From One Mum

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T11:56:00.000+10:30

Like a lot of bloggers who blog a lot more than I do, I'll be taking a break over Christmas and plan to return to the computer and this blog in the New Year.

It's time to be with my boy and celebrate Christmas together. I think we're both a bit giddy with excitement!

In the meantime, I'll leave you with this - a very funny retelling of the Christmas Story in the digital age.

Merry Christmas and thank you for all of your lovely comments and kind words since I returned to this blogging world!

Lyn & Felix

xxxx

Christmas Memories

2010-12-21T20:44:00.000+10:30

I've posted this picture before. I love it. It makes me happy.

Christmas can be a bit of a tricky time of the year, sometimes. This year is no different although it's getting better.

If you know someone who's experienced loss of any kind recently and who might not be traveling all that well, stop and remind them that they're loved and thought of. It does help.

Christmas is Almost Here!

2010-12-20T20:36:00.000+10:30

As Felix would say, today was an 'at home day today' (whenever it's an at home day he asks me about thirty times throughout the day, just to make sure - cuteness). Childcare is closed for the next two weeks so we get to spend a bit of time together which is nice.

Today we made Peppermint Bark. OMG - yum! Probably one of the easiest and most festive Christmas treats to make with a toddler / preschooler.

Melt your favourtie chocolate (we used milk); smash up a bunch of candy canes in a sturdy plastic bag with a rolling pin (Felix loved this bit); mix a few tablespoons into the chocolate, then spread out thinly on a tray lined with baking paper.

Sprinkle the rest of the candy cane crumble on top and shove into the fridge (or freezer - much quicker). When set, cut into bite size pieces. Yum!

We painted some pictures to give as Christmas gifts today too. I'm learning to let go a little and not get cranky with him when he wants to just mix all the paints together to make brown. Lighten up, mum!

While he was at his Dad's on Sunday, I finished this Christmas pillow for the couch from some gorgeous fabric I bought as fat quarters last year (Merry & Bright, I think??). I quilted the top with some batting to make it a little more sturdy. Feather / down pillow insert, $8 from Ikea.

On Sunday I also finished a gorgeous lap quilt for my friend's little girl Eden - made from a charm park of the Eden range of fabrics by Moda. I also made her some cute little floral shorts (but of course didn't take a photo of either of them!).

And Kerrie, if you're reading this, two little skirts will be making their way very soon to Emme and Bella for their Birthday (just as soon as I put in the elastic!).

I do love having this blog, if just to keep a track of the things I make, and to help make me feel that - amongst the mayhem - I do achieve some things.

When I downloaded my photos tonight I found these from last weekend. My gorgeous boy, posing beautifully.....

And then pulling one of his famous funny faces, and rushing to the camera to look at himself. He cracks me up, and drives me a little crazy!

Last weekend we went to some local Christmas Carols. We didn't stay long as he was so tired from being at his Dad's, but we did enjoy a picnic together, and he got to wear his little Christmas 3/4 shorts that I made him from fabric he picked out. He loved it.

And although this isn't the most flattering photo, I am super chuffed to have gone super super short with my hair when I got it cut on Friday. I chopped it all off in May this year, but had been wearing it a little longer. I just love having it super short and barely having to do anything with it at all.

Retro mummy Giveaway!

2010-12-19T18:50:00.002+10:30

P1013738, originally uploaded by retro mummy.

Another generous giveaway from Corrie over at retro mummy. Sure to be lots of entries, but I've got my fingers crossed!

Op Shop Goodness

2010-12-03T15:57:00.000+10:30

Today my mum and I hauled off bag loads of old clothes to donate to our local St Vinnie's. I've been progressively working through the house and having a major de-clutter these last 18 months.

It took me months to be ready emotionally to deal with sorting through all of Felix's baby clothes that I'd so diligently packed away for baby number two, but I've done that now, and all I have to do is keep up to date with it. I've already found new homes for his summer size 1 and size 2 clothes (can't quite believe he's moving into a size 3 already), and I've got all his winter size 2 stuff packed away to give to someone next year. I tend to donate the 'well-loved' stuff to charity (knowing that at the very least the material will be recycled if no good for on-selling), and give away or sell the better quality stuff to people I know. It seems to be working, and it means there's less boxes cluttering the place up.

Any hoo, back to the visit to the op shop. After dropping our stuff in the bins, I headed inside and straight to the manchester section and was so SO lucky to find this amazing loot:

The purple floral sheets were such a find. Two BRAND NEW vintage single sheets - never used, and from looking at the material in store I was pretty sure they were pure cotton, but still with the sizing (I think that's the right term) as they'd never been washed let alone used. $6.99 for the pair, I snaffled them up as quick as I could. A simple burn test of a tiny bit of the sheet when I got home confirmed they were indeed cotton, and they're now drying on my line in the sun after a wash - in all their crinkled cotton goodness.

The yellow sheet is actually a homemade doona cover (also cotton) for $7.99 - such gorgeous colours. And I couldn't resist this towel which, for its age, is in great condition - only $2.99. The doona and towel got a hot wash and are getting a good sunning. The towel reminds me of my childhood. I wish they still made them like this. I think I'll use this as a backing for a bath mat for the bathroom.

I picked up this doily and cute little granny square pot holder at another op shop for the grand total of $2.50.

The really amazing purchase of the day was this beautiful Mikasa dinner set. I love it. There are six each of the large plates, side plates and cups. Five each of the saucers, and the large and the small bowls, and a sugar bowl. All for $45. Seriously. AND it's an oven to table range of dinnerware, so I'll be able to use the bowls for making yummy baked dinners and desserts.

And what's a bit of op shopping without a bit of vintage tupperware thrown into the loot? Perfect orange metric measuring cups for $2. Yes please.

Our Sunday

2010-11-28T20:06:00.000+10:30

It was a relatively lazy Sunday here today, in that we didn't have plans and could pretty much move at our own pace. Always a nice change. I'm slowly starting to feel better after a solid month of one virus after another - I'm still really tired most of the time, but am trying to do something about that by getting to bed a little earlier each night.

Today I pulled out the new nativity set I bought this week from Bed, Bath and Table. It's so cute, and whilst Felix is under strict instructions to treat it gently, I think it should hold up pretty well.

When I was showing it to him he exclaimed "oh, how cute is Baby Jesus!". So precious. I've been teaching him about the first Christmas, and found this lovely Usborne book for him which is told very simply with beautiful illustrations. I'm so annoyed that I didn't order it earlier from The Book Depository. Twice the price in a book shop here.

Today we did some baking, and made these delicious little pots of chocolate from a Delicious recipe book. OMG - so rich, and so yummy! I barely managed to eat all of mine, whilst Felix well and truly polished his off!

As the recipe used three egg yolks, I decided to turn the egg whites into meringues. Yum. I've loved meringues since I was a little girl and mum used to buy them for me from Wenzel's bakery at Glenelg. I don't think these will last long.

Supporting Your Habit

2010-11-28T10:42:00.000+10:30

Apparently the day after Thanksgiving in the US is known as Black Friday, and I guess it's a bit like our Aussie Boxing Day sales in the stores.

I just started following the fantastic Kimberly from the Fat Quarter Shop on Twitter, and was just a little bit excited to see her post a 20% off coupon for purchases from the shop. Yay!

Simply visit the Fat Quarter Shop, use the code 'blackfriday' at checkout - expires midnight this Monday, 29 November (US time).

I couldn't resist this laminated fabric from the Nicey Jane collection - perfect as a table cloth in my family room.

Laminated Nicey Jane - The Fat Quarter Shop

I've been a long time customer of the Fat Quarter Shop, and have always had such fantastic service, quick postage, and received the best fabrics.

2010-11-27T20:09:00.000+10:30

So last night I - amazingly - finished the summer Christmas quilt I made for Felix. I'm so happy with how it turned out. I forget the name of the fabric collection now, but from memory it was a Moda layer cake meaning there was no cutting (which I loathe), just simple piecing together. I had (cleverly at the time) also bought about one and a half yards of one of the fabrics from the range, so I could use this as the back of the quilt (no wadding - just two layers of fabric). I love the retro colour-way, and it was a huge hit with Felix when I gave it to him this morning.

First up it become a picnic blanket, and he's now asleep under it in bed.

As Christmas is approaching fast, I'm attempting to get a little organised. I used this idea for Felix's birthday earlier in the year. Grab a box, and use it to house all the little bits and pieces you buy for Christmas (or birthdays). For his birthday I found it invaluable to just be able to find everything - from balloons and wrapping paper, to candles and birthday cards - all in one spot.

I'm using the Christmas box to store all the little bits I've bought for the advent calendar (yes, there's A LOT of chocolate).

We got crafty this afternoon and made the baubles featured in my last post. Good, easy fun, although Felix did lose interest after a solid ten minutes of making them (to be expected when you're a busy two-year old), so I got to finish the rest (yay!).

What's a girl to do when there's no man about the place to mow the lawns? Put the child to work, of course. Bless his little cotton socks he told me the lawn was getting long so he mowed it for me.

And if that is not cute enough for you, then check out my friend Kerrie's gorgeous blog post featuring her adorable twinnies, and two of Felix's oldest and dearest friends, Emme and Bella. Too cute for words! Love you, my friends! x x x x

Christmas Crafts for Little Ones

2010-11-26T20:41:00.000+10:30

Let's give this blogging thing another go, shall we?

Felix is itching to get the Christmas tree up, but with four weeks still until Christmas, and the fact that he asks almost every night if it's Christmas Eve, I will be waiting a couple more weeks until we get the decorations up.

In the meantime, the plan is to do a couple of Christmas activities each weekend. This weekend we'll make some decorations and maybe some cards. I've been searching for ideas on the web via The Crafty Crow (an AMAZING resource for crafty kidlet activities), and have found the following which may be of interest for those with 2-3 year olds (ie, nothing too complex):

Christmas Templates via The Crafty Crow
Heaps of free Christmas template downloads can be found here

Christmas Cards for two year olds via Seven Stitches

Simple Christmas Cards to make with two year old, via Seven Stitches
Bauble printables from Activity Village (we'll definitely be making these)
We made these handprint Santas at playgroup last year - so simple!
Yummy recipe for peppermint bark via The Long Thread - smashing candy canes, fun!
Cute wreath made from cardboard over at Elise Joy

I think that selection will be enough to keep us busy! Today, whilst Felix was at his Dad's and I was trying to recover from whatever virus it is that has knocked me down again (after 4 weeks of illness), I started to make a quick summer Christmas quilt / throw as a surprise for Felix. All I have to do now is stitch the top to the back, so by tomorrow it should be done!

Yes We are Still Alive

2010-07-11T21:50:00.002+09:30

If anyone out there still reads this little blog, then hello. it's been a while.

A long while of ups and downs, and winter illnesses that don't seem to want to go away, and of unhappy anniversaries, and baby step attempts to move onwards and upwards.

There is a giveaway to be drawn. That will happen some time this week.

In the meantime, part of the moving on is cleaning out my hopes and dreams for more babies and a bigger families. I've sold a lot of baby stuff recently as I can't bear seeing it sit in the garage any more.

Baby boy clothes and grobags listed here on Ebay. Prams etc to come.

