Christmas in July Swap

I have finally finished all of the bits for my Christmas in July swap through Mrs Martin's Quilt Shop. Bundled it up and posted it this week so now waiting to see what I receive back from Val. Two tricky parts to this challenge; my swap partner likes yellow fabric (not an easy colour to find Christmas fabric in!) and I had to give her something beginning with "V" - ended up with Vodka and Crushed Berry sauce but thinking about it afterwards I should have got a packet of violet or viola seeds!

The bag is adapted from Gail Pan's Christmas Block of the Month (I did an extra block with this swap in mind) Not happy about how the bag is a bit skewiff at the top but as a gift bag it is okay!

My friend Yvonne put me onto this ornament pattern by Marg Low - so quick and easy and I've made quite a few now. You can't see it properly but the felt has a glitter effect over it. Pretty kitsch for other projects but should be good on a Christmas tree to catch the light?

So anyway Val, I hope you like it. Now I can concentrate on getting Nessie's quilt finished before her bubby arrives in August (then better think about a quilt for our own bump!)

Last weekend was the end of my camera course (Yay!) and I also had a lovely morning at the Patchwork Apple with Sara, Vicki and Yvonne finishing off our Mystery Indulgences Project (would show you but it is still a "mystery") Sara is just the best teacher so we learnt heaps of neat finishing tricks (and all being Queens of Multi-tasking we girls managed to get plenty of talking and eating chocolate biscuits in between the stitching!) Quilting with Apple Piecers again this weekend so Nell is a happy camper!

Until next time,

Keep smiling!

p.s.blogger is being uncooperative and won't let me move photos so apologies that they are not in order where they should be!

A Picture Tells a Thousand Words...

Toilet training. Need I say more...

Thankfully that was last week. This week we have been wearing "red jocks like Gumpy (my Dad!)" and had two days of 100% success. Keep the fingers crossed that we are on a winning streak.

p.s. the green wool is more luscious dying for a crazy rabbit-and-carrot-kindy hat - more about that as the project unfolds!

Remembering 2 fine women and "The Art of Domesticity"

Today I had a very grey nothing-going-right kind of day. I was already worrying about my Grandfather (in hospital with scepticemia) and feeling like the rain would never stop and my life was one long drudge of sorting out squabbles and picking up after others when I broke a vase. It was a seemingly insignificant, small, lead crystal bud vase but breaking it made me cry (spot the hormonal pregnant woman!) I cried because it was a beautiful gift given to me by two remarkable women who changed the course of my life.

When I was studying Arts at uni I went along with a friend as a volunteer at St David's Limited Hours Children's Centre. It was run out of an old church hall by two women in their 60s. Whole families of children could spend a morning in their care for the pricely sum of $6 while their harassed mums went shopping or got their hair done. Barbara and Linda had an ethos of "giving back" to their community. They adored those children and they carefully and considerately helped their parents (many of whom came from a socio-disadvantaged background)

Barbara and Linda taught me more about working with young children than any textbook or university lecturer ever could. They taught me that quality care isn't about having all the bells and whistles, but about caring, loving, respectful relationships with children and their families. My short volunteer stint turned into a part time job which helped me through uni for the next five years, and led to a career working with young children. When I left they gave me the vase "to remember them by." Since then it has been in constant use; just the right size for a single bloom, something to add a bright and cheery note even in mid winter, and when I look at it I do remember them and silently thank Barbara and Linda for all they have given me.

After my very sad, grey day I was reminded of the delicious prospect of "new" library books and went hunting through the library bag to unearth this treasure.

By page 11 i knew that I had to have this book for my very own. I haven't felt that renewed or validated since discovering Edna Walling (who gave me the confidence to have pride in my higgeldy-piggeldy, favourite-flowers-everywhere, eclectic little garden) If you haven't read it yet, go find a copy NOW. Tonight this book was a feast for a sad soul. I had to read it in the bath until the water got cold (shhh - don't tell the library police!) As someone who comes from a non-crafting family, but has always unashamedly crafted this book held so many "you too?!?" moments. It brought back memories of knitting at my father's football games (to my brother's disgust) and of teaching non-crafting flatmates the basics of crochet.

Jane Brocket says in her introduction: "It took me many years to realise that I was thoroughly domestic, and only grudgingly domesticated. I accept that chores must be accomplished in order to maintain a clean and manageable living environment, but that is where it stops....when there are so many more satisfying domestic arts I can practise"

Here's to creative dreaming and domesticity as opposed to the boringly domestic!

Keep smiling,

Nell

p.s. Hannah came looking for me when I was upset and she said "Mummy, I know what would cheer you up....a cup of tea!" (how very British of her!) so we had a tea-party on the kitchen floor!

p.s.s. Jane Brocket has a blog at http://www.yarnstorm.blogs.com/

A Birthday and a Secret Revealed

Yesterday my sweet baby girl turned 5. Mum sent down a beautiful fur-trimmed Princess Cape and so "Princess Hannah" had a truly magical day. I'm glad that at 5 my little one is still living in fairyland.

Work has begun on the retaining wall and the vacant lot next door. Just the thing to keep a small boy entertained for hours. Hoping he doesn't pick up too much labourer's language LOL!

