Friday, December 30, 2011

Holiday Madness

You have no idea how happy I am that the holidays (Christmas/ new years) are almost over. They are so busy, hectic, expensive and stressful!
I was out buying Christmas gifts on Christmas eve, and wrapping presents until 1am!! I promise myself (Like I do every year lol) I will be more organised next year, and I mean it!!

We had a lovely Christmas day. We drove to my sisters house at Pyalong Victoria for Christmas lunch with my family. It was relaxing and the kids had a blast! Then Boxing day we had a BBQ with my partners mum and her hubby. That ended up being a pretty long day and I was glad when I got to crawl into bed at 11pm.
New years eve wont be very exciting. Hubby and DD1 have gone camping with friends. Myself and the other kids didn't go because its going to be 39 degrees for the next few days, YUCK!
So I'm spending New year on the couch watching movies under the air con, and I may even shout myself to a few Midori and lemonades :)

Now just to make it to the end of the school holidays!!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

They're here !!

Its been a long impatient wait but finally

I HAVE CHICKENS!!!!


I'm so in love with my beautiful girls. They are Gold laced Wayandottes and are around 10ish weeks old.  No names for them yet as I haven't really had much time to sit and watch them think about it. (A friend need an emergency babysitter)

Aren't they gorgeous!! ♥♥♥

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Quotes

I came across these two quotes today and they have really jumped out at me today, so just had to share.

Don't be a woman that needs a man ....
♥ Be a woman that a man needs ! ♥
 
 
Let your past ♥ MAKE YOU BETTER, ♥
not bitter.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Catch up post

Gosh I didn't realise it had been so long since I posted in here. The days just seem to be going by in such a blur!
I'm still in shock that December is here!

This past week has been hectic! First I had dramas with my chicken coop not arriving after weeks of waiting. Turned out it had been sitting in the local delivery depot because it had been damaged during transit. After lots of emails and me getting very annoyed I finally have a replacement and its all put together. Sadly I'm yet to get my chooks because I can't seem to find anyone local that sells anything other then Isa Browns :(

The end of last week was spent sewing like a mad woman, all day and almost all night for three days/nights. I was running in barley any sleep. Trying to get ready for my market stall. No idea what happened or where to time went, always seems to happen though!

Saturday came and when in a flash, and all those sleepless nights felt like they were for nothing. Not a lot of my stuff sold, which was a bit disappointing but it now means I have lots for my online store.

I'm holding a stocking tomorrow (Wednesday) night.

Here are a few pics of my stall at the market and few things you will see online tomorrow night.





Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Whoops!!

I knew opening that spotlight catalogue would be dangerous, but I did it anyway.
Yep sure enough there is a whole mini catalogue inside the normal one with new quilting fabrics.
Oh but wait whats this, a voucher! Spend $100 and get $40 off. Wow that's awesome, I think to myself.

Yet there was a little voice inside my head telling me that no your not really saving money because if you didn't open the  catalogue you wouldn't even want to go there and spend ANY money at all.
oh shhhh you!

So off to spotlight I go Thinking to myself easy as, I will just spend the exact $100 needed to get the $40 off, making it $40 worth of free fabric. I'm continuing to ignore the little voice in my head thinking about the $60 I didn't budget for fabric this week, wish it would just shoosh up!

I get there and race down toward the new fabrics...YAY their all still there!! I grab the ones I want and start to wonder over to the cutting counter....until a big yellow sign catches my eye... 30% off all poplin.
I will just take a quick look I say to Miss L who is staring up at me from her capsule inside the trolley. she gives me a big grin of approval.

I see a few that grab my eye and put them in the trolley, then a few more...soon Miss L is looking like she is in a fabric roll jungle LOL Really should of taken a photo!

I head to the cutting counter not stopping this time and get what I want cut. Annabel (yes I know them all by name) tells me my total and hands me my card and bundle of fabric.
Hmmmm

As I walk back to the font counter where you pay for her items I just keep thinking of those cute animal print fabrics and the  $40 I will be saving...then that voice starts again, but your not saving anything. Your spending money you don't need to spend....PFFT of course I need to spend money on this fabric. I don't own any of these prints!


