Scrappy Wreath

A couple of years ago, I made this simple Christmas wreath for our front door;

You really don't need much to make one yourself.... just an embroidery hoop and fabric scraps cut into strips;

Then just tie them in knots around the hoop;

The photo above was taken at night,

but I've since taken off the vintage angel ornament

and I like how lovely and bright it looks on an ordinary day in the sunlight;

Instead of a wreath...

This year, we have a Christmas star.

(I've had to take photos of our door on an angle, because the glass is so reflective, it was tricky to get a photo front-on without seeing my own reflection!)

Christmas Playdough

When the girls wanted to make red and green playdough today (they know the recipe by heart and can make it themselves now), I thought they would have fun decorating it with small Christmas ornaments;

Many of these were my Grandmothers and had no string for hanging. I had wondered what I would do with them but knew I would find a use for them eventually.

Oh, how the girls loved them. They have played with these for hours and hours...

Making little Christmas worlds...

And stories to go along with them...

And getting very excited about Christmas in the process!

Flowers and sparkles

With a quiz last Tuesday night and 4 (four!) assessments due last night AND getting ready to do a week of prac in a 0-2yrs room next week, I have had plenty to keep me busy. No sewing, but we enjoyed a lovely playdate with PreSchool friends yesterday. These are the lovely flowers they brought from their garden. Beautiful!

We enjoyed a simple morning tea of Banana Muffins, Passionfruit Slice and a plate of fruit. Later the conversation turned to what us Mums did in our past lives, before having children. I had some vague recollection she worked for a magazine.... but had I known she was a Food Writer for Vogue, I definitely would have made more of an effort in the kitchen prior! Let's just say, I am definitely looking forward to morning tea at their house next time!

The children put on a little concert for us and enjoyed doing some sparkly craft together...

They made googly-eyed Elves;

And I think we have officially entered the season of Christmas crafts in our house.

Hen's Party Present

I am going to my Maid of Honour's Hen's Night tomorrow and wanted to give her something special for the occasion. These days, I am not really into the outrageous partying and drinking of these events (although I am getting excited about shaking my tail feather!). So, I thought I'd make her a nice clutch in her favourite colours (pattern from The Crafty Minx) and give her a little sentimental book, full of traditions, astrology, potions, poems and stories inspired by love.

Now, let's see if I can work out how to post a picture of us, from my Flickr account...

My beautiful friend and Maid of Honour, Brooke and Me on my wedding day.

Now it is her turn and it is all so exciting and I am so happy for her!

Cookie-Cutter Lunches

Tuesday's Lunch for PreSchool:

Tubs of cucumber and capsicum with ham sandwiches and a piece of cheese

Wednesday's lunch with friends, at home;

Grapes and blueberries with a variety of sandwiches - ham, jam and vegemite (seperate, of course!)

Today's lunch to take with us to Play Session;

Tubs of cucumber and carrots, with honey sandwiches topped with nutella.

They've never had Nutella before, so I can't wait to see their faces when they take their first bite and taste the chocolate-y flavour. Yum!

Rooster Cupcakes

Today we celebrated my Neice's 12th birthday. I felt bad we weren't able to get her a proper present (just a gift voucher, although she kept thanking us and seemed very excited about going shopping for something herself) so we decided to make her some special cupcakes as well...

Elly got to choose what type. First it was ducks, then chickens, then she finally settled on rooster cupcakes (of all things!). We made 12 in total and, as I had some help sprinkling on the toasted coconut 'feathers' (ie. handfuls of the stuff were dumped on top of each cake), this was about the only recognisable one!

The base was Strawberry Swirl Cupcakes from the Womans Weekly Cupcakes book (basically a simple cupcake recipe with a small dollop of jam swirled in on top, just before baking), topped with buttercream icing and coconut. Inspired by Spring Chicks by Martha Stewart.

Knitted Pudding!

