Teacher's gifts

I'm half way through. Still got the Rocky Road to cut up and bag, Peanut Butter, White Choc and Sea Salt Biccies to make and one more Fabric basket to make.

Now we're off to see Santa!!!

Sunday Snippets

For my Dad, for Christmas - finally finished after starting it in 2007! Hope it's worth the wait. Couldn't resist the windy photos on this blustery day in Old Melbourne Town!

Sunday Snippets

via Tinniegirl!

What did Sunday bring for me? I nice lie in with the little lads, watching silly movies in bed, eggs, bacon, avo and chorizo for breaky, plus a great big cappuccino, then...

 ...did a bit more quilting on the cot quilt I started a few months back,...

...then realized I needed to make these 8 placemats in a hurry...,

 ...had trouble choosing the binding

...was required to view the lads playing Xbox, so did a bit of hand-quilting...

...made these for Meg in the Beehive bee.

I then went to Target to get the NZ Christmas pressies. I also got a few items of the undie variety, and a most (un)attractive "foundation" undergarment. As I was called forth from the queue, I realized, to my horror, that the young man on the till was my friend Lisa's teenage son. I hope that he will remember me for the lovely cake he ate last week that I baked, not my granny undies!!

Is it any wonder that I had to buy these at the supermarket to placate myself?

A bit of Tangy Bliss is all you need sometimes!

Things for little folk.

I have a friend with a little newborn son, and have been busy trying to finish the quilt started for him 9 months or so ago!! I finished it and delivered it yesterday afternoon, but the weather was so horrid that I couldn't take a photo!

Dom's favourite toy from babyhood has been "Pigly". We bought it when we found I was pregnant - one of those lovely soft things you can't resist when the hormones are rushing about.

Charlie's favourite is "Snugs", a square of soft chenille with satin and grosgrain ribbon tags attached to the sides. I bought it when he was a baby from ELC in Chadstone and it cost around $40. 

Now, to be fair, the ribbons are all custom made and there is appliqué and they are actually called "Taggies"

I decided to have a burl at making some "Snugs" of my own

This is my first take on it. She wanted a New Zealand theme seeing the poor little bugger will be inundated with all things Ocker all his life (sorry, lovely Australian friends, we love you and your beautiful country, but there is so much green and gold)

 This one has a Rainbow Theme

They make pretty nice gifts for a baby and are dead simple and cheap to make.

A certain 5 year old.

Well, the little man has turned 5 after what seemed like months of waiting! 

The birthday celebrations went on for 2 weeks, as he had a big party with a friend 2 weeks before the actual event, for all the kinder buddies.

Check out those Cake Pops!!!

Then came the actual day...Halloween! 

There was trick or treating...

 ...at spooky looking abodes....

...well, actually, only our abode looked spooky...

and a second cake this time, one for the actual day, which was just as much fun!

Our little boy is five. But he still gives us a cuddle in bed in the mornings, and lots throughout the day too, just like his big brother. That's my favorite part of being a Mum.

Sunshiny day Blogtoberfest Day 18

I'm getting a bit slack on this blogging every day business! Oh well.
It's a gorgeous day, too nice to be inside sewing (as I sit inside at the computer, blogging...) so I thought I'd post a sunshiny pic of what i SHOULD be sewing.

 A cot quilt for the new little cousin in Vancouver. It's been started and won't take long to finish, but I've been dragging my heels. Best get it done before she gets to school age!

Poppies are my favourite flowers so I planted a slew of them this year, and they are just blooming fantastically!!

Charlie and I have had a lovely morning, taking Dom to school on the tram, having coffee with the girls, Dymocks story time, Lunch at a cafe, home on the tram via the supermarket to change the lightbulbs for a record THIRD time!

Must remember that it's time to put the sunscreen back in my bag again though. It's lovely and warm today but supposed to be 29 degrees on Thursday!

XX

Back to School/Kinder - Blogtoberfest Day 10

God, it's hard yakka on the first day back after the holidays! Kids and self to get organized and out the door, lunches to make, Charlie did the usual and slept in, so had to wake him up just after 8 and shovel food in, arguments with Dom about getting dressed before the telly goes on and taking thine own crap upstairs, not leaving it for Mummy to do later. And all while my significant other slumbers in bed! The Joy! You can imagine my mood by 8.40! Very tweezer-lipped!!

