snippets of play blanket love.

These photos were taken this morning with my blackberry - excuse quality. I finished the binding last night, over a glass of vino. Note to self: Hand sewing and wine simply don't mix. I set the play mat up with toys and when Miss A woke this morning and I plonked her down on it, she was in awe. Her little hands reached out to touch the patterns, pausing momentarily on certain fabrics. She remained there for the rest of the morning, content and wildy entertained until I lowered her into her cot only moments ago for a wee little nap. Happy Annie...happy Mumma.

projects.

Thought I better leave an update about some of the crafty things I am working on. It's been very hard to find the time to get things done. I feel like every spare moment is about cleaning, making dinner, washing wondersuits, walking kelpies, baking treats and packing belongings. My overlocker has dust on it. Enough said.

But, I have noticed, when I turn the TV off at night and ignore my husband, I manage to get SOME sewing done :) At the moment I am still finishing off a play quilt for Miss A. She will probably be 19 by the time I complete it!! Here it is so far...



On Saturday night I stayed home, drank wine and sewed like a Mo Fo. We took Bens pants up as a fathers day pressie. He has only had them and been unable to wear them for...what?...like a year?? Oops. He was very happy with that gift. I also managed to do a little extension job on some jeans for Miss A. They fit perfectly around the waist but were lacking in lenght, so I used my $2 off cuts from Patchwork on Central Park and added some style (and much needed length) to them.











If you're wondering what has Miss A's attention, let me give you a little sneak peak...



I am also started to 'collect' my materials for a weekend away at Sewjorn with some good friends Onegirl and Flip & Bells. It promises to be a weekend FULL of sewing, so I want to be properly prepared. I am going to make another Fleur Playmat for a friend with bubs on the way. She's having a boy and wanted it to be red, white and blue...very Tommy Hilfiger. Here is the material I have chosen...



I hope eventually my work has some kind of style to it. If someone was to sum it up I would hope they'd use words like 'retro, vintage, modern mix, 70's'. I also want to make Annie a nice summer quilt for her cot. Her other one is just too big and special for spew and poo.

these cookies will not fail. i promise.

Walnut & chunky choc chip cookies

125g butter, softened
100g (1/2 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar
1 egg, at room temperature
225g (1 1/2 cups) plain flour
200g good-quality dark cooking chocolate, coarsely chopped
150g (1 1/2 cups) walnut halves, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 180°C. Line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Use an electric beater to beat butter and sugar in a medium bowl until well combined. Add the egg and beat until combined. Sift the flour over the butter mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined. Add the chocolate and walnuts, and stir to combine. Use your hands to roll tablespoonsful of the cookie mixture into balls. Place the balls, 3cm apart, on prepared trays. Use a fork to flatten slightly. Bake in preheated oven, swapping the trays halfway through cooking, for 20 minutes or until light golden. Remove from oven and set aside to cool on the trays for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

TOP TIP: If you don't have baking paper, simply arrange cookie dough on tray as indicated above and then sift flour over cookies. It will stop them spreading too much.

A family holiday in pictures.