Wishing you a Merry and Bright Christmas. May you take the time to canoodle the ones you love and think of the ones who may not be here this year. From my little nest to yours, Merry Christmas. x*

Not Perfect, but Perfectly Beautiful....

Roar!

Argh! There's a tiger in my house!

Oh Cameron, it's only you -thank goodness!

Give us a smile Gorgeous boy! Come on!

Hey Cameron - I love you...

Too much for a manly tiger to take huh?! But I've not finished with you yet! Oh, okay then, maybe later?

Home Day

Between cups of tea and a little Bloglines, we are cooking trial runs of Christmas Cookies and a little glue & glitter action on pine cones.....

Snickerdoodles

Ingredients
250gms butter (2 sticks), softened
2 C sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
2 large eggs
1 1/4 tsp vanilla
3 C flour

How To
1. In a medium sized bowl, beat the butter for about 30 seconds on medium speed. Add the sugar, baking soda and cream of tartar, beating until well mixed. Slowly beat in the egg and vanilla until well incorporated. Beat in the flour 1/2 C at a time.

2. When all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour in the fridge.

3. Pre-heat the oven to 190ºC.

4. In a bowl, combine the *sprinkles* cinnamon and sugar. Take enough dough to shape into 1" balls.This is my kids' favorite part, rolling the dough into balls and then covering them with *sprinkles*.

5. Roll the dough balls around in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Place on a light, un-greased baking sheet. Bake about 10 minutes.

6. The cookies will not appear done. Let cool for a minute on the cookie sheet and then move to a wire rack. This will yield a soft, delightfully chewy cookie. For a crisper cookie, cook about 12 minutes. If the cookies become golden, they will be very crisp.

*I am so sorry, I cannot find the blog that I got this recipe from to add - my apologies and thanks to the original author*

I am also cutting out a fabric nativity scene to get ready to sew & stuff for this afternoon's crafting fun.

What are you up to today?

Christmas Traditions

We've been in the midst of creating some new Christmas traditions and rekindling some old ones! Every year I buy a new ornament for my Darcy. This year it was a variation on my normal star:

I am in love with the champagne decorations that are the 'in' colour this year, I am hoping to snaffle some at the after Christmas sales.

My best friend Rachael had us around for the decorating of their tree, it was a lot of fun with the kids enjoying the angel hair placement the most. It was a nice reminder of the true meaning of the season:

And then we had a rip-roaring Gingerbread decorating afternoon! Who would think so much sugar, colours and sprinkles could make 6 kids happy & silly as a wheel?! ;0) No photos, we were too busy trying to contain the icing to one small area!

What are your special traditions? I have more to share about Christmas Day itself but that will have to wait - we've got pine cones to cover in glue & glitter!

New Nest

Sorry for the unintended bloggy break! I have moved home to SA and been busy setting up our new nest. Very sadly my husband and I have seperated, but it's not something I care to go into detail now. Suffice to say, I have been looking on the positive side of life and have been enjoying: re-uniting with old friends, Farmers Union Iced Coffee, Fritz, Gingerbread cookie decorating parties, putting Christmas trees up, Youth Service Mass, seeing Jaynie settle at her new school for the final 2 weeks and loving it, being able to use a hose; albeit only 3 hours a week.....



I hope to be back bursting with festive posts and high hopes for the New Year of crafting, family & friends.

Your friend and solo-flyer,
Leah
x*

For Karen of Little Owl

I met the most delightful sewist at Spotlight yesterday! We were eyeing each others fabric selections and a conversation was struck up. Karen, owner of Little Owl sews beautiful (I can tell they are by the fabric she picked - that lady's got style! :) ) little girl dresses. We started talking about blogging and I promised her I would put up some of the sites we were chatting about:

http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/

http://modkidboutique.blogspot.com/

http://www.oliverands.com/blog/index.phtml

I have to dash but I will put some more up this afternoon.
Thanks for the chat Karen and I can't wait for your site so I can see your creations! :)

*I have a little news...*

I have been asked by a dear friend if I would like to take a spot in their markets : Designers Emporium. So Peachy Keen is born, a stall devoted to selling delicious homemade delectables. I have spent the last few weeks in a cooking frenzy, plying friends and family alike with sweeties to taste test! Do you like my logo?

I am going to sell truffles, melting moments and other lovely biscuits and of course, cupcakes!

So if you live in Brisbane, be sure to come to the Everton Park Hotel on the first Sunday in October to see the launch of Peachy Keen! If you mention you read my blog, you will get a special surprise ;)

I have also lost my internet connection and am relying on dial-up at the moment, hence the lack of posts. Apologies to the EB girls, I will get in there soon, it just takes FOREVER with the ads and things!

I have done a little sewing, which I will aim to post tomorrow - you should see how long it's taken me to get this up!

Skirty Saturday

I've been busy today! I made Poppy-Mae 2 gathered skirts. They were inspired by the House on Hill Road tutorial, but I went the simple route and skipped thetop band and bottom hem and focused on prettying them up.I can't believe how quickly they came together. The strip on the bottom of the pink skirtwas leftover from the first skirt and I didn't want to waste it. I got the whole piece from the Op Shop in Bright for 50c.

