Dry Creek Primitives

SOCK, a SOCK!!!!

2010-10-02T09:23:00.002+10:00

foot model is the extremely handsome Lewis!

After many years of threatening to do it, I've done it!!
I've knitted my first sock, modelled above by Lewis (isn't it sad when you're 11 year old son has bigger feet then you?)
I've the partner of this beauty on the needles at the moment and hopefully will be able to wear them by Monday!!
They are so nice and toasty!

If you never knitted socks before, may I recommend: How to Knit Socks, Three Methods Made Easy by Edie Eckman?
easy to follow and lots of photos to make it even clearer! oh and also if you are a more visual learner look up verypinkknits on Youtube

Edit:

I'm happy to announce both socks are finished!!! Both feet are nice and toasty as we speak!

Is it Spring?

2010-09-27T14:29:00.000+10:00

Does Mother Nature know?

Is it Spring or is it still Winter?

Yesterday evening the weather was nice enough to haul my crochet, cup and cake outside, but today I'm sitting rugged up on the couch.

I wish we knew what season it is.

It's not easy to get dressed in the mornings!

Ta DA!!!!!

2010-09-26T10:20:00.000+10:00

And here is the after!

Not much you caned with a 1 inch circle. This will look nice on my bedside table!

What to do when Hubby takes a kid to the dentist!

2010-09-26T09:26:00.001+10:00

Ok I admit I'm terrified of the Dentist, so unless I have to go for myself, it is Mr J's job to take the kids to see her.

Mr L needed a filling done so his strong and handsome daddy took him to the Dentist after dropping Mum off at the nearest Op-shop! (See I did give some support! I was in the same town!)

I spend an anxious 45 minutes shopping at the Boort Op-shop (if you're ever in Boort, well worth a visit!)

And thought I'd died and gone to vintage glass heaven!

I spend up big( $4!) and came out with 6 pirex dessert bowls, 3 cut glass dessert glasses, 2 different ice cream glasses, a cut glass bonbon dish. And finally this darn cute cut glass hair pin dish ( see pics above!)

As you can tell there is something missing from the lid (no idea what, but I'm guessing some sort of stone)

I thought it wouldn't bother me so much, but it did so this morning I'm making something to stick there!

Stay tuned!!

Hello Old Friend!

2010-09-11T11:19:00.000+10:00

While putting everything back in it's place after the floods of last week, I found an old box that I hadn't looking in since arriving in Australia! (shock horror, that is 21 years ago!!)
And I found in that box a familiar old friend: my Tunisian crochet hook!! (also know as Afghan hook)
After this find all plans of housework, cleaning of the outside went out the door, as I got to reacquaint myself with this long lost friend!
I dug out my Bendigo Wool Mill cotton and have added another WIP (work in progress) to my list.
I see lovely tunisian crochet dishcloths in my future!

What a Difference a night makes

2010-09-07T13:23:00.000+10:00

As of today the flood water are receding at a rapid pace and or town will be the lovely quiet town we love!

Flood waters peaked about 6pm last night and then started to go down steadily!

All in our household are safe and dry!

under water one day, as pretty as ever the next!

looking up the road from my front yard

water is receding

Flood update! (photo heavy post)

2010-09-06T22:26:00.000+10:00

you got to get from A to B somehow! (bloke peddling down the street in front of my house)

view up the road from my house

from back door to garage

when the water wasn't too high yet! (it got up to the veranda)

The Floods are coming!

2010-09-05T20:40:00.000+10:00

Updated pics of the floods!

Someone is gonna get wet feet!

Our Swaggy waist deep in water

Road Trip planned and canceled

2010-09-05T08:15:00.000+10:00

For weeks I planned a road trip with Ms M to go and visit Ms K

Ms M would get to do some driving and be closer to getting her licence and I'd get to spend quality time with my 2 eldest girls!

Bags were packed and hotel rooms booked!

Then Friday came and lots of rain was forcast! And we said HA a little rain isn't going to stop us from this 3 hour trip! NO WAY!!!

Saturday morning was here and we're listening to the TV while getting dressed and eating breaky.

What is this?? Flood warnings on our route? HA HA HA we laugh in the face of flood warnings!!

We haven't seen decent rain in this area in 10 years!! we're not going to let a little flood warning stop us! Ms K is waiting for us! we WILL go!!

So in the car we get and we're driving off in to the Sun rise (after all it is 8am!)

Ms M is doing well driving in the pouring rain. And we see our first real water on the road! HOLY BATMAN there is a lot of it! and we crawl through it time and time again!

Then a friendly farmer "swimming" home with his news paper (ok he wasn't really swimming but he sure was knee deep in water!) stopped us to tell us it is not a good idea to go on the way we're going coz there is a lot of water on the other side of the bridge!! But if we turn that way and go down that street then left then right we should be right!

So we do! And with his parting words of Should be right ! in our minds we drive off and low and behold the streets get better less water and then: YAY no water at all! YES!!! we're gonna make it to Ms K after all!

With a sigh of relieve we drive on! A good 15 min of nice hardly wet road we come to another bit of road under water!! Are we going to brave it and drive through?

Good thing I checked the side of the road and saw the Floodway sign and the stick that tells you how high the water is! It was almost 1 metre deep!

Ms M and I looked at each other and said: OK time to turn around and go home!!

So sadly we did!

At home we worked out a stretch of road we usually take an hour to travel took us 2 hours in the rain.

Better luck next time we hope!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-01T22:31:00.000+10:00

The Knitting and Crochet Motherload!

2010-08-30T13:54:00.000+10:00

I have rediscovered 2 of my favorite crafts! Knitting and crochet
I was talking to a friend the other day and I worked out I've been crocheting and knitting for 41 years (I know I know! I must have started in utero!) My now 25y old daughter used to wear many a jumper knitted by me, and slept the first 2 years with a Blankey I crochet for her while I was pregnant with her.
So now I've dug out my knitting needles and crochet hooks and have searched the web for patterns, and now I've hit the motherlad of pattern pages! I hightly recommend you all check out the ravelry website and check out the gazzilion patterns there!

Start of a new era!

2010-08-30T08:12:00.000+10:00

This is how you do it Son!

Yesterday was the start of a new era in our baby's live! Mr. L will be 12 in Dec and his Dad decided it was time for him to start mowing the lawn!

After Mr L. donning all the safety gear, Dad showed him how to do it.

Life will be more easy and relaxed for us Mr. J tells me!! We can sit back, enjoy a cup of coffee while watching The Kid do the work!

Relax?? did he really say relaxed?? Does he not know all that can happen with a lawn mower??

Sigh!!!! It isn't easy to let your baby grow up!!

Dang, that lawn looks even better then when Dad does it!

Play Time!

2010-08-29T12:02:00.000+10:00

We bought a new camera for a trip overseas we're planning for next year Sept. So now I'm going crazy taking all kinds of pictures!

By next Sept this little beauty and I should be firm friends!

(image borrowed from the Nikon website)

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-25T13:03:00.000+10:00

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!! OI OI OI!!!

2010-08-11T19:17:00.000+10:00

Aussie Jazy with her family and the Mayor!

Another chapter closed! as of 5:30pm today I gave up my Dutch citizenship and took on the Australian citizenship!

A new chapter in my live has started!

And I'm all signed up to vote in the Aug 21st Election too!

BLISS!!!

2010-08-09T16:40:00.001+10:00

What better way to spend an afternoon then with a cup of Lady Grey tea and a slice of freshly baked Apricot Loaf?

We're having beautiful Spring weather here! The sun is shining and I've picked my first bunch of Lavender from my garden this year!

Oh the smell of the fresh Lavender make that cuppa taste even better!

