1980s as she appreciates a good Kodak moment. In the fashion vein, TLK has a set of books which are worth grabbing if you see them at a thrift store/op-shop. Here is the selection that had me grinning! These will be last of the retro fashion photos - I promise. Returning to Craft Blog Status shortly.


Look for these at your local oppy - they are well worth a browse.


Nautical? I think the rope around the neck is a little much, however the sail dress is oh-so-practical!


Wedding again - The sleeves, the bows in hair. You guessed it - 1983!

Unsure why there are bodies on the ground... Nothing flattering about these outfits, nothing at all. Thankfully we all made it through 1985!

j

Victims of fashion or trend setters??

I have been enjoying the comments on the fashion-doyenne post from last week, and have had some lovely links and photos sent my way.

A dear friend has sent through this lovely shot (weddings seem to score well in the "what was I thinking?" stakes - perhaps a message there for any Bridezillas out there...

I love the make up, the hair, the 'cocktail hats', the frills, the lace gloves, and the colour. Excellent example of the genre. Eyes had to be obscured for permission to print - there are reputations to uphold!


Also in the wedding style, circa 1990. These lovelies are related to me, so I can comment that at the time these dresses were superb! Taffeta shot with blue and red and fresh perms too!


Carnation bouquets with some gyp to fill them out. Classic. 'Twas a great wedding too!!

I will draw the Giveaway tomorrow - don't forget to comment here to be in the 300th post and One Year Blogaversary draw.

j

Poppy Skirt in Action!

Poppy Pop Pops wearing the skirt I made her as part of the twirly skirt bonanza late last year. Her Mum has sent me some before and after pics. I must say that the after pic is my fave. I love a bit of dirt and water play for kids!

More of these skirts soon - they are lots of fun to put together. So glad to see them in action!


j

Mum, there's a stick in my head!

I like to scare my Mum. She scares easily. When we did craft, I put a red fuzzy pom pommy thingy up my nose, and I was scared and Mum wasn't but Dad was, and Mum just got the tweezers and then got it out and Dad said words I don't know and I was OK and I gotted a icy pole like you do when you're brave, and I was so I did.

I can do big jumps and I like to swing off the bar at the top of the slides but best I like to swing on the really high ones when your feet go all off the ground and Mum gets so excited she comes running to wherever I am and catches me and I don't fall 'cos Mum is a good catcher but she says not to do it but I don't listen 'cos she does funny faces when I do and it's funny.

I have done some big falls and I get up again and keep running 'cos I want to catch my brother and his friends 'cos they are six and I will be too one day so I need to know how to play what they do. I fall sometimes and need a princess bandaid, and sometimes I fall like last year when I have to go and get an x-ray and plastery stuff that makes going to the bath tricky, but I gotted lots of icy poles and watched lots of TV and couldn't walk.

On Christmas Eve we went to see lights on houses that were showing Santa where they lived and it was late and I saw a light in the sky and shouted that it was Santa's sleigh and Mum said maybe it was and my brother saw it too and we wanted Mum to go fast to get home so we could go to bed before we missed Santa visiting 'cos he only comes when we are asleep and we were really awake. Mum said she could only go safe speed and we were scared 'cos Santa was nearby and we wented to bed so super quick and my brother nearly forgotted the snack for Santa. Mum thought we were really funny and that time we were scared and Mum was laughing and I really did see the sleigh.

Today I tolded Mum that I had a stick in my head and she ran really, really fast, then gotted the camera. It's not a real stick Mum, it's pretending, 'cos that's funny not hurty, and you should have seen the look on your face Mum!


Oh and Mum, you know that you said that crayons taste all yucky and that eating them is not a good idea? You was right.

Miss 2.

How Green is Your Garden?

Today was spent lazing about. Nothing like a lazy day. A friend has had a post-Christmas shock and so we are pretty twitchy waiting for the phone to ring in case she needs our support. Unable to get into any major projects, we are doing the little annual jobs that can be attended to when Mr BB has his annual Time Off. In the meantime, the garden has been thoroughly enjoying recent rains:

We have no partridges in our pear tree, but if the grey-water can be diverted this way, we may have a good crop! (Our washing detergent is grey-water-friendly).

