Ripple Progress

I have loved this crochet project.  Loved snuggling up underneath it waiting for my baby to call me.  I have enjoyed the colours as they throw a brightness into my home.

Yes the wool ran out, all the balls I thought would finish my ripple blanket.  It was slightly too small for my bed, or perhaps that was just an excuse for me to purchase the same colours again and continue this wonderful blanket allowing it to envelop me this winter.  I really should place it on the bed again soon as I've crocheted a number of rows since these pics were taken.

I'm feeling like I'm fighting a virus or the like at the moment so I'm going to snuggle up again under my bright ripple and let it nurture me as I rest this evening.

Lamingtons: Butter or Sponge?

Fresh Butter Cake squares waiting to be made into lamingtons,
 if they aren't consumed first.

There are some times when you just wish you still had your Granny around to ask a few questions.

Do you find that?  As I'm getting older and have a more mature perspective of the world, shall we say, I find myself wanting to ask my Granny a few more questions than I had thought to before she died when I was about 20.

Creaming the butter

When growing up I took for granted the fabulous lamingtons my Granny made for the family to share on picnics out on the farm.  I just devoured them.  We all did.  They were fabulous.

Little Eee loving helping with creaming the butter and sugar 

As I grew older I realised there were other sorts of lamingtons you could buy from bakeries and also supermarkets.  I never really took to those at all.  I have however come across a few and eaten a few as they are a favourite sweet of my dear Generous Gentleman's.  They always left a metallic taste in my mouth, and still do.

Ess helping sift flour into our bowl

So when the opportunity arose to take the family to the Great National Lamington Bake Off in order to celebrate Australia Day we all jumped at the chance.  I was curious to see what it was all about and how a chef might interpret the lamington these days.  My girls love baking (and tasting of course) and my lovely husband just loves eating lamingtons.  So it was a match made perfectly.

Fresh golden butter cake with the recipe I transcribed
at the age of about 10 years

When it was discovered that two out of the three chefs were baking a sponge cake for their lamington a question arose concerning the original and authentic lamington.  Would it have also been a sponge cake or would it have been a butter cake?  Granny always made a butter cake for her lamingtons and I have assumed that the spongey light and fluffy cake was made by the bakeries and supermarkets.  However it seems that some others consider the sponge base is a more authentic lamington.  Or perhaps they prefer the light and fluffy sponge cake?  It seems that the CWA baked a butter cake for their lamingtons as well.  I am yet to find an example of the sponge cake being used for lamingtons by the older generation, apart from mass production for school fetes and the like.  What is your preference?  

For the results of the bake-off take a read of the Canberra Times article.

Waiting for icing and coconut

Now I'm on a mission to bake lamingtons with my family in the fashion of my Granny's, to share with them the tradition I hold such fond and vivid memories of.  I'll ask them which cake they choose as their cake of preference: butter or sponge?  I already know my choice.

My Pretty Shopping List

A little while ago I lost my shopping list while in Spotlight. My dear two year old Eee loves being there - so many buttons, ribbons, balls of wool etc. etc. However it is a little challenge for Mum to manage shopping for what I need with an excited toddler amongst the many textures and sights of a large craft shop. I did manage to leave the shop with all I needed, including my toddler. However my list remained somewhere within.

Have you ever lost your shopping list? I was surprised at how lost I felt without it. I survived my grocery shop at the markets and then the week at home remembering all the things which we had run out of and were written down in my list. The greatest loss for me was the list of ideas I had made over a period of time for Christmas gifts (sigh). Never mind, fortunately I do have a good brain and I have recalled many things. Who knows what I have forgotten however.

So to cheer myself up I made a special cover for my shopping list. Mette at Erleperle inspired me with her Christmas List Taker, yet I want mine to be used all year round.

I do love it! I was surprised how it heartened me to glance at my list on my stroller-top seeing such prettyness. Rather than simply seeing the things I needed I saw something crafted with my own hands, for my own heart.

It was lovely to gift myself a little this Christmas, in amidst preparing gifts for family and friends.