The recipe for the Apricot loaf:

1 cup dried apricots- chopped and tightly packed

1/2 cup sultanas

1 cup boiling water

2 tbsp butter

3/4 cup castor sugar

1 egg

2 cups self raising flour

Place apricots,sultanas & butter in a mixing bowl, add hot water and stir gently until butter dissolves
mix in sugar, egg & flour, combine well
put into a greased loaf tin & bake at 200C for 40 min, cool on cooling rack

( I found this recipe online ages ago, unfortunately I can't remember where! If you do know, email me and I will edit my post to include this information!)

(138 days until Christmas!)

Only 142 days until Christmas!!

2010-08-05T11:15:00.000+10:00

Are you starting to panic yet??

I can't believe we're this far into the year already!

I've started to make ornies and presents as well.

I'm hoping to avoid the rush that usually happens in December around here! (and having 2 birthdays in that month as well, doesn't help either!)

I decided to use up some scrap wood and make some wooden ornies, I might even put a few of them on eBay.

Spring is springing!

2010-07-29T13:46:00.000+10:00

While I'm not a BIG fan of Summer, I do love Spring and a quick look around my garden this morning showed me that Spring has sprung. On almost every tree there are green leaves popping up! Bulbs are starting to show their little heads.

And of course my Potato Vine is in full bloom already and my purple climber thingy ( I know, I know! I don't like using the plants technical names, but I don't know what else to call it! LOL)

I love my purply daisy too!

And Oh My!! what is that wet stuff om the plants??

Let me dazzle you with my knowledge again: it's called RAIN!!

We don't see a lot of that stuff here in this Sunny Dry part of Vic!!

Silhouette! And make it quick!!

2010-07-27T18:29:00.000+10:00

Today at work I was asked by a Lady (Hi Nicky!! just in case she reads my blog!!)

could you do me a favour?? I've got a American friend married to an Aussie and it is her birthday next week, and as she decorates her house in Prim Americana I would like to give her something hand made. Could you make one of these( showing me a picture of an Abe Lincoln silhouette)?

Of course I said Sure!! I wasn't really sure how to, so I just had a good think and came up with this!

So Nicky will pick this one up tomorrow at work!

I've been bitten!

2010-07-13T07:59:00.000+10:00

Since some time in January I've been reading about the Klosjes craze sweeping the world and now that most of the girls who's blogs I've been reading have finished theirs, I've jumped on the Klosjes (Klosjes is dutch for spools) bandwagon!

I went to Melbourne this weekend for my Mother in Law's Surprise 75th birthday party and decided a girl needs something to do on the 3 hour trip! So what better thing to do then start a new quilt project!!

I've drawn the pattern and am now happily making klosjes!

My blocks are 2 3/4" unfinished and I have 8 done.

I'm using any old scrap I can get my hands on for both the back ground and klosje.

I don't think I'll make 510 blocks like SuperGoof did to make a quilt, but then again who know??

what is that noise coming from the Garage?

2010-07-06T17:44:00.000+10:00

It is me!!!!

I've been eying off this cute little Piggy cutting board for a while now and today I decided to grab that piece of scrap wood and fire up the scroll saw and make me one! (pattern found on the Pickled Pepper Patch blog) Isn't it darling??

I also made myself a Toaster cover as my old fabric one was looking a little shabby (and not in a good way!)

Would you like to see a picture of that as well?? (if not, I suggest you close your eyes now!)

No more ugly toaster!! And more display space for me!! YAY!!

Going Greener!

2010-06-30T08:06:00.000+10:00

For a long time I've been wanting to make my own washing powder and dishwashing liquid.

First I made the washing powder a week or so ago

Homemade Laundry Detergent (for front and top loaders)

1 1/4 cup bi-carb soda (baking soda)

3/4 cup borax

1 cup lectric soda (washing soda)

2 grated castille soap bars (I use this variety, which I buy at the local health food shop)

You should be able to buy all of the ingredients except the castille soap from your local grocery store.

Mix all ingredients.

As I have a front loader I only use about 2 tablespoons per load.

( I found the recipe here )

Then I was talking to a friend of mine who makes all her cleaning stuff from scratch and she kindly shared her Dishwashing liquid with me and gave me permission to share it with you all, (she doesn't remember where she got the recipe from, so I am not able to give credit where credit is due!)

Anna's Dishwashing Liquid:

ingredients:

1/4 cup soap flakes
2 cups HOT water
1/4 cup glycerin
1/2 teaspoon of essential oil (which ever smell takes your fancy! vanilla, lemon, tea tree the list is endless!)

Combine hot water and soap flakes in a mixing bowl ( I keep utensils and bowls used to make my cleaning supplies separate from what I use for cooking!). Make sure the water is HOT!! or the soap flakes won't melt!
Mix well until all soap flakes have disolved. Then allow to cool to lukewarm before commencing the next step!
Mix in both the glycerin and essential oil and allow to cool completely
As it cools you will notice it will become a gel like substance. You will want to break this up by stirring it with a fork and placing it in a bottle (old shampoo or conditioner bottle will do!)
DONE!! use as any other dishwashing liquid!

NOTE: this Dishwashing Liquid isn't very bubbly, but then again it isn't the bubbles that clean the dishes!

I have a couple of other recipes I will try out after this one and will let you know how they went!

I did it!! I can knit in English!!

2010-06-13T16:00:00.000+10:00

As English is my second language, I had to re-route my brain (yes I know, some of you doubt I have a brain!!) to be able to follow patterns in English. Now I worked it out in all kinds of crafts except knitting! I could not get it right, no matter how hard I tried!!

Until this weekend!! I found this Blog and while reading found the entry about the Crazy Cable Knitting Myth!

And I went off in search for a cable knitting needle (House to Home in town sells them) some wool (local oppy helped there!) and sat down to work it out!

And work it out I did! I haven't even been able to follow a cable pattern in my native language (dutch) but there I was sitting under my blanky knitting away!

I actually was still knitting at 12:08 am as my hubby pointed out! So I rang in my birthday with a pair of needles in hand! What better way to do that!

And another one gone!!

2010-05-25T06:48:00.000+10:00

I was a bad girl this weekend! Instead of finishing off some of my U.F.Os

I started a new one on Saturday.

On Saturday morning I started off cleaning my craft room and came across a bag full of little scraps and got side tracked from the cleaning.

A few days earlier I was having a look through my old Miniature Quilts mags and found the pattern for "Brick Wall" and decided to make that one. I went for the Big 'n Easy version of the quilt (bricks were cut 1 1/4" x 2")

The quilt top was finished at about dinner time Saturday (darn kids and hubby kept interrupting because they wanted to be fed, can you believe it?)

Hand quilted it on sunday and finished adding the binding at work on Monday.

And I ended up with a sweet little 9"x12" quilt

Now what to do next?? Finish cleaning the craft room or maybe a U.F.O?

a Review of Quilting thread

2010-05-22T17:13:00.000+10:00

awhile ago I bought a spool of YLI 100% Cotton Quilting Thread in Natural and in Black, what for you ask??

Do we need a reason besides some far in the future project??

No I didn't think so either!!

Today I found the spool of Natural Quilting thread! (it had gotten lost in the mountains of craft stuff on my desk!)And decided to use it quilting my Mini Brick Wall quilt, and I have to say I am ver very VERY impressed!

No tangling of the thread or fraying either!

And it glides through the quilt sandwich like a hot knife through butter!

I may never use another brand again!

Prim Nesting box

2010-05-10T21:14:00.000+10:00

I ventured into the garage today to make this little beauty! I've been eye-ing the instructions on the Pickled Pepper Patch's blog for a while now!

As always the instructions given were great, easy to follow. I mean even I could do it!!

I did have a hard time though, but not because of the instructions!