But I've been having some lovely lie-ins and some very lazy days. The boys and I had a very relaxing holiday on the whole.

But it's kind of nice to back into the old routine again. Less time to sit about and eat!

Kids are eating their dinner now and soon will be in bed. I plan to take a nice long bath and sew the binding (finally) on Charlie's new quilt.

Went into the city today to Cake Deco to get prepared for the Cake Pops I'm making for Charlie and his buddy Lou's Kew Traffic School party on Thursday.

 I'm making them fairly simple - you can get some pretty amazing results if you know how, but this is my first time. Will post numerous photos, post party.

Happy Monday ! X

Day 6 blogtoberfest

My littlest man is having his first sleepover.



I miss him.



I know these things need to be done, and he's at one of my great friend's houses with her little boy, whom he adores, and he's had an absolute blast, but it's doesn't feel right not to have him here.



On the upside, big bro has had the best time. He got to sit in the front seat with me on the way to Aikido ( bad mummy), had some of my coke ( as in cola, not powdery stuff which I would be far too scared to touch), had fish and chips in the park with me and Dad, watched Transformers (an M. - bad Daddy) till 9.30 and had Tim tams. Very happy boy!


Still miss my little one though. Can't wait to see him tomorrow.


Better get used to it though, I suppose. Doesn't mean I have to like it.

Every night in my dreams.... Day 2: Blogtoberfest

OK, OK, I know it's technically cheating but 2 posts in one day is making top for not starting yesterday!

We have a Titanic obsession going down in Chez Williams at present. We watched the movie yesterday (heavily edited by me with the remote, fast forwarding all horrible or slightly sexy bits). 

Here is what was made while mummy slumbered in bed ('til 9.30 - result!)

 The Band Aid packet is the iceberg, in case that needed explanation! I tried to encourage a slightly longer ship, but was told that the propellers were already attached therefore, impossible. They are now making a poster to adorn their walls.

And Mr Sun is trying to shine today! Happy Day!

The Old Red, White and Blue

If you have been taking any notice whatsoever of my little progress bars on the side, you will have seen that one of the quilts has recently seen some action!

For the last couple of days of my in-laws stay, I've been making new curtains for Charlie's room.
Yes, we live in a rental.
Yes, it may be a waste of money to make new curtains you may never use again.
But the old ones were;
a) the shittiest faded salmon pink color you can imagine
b) come summer they may as well be open as are virtually see thorough. I need something better to con him that it's night time!
c) they were on rods and the gap had been sewn too narrow and they wouldn't slide. Tiebacks do my head in.
d) until we leave these isles and return to The Homeland, I refuse to live with any more "other people's crap" than I have to. I have been doing this for 11 long years of rental properties in 8 countries. The pink Austrian blinds in the lounge are bad enough!

Anyhoo...I have had this project on the back burner for a while and thought it the perfect time to complete one of the infamous WIP's that I have vowed to wipe out by 2012.

I'd like to say I'll get it done tomorrow but I'm dreaming.

Biggie Smalls has a 7th birthday on Friday and I have to knock out 2 dozen iced and sprinkled cupcakes (school), and ice cream party cake and party food (family, little friends party, Friday Night), Beyblade cake (Sunday, Laserstrike party) .

Plus go to the gym and Costco tomorrow.
They all have to be home made according to his lordship, as "your things taste perfect, Mum"
How can I argue with such wanton bias?!

The joys of Grandparents.

My in-laws are staying with us at the moment. They've settled into the swing of our lives, like they always do, which makes them such a joy to have here.

The kids were uber-excited to be picked up from school and kinder. So lovely to see the beaming little faces when they saw their beloved Grandma and Grandad! They've joined in the school drop off and pick ups and all the ensuing activities in between, plus all the at home ones - stories, doing the reader, bath etc. It's sooooo nice to have an extra couple of pairs of hands around the place at dinner time, when there are dishes in the sink and washing to fold. And it's really nice to have someone to talk to when the kids aren't about too, for a change!

