Rainy Day Fun!

What do you do on a raining day? 

Build a car of course!

I know it looks like a house, but he wanted a car with a hard roof, - there is even a spoiler which you can't see here!

Who says boys can't pretend!

(Oh and PS... I made that blanket!)

Craft and a mini break...

I finally, last Saturday did something I had been meaning to do for ages!  I taught my first crochet lesson to a couple of willing to learn gals!  Well, that's not what I have been meaning to do, I have wanted to start craft lessons/catch ups with those who want to learn.  I mean, I have learnt a stack of cool crafty things this year and I wanted to pass that knowledge on!

Also, last Saturday we (Brad, Ash and I) went on a (very) mini break.  This was our first family holiday in ... well... forever!  Sad isn't it.  But Brad came home the other day and told me we were going to go away for a night.  We stayed in a swish unit at Caloundra and spent the afternoon and night at the beach, going out for dinner, then out again for breakfast then, got ourselves a gift each and came home! Ahhh!

Have I told you lately that I love my hubby?  I do!

Ohhh its nearly time!

Things are heating up in the robot party making department, I have delegated chores, made stuff and shopped! I sooo hope I am ready, and if not and all goes belly up, then I will sit in a heap and cry!

Just kidding! I think... Seriously, I can't wait to show you all the pics! Check back soon!

On a sad note, I only have a 2 year old for one more day!

Things I made in the past two weeks

As promised I have photos of the things I have made. I have also made some cute little hair pins which I will post seperately.

Carrot rattle for the eagerly awaited (and now overdue) nephew...

along with the ring stacker for him... hurry up little man and come out!!!

The first of 3 of these (one for me and two as gifts- this was for Mandy!)

A little something I learnt how to do at Brown Owls last Sunday

Plus something I whipped up for tonight! (Banana cake - can't you tell?)

What an exciting day!

I finished the 6th of 12 squares for my crochet blanket...

Some new cushions...

Some viewing for tonight (thanks Anna)...

Some cute buttons ready for hairpins (more on this to come)

do you like them?...

AND

a new fridge!

It was a public holiday here, although Brad has the week off. How was your day?

Swap Done!

I did it! I finished my pincushion for Kate's Pincushion Swap over at Fox's Lane!

I hope the recipent likes it!

I loved trying to come up with a creative idea, after many ideas the tea cup was the one. I even got to put some of my crochet on top!

The others are here at the Flickr group

New cushions!

For a while now I have felt like there is some colour missing from our lounge room, everything is so beige and brown and well, SAFE! So, I am going to take a flying jump and throw in some colour! I am thinking of reds and green... but we'll see where I end up.

What has inspired this... well Katherine from Saffron Threads has declared (yes declared it) April, to be The Month of the Cushion!

So come on who's with her? I certainly am!

Happenings...

Isn't it inevitable that when you are on a roll in one area of your life, another area totally gets neglected. Well, at the moment my 365 days of decluttering is totally getting neglected and at this rate it will take me YEARS to complete... its harder than I thought.

On the area that I am on a roll with... gifts! In the past two days I have managed to finish a Tie Tee (you can find the tute here) and a tutu, I have half finished a crown and a robot, and have tried my hand at making a doily - although I think I need a smaller hook! So, I have been very industrious indeed. I just need to make my brother something for his birthday on Sunday and I will be right.

Oh and it is only now 2 more sleeps till I rock out with my fave band of all times!!!

Superchick!!! (As I have no idea how to upload a youtube clip check them out here!)

my little wish list

Why is it that when someone wants to buy me a gift (ie birthday, mother's day, Christmas etc) I can never think of anything?... so I am making a list... starting here, so that I know where I have left it!

Some Babushka doll gumboots... I mean honestly I need them with all this rain!

a badge press... I could press till the cows (or my hubby) came home...

a silk screen to make my own prints would go nicely too...

but at the moment one of these would be the best... my own space for creating...

what's on your list?

some softie friends have come to play...

I have once again been busy making birthday gifts - some of which are very early... I have more to think up now... off I go... oh but first - the new additions to the softie present collection!

a robot pocket pillow for the boy... tutorial here

(has been dubbed "sumo robot" that's what you get for using stretch fabric)

a matyroshka doll pocket pillow for Tia... tutorial here

and a ruby doll for Ruby... tutorial here

What's your latest? Give one of these a go!

A few crafty things I have been doing...

I have been crocheting up a storm! See for yourself...

tea cozy and pot holder (it works)...

hats for some special friends...

a couple of birthday pressies...

a hat for a groovy boy turning 1...

and a bag (purse to come) for a gorgeous niece turning 2...

(I got the pattern here)

and when I got bored crocheting I did some lovely drawings...

ahh love the crayola washable markers!!! (So did Asher)

A little something fun...