We at least did manage a trip to Melbourne over the Mother's Day weekend. This is about the only photo I got of the two of us together, as mum hasn't quite mastered the digital camera.

Giveaway Reminder!

2010-02-24T11:41:00.000+10:30

Entries for my Cath Kidston giveaway close tomorrow, so pop on over here and leave a comment to be in the draw!

Quilt Inspiration

2010-02-18T20:38:00.002+10:30

snuggles, originally uploaded by amandahall25.

I don't quite have the full fat quarter set of Good Folks, but this does inspire me to use the bit I do have to make a quilt.

Scrummy yummy goodness.

Lots to see in amendahall25's flickr photostream here.

Oh, and don't forget my giveaway!

Giveaway Time

2010-02-18T16:09:00.001+10:30

Time for another giveaway, this time in celebration of moving on, learning how to be happy again, finding joy and hope, and having a wonderful life and future with my ace little boy to look forward to.

Sorry to my international friends, but this one is for Australian residents only.

Simply leave a comment here by Thursday 25 February to be in the running for a copy of Cath Kidston's Make!

There She Blows!

2010-02-18T13:41:00.000+10:30

We're right into volcanoes at the moment. Inspired by an episode of Diego (go Diego go!), Felix just loves anything to do with volcanoes. He has been on many an adventure exploring volcanoes (the imagination of a two year old can't be beat). A few weeks ago there were volcanoes at the front door, and he had to give them a kiss goodnight before going to bed.

Thank goodness for YouTube!

Studio Inspiration

2010-02-17T22:38:00.004+10:30

Studio, originally uploaded by nestdecorating.

I likey. Very muchly.

Loads more gorgeousness over at the Nest Decorating blog.

I want my house to be bright, and light, and colourful and happy, just like this little studio.

Vintage Patchwork Inspiration

2010-02-17T20:32:00.021+10:30

vintage patchwork, originally uploaded by summerfetelove.

I am so loving this by the very talented, and very lovely, Clare over at summerfete. What a gorgeous blog you have, Clare. So much inspiration to be found, and some great patchwork tutorials that I must have a closer look at.

With a huge fabric stash and a limited budget for redecorating, I just might have to give this a go.

While you are over at Clare's blog, check out her incredible granny rug (her first - wow!). I definitely want one of these in my home!

Felix & His Nanni

2010-02-17T15:17:00.000+10:30

And how could I forget this. Felix and his Nan, my lovely lovely Mum who I am eternally grateful to have living with us to provide us with love, support and good company.

Playing dress ups in my stash of Far Far Away fabrics. He wore his little kimono for a good half hour. He has excellent taste in fabrics I must say.

(and another fabulous view behind closed doors at my house. Yes, my mess of a pantry is now a little tidier thanks to a recent clean out!).

Catch Up in Photos

2010-02-17T15:06:00.001+10:30

I've been missing in action from this blog for a while, so here is a quick photographic update (how I wish I had both the equipment and the ability to take better photos!). In no particular order, let's start with Felix's birthday. I've decided that I like investing in one quality present, with a few extra things like books and handmade items. This birthday, it was the beautiful wooden kitchen pictured above (it's also a nice way for Felix's parents to buy a joint 'significant' present for him).

I also whipped up this cute little apron (pictured below) for him. Very funny moment on the morning of his birthday when I put it on and realised that I hadn't made ties for around the waist. Woops! But I whipped them up while his dad played with him that morning.

Eggy bread (french toast) with cinnamon sugar, maple syrup and strawberries for breakfast. So much quicker and less messy than making pancakes (as we had to be out the door for swimming lessons at 8.30 am).

Bunting handmade by me from red bias tape and scrapbooking paper (which is printed on both sides). Really quick to knock this one up, and something nice to bring out every year. Great view of my laundry too!

Special handmade gift from me to Felix. Retro Mama's Owl Softies. PDF pattern available for only $8 USD. This pattern is gorgeous, super easy to make, and was the inspiration for Felix's birthday cake!

The cake. I figured an owl would be pretty easy (plus Felix loves them), so I used the softie pattern as the basis for the cake design.

Some candle blowing out action!

Cake and softie sharing the limelight

Towards the end of last year, and early in the new year, I spent a bit of time finally learning to crochet something other than a granny square. I have now mastered double-crochet, and whipped up a stack of wash cloths for Felix.

A pillow case in 'Traffic Jam' fabric for Felix:

Sugar-laden birthday cake to share at Playgroup:

Postbox and letters handmade by Felix and mum.

Wow

2010-02-17T13:51:00.003+10:30

The End Result, originally uploaded by yvestown.

I can't say anything else really. This is just incredible.

Visit yvestown's flickr photostream here for more inspiration.

And if anyone's looking for an extra special little something to buy me, then look no further than here. It's on sale too!

Living room Inspiration

2010-02-16T21:00:00.001+10:30

Living room, originally uploaded by nestdecorating.

I am starting to think about redecorating. On a very very tight budget! There are just a few gaps in the house since le split, so it's an opportunity for me to inject a bit more of my personality into the place.

I'm loving this living room. Cheery, bright, practical and cosy.

Lovely!

Chatterbox

2010-02-16T20:52:00.000+10:30

Felix talks. A lot. All day long. And he talks a lot at child care too. When everyone else is sleeping (although he did manage a half hour kip himself today - good boy!).

I'm sitting at my computer listening to him chat his way to sleep. He's pretty loud. It's a nice way to hear about his day, to hear the little things that are worrying him, and it's very funny sometimes too when he mimics me telling him off 'no Felix, sit down right now!'.

The last two nights have been a lovely replay of all the songs he's sung at child care. The alphabet song, pop goes the weasel 'a penny for a needle, that's the way the story goes, pop goes the weasel', the wheels on the bus etc.

I'm exhausted, and it's only a 2 day working week this week. I'm having to return to work gradually, based on available child care places. Soon it will be a minimum of 4 full time days a week, traveling to and from work on a bus (I don't drive, or have a car - bonus!), trying to make up hours at home because I try to get Felix home before 6pm, so can't work my full hours. I'm just lucky I can ease into it. And I'm lucky I have a job and work with people who know me well and my situation.

But I am just a little bit sad and just a bit envious of all my friends who are now pregnant with (or who have recently had) their second child. I have a lot to be grateful for, but having your partner walk out when you were trying for a baby leaves a pretty deep hole. I loved being a mum working in a great partnership to be a great mum and dad to our son. It just changed so suddenly. I really miss that family unit that I had. But best that things have worked out the way they have, I think.

Some Sewing!

2010-02-15T19:27:00.000+10:30

Whilst life has been a little crazy of late, I did manage to find some time on the weekend to make these two little bags for Felix to take to child care. Two simple pouches with velcro fastening at the top, and a little loop to hang on a hook. One for his pull-up training nappies, and one for a spare set of clothes.

He was a lucky little guy and got to choose some bedding with dinosaurs on it (he's right into Harry and the Bucket Full of Dinosaurs at the moment), so I continued the dinosaur theme with this cute 1/2 yard of (almost) canvas weight fabric I bought last year.

Clever little sod can even identify and pronounce 'pterodactyl' (I don't even think I can spell it). Boys are so much fun! Yesterday we were playing with snails, and took one onto the lawn to watch it crawl. After a while he told me that we should 'take him back to his family now'.

I just want to eat this kid up sometimes!

First Day of Child Care

2010-02-15T18:40:00.001+10:30

Today was a very big day for Felix and me. His very first day of child care (we call it school). I am such a proud mum. The day started with the inevitable tears and little tantrum when I left, but he soon got the hang of it and had a fantastic day.

I've been lucky to find a terrific Montessori pre-school / child care centre near my work, so we can catch the bus in together (that's Felix below waiting at the bus stop). The staff are so loving, warm and welcoming.

Felix has already established himself as the funny guy (some of my friends will tell you that he was always the baby with the sense of humour, even before he turned one - making all the other mums and babies laugh). He is friendly, funny and has excellent manners. I am so proud!

Pre break-up, the plan was that I was going to be a stay at home mum. Now with a mortgage to pay off, and pretty much full custody of Felix, I don't have have much other option but to work nearly full time. I'm just thankful to have found such a great place for Felix to go. It makes it all so much easier.

To God, the Universe, or whoever or whatever it is that is providing to me at the moment - thank you. Thank you for my wonderful mum, my family, my incredible friends who have stuck by me through some pretty dark days, and for my very special little guy. The planets are finally starting to align, and for that I give thanks.

Happy Birthday Felix!

2010-02-06T21:16:00.000+10:30

Felix, Felio, Feliosi, Feli

The most awesome little guy I know.

So awesome that you stagger everyone you meet with your awesomeness.

Happy 2nd Birthday!

You are ace, and I love you to bits.

Love, Mum xxxx

Lovers and Haters

2010-01-09T10:23:00.003+10:30

Ah, the irony. Just as I was thinking about finally getting around to writing my first post for the new year, about all the wonderful people out in blog land who've been so lovely and supporting, I received my first official comment from a hater.

Hi there hater! So nice to meet you, except, well, I can't say that I got that chance seeing as though you left an anonymous comment and all. So no one cares about my shitty life? Well you obviously care enough to take time out of your life to comment. And it's time I moved on is it? Well how about you just move on out of here, hey? Because if you hate me, or hate this blog (because frankly, you could be someone I know or just a stranger who stumbled on this blog) then click your mouse and bugger off out of my space, thank you very much.

So, to all the haters out there, be it of my blog or of the other really lovely creative bloggers out there who I know receive their share of the hate, would you kindly please just fuck off. Thanks!

Ok. That's out of my system now. I'll be back a little later today with some much nicer words to say.

One Year Ago Today...

2009-12-31T22:59:00.002+10:30

I started this blog. My life was very different. It seems like a lifetime ago.

I want to see the end of this year, but I know, in reality, that tomorrow is not going to be any different to today.

A crappy night to be on your own.

Here's to a better 2010.

Christmas 1978

2009-12-16T21:40:00.006+10:30

The wonderful Gillian over at Silly Gilly prompted me with this post to finally get around to posting my favourite family photo, from Christmas 1978.

That's me in the pink fairy dress, made by mum (of course). I still have it packed away somewhere.

I'm the youngest of five children. My two brothers and two sisters are the result of mum's first marriage. Her husband passed away when her youngest (my brother) was only about 9 months old. My dad (in the picture) was the local bank manager, who both helped my mum out professionally and fell in love with her.

Mum moved her family from Ardmona to Adelaide, and my dad followed. Instant family. A couple of years later I came along to complete the picture.

I love this photo. I can smell the bacon that my dad (Dar) cooked for breakfast every Christmas morning. I love that my parents drank champagne, and that we always invited our older neighbours over to join us. I still dream about Mr and Mrs Harman and their orange trees. The spice rack full of dusty spices. The pantry with the empty egg cartons on top (I still can't remember why we saved them), and THAT wall paper!

My lovely dad died four years after this photo was taken. He smoked. He had cancer. It was discovered very late in the piece, and he passed away only six weeks after being diagnosed.

I've always had this photo tucked away in a special spot, but the day that my ex walked out, this was the photo that came out to be displayed in a special spot in my room.