I love when I can make something so pretty out of a cheapoff-cut.I have plans to use my Monday to make Jaynie a few skirts. They are so gratifying to whip upin such a small time.

Give-away!

So, only 3 takers for my pouch then? I'll be drawing tomorrow morning...
I have the house to myself this morning... Steven's taken the kids to feed the ducks. I suppose I'd best tidy this house while he's out or I'll feel terribly lazy.... ;)

Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens - Japanese Garden

We went to feed the ducks and the kids rode their bikes on Saturday afternoon. I love the Japanese Garden there, it's so peaceful. (Well, until we walk in there at least!)

I'd like to thank the Academy....

Well, check it out! I got an award from the gorgeous Karin! I met her through MISS and was so excited to discover she has a blog.

Anyway, talk about make my week! I love to think I have people who read what I dribble about. To celebrate, I will be making a zippered pouch to give away filled with some vintage and new goodness to brighten up a sewing day! If you'd like to leave a comment and I'll pick a number out of the hat on Sunday.

My picks to pass this award on for this week would have to be:

Tsk Tsk - Tiel does the MOST BEAUTIFUL artwork and she is just so lovely to boot!

Cass - What can I say to Cass that hasn't been said already? She is a very generous, kind and wonderfully crafty soul.

Nikki-Shell - Her writing is uplifting and again, her craft is great.

There are so many others I could share, my Bloglines stands at 89 so far and they're all great. But that will suffice for now.

We made some Teacup biscuits for Jaynie to take to school today for her classmates. They were a huge hit and even Poppy could get in on the sticky fun. Although I couldn't buy Tic Toc biscuits or musk lifesavers - what is the World coming to when they stop making staples like those!

Have a great weekend peeps! Much love to you and yours. x*

Zippered Pouch

Here's a zippered pouch to go with the bag! I love the shabby-chic flower on the outside. Even though the fabriv has a very Japanese feel to it when it is in a big piece, with the applique, it becomes almost country?!

I ironed the cut-out flower to I have 2 birthdays coming up in the next 10 days so I'll be whipping up a couple more sets. I'd love to find some d-rings and key chain rings to make them a bit more professional. Anyone have any ideas/suppliers?

We took Poppy to the ENT last night, she is booked in to have her tonsils and adenoids out and grommits put in on the 25th of September. It's so quick but we'll be glad to give her the chance to put on some weight and have longer than 5 weeks between anti-biotics.

Why I love bags - 30 minutes and you're fabulous!

I have finally got around to making myself another bag. The Jordy tutorial is the best first-stop for wanna-be bag makers. Then it's just so simple to tweak it to your requirements! Mine is perfectly suited for me to carry my mobile, keys and purse, no superflous pockets or additives as it's so itty-bitty they aren't needed!

How wonderful for crafters to share their expertise and allow others to see the how-to for things. Us crafters are a sharing, caring bunch! I only wish I had a tutorial to share with others. Maybe that could be a to-do?!

Weekend Wonderful

Poppy's Quilt

Here are some dodgy shots of Poppy's finished quilt. As you can see by the wrinkles, it's being well loved-on already! And a shot of my 'helpers' on the sidelines yesterday! Aren't they gorgeous?

The boy and his Daddy

Old Photos

DH found some CDs with backed up photos on them. I found a whole stash of Cammie photos and just had to share a couple. Thanks to Leni and Rose, I can now email them instead of having to upload them.

Play dough?!

I finally finished Poppy's quilt but as they are burning off the whole of the military range at the back of our house, I can't get it outside for photos because of the smoke.


Just wanted to share an easy playdough recipe I stole from my friend Cassie ;) :

3 Cups Plain Flour
3 Tbl Oil
6 tspn Cream of Tartar
3 Cups Water

Mix all the ingredients in a microwave bowl, cover and cook for 7 minutes on high, stirring half way through. Once cool, knead to smooth consistency.

It makes really soft 'playdoh' consistency playdough! It's really lovely to play with and an easy way to do it. Also having no salt, it works out even cheaper to make.

I made a Strawberry and now I wanna Eat her!

Not much doing here, I did get to make Princess P some new PJs as her old ones were ankle breezers! I finished off the sleeves and legs with a rolled edge to give it a more 'long john-ish' feel, she just looks thrilled huh? It was bedtime and she was in no mood to sit and pose for the camera. It's proof that she's not always 'butter wouldn't melt in her mouth'!

It's nice to see her growing for a change, she's such a little thing, her weight is at 11kgs now which puts her fair square under the 10% centile for her age. All that should change soon - she is having her tonsils and adenoids out, and grommits in, some time after the 19th of August, so we should hopefully see some height and weight gain in the next little while after that.

The weekend was spent doing chores around the house and loving on my DH who returned home on Monday after seven weeks away in Sydney. He worked on the preparations for the Pope's visit for World Youth Day. I think having him away for a little while gives us all a newfound appreciation for when we're back together. Although he has mentioned a few times about how quiet it was down there and how he got to eat in peace for every meal! I'm sure he really did miss us.... ;)

What have you got planned for your craft week? I am hoping to spend my day off tomorrow doing some more quilting on Poppy's quilt and cutting out some more PJs and a couple of sweet dresses.