I am so used to have my Buddy Lex lying at my feet and looking up at me lovingly every time I bang my thumb with the hammer and turn the air blue with the language ( he used to be so impressed)

It will take me a little while to get used to crafting without him.

R.I.P Lex

2010-05-05T15:30:00.000+10:00

Today We had to make the hard decision to put down our beloved dog Lex!

He's been having some aggression problems and we took him to the vet today and she adviced us seeing the age of Lex (he was 12y old, which is old for his breed!) the best thing to do would be to put him down.

She explained a whole list of tests and stuff we could do to see if there was an other options, but when asked what would she do if it was her own dog she said if he was her dog, she'd put him down!

So Lex was put to sleep at 2:30pm with his head on my lap and me cuddleing him and telling him how much we love him and how much he will be missed by all of us!!

Until we meet again my Sweety Pie!

And another one bites the dust!

2010-04-30T14:58:00.001+10:00

I did it!! I finally finished another UFO!!

this one is made with a plain red and muslin (100% cotton) and was paper pieced and hand quilted.

I wanted something to give some bamboo batting a test run, and I have to say it quilts like a dream! And even for a small quilt it doesn't feel stiff and drapes great!

The pattern came from an old Miniature Quilts magazine (not sure about the issue, as I can't seem to be able to find it at the moment!)

The quilt measures 20"x20"

And it only took me 6 months to pull my finger out and finish it! (LOL)

(EDIT: the pattern is in Miniature Quilts magazine issue #33, page 42 and is called Indian Hatchet)

Rag Doll

2010-04-25T09:45:00.000+10:00

I finished the rag doll! I was easier to stuff it then I thought! (maybe cutting the rags really small helped!)
I really love the feel of the doll (although as Mr L demonstrated, it does hurt when thunked on the head with her!)
The pattern for the doll is by Drakestone Primitves Country Cabin, and was easy to make!
I may need to make me some more!

Funny!

2010-04-24T13:58:00.002+10:00

Mr J: Sweety, what would you like for Mother's day??
Me: would a table saw be asking too much?
Mr J: "SIGH" a normal woman would ask for jewelry!
Me: I never claimed to be Normal!!

Rag stuffing

2010-04-22T12:17:00.001+10:00

For a while now I've been thinking of rag stuffing a doll!

But was a little worried about the end results: Would it be too lumpy, too floppy etc!

So while I was stitching this little pillow (part of the Mehitable Wright's Redwork Sampler pattern from Pineberry Lane),I decided it would be a good idea to try stuffing the little pillow (4.4"x2.5") with some rags.

Off I went to the local op-shop and bought an old flannel sheet and ripped a 3" section into .5" stripes which I then cut into little itty bits!

When done with that I firmly stuffed the pillow and I just have to say I LOVE it!!! The pillow feels nice and firm, and I love the feel of it more then when I stuff with polyfill.

Now I can't wait to get going on the doll!

I wonder if I will need more old flannel sheets or will this 1 single bed sheet ( minus 3" I used for the pillow) be enough?

Check out my selling blog!

2010-04-20T20:16:00.001+10:00

I've decided to open up a selling blog!
Please check out what I have to offer HERE

I will try and list more stuff on there regularly

I'm in love!!!

2010-04-14T13:07:00.000+10:00

Last Friday we picked up our 2 youngest kids up in Melbourne after they spend a week with Oma and Opa (or Uncle Rich and Aunty Kylie) and as they needed some things to wear this winter we decided to take them to the DFO near Moorabbin Airport and shop til we dropped!!

Now I'm not really much of a shoe kinda girl, but I saw the pair in the pic above and HAD to have them!

Life just didn't seem worth living without them!

So I parted with some hard cash for them, and I'm so happy with them! They are comfy and they have a heel, so I look taller when I wear them!!

a Trip to Maldon

2010-04-14T12:54:00.000+10:00

Oh what to do on a cold and boring Sunday? Well we loaded the one remaining kid (Miss Teenager decided to spend nights and days with teenage friends (so much cooler then hanging with the old folks!))and headed for Maldon a small goldrush town with a much loved ( by Mr L and his Dad) Lollie shop and of course antique shops and patchwork shop for mum!

below a picture of main street Maldon ( see that hot Mamma in the blue jeans and brown shirt? Yep that is me! I'm surprised hubby could contain his excitement long enough to take the picture! LOL)

We had a great lunch at one of the pubs in town and drooled over some shops that were for sale and dreamed about buying one and moving to Maldon. SIGH!!! maybe one day!

Then we made a quick d-tour to Castlemaine to visit Threadbear quilt shop! WOW that is one great shop! all the repro fabrics I could dream off and then some! Hubby waited outside and at once stage came rushing in coz he could smell the melting credit card!

On the way back home hubby indulged my (as he calls it "creepy") fasination with old Cemeteries and we visited the cemetery in Maldon.

Now is it just me do you think it is a little weird that both the boys were called Thomas?

I remember seeing a family grave in Holland were 6 of the 8 kids were called Jan (the other 2 were girls) the next boy was called Willem. Did mum and dad have a talk and go: do you think the name Jan is killing all the boys before they are a year old?? maybe try a different one??

Great Op-shop finds 2

2010-04-08T20:24:00.001+10:00

I made another little trip to the op-shop! There wasn't much there today but I did find these 2 books!

<-- this one is a childrens book , which was won by Ruby Ezzy at St Marks SS in Millthorpe in 1894
it was the second prize for something (it doesn't say for wat, just My Second prize) Her Teacher was Miss Lizzie Kingham.

And this book is a 1928 Webster's Ever-Ready
Dictionary of the English Language, Self-pronouncing

I love those old fashioned books! and to think I only spend a tiny amount on them! they were 50 cents each!
I wonder how much use that dictionary will be to me! LOL

Should I be worried??

2010-04-02T10:37:00.000+11:00

The other day Miss D said to me: "Mum, I'm bored! I'm going to clean my room!"
Now as if that isn't scary enough from a Teenager, yesterday she ironed for me as well! We didn't have to tell her to do it, she offered and did! And did a good job too!

As a mother I now wonder if I should worry, or just go with the flow?

OH No!!

2010-04-02T10:02:00.000+11:00

I was such an un-happy girlie yesterday! The internet was down all day!!
If you saw a woman walk around town in a daze, not knowing what to do with her hands. Well that was me!!
There was nothing else to do (OK so I could have done housework, but where is the fun in that??) but to fire up the ole sewing machine and sew!

<---So I made this lil Pumpkinhead girl (Jackie Schmidt pattern) and the Snow man below (Cotton Candy Creations pattern)

De-clutting Jazy Style!

2010-03-31T13:51:00.000+11:00

I decided today to drop of a LARGE garbage bag full of clothes Miss D had out-grown!

So off to the local Op-shop I went! When I arrived to drop off the bag it was rather busy and as I like to exchange insults with the Lady(we get along very well and just like to tease eachother!) running the shop I waited til she had time to do so, I spend some time nosing around the shop. And then all of a sudden it was like I heard angels sing and a bright light was coming from a box at the back (ok, so half a plate was sticking out and there wasn't really Angels singing etc!) as I dived into the box to grab any treasures I saw, I realized everything in the box was a treasure!

I found:

2 mixing bowls (1 small and 1 large)

3 enamel casserole dishes in 3 diff sizes

1 glass lemon squeezer

1 wh/bl meat dish (smallish size) (est age 80+ years)

And the grand total I paid for all of this was $4

I don't know how I will feed the family this week but I think I got a good deal! LOL

It's Raining!!

2010-03-29T12:48:00.001+11:00

And to Celebrate I've cut me a big slice of this!

Yummy Peach and Raspberry Cake with Coconut Custard

YUUUUMMMMMYYYYY!!!!!!