I have begun work on a shawl in this lovely bamboo/wool blend. It is such a pretty colour; not quite blue and not quite green and kind of old-worldly. The shawl will be for someonevery special. Someone who, at the moment, looks like this:

This little person will complete our family (unless something unexpected happens) There is a tinge of sadness about that - I love babies and could have 8 if money, resources and husband allowed. I am treasuring every moment knowing that this pregnancy will be my last. So now you know why there hasn't been a lot of crafting happening - lots of dreaming of baby clothes, and baby quilts, and softies the baby just has to have, but not a lot of crafting. I have been sicker with this pregnancy than the others - nausea that lasted all day and most of the night but thankfully we are heading out of that now. Hannah is so excited and wants to call the baby "Annabel Rose" which I think is funny if my suspicions of another big boofy boy are right! Dan just wants to see the baby NOW!

We've told grandparents so now it is time to tell friends and family.

Hope you are having an exciting week too,

Keep smiling,

Nell

Hoping to get back into my crafting when I get to our quilting group this weekend.

Keep smiling,

Nell

What's on the menu?

Funny how the minute the weather cools I begin thinking of food! We've been indulging in quite a few hearty winter type meals lately and I've even pulled the bread maker out again.
Hannah's amazing kindy made this soup last week and it is going to be our tea tomorrow night with a warm loaf of fresh bread. You can almost feel this soup keeping the flu bugs away!

Margot's 9 Veg soup

2 onions
2 potatoes
1 turnip
2 zucchinis
1/2 small pumpkin
1/4 cabbage
2 sticks celery
2 carrots
2 squash
2 tbs chicken stock powder
1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
knob of butter
vegie oil
water
salt and pepper to taste

Method: chop all vegies into small cubes. Fry onions in oil and butter until soft. Add all vegies and fry until sealed (not browned)
Add enough water to just cover vegies.
Add Chicken stock powder and lemon pepper.
Simmer on low heat until vegies are soft.
Blend with a bamix or blender.
Adjust seasoning to taste.

ENJOY!

Tonight's tea is sausage meatballs with peas and spaghetti from Jamie Oliver's "At Home" book.

I must not be the only one thinking about food because I went to visit my friend Nic the other day and she had baked a mountain of choc chip cookies - the recipe is on her blog "through my eyes" and I can personally say they were about the best choc chip cookies I have ever eaten!

Go Eat and enjoy!
Keep smiling,
Nell

Memoranza Retreat

I spent the weekend cropping with 12 other like-minded people at Glenbarr Homestead in Strathalbyn. It was quite a rainy weekend but we so didn't care! Most of the girls avarged about 40 pages! We all agreed that it was very nice not to have to cook or clean or attend to small children. I think I could get used to it as a bit of a treat (although the extra cuddles and attention from little people when I got home was lovely too!)

This was my favourite bit of scrapping from the weekend - I already have this photo in Dan's baby album but wanted to play with the puzzlemaker for my "Ideas album"

I have been doing a camera course through WEA. It is definitely keeping the Alzheimers at bay - I had no idea it would be quite so technical or I would learn quite so much about things I know absolutely nothing about! Took some quite nice scenic shots at Glenbarr on the weekend but haven't loaded them yet.

Hope you have a good week,

Keep smiling,

Nell

Melbourne in Autumn

We were lucky enough to spend last weekend in Melbourne with some very dear friends. Hubby and I lived in Melbourne for 5 years and we still love it!

Melbourne in Autumn is breathtaking. Not only is there that slight chill in the air, all the trees wear Autumn foliage and the whole city seems to just hum.

We caught the tram everywhere (super cheap and super easy!)

We went to Acland Street for cake (and I found chocolate cannoli so I was a happy camper) We wandered along the beach at St Kilda. We went to Vic Markets for breakfast (and bought way too much food because it was all so glorious) We spent time in pubs and cafes just soaking up the Melbourne night life. It was WONDERFUL, and the very best thing about it was sharing time with special friends who make every moment count.

These are my "forever" friends - the ones that know you better than you know yourself. Lou and Ness and I flatted together at uni. They took me to my first concert, bought me my first drink, and gently rubbed the square edges off me! They have been there for me ever since, despite the fact that we all live in different states! About 10 years ago we caught up in the Fitzroy gardens and a total stranger took a photo of the three of us on this bench. This time we had hubbies along to take the photo for us! Can't wait to scrap the two photos together on a layout!

Anyone who has been blog surfing from my blog will know that I have a bit of an obsession with following "Meet Me at Mikes" Pip constantly reminds me of things I had forgotten about my childhood (and even her header is from one of the books my sister and I had) Because we had such limited time I had not mentioned dropping in to the actual store but I was delighted when we found ourselves on Brunswick St, on dusk, and walked right by it! Amazingly it was still open and so I was able to have a lovely (albeit quick) walk down memory lane - vintage mugs like my grandmothers, gorgeous little girls dresses, and a wonderful illustrated copy of Little Black Sambo that I would so have taken home if the budget hadn't been so tight!

My one and only regret about the weekend was that I didn't get to see any of my Melbourne buddies. Knowing that we had such little time and that we were there to catch up with my forever friends I didn't even publicise the fact that we were in town. Hopefully now that James remembers how great Melbourne is we can go back soon! Apologies Lisa, Sharon and Jude - next time I promise dear things!

Keep smiling,

Nell