Pop

Oh, that sound is so addictive. Those buttons are so addictive. But I was warned.

I started out making these button hair ties from uniform fabric for our school fete which is this weekend. My bows sell at our uniform shop and they are a hit with the Preps but as for the older girls, a little too fussy. I thought these might be the go.



Then I started experimenting with some of my favourite fabrics. One of my all time favourite fabrics from Ella's dress.


And some scraps from my swap with Soo last year.


Then I came up with the idea of using old doilies. I truly love these.

M is for Max

A late birthday present for my nephew. His mum covered his bed head in the lovely red thick cord and asked me to make a cushion to match.


As much as I enjoy the soft pretty colours of the girl's bedding I do so love the clear crisp colours of boy's rooms.

The Easy Way or The Hard Way

I have this knack. Thinking that I am oh-so-clever and inventing all sorts of lovely designs in my head, only to find that executing them is not so simple. Creativity is a curse sometimes.

Take children's bedlinen for example. The girls needed new, matching bedlinen. (I was over the non-matching look.) All I wanted was something sweet, simple, not garish, that went with all the quilts I will make them one day:) Something with a little pink, just the right pink, but not too much pink. I know most people would just go out and buy something from the shops!!! But I thought I would be clever and make it.

Easier said that done. I have laboured over this project for months, not in sewing time but thinking and planning time. Running to and fro to the shops and back, trying to make it all work and on a budget if possible. (Two doona covers made from patchwork fabric ain't cheap) Finally, I have completed two covers with all the right colours. Not without a few dramas, which I might share one day.





I actually ended up using Ella's old cover in part of the quilts. A beautiful Charlie Brown design called Geisha Girl...now discontinued. I also made two of the quilted pillow shams that I did for Edward's bedroom. They make arranging the bed so easy.



So here it is, finished at last. I would love to applique a breakfast cushion and have been very inspired by all of Kellie's gorgeous work. But that will be when I have some spare time, which has not been very plentiful of late!

P.S. Would anyone be interested in a tutorial on the cushion covers or can you all just work it out for yourselves?
P.P.S For more pictures of the girls bedroom, see one of my original posts.

As Easy as 1..2..3

One
Pour all your ingredients (see below) in a bowl, I don't even bother to sift!



Two
Mix (you can mix by hand)



Three
Bake for one hour 180'




Oh and I forgot Four, eat fresh out of the oven with a slathering of butter,mmm mmm. Or the next morning it tastes even better toasted.



As Eddie goes down for his day time nap these days he asks for a piece of cake when he wakes up. Regardless of my plans for his nap time it is usually easy to whip up a cake or two. See here and here for my other superquick recipes.

This is my favourite at the moment, sort of a fruit bread, not much fat and it uses up any spare fruit in the house; bananas, pears or apples.

Fruit Bread
2 pieces of fruit; mashed bananas, diced pears, or apples (fresh or tinned)
2 cups wholemeal flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 cup raw sugar
Nuts or spices for taste; cinnamon, walnuts etc

NB If using the apples, I cube them and pop them in a dish with a small amount of water and put in the microwave or stovetop for a couple of minutes, just to soften. Add the water to the mixing bowl if using this way. Or you could use tinned apples.

Don't Trust the Post

After we got back from our trip, a couple of weeks ago now, I made a routine doctor's appointment for today. I must have known something, because two weeks later I really needed it. I have been fighting an awful virus for ten days now, dragging myself around, trying to get on with things but not really managing much at all. Seems that it has turned into severe bronchitis, bordering pneumonia. Ah, so that would explain why I feel so shocking. Hopefully some dreaded and feared antibiotics (only my third dose in my lifetime) will fix it and I can feel normal again.

Thankfully I got a lovely package in the mail from Ingrid yesterday. Nothing like mail to cheer you up. When I travelled to Sydney in August, Ingrid and I planned to catch up but alas, it didn't happen. As any good blogging friends would do, we both had a little something for each other and so we trustingly put our packages in the post a few weeks later. Well my parcel for Ingrid turned up,

An oven mit out of this thrifted bedspread

but her's did not! Australia Post lost her lovely handmade goodness. This week Ingrid posted another and with perfect timing too! Thank you Ingrid.