We have a very over-grown part of the garden that needs serious pruning and hacking into. As renters, we are unable to pull out the cotoneaster, privet, and other weedy yucko plants, but I can dream... Oh to be Edward Scissorhands in this garden!


However the garden is not all bad. All around the entertaining area at the rear of the house, the bricks are full of little holes. The owners were clearly clever little possums though, and have filled the holes creatively. Whenever I see bricks with holes I remember past experiences with arachnids of the red-back kind (no pics, too scary, if you don't know to what I refer, look here).

Near the sandpit, small pieces of mosaic tile are concreted into the holes, thus:


And around the ledges, they have planted little succulents:


All great ways to disguise some potentially ugly bits. The best bit is that it creates little secret gardens for the children. These little details are seen by the kids (at eye-height and small-scale). Little nooks and crannies for fairies and critters to dwell.

As kids, my brother and I used old spoons to dig tunnels and trenches in the soil of the garden for the Star Wars figurines to hide . I used to visit a moss-covered rock in the local timber-yard's carpark to check for fairies. Miss 2 and Master 6 like to follow ants and ladybugs. Master 6 has even named a few insects that frequent the garden, and I am thrilled that they take the time to do this. There's so much to discover. Why don't you get down on your hands and knees in the garden. No-one' looking, go on! What do you see?

j

Did Santa Come To You?

A long while back I was wondering how to get a print out of my blog so I could have a hard copy for the kids. I consider this blog less a public display and more a journal these days, so wanted a copy to refer to. After a fair bit of research, it all seemed too hard. I must have mentioned this to Mr BB, as on Christmas Day I was presented with a bound copy of Button Beauty! I am thrilled and love it. He spent considerable time compiling it, and for that I am so grateful. So much more meaningful than something quickly whipped off a shelf. Thanks honey!

The Christmas season finally saw me clear the dining table too, so we could eat Christmas breakfast and dinner! To do so, I finished off the tiered skirts.

One for my niece PP:


One for Miss M who turns 3 in January:


The next few will form new stock for a little 2009 sanity project - stay tuned!

The pudding was amazing, the ritual complete, and Mr BB whipped up a vanilla bean custard and a vanilla bean ice cream to go with it! Along with a saved bottle of Moet, we had a fabulous day!


Master 6 was not well on the day unfortunately, however he still managed to complete a series of Lego creations we thought would last a week!

Today we will spend in the garden, hoping for a peaceful and happy time.

Many thanks for all the support and encouragement from you readers over the year. As my blogaversary approaches, I am amazed that I have stuck this out, and that I have made so many new and dear connections in the crafty blog world.

Happy New Year - keep safe.

J

Christmas Craft Anyone?

I have been saving toilet rolls and boxes for Christmas Craft, and woke this morning bursting with ideas for lots of angels, trees, stars, and decorations.


Imagine how astounded I was to discover that NEITHER of the kids wanted to do craft? That is a first here. I even tried bribing them with bottles of glitter!

Miss 2 just wanted to pretend she had a stick through her head....


While my darling Master 6 wanted to build a city. He'd just found his blocks, and threw his creativity block-ward instead. Great city buddy!


So back to the dining table o' sewing I went to finish off two more skirts. I really must get cracking on the sewing if I am to seat eleven for breakfast on Thursday.....!

Ah, weekend bliss..!

J

Mince Pies

MMMmince pies. Fabulous part of the pre-Christmas dance. I only got to mine yesterday after having the ingredients on the bench for 2 weeks!

Tradition has it that if you eat 12 mince pies over Advent, you will have twelve months of good luck and good health. I am certainly trying to get a year of good health!

These are an annual tradition for me. My dearest old buddy and I have been making them for years. The story goes that JR and her Mum were having afternoon tea at the Windsor Hotel in '98 and asked the pastry chef for his recipe for the brilliant pastry. The filling is suited to us - you can modify it to your own taste!

Pastry:
250g softened unsalted butter
250g icing sugar
1 egg
60ml milk (full cream)
500g plain flour

Beat butter and icing sugar until well-combined. Add egg and milk and lastly flour.