Time Flies!

2010-03-28T10:06:00.000+11:00

I can not believe it has been so long ago that I've done my blogging!
Can't even use the "I was sooo busy" excuse, I just worked on a little wall quilt (hand quilting it and am 3/4 done with that!)
I did make a lovely Lil Pumpkinhead doll from a pattern by Jackie Schmidt of TFC Folk Art

Isn't she the cutest?

Also I'm a happy girl as I found a Poffertjes pan (it's a dutch thing! like little miniature pancakes)

So I've seasoned the cast iron pan and been feeding the kids poffertjes on a regular basis. I remember the Saturdays when my Oma (Grandma) made these for me! I had a hard time making up my mind about having them with icing sugar or Maple syrup (don't worry!! I had a plate of both!! hehehe)

Slowly I'm finishing off some UFOs, this one is now almost done:

I'm working on the border at the moment, then binding and I'm done!

Going Green! and other stuffs!

2010-02-13T13:31:00.000+11:00

Long Time, No See!
I have neglected my blogging duties for too long now, and decided to make some time in between things to catch up with all my Blog Pals!
We've been busy organizing to have solar power installed for the whole house (we're tentatively booked in for this to happen in May). We're also getting solar hot water which will be done in 2 weeks. For some to me unclear reason a solar hot water needs to be separate from the house solar power.
Also after a few months of putting up with a backdoor that was slowly falling apart we ordered a new door in Dec and it was delivered 2 weeks ago and was installed yesterday! As you can see hubby did a wonderful job painting it!
Our previous door was a hollow core interior door and if you opened it too roughly you ran the risk of standing there with part of the door in your hand

Lost my crafting MoJo for a little while, but have gotten back in the swing of that again too!
This little fellow is from a Chestnut Junction pattern and he is sooooo cute! Unfortunatly he has disappeared! I think I saw him in Miss D's bedroom though! He was too cute for him not to want him in her room!

I just love Chestnut Junction patterns! Easy to follow and always turn out super lovely!

I'm still here!

2010-01-24T10:07:00.000+11:00

I'm still here! Just being busy with kids on Summer Holidays!

I sure don't remember Summer Holidays being this long when I was a kid! It seemed like you blinked and they were gone!

Above is a picture of the Valentines Penny rug candle mat that Char had on her blog a little while ago! (go and check out Char's Blog The Pickled Pepper Patch if you don't know it already!it is a treasure trove of prim craft and decorating ideas!)

I don't get too excited about Valentine's Day but I just had to make that one!

another picture of a tablerunner I made! This one was made from an old woolen blanket I dyed green and I added some pennies at the edge of the runner!

It cheers up my dark dinning table a little!

Go visit Kellie at Chestnut Junction!

2010-01-06T20:33:00.000+11:00

Hi Peeps!
I feel the urge to sing the praises of my friend Kellie Sharp at Chestnut Junction.
She's put up some AWESOME new patterns up on her website and my fav has to be the Choochie Monkey. Although all Kellie's patterns are great! I have a good collection of them and they are fun for beginners and seasoned sewers alike!
My own litlle Monkey has decided he might want to make himself a Choochie Monkey these Summer Holidays!

Now what are you all waiting for??

Quick go to Kellie's website and check that mother load of patterns out!

Valentine's Day Swap!

2010-01-06T07:00:00.000+11:00

My friend Hayley at Prim it Up is organizing a Valentine's Day swap!

Why not pop in on her Blog and check it out!

The sign up closes on the 15th of Jan and your swap info will be send off to you on the 17th of Jan!

It sounds like a lot of fun!

What am I working on?

2010-01-05T08:57:00.000+11:00

What better way to start a New Year then with a new project?

Ok so I already have a pile of UFO's to scare the living daylights out of anyone, but I just felt the urge to start something new.

A few years ago I bought about 6 cream wool blankets at an auction for $2 the lot!

I dyed 1 of them olive green and another hunter green last nght I cut the olive green one into a table runner and added the pennies and I must say I'm pretty happy with it so far!

I can't wait til it is ready to go on my table!

I'm planning to make one of the blankets into a teddy bear (it's been years since I made one!!) Not sure if I'm dying the blanket or just leave it cream! Oh Decisions desisions!

Savoury Fritters

2010-01-04T19:14:00.000+11:00

ingredients

1 pkt 2 minute noodles
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 shallots, finely chopped
2 rashers bacon, chopped and lightly fried.

method

Cook noodles (without flavouring) then drain.
Combine noodles with flavour sachet, eggs, shallots and bacon.
Place egg rings in a non-stick frying pan and spoon enough mixture to fill the ring, cook on both sides until golden.

Another Yummy recipe from the "4 Ingredients" Girls (Kim McCosker & Racheal Bermingham)

Was planning on having dinner ready by 6:30 but had it all cooked in 10 minutes!

A trip to the Movies!

2010-01-03T07:14:00.000+11:00

Yesterday I let MrJ and the kids drag me along for the 1 hour drive to Bendigo to go and see Avatar 3D in the cinema! Miss D and Miss M went and saw Lovely Bones (also on my to watch list, but I promised Mr L I'd go see Avatar with him and his Dad!)

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the movie!

I enjoyed it a lot!

We were right at the front and the 3D was so good I was ducking out of the way of spears or trying not to have burning embers land on me!

I can highly recommend to go see this movie, although it would help if you take a young boy with you, because I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if he wasn't there with me!

(oh and Sam Worthington? HOT!!!)

Happy Birthday Mr L!

2009-12-31T15:57:00.000+11:00

Today my precious Baby turned 11!

Oh my how time flies!

Of course he only had a little time to do the cake with candles thing, coz heaven knows he'd miss a few minutes of playing with his new DSi!

Even though his Birthday is this close to Christmas we do try and make it special for him!

Usually our Christmas decorations are down, but this year it just has been too hot to get really stuck into it!

Once again Happy Birthday Blue! We love you to bits!

Hooray! My Christmas present arrived!

2009-12-30T12:42:00.000+11:00

TA DA!!!

Our new outdoor setting! was to be a Christmas present for Mr. J and I, to be picked up by Dec 16th, only to be told time and time again that it hadn't arrived yet!

And then just when I was going to cancel the damn order if they told me it wasn't there again, they ring and tell me it is ready to be picked up! only 14 days late!!

Mr J went and picked it up in Melbourne yesterday!

And Damn doesn't it look good in my backyard?

We had our dinner out there last night and it was lovely! And this morning I had my breakfast out there too!

There is nothing better then sit out there with your cuppa, toast and a magazine!

Christmas Morning

2009-12-25T07:29:00.001+11:00

What is happening? It is Christmas Morning and I'm the only one up and it is almost 7:30 am!!

I know Mr L isn't here for Christmas( he is spending it at his Grandparents), but I would have thought

Miss D would be up a bit earlier, I think the dreaded teenage years have set in!

To keep myself from ripping open everybody's presents I made another Ornie.

I saw a picture of it on my friend Hayley's Prim it Up blog and decided to steal the idea!

I'm pretty happy with the way it looks.

On this lovely Christmas Morning once again:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T15:27:00.000+11:00

I Would like to wish all my friends out there in Blog Land

A Merry Christmas

and

a Happy and Safe New Year!!

Miss M is 18 Today!

2009-12-21T18:58:00.000+11:00

Today our second girls is turning 18, we celebrated with family and friends in a lovely little cafe in Bendigo on Sunday. We all met up for lunch and drinks and some more drinks! ( I steered away from the drinks as I was the designated driver for the day!) Mr J gave a lovely speech about how proud we are of Miss M and our funny little experiences with her along the years!
It really doesn't seem like it was that long ago that I was getting ready to go to hospital!