We are none of us perfect, not least my Dar, but the thing he didn't take for granted was his family. He'd been married previously, with no children. When a friend of his visited him after he married my mum, he confessed to mum that he'd never seen my dad so happy and complete. My Dar would have loved his only grandson to bits, and we're so happy to see glimpses of my dad in Felix's personality and looks.

To watch someone just give up on their family is an incredibly hard and sad thing to do. Especially so when you have experienced the loss of a loved one who would have given anything to have been able to stay.

I like to think that, if he was still around, my Dar would have been the one to speak up and say 'You bloody idiot. Look what you've done'. In fact, I know he would have.

Felix and I will make you proud, Dar.

We love you

xxxx

We Have Some Winners!

2009-12-16T14:40:00.002+10:30

A day late, no photos to show you, but hey, I did get around to drawing this giveaway!

The lucky winner of Sew!, plus a bundle of sewing and crafting goodies is Gina from Clutterplunk! Congratulations Gina. I'll be in touch to get your details.

And my overseas winner is the very delightful and super nice Virginia, who is living it up in the Bronx and blogging about her knitting adventures over at Virginia is for... .

Thank you everyone for entering, and for coming to visit my little blog. Thank you also for your incredibly kind comments. It really does mean a lot!

Lyn

Overwhelmed

2009-12-14T15:56:00.002+10:30

is how I'm feeling at the moment. Christmas is coming too soon, there's too much that hasn't been done, and that's even when I've tried to keep it as simple as possible.

I'm not sleeping well again, so I'm tired and grumpy, and the whole Christmas thing, which I usually love, is just plain hard this year.

Anyway, there's a lovely giveaway that's due to be drawn tomorrow night, so I'll at least get to send some joy someone else's way soon!

Ottobre Magazines For Sale

2009-12-06T21:42:00.004+10:30

I'm officially in clean out mode. Out with the old life, in with the new. It's mostly about clearing out the past 15 years in which I was a 'we' - lots of memories, not at all bad, but painful none-the-less.

I've made a bit of a project out of it, and am using any funds raised to refurnish my bedroom. I honestly don't know how I've managed to sleep in that room for the past six months - not that there's been an awful lot of sleeping, but still. It's time for the walls to be repainted, and a new bed to be bought. Time to start my life over.

Which brings me to the point of this post! Australian readers might be interested in some Ottobre magazines I have for sale. They are the latest 5 editions of Ottobre children's clothing patterns. All in pristine condition. As much as I'd love to make something from them, the reality is life is a little more full now, and I'm just not going to have time.

Back issues of Ottobre are available online from around $22-$26 per copy (inc postage). I'm listing 5 editions on ebay for $50, plus $10 postage, so that's just $12 a magazine. All in perfect condition, never used.

Click here if you're interested!

Felix

2009-12-04T21:29:00.004+10:30

Every night when I go to bed I think of all the lovely and funny things my little Felix has said and done during the day. A pity that I can't plug blogger into my brain to download it all into a post!

Felix is a tricky, clever little guy. Most importantly, though, he is very kind and loving, and a happy little kiddo. But boy oh boy, he is a bit clever too. On Tuesday, after conceding defeat on the homemade advent calendar front, I dashed into Bed Bath and Table and was lucky to find this most un-commercial looking of commercially produced advent calendars. In fact, I love it so much that I think I will use it as the basis of what will hopefully be my (Felix's) heirloom advent calendar, by embroidering some designs on it ready for next year.

Anyway, a quick trip to Haigh's and the pockets of the calendar were soon filled with chocolates (and some decorations).

Tonight I asked Felix to find the number 4 on the calendar. And he did! He then happily sat in his high chair munching away on his chocolate. When he finished he looked at me, pointed to the calendar and said "go see what's in number 5!". I swear my mum and I nearly passed out. Hello? Are you 22 months old or 5 years old?!

Felix, my funny little friend, some other things I don't want to forget about you:

:: for the last month or so you've been able to recite almost the entire manuscript of 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'. For the past couple of months this has been your favourite book, and when you recite it you do so with such passion and theatre! Oh no! Mud!!!! Thick oozey mud!!!! And when you walk into a dark room it's a 'narrow gloomy cave, oh no!'.

:: about three weeks ago I borrowed Where the Wild Things Are from the library. To say you love it is a complete understatement. You simply adore this book, and I read it to you every night. You are now happily reciting it to your teddies and toys. You love watching the trailer for the movie on You Tube, and how I wish you were a little older only so I could take you to see it. You even ask for a special version of the trailer, where Max sings 'doo doo doo doo'. You sing it so beautifully. I think that when you watch this you really get it. You do. You talk about how much the wild things love max. You look at me with such love and happiness, sharing the moment with me. You know it makes mummy a bit sad to watch it, but you know it's a good kind of sad. The kind of sad that comes from love.

:: you are an awesome swimmer, and tomorrow I'm taking you to your last lesson for the year. Next year you will start a new class without your mum. Which makes me sad and so proud, all at the same time (I'm sure that's going to be a continuing theme for the next 16 years or so). You swim underwater, kicking off the side of the pool, swimming over to me, coming up for air, all on your own. My little fish.

:: you are very loved by your mum. Thanks for the unconditional love, Felix, and for making me laugh and smile, and for giving me hope when I feel like I'm breaking inside.

This Weekend...

2009-11-29T15:33:00.006+10:30

Has been an interesting one.

:: Sitting home last night with a 21 month old who was coming down with a cold, whilst my ex was out somewhere being 'introduced' to someone new. Apparently that's what you do when it's not even been 6 months after suddenly ending a 15 year relationship with your partner with whom you have a one year old.

:: Being grateful that said cold is just a cold, and whilst it has turned Felix into a bit of a grumpy, snotty, tired mess, there are no fevers to deal with.

:: Getting excited about a vintage sheet swap I got involved in at the last minute. Here's what I sent:

:: Reading Delicious whilst playing with Felix, and having him come sit on my lap to read it with me (declaring as I turned each page "I love that!" "Felix and mummy make it!")
:: Making a game out of a big bag of walnuts and an empty ice cream container. This kept us busy for a while! Sorting big from small, seeing which ones rattle when you shake them etc.
:: making some Christmas decorations. I think we did this on Friday. Just paste and a glitter shaker, and some crayons on coloured card. I don't want to cut these into Christmas shapes, just keep them the way my little guy made them.

:: Drawing on the new easel. Set up permanently so Felix can draw when he wants to, I love watching him create. He takes the lids of the textas, and puts them back on. I especially love his little 'writing'. Not bad for 21 months!

:: Glitter play-dough. Homemade play-dough - just add glitter using a shaker.

:: Getting ready (slowly) to sell a bunch of stuff on Ebay to help fund a complete overhaul of my bedroom (I think I need to carry out some kind of cleansing ceremony, I am not enjoying being in this room at the moment). Any hoo, I've got a pile of lovely Laura Ashley dresses, and a couple of vintage ones including this 60s (?) original, still with tags on! Will let you know when it's up and ready to sell.
:: Wishing I had someone to cook me pancakes instead of doing it myself (made these a couple of weeks ago)
:: Feeling grateful that I finally have a lawn in the backyard for Felix. The ex departed right before we were planning to do this, leaving me to deal with a backyard full of dirt, mud, weeds and prickles. Perfect for a toddler to run around in. Well, it's done now -just a bit more landscaping to go once I find a way to pay this off.

Pay it Forward

2009-11-27T19:04:00.002+10:30

I've just been reading Virtually Sally. Sally is joining in with the pay it forward fun and I've decided to join in too.

So here's what happens:

I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people who comment on this post.

I have 365 days to do it in…
What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise!

The catch is that you must participate as well:

you must have a blog
and before you leave your comment here, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going. Just cut and paste this one if you like, which I did!

Looking forward to seeing who wants to pay it forward with me!

Happy

2009-11-27T15:41:00.004+10:30

I've just been going through some photos and found this from about a month ago.

I feel like Felix has seen me upset, crying and sad more than anything else for the last six months, so it made my heart warm a little to see the joy on both our faces in this photo.

I'm sorry for everything, little guy.

The comments in my giveaway post have been humbling. I'm not sure that I've handled all this with the good grace that I should have, but I am trying. And now I'm trying even harder.

Retro Mummy Giveaway

2009-11-23T19:37:00.003+10:30

Corrie, the queen of giveaways and all things cute and japanese, is hosting another beautiful giveaway.

Hurrah!

I'm Going to Host a Giveaway, Yes I am

2009-11-18T14:39:00.004+10:30

Sometime between now and Christmas I'll hit my 100th post. Yipee! So to celebrate I am going to host a giveaway of some super nice things.

In short, this has been a tough year. But something I never expected was the incredible display of love and support from my family and friends - and unexpected words and well wishes from a bunch of amazing bloggers.

So, it's time to share the love a little with a giveaway!

Here's how it'll work. The giveaway will be open to all of my followers, whether you've been following me since the beginning, or you've just come across my blog. Just start following me, and leave a comment here to be in the running. You have until 15th December to enter. Prizes will be drawn on Saturday 19th December.

I'll have two lovely packages to give away. For Australian entries, a copy of Sew!, the gorgeous new book from Cath Kidston, plus a bundle of sewing goodies. For international followers, one of you will win a sweet bundle of sewing goodness (postage costs being a bit prohibitive to send a book, boo hoo) - more to be revealed in following posts.

Good luck!

Funny Felix Sayings

2009-11-03T20:53:00.001+10:30

Felix is 21 months old on Friday. His language development has been amazing, and constantly takes me by surprise. Of course, it means he comes out with some hilarious comments, which I'm trying to remember. If I don't write them down somewhere, I've usually forgotten them by the end of the day.

Some recent examples:

on seeing a racehorse on tv. It was brown, racing and very sweaty: "Horsey all covered in chocolate!"
in response to me coming in one evening to his (dark) bedroom, when I was responding to his crying: "what's mummy got? what's in mummy's mouth? Mummy's eating smarties!" (well, I was eating chocolate. I think I had refused to give him any treats that day)
in the bath, after coming home from staying with his dad: "really good being home having bath".
on waking yesterday morning, the first words he said to me: "Mummy stuck in the mud" (very concerned). And yes, I did get stuck in the mud last week at the beach. Poor little mite got very upset about it all, and is obviously still thinking about it.

A general theme here is chocolate. Sweets, lollies, cakes, biscuits. You'd think I didn't feed the child anything healthy, but no. It's not the case. He eats well, but clearly has a sweet tooth!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-10-23T20:39:00.004+10:30

Blogtoberfest has gone a little out the window, as things have been a bit bumpy around here lately. However, today it's my birthday, Adelaide put on a magnificent display of spring weather, and I got to spend the day with my ace little guy, Felix. He even sang "happy birthday to mummy" before devouring his cupcake after dinner tonight.

I'm too tired to upload photos, but I did actually bake some delicious cupcakes for myself, and spent a beautiful day at the beach with Felix, my mum, and my especially good, generous, beautiful friend, Annie. We ended up at her house for the most delicious impromptu lunch, topped off with a gorgeous riesling.

My very good friend MA popped around first thing this morning, which was a lovely surprise, with flowers and a care package (latest Vogue, SA Life Magazine and the obligatory chocolate), and I was showered with flowers throughout the day. My mum organised a gorgeous gift from Felix - a beautiful apron. Lovely.