I hope you are enjoying your Christmas preparations.

An Advent Tree of crochet, ribbon and lego

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ~Roy L. Smith

Last night, on the eve of December, I was busily making final preparations to our first homemade Advent Calendar.

A couple of weeks ago I became 'hooked' into a November Mystery Crochet Project. Not knowing what the result would be, yet having much green yarn on my hands, I commenced crocheting Granny Squares... and this is the result.

What do you think?

I am not sure I would have chosen this project knowing the result, however once hooked I always complete a project.

Our finishing touches last night were to add some messages of Christmas and of love, as well as little note deliverers to each of the 24 pouches. Now the girls will enjoy reading a note each day from this advent calendar. We also use another card advent calendar which contains the story of Christmas read day by day as we open a window on each day leading up to Christmas.

See the tiny little Lego men in each pocket handing out notes. These are the deliverers of much excitement and anticipation. It was Sponge Bob who delivered our note this morning - who will it be tomorrow we wonder?

Ah anticipation! Children bring such a sense of anticipation in all they do and this is particularly evident at Christmas time. They anticipate receiving of course but also decorating our home, making rooms more beautiful, making and giving cards to friends, visits with family and friends. These are the things which make Christmas special and tender.

I hope you are finding space to enjoy this special time of year.

Bringing in Christmas

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

Living in Adelaide means that Christmas starts much earlier for us than it used to. You see, Father Christmas arrives for a quick visit to the children of Adelaide during The Pageant before he settles into his Magic Cave for the leadup to Christmas. This year we braved 40degC heat to enjoy the parade and what a wonderful day we had. Armed with our big beach umbrella, lots of water in cool bottles for us, as well as spray bottles to squirt anyone near us including the very warm pageant participants, we enjoyed the sights and wonders of the most fantastic street parade I know about. All the floats are so lovingly built and maintained and new ones are added each year. I have never thought of so many Christmas themes until I saw this Pageant three years ago.

At home our days have been quiet and cool - indoors at least.

Yesterday I had a choice to visit the supermarket to pick up a few things I didn't collect a few days ago due to our extreme heat, or to stay at home in the cool and enjoy being creative. Can you guess what I chose? There are now a few more Christmas gifts in the making around our home. I can honestly say that I so much prefer to spend my time thinking and making for friends and family than following a catalogue or department store promotion and buying this and that for people on my list. This is the softness and beauty of Christmas for me - calm, thoughtful and peaceful. How about you?

I stumbled across this November Mystery Project and couldn't resist joining in as I have loved getting back into crochet recently. I haven't crocheted Granny squares since my Granny taught me as a child. Here are my dozen. Pop on over to Sarah London to see what she made.

My creative space contains preparations for gift making. Pieces cut out and ready to sew.

I particularly like this piece of patchwork in a new technique. I don't have the patience, time or attention to detail for the traditional patchwork to be completed beautifully here. So I have picked up on an idea of Alicia's at Posie Gets Cosy. It's not yet complete but hopefully soon it will become something special. What would you make with this?

So while the children played outside in a little splash pool Santa had left them on Pageant Day, I enjoyed the cooler indoors, thinking of those I love and creating for them.

My Sunday was definitely a day well spent. How was yours? I hope you are having days which are soft and beautiful.

Amigurumi Pears

As for my next book, I am going to hold myself from writing it till I have it impending in me: grown heavy in my mind like a ripe pear; pendant, gravid, asking to be cut or it will fall. ~Virginia Woolf

We can be sure this little pear is very ripe. It has taken so long to grow and to become suitable for your consumption. Remember back in September when I showed you his beginnings?

He had a few hold-ups. I am not a holiday crafter. I like to be a tourist and observe my surroundings when away on holidays so he sat at home and awaited my return. In a similar state as you saw him last. But since my return he took shape and sat there smiling at me waiting for his mate. This is the smallest version of a set of three which you can make when you purchase Salihan's pattern. I planned to make a pair of pears. They took my fancy and looked very enchanting sitting atop our television delighting little girls and greeting us with smiles each morning. However I didn't purchase enough green yarn and now with the end of the winter season I am finding it hard to source for a reasonable price. I did however source some red/pink yarn on eBay.