So how much did I end up spending today at spotlight....One hundred dollars...after the forty was discounted...Yeah, Yeah I know that's actually $140...$40 over what I planned to spend.  Oh well just means I wont be buying any Christmas pressies this week..no biggie

Yes it is, it means you have put off buying Christmas presents for another week. Which means your going to rushing around yet again this year like you did last year and the year before the year before that

Oh shoosh up you!!

Think I need to go drown that voice out with the humming of my sewing machine :)

Want to see what $140 worth of fabric looks like?




Yeah I thought it would be more too lol oh well just look at those cute animal prints!!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Fluffy mail heaven

Gotta love it when more than one parcel turns up in the mail and they are both MCNs

One was a custom order from Fluff E. Stuff and one bought through a stocking and the other was 2 baby safari nappies. I got them cheap because sadly they are closing down


And the backs of the Fluff E. Stuff nappies
The brown one is a Christmas nappy I bought in the Firefly stocking  Aren't they just divine!!! 

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Scored!

This weekend here in Bendigo is the Annual Swap Meet. For those that have never been to a swap meet its kind of like a massive outdoor op shop only with a lot more man crap (rusty old car parts and stuff) LOL
After doing a few blockies we scored a parking spot just down the road, usually you have to park 10 kilometers away and hike it there.
I hadn't really even through about what I would be hunting for this year, then as I walked in the gate it hit me...things I can use at my market stalls for displays! I told hubby what I was after so he could keep an eye out as well and we set off.
The first half an hour in and I was feeling a bit disheartened, all there seemed to be was rusty old car parts :(
It wasn't until we reached the oval (had been walking around the perimeter) that things got interested. There was so much to look at! One of the things that caught my eye was a gorgeous old rocking horse that had been done up, for a bargain price of $500..DH didn't think it was such a bargain..spoilt sport! There were so many cute little old style pedal cars, some done up some all rusty and in need of so TLC.

Than after 2 hours of walking around I came across a gorgeous little old wooden chest... it was PERFECT!! And such a score at only $5!!


Its a little darker in colour than what my pics show (silly camera) but its perfect for displaying my new product at my up coming market!!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

What! Where did October go??

Gosh where has this year gone?!  November is here!!! Which means its almost time for the December (3rd) Children's market :D

This week I have been busy testing out a new pattern and an awesome idea I have for this market, I'm so excited! It turned out better then I expected, and I'm posting it off to my tester tomorrow. The most exciting thing for me is it isn't a clothing item.
I must admit that making the same things over and over had made me lose my sewjo (sewing mojo) but this new item has brought that back in a big way!!

I'm not sure that I will be selling them though my online store, as they are quite popular on other websites/facebook pages but they are something I haven't seen at this market before.
I'm busting to show you a photo but will restrain myself for now, I want to get feedback from my tester to see if she things it needs any changes first.

Hang on, its November, right? OMGosh that means my baby girl is FOUR months old!! What!! No way!
*sigh* they grow up to fast :( Though not really in her case lol she is so small she still fits her newborn nappies hahaha

Cluck Cluck ♥

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Right Now

I saw this on Miss Melly's blog and loved it so I'm going to do it as well

Right Now I am

 feeling Tired because Miss L was up feeding a lot last night
 thinking I should get the sewing machine out tonight
 hearing Mess L starting to stir
 loving my new mannequin
 wondering if i will get this post done before Miss L starts to cry
 appreciating My husband, he has been home so doing the school runs :)
 smelling Honey mustard chicken
 drinking Water
 laughing at Master R trying to make a paper plane
 knowing  I have to get sewing done tonight even though I can't be bothered
 wanting to lose weight
 believing I can and will be organised for the kids market I signed up for in December
 wearing 3/4 length denim pants and a black top

And now Miss L wide  awake so better go :) Phew just got it done in time

Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!! Blogtoberfest #27-18

Today is the 31st of October, Halloween.