The day was topped off by a visit from Kerrie, a friend I simply don't think I could have survived this year without. Beautiful handmade goodness for gifts. Thank you beautiful friend!

This photo isn't from today, but from Monday when Felix and I went to the Art Gallery of South Australia. Not great quality, as taken on my phone, but there's something I love about this. Little guy on the go (he was contemplating the piece when I got the camera out, but had moved as I clicked).

Love you little guy!

Bogtoberfest - Thank You

2009-10-15T13:59:00.002+10:30

Thank you to lots of lovely, kind bloggers who have stopped by at my blog over the last week or so and left nice comments.

It means a lot to this girl.

Hoping to get back on track with Blogtoberfest and blogging generally. I'm nearing my 100th post, so will try to organise a giveaway too.

My house was supposed to get a spring clean by a proper cleaner today, but it seems everyone is getting sick at the moment, so it was cancelled at the last minute. So we packed ourselves onto a bus into town to the Spotlight 20% off sale. I didn't buy loads, but did pick up a few nice things, including some fabric I've had my eye on for a while now.

Photos to come later if the little one decides to sleep this afternoon.

Blogtoberfest

2009-10-11T20:27:00.002+10:30

Exhausted, drained and unmotivated.

Wondering how many more things will go wrong this week.

Looking for some light, but finding it hard to see anywhere but in the eyes of my beautiful little guy.

Blogtoberfest - Day 6 - Greek Style Meatballs

2009-10-06T16:30:00.003+10:30

I was supposed to go to work today, but Felix is still unwell, and we had a pretty bad start to the day. Waking him up early, when he really needed to sleep, still sick, lots of screaming as I tried to get him dressed, completely unable to get a nappy on him, lots of cuddles with me (sans nappy), big wee on my brand new work pants and silk shirt. And because I have lost so much weight since the breakup, I've got about four items of clothing that fit me for work.

We all kind of lost the plot this morning. Poor little kid. He doesn't usually get so upset, but has been quite a lot over this past weekend with his ear infection and what seems to be some kind of upper respiratory infection, but wasn't actually checked by the doctor (not our normal doctor) we saw. He's on antibiotics now, so hopefully will start to improve soon.

Anyway, he's had a BIG nap today (still asleep), which he clearly needs. I'm loathe to wake him. It means I've actually cooked something dinner - greek style meatballs in a tomato sauce. I just made this recipe up, and tried to get a balance of tasty and nutritious:

Meatballs

4-500gms lamb mince

half an onion, finely diced

1 cup fresh breadcrumbs

1 clove garlic, diced

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 packet firm Greek feta

1 egg

salt & pepper to season

Mix together in a bowl with your hands, and roll into medium size meatballs.

Sauce

1 Jar Tomata Sauce (pasatta)

2 carrots, finely grated

1 large zucchini, finely grated

1/2 onion, finely diced

1 clove garlic, diced

salt & pepper to season

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil until soft, add carrot and zucchini, and stir until softened. Add tomato sauce, oregano and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Once sauce has come to boil, add meatballs, reduce to a simmer, cover and leave to cook for at least 25 minutes (cook longer for a richer sauce).

Be careful not to mix too much until meatballs have cooked.

I think we'll have this with rice tonight, just to mix it up a bit.

Photos to come later (I just had a taste test - yumbo! Would be delicious baked in the oven also)

Blogtoberfest - Day 5 - My First Quilt

2009-10-04T23:50:00.004+10:30

As it's now past midnight, I may as well post this for day 5 of Blogtoberfest!

A couple of weeks ago I finished my first quilt, a gift for my lovely friend Meredeth and her precious new baby girl, Eden.

Made from a bundle of fat eighths, I cheated a little and used some pre-made 100% cotton bias tape, which happily coordinated really well with my fabrics. I also machine stitched it on, and it was not done perfectly, but you know, it's made, it's pretty, and I'm happy.

Here it is after I washed and tumble dried it (I made it with unwashed fabrics). It came up really well - so lovely and soft.

And here's Felix giving it a trial run, pre-washing. I'm sure it will make a great play mat!

Lots of Late Nights

2009-10-04T23:16:00.003+10:30

Yet another late night, up with the little one, trying to get him to rest on the couch in front of the tv. He's been so unwell the last couple of weeks, and now has an ear infection to top it off, so we've had several days and nights of high temperatures. Plus he's sporting a nasty cough as his cold breaks up. Poor kid.

Felix, you've been so good throughout this whole ordeal involving the breakup of our family. You've watched over me, known just when to give me a big cuddle and kiss, and just when I think I can't go on anymore, you remind me what my purpose in life is.

You're a clever little sod too! You'll turn 20 months old on Tuesday, and you speak so well. Tonight you asked me "watch Banana Pyjamas on tv?", and when we were drawing with textas today you handed them to me to take the lids off and correctly identified all the colours as you did so :: "blue one" "red one" "orange one". You like to count, and for a while there, about three or four months ago, loved even numbers, and as I counted to ten you'd fill in with 2 4 6 8 10. Now your favourite way to count is "2, 4, 8, 10!", with a flourish at the end! You know your shapes, and can tell me if it's a circle, square, triangle or star. You love drawing, and always tell me what it is you're drawing today.

You are such a boy, and love dirt, cars, trucks and diggers, but are just as happy playing with my "material", and playing dress ups.

It's been a rough road lately, my little one, but I'm glad that you are here by my side.

Blogtoberfest! Day 4 - Softies & Perle

2009-10-04T17:24:00.002+10:30

This delightful little fellow arrived in my letterbox a few weeks ago. Nimbus the Cloud Lion from the amazing girls at Umbrella Prints. I tell you, they make me proud to call Adelaide home! They are the creators of the incredible Flip Dolls, featured a little while ago on SouleMama (and currently sold out, boo hoo).

Anyhoo, this looked like a great starting point for me to make a softie whilst supporting a local crafty business. Now I just have to start stitching, and then see if I can hold off giving it to Felix until Christmas.

My lovely sister visited today. She has been amazing ever since the breakup, coming to visit every couple of weeks, taking us out to lunch. It's been great.

I received an extra special treat today in the form of an early birthday present. A giant box of perle cotton! Wowee! Look at those colours. They're all variegated, and will be perfect for quilts and softies. I'm a very lucky girl.

Oh, and Felix has an ear infection (his first). This explains the fevers and general unwellness the last couple of days following a cold that's lasted a couple of weeks. Hopefully we're on the road to recovery now.

Blogtoberfest! Day Three - Part Two

2009-10-03T15:55:00.005+09:30

A second post today, to catch up on missing my first post on Thursday. That's my kitty, Phoebe, above. She's an indoor cat, but when Mr Felix is asleep, it's time to get out and explore the jungle that is my crappy backyard.

To be honest, I'm not traveling all that well at the moment. Have you ever invested everything you have into something that was really precious to you, and you were under the impression that that investment was going really well? Then suddenly, you check on it, and it's gone. Everything you've worked for over the past 15 years? That's a bit what it feels like to have your partner 'check out' on you with no warning. I feel as depleted as that empty shell that is now our relationship. And it was lovely, that partnership. A real friendship. But that doesn't seem to matter any more.

I could sit here blogging for a week listing all the horrid consequences of the breakdown of a relationship like the one I had. For me, one effect was that I suddenly felt like I was catapulted back to how I felt bringing a newborn baby home. Felix was 16 months old when his father left, and I had only just started to feel like I was getting back on top of things again. The last four months have been so hard, and I've felt like a total failure as a mum. Felix now understands what it means to be sad, and I only have to sniff my nose for him to look at me with concern and say 'Mummy, so sad'. I feel distracted, exhausted from lack of sleep, run down and not as 'present' as I should be in his life. I'm grateful for afternoon naps when they come, like it did today.

I also lost all the passion I used to have to do lovely things, like cooking and crafting. Especially cooking. Why cook when you aren't even hungry? But I'm slowly starting to turn that around, I hope.

Felix and I baked gingerbread men (or biscuit men as he calls them) a couple of weeks ago, from this awesome recipe out of one of Anabel Karmel's books. They're so delicious, and really easy to make. A nice combination of crunchy and chewy - mmm.

The other night I celebrated spring with a side dish of sauteed fresh broad beans and artichokes. Cooked simply in olive oil with garlic, seasoned with salt and pepper and a big squeeze of lemon juice. Horrible photo, delicious result.

Tonight I'm making Nigella's Coq au Riesling. We (before it all ended) used to make this quite often. I've adapted the recipe a bit to use just half a bottle of wine (so you have some to drink with dinner), and add a cup or so of good quality chicken stock. It's delicious served with noodles (my favourite noodles, handmade in the beautiful Barossa Valley). You can't go past a South Australian riesling either, for this dish. Tonight it's Annie's Lane. Yum.

The roses that I pruned with vigour after being unceremoniously dumped by my partner are now coming into full bloom. This is one of my real favourites - Our Lady Elizabeth, named after the Queen Mother. It has the sweetest perfume, and is truly luminous! Most especially at dusk. Perfection.

The little guy is awake now, so must dash.

Blogtoberfest! Day Three

2009-10-03T13:02:00.004+09:30

Some photos from earlier this week. Felix using some of the first rose blooms (Just Joey) as a spade for digging...

Wild sweet peas, self sown from last year's crop (doing a great job detracting attention away from the weeds)

The boy loves fabric. Just like his mama...
And I think Phoebe is asking ever so politely for a special pillow of her own from this beautiful Heather Bailey fabric.

Blogtoberfest!

2009-10-02T15:34:00.002+09:30

A nice encouragement to get blogging again, hopefully a little something every day in October. (Click on the button below to take you over to TinnieGirl to see the full list of everyone who's signed up).

I'm slowly getting over this dreadful lurgy, although Felix seemed to have a bit of a relapse last night. Hopefully my energy and enthusiasm will return slowly too.

I realised this morning that it's four months today since my long term love and partner suddenly left me. Four months. I can't say it's been the best four months of my life, in fact far from it. It's been pretty crap actually, and there are days when I don't see how it can ever get better. But apparently it will. We'll see.

So, time to focus on happy things.

Back later with some photos from last few days.

Sick Sick Blah

2009-09-27T12:03:00.000+09:30

This cold or whatever it is I have seems to be getting a lot worse before it gets better. I felt so dreadful yesterday when I woke up that I had to ask Felix's father to have him for the weekend, and I hate not having my little guy here. But two days of looking after him while I had this cold had done me in.

Time to go back to bed.

My Clever Boy

2009-09-23T22:07:00.002+09:30

If I don't write this stuff down I will surely forget.

At 19 months of age, Felix now happily recites from memory some of his favourite books (Brown Bear, Brown Bear etc). What nearly blew me away last night was when we read 'There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake' - not a short book - and he began filling in the blanks when I left out words (and not words triggered by the illustrations). I know this is just memorising, but come on, he's only 19 months old!

Poor little fellow has a nasty cold at the moment that saw us both sitting up until 12.30 am last night (I have the cold now too - yay). We might have to give the playgroup end of term party day a miss tomorrow which is a shame, but let's hope we're feeling better in the morning.