I feel very lucky to get on with my in-laws, I know many (or is it most?) people don't. I wonder why that is. Who knows? I'm off to sit by the fire (that I didn't have to light) and chat!!
X

Baking Day at Casa Los Williams

In the oven as we speak are...

Raspberry and White Chocolate Friands

125g Raspberries (frozen are fine)
185g melted Butter
6 egg whites (or 4 eggs if you cant be bothered)
100g Almond meal
.5 cup Plain Flour
1.5 cup Icing Sugar Mixture
100g White Choc Chips

Crush the raspberries then mix everything together.
Pour into greased friand or muffin tins.
Bake for 25mins at 180 degrees.
Stand for 5 mins before cooling on wore rack then sut with icing sugar when cool.

Chocolate Muffins

1.75 cups Plain Flour
1 cup Sugar
.5 cup Cocoa
2 tsp Baking Powder
.25 tsp Baking Soda
.25 tsp Salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
.5 cup melted Butter
.5 cup Chocolate Chips

Mix all ingredients together until well combined.
Bake in greased or lined muffin tins at 180 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes.
Cool on wire rack and ice if desired.

Hope you're having a happy day wherever you are!

Have Mercy!

It's the first day of the school holidays here in windy Melbourne.

Normally we would don the PJ's for the day and have a stay at home bonanza, but the kids were booked in for a Lego Create and Learn session at 9, so it was much like any other school day, really, minus the lunches to make.

We started a new tradition. The kids had never eaten Coco Pops before we came home from Samoa on the plane. They ADORED them, sugary bits of chocolate love, that they are. Rather than have an issue at the supermarket we decided to make it a first and last day of the school holidays treat. So today was the day.

They are as 'high' as kites.
I'm blaming the bloody Coco Pops.
It's not as if they don't get lots of junk - they have too much, really, but always a healthy breakfast.
They are Doing. My. F**k**'. Head. In already and we are only just over half way through the day.
It's blowing it's knads off outside and I've sent them out to play. At least it's not raining!

Maybe I can tame them with Brocolli?

Talofa lava!

We've just returned from a 10 day family holiday in Samoa. 

We attended a friends wedding and had an all round fabulous time. I ate more fish than I thought possible, mostly Oka, but also lots of with Samoan Chop Suey and Taro cooked in coconut cream..Palusami. The food was delicious, the temperature in the high twenties to thirties, and the people, lovely.

Too many Pina Coladas have expanded my waistline, however. Back to the gym today and it was hard yakka!

Now I need to make a gift for the lovely couple who made us so welcome. Thank God the hols are nearly upon us and I can get down 'n dirty in the sewing room for a bit. I'm thinking of a quilt but am having a mental block with ideas. Any suggestions?!

This afternoons great achievement...

...was not sewing...

...or knitting his Gryffindor scarf..

...or cooking dinner...

...or baking biscuits...

...or doing the housework...

...or shopping...

Nothing like a spot of boatbuilding and decorating to wile away the afternoon.

Mum's birthday present

It is the year of the quilt when it comes to presents from me, it seems! Having made a quilt for my MIL, I thought it best to make one for my mum too, as her birthday is on Friday.

She's a big fan of red and black and I had bought at my first ever Australian Quilt Convention in Melbourne (2008) a quilt kit featuring vintage kimono silk in a beautiful, vibrant red and black- (it is, co-incidentally, the strip of the local rugby team her and Dad support) I didn't have time to piece it according to the pattern, which wasn't really to my taste anymore, anyway, so just sewed the strips, added a border to the sides and Voila!

 It is wonky. The seams are less than straight. And there are puckers in the quilting.

The silk was hard to stop slipping even though I used lots of pins in the basting.

I don't think she'll mind.

Backed it with black quilter's flannel (never again - picks up every bit of thread and lint possible) and Amy Butler Lotus that I'd been saving but was the only thing even close to the right colour and size in my stash. All to a good cause! Appliqued in red silk.

I really like the way it turned out, even though it is not as perfect as it could be. Bit like me, really!

I LOVE Mothers Day....

...because I have 3 beautiful boys who love me!