So my little lone pear has some friends...

for a while. They will make lovely Christmas gifts I believe.

Now I am still waiting to find some green yarn as these little strawberries would be perfect in this red yarn. It just looks so like strawberry sorbet to me, the true fresh variety we make in our own kitchen with our juicer and frozen pieces of strawberries. Yes that's all we put in - strawberries alone.

Our Little Drummer Boy

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

A newborn King to see, pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum

To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum

rum pum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

So to honour Him, pa rum pum pum pum

When we come

Christmas is creeping into our home with the addition of some sweet little drums little Eee and I have made.

We are looking forward to The Pageant to be held next Saturday at the end of our heatwave. Let's hope we can survive the next three days of 39degC. It'll be down to 34 on Saturday! School has a lunch time pick up option this week which I think we'll take advantage of, and perhaps a trip to the beach.

Pretty Table Linen and more rosy pink "prettyness"

The Rose Bowl is the only bowl I've ever seen that I didn't have to clean. ~Erma Bombeck

For a long while now I have been wanting to make some fabric serviettes for our dinner table. There are always very sticky fingers at meal and snack times leaving us searching for something to wipe our hands on which usually turns out being the washer little Eee has used to wipe her face. Thus, as my girls are growing older rapidly, I think we need to use the washer less and embark on adding some prettiness to our days with some fabric serviettes.

The table runner I made after being inspired by Ess' twirly skirt was all I needed to gather inspiration for our new linen. It brightens our white outdoor table setting and always entices me and the girls outside. Today it is hot!, about 35degC outside, yet little Eee and I still enjoyed lunch outdoors with our pretty pink table linen.

I've used these delightful ribbons again from my stash to add a touch of whimsy, and to delight and intrigue little eyes.

Now, while we are outside and enjoying all things pretty...

here are my first rose blooms of the season.

I know you must see my roses more than once each year, yet I cannot resist the beauty of these blossoms. The fragrance is impeccable and the delicate scalloped edge is so very pretty. Here they are again - My Children's Rose.

The Twirly Skirt for Ess...complete and enjoyed!

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams

Our days are quite full here. Spring days full of warmth, colour and twirling and whirling with giggles and laughter.

Ess' skirt has finally been finished and, a few days later, is here for you to view.

I do hope you like it. Because you see, it was not I who designed it. I merely put the stitches to work. We used the pattern from here, I chose a selection of fabrics from here, yet it was my dear daughter who designed it. "I want the swirly, whirly, twirly fabric for the main part and the butterfly fabric for the hem and the top (ie the waistband and tie)", she stated clearly. Admittedly it was not my original choice, and I shared with Ess my own ideas. However her reply was, "but Mummy it is my skirt so please can we do it my way!?" It was not really a question and I knew that if I made a skirt of my own choosing it may not be worn, it may not be loved, it would certainly always be remembered as the skirt which 'Mum asked me to choose fabric for, but which she ended up choosing herself.' This was not my desire for a new skirt for my little girl to love and enjoy, to twirl and whirl in, and to consider her own.

Indeed I have come to love this design. I grew fond of the half-finished skirt as it inadvertently became a table runner to brighten our cool spring days last week. Now I have made a table runner for our outdoor area from the leftover fabric. It does look very springy by the fishpond and water fountain, now it is finally warm enough to sit by them and soak in the atmosphere in those few seconds between eating and being needed again - to play, to clean up, to move on to the next thing to keep pace with our little girls.

Enjoy your Spring, or your Autumn up north.

PS Hope you like my new Springy blog header ;) You'll have to pop on in to take a pic if you're reading in a reader.

The Twirly Skirt for Ess...progress check

The Twirly Skirt for Ess

Progress is being made... yet this little green fellow is taking more of my creative energy and desire at the moment. I've been inspired to make pink ones and little ones and perhaps even a strawberry. Ooops better get back to that twirly skirt.