HAPPY BIRZDAY MISS M! We're all looking forward to celebrating many many more!

Introducing: My new Snow Angel

2009-12-16T07:58:00.000+11:00

This little Fellow has joined the ranks of my Christmas decorations!

I made him from a Catnap Primitives pattern.

Have you tried one of Karen's patterns?

I find them easy to be easy to follow.

I'm definatly adding more of her patterns to my to do list!

He was actually to be a Tree topper, but unfortunatly my tree isn't being very co-operative

it just isn't sturdy enough!

Christmas at Jazy's!

2009-12-11T07:35:00.000+11:00

Finally I've got my Christmas Decorations up!

We had our carpets cleaned last Monday and so we waited until that was done before we decorated!

Usually our decorations go up on the first of December and it was torture to have to wait a whole 7 days!

The kids were driving me nuts with it to ( Although Miss D pretended to be to old for it!)

And even with only 2 kids home, it was still maddening with all the questions about when we put them up!

I'm looking forward to the Family Xmas BBQ on the 19th when all the in-laws and a few good friends are coming down for Miss M's 18th birthday! ( Holy Batman!! She's 18 already?? how did that happen?)

Merry Christmas Pinkeep

2009-12-04T06:30:00.000+11:00

It's done!! I finished the pin keep from a Country Rustic Primitives pattern.

The Pinkeep is 6"x4" and has 22 xstitches per inch (don't ask me why I counted them, I'm just weird that way!)

I really enjoyed making it! I will go and buy some Osnaburg, as that would be easier to stitch on then this old tea towel I used.

I'm itching to stitch another cross stitch!

Rediscovering an Old favourite!

2009-12-03T07:06:00.000+11:00

After sewing dolls, quilts, ornies, embroidery for many years I have re-discovered Cross Stitch!

It was one of the first crafts I learned sitting at my Grandma's knee (the first being knitting and crochet)when I was a tiny little 4 year old (OMG is that really already 41 years ago? NOOO It can't be!)

Jazy 4 years old

Wasn't I the cutest??

So now I've dug out the embroidery threads and have been stitching up a storm! I'm really giving the old eyes a work out as I'm stitching on Osnaburg or even an old linen teatowel as in the first photo. I put an Australian 5 cent piece next to it to give an idea of the stitch size ( although I did notice just now the needle does a good job there already!)

New signs on ebay!

2009-12-03T06:37:00.000+11:00

Did you all see the air turn blue? For 3 days I've been trying to get this post up and for 3 days blogger has laughed in my face!
So this is my 4th try!!
I've been a busy girl and have been selling a few of my prim signs on ebay and put some new ones up !

Breakfast

2009-11-29T14:52:00.000+11:00

This morning Mr L requested a special breakfast: Mum's Star Pancakes!

Very complicated recipe!

Actually it is a secret recipe ( buy the add water pancake mix, add the water and shake the bottle!)

Mr L thinks the star shaped ones taste way better then the flower shaped ones! LOL

Seeing I'm once again on a diet, this is my share of the pancakes!

Finished!

2009-11-29T07:08:00.000+11:00

It is done! I must say I really enjoyed the Locked Hooking.

it was easy to do and was finished in record time ( ok so an 11 x 11 inch pillow should be quick to finish)

Well it was easy until it came to putting together the pillow!

Due to the thickness of the hooked area, it was hard to sew close to the edge of it.

And lets not start about turning it right side out, that sure was no fun!

But we got there in the end!

I rag stuffed the pillow to give it a lumpy feel and I'm pretty happy with the results.

I'm now all set to start a table runner with my scraps (no backing to sew on and turning it right side out!)

So watch this space!!

I'm in Love!!

2009-11-24T20:18:00.000+11:00

With a new craft!
I started the Locker Hooking kit I bought yesterday and I have to say it is Easy Peasy!
And so quick too, an added bonus is getting rid of a lot of fabric strips!
After this one I can feel a table runner coming on! (was going to say floor rug, but that would be too ambitious! LOL)

An another Project!

2009-11-23T17:11:00.002+11:00

I managed to squeeze in some retail therapy while killing time in
between Orthodontist appointments

( 1 @ 10 am s and 1 @ 3 pm t)

I happened to walk into one of the quilt shops in town
and I just happened to see a kit for Locker Hooking

which was priced down to $10 and I just loved the look of it!

I bought the kit and am frantically looking through my fabrics
to see what I can use!

The above picture is the kit I bought, which is only a little 11"x11" pillow,

just the right project to start a new craft!

below a pic of the actual hook

Another work in progress!

2009-11-23T08:28:00.000+11:00

Just what I need! Something else to do!

I bought the Christmas Pillow Cupboard Keep form Country Rustic Primitives and just could resist temptation!

I send Mr J. into work on his day off to print the pattern off after I found out the in in our printer was finished. And as the Darling that he is, he went with no complaints ( well at least not within my hearing anyway!)

This is where Iwas up to at 4:30 am, after waking up with a bad tummy ache! After that settled I couldn't sleep and just got up and did my cross stitch!

This pattern is so easy to follow, it did take a minute to get used to the small threads of the Osnaburg, but it looks amazing.

I'm working on the M as the moment and am kinda ticked off at not having time to do more until tonight!

I will be spending the Day in Bendigo with Miss D, who is having her braces off today!

first appointment is at 10 am, then again at 3 pm to fit the retainers!

Oh heck I just realized: I'll be stuck in town with a teenage girl! HHHHEEEEEEELLLLLPPPPPPPP!!!

A productive Sunday!

2009-11-22T12:39:00.000+11:00

What to do with a wardrobe the kids no longer want ( coz it is too daggy) ?

Well move it into the sewing/craft room! A girl can never have too much storage!

Craft stuff seems to multiply overnight!

Now I have more room to hide the gazillions of patterns, bit of fabric etc from hubby!

While moving the wardrobe in we found out the craft room is on a slight lean! According to Mr J. that is because all my s**t weighs a ton, which I just think is an a lie!

getting back!

2009-11-21T08:01:00.000+11:00

For a while now I've been working on a lap quilt made from Civil War Repro's in Brown and Pink.
So far I've made 26 (colours were wrong in 1 so had to make another one, the spare will make a cute little pillow!) added a 1.5" brown border and am now working on 2.5"( unfinished) triangle squares.With any luck I will finish it next year (can't rush these things you know!)

Too hot to trot!

2009-11-20T07:56:00.000+11:00

Hello blogger Friends!
Don't think I've forgotten about you again, I haven't, it has just been too hot to do anything but sit in front of the A/C and whine about the heat!
So far we've topped the list of hottest town (as in temperature, not coz I live here!) in the State of Victoria a few time already this month! Yesterday we made it to 43C (109F)

I did manage to paint AND sell a few signs on ebay! iwas running into the garage adding 1 coat of paint, back inside in front of the A/C, then back out again next coat etc etc.
I do have to say this heat speeds up the drying process.

2 of the signs I sold

Time flies!

2009-11-11T08:05:00.000+11:00

Still trying out the new camera! I "surprised" Mr. L when I took this picture!

I just love that I just got out of bed look! lol

At the moment he's the only one that will stand still when I take pictures the girls all cover their face when I walk around with my camera in hand! ( Spoil Sports!!)

Can you believe this sweet little face will turn 11 on the last day of the year?

Time sure flies!

I still remember fighting with the nurses about who was going to feed or change his nappy! Lol

He was born in a small country hospital and he was the only baby in there! When I decided to leave after 5 days they almost tied me to the bed to make me stay longer!

It arrived!! It arrived!

2009-11-10T15:39:00.000+11:00

This afternoon my new camera has arrived! I am so happy with it. I think I will spend a lot of time taking pics!