I picked up this cute little pud at a craft market today. Every year my parents and I walk a few blocks from their house to a Scouts Hall to see what the local Nanna's and Grandma's have been making for their annual Christmas sale. I love all the old-time handicrafts; the knitted booties, baby singlets with embroidered roses, crocheted tea-cosies, appliqued tea-towels and the like;

It's so nice to be inspired by their creativity - even if their choice of fabrics differs from my own. Many of the things I saw today reminded me of my own grandmothers; I loved the little elf slippers they used to knit for me every year! And my Dad's Mum loves to tell me of the swimming trunks she knitted him for his first ever visit to the seaside, some 62 years ago. Can you imagine how cute they were? And what happened when they got wet!?!?!

I saw some more modern designs today too; a very cute handbag made out of a quilted owl (!) and some lovely hand-stitched felt Christmas ornaments that would be fun to make too. I love to imagine who actually made each piece, wonder about how long it took to make and marvel at the patience and skill involved. But of course, the best way to really appreciate these crafts is to support these lovely ladies in their Cottage Crafts Sale.

So, I picked up a few stocking-stuffers for my Mum and my husband (which I can't reveal, as they read this blog!), along with these sweet little dolls dresses for the girls;

It makes me a bit sad to think of all the time and effort that has gone into these and then see the $5 price tag. Many of these ladies make these things just for the love of it, which I myself can totally understand, but it really is unfortunate that they cannot command a higher price.

And if I am being truthful, it also makes me a bit sad to think, 'why didn't I buy more of these!?!?!?'. Wouldn't a little wooden wardrobe filled with a tiny rack of these pretty dresses be the perfect Christmas present for a little girl and her special doll?

Surprise Drawings

I love finding little pictures around the house, that my husband has drawn for the girls...

... Maybe even a little bit more than they do!

While they delight in each and every doodle, I just love seeing this different side to him, the father in him, who loves to do sweet things for his little girls.

The Melbourne Cup

This post is a bit late, I have been trying to finish some assignments... and trying to do it without a computer has been a bit tricky! We got the blue screen of death last Friday night and have just found out that it needs a new motherboard, at a cost of about $600. Needless to say, we may as well buy a new one, so that is what Nick is doing tonight.

Thankfully I have awesome parents, who entertained my children whilst I did the necessary research on their computer earlier this week and then my Dad loaned me his laptop to take home so I could actually do my assignments. Now that they are out of the way, I have finally figured out how to upload photos to the laptop, so here is a pic of our Tuesday afternoon treat...

'Jam Slice' from the Family Circle Kids Cookbook - circa 1981!

...eaten whilst we watched the Melbourne Cup 'The race that stops the nation'. The girls watched on, a bit bemused as I jumped up and down, yelling and screaming at the TV for a few minutes whilst the race was run. You see, Nick put $5 on a horse for each of us and at the last minute, he decided to put another $5 on 'Americain' just for me, because, [his words], 'I love you and I know how much you love... America' (It's true).

And that is how I came to win $62! The most money I have ever won. At the time, it seemed like a lot. However now, faced with the cost of a new computer, it sounds like ... well, I guess it is just enough for a nice take-away dinner tomorrow night and a celebratory bottle of wine!

Little Laundry Hamper

I found this wooden frame on the side of the road in a Council Clean-up (much to my husband's horror - he wasn't impressed when I found this old pram either!).

Anyway, I took it home, gave it a clean and made a fabric hamper -buttons and all!

I am always surprised when I remember I can do buttons, they seem a bit tricky in theory, but once you dive in, they are really quite fun. And I was excited to finally use the little birdy fabric I had stashed too. The girls like it, although they have been using it as a cot for their dolls!

Halloween Costumes 2010

The girls wanted to be Garden Gnomes this year;

I started by cutting up an old cot sheet and making a pair of pants;

And a woodland skirt;

Some simple red felt hats (and a beard from quilt wadding);

A little apron;

(Time saving tip: Use selvedges for the ruffle - no hemming required!)

And a few gardening props like watering cans, broom and this wheelbarrow;

And they played in their costumes all day long.

Halloween Treats

Our little Gnomes were busy in the kitchen...

Rolling and cutting...

...making spooky treats for afternoon tea!