Today I went to my first Brown Owls meeting! I took Krystal for support (not that I needed it - but she really wanted to go to!) and we had a fab time! We were really excited and enjoyed meeting new people (and for me, meeting an old friend) and getting fresh ideas - seeing what other projects people were doing. We made our own name badges today (I put a plastic cover on to keep it clean, but it would have looked better with out I think - see below), and Krystal and I both feel that everyone should have a badge maker! Ha! Who knows what else we will feel we need by the end of the year!

On arriving home, I knew that I needed a sewing project to do as I went to bed last night with RSI from making the panda! So, I whipped up this little beauty so that I won't be loosing any of my hooks from now on.

089: me time!

What a day! Ok so it wasn't really a big day as such but when you are a little under the weather any day is exhausting...

Before I tell you about it I wanna tell you what I am TOTALLY grateful for...

Today I recieved an awesome (belated - but I don't care) birthday gift from my beautiful friends Jen & John in Melbourne. Guys if you are reading this THANK YOU!!! I totally love it.... check it out...(since writing this I have discovered that it was actually John who picked this beauty out!!! - you are amazing John! THANK YOU!!!)

I managed a little bit of house work and threw out bits of trash that should have been thrown away ages ago - ie papers, bags etc. But at about noon I decided that we needed a quick trip to the shops for some fruit (as the cupboard was bare... of fruit that is). Now, you must understand that our road that we live on was under construction (re surfacing) "New Road" as Asher calls it. So each time I have ventured out I have had to be cautious of which way I could go etc. Anyway today as I walked out the door - I wasn't really worried - I mean 10min trip to the shops right, I didn't even bother to grab my mobile!

However, I was wrong, upon returning (fully ready for Asher and I to have sleeps) I was informed I couldn't drive in my driveway as the road was being laid there at that moment and was over 180 degrees! And I couldn't go in for at least 30-45 mins! My body and my mouth both groaned! Where could I go, the shops - no Asher is still sick and couldn't play with other kids, my friend's house - no don't want to infect them... who can I turn to... I know - MUM! So, off we went to my mum's. Although, when we got there she wasn't there but my lovely sister was, but this of course meant - so were her kids! But I had nowhere else to go, she didn't mind and as Asher and Tia hadn't seen each other in ages they loved it! So, I am really hoping they don't get sick from my boy! So, my 10mins turned into 2 hours - upon which we returned home for late sleeps for the day.

Anyway, after a week in solitary confinment (it felt like it anyway) I went out tonight with my Captivating sistas for supper. I have sooo missed them all so it was nice to catch up. ( I mean I see them all the time - but to have our own special time was great!

Also, yesterday I started a new project for Asher. Actually, 2 - one was my first attempt at a crocheted ball so he could throw till his little heart was content and the other was a softie! My first ever AND it is crocheted!!!

He is supposed to look like this...

However, due to the lack of black wool in my house he will look a little like this...

Will post a finished bear soon... he needs some eyes!

crafty inspiration

Ok have realised that I need a creative space...

so am clearing some space...

will see how it goes.

But, I need some inspiration - what great things could I do with these great tidbits???

Ideas anyone???

A Granny a day keeps me in play...

Since recieving the beautiful Meet Me at Mikes book for Christmas I have been admiring the little "Granny Squares" in the back.

Granny Squares for the uneducated (as I was) is a little crocheted square which you can join together to make a rug like this one my Grandma made for me a while ago.

Anyway, this morning I decided to put my hook to use and to start pracitising with some old wool I had. However, I realised to my dismay that I only knew

how to start and not turn around or even try the square. Plus I have lent my new book to a friend to make something from whilst I made something else.

But, never fear, as I was catching up with some of my fave blogs that I follow I discovered on the Meet Me At Mike's site that Pip has a project/challenge called "A Granny A Day"! Plus she has video tutorials for those like me that need the real thing instead of reading it!

Check it out! Are you game?

PS - My inspiration for this is to make a Granny Quilt for my Grandma as she did for me!

Out with the old!

Gone: a dvd stand

Activity: made and played with playdough, bubbles, and marble run

Grateful: I got to play with Asher today more than cleaning

I started today on a really good note, after breakfast I went for a walk up my street to meet a friend half way to her house then back again. This probably sounds nice enough, but in reality if you have ever driven up my street (which is actually a road) you'd realise that from my house to where I walked went something like this...

"Woah!" Down the driveway and down the hill trying to not let the pram run away

(am grateful for the wrist strap!)

then

"Huff and Puff" Up the hill

(am grateful for shade from high fences)

then

"Woah again!" down the next hill

(again grateful for wrist strap)

then

"Puff and Pant" up another hill

(grateful for less of an incline this time)

then

"Joy of Joys" when I see the wheels of Mandy's pram coming in opposite direction!!!

(grateful for quick early morning chat)

then

"Arrrrgghhh!" when I turn around and see how far I have to walk back!

(grateful for air conditioning waiting at home!)

Was very productive when I got home I must say, as we made lovely lavender playdough (smells and looks lavender) and Asher and I had a great time making things to squash together.