PICTURE OF MY GERANIUM

Moroccan Apricot Chicken

2009-11-08T12:07:00.002+11:00

Serves 4
1tbsp olive oil
4 (approx 150gr each)chicken breast fillets
1 med brown onion, halved, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1tbsp Moroccan Seasoning
1tbsp tomato paste 2 tbsp honey
400gr can whole peeled tomatoes
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup dried apricots
400gr can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
fresh coriander leaves and couscous to serve

1. Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 2 min each side or until browned. transfer to a plate
2. Add onion to pan. Cook stirring, for 5 min or until softened. Add garlic and seasoning. Cook for 1 min or until fragrant. Add tomato paste and honey. Cook, stirring, for 1 min. Add tomatoes, stock, apricots and chickpeas. Bring to the boil
3. Return chicken to the pan. Reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered,turning chicken occasionally, for 20 min or until chicken is cooked through and sauce has reduced and thickened slightly. Serve chicken mixture with couscous and coriander

Recipe comes from either Super Food ideas or Recipe+ magazines not sure which one, if anyone knows let me know so I can quote the right one

I bought a new camera!

2009-11-07T06:21:00.004+11:00

LAst week after 10 years of service my trusty camera decided that was long enough and stopped working.
After thourough research I ordered the Canon IXUS 100 IS. Can't wait til it arrives and I get to play with it!

I'm looking forward to sharing many more pics like these with you all (for Aussie followers I bought the camera at: www.hotbuys.com.au and saved over a $100 from prices I saw in the shops, incl postage!)
Blanket I'm crocheting, need to get rid of some left over woll and this seemed the best idea!

4 inch frame (outside) picture.

Will I make it?

2009-11-04T06:31:00.000+11:00

In Nov 2007 I hand pieced a BowTie quilt top with Christmas fabrics, with the idea of having it hanging on the wall by Christmas that year!

Well as all great plans, that one didn't happen!

So next the aim was Christmas 2008! Now that would give me 12 whole months to do it.

And what happened? I cleaned my sewing/craft room and the Quilt got put in the back!

I found it last night, it is 1/3 done, so I have a sneaking suspicion that 2009 isn't the quilts year either!!

Maybe aim for 2010??

What to do with a load of old wood! part 2

2009-11-04T06:09:00.000+11:00

A while back I got my grubby little hands on a load of old veranda planks.

People thought I was strange ( no idea why they would think that!!! LOL) when I told them to drop them off at my house, because I was going to use them for something.

Not that I had any idea for what at the time though!

But the other day I was thinking (and it didn't even hurt!!) what to use them for and I came up with this:

We've got 2 made now, and planted geraniums in them. It looks very nice around my veranda!

Where I wind down!

2009-11-02T07:31:00.003+11:00

I thought I'd share a photo of the place where I lay my weary head at night!

I love my antique quilt! It is made up of feedsack fabric and it is expertly quilted,( 12 stitches per inch)

At bed time I snuggle up with a good book and read for about an hour before I go to sleep!

It's a sad day!

2009-10-31T08:39:00.003+11:00

Today my trusty camera has passed away! Well sort of, if I smack it hard it will take a few photos (sounds kinda kinky: Smack that Camera!!) They were a good 10 years we had!!

So now I'll be spending my day researching what camera to get next! Already have 2 favourites: Canon Powershot A200 IS or the Kodak easyshare V1073.

My poor departed camera was a Kodak Easyshare DX4330, so I'm leaning towards the Kodak as I find them easy to use ( my camera before that was a Kodak too, so maybe stick with what I know and like?)

Making up for lost time!

2009-10-31T06:35:00.004+11:00

I thought I just show you some more pictures! it is easier to show you what I've been up to then tell you! Heck the posts would be like novels, just to get you up to date!

Time Flies!

2009-10-31T05:54:00.004+11:00

Hello Blog Pals,

Remember me?? I used to hang around here, but that nasty little thing called Facebook got it's little hooks into me and I got sidetracked there!

I will try and not neglect my Blog as much!

So what have I been up to since June (Holy Batman, June? Really, that long?)?

Well besides being on Facebook at lot, I've been crafting a bit, getting to know my power tools a little better, my wood working skills are slowly improving!

Shall I show you a few things I've got up to??

Here we go:

Another thing that has kept me busy is this little bugger (ok he/she(didn't get close enough to check) is one of about 3 or 4 of them!):

he/she is part of a group of 3 or 4 possums that were having WILD parties in our roof! We've been relocating them on a regular basis! But they keep coming back ( unless others in town spray paint yellow Xs on the back of possums, they are same ones all the time!) Even an hour long drive doesn't stop them coming back!

What to do with a load of old wood?

2009-06-27T15:12:00.002+10:00

I got my grubby little hands on a load of 80 year old planks from an old veranda.

Some time this afternoon was spendt a bit of time removing some old nails so I could use the wood for all kinds of fun things ( I'm thinking frames for stitcheries, bird houses and many more ideas)

Having been biten by the stencil bug I thought I should try and sand one of the boards back enough to stencil on it ( THICK layer of green paint on the boards) and see how that would turn out. I must say I like it! It will need to be prim-ed up a bit more, but we'll have to wait with that til the paint is dry.

A lot more nails to remove and some more sanding to do too, may have to leave that for J to do, as I did notice a few spider egg sacks on a few planks, and I'm not going anywhere near those!!

How I spend my Sunday

2009-06-21T17:28:00.003+10:00

For a while now J was getting sick of my wood working stuff under the veranda where I was just making a mess. And a big mess too! Sawdust and bits of wood everywhere! Enough is enough said my darling J we're gonna build a workbench!

So after we ordered the wood on Thursday we were ready to do it today!!

How impressive is my new workbench??

J and I spend a whole day today building it! (would have been half a day if we didn't have a dodgy electric screwdriver battery that would only let us screw in 6 screws at a time, before it had to be recharged.)

Comfort Food

2009-06-20T19:18:00.003+10:00

We're having wonderful cold Winter weather here!

And after being hit on the noggin today by a blind that decided to jump off the wall (oh and lets not start about the 15 min I had to stand holding the darn thing up, til J came home to save me!)

I really was in need for some comfort food. So out came the trusty Pumpkin Soup, with yummy garlic rolls ( for some reason we like to have our garlic bread made in individual packets ( just Hot Dog rolls, with garlic butter wrapped in alu foil).

So Yummy with sour cream and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

To top it off we had a mug of hot Bestest Chocolate milk with a cookie

We all know how to make a good pumpkin soup, so I won't bore you with a recipe.

But for the Bestest Chocolate Milk, I will give you the recipe:

Bestest Ever Chocolate Milk

Serves 4.

4 cups of milk

2 cinnamon sticks

200gr block of milk chocolate (broken into bits)

mini marsh mellows to serve

Bring milk with the 2 cinnamon sticks to a simmer ( do not boil!) and stir occasionally for 10 minutes. Turn of the heat, cover and leave stand for 10 min.

Remove cinnamon sticks. Turn heat back on and while re-heating the milk add the chocolate and whisk until chocolate is melted. pour into 4 cups and top with a handful of mini-marshmallows.

Enjoy!

Note: I got this recipe from a magazine, I just can't remember which one it was, if anyone knows let me know, so I can give proper credit to them!)

Another one bites the dust!

2009-06-17T08:47:00.003+10:00

I've been busy framing like a mad woman got a few cheap frames at the op-shops and thought I give it a try!

The framing of the Hand quilting in the pictures above is something I'm particularly happy about! It has been lying around for the last 5 years, and finally it's framed!

the frame is slightly too small, but it still looks alright I think

Talking about Love

2009-06-14T14:20:00.002+10:00

For years I've admired people that did punchneedle, and told myself that one day I will make a punchneedle project too!