Photo Catchup - August/September 2009

2009-09-11T20:38:00.003+09:30

1. Felix in Nanni-knitted jumper & hat, 2. Felix in Nanni-knitted jumper, 3. Super spunk at the park, 4. Gardening dude, 5. morning tea (thank you ikea for brightening my day), 6.Slide - hard rubbish find, 7. Cubby house rescued from neighbour's hard rubbish, 8. Felix, ready to bake, 9. Felix at the Royal Adelaide Show - Wow!, 10. Handspun wool blanket, Royal Adelaide Show, 11. Handspun wool scarves, Royal Adelaide Show, 12. Lovely Crochet, Royal Adelaide Show, 13. Crochet, Royal Adelaide Show, 14. Granny Goodness, Royal Adelaide Show 2009, 15. spring blooms from garden, 16. Cotton Bias Tape from Belsize Square

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

August-September 2009, originally uploaded by fromonemum.

Savoury Lunchtime Scones

2009-09-07T13:57:00.003+09:30

What do you and your 18 month old son have for lunch when there's no bread in the house, and you have nothing in the pantry that suggests a quick, easy lunch option?

Well seeing as though the kitchen was already a disaster, I decided to add to the mess and make some savoury scones. A quick Google resulted in this recipe which I followed, but added my own touch to.

They were delicious! Very light and fluffy, and really tasty. No photos again, because when life is falling apart around you the last thing you remember to do is recharge your batteries (literally and figuratively). At the moment, life consists of showering / bathing, sleeping, eating, washing clothes and occasionally remembering to shop for food. Not much of anything else going on round here at the moment.

So here's how I made them:

2 cups self-raising flour

1 cup full cream milk (I used a little more, as the recipe suggests might be required)

2 tablespoons sour cream

2 rashers bacon, diced

3 spring onions, finely sliced

3/4 cup tasty cheese, grated (reserve some to sprinkle on top)

1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

100g (approx) finely grated pumpkin

1/2 teaspoon Maldon salt

Sift the flour, mix in the other dry ingredients (reserving some cheese to sprinkle on top of scones). Add sour cream and milk, and mix gently with a large butter knife or spatula using a cutting action (ie, don't over mix or knead or they'll get a little tough).

Turn out onto a floured surface, and lightly bring the dough together and press out with your hands until about 3 cms thick. Cut out rounds, place on a baking tray, brush with milk and sprinkle with cheese.

Bake for approx 12-15 minutes in a 180 degree celsius oven, or until golden (check they're cooked through using a skewer).

Felix really loved these for lunch with a bit of butter. They'll probably make an appearance at dinner too with a simple soup.

Simple Gift Cards from Toddler's Art

2009-09-05T19:59:00.002+09:30

So tomorrow is going to be a difficult day. I love celebrating special days like Christmas, Mother's Day, Easter etc. I don't go all out, but I do like to pause and celebrate with my loved ones.

Tomorrow I get to hand Felix over at 9 am to celebrate Father's Day without me. My own father died when I was 7, so I'll be without my Dad, without my father-in-law, and without my son. I don't know what I'll be doing, probably trying to distract myself with stupid housework or something.

Anyway, Felix and I sat down today and he did some drawings for me. I then just took those drawings, cut some cardstock to size (folding to make into a card), then cut out a piece from his drawing and stuck in on the card to make these cute greeting cards (one for Daddy, one for Poppa).

I'll make mention here of the fact that I didn't get anything for Mother's Day this year. It was about a month before the break-up, before I even knew anything was wrong (things were normal I thought!). No card, no drawing, no 'hey Felix, wish Mum happy Mother's Day!'. Just a half thought through outing to the beach (which was not really different to any other Sunday, as we made a real point of that being 'family day').

I know, therefore, from experience how heartbreaking it is to receive nothing on these special days, so despite everything, I will make sure that he doesn't have to go through the same heartbreaking experience that I did (made worse, I think, due to the fact that my full-time job is actually being a mum).

Anyway, this is a cute, easy project to do with any child who can hold a pencil, crayon, texta or paintbrush, and an adult who can cut out and use a gluestick!

Getty Crafty with the Kid

2009-09-02T19:54:00.006+09:30

Felix turns 19 months old on Sunday. We've been dabbling with painting, crayons, and washable textas for a while now, but things are starting to move ahead in his development and he's really up to trying new things in the arts and crafts department (and getting REALLY frustrated when he can't do something perfectly!).

I love paint with water books. You know, the ones most of us had when we were little kids, where you just needed a brush, some water, and colours would magically appear on the page. Well, it turns out they're pretty hard to source these days, and the ones I've found so far have been pretty uninspired and, well, dull.

So after stumbling onto The Crafty Crow blog via a posting on the super great Meet Me At Mike's Forum, I was so excited to find this link to a really simple, clever and fun do-it-yourself paint with water project.

Image via Just Add Water @ Inspired Ideas

Using watercolour paper, and water-soluble / watercolour pencils (I've had my tin of 12 Derwent's since I was a teenager!) you simply print or draw your image onto the paper, then shade in with the pencils. My camera battery is still dead, but I've just experimented with a drawing of a rocket ship using a waterproof Copic multi-liner pen.

Blast off! It worked a treat, and I'm sure Felix is going to have a ball doing these.

Paint with water is the perfect activity when you don't want to be faced with a lot of mess to clean up, as the biggest risk you face is a bit of spilt water. Plus you get to be a bit crafty and artistic too, so it's a great activity to do with your little one.

Pictures to come in the next few days when I get my act together.

What I am Up To

2009-09-01T20:57:00.003+09:30

Trying to remember to recharge the camera battery so I can post photos on this blog.
Finished reading The Time Traveler's Wife for Pip's book club (and have even posted a review on the book club blog!)
Being constantly amazed by Felix's language development. Yes, he's always been an early talker, but it still blows me away! Some recent examples: (talking to his best friend, duck) "hello duck. how are you. good!" ; "mummy get up, come too" ; "Felix eat some" (as we were making cakes yesterday). oh there's so much more, I need to start writing this stuff down.
Singing Frere Jacques with Felix. I kid you not, the kid can sing the whole thing. He turns 19 months old next Tuesday. He also sings Polly Puts the Kettle On, Rock a Bye Baby, Old McDonald.
Building Ikea furniture. Slowly. I'm actually quite good at this, but it's slow going with a little one around.
Gearing myself up to going back to work. I don't want to think about it.
Trying to buy work clothes. Urg. Have you seen the fashions this season? Awful!
Baking carrot cupcakes with cream cheese icing. Yum.
Reading the Shopaholic series of books by Sophie Kinsella, and feeling virtuous as I'm borrowing them all from the library instead of doing the shopaholic thing and buying them all! A good trashy read.
Getting excited about re-reading Jane Eyre and Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret for Pip's book club.
Wanting to finish the quilt for baby Eden, who arrived two weeks ago this Thursday to a very special friend.
Being thankful for all the amazing friends and family I have who have been so incredible during a really difficult time in my life.

Far Far Giveaway @ retro mummy

2009-08-25T15:11:00.004+09:30

Love fabric? Love giveaways? Love Heather Ross? Love Kokka? (check, check, check, check!).

Then pop on over and say hi to the very sweet Corrie at retro mummy for an extra special giveaway!

A luscious fabric pack from Heather Ross' Far Far Away range is up for grabs (and available in the retro mummy store too).

Good luck!

Homemade - The Handmade Help Recipe Book

2009-08-16T15:24:00.002+09:30

I am very proud to be part of this wonderful recipe book that was compiled as part of the Handmade Help effort following the Victorian bushfires in February 2009.

All proceeds to be donated to the Salvos. Buy your copy here!

Oh, and if you try my banana muffin recipe, note that you will probably need a good cup, rather than 3/4 cup, of natural yoghurt, as your mixture may be a bit too dry. Woops!

My Creative Space

2009-07-31T20:51:00.003+09:30

Finally joining in with my creative space. Sewing table has been tidied and organised somewhat, but the table is destined to be shipped off to the ex as soon as a replacement desk for my computer and sewing machine is purchased.

Biggest bonus so far of being walked out on by supposedly loving partner of 15 years? Getting a room on my own for creative pursuits instead of a mere corner in the formal lounge room.

Started these pants for Felix this week, made from beautiful denim (repurposed from a Laura Ashley skirt found at Salvos for $5), embellished with yummo Kokka fabric, and some cotton cuffs.

Beginnings of a small quilt (my first) which is destined for a much wanted baby girl due around the end of August.

More creative spaces here!

Grumpy

2009-07-26T21:51:00.002+09:30

Tonight I have a cut, swollen lip from a meeting of two minds (well, to be more precise, Felix's head catapulted onto my face as we played on the bed, and my teeth managed to cut my lip, and leave an impression on his forehead).

I am also sore, bruised and battered from slipping over while carrying Felix at his swimming lesson yesterday morning. It was a rather more drama filled experience than that, however I'll spare you the details.

I'm over all this personal upheaval at the moment, and my aches and pains aren't helping to lift my mood.

Poo to people who make massive life decisions on their own that dramatically alter the course of my life. Poo!

It's nice to throw a virtual tanty every now and then.

New(ish) Fabric & Fabulous Vintage Crochet Book

2009-07-26T14:08:00.006+09:30

I ordered and received this gorgeous bundle of fabrics from the US a few months ago (before my life turned on its head). They've been added to the stash, and once I have my new creative space set up, I'll decide what projects these little beauties are destined for.

About three months ago, I also picked up this incredible vintage crochet book from my local library, for the grand sum of 50 cents. Bargain!

There are so many gorgeous patterns in here. So retro, so groovy. Not sure whether I'll ever be clever enough to attempt any of these, but this book remains one of my favourite craft books on my shelves, regardless.

(hilarious - love the strangle hold he has on her)

(the little girl's dress, above, is gorgeous. And how slick is the jumpsuit!)

I would love to be able to make this!

Loving the Library

2009-07-25T15:51:00.005+09:30

I am loving having a library just down the road. Felix has always loved books, and is now ploughing through them like there's no tomorrow.

It's fun going to the library and picking books out for him. You never know what's going to be a hit! Well, this definitely has been the hit of the week - 'Down the Back of the Chair'.

A fantastic poem, beautifully illustrated. I thought it might be a little long to hold his attention, but the pace of the poem, combined by the enthralling illustrations, certainly keeps Felix entertained!

I grabbed another haul of books today, celebrating the fact that I'm no longer a 'new user', with increased borrowing rights of up to 50 books at a time!

I also brought home lots of sewing and crochet books for me.

I love the library!

2009-07-23T14:21:00.002+09:30

While still slightly freezing, it was a little sunnier here today in Adelaide, so after playgroup and lunch, Felix and I went for a walk around the corner to one of our many local playgrounds. This is Felix's 'castle', and he's recently mastered climbing the stairs, and swinging down the slippery dip. Hurrah! He is so proud of himself, and has to go up and down about 20 times as you do when you're 17 months old.

As mentioned in the previous post, I've been grannying along, making a rainbow granny blanket for Felix. 100% wool, in super fun, bright colours. During recent upheavals it's been good to sit on the couch of an evening with this on my lap doing a few rows. I'm getting much quicker, but have still really only mastered treble stitch, so I'll have to try something new next time.