It not a huge thing here in Australia but slowly growing. Its the one holiday of the year I LOVE!! There is no buying presents for having to sit through boring family meals. You get to have fun dressing up and go out collecting lollies.

I live out in the bush so no trick or treating for me and my kids tonight, though I might make them something Halloween themed for dessert :)

My eldest went to school today as a zombie, though  when we got to the school and she saw no one else (she saw all of 8 people everyone else was inside)  had dressed up she quickly got out a face wipe and washed off all the face paint :(
Yes I was very annoyed, after spending all that money and then taking the time to do it for her ( I even made fake blood) she just wiped it off

So I came home and made my youngest son into a zombie instead....and he LOVES it!




Happy Halloween Everyone :)

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Girlfriend theropy - Blogtoberfest #26

As a mum of 5 time on my own is very rare and its usually just a quick trip to the supermarket and back. So at the start of the week when my friend suggest we go out for tea (also with another friend) I jumped at the chance.
I booked it in with hubby that night and jumped on facebook to discuss the details. Didn't take us long to decide on a time and place.

This week seem to drag, time always does when you looking forward to something. I spent Friday expressing a bottle for little Miss L. Yes my supply is crap so it took me 4 goes to get a total of 120 mls
*sigh*
I was so nervous about leaving Miss L but I knew I  would only be a phone call away and hey after 4 kids I'm sure hubby should know what he is doing by now!

We started the night with a cocktail each, gosh I haven't drank in a very long time and felt it go straight to my head, suck with the free water after that.
I had a death by chocolate frog....took me till the end of my drink to work out why it was called that, the frog part just didn't make sense until I saw him laying in the bottom of the glass lol
MMM just looking at the picture makes me crave another!


It wasn't long and we were chatting our head off, the poor waiter could hardly get our attention when ever he came over lol
We talked about everything and anything it was so so good to get out and just have some me time. I think I really needed it because I haven't been such a grumpy mummy today.

Funny how you don't realise you need something so bad until it has happened.

Fingers crossed we keep our promise to each other to do this once a month from now on.

Bring on our November outing!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Isn't she gorgeous - Blogtoberfest #25

My new sewing friend arrived today!! I found her on ebay and got her for an awesome price!

I was hoping she would be small enough to model my girls dresses but she is more adult size so I will just use her to decoration in my sewing studio (one day when its done lol) or when I make some ladies handbags she can model them...hmmm

Close up of the detail

Close up of the detail


I ♥ her

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Blogtoberfest # 23-24

This picture explains what has been happening over the past few days


Yes life has gotten very stressful!
Not something I can go into on here though :(

Will be back to normal blogging as of tomorrow!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Random thought - blogtoberfest #22

While searching pinterest for chicken coop ideas I came across this particular one. My first thought was, Are chickens afraid of the dark?
Well why else would a chicken coop need lights?

 So why was I searching chicken coops? Simple, we are getting chickens!! After many years of nagging asking my husbeast he has finally agreed I can get some chickens, for the kids of course ;)

So what type of coop do I want

This is what I'm asking husbeast to build me

This is the sort of thing he has said we will buy
 Spoil sport!

Oh and one last one I want to share...isn't this the cutest chicken coop ever!! It would fit in well here, it reminds me of a tram!

The Cake reveal - blogtoberfest #21

Yesterday was Miss E's birthday party.
As usual people that didn't RSVP turned up, lucky I had a sense that would happen and prepared for them as well.
Once everyone arrived we played good old pin the tail on the donkey, to which I suspect the winner had cheated because she got it spot bang on and had her head tiled back (my guess is she was looking under the blind fold) But I was gracious and clapped for her handed her prize.

Then it was time for presents, my daughter loves crafts and now has lots to keep her amused.

I set up the doughnut eating game and they were so excited they couldn't stand still...literally!! Have you ever seen what an excited bunch of 8 year old girls? Its loud!!