So one day 3 years ago I was looking through my newly discovered Create and Decorate magazine (June 2006 issue) and all was well until I got to page 81 and that's went I fell head over heels in love with that lovely Baa Baa Black Sheep picture and I decided that is the one I was going to make!

Fast forward to June the 13th 2009, and After spending my gift voucher a friend send me for my Birthday at "Spotlight" on a punchneedle (anyone else out there use a Boye punchneedle?) and materials, I sat down and worked until the wee hours to finish it.

Now I'm wondering what took me so long! I really enjoyed doing it and have gone crazy lookng for patterns to make!

Project 2 is now on the go! I've picked one of Primitive Betty's patterns, she has a whole bunch of freebies on her blog, they should keep me busy for ages!

Love sweet Love

2009-06-14T14:13:00.003+10:00

For a few years we've had cats: Doc (cause we live in an old Dr surgery) and Cosmo.

Doc has been with us for 5 years now, and Cosmo joined the family about a year ago, a few months after we lost our beautiful Bruce to a snake bite. Cosmo is Bruce's half brother and while he fits in with the family, he just didn't get along with Doc. As soon as they are in the same room, the hissing and fighting starts! Some days the fur flies everywhere!

And then I walked into the study this morning and saw this (see pic above!) and we now know it was all show!! As long as they think no one can see them snuggled up together it's ok!

As soon as the flas of the camera went off, Doc turned to Cosmo and smacked him square in the face! Good thing I had the camera in my hand, coz no one here would believe me otherwise!

A little Facelift!

2009-05-23T18:27:00.002+10:00

Hello !! Remember me??

I pop in here every now and then!! LoL

Time just seems to get away from me all the time!

I've been sewing up a storm, to get together stock for my ebay shop which is almost at the point of opening! Taking photos of things that will be for sale like mad too!

I gave my blog a little "facelift" and changed my header picture! (btw everything in the pic is for sale!)

I'm also learning to drive my new computer! Usually that would be pretty easy, but we decided to take the plunge and go for a mac this time. I must say it takes a little to get used to but so far so good!

What was she thinking?

2009-05-15T12:59:00.004+10:00

Surfing my fav blogs I came across a thread of What was She thinking in wich they are confessing to all kinds of silly things they bought.

As the perfect woman, I never buy anything silly, but I am going to dob in my Hubby!

Many many years ago (about 8y ago) J and I went to our first auction together, and after about an hour of looking at things I had what I wanted ticked on the catalog! I also had a little star next to a (what I thought was an UGLY) cake stand. At some point the stand had separated from the plate and some one did a shoddy job repairing it! The star (as any thinking person would know) was there to remind me that I wanted to see if it sold and if it did what some idiot would pay for it! 2 items before the cake stand nature called and I handed J the catalog as the item after the cakestand was something I really wanted (don't remember what it was anymore LoL) and wrote the price I was willing to pay next to it. I left to answer Nature's call.

As I was coming back the cakestand auction was just finishing and there was a bit of a bidding war happening, in the end some Idiot paid $26.50 for it, and Yes, I am married to that "Idiot"!!

Lol J thought the star meant it was something I really REALLY wanted! So he wasn't going to be outbid if his Sweety wanted it, she was going to get it! He thought it was an ugly thing, but if Jazy wanted it e was going to get it lol

Of course now I'm stuck with it! You can't throw something like that out! It would be like throwing out that "lovely" bathsalt the kids get you for Mother's day!!So without further Ado, my Prim friends: Meet UGLY Cakestand

So on wedding Anniversaries and other Special Occasions it comes out and takes pride of place on the table!

And again Time flies!

2009-05-15T08:23:00.003+10:00

I was checking my blog and realized it has been ages since I posted!

My Excuse is I've been busy, busy, busy!

I'm in the middle of setting up an online shop for Prims (will let you all know when I'm open!), and besides drooling over all the goodies to buy for the shop, I'm also crafting up a storm to make items to sell as well.

Let me give you a few examples of what I've been making!

I've already sold the little Shoo-Fly cover in the middle picture on eBay (small suitcase should be up on ebay later today!), got a few more on the go. The Prairie Pantry Cakes have been sold too. The 1812 doll is made from a Primitive Pear pattern

Saturday Sportsday!

2009-05-02T15:45:00.003+10:00

Another Hockey Season has started! Actually this is the 3rd week of the season, so back we are to sitting in a cold car with plenty of craft magazines and craftwork to work on!
I have to admit I'm not a sports fan! most sports put me to sleep!
So I stay home most home games and cook biscuits etc for when the hungry hords come home, but away games I sit in the car and "watch" them play ( OK so I do get sidetracked by the magazines and craftwork I bring!)
We've managed to take some pictures today.
L looks so tall with his short hair! I wonder where my baby went! D is getting prettier all the time too! Time sure flies!

What is for Dinner tonight?

2009-04-29T12:44:00.002+10:00

Seeing how cold the weather is here DownUnder, Dinner calls for SOUP!
Tomato Pasta Soup with Garlic Bread actually!

So here is the recipe for the May 2009 Issue of Recipes+

Tomato Pasta Soup with Garlic Bread

Serves 4

Preparation time: 15 min
Cooking 20 min
Ingredients:
1tbsp Olive oil
2 med brown onion, chopped
2 cloved of garlic
420g can of condensed Tomato soup
1/4 cup tomato paste
2.5 cups of Vegatable stock
375gr packet fresh roast chicken and garlic ravioli
2 tblsp shredded basil
6 back at home dinner rolls
1/2 cup garlic flavoured margarine
1/2 cup of grated tasty cheese
freshly grated parmesan and shredded basil to serve

Heat oil in a large saucepan over moderate heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic for 2-3 minutes or until onion is soft.Stir in undiluted soup, paste and stock. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, for 5 min
Add Ravioli; simmer uncovered, for 8-10 minutes more or until Ravioli is cooked. Remove from heat and add basil
Meanwhile, pre-heat the oven to 200C/180C fan forced. For each bread roll, make 4 evenly spaces out cuts crosswise, about 2/3 of hte way through the roll. Spread margarine in each cut. Place bread on baking try. Sprinkle with tasty cheese; bake for 8-10 minutes or until cheese melts and is golden
Ladle soup into serving bowls. Top with parmesan and basil, serve with garlic bread

If you want to buy a magazine with great easy recipes with ingredients that ar easy to find ( no trips to your local Tibetan Supermarket to buy Yak Testicles! A good thing if you live far from everywhere!)

SOCKS!!

2009-04-27T21:23:00.003+10:00

It has finally happened!! After resisting for a good 30 years, I have given up and decided to do my Oma Lies (Grandma Lies) proud and started knitting my first pair of socks!!

After Oma Lies tried very hard to teach me when I was 14 years old, and me resisting like there was no tomorrow ( I mean Come on! Knitting socks is seriously uncool for a 14 year old!!), I was telling one of my kids about the great hand knitted socks I used to wear made with so much love by my Grandmother. Before I knew it the Nostalgia Bug bit me and I rushed off to buy a set of 4 needles to knit me some socks. Lucky for me the wool I had handy had the pattern for socks on the wrapper.

I will keep you all posted as not only is this my first pair of socks, it is also the first time I'm using an english knitting pattern!

Prairie Cakes

2009-04-27T08:21:00.003+10:00

Is it almost the end of April already? My that went so fast!

Life just got a bit busy down here! We finally had a few days of lovely rain here! Of course we still want more then we got!

I've been making some Prairie Cakes as well, although I've cheated and made them out of plaster of Paris. (see pics above) which I gave a coat of burnt Umber and after that dried, I covered it in PVA glue and then rolled them in some ground spices.