Do not overwork. Pop in fridge at least 2 hours wrapped in cling wrap.

Filling:
2 jars of MacRobertson's fruit mince
1 packet chopped, dried apricots
100g currants

I like a pastry star over the mince mixture as a "lid", or you can dust them with icing sugar, or leave them plain.

No need to do any blind baking - just roll, cut into rounds, cook in greased patty pan tins until lightly golden in moderate oven.

CHEAT: If you would rather stick pins in your eyes than make pastry, pampas do a passable shortcrust pastry case (in frozen section of the supermarket) which is easier but not as tasty as the above recipe. There are 12 in a pack, and retail for $5-$6 (making pastry is MUCH cheaper).

YUM!

Christmas Angels and Generous friends

OK - so two wholly unrelated items that squish into one post. I have been absent for some time - got a new computer from Santa, and have been lax about setting it up... Bloglines is heaving under the pressure of the unread posts. Must investigate this Google Reader business soon (slow on the techno uptake, I know...)

Sewing has been my saving grace this week! School term ended, extra-curricular classes winding up, parties to attend and school bags to clean out (how long has this "insert any fruit" been here?!)

A wonderful friend shared a pattern for a three-tiered skirt with me some time ago. After my disastrous luck with patterns, I left it for a long time, untouched, with all the others... However certain fabrics were calling me, and claiming to belong together, so I had to respond.


Miss 2 looked so cute, I had to whip one up for a friends wee babe who has just recently started walking. Two in one afternoon?! Wow, an easy pattern! So Two more in the wings for a bestie's little lass who turns two in Jan, and for Niece PP who also is now a walking doll. Who else can I make them for? Pattern only goes up to a size 4! Love it though.



'Tis the season for op-shop fairy goodness too. The lovely Kootoyoo shared her op-shop goodness and sent me this coffee pot (a while back, photo just hid, sorry Kirsty!) Isn't it magnificent? Love it, thanks so much Kirsty.


Also a dear friend in South Australia sent me this fabulous vintage table cloth of Canberra (which clearly needs to be ironed!) Thanks Em!


Hope your Christmas plans are in full swing -

J

Wouldn't it be nice...

Thanks Steph - you always bring a smile to my face!

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa -

Is it true that only good boys and girls get presents? What if there are moments of good in amongst a sea of just trying? Does that count? How about we say that good behaviour is in the eye of the beholder? In relative terms it can be good - it can!

So Santa, can you please help me out? I am on the verge of needing a cup of tea, a Bex and a good lie down, but can you please, please, please tell me how I can get Agents Lego without paying over $70 in postage and without going near the shops?

Master Six and his list-to-Santa-mark-three has thrown me in a spin...

Lego is the one thing I cannot sew. Or can I??

Image from here

Image from here

Image from here

A ring, cuff-links, a flash-drive, a lamp shade, a cuckoo clock, and a sewing machine, all from LEGO! A-ha - maybe I can crochet the lego required?! Felt it?!


Or Not.

J

Pea-ping out from a blanket of green...

The first snow peas! Both kids are refusing to eat them, but I am LOVING them straight off the plant. Lots of green tomatoes, some teeny tiny cucumbers, and the promise of a rockmelon/cantaloupe to come! Lettuces almost all eaten (by us, not snails, they seem to dislike sliding on polystyrene boxes). I had forgotten the joy of the veggie patch...!

What are you growing at the moment?

Christmas crafts and creations

In an effort to clear the dining table, I am still working away at Christmas presents. I am relieved I didn't plan to knit any pressies this year, as I have slowed right down on the needles. Ground to a halt even seems mild!

So the Janome and I have been in sweat-shop mode. Apart from the buttony wall-hanging above, there have been five library bags, one apron, one shower hat, an embroidered gran-roll-a for Mum's handbag (based on Kirsty's fabbo designs), an advent calender (no, it was not ready for December 1st...), a skirt for Miss 2 is cut out and ready to sew, and the mending of course must be done. Phew! No wonder I am tired! Miss 2 continues coughing up a storm, so nights are now open for sewing (no sleep here)!


Sew much to do!!

J