We then played pass the parcel and before we knew it the mums were due back to pick them up. So it was time for the big cake moment

I was so nervous, Miss E knew her cake was going to be a rainbow layer cake so the pressure was on
We sang happy birthday. The candles were blown out, she missed one, so there were happy squeals of "you have a boyfriend". Then as she drove that (plastic) knife into the cake my heart skipped a few beats.
There is a lot of pressure on mums over the cake you know!
As the first  piece was pulled out there were gasps from all the girls..."Wow that looks awesome"
I let out a huge sigh and realise I was holing my breath... geez woman its just a cake!

I must say even I'm impressed with how it turned out.


S after days of organising, stressing and cooking within what feels like 5 minutes its all over and your left with a huge mess to clean up. But its all worth it just to see the huge smile on your child's face and to have them cuddle you and say "thank you mum that was the best party ever"

♥♥

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Catching up - blogtoberfest #15-18

Gosh haven't I been a bit of a slacker!

The past few days have been busy busy (though I feel like I have done nothing) . If I wasn't holding a unsettled baby I was getting organised for my daughters birthday party (for tomorrow) or trying to catch up on the housework.
Most of the past few  days though I have been cuddling Miss L. Thankfully today has been a much more settled day!

So the only exciting things that happened during this week were I took Miss E to get her ears pierced and Miss T got her belly done at the same time
And I got two lots of fluffy mail!

My custom Green Bums
Secondhand Fluff E Stuff I scored cheap



Well its almost midnight, so I better get this birthday cake finished before Miss L wakes for her next  feed.....hang on there is movement in the hammock....the cake will have to wait a bit longer.

*sigh* Looks like another long night for me!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Happy Birthday Miss E Blogtoberfest #13-14

Yesterday was my daughters 8th birthday and I started her day with an awesome surprise.

I filled (well not quite filled lol ) her bedroom with helium balloons while she slept.

This is what she saw when she opened her eyes


These balloons have given hours of entertainment to all the kids, even Miss L (3 months old) loves them!

Unfortunately it was a school day so she had to go to school but her grandma picked her (and master L) up at the end of the day and brought them home with doughnuts for afternoon tea. YUM YUM!

Its a family tradition of ours that the birthday person picks what we have for tea (home cooked or takeaways). I was expecting to hear she wanted McDonald (blergh) but no it was probably worse lol it was KFC (double blergh!)
After tea we has chocolate birthday cake for desert and it was bed time for the wee ones

And I was left to sit and wonder where the past 8 years have gone

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Birthday party ideas

I'm being held hostage by my Velcro baby. I think has a pain in the belly and needs a big poo...sorry probably TMI haha
She wont let me put her in the sling or the wrap,If I do she crys like I have never heard her cry before.
So means I stuck sitting and cuddling her, which means I can't do my housework (not such a bad thing)  or sewing.

Pinterest it is then!! But I will use this time wisely and look for some birthday party ideas. Miss E turns 8 tomorrow and her party is on Sunday.

She wants a cake like this one
Not to sure how to get such a bright purple colour. Every time I have tried to make purple food colour its turned a greyish colour.

Seen as we are having a rainbow cake I thought I would make it a rainbow themed party. Some ideas I have found on pinterest are

Rainbow fruit

Rainbow jelly cups and coloured popcorn in cups

And a col came to play is the doughnut eating game (I will use coloured iced doughnuts)


Now I just need to find some cool decorating ideas!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Lemon meringue flop - Blogtoberfest #12

I had a craving for lemon meringue pie today, which is weird because I have never had it before so I thought I would whip one up. (NO I'm not pregnant!)

Now I have proven to myself that just because something doesn't look nice, doesn't mean it doesn't taste nice...yes I was one of those children!

My pie was looking perfect until i attempted the meringue part!

First of all I don't think I whipped my meringue long enough, because when I tired to add the peaks with the back of the spoon they didn't fluff up very much. Secondly I think I put the meringue on to soon ( the filling wasn't cooled enough) because instead of being nice and tall it sort of spread flat .



But it still tasted divine! So much so I might have to go back for seconds.

This is what I was trying for lol

Friday, October 14, 2011

Winner Winner Winner - Blogtoberfest #12

And the winner of the $20 Gift voucher is......