Moving Along

2009-07-15T21:55:00.001+09:30

I have picked the crochet hook up again. Trying to finish a rainbow granny blanket for Felix. Trying to move along.

The healing powers of a hook and yarn.

Magical.

(pictures tomorrow)

Life Changing

2009-07-04T20:24:00.002+09:30

So, I've clearly been putting this post off, but here goes.

On 2nd June this year, my 15 year relationship ended.

I had little warning (imagine 2-3 weeks of realising something wasn't right - that's about the extent of it), before it all came to a head and I was told by my best friend and love of my life that his feelings for me had changed and that he had to be alone. It was over.

No hope.

It's so hard writing those words down. No hope. It's probably the part that kills me the most.

And caught up in all of this of course is my little guy, Felix. 16 months old, and his parents are separated. It still makes me feel ill when I think about that fact.

So my plans of being a stay at home mum are dashed. Work must be returned to. Felix must be found a place in childcare. I'm by no means anti-childcare. It just wasn't part of my (our) plans for sometime yet.

I never imagined being 34, unloved, and un-partnered. We were in it for the long haul. We were the most amazing team I knew. Family and friends are stunned.

So now I just have to look ahead. To try to salvage something out of this mess. To be the best role model possible for my little guy. To work hard, to love hard, to rebuild, and grow.

I haven't been alone since I was 19 years old.

To say I'm scared is an understatement.

I'm just the girl who always wanted to be loved more than anything else in the world.

Amitie Challenge - Emellishment!

2009-05-24T14:05:00.005+09:30

So, late last month, I received my very first mailout from Amitie as part of their VIP membership.

A challenge! Hurrah!

I received this little packet of trims, with the challenge to create something from it, then post it on my blog.

Well, I got moving pretty quickly on this one. This was a challenge for me because, whilst I do sew, I'm very very new to quilting, and have never done anything much with embellishments before.

So. Off to work. I scrounged around my stash, and came up with these scraps of the most deliciously thick wool felt. The shapes of these scraps, along with the colours of the trims, decided it for me. A fish. A Serendipitous Fish, to be precise.

So here is where I'm at. One fish, completed (just need to embroider an eye). And the beginnings of some sea grass, coral and anemone-type creatures.

All of it was made up as I went along. All hand sewn, using whatever threads and scraps that were in my stash.

I've had a great time doing this, and hope to finish it this week. The fish is about 20cm in length, so the whole piece will probably be used as a pillow or perhaps a mini-quilt to hang in my little boy's room (I was glad to not receive pink trims!).

I have to say the best part so far has been sewing on the wool felt for the fish. It's just so thick and lovely to work with, I'll definitely be doing more with this.

So, there you go. One almost-completed Serendipitous Fish. And one challenge (almost) completed. Yay!

(Please excuse the rather bad photos of the project. It is a gloomy day indeed in Adelaide).

20% off Everything at Duckcloth!

2009-05-07T20:55:00.004+09:30

This week's Mum's Grapevine newsletter features a great sale for all the crafty folk out there.

Until 15 May, Duckcloth are offering 20% off everything in store!

See below for details. Hurray!

Lucky Ducks – Duckcloth 20% off Birthday Sale

Five little ducks went out one day over the hills to Duckcloth’s
2nd Birthday celebration!

At Duckcloth you’ll step into fabric heaven - fresh, fun fabrics and sewing patterns for kids clothing, bags, toys and accessories. Have a peek at ‘Lottie and Little Lady’ soft toy pattern, just adorable!

To celebrate their 2nd birthday Duckcloth is taking 20% off everything in store! Take this opportunity to select some fabulous fabrics for your kid’s clothes or nursery/bedroom furnishings that will have other Mum’s green with envy.

Simply enter ‘MUMGR509’ in the promotional code field at checkout.

Get quacking, go to www.duckcloth.com.au today!

Sale ends May 15, 2009.

Awesome Giveaway!

2009-05-06T17:52:00.002+09:30

Looking for an awesome giveaway? Then pop on over to Missie Krissie!

Missie Krissie makes the most beautiful jewellery...a bit late for Mother's Day, but I think that I'll be adding one of her engraved pendants to the wishlist for my birthday this year!

She has a fab ring up for grabs, so if you have a blog, pop on over and get the details to enter the giveaway.

Stay Calm & Carry On!

A Granny a Day - the first 22

2009-05-06T10:47:00.001+09:30

A Granny a Day - the first 22, originally uploaded by fromonemum.

1974 - Loving the Granny Blanket!

2009-05-05T22:21:00.002+09:30

Archives_1974_103, originally uploaded by Pierre Wayser.

Pop over to Pip's to play along. Pick a year, and do a search on Flickr, then pick your favourite photo and blog it.

Hurrah!

Books!

2009-05-05T14:08:00.006+09:30

I've had a bit of luck lately at book sales, ranging from library sales and op shops, to fairs and festivals.

I picked up this gorgeous selection, all ranging from 50 cents to $1 each. I also got a stack of the old Sesame Street library books for 50 cents each. Hurrah!

I particularly like the Lion Picture Books. I had a couple when I was a little girl in the 1970s. As it turns out, they did great reprints of some classics from the 50s and 60s.

One of my favourite finds, below, is 'A Little House of Your Own' - all about how we each need our own little space in the world. Yes please! And imagine my delight when I found the original exchange card from the bookshop, dated 1969, tucked inside the back cover! Hurrah!

I was also chuffed to see that Pip over at Meet Me at Mikes had just done about post about Roger Duvoisin (see 'Petunia', below). Such beautiful illustrations.

And this book below, a reprint from the 1970s (with original price tag of $16.95 attached, bought at Salvo's for $1.99 thank you very much), is so magical. If it wasn't in perfect condition I'd rip all the pages out to frame them!

Must dash. Felix is sleeping, so there's vegie and lentil soup to cook, and grannies to crochet!

Catching Up...

2009-05-04T14:03:00.004+09:30

So I'm like a week late for Pip's writing assignment. Handily the them was catching up, so that's just what I'm doing after about a week without a post.

The past week has been full of ups and downs. Jason was away for a couple of nights for work early in the week. I had a panic attack, which I've not had for a couple of years, which left me feeling wonky (and sleepless) for a few days. I received some awesome books in the post that I'd ordered from the UK (more later), and we baby sat the two most amazing little girls, just a couple of months older than Felix, for a couple of nights.

Three babes, all under 18 months, in the house. Oh no! I hear you cry. But no. They were amazing. Amazing! So amazing, that they were all asleep by 8pm every night, and slept through the night. So amazing that I was able to whip up three granny squares in that time.

Hurrah!

Weekend Happenings

2009-04-27T14:19:00.003+09:30

Well the weather certainly took a turn this weekend. It finally rained (and rained and rained!) in Adelaide, and with the Anzac Day public holiday on Saturday we pretty much stayed indoors, bunkered down, and cooked and ate.

Steaming below on the stove top is a slow cooked lamb casserole with loads of pumpkin, carrots and zucchini. Yummo.

And a yummy banana cake, so easy to whip up, based on Being Bold's recipe which you can find here. Delicious with a cup of tea. Or two.

There was also a little granny square action, with these two little babies completed.

I also had a trip to the local library and borrowed some fabbo crochet books, and the beautiful Sublime Stitching (another craft to take up, yay!).

I scored the most amazing cancelled library book for 50 cents. A 1970s crochet book for babies and toddlers. It's beyond awesome and deserves a whole post on its own once I've had time to scan in some piccies.

Hurrah!

A Granny A Day - 1-9

2009-04-25T09:06:00.002+09:30

A Granny A Day - 1-9, originally uploaded by fromonemum.

A photo mosaic of the evolution of my granny squares, inspired by the ever inspiring Pip over at Meet Me At Mikes.

Granny Squares - #9

2009-04-23T14:40:00.005+09:30

Another one to add to the collection. Hurrah!

It's a lovely, dark, gloomy RAINY day in Adelaide today. Yipee! This rain is so long overdue, and forecasts are that it's going to set in for the next few days. The rainwater tank might just get full yet.

Felix has been amazing us all today as he's really starting to string words together. Not bad for 14 months old! Some highlights included:

highchair, up, please

raining, wet, umbrella

flower, mama, pick

And he's starting to walk quite independently now, too. It's so lovely to just be able to hold his hand, and go for a little walk.

I've managed to squeeze in a bit of sewing too, and made these super groover flared pants, with linen cuff trim, for Felix. They are made from a thrifted pair of ladies pants. I just love these colours!

Granny Squares - #7 & 8

2009-04-22T13:44:00.004+09:30

I love this pattern so much. It's pretty quick to do, now that I'm getting a bit better at making granny squares.

I would love a blanket in this colour combination, but I think I'll start off with a small project like a cushion cover instead.

It might seem that all I'm doing at the moment is crocheting, but I generally squeeze this in at the end of the day, or perhaps when Felix has his nap during the afternoon.

I've also been working on a winter vest for Felix. I've finished the back, and have now moved onto the front. So far it's been fairly easy, but I'm sure I'll need to consult my resident expert (aka, my mum!) when I get to the neckband!

My sister and my 11 year old nephew visited today. Felix had a ball playing with Josh!

Granny Squares # 5 & 6

2009-04-21T13:05:00.005+09:30

I experimented a bit here with some pretty variegated wool. A nice way to get a mix of colours without the hassle of adding it in.

I'm slowly getting better I think!

Granny Square - #4

2009-04-20T13:33:00.003+09:30

My very first multi-coloured granny square, again made using Attic24's summer garden pattern.

Yay!

Granny Square - # 3 (Sunday)

2009-04-20T12:36:00.003+09:30

Granny Square - Number 3, originally uploaded by fromonemum.

Yesterday's granny square, based on Attic24's Summer Garden Granny Square. It's just a little one (I didn't do the full four rounds).

Great for a beginner!

Lunch, with a View, Sans Baby

2009-04-19T17:50:00.003+09:30

To celebrate 15 years of togetherness, Jason took me out to lunch today to Longview Vineyard in the Adelaide Hills. A rare outing without the wee one.

Lunch was delicious. They have a set tapas menu, very reasonably priced (and you don't leave hungry). The dish below was probably my favourite. Figs with prosciutto served with a way too yummy chevre. But the real standout of this dish was the roasted beure bosc pear. Oh my goodness. I'm going to get a griddling and a roasting me some pears! What a sensation.

Check out the menu here.

I love this photo. Oh to be seven years old again.

Babies, Books & a Tip

2009-04-18T13:48:00.004+09:30

I can't tell you how happy these photos make me. Felix has taken a real shine to one of my favourite books from my childhood - a 1966 edition of Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses. I used to pore over these pages, with their amazing illustrations by Brian Wildsmith.

Felix loves to read. We've been reading to him every night since he was just a couple of months old. I highly recommend having a bookshelf just for them. Something where you can put books that they can reach, pull out and look at whenever they want to. If you're worried about pages being torn, then stick to board books. But we've been lucky so far. Maybe because he's been exposed to books on a daily basis since he was born. Who knows. I just know the boy loves his books.

I've been buying up loads of vintage books lately. There's something about those illustrations, especially the ones from the 1950s and 60s, that just kill me. Looks like my boy loves them too!