Count your blessings, count them one by one,

Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

things I have learnt in the past two days...

1. Asher is happiest when he can help me in the kitchen! (and I mean REALLY happy)

2. How to use my sewing machine, including the button hole maker.

3. A "quick-unpick" or "seam ripper" is a very useful tool.

4. I am actually pretty OK at sewing! See for yourself!



YES! I made it! From Cath Kidston's book "Sew".

Are you proud???

a great sense of satisfaction...

This Christmas I have been telling you about all the things I have been making and so I thought I would share them all with you.

Our Christmas Tree...

This Christmas is the first one where Asher has been kinda old enough to understand what is going on. So, we decided we would start this year by explaining that Christmas is simply Jesus' birthday! So, when we pulled out the decorations for our tree they seemed rather gaudy and commercial (as I guess most do) and so I thought I would make decorations the old fashioned way, and in doing so I ended up making things look more like a birthday tree instead of the Christmas tree.

This year there are a few extra special things we have added that will become tradition. There are two special little turtle doves whose story I will tell you another day.

The gifts...

I have been so inspired by other blogs and close friends who are so handy and crafty. Therefore, I decided to make some gifts for Asher and his cousins this year...I kinda got the bug for this back when I made a princess crown for a little friend and then a prince's one for Asher.
I got the idea for this little barn from a little gnome house I found here.

Then, because I knew I could make crowns easily I thought that making 5 of them should be a cinch! Also, I got the idea for tutus from Katherine and they too were so easy. (Honestly, even if you can't sew a stich - you could make one!)



Then there was the monkeys! Well as Kt had already made "Albert" she assured me that making these stripey monkeys was REALLY easy! (I have discovered that her REALLY easy is different to mine...

but they were pretty simple)

Mr Murphy (brown monkey) was a little more difficult and I had to do much research and cutting and pasting for him. He still didn't turn out the same but that is ok, I just hope Asher loves him...

Then just when I thought I was done making stuff... the bug bit me again and I put together a very simple wreath!

With all these projects done and dusted you would have thought I'd have had enough, but no!

I have put in an order for a sewing machine for Christmas (and just between you and me I think I may be getting it - thanks to my darling hubby!). So it looks like you will be seeing more... oh and one more thing...

Because I love my sister...

I had a call from Jules my lil sis a few weeks ago and she was telling me she wanted to make Christmas stockings for her two kids and so I gave her some ideas. Then about a week later she asked me how she should put the letter on them, so I told her some more ideas. Then this week whilst at Spotlight I called her to see if she wanted me to pick up some felt for the letters, of course... she did! Then, this morning while I was out I called to ask her something totally unrelated and she ever so sweetly informed me she hadn't actually gotten the pillow cases yet either... so it was then that I uttered the words which I am sure she wanted to hear weeks ago... "Would you like me to make them for you?" Of course... she did! So, this afternoon when Kt and the girls came for a visit we spent a very relaxing hour hand sewing these for Hendrix and Tia!

070: using it up to chuck it out

Ok, so I woke up today on a mission - (hope my mum doesn't read this) - but my mission was to finish typing up all the recipes in my mum's cookbook I am making her (and have been for about a year now) my mum is going crazy not having any recipes and I am going crazy having to find the one she wants every now and then in amongst all the scraps of paper! So how did I go? I didn't finish it but I am about 75% of the way there to finishing and just in time for Christmas too! I may have gotten all the way there if I hadn't taken a few procrastination stops along the way. Such as, A)making a wreath for the front door (see below), B) trying to quickly read to get some idea of the book "My Brilliant Career" to be able to discuss it at my bookclub tonight, C) feeding Asher lunch and putting him down for a sleep, and D) taking a 5min lie down break while Asher was asleep, only to wake up an hour later! oh and E) when putting Asher in the bath I decided to use up the last of a few leftover cleaning products on the shower (shower and bath are seperated, before you think I'm awful for using products near my baby) so now I can throw out the containers only to never have to buy them again!

(welcome to Christmas @ the Sings)

(a close up of the wreath)

Ok so because I was busy all day, I didn't get to make up much fun stuff for Asher - however last night he got to try his new fold out bed and we decided to let him sleep in it all night. I was thankful it was a cooler night as he made sure the zip on the sleeping bag was done up all the way!

I am grateful for a productive day and also for my bookclub sisterhood tonight!!!

069: still creating

So the beds and bedside tables have totally gone from the house! Ahhh am feeling the fresh air of declutterness already!

As I type this Asher and Daddy are making up their own little obstacle course for some balls to go through. Both loving it as much as the other!

Today I am grateful for seeing my creativity as a real positive - I am not as plain as I thought!

I have decided to make yet some more Christmas things... yes just can't stop myself now... I now have not one but two "DIY calendars" to make as gifts and also a wreath for our front door! Come visit in a day or two to see this!