Isn't this adorable fabric?! Lily Pond created by Wendy Slotboom for In The Beginning Fabrics.

Oh how I love a different creative project awaiting me in every room. These days there are so many lovely fabrics, yarns and even food for me to work with. I can make skirts, interior decor and meals to delight us all.

Lazy Days and Twirly Whirly Skirts

Any day spent sewing, is a good day. ~Author Unknown

Just before we left for our holidays I saw Mel's plans to make a twirly skirt for her daughter and the whole time we were away I spent dreaming of the beautiful fabrics I would find for a twirly skirt for my dear Ess.

Little Eee's Appley Lazy Days Skirt

I returned home to find that Mel has been holding a sew-along this week with Lazy Days Skirts. I just couldn't help myself, my creative fingers were itching to make something pretty for my little girls.

Fortunately my stash had something pretty in it which was enough to make a small lazy days skirt for my dear 2 year old Eee. Fortunately my stash also held a matching red satin ribbon which made a beautiful trim, as well as ribbons to tie her cute piggy tails.

Can you tell it is hard not to move when wearing a pretty skirt? Or should that be 'when one is only two years old?'

I joined the sew-along and now some lovely fabrics from Quilt Fabric Delights seen here and here are hanging on my clothesline, hoping for some sunshine to dry them so I can begin to make more lazy days and twirly skirts for my girls. What a delight to receive my package only the day after I ordered the fabric. If you get your order in today, Sarah has a special offer for so go here to take a peak at that before you order.

Happy Sewing!

P.S. Let me encourage you, the Lazy Days Skirt pattern is super super easy!! Give it a try!

Our Crayon Roll

We could learn a lot from crayons; some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, while others bright, some have weird names, but they all have learned to live together in the same box. ~Robert Fulghum

...or rather...'live together in the same roll'.

I really should be doing something else, preparing for our school holidays etc. etc. but we really needed this crayon roll. Do you have the same habit as I? When I really should be doing the many things running around in my head I decide to invest my time in a new creation. I knew this would be an easy project, so much fun for my girls and also not too time consuming. I knew what to do having made One Red Robin's pencil and book holder previously, yet it was lovely to be able to view this tutorial to take some of the thinking work out of making this crayon roll.

Little Eee had lots of fun helping me sew by arranging and rearranging pins in my pincushion as well as pinning bits and pieces together for me. She also enjoyed filling the finished product after some frustration with placing crayons in the slots. I am certain that with use the fabric will soften, find its place and this task will be much easier.

Once again I used up pieces of fabric from my stash. I remember appliqueing a special cushion for a dear friend of mine which incorporated that yellow and blue check - they were certainly 'her colours.' She still displays it in her bedroom which delights me so. The adorable fabric is one which caught my eye on a sale. I loved using the Helen's Friends ribbon once again adding a touch of friendly childhood playfulness to the mushroomy forest scene.

I think I need some more crayons, this was such a quick and easy project. They'd make a lovely gift so I'll be thinking ahead for Christmas.

Projects on the go...

Can you guess what I'm making?

I have had such fun with this, honing a new skill by refining my crochet which Granny taught me as a young child. Perhaps one day I'll be courageous enough to show you the rug I worked on as a child. Now I'm exploring amigurumi...just by chance. Lots of fun!

I've used some more of my lovely hippo fabric, to make a bag for all the bits and pieces which came with my new camera.

I do have a proper sturdy lined camera bag for carrying it around in but this is something to hold the instruction manual which always gets so dog-eared and the recharger and the software and other warranty info etc. etc. I'm sure you know the drill.

Once again I thought the simple black and white design so suitable for a camera accessories bag.

The other thing on the go is a lovely little memory banner which Ess has been quite inspired to make. She is drawing from memories of her whole 5½ year life so far, such as her 2nd birthday party and cake, which is so very sweet. Can't wait to see what else she recalls.