I'll be making those Prairie cakes til the cows come home I think as J bought me a 5 kilo bag (and I'm not even 1/4 through that! So anymore Prim ideas to use the plaster for, let me know!)

After the glue is dry you spray it with some Acrylic Sealer.

J said the cakes looked good enough to eat, I sure hope he can resist the urge to bite into one! Or I'll be using the Plaster of Paris to make him some new teeth LOL

Bag

2009-04-17T15:35:00.002+10:00

Drawstring Penny Purse from the Bear Paws Designs book: "TRADITION"

Purse is 8" high and 6" across the bottom. Made out of recycled old wool clothing, drawstring old shoelaces, wooden beads were an op-shop find.

actually everything used to make the purse is from the op-shop.

Prairie Dolls

2009-04-02T07:27:00.002+11:00

I've been a busy girl this week! I've managed to finish of the Alphabet Soup Wallhanging (photo to come!)
I also managed to make 8 little Prairie Dolls from a Primitive Pear pattern. Michelle and Nette are such talented girls. I've got 5 dressed dollies and 3 still Nekkid ones, with a little bit of luck (J is on holidays, so may interfere with my craft time) I will get them all dressed today!
After that who knows what I'll be doing for the rest of my day!
More sewing looks like a good idea!

Pineapple Magic

2009-04-02T07:09:00.006+11:00

Ok so it isn't really magic! But just some sandpaper, paint, paintbrush and a good dose of elbow grease!

Here are some pictures of each one in their stage of the make over! Doesn't the 3rd one look lovely! Now all I have to do is think were I want to display them when all 3 are done!

Happy Birthday K!!

2009-03-30T06:13:00.005+11:00

Today my eldest turns 24! Where did the time go?

So Happy Birthday K

I can't believe that photo was taken 22 years ago on your first train trip! LOL very flattering photo, isn't it?

(ok so it is for me, but you're pretty cute in it too!)

Hopefully you have the best Birthday ever and all your Birthday Wishes come true!

We Love you!

I could just eat her too!

2009-03-29T21:46:00.003+11:00

I thought if I'm going to show off L's freckles, I should show you all D's hair too!

When I was little I really REALLY wanted 2 things for my self: Curly, Red hair! Unfortunately I was cursed with thick, straight mousy brown hair! ( well at least that is what it is in photo's when I was little! Can't remember back that far back!)

So K (dd1) was a baldy that turned blond, then along came M (dd2) and had the most gorgeous red hair when it finally grew! ( all my kids were almost bald til the were 2) but she now covers it in dark brown hair dye!

Then along came D (dd3) and once her hair started growing this is what it turned into ( see pic above). Now that's what I wanted!!

At 13 we're not always seeing eye to eye, but she is a great kid! Smart (like her Mummy!), pretty (once again like her Mummy!) and sometimes loud ( definitely from her Daddy!)

each time we had another baby, we were blessed with a perfect little girl, but after D I think God believed we had enough female perfection. There was no way he could top that!

I could just eat him!

2009-03-29T21:40:00.005+11:00

This little boys face makes me smile on a daily basis!

every time I see those freckles it makes me want to eat him up!

At the moment he is at an age where it is still ok to snuggle up to mum in public and I'm enjoying every minute of it, as I know it won't last much longer.

L, when I was thinking of having a little baby boy, I would not have believed that I would be blessed with one as perfect as you!

Oh and tell me L, did you sneeze in the Milo tin again? the proof is all over your face!

We're Home!

2009-03-29T21:31:00.003+11:00

in photo: left is J, sil K bil R and seating in laws friend W

We went for the weekend to Apolo Bay, for my Brother in Law C's 40th birthday and of course the music festival!

We were booked in with inlaws K and R in a lovely little cottage in town for the weekend. There the party go-ers prepared for the Party of the year! C had a dress-up as someone from the movie Conan the Barberian. I stayed at the cottage with D and L as it was a no-kids allowed party (and from what I heard it was a good thing too! lots of drunken debauchery going on, as is befitting of Barberians!)

We spend the days walking around Apolo Bay, soaking in all the lovely music and cups of coffee

LOOK LOOK!!

2009-03-24T15:31:00.003+11:00

Look at the picture above!! Do you see it?? Are you as excited as I am?? We had a full 10 seconds of RAIN!!!

I took a picture just so I could show you all!!

I woke up from a nap on the couch thinking what the heck is that noise?? (we have a tin roof) I looked outside and saw the rain! So quick as a flash I was outside with my trusty old camera, so I could share the happy occasion!

And in the 5 seconds it took me to decide to get nekkid and do a rain dance, it stopped!

Whoops, maybe the fact that I was going to do that scared the rain away!

Busy Busy Times

2009-03-18T21:02:00.003+11:00

Again a long time between drinks! But we've been rather busy in our dry little corner of this great land called Aus.

After several trips to Bendigo, with M moving there and looking for jobs and all. I'm not wanting to go back again in the near future!

Oh before I forget, I've got myself some spiffy glasses (will show photo as soon as I get J to handle the camera for me) I think I look even more smart then before!!

Also busy sewing bunnies and easter egss!

I just love the Easter Eggs! They turned out lovely! I made them from a Vintage Tablecloth I had. it was just past any use as tablecloth, but too nice to throw out! And Then Brainwave (see?? I do have one! you need a brain to have a brain wave!) Why not use it for crafting? You can just cut the holy bits out!

Easter is on its way!!!

2009-03-08T12:53:00.003+11:00

After a trip to the supermarket full of Easter Eggs and hot cross buns yesterday I was bitten by the Easter decorating bug and went looking for my bunny patterns in my newly clean sewing room ( and so easy to find now!! ) So I've managed to sew up 1 cute wool hare from a Chestnut Junction pattern, and am preparing to work on a few more things!

I knew I would use that old wool pants one day lol

Got some styrofoam eggs I'm planning on covering with some ripped fabric strips!

The things you can do while dh is gone for a few days! He's in Wittlesea for 5 days with his work. Meanwhile I'm sewing up a stormwhile the kids watch Jurrasic Park

Op-Shopping!

2009-03-07T19:07:00.004+11:00

It's Saturday again already! We're having a nice quiet weekend at home! With hubby going away working for 5 days straight we all decided quiet is good! Of course I did manage to visit the opshop in town and score a few nice things! I even manage to find a lovely woolen skirt and a pair of wool pants as well, just as I was planning on sewing a bunny from a Chestnut Junction pattern. Now the dilema is, am I going to make a plain grey Bunny or a checkered one?

As I was leaving the shop I

discovered a sweet box covered with fabric! As a Prim Girl I couldn't leave with out it of course! as soon as I got home it got a make-over

Doesn't it look darling??

I actually went to the op-shop because when I went for a walk a few nights back I spied 3 little Pineapple bowls, that I just had to have! because of all kinds of reasons I didn't make it into the shop until today! And I'm happy to say I've got my 3 little pineapple bowls! Now what am I gonna do with them?? Not sure yet, but it will come to me lol
The 2 wooden Candle sticks are in the freezer at the moment because ther is some wax on it that needs to come off before we can sand it down and paint it

Thank goodness we have a long weekend here! I've got some crafting to do!!

The Sheep are BAAAACK!!

2009-03-06T20:37:00.002+11:00

Well the sheep are back next door! I can for see many early mornings chasing them back next door, after they have been nibbling on my very spares garden!

>The sheep get put in the yard of the house next door to us, to keep the grass down ( have a good look and answer me this: what grass?) Lucky for them they have a very lovely, pretty lady (ok I'll take the guess work out of that: it's me!!!) who throws them some carrots and lettuce over the fence! ( ok she does have an ulteriour motive: if they like me enough they may let me give them a wee haircut some day!! LoL)