planting the seeds.

With the settlement date of our new house racing towards us, Ben and I have been eagerly discussing what veggie and plants we would like to grow once that soil becomes ours. It's a very exciting thing for us. We have always wanted a veggie patch and the sheer idea that we can plant something in the ground, care for it and love it, forever, is simply wonderful.

As such, Annie and I ventured down to our local garden centre during the early parts of this week and stacked the pram with soil and seedlings. Miss A sat watching me plant, as I talked her through what a complete NON green thumb her mother is. She didn't seem to mind though, and I think I may have even convinced her that something might grow. When my back was turned Maggie stuck her nose into the chilies and slowly and loving sucked up fertiliser. Little so-in-so!

Here are the beginnings of the fruits of our labour...





We also managed to get to the library this week and see story time. I took this photo of Miss A watching the librarian sing songs.



She seems to be wondering how the lady with the name badge knows ALL her mummy's songs!

what ya been sewing lately?

Even though the internet has treated me so mean, or perhaps because of this, I have had some time to get some sewing projects done. One in particular was for a good friend who is due her baby in little over a months time. Her baby shower was today (and it was lovely) and I was able to get this gift finished just in time...





Nat chose the colours, which ended up giving this piece a very 1970's feel. I found all fabrics, except tbe backing, at Amitie. *smiles* love that place! She seemed to like this little cot quilt, which I have suggested could also be used in the pram or as a playmat. Her little boy will get plenty of use from it, I am sure.

In other news I am trying to make a dress I can feel proud of. Lisa, we are soooooo in the same boat at the moment huh? I have a few weddings coming up in November and December and want to look a little classic for them. 1960s dresses are my insane love. I have one I found on ebay that doesn't quiet do up after the Miss A giving birth thing. Oh, ok....more like my new baking obsession thing. Anywho, I found a pattern at spotlight that was only $10.50 and thought, with a little intervention, I could fashion it into a more 60s feel. I havent quiet finished it yet, but here is a little peek-a-boo at the pleats in the skirt and the slight, sharp sleeves.



Anyone think that pattern is too much? Remember, it will be teemed with a thick chocolate brown belt and a structured cream jacket.



Oh, and I've decided the best fabrics are those that cost little and you love much. These are two op shops finds of recent weeks that I have been saving to make some little old laundry curtains.



Just a freshen up for whats currently there in the new house, as the bathroom, laundry and kitchen won't be renovated for many months and possibly a few years. It will be fun putting our flavour to everything, don't you think? I have more purchases to share, including fun fabrics, a stunning 1920s cabinet and some abolsutely funky op shop wine glasses, but I will have to upload the photos next time. This little Martha Stewart needs to finish baking her cookies for the mums group we are having this morning.

the final countdown.

I could start this post with a VERY large whinge about Virgin Broadband and how pathetic it has been lately. How it has stopped me from connecting with people online, visiting lovely blogs that make me smile and bidding on items that I probably shouldn't be bidding on, but instead I will send all that negative energy away and just get on with the business of getting on.So, in one month the following will happen:

1. I start back at work.

This has been a very hard decision for me. For many reasons, but mostly because of this little curtain twitcher*.





Man I will miss her something shocking! I am only going back for two days to start so that makes my heart a little lighter. The other plus side is that she is being minded by family and friends which is just the best damn news in the world. I think she is too little for childcare just yet. I am looking forward to the interaction with work colleagues again and of course head down bum up action in the industry. It has been a part of my life for so long I missed it. The money will be good too, especially when....

2. We move into our new house

Yup. Sooner than expected which is fantastic, but really puts the pressure on to get organised and pack, pack, pack. We ventured over to the new house today to get a look in and have some reblockers check it out and quote. Here's a little sneak peak of our humble abode and it's current condition.



3. The rental property we are currently in goes to auction.

This will suck big time, as every weekend should now be dedicated to packing and sorting and throwing things out. Instead we will have to deal with lines of investors roaming through our house inspecting it and commenting on it and driving us near bonkers in the process. It couldnt come at a worse time really, but it's good to know that regardless of the outcome of that auction, we have somewhere else to go. Our new home.

* Curtain Twitcher. Nosy person. Eg. Someone who stands at their window, peering out from behind the curtains to spy on the neighbours. AJB in a nutshell :)

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.