A Stitch in Time.....

...Saves My Mind!!!

I went and got another piece of fabric to back Poppy's quilt after the other piece I bought was too small. To avoid my wonky sewing I went with two full length pieces in the hope that sewing along the selvedge would give me a nicer edge. It seems to have worked and as you can see by the photos, the fabric is a bit out there! I have to say, I think it really works - it takes the quilt from safe pastels/girly to a bit of fun and flight of fancy! I think so anyway.... *Quietly Prays it looks ok*....

I am just quilting in the ditch around the squares and then I was thinking of straight lines along the border? Any advice from expert quilters out there? I would love some input. I also have 2 nine patches leftover so they will make cushions. I am going to try piping around them.

I don't know why in the photo it looks so wrinkly - it's all ironed and pinned to within an inch of it's life. I hope it doesn't end up that wrinkly. The colours are a bit out too from the flash.

Anyway, time for calistenics! Later peeps!

Cutting Some Slack

I've been going through a rough patch recently. The fact of Steven basically being away since May, illness and some family issues have found me on a really low emotional ebb.

I find it so hard to be honest about my feelings, ever since Darcy I have somehow shut down a part of my personality that allows me to feel freely and share those feelings with others. The lower I feel, the more I smile. It's a double edged sword, I can go on with my daily life without others suspecting my crumbling insides but it makes it hard for people to believe how bad I am feeling when I do admit it. Even my GP looked suspicious when I told him as I was not a crying mess, my children were dressed and my hair was done. It does not negate my depth of despair inside.

Anyway, in light of that confession, this morning was starting off particularly badly - Cameron had pulled every piece of clothing he owned out of his drawers and strewn them around the house, Anna-Jayne had the runs and therefore had to stay home from school and Poppy just wasn't her happy self. I made pancakes for morning tea and had lost my patience as they had all wanted to 'help' which ended in a smashed plate, sticky maple syrup floor and even more mess to clean up!

I sent Jaynie to her room to watch a DVD on the laptop and while Poppy was in there with her, I sat down with Cameron and did some drawing. I consciously made myself sit on his little stool, getting right to his level and made myself interact even though all I wanted to do was be alone. We had discussions about Transformers and Daddy being at work. While he was reaching for a texta, his hand deviated to rest on mine and give me a little rub. A cheeky little smirk later and he was back to drawing.

Then when he decided it was time for a TV break, I took Poppy into the shower with me. Again, making a conscious effort, I sat on the floor and drew shapes with her on the steamy shower screens and filled cups with water, tipping them into the next one. She looked up at me, her big blue eyes fixed on me and I just felt so loved and okay. Her little skinny arms around my neck and her little bum working its way to find a space on my lap was better and more fulfilling than I could ever imagine feeling today when I woke up.

It dawned on me that my kids don't want a 24/7 entertainer Mum, with a hundred organised craft activites and constant interaction, they only want snippets of my 100% time. Snatches of 5-10 minute blocks, a small activity together, a little laugh and quick stolen cuddle.

Suddenly I felt a huge weight release off my shoulders. I always feel as if I'm not 'good enough'. The house is not spotless, there is washing to do, the kids fight, I don't take them to the park every five minutes or make playdough everyday. But I do try. And they love me for it. I need to let it go and cut myself some slack. I hear the niggling voice inside my head say "cutting yourself some slack is an excuse for being lazy" but today I will ignore it.

Writing From My Sick Bed...

Well, I am not literally in bed, I have just always wanted to say that! We have had rounds of illness going through the house, culminating in a weekend long crook-fest for the long suffering Mum. I haven't been sick in so long. I do get a lot of migraines but I normally don't count them on my sick list as they have been a regular part of my life.

Anyway, suffice to say, I am feeling rather worn thin today and plan to use my child-free day to recuperate and get the house tidy so I can spend some much needed time with the peeps for the rest of the week.

We did manage to do a Fairie Garden yesterday. This idea came from a great friend of mine, as a way to make each house we live in more like home - the thought that their Fairie friend will follow them no matter where they live is a comforting thought to our always moving children.

'Flutter' has decided to join our family, meaning Mum has spent quite a bit of time this morning sourcing Faririe glitter, stones and stickers!

I have been doing a little crafting - I have been crocheting some granny squares in the hope of one day having a lap quilt! I wanted something I could do while watching TV that didn't require much concentration but I still felt as if I was being a little crafty.

I hope you are having a peaceful day. x

Where Have I Been?

Not figuring out better blog titles, that's for sure. ;)

I have my Mum here as hubby is away for seven whole weeks. We did an op shop run today and struck gold, literally! I have had a fascination with religious icons for a long time and never managed to find one I loved. I had bid for a couple on Ebay that ended up going for ridiculous prices. I found this little love and I am so happy! It's just perfect.

The kids are tired out from a long day of trekking the Op shops so I'll make this short and sweet. Catch you very soon...