*insert drum roll here*




Comment number 2 made by Vic

I can't decide what I like the most! I like the funky peasant dress but this tunic https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=152106604811291&set=a.165582503463701.30901.137553672933251&type=3 is gorgeous too! Lovely items & a lovely idea for a give-away.

Happy Blogtoberfest to you!


Congratulations Vic, I will email you with your voucher number that you can use in store now

Thank you to everyone that entered.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Custom order - Blogtoberfest #11

I found my sewing mojo today!!

I finished of Charmaine's custom order. A dress for you daughters birthday. Which happens to be the same as my daughters birthday :)


I then cut out more dresses for my store.

Love the purple, by Joel Dewberry!!

Hoping to get time either tomorrow night or over the weekend to try out a new dress I have in mind. I'm just going to change a pattern I already have a little and hope it works!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

That is so me! Blogtoberfest #10

Well today was suppose to be We did it Wednesday, but I had an morning of shopping and then I got home and well my afternoon was kind of like this

So needless to say I didn't get anything made up for we did it Wednesday.....oops.  So because of my pinterest filled afternoon I don't really have anything to blog about. So I'm going to fill my blog post up with pins I have found that when I found them my reaction was OMG YES!! That is so me!!

I always sleep like this!


YES! and I'm glad I'm not the only one that does this

Oh yes, if only!!

HEHE man I love Pinterest :)

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Good for the soul - Blogtoberfest #9

After dropping the kids off at school I received a random text from a friend I haven't caught up with in a while asking if I wanted to catch up for a coffee. She is my friend that took my birth photos :) or as she puts it was part of Miss L's welcoming committee
Give me an hour to go home and "human myself up" (yes we were running late so I didn't get a chance to have a shower ) and I'm there!!

Turned out today was just what the doctor ordered!! I got to Beckie's house at around 10am and what felt like 5 minutes later it was 2pm!!
Beckie is one of these people that just being around her energies you, lifts you up and just fills you with warm and makes you smile.

OK yes I will admit it, I have a bit of girl crush on her :P But who wouldn't!!

I can't wait to catch up with her and a few other friends (a few from our mothers group from 5 years ago) I haven't seen for along time on Friday.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Giveaway - Blogtoberfest #8


For you change to win a $20 voucher all you have to do is leave a comment with your favorite The Art Of Fabric item and your email address.

I will pick the winner at 7pm Friday the 14th via Random org

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Teachers gift idea - Blogtoberfest - 7

Surfing facebook this afternoon I came across a photo on Lace & Rydes fan page. They sell gorgeous fabric dolls BTW go check them out!!
I'm blogging it so I don't forget it. Such a cute gift for your child's teacher!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Fumming!! Blogtoberfest # 6

I have just read that the leading car seat manufacturer in Australia is bringing out a new baby carrier...and its a bloody crotch dangler!!!

Are they serious!! How can they do this when they are suppose to be about children's safety! Those things are not safe! They damage babies/children's hips and spins. Not to mention how uncomfortable they are for the person wearing them.

Shame on Safe N Sound for putting their money and resources into bring out such a horrible product. They should be putting their efforts into bring extended reward facing to Australia!!


Please please don't buy these sort of carriers for you children. If you going to spend money on a carrier buy yourself a Ergo, a Mei Tai,  a wrap or a sling. They are far better for you child and yourself

Would you like to be hung by your crotch for hours at a time? I think not.
These pictures taken by one of the testers for this new carrier really says it all!!



Here are some really good links about baby wearing
 Link1 
Link 2

Friday, October 7, 2011

Lava lamp experiment - Blogtoberfest #5

Remember to good old Lava lamp? How cool were they!

Today the kids and I decided to do a fun experiment we had seen on YouTube  All you need is a bottle, water, cooking oil, food colouring and Alka Seltzer

Step 1.  Water to bottle (as seen in above pic)

Step 2. Add food colouring to water

 
Step 3. Add Oil to the bottle
Step 4 Wait for the oil and water to separate properly
Step 5. Add in the Alka Seltzer tablet and watch the magic happen

 Here are some photos of some other ones we did