A Granny a Day - Square 2

2009-04-18T13:35:00.006+09:30

A vast improvement on square 1! Still not perfect, but I'm not worrying myself about that. This was made with some gorgeous, "way too expensive I had to buy it half price" cotton on a 3.5 size crochet hook. The photo doesn't do the colour justice.

Hurrah!

Photo Upload Success - finally

2009-04-17T20:12:00.002+09:30

April 2009, originally uploaded by fromonemum.

So, I've finally had some success on the photo front. Uploading to my blog, flickr, and even using a fancy pants mosaic maker. Yay!

A snapshot above of what I've been up to over Easter. Lots of sewing, knitting, baking, and family loving. Hurrah!

A Granny a Day

2009-04-17T15:28:00.004+09:30

So, my aforementioned crocheting has been inspired by the ever inspiring Pip over at Meet Me at Mikes. Pip's embarked on a personal challenge of crocheting a Granny a Day Until the end of May , and has invited us all on the ride.

I've completed my first every granny square today. Lots of mistakes, so plenty of incentive to keep practicing! Not sure I'll manage one a day, but I'll see how I go.

Delayed Post

2009-04-17T15:10:00.003+09:30

I think I've been avoiding posting a bit lately. It's been feeling a little too much like homework. Uploading photos always seems to take so long that the thought of even trying puts me off.

I've been busy knitting, learning to crochet, sewing some winter pants for Felix, and generally being Felix's mum.

We've had a lot of fun this week, cooking together every day. Couscous, bread rolls and today we made blueberry muffins. He loves mixing it together, squishing things between his fingers, and especially enjoys the end results! I think he does pretty well for a 14 month old. I just make sure I have everything ready to go, and do any complicated stuff before we start.

Any hoo. I'm still here, and will try to be here more often than I have of late.

(OMG, blogger actually uploaded my photo...)

A Long Drive

2009-04-05T14:19:00.003+09:30

This week's writing assigning, brought to you by Pip at Meet Me At Mikes.

I was one of those kids who moved out of home late.

I was 23, finished (although not quite yet graduated) from uni, working full time, and had been with my lovely boy Jason since I was 19.

It wasn't that I couldn't afford to. And it wasn't that I didn't want to be with my boy. It was probably mostly about my mum.

I'm the youngest of five children. The baby. Which in my case meant an extra special close relationship with my mum. My lovely mum who was both mum and dad for most part of her five kids' childhoods after losing both husbands along the way (and no, she didn't lose them down the back of the couch as we like to joke, but to a farm accident and cancer).

I came close to moving out of home a couple of times, but found that the ties were hard to break. I don't think either of us wanted to.

And then the day did come. My bags were packed, my belongings were moved in, and it was time to go. I moved five minutes down the road, but that short trip felt like the longest drive of my life. A drive away from a terrific childhood, a great mum, and everything familiar.

I was fine, until it came time to get out of the car, when I burst into tears. I did manage to see how funny it was at the time. We'd been in the car about two minutes, and by the end of the trip I was a complete mess!

But it was a journey that marked the beginning of a wonderful life with my best friend. A journey that we are still taking, joined now by a couple of new passengers - Felix and my mum, who now lives in my home.

It was a drive well worth taking.

Little Things

2009-03-30T18:30:00.005+10:30

Thank goodness for writing assignments, otherwise I'd never post anything these days! This week's theme set by Pip is Little Things.

My world is full of beautiful, little things right now. All thanks to my gorgeous little guy, Felix who turns the ripe old age of 14 months on 6 April.

From the first flutter of that tiny heart beat on the confirmation ultrasound at 9 weeks gestation, my life has, and never will be, the same. It's a hard slog at times, but - of course - it's the little things that get you by each day.

Like today. We decided to do painting. A bit of a risk perhaps, but we'd dabbled with the visual arts at playgroup last week, and Felix was quite taken by the whole idea of painting. And, being Felix, my little early talker, he also learnt a new word - 'painting'.

So, out came the Faber Castel watercolour paint tray. I'm happy to say that it was the best five dollars I've spent, and is going to provide us with hours of entertainment.

The end result, above, was enough to make my heart sing! The work is all Felix's - Mama simply put the paint on the brushes and let him go for it.

In a day that saw our share of the grumps, tears, and threatening signs of a new cold brewing, this little thing brought such joy to both our hearts - and to his proud dad's when he came home from work.

These little things are a big part of my day, and my new life. The idea of missing out on any of it makes me shudder.

And another little thing happened yesterday. The boy walked - several metres - for the very first time.

Hurrah!

Cosy

2009-03-23T14:57:00.006+10:30

It's a bit late, and a bit short, but Felix and I have both had colds this past week so lots of things have been put on the backburner. That said, being sick prompted me to get out my knitting needles which has been such a joy! More on that later.

This week's writing assignment is 'cosy'. Here we go.

Cosy is...

A hot cup of tea - perfectly brewed.

Mornings and evenings that are (finally) cool enough for snuggles under the doona.

Evening cuddles with the wee one, reading stories and just being together.

A feeling of being safe, protected and warm.

A little over a year ago my job description expanded.

No longer just a seeker of cosiness.

But the provider.

What joy!

Stuff I Want to Remember

2009-03-14T18:11:00.002+10:30

I want to remember how fantastic Felix is at 13 months. How much fun he is. How many words he says.

Today is as good a snapshot as any as to where he's at at the moment.

He sleeps with his bum in the air, and goes to bed with his BEST friend, Duckie comforter, two little teddies, a rubber duck, and a little Kaloo bunny tied to his cot.

He had his first haircut on Thursday, and no longer looks like my baby, but like my little boy. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

The first thing he asks for when he wakes up is Dar (dad). Then he wants his wagon - the little wooden walker with blocks in it handed down to him from friends of ours. He spends his day doing laps of the kitchen, trips up the hallway, and down the corridor to see Nanni. He's been doing this for about two weeks now, and has perfected turning around corners, and says turn as he's doing it. He also tells us if he's stuck and softly calls out 'help' (except it sounds more like hup, like he's speaking with a New Zealand accent).

Felix loves yoghurt. So much that he cries if I haven't got any in the fridge. Give the boy a bowl of natural yoghurt with some pieces of fruit in it and a spoon and he'll be happy for at least half an hour in his high chair.

He loves putting stuff in his wagon. Suddenly he remembers Duckie, and trundles off to his bedroom to retrieve him from the cot, and place him in the wagon.

When he goes up to visit Nanni in her room his favourite toy at the moment are two grapefruits. He calls them fruit. He squeezes them and smells them, and puts them in his wagon.

About three times a day we have to do the gnome tour. 'Gnomie, gnomie' proclaims the wee one, and off we go to visit the three decrepit little gnomes that reside in our garden. He knows and tells me that one has 'flowers', one has a 'spade - dig dig', and one has a bag. He says bye bye, we walk past the fig tree ('fig') then back inside until he remembers again that he just has to go see them.

Felix loves his bath. Loves to stand up in the bath, look down and do a wee. About three or four times. Hilarious. As I write, he's splashing madly in the bath with his dad.

As we were driving to the markets early this morning he suddenly started talking about nanna and poppa (Jason's parents who we only see every few weeks). I think we need to see them soon!

At the beginning of the term, Felix graduated out of the baby swim class to the next level. He is so brave! He loves swimming. Yesterday he saw someone in a pool on tv and said swimming.

He also loves drawing! And says 'drawing', and crayons (except this is some weird derivative of crayons that I don't always recognise as meaning crayons), and 'paper'. Today he asked for crayons (took me a while to realise what he wanted), then we sat down for five minutes and drew flowers. He tells us he's drawing flowers. It's adorable, and makes my heart sing.

But mostly he's happy. And he tells us, unprompted, at various times of the day that he is Happy.

And so loved.

School Lunches - Writing Assignment

2009-03-11T13:48:00.003+10:30

Pip over at Meet Me at Mikes has come up with a great idea of hosting a writing assignment each week. Fact or fiction. Words or pictures. Your choice. So get writing!

This week's theme is School Lunches!

What Not to Take for Lunch

Ever since childhood, my favourite most awesome choice of sandwich has been egg and lettuce on brown bread. I think it wasn't until I was in my teens that I realised that brown bread was actually wholemeal bread.

Our bread used to be delivered by the Tip Top man in his van. We lived in a cool old house built in the 1940s, in seaside Adelaide, which had a little delivery hatch built into the wall of the kitchen at the front of the house. It had a door on the inside, and one on the outside. Even as a five year old I new this was the height of coolness!

Back in those days (1970s), the bread was wrapped in waxed paper, and we kept it in a dented, tin roller-door bread bin. Awesome.

But back to those egg and lettuce sandwiches. Thankfully my mum was wise to the fact that the old egg and mayo combo wasn't built to survive the trip to school in the lunchbox - particularly in the Adelaide summer, and pre frozen fruit boxes in the lunch box (I think this was more of an 80s thing).

So, my lunch of choice for those first formative years in primary school was...chicken loaf sandwich. Compressed chicken bits, rolled up, and sliced up by the man in the deli for my sandwich. I couldn't get enough of it. On white bread. I have vivid memories of my first weeks in prep, getting my yellow lunch box with the white lid from my school bag (black satchel), and eating my chicken loaf sandwich wrapped in greaseproof paper (we didn't do wax paper in my house).

Fifteen years earlier, however, my mum fought the battle and lost with my big brother over his sandwich of choice. Cheese and beetroot on white bread. Of course, ever the miracle worker, mum devised a system of sandwiching the beetroot between two slices of cheese, thus minimising the beetroot bleed into the white bread. She offered up countless other options, but all were refused.

The Canteen

As the years went by, bought lunches from the canteen became a more frequent treat.

I'm sure there are many South Australian kids of the 70s and 80s who mourn the demise of Balfours' hexi-pies. Delicious little hexagon pockets of savoury mince goodness. Smaller than the traditional pie, spicier, tastier, and with far superior pastry, these were the lunch box item of choice for most kids in my class. I was a without sauce girl. Still am.

What joy we had filling out those lunch orders - writing on those brown paper bags. We knew we'd graduated to big kid status when we could fill them in ourselves, and didn't have to take them home for mum to do.

Summer at school in Adelaide was full of zooper doopers, razzes, sunnyboys, and - my favourite - glugs. Cola-flavoured pyramid shaped icy poles (sadly, no longer in production).

The boys would always buy the little plastic containers of orange juice (well, I'm sure it was at least 5 per cent real orange juice) with orange plastic lids that popped off. The mums in the canteen would use a metal skewer to punch a hole in the top to drink it through. However, the real purpose of this hole was to use the bottles as water guns once the drink had been drunk. Of course some mean old school principal banned this at some stage.

The Future

I often wonder what it will be like when my little guy Felix (13 months) goes to school. Will I drive myself silly trying to make sure that all food groups are adequately represented in his lunch box? Will he insist on taking left overs of the soba noodle and chicken salad with sesame seeds we made for tea last night? Will he have an unwavering affection for sardine sandwiches, or be satisfied with a plain old vegemite sandwich each day (like his dad was)?

Hats off to school lunches!

Bushfires Quilting Bee

2009-03-07T14:21:00.010+10:30

Some more blocks for the Bushfires Quilting Bee being coordinated by Jan from Sewjourn. I love this scrappy block (my very first!). Such a beautiful explosion of colour.

Jumble Sale Goodness

2009-03-07T13:38:00.009+10:30

I can't tell you how happy I was this morning to get out (if only briefly) to a local Rotary jumble sale. In fact it took far less time than it took to upload these photos - curses!

First up, a couple of vintage games. This one, a french one, which seems to be based on some kind of western hold 'em up situation? I can't work it out for the life of me, but it's in perfect condition, and just look at those illustrations! How shifty does that guy in the hat look!

The second game (two for $5) is a vintage memory game with the cutest pictures. I especially love the bottle of wine and wine glass. Classic.

I managed to grab these great vintage pillowcases for 50 cents each (a very lucky girl ahead of me grabbed the rest of the funky linen - curses!)

How could I resist this jaunty little fellow, below, taking his chicken for a walk (eh??). I thought Felix would like this, but he was more interested in the following item.

Felix's pic of the bunch. He liked the pictures, thought the circle was a clock ('tock'), and learned to say 'kettle'. He loved this so much!

The biggest bargain was this selection of 7 vintage aprons for $1 each. Yay! I love the one on top, which is a pinnie style (ie, with arm holes) made from the most gorgeous vintage bark cloth. It's a little too small for me, but needs to be displayed somewhere. Mr Felix inspected it while I was showing them to my mum, and independently proclaimed it to be 'pretty!'. Not bad for 13 months! He then buried his head into my lap full of aprons and vintage linen, and said 'happy'. Hooray!

I don't get to go a thrifting very often, so all in all I had a great morning, with loads of bargains for under $20.

Favourite Things & a Tip

2009-03-06T12:02:00.006+10:30

I'm loving my late morning cup of instant white miso soup at the moment. SO delicious, and I get to enjoy it in one of my favourite japanese cups (displayed above on my favourite apron - SUCH a bargain from Sussans two summers ago, on sale for $20. Hello? Amy Butler fabric? Couldn't buy the fabric and make it for that much!).

I wear the apron a lot these days while I'm preparing food, feeding Felix, doing laundry. It's practical (stains on my clothes seem to be a permanent feature these days), but also makes me feel lovely - which can be a challenge at times.

Quilt Inspiration

2009-03-05T14:13:00.004+10:30

This AMAZING quilt in progress by twinfibers is so gorgeous. Such a beautiful selection of fabrics (some of which are in my stash - yay!), and a great pattern (I'm just a newbie when it comes to quilting, but according toinstructions it's a bit of a variation on a log cabin block - ie, adding strips around a central square block.

Any hoo, it's stuff like this that really inspires me to keep plugging away. I've got a stack of blocks to finish for the Bushfires Quilting Bee. I've set myself a deadline of this weekend to complete the blocks and post off. I also hope to take some photos of completed blocks.

So fun to find such inspiration, and a new blog to read. Yay!

Watcha Wearing Wednesdays

2009-03-04T13:26:00.007+10:30

It's officially cold today! And it's been raining. Windy, cold and raining. Hence the cozy old grey cardie over a much prettier, sunnier, floral t-shirt. I love this print - a bargain from Sussans last spring. (apologies for the fuzzy photo - the light in this place is terrible).

It's nice to be sitting in the study, listening to the cat purr away in her basket, feeling protected from the elements, sipping a cup of miso soup.

Yum.

A few more photos to catchup of stuff I've made lately:

The best thing I've EVER made turned 1 on 6 February. Celebrated by a little party with his baby pals on the 5th, and lunch with the grandparents at home on the day. Felt hat made by his mama using wool felt and vintage glass beads, from a pattern in The Creative Family . Cakes made by mama (baby's first chocolate - awesome!)

Blocks for the Bushfires Quilting Bee

Bloomers for the Twincesses

And some too cute fabric by Kokka (of course), and 100% cotton bias tape that I just HAD to have from the fabulous Belsize Square

Doing Stuff & Giving Thanks

2009-03-02T19:44:00.004+10:30

Well, after three weeks of illness in this house of mine, I'm slowly getting back into something that kind of resembles a routine.

I've been working from home on and off since Felix was born. I had a huge burst of working when he was a tiny baby (they sleep so much, and I felt an overwhelming urge to 'do stuff'), then had a big break for quite a few months when we went through a patch of colds and not sleeping well. I've now been working consistently (more or less) since December last year, usually an hour or two when Felix sleeps during the day, and sometimes a bit on weekends. But I'm hoping to do a full day every now and then when Jason can get a day off. Felix loves spending time with his Dar, and it will be good for me to get a stack of work done. I'm loving the flexibility I have with work at the moment, so want to make the most of it while these arrangements last.

The trouble with working is that it kind of cuts into my cocktail hour, so to speak, leaving me little time to do what I love which is sewing! But the horrible, unthinkable fires in Victoria have got me back in front of the sewing machine. Thanks to some incredible crafty types out there in blog land, virtual quilting bees have been arranged, and calls for handmade items to be distributed to the fire victims have been made (see the Handmade Help, Bushfires Quilting Bee, and Bushfire Quilt Project buttons on the sidebar).

As a novice quilter, this was the perfect opportunity for me to dig into my stash and get sewing (12 x 12.5 inch blocks so far - woo hoo!). Knowing that I'm producing these blocks to send off to be lovingly made into beautiful quilts which will then be donated to someone who has lost EVERYTHING is a pretty amazing feeling.

And, on a selfish note, I'm getting LOADS of practice piecing together blocks. Yay!

I've also got two pairs of super cute shorts on the go for Felix which I must finish this week. Then it's time to make a few more blocks before moving on to some other projects.

And while I've been sewing I've had time to think. About how grateful I am for everything that I have. For my wonderful partner, my lovely, lovely little boy, my Mum and my family and my wonderful friends who are sharing so many journeys with me. For the freedom I have to make choices in my life. For the love I'm surrounded by.

And most importantly, at the moment, for RAIN. Yes folks, it's raining here in little old Adelaide. Not for long, apparently, but we will take what we can get.

Now just head on over to Victoria, Mr Rain, where they need you the most.

A Long Time Between Posts

2009-02-18T19:16:00.002+10:30

So much has happened since I last posted. A summary:

heatwave
no air conditioning
a house that warmed up to a level that just wasn't livable with a wee one and my poor old (well, not THAT old) mum
relocating to alternative accommodation for a few days
air conditioning fixed (phew)
Felix's first birthday party (day before his birthday)
scary choking experience at the end of his party - thank goodness he was ok
Felix's birthday - lunch at home with grandparents (a perfect day)

Then - utter devastation the day after Felix's birthday as Victoria burned (we would learn about it on the morning news, Sunday 8 February).

We watched it unfold, the numbers lost growing by the hour.

Came home from lunch on Sunday with a little boy with a raging temperature that would last for the next 36 hours. His fever raged as that fire raged. Little sleep. Little comfort.

Feeling helpless. How could we help? Jumped online to donate to the Red Cross. It's not much, but it was something.

Slowly getting back to normal. Finding other ways to help. More on that soon.

Tip # 20 - Surviving a REAL heatwave

2009-01-29T11:46:00.003+10:30

Well it's been a long time between posts, due mainly to:

a stupid summer cold that resulted in much coughing at night, so little sleep; and
our usually wonderful air-conditioning breaking down last Wednesday, just in time for a record-breaking stint of hot weather starting this week (a top of 45.7 C yesterday, or a mere 114 F - OMG!).

Needless to say we have been sweltering. Day time sleeps for Felix are becoming a real struggle (he's struggling to go down now as I write), but he has thankfully slept well at night with a fan blowing on him to keep cool.

The best strategies I've come up with so far to keep cool in this hot box of ours? -

lots of day-time trips into the shower (with plenty of bath toys to play with. Just make sure you put a bath mat in there to prevent falls), and into a cool bath
fruit smoothies (non-dairy) for morning tea - freeze up icecubes of blended watermelon or other favourite fruit, then blitz in the blender with some water or juice.
frozen banana smoothies for afternoon tea
water in a clean spray bottle, put in the fridge
freezing wet flannels
fans

All temporary relief, but still helpful.

Well, the wee one is bawling. Poor bub. Must go rescue him.

Tip #19 - Rest

2009-01-21T19:09:00.003+10:30

I'm behind in posting due to a busy few days, and now I'm on the brink of succumbing to some kind of lurgie that makes me cough and generally feel miserable.

But it was a good day to rest, as much as I could.

Despite the air-conditioning breaking down.

Despite our telephone line being cut when they (finally) connected broadband to our house.

Despite showering the kitchen in fresh watermelon juice.

Because Felix was happy (when he wasn't falling over banging his head), he loved his juice and cried when he drank it all and I had to make more, and he loves his friend K and the beautiful twincesses.

And because he said Obama, which was very cute and kind of significant given the day, and he looked at the TV whenever I mentioned his name.

Then he wanted to watch 'pat' - the boy loves tennis.

Two non-sporty parents - go figure.

Tip #18 - Hug Your Partner / Husband / Lover / Friend

2009-01-19T19:37:00.002+10:30

It's not much, but it's nice to remember to say 'thank you' to the one you love.

Thanks for helping you get through the birth (with or without passing out). Thanks for getting up in the middle of the night with you. Thanks for not thinking it's completely unreasonable to want chocolate ice-cream. Right. Now.

And thanks for loving me and the the little guy, and for always being there when we need you which is quite often, actually.

I love you.

Tip #17 - A Hot Shower Feels Like a Trip to a Day Spa After Having a Baby

2009-01-17T18:05:00.002+10:30

I am most definitely not the first mum to realise this!

The first 2-3 months at home with a new baby is generally the most difficult. Up to 6 months is still pretty challenging, but somehow you seem to settle into a bit of a routine after that and hopefully start to reclaim some sleep etc.

In the haze that is life at home with a newborn, it really does feel like there is no escape. Probably because there isn't! Suddenly that little cubicle in your bathroom becomes your one sanctuary. The place where you can sooth your aching muscles and quietly zone out (as long as your water restrictions allow you to). And every few days or so you might even get to wash your hair!

A hot steamy shower with no interruptions becomes the goal for the day. Often it is unattainable, as well meaning partners see fit to bring screaming babies in for a visit or a 'I don't know what to do with them' moment.

But when you do get that precious five minutes all to yourself... you will be a happy woman indeed.

Oh, and it's such a nice treat to use a beautiful body wash or soap. Something with a scent that makes you happy. My treat during that time was a giant bar of L'Occitane verbena soap. Not super cheap at AUD $12.95, but it's so big it lasts for weeks (as long as you don't share it). It has a terrifically uplifting citrus scent - very highly recommended!

Sweeties

2009-01-16T11:47:00.003+10:30

On a quick trip to the chemist this morning I discovered these gorgeous musk sweets - a real flashback to my childhood.

Don't you just love the packet - "The musk that's a must!".

These sweets, along with the little jars of the divinely named 'bo-peep' lollies were such favourites when I was a little girl. The musks never lasted long, and as they sit on my desk near the computer, luring me with their musky scent, like Odysseus to the Sirens I will surely succumb.

Oh, and the little plate is also one of my favourite things (in fact, I have a set of four). Gorgeous cake plates by Johnson pottery, made in Australia. I'm guessing 1950s?

Anyway